HypoglossalXII
New member
Review: Razer Tarantula (Or a Valentines Day Blunder)
They say valentines day is all about the love, and since I love myself a whole lot, what better way to show it than to get myself a new gaming keyboard.
So, Valentines day has been the same in Moscow, since it's inception, i.e. Saint Eulalia of Merida was once again ****ed to the street stark naked and her frostbite imminent body had to be covered by thick snow.
For this reason, the keyboard had to be packed in extensive snow-proof packaging to avoid snow from causing harm to the keyboard.
3 plastic bags covering the keyboard makes excellent snow-proof packaging.
PACKAGING
The front cover of the keyboard packaging. It has all the essential information one might need in buying a keyboard.
The back cover of the keyboard packaging. It contains multi-lingual instruction and other features the keyboard possesses.
Russia - A Great Country, or the Greatest Country In The World (Done with a Steven Colbert voice-act)
When you open the velcro-straps up, you are greeted with more information about the keyboard features and 10 blue coated macro-keys.
On the side of the packaging, what overrated gamers are saying about the keyboard.
First Impressions
Prior to buying the keyboard, as all things, I tend to read reviews, comparisons and of the sort. The problem with most of these is that often reviews tend not to care what a buyer is looking for. Instead, more often than not it's a talk about how advanced the technology is than actually speaking on what practical uses it may have.
As an example, let me first reiterate what Razer deems noteworthy to be placed on the feature list of this keyboard.
Personally when I read this, anti-ghosting was in my opinion the icing on the cake, the ultrapolling, I wasn't so sure, it felt more like marketing hype than anything else. I also felt it was pretty silly for such a high end keyboard to not have backlighting and the need to purchase additional accessories for it to just have light! Gold-plated USB connector, headphone and microphone jacks aren't exactly industry shattering features.
It is my opinion that the backlighlighting should be considered archaic technology and be compulsory. Note how Intel stopped advertising how their chips had MMX technology?
Regardless of this, when I took the keyboard out of the box, the first thing I noticed was the size. It was humongous, compared to my previous keyboard at least, so I was rather taken aback. Here's a picture comparison:
The typical hostel desk of a lazy college student.
The typical hostel desk of a lazy gaming college student.
Note the sheer increase in desk space occupied, used up to handle the keyboard. But this sizing is rather justified considering the amount of keys on the keyboard and the functions that they carry.
Other first impressions was the mirror-finish on the front and the back of the keyboard. To be honest, I feared removing the transparent plastic stickers on the front of the keyboard with fear that i might get my greasy hand prints on them.
Considering the keyboard didn't have backlighting, the profile key, and the 10 macro keys however, came with some form of LED backlighting. One aesthetically pleasing addition was a pulsing razer symbol at the middle of the keyboard on the arm rest.
The pulsing razer serpents. Unfortunately, this keyboard didn't come in their usual chaos green.
Functionality
Alright, lets stop beating around the bushes and get straight to the point. If you're a n00bcake that sux0rs and need h4x0rz to win, this keyboard isn't the device for you. As a matter of fact, to avoid lawsuits and countless calls to customer service, Razer included the following in their installation manual..
Note: The Razer Tarantula is designed to give you an edge over your opponents. It is however not designed for automated gameplay.
That being said, the keyboard itself feels marvellous. I won't lie it took all of 10 minutes to get used to the key locations. As the keys are more centred, with macro keys on the side, I initially found myself pressing the macro keys instead of caps lock. However, after some use, I got used to the key locations.
Furthermore, typing on the keys felt comfortable and effortless. Sliding from one key to another was also in a limited sense possible. The keys had an opaque design, as if to rest your fingers when they land upon it. It was curved as such. Typing really fast and hard did not produce the usual KLAK-KLAK sound you would hear in your 5 dollar keyboard either.
Another issue is the design of the Home/End/Delete/PageUp/PageDown keys. They are different from conventional keyboards and it will take those of us who do not look at the keyboard to type a bit of time to get used to, but all things considered I doubt you could call it a significant issue.
Cyrillic keys FTW. Note the mirror-finish through the transparent protection sticker!
The Razer Touch
Now that we're done with the conventional differentiation from other keyboards, lets get back to where Razer shines and how it is marketing this particular keyboard.
Let us start with the customization software included with the keyboard (or later versions download-able from razer's website)
The imaging options up top signifies what program you use to open photos. This basically allows you to use Media Center Keys on the left to zoom in, zoom out, full screen and rotate the images. Unfortunately, the options offered are only Windows Picture Viewer, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Acrobat Reader, ACDSee. Personally I use Picasa for all my photos so this might be an issue. However I'm sure if I google a bit, I'll be able to find a proper add on.
