The Package

The Rosewill RK-9000 keyboards ship in a pretty normal box that highlights the features neatly.


Bundle wise the RK-9000s are alright, you get two cables one for PS/2 and one for USB.


The cables are of a good quality but still the implementation on the keyboard side leaves some to be desired just like on the CM Storm Trigger keyboard.

Closer Examination

The keyboard looks pretty anonymous aside from the red paint on the key back plate which is barely visible. The keyboard layout is totally US standard and there are no extra function keys like we saw on the CM Storm and QPAD keyboards. The Rosewill RK-9000 keyboards look more mature due to the less extravagant design features and the ordinary indicator lights which will be a plus for the more business oriented users.


The keys have the usual texture, no fancy coating or paint on the keys from Rosewill. Just simple plastic and laser etched and dyed lettering.


Like the CM Storm the RK-9000 features a detachable cord which hooks up to the keyboard via a mini-USB connector. This implementation is alright but it cannot compete, durability wise, with the ones with good fixed cable solutions.


The RK-9000 we got was the RE-edition, which of course features Cherry MX Red switches, which is one of the top mechanisms for serious gamers. It is a linear switch like the MX Blacks, but with the actuation force of the MX Browns. The combination is superb to my fingers, but it is of course a preference thing. Most people coming from a rubber-dome based keyboard will feel right at home gaming on a keyboard with Red switches.


For me the real downside with the Rosewill RK-9000 is its lack of rubber ends on the stand mechanisms. Which basically means if you raise the keyboard it will begin to slide around a bit. It would have been much better if they had a rubber tip.


The WASD area is nothing out of the ordinary and Rosewill do not include any odd colored key tops for those wanting to highlight this area. Also notice the omission of extra function keys on keys F1 through F7.


One thing that makes the Rosewill RK-9000 universally attractive is its lack of indentations and details on the face plate. Unlike the QPAD and CM Storm keyboards this one is very easy to clean and it does not gather as much dirt and dust!