Razer Tarantula Keyboard

[Frederik S]

With the Tarantula Razer has created a keyboard that is designed to suit the needs of gamers. The keyboard offers programmable macro keys and lets you also reorganize your keyboard layout by swapping keys. As always, Razer's software is intuitive to use and offers a lot of features. Unfortunately with a $129.99 price tag the keyboard is fairly expensive.

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[WarEagleAU]

Its an awesome KB to be sure, but Id go with the cheaper and just as good G15. Sure, you cant macro keys, or remap them that is, but its still a damn good KB. Now, if they can make an ergonomic gaming keyboard, Id be set. Nice review, it gave me alot of info on this product.

 

[newtekie1]

It being expensive and the gloss finish durability problems don't affect the performance of the keyboard, so why did you include them in your cons?

 

[Deleted member 24505]

i like this-

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/GB/EN,CRID=2166,CONTENTID=12339

dont know how good it would be for gaming,it has cross point contact switches tho' which imho are better than the rubber contact things

 

[newtekie1]

I wish the diNovo had a number pad though. I can't stand it because it doesn't have a number pad.

 

[Frederik S]

Thanks WarEagle for the input. I think the Tarantula is a bit better than the G15 but price/performance wise they are almost the same considering the different feature set of the two keyboards. I guess it really depends on what features you want as a user, and that's quite individual.

Newtekie, the reason why I included the gloss finish issue is because it's a real con, because it's very easy to scratch.
Tigger69, that keyboard looks really good and that TouchDisk looks awesome, I'm just curious do you use it with a media center PC because that looks ideal for sofa use.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

pity about the num pad newtekie1,it is a lovely kb that tho',i had a look at it.the touch things on it are ace.the keys have much better feel than most kb's i've tried,including the g15 which i love.

 

[newtekie1]

Newtekie, the reason why I included the gloss finish issue is because it's a real con, because it's very easy to scratch.

Odd how it is a con for the Tarantula, but the finish on the DeathAdder has pretty similar problems and it gets a nice "Cons: Nothing!". Nice consistancy. /sarcasm

 

[WarEagleAU]

Its a con to him and he reviewed it, whether we agree with it or not. I like a glossy finish, but if it only lasts for like 5 minutes before you mess it up, I too would call it a con. A simple elegant look would probably be better, but; to each his own as they say.


P.S. In no way am I trying to start an arguement or a fight, Im just stating

 

[newtekie1]

I agree that it should be a con, that isn't my problem.

My problem is that Frederik S is extremely inconsistant with reviews. His DeathAdder review should have been called an advertisement, not a review. He left out several cons when he reviewed the mouse and then defended leaving them out by saying "Well I didn't think they were important." Any reviewer that will leave out several cons just because they don't think they are important doesn't deserve to be reviewing products.

I am not trying to start a fight(though it probably seems like I am) I am just trying to point out that Frederik S needs to improve his reviewing skills and realize that it doesn't matter if he thinks it is important or not, a con is a con and needs to be pointed out to the readers.

 

[Frederik S]

What is it you don't get newtekie1 (don't want to understand), the DeathAdder's top coating is just as durable as any other coating on the market that's why it isn't a con, the gloss finish on the Tarantula is on the other hand sub par to that of other keyboard manufacturers and therefore a con. I can't judge whether or not an incredibly small issue can be made better in the future, I'm a reviewer not a psychic.

I can only bench a product against other products already on the market not guess about future products, and if you bench every single aspect of the DeathAdder against any other mouse on the market I still think it's the best, it has the best: sensor, ergonomics, design, build quality, top coating ect......

 

[newtekie1]

No it is not just as durable as any other coating on the market today. I owned the mouse, the coating is very poor compared to that on my G7s, IME 3.0, and MX700s. The coating on the razer mice is known for wearing off way too quickly and the DeathAdder is no different. You will be lucking to get a year out fo the DeathAdder before the anti-skid coating wears away to nothing. Hell I had the mouse for a month and it had alredy started to show wear. On top of that, even if it was just as good as the other mice on the market(which is isn't), it is still a con. I would expect a mouse, that I am paying 50% more for, to not look like complete crap after a year of use, and that is exactly what is going to happen with the DeathAdder. However, the mice with plastic buttons that don't really have a coating at all(like the G5/G7, IME 3.0, MX518, etc) will last for several years without showing any signs of wear.

