Driver

Installing the drivers for the Tesoro Gram Spectrum RGB Keyboard is not really needed as the FN key offers so many options; however, it does allow for some extra functions, so installation is advised.


The software driver, as well as the latest firmware, can be found on the product page. It supports Windows XP/Vista/7/8.1 and 10, although do be aware that it can trigger a false virus alert since it downloads as a .zip archive file with an executable inside.


Make sure you have the keyboard plugged in before starting the installation process. After successful installation, you are taken to the home screen which allows you to use a whole host of features. One thing I will mention straightaway is the circle with the percentage in it to signify the amount of memory used on the keyboard. I do not feel it merits such a prominent and permanent location on the UI as the keyboard has 8 MB of onboard memory, which is plenty for a lot of profiles. Do note that you can not save customized lighting profiles to the device aside from the default one owing to the limitations of the micro controller used.


The first option I will look at is the "disable key" button with which we can disable any key we like. In this example, I clicked on "F". It then pops up with a dialog box asking if we are sure. Clicking "Yes" disabled the "F" key.


The "Key Assign" button allows you to completely reprogram the keyboard to any layout you wish - simply click the key you want to re-assign and press the key you want it to be. In my example, I changed "F" to "G".


The "Sync Program" option is very interesting. It allows us to set executables, such as games, to change the profile we are using. Say I run "csgo.exe": well, now it will automatically change my profile to profile 1. This is extremely useful if you want to use an FPS layout for games such as CS:GO, but a MOBA layout for games such as DOTA or LoL. Setting the .exe of a game to a profile means you won't have to remember to change profiles every time you launch a game. I will mention, though, that the font was very hard to read after I picked the .exe; click on the image above and you will have a full-sized image of it with a very small font.


Recording a macro using the software would be very easy if it weren't so hard to read everything. While it might be due to my resolution (2560x1440), as a product geared toward gaming, there are no excuses for not displaying texts properly at this resolution. I did manage to record a macro, which was as easy as pressing record, pressing the keys you wish to record to and clicking stop once done. There is the option to change delays from anywhere between 50-12750 ms, and you can also insert single keys after you have recorded and have the option to have the macro repeat. I did find out that you can only use a maximum of thirty keystrokes whilst recording a macro. You will get the above error if you happen to exceed thirty strokes.


The illumination effects button allows you to change the colors of the backlight, and you have the ability to choose from among popular color options or, alternatively, from the color spectrum.

There are also a number of pre-set lighting effects, and although there are not as many as with some competitors, there are enough to keep you amused for a while.

Performance

I used the Tesoro Gram Spectrum RGB keyboard for quite some time, mostly for typing, but I did manage to get a good few games of Overwatch and CS:GO in, as well as a little bit of GTA V. The low profile keys took quite a while to get used to, but once I did, it was a very nice experience, particularly whilst gaming. It did sometimes feel like the switches were "muddy" whilst typing, though, as they just didn't seem as clean as their Cherry MX counterparts or even Kailh brothers. Maybe this is due to their lower actuation and travel point, or even the low profile keys, but they just didn't perform as expected. This is probably a personal preference rather than an issue with the switches, so I would advise trying them out if you get the chance to.

The FN keys worked flawlessly the whole time I used them, allowing for some extra functions over some competing keyboards, and the low profile nature of the keyboard meant I didn't feel like I needed a wrist rest. The iron mid plate adds some weight to the keyboard, and the feet ensure that the keyboard doesn't move whilst in use, which is always a bonus.


We have mentioned the LEDs quite a lot, and I wanted to show you them in action. Here are two presets; one is "Rainbow Wave" and the other is just a simple breathing effect. You are able to change the color of the breathing effect in the software.


These two effects only activate upon pressing the keys; one is called "Fireworks" and the other is "Radiation". Again, the colors are changeable within the software.


Here, we can see the MOBA pre-set lighting effect with all the standard keys for LoL lit to ensure you can see exactly where your hand has to be. We can also see that the LEDs are bright enough to be seen in direct sunlight, as I took this picture in front of a window.


Tesoro has provided the force diagrams for the Agile Red and Agile Blue switches, along with some comparisons to competing switches. However, this conveniently omits the Cherry MX Speed (Silver) switch which has similar features as the Agile Red option, except that it takes it further and has an even higher actuation point at just 1.2 mm. Would you notice the difference? I doubt it. But with marketing running out of things to talk about, expect to see more incremental changes in the years to come.



As always, the sound of a keyboard is based on more than just the switch type. So when comparing sound clips, consider the keyboard as a whole. In this case, I have provided an example sound clip of me typing on the Tesoro Gram Spectrum sample (albeit one with Agile Red switches, not the Agile Blue ones) at ~90-95 WPM above. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with other linear and clicky switches. I did bottom out here as it is fairly easy to do so with these particular switches and the low profile keycaps.