Gaming Keyboards

Loosecannon · 29 Dec 2007 at 23:22

I have been looking at possibly buying a gaming keyboard such as a Zboard Merc or Merc Stealth. At £30-50 its a lot of cash tho....

Anyone here have any experience of keyboards like this - or does no-one use them?

AndyOcUK · 29 Dec 2007 at 23:26

Had a z-board and found it too light, fiddly and generally very cheap and clattery.

I've had one of these:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=KB-015-SK&groupid=702&catid=23&subcat=

for almost two years and its still going strong!!

Very heavy so it stays in place on the desk.
Excellent illumination.
Really comfortable to use.

Megahurtz400 · 29 Dec 2007 at 23:33

Can reccomend that keyboard

Had it for a year (Maybe two =/) and it just does the job, 0 problems, except shpwing up dust and marks, which you can just clean off

One tiny tiny tiny problem is the silver paint is coming off the corners of some of the most used keys, but i use it so often its unfair to mark it down on that

Superficial · 30 Dec 2007 at 00:22

I love my zboard. No offense but i never really understood how that saitek can be a 'gaming' keyboard - its essentially the same as any other layour whereas the zboard has much better buttons for gaming - then just swap the keyboard over for normal typing. I wouldnt like to go back to a standard layout for gaming after this.

i agree they feel like they might break though but they dont - ive had mine nearly three years now.

:(Rhodri:) · 30 Dec 2007 at 00:26

Logitech G15 all the way for me - it's great bit gigantic though lol

homi-sid-al · 30 Dec 2007 at 00:27

i had the zboard merc,it was a good board once you got used to it,had to chuck mine as the gaming keys (big red ones)packed up :mad:

got the saiteck eclipse 2 now which is a very good quality board and if it packs up you can use it as a weapon cos it weighs a ton

Ace Modder · 30 Dec 2007 at 08:49

I have the G15 great keyboard, nice and heavy too.

Just don't get the orange v2 keyboard, source the v1 bluuuue version

The Darkness · 30 Dec 2007 at 10:01

Ace Modder said:
I have the G15 great keyboard, nice and heavy too.

Just don't get the orange v2 keyboard, source the v1 bluuuue version

To each their own...no way that monstrosity that is v1 is sitting on my desk

Tefal · 30 Dec 2007 at 10:16

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=10051

the kb they recomned looks very nice

Euro_Hunter · 30 Dec 2007 at 10:25

Just got the Merc Stealth myself, very nice keyboard and a true gaming keyboard not like these so called gaming grade keyboards with standard qwerty layout and 1 or 2 extra keys.

Had a Zboard before & loved it. sold it as I stopped playing the games I had keysets for but may well get another as I have now started play Everquest 2 again.

Lyon85 · 30 Dec 2007 at 11:39

Why must gaming keyboards look hideous? This rickety old Microsoft thing does the trick for me and isn't an offence on the eyes.

Euro_Hunter · 30 Dec 2007 at 11:50

IMO the Merc does look quite classy, the lights can be turned off.

Tefal · 30 Dec 2007 at 12:42

Lyon85 said:
Why must gaming keyboards look hideous? This rickety old Microsoft thing does the trick for me and isn't an offence on the eyes.

one I'm looking at getting as mine is slowly breaking, only really gaming cause the keys are rubber coated and less travel distance to press them, just like the looks.

Lyon85 · 30 Dec 2007 at 12:44

Tefal said:
one I'm looking at getting as mine is slowly breaking, only really gaming cause the keys are rubber coated and less travel distance to press them, just like the looks.

Hmm, getting better

.

BlackDragon · 30 Dec 2007 at 12:52

I've had the Saitek Eclipse for ages now, it's incredibly good in comfort, build quality and durability. I'd well recommend getting one, or the Saitek Eclipse II, which I want to upgrade to

GinG · 30 Dec 2007 at 16:49

i also had the saitek eclipse, however after owning for only 2 weeks i spilt beer on it and i no longer works.

my 7 year old microsoft one is still going strong, and has had beer, juice, food spilt on it. only cost £10 at the time too! and has been my backup for about 3 different keyboards failing on me.

shauncr91 · 30 Dec 2007 at 17:50

I would say just play around with a few keyboard yourself, instead of forking about silly amounts of money for a keyboard just because it has a 'gamer' tag on it.

Im still using a cheap £5 keyboard I got from a local shop, and wouldnt change it for a fancy keyboard

Sinque · 30 Dec 2007 at 17:54

Tefal said:
one I'm looking at getting as mine is slowly breaking, only really gaming cause the keys are rubber coated and less travel distance to press them, just like the looks.

Wow look at all them extra buttons! It's so much different to a qwerty! Those lights will improve your game aswell

Calexico · 30 Dec 2007 at 18:01

Heres another option: http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus/

Might be a little over your budget though, and its not out yet, and I doubt it'll be very good for gaming either.

I gave my brother the Saitek 2 for christmas and it is rather nice.

Sinny · 30 Dec 2007 at 18:02

Got my G11, and love it.

The fact i have 18 programmable keys. then have 3 extra buttons to change those 18 keys to do more tihngs (total of 53 programmable keys) is really good, i will never use them all but its nice to know i can programme them for differant tasks not just in games.

The Backlit keys are not overly bright and do the job and can be turned off. I never really hit the windows key by accident in games but its a nice feature for people who do that.

The only gripe i have with it is that the 2 usb ports on it are usb 1.1 which stings because i cannot use some of the things i have in usb format on it.

They keys are very smooth and comfortable unlike the HP keyboard i had for 7 years. They are quite soft to touch and feel like a soft rubbery plastic. Great tactile response but took me a few hours to adjust to the size of the keyboard.

I would well recommend it.