Razer Mechanical Switches - Mechanical Keys With Gamers in Mind

[WYP]

Razer, a producer of Gaming themed PC peripherals, has today announced that they will be introducing their own branded Mechanical keys to market, the FIRST mechanical key switch to be designed specifically for gamers.

Here are the Razer Green and the Razer Orange mechanical switches, enjoy.



So what is different about Razer's key switches? Well as previously said they are designed for gamers, not just typists, by reducing the distance the keys need to be pressed in in order allow gamers to double-tap etc as quickly as possible, giving Razer's new keys a clear advantage in gaming applications.

I'll let Razer explain further;

The all-new Razer Mechanical Switches have an optimized set of actuation points that improve your gaming performance by giving you speed and responsiveness like never before. Requiring a force of only 50g to actuate, these new switches reset at almost half the distance of traditional mechanical switches, so you can double-tap effortlessly with blazing speed. While conventional mechanical switches are great for typing, the Razer Mechanical Switches are engineered to enhance both your gaming and typing experience.

Knowing the intense gaming sessions each keyboard goes through, Razer engineers completely overhauled the manufacturing process to bring a new ultra-precise standard to the production floor. The result is close to zero tolerance and an increase in durability of each switch to up to 60 million keystrokes as compared to 50 million on standard mechanical switches so you can count on perfectly executed commands, every time.

These Razer key switches will be available in two different varieties; Green and Orange.

Green keys (shown above) are designed for those who enjoy tactile feedback which gives an audible clicking sound when used and Orange keys (pictured below) are for those who prefer a keyboard with the same tactile feel with silent operation.

Razor are not making these keys exclusive to their own products, but are making their design "open source" to allow other manufacturers to share in this innovative new design.

This is more likely due to manufacturing constraints with their partnered "third party manufacturer" (not Cherry), as it may not be viable to produce their keys at low cost in the small volumes that Razer will require, rather than Razer being fair to other manufacturers. Still, thanks for making the design open Razer.

We believe that in order to bring the unfair advantage to gamers worldwide, we need an open source environment by allowing other gaming peripheral makers to share this innovation with us. The Razer Mechanical Switch is available to anybody looking to manufacture the highest quality gaming-grade mechanical keyboards.

Currently the Razer Green and Orange keys are available only on the Razer BlackWidow Stealth series of keyboards.

So what do you guys think of this, are you gamers excited by the prospect of gaming optimized keys for your gaming pleasure or are you guys happy with the currently available mechanical switches on the market? Please post your thoughts and opinions below.

Source - Razer

 

[jamesriley94]

Hmm, lower travel distance before the actuation point?

I can imagine these will be horrible for typing. Fair enough gaming if you're wanting ultra fast reactions to knife or something, then I can see the potential benefit of these.

But, they're effectively cherry reds/browns but with a lower travel distance. That's gunna mean any slight catch on any nearby key will register a press. Fine for gaming, but I do think typing on these is going to be horrible for the average user.

 

[WYP]

Hmm, lower travel distance before the actuation point?

I can imagine these will be horrible for typing. Fair enough gaming if you're wanting ultra fast reactions to knife or something, then I can see the potential benefit of these.

But, they're effectively cherry reds/browns but with a lower travel distance. That's gunna mean any slight catch on any nearby key will register a press. Fine for gaming, but I do think typing on these is going to be horrible for the average user.

It's hard to know until somebody actually tests them out, the same force is required to press the key so it might not be that bad.

I like how Razor are providing us more choice by doing this, but until I use their keys myself or read a trustworthy reviews I'm not voicing any opinions on this.

 

[Dicehunter]

I might donate my Blackwidow Ultimate to my brother and get the new Green switch Blackwidow Ultimate ^_^

 

[looz]

Hah, of course they had to replace the only durable part of their keyboard with something of their own.

 

[Drakkonen]

Hah, of course they had to replace the only durable part of their keyboard with something of their own.

Meh I've had mine for almost 2 years and not a single problem. To be honest I think I've only really seen people complaining about the reliability of their mice and their membrane boards but for some reason people are so fast to jump on the band wagon of hate for the whole brand.

 

[looz]

Exactly my point, their mechanicals are relatively solid since the switches are from Cherry. Most of their products are prime examples of planned obsolescence.

 

[Drakkonen]

Exactly my point, their mechanicals are relatively solid since the switches are from Cherry. Most of their products are prime examples of planned obsolescence.

Fair enough, just seemed like you were bashing on the boards as a whole, I'm pretty tired so my perception is pretty off haha.

 

[Dicehunter]

What is starting to annoy me about companies is that I asked a Razer rep only a few months ago before I bought the "Older" Blackwidow Ultimate 2013 Edition if there was going to be anything new coming out in the coming months to see if I should hold off on buying it, He said no and yesterday this comes out.

 

[SPS]

Hmm, lower travel distance before the actuation point?

I can imagine these will be horrible for typing. Fair enough gaming if you're wanting ultra fast reactions to knife or something, then I can see the potential benefit of these.

But, they're effectively cherry reds/browns but with a lower travel distance. That's gunna mean any slight catch on any nearby key will register a press. Fine for gaming, but I do think typing on these is going to be horrible for the average user.

They are tactile keys so we don't know if they are more like blues yet.