Next in line is the Media Player Options. Currently there are configurations for Windows Media Player, WinAmp, iTunes, and Real Player. Upon setting the proper player of your choice, this enables the entire right side Media Center buttons. The keys, with pictures on top of them clearly signify the function of each key. This includes one to open the player, to play, to stop, to rewind, to forward, to shuffle, to mute, and volume control. My only beef with this is the lack of a pause key
.
The Razer-logo key can be customized to open the driver control menu or to funtion as a standard menu pop up.
One short-sight of the Razer Tarantula is the inability to change the functions of the media center keys. Or perhaps there is and I am unaware at this point of time.
Macro keys are an amazing feature. Macro keys are 10 keys, 5 on each side of the keyboard that can be programmed to do specific functions. Furthermore they come with interchangeable key logo's that could help you remember what each key does. For example, the 10 interchangeable keys come with logos of a knife, a pistol, a grenade, medpack logo etc. From this, you could bind aliases to get the key performing the way you want. For example, if you'd like to buy a certain gun from a game of counterstrike, you'd just bind B-4-4 or the sort. It may seem a bit complicated at first, as you must indicate when a button is depressed and released, but as with all things, overtime you'll get used to it.
Profiles are an interesting feature. Note that the tarantula has 32kb build-in memory that allows it to store up to 5 profiles on board. There's up to 100 program-able profiles but those will be saved on your computer. Profiles can be switched on-the-fly by simply pressing the PROFILE key which is between insert and F12. To further aid you it has a backlight. Also note that every key from the qwerty keyboard is customizable to your liking so you can change it to just the way you like it, save it to a profile, name it for the specific game, and use it upon the arrival of it's need.
Anti-Ghosting is something alot of gamers often dis(cuss) about. Imagine this scenario, you're the only one left alive in your team, you're crouching under some fence meshwork, and you're attempting to sneak up 3 enemy players. The problem is, you need to press ctrl, to un-crouch, v to stab, q to change the gun and e to knock one enemy down. How often have you found yourself pressing all those keys quick, or simultaneously rather and nothing happening, or rather finding yourself tapping the enemy in the back and subsequently getting your arse handed to you? That's where anti-ghosting comes to play. Although I feel anti-ghosting for up to 10 keys are overkill, it is a more than welcome feature :worship:.
Conclusion
The Good:
I must say, Razer has outdone itself yet again in the field of gaming. It has a stylish outlook, the keys are placed within reach of each other, allowing quick movement to initiate acts, (try pressing "n" to "Omnislash" someone in any other keyboard whilst your fingers are steadfast at "wasd") Furthermore the keys are quiet, and feel very comfortable to type on. I like how the key "receives" your fingers. The ability to alter any of the qwerty keys is wonderful and the macro keys are an interesting add-on. Aesthetically speaking the mirror finish and the pulsing serpent is for the lack of a better word, breathtaking.
The Mediocre:
Its lighting on the Macro keys are very dim. Sure playing it in the dark would make it better, but I feel they could have used better lighting. The same applies for the PROFILE key. I find it unacceptable a high-end keyboard has no built-in backlighting!? Are you telling me to shell out more money just to be able to play in the dark!? (Actually I play fine in the dark without lighting but the notion is ridiculous)
The concept of the battle dock is interesting, but perhaps if it allowed the addition of something beyond the battle light or battle eye (webcam) or in the future an LCD panel perhaps, it would be a real treat. I'm saying it's a good innovation, but not enough use has been put to it.
The Bad:
Again I must stress how disappointed I am in Razer for not embracing the backlighting. As I have previously said, this form of lighting is archaic technology and Razer which claims to be on the forefront of gaming should have embraced it. Why is your flagship keyboard devoid of this basic function?
The other is the cost, but I suppose gamers and enthusiasts alike are not foreign to the concept of high priced goods.
Performance : 10/10
Innovation : 7/10
Functionality 8/10
Looks : 8/10 or 5/10 if you remove the transparent plastic stickers!
Cost : 6/10 (6 because the targeted demographics are aware what they're paying for)
Overall 8/10.
The Russian Touch:
Together with this keyboard, came 4x 200rubbles voucher (about 20p in the british denomination). So I get a 800 rub discount the next time I buy any electronic goods from them (which just might be the battle light).
Well that brings the end to my first review. I hope to improve with wherever I seem to exude extreme bias or spread fictitious information, so please leave the relevant feedback so that I may improve on my writing. Don't let the fact that English is my 3rd language stop you from pulling a Simon Cowell and dish out those "constructive" criticism.