However, you seemed to just completely ignore all the other cons presented to you in that thread. The coating issue was just one of the many cons that I and others pointed out to you about the mouse. Your opinions that it is the best is nice, but that isn't the issue here. A review is bound to have some personal opinions in it like ergonamics and design. However, I don't consider something that has a top coat that wears down much quicker than other mice on the market as "best build quality". The "best sensor" statement can be argued also, but if you think it is the best then by all means put it in the review, again that isn't where my issue lies. You completely ignored several cons about the mouse, even when they were presented to you, you still ignored them and decided to focus entirely on the coating issue.

It is your job to point out every con, weather you think it is important or not. The people making comments in the thread should not be able to start rattling off cons that you didn't include in the review.

If you want to keep trying to offend me with the "What is it you don't get" statement, like I am some idiot, I can go that route too. I tried to keep it civilized, but you seem to just want vaguely insult people and talk down to them. Fine by me, just don't get mad when I start to get hostile back at you.

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

That is not worth the price. man expensive!

 

[v7100]

Work under Vista?

Razer has yet to release a Copperhead driver for Vista.

 

[KennyT772]

Looks like another over-engineered sub-par produced razor product to me...

I would like to know if this is a wireless keyboard or what. The pics show no wire. Also how do the usb ports/mic headset ports connect to the computer. The cord and connections are just as important in terms of durability as the key lifetime.

 

[VulkanBros]

Looks like another over-engineered sub-par produced razor product to me...

I would like to know if this is a wireless keyboard or what. The pics show no wire. Also how do the usb ports/mic headset ports connect to the computer. The cord and connections are just as important in terms of durability as the key lifetime.

Have you ever heard of a wireless USB hub.......

 

[Frederik S]

I has a cord that splits up into two 3.5mm minijacks for audio and two USB2.0 connectors for the internal hub and the keyboard.

 

[petepete]

rofl

i can see you actually put negative comments on this review, razer fanboy


i agree with tekie completely, I think he should review these products instead

 

[Zero Cool]

I bougth this last month and it is a very good keyboard, it looks amazing, is very comfortable, practical and the glossy finish doesnt scratch, I have no scratches on my, but it is very easy to see dirt on it, fingerprints are not visible on it but such things as dust is really visible on this.

otherwise this is thre best keyboard I have ever head

 

[KennyT772]

I has a cord that splits up into two 3.5mm minijacks for audio and two USB2.0 connectors for the internal hub and the keyboard.

well wheres the pic?

 

[Frederik S]

I've just added a picture of the connectors to the Closer Examination part of the review.

 

[Ciuty]

Very lame imitation atempt by razer

THIS KEYBOARD LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE THE ONE BUNDELED WITH THE LOGITECH S510 MEDIA DESKTOP .. EVEN THE RIGHT MEDIA BUTTONS ARE THE SAME .. IN THE SAME ORDER .. RAZER 5UCKS SO MUCH .. I HATE RAZER .. I REGISTERED JUST TO SAY THIS ..

http://www.thinkcomputers.org/beta/home.php?x=reviews&id=253&page=2

 

[Zero Cool]

yea I heared about this.. well there are some changes on the RAZER that are not visible. eg razer is alot better quality, better materials, AND THE MAIN THING, THERE ARE NO GAMING BUTTONS ON THE LOGITECH ONE..

I could go on for ever

 

[-1nf1n1ty-]

I got my Razer Tarantula Keyboard for a 100 and it just recently came out to market, which isn't that bad seeing as how the Logitech G15 was once 100 when i got that one.The Glossy surface isn't that bad It doesn't bother me shouldn't really bother anyone as long as it works and beside you can clean that off with some sort of solution so I read I would of given the keyboard a 9.3-5 but thats just me.Not to mention this keyboard is really light weight unlike the G15.I don't care much about the Macros part if your a person who plays WoW or Vanguard Then its a good feature if not then it doesn't matter just set those keys to bring up a program or something, for those of you who have xfire and tired of pressing 2 buttons to bring up the message while in game can just set it all on one key. And who cares if this keyboard looks like the Logitech S510 or whatever theres lots of other keyboards that look exactly alike right? fact of the matter is this keyboard is pretty damn good and I just wanted to ,not encourage people to get this keyboard but to just shed some light on the keyboard. This keyboard is great and so are the logitech's besides its up to you to get whatever keyboard you want whatever feels good to you!

 

[MikeJeng]

Hey guess what... I saw a razer tarantula at best buy for $56.