Introduction

ROCCAT was all about AIMO at CES this year, and if that has you confused then you are not alone. AIMO, which ROCCAT also says to be a "living light", is their patent-pending solution to a more intelligent lighting platform to be used on their peripherals—keyboards, mice, and headsets alike. With a webpage dedicated to it, ROCCAT was making the point about how they were the first to add modern day RGB lighting to peripherals, and now, they wish to take it further. The AIMO system is supposed to be an out-of-the-box lighting solution that adapts to what is ongoing on your display to make sure it does not detract from the user experience. Without an explicit mention of how, and that is where the patent comes in, they certainly had my attention during the demo at the trade show, and today, I have my hands on the first keyboard that is, as ROCCAT puts it, AIMO-enhanced. Thanks again to them for providing a review sample for TechPowerUp.


The Horde AIMO is what ROCCAT decided to use to introduce the new lighting solution on keyboards, and it just happens to be an entirely new lineup as well. This is an interesting take in that ROCCAT could have easily decided to just add this to an existing keyboard, but by going with a new design, there are a few other interesting things here that are not present on their older keyboards. Indeed, the new features are enough to even justify a non-AIMO version simply termed the ROCCAT Horde, so do not dismiss this as yet another RGB gimmick. The ID is still convincingly that of ROCCAT to where you can immediately tell who made the keyboard at a glance. As with the Isku+ Force FX, ROCCAT decided to use non-mechanical switches to demonstrate a new technology to make it more friendly on the wallet, and this time, we see what are called "Membranical keys" in use here. We will go through all this and more and begin with a look at the specifications in the table below.

Specifications

Packaging and Accessories

ROCCAT's packaging has always been impressive, and the Horde AIMO does not buckle the trend. There is a plastic cover over the packaging itself, which I continue to maintain is a waste of materials, and removing it helps get our hands on the box. As with the other keyboards from the company we looked at before, the box is on the larger side of things with detailed information all over on a color-printed wrap over an otherwise standard cardboard box. On the front is the company and product name along with a large illustration of the keyboard, salient marketing features, and the language version for the specific unit inside. More illustrations, specifications, and features are listed on the back, with some in multiple languages as well.


There is not much to see on the sides with just the company and product name there. More importantly, there are no fewer than four individual seals and a central double flap, which all ensure the customer is the one to open the box as packaged from the company. Opening the box, we see yet more cardboard—this time to not just protect the contents inside, but also separate the various items from one another to make going through everything easier. Note the detachable wrist rest that comes up first and foremost, and we will take a look at it next.


ROCCAT has had a tendency to go with attached wrist rests for a while now, leading to a large keyboard that needs more space on a desk regardless of whether you prefer to use a wrist rest. There was some functionality added into the wrist rest via the addition of thumbster buttons, but overall, I think what they did here will be the more popular route. The detachable wrist rest that comes with the Horde AIMO has its own plastic wrap to keep it clean in the box, and has a smooth matte finish applied to the thick plastic used. The ROCCAT logo is on the front, albeit the monotone color scheme helps it meld in, and there are clips on either side to keep it in place. There are also multiple rubber pads on the underside to help add friction against the resting surface and prevent scratches for when in use.


The keyboard is housed in the large central chamber underneath, with the keyboard cable routed through and into the top compartment. There are thick foam pads to secure and further protect the keyboard against shipping and handling mishaps, and the final set of accessories comes in a plastic pouch that is locked in place via cutouts in the cardboard underneath the keyboard as seen above. Here, we see a multi-language quick installation guide, a few stickers, and a disposable information manual to abide by if or when you need to. I do recommend reading the guide, especially as it details the use of the tuning wheel and how best to use it.