Cheers,
-HypoG
They say valentines day is all about the love, and since I love myself a whole lot, what better way to show it than to get myself a new gaming keyboard.
So, Valentines day has been the same in Moscow, since it's inception, i.e. Saint Eulalia of Merida was once again ****ed to the street stark naked and her frostbite imminent body had to be covered by thick snow.
For this reason, the keyboard had to be packed in extensive snow-proof packaging to avoid snow from causing harm to the keyboard.
3 plastic bags covering the keyboard makes excellent snow-proof packaging.
PACKAGING
The front cover of the keyboard packaging. It has all the essential information one might need in buying a keyboard.
The back cover of the keyboard packaging. It contains multi-lingual instruction and other features the keyboard possesses.
Russia - A Great Country, or the Greatest Country In The World (Done with a Steven Colbert voice-act)
When you open the velcro-straps up, you are greeted with more information about the keyboard features and 10 blue coated macro-keys.
On the side of the packaging, what overrated gamers are saying about the keyboard.
First Impressions
Prior to buying the keyboard, as all things, I tend to read reviews, comparisons and of the sort. The problem with most of these is that often reviews tend not to care what a buyer is looking for. Instead, more often than not it's a talk about how advanced the technology is than actually speaking on what practical uses it may have.
As an example, let me first reiterate what Razer deems noteworthy to be placed on the feature list of this keyboard.
Personally when I read this, anti-ghosting was in my opinion the icing on the cake, the ultrapolling, I wasn't so sure, it felt more like marketing hype than anything else. I also felt it was pretty silly for such a high end keyboard to not have backlighting and the need to purchase additional accessories for it to just have light! Gold-plated USB connector, headphone and microphone jacks aren't exactly industry shattering features.
It is my opinion that the backlighlighting should be considered archaic technology and be compulsory. Note how Intel stopped advertising how their chips had MMX technology?
Regardless of this, when I took the keyboard out of the box, the first thing I noticed was the size. It was humongous, compared to my previous keyboard at least, so I was rather taken aback. Here's a picture comparison:
The typical hostel desk of a lazy college student.
The typical hostel desk of a lazy gaming college student.
Note the sheer increase in desk space occupied, used up to handle the keyboard. But this sizing is rather justified considering the amount of keys on the keyboard and the functions that they carry.
Other first impressions was the mirror-finish on the front and the back of the keyboard. To be honest, I feared removing the transparent plastic stickers on the front of the keyboard with fear that i might get my greasy hand prints on them.
Considering the keyboard didn't have backlighting, the profile key, and the 10 macro keys however, came with some form of LED backlighting. One aesthetically pleasing addition was a pulsing razer symbol at the middle of the keyboard on the arm rest.
The pulsing razer serpents. Unfortunately, this keyboard didn't come in their usual chaos green.
Functionality
Alright, lets stop beating around the bushes and get straight to the point. If you're a n00bcake that sux0rs and need h4x0rz to win, this keyboard isn't the device for you. As a matter of fact, to avoid lawsuits and countless calls to customer service, Razer included the following in their installation manual..
Note: The Razer Tarantula is designed to give you an edge over your opponents. It is however not designed for automated gameplay.
That being said, the keyboard itself feels marvellous. I won't lie it took all of 10 minutes to get used to the key locations. As the keys are more centred, with macro keys on the side, I initially found myself pressing the macro keys instead of caps lock. However, after some use, I got used to the key locations.
Furthermore, typing on the keys felt comfortable and effortless. Sliding from one key to another was also in a limited sense possible. The keys had an opaque design, as if to rest your fingers when they land upon it. It was curved as such. Typing really fast and hard did not produce the usual KLAK-KLAK sound you would hear in your 5 dollar keyboard either.
Another issue is the design of the Home/End/Delete/PageUp/PageDown keys. They are different from conventional keyboards and it will take those of us who do not look at the keyboard to type a bit of time to get used to, but all things considered I doubt you could call it a significant issue.
Cyrillic keys FTW. Note the mirror-finish through the transparent protection sticker!
The Razer Touch
Now that we're done with the conventional differentiation from other keyboards, lets get back to where Razer shines and how it is marketing this particular keyboard.
Let us start with the customization software included with the keyboard (or later versions download-able from razer's website)
The imaging options up top signifies what program you use to open photos. This basically allows you to use Media Center Keys on the left to zoom in, zoom out, full screen and rotate the images. Unfortunately, the options offered are only Windows Picture Viewer, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Acrobat Reader, ACDSee. Personally I use Picasa for all my photos so this might be an issue. However I'm sure if I google a bit, I'll be able to find a proper add on.
Next in line is the Media Player Options. Currently there are configurations for Windows Media Player, WinAmp, iTunes, and Real Player. Upon setting the proper player of your choice, this enables the entire right side Media Center buttons. The keys, with pictures on top of them clearly signify the function of each key. This includes one to open the player, to play, to stop, to rewind, to forward, to shuffle, to mute, and volume control. My only beef with this is the lack of a pause key
.The Razer-logo key can be customized to open the driver control menu or to funtion as a standard menu pop up.
One short-sight of the Razer Tarantula is the inability to change the functions of the media center keys. Or perhaps there is and I am unaware at this point of time.
Macro keys are an amazing feature. Macro keys are 10 keys, 5 on each side of the keyboard that can be programmed to do specific functions. Furthermore they come with interchangeable key logo's that could help you remember what each key does. For example, the 10 interchangeable keys come with logos of a knife, a pistol, a grenade, medpack logo etc. From this, you could bind aliases to get the key performing the way you want. For example, if you'd like to buy a certain gun from a game of counterstrike, you'd just bind B-4-4 or the sort. It may seem a bit complicated at first, as you must indicate when a button is depressed and released, but as with all things, overtime you'll get used to it.
Profiles are an interesting feature. Note that the tarantula has 32kb build-in memory that allows it to store up to 5 profiles on board. There's up to 100 program-able profiles but those will be saved on your computer. Profiles can be switched on-the-fly by simply pressing the PROFILE key which is between insert and F12. To further aid you it has a backlight. Also note that every key from the qwerty keyboard is customizable to your liking so you can change it to just the way you like it, save it to a profile, name it for the specific game, and use it upon the arrival of it's need.
Anti-Ghosting is something alot of gamers often dis(cuss) about. Imagine this scenario, you're the only one left alive in your team, you're crouching under some fence meshwork, and you're attempting to sneak up 3 enemy players. The problem is, you need to press ctrl, to un-crouch, v to stab, q to change the gun and e to knock one enemy down. How often have you found yourself pressing all those keys quick, or simultaneously rather and nothing happening, or rather finding yourself tapping the enemy in the back and subsequently getting your arse handed to you? That's where anti-ghosting comes to play. Although I feel anti-ghosting for up to 10 keys are overkill, it is a more than welcome feature :worship:.
Conclusion
The Good:
I must say, Razer has outdone itself yet again in the field of gaming. It has a stylish outlook, the keys are placed within reach of each other, allowing quick movement to initiate acts, (try pressing "n" to "Omnislash" someone in any other keyboard whilst your fingers are steadfast at "wasd") Furthermore the keys are quiet, and feel very comfortable to type on. I like how the key "receives" your fingers. The ability to alter any of the qwerty keys is wonderful and the macro keys are an interesting add-on. Aesthetically speaking the mirror finish and the pulsing serpent is for the lack of a better word, breathtaking.
The Mediocre:
Its lighting on the Macro keys are very dim. Sure playing it in the dark would make it better, but I feel they could have used better lighting. The same applies for the PROFILE key. I find it unacceptable a high-end keyboard has no built-in backlighting!? Are you telling me to shell out more money just to be able to play in the dark!? (Actually I play fine in the dark without lighting but the notion is ridiculous)
The concept of the battle dock is interesting, but perhaps if it allowed the addition of something beyond the battle light or battle eye (webcam) or in the future an LCD panel perhaps, it would be a real treat. I'm saying it's a good innovation, but not enough use has been put to it.
The Bad:
Again I must stress how disappointed I am in Razer for not embracing the backlighting. As I have previously said, this form of lighting is archaic technology and Razer which claims to be on the forefront of gaming should have embraced it. Why is your flagship keyboard devoid of this basic function?
The other is the cost, but I suppose gamers and enthusiasts alike are not foreign to the concept of high priced goods.
Performance : 10/10
Innovation : 7/10
Functionality 8/10
Looks : 8/10 or 5/10 if you remove the transparent plastic stickers!
Cost : 6/10 (6 because the targeted demographics are aware what they're paying for)
Overall 8/10.
The Russian Touch:
Together with this keyboard, came 4x 200rubbles voucher (about 20p in the british denomination). So I get a 800 rub discount the next time I buy any electronic goods from them (which just might be the battle light).
Well that brings the end to my first review. I hope to improve with wherever I seem to exude extreme bias or spread fictitious information, so please leave the relevant feedback so that I may improve on my writing. Don't let the fact that English is my 3rd language stop you from pulling a Simon Cowell and dish out those "constructive" criticism.
Cheers,
-HypoG
