Razer

Razer Mouse Mat Advisor

A gamer's keyboard is equivalent of soldier's firearm - personal and lethal. At Razer, we concur with this philosophy and as a result, have channelled our concerted efforts into crafting kyeboards to suit different uses and player preferences. Having the right tools for the job ( in this case, having the right keyboard for the game) is winning half the battle. As such, we have compiled a guide to aid gamers in their quest to find that elusive ideal keyboard.

Travel distance:

This refers to the actual distance the keys of a keyboard have to be pushed down before the keystroke is recognized. Laptops and notebook computers, in general, have much shorter travel distances on their keyboards compared to standard desktop keyboards. Some gamers prefer keys with a shorter travel distance as they feel that it requires less effort to actuate the keys, however, others prefer a large travel distance as it makes keystrokes more distinct.

Key architecture

I. Membrane keyboards
In membrane keyboards, the keycaps are positioned above rubber domes which actuate the keystrokes through a plastic sheath. This plastic sheath spreads out over the entire keyboard under the keycaps and keystroke actuation occurs when the key is fully depressed. The travel distance of the keyboard is determined by the thickness of the layers of the sheath and is usually 3.5 to 4 mm. The membrane-type keyboard is by far the most common type of keyboard architecture used today.

II. Mechanical keyboards
In contrast with the membrane keyboard, the keys on a mechanical keyboard have individual keyswitch mechanisms that register keystrokes instead of sharing a membrane sheath with all other keys. Keystrokes are actuated approximately halfway down the full travel distance, resulting in a different feel when gaming or typing. Razer keyboards feature clicky and tactile mechanical keyswitches that deliver a very distinct tap to the user's fingers when a key is actuated accompanied by an audible click, quite similar to the experience of performing a mouse click. As a result, the tactile feedback experienced by the user on a mechanical keyboard is significantly different from a membrane keyboard, with some users demonstrating a strong personal preference for this type of keyboard feel.

Incline angle:

Many gamers who spend long hours in front of the keyboard find that tilting their keyboard towards them at a slight angle, thru the use of keyboard feet, improves their level of comfort especially for extended gameplay sessions.

Wrist rest

A wrist rest on a gaming keyboard is an inclined platform attached to the lower section of the keyboard for the user to rest his wrists and base of his palms, providing for a more comfortable gameplay experience.

Macro-recording

Macros are immensely useful gaming tools that enable the user to simplify the execution of complex actions by programming a single keystroke to perform a pre-recorded string of multiple commands.

On-the-fly macro recording allows users to record lengthy macros in the game, without having to access driver menus or other software. For example, hitting the 'Macro Record' key and then inputting a sequence of multiple spells in World of Warcraft saves this action to the specified key. The same sequence of spells can then be executed automatically with the actuation of that one button.

Media Controls

Media control keys provide a convenient set of buttons or a touch panel located on the keyboard that allow users to directly control the computer's media software (such as iTunes or Windows Media Player) without having to navigate the desktop to access the media application. Commands include play/pause, stop, next track, previous track and volume controls.

Anti-ghosting

Conventional keyboards are designed to process up a limited number of simultaneous keypresses, and key ghosting typically occurs for certain combinations of 3 keys. When these three keys are pressed simultaneously, this will result either in the third key being ignored or having 'phantom' fourth keypress being erroneously registered by the keyboard.

Anti-ghosting features prevent this from happening on gaming keyboards. Keyboards can have full, selective anti-ghosting or an optimized gaming matrix to minimize this effect. Keyboards with full anti-ghosting can recognize any number of simultaneous keystrokes and usually require a native PS/2 connection. Selective anti-ghosting on keyboards prevent ghosting on the key regions commonly used in gaming, including the WASD key cluster.

A gaming optimized key matrix eliminates ghosting from the keyboard regardless of location of the keys. While selective anti-ghosting only removes the phenomenon of ghosting from certain 'hotspots', the optimized key matrix is more versatile as it is not restricted to one portion of the keyboard. Thus, the keyboard can accommodate vastly more gaming key-combinations, and therefore would be suitable for virtually all playing styles and game genres.

Polling Rate

This is the rate at which the keyboard reports movement and actuation information to the computer. A higher polling rate implies that the delay between actuation of keys and execution of that command would be minimized.

Ultrapolling

This technology heightens the frequency at which the keyboard reports actuation information back to the computer. The reduction in interval between each transmission of data results in more responsive execution of the user�s commands on the keyboard.

Hyperesponse

Razer keyboards make use of Ultrapolling technology, ensuring that there would not be any delay when keys are pressed and for the command to be carried out within a 1ms response time. Similar to the technology used in Razer mice, Hyperesponse provides gamers with improved reaction mechanisms and reduced device response times, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.

Gaming Mode

Razer keyboards feature a 'gaming mode' that allows the deactivation of the Windows key for specific applications, preventing it from being pressed accidentally during games, so the user does not get 'alternate-tabbed' to desktop at critical moments. This lets gamers play with a peace of mind, not having to constantly worry about hitting the wrong key.

Programmable Keys

Programmable keys are keys which can be modified by software to perform actions other than their default function. For example, the left 'Shift' key can be reprogrammed to input 'Num 7' instead when pressed. This is especially useful for Defense of the Ancients (DotA) players as inventory items are now easily accessible, as they no longer have to reach over to press the keys on the numpad.

Profiles

Profiles are templates that are used to define a keyboard's settings for different applications. These customization options can be saved into profiles via the driver menu. This allows the user to fully customize the keys to suit each different game and application. The gamer could require different sets of macros, for example, for different games. The user can then conveniently switch between various saved profiles, saving the hassle of reprogramming the keys each time you launch a game.

Macros

Macros enable a user to program one button on a peripheral to perform a string of timed commands, whenever the button is pressed. A simple example of a macro is binding the left 'Shift' key on your keyboard to the command '2' followed by 'R'. In games like Counter-Strike, this would command your character to select and reload the pistol with the press of one key.

Macro Keys

Dedicated keys on the keyboard specifically designed to bind macros to or to reprogram into specific functions required by the user. These additional gaming keys are usually located to the left side of the keyboard and are separate from the rest of the keys so that it makes it easier for users to reach it conveniently.

Keycap Finishing

The material that keycaps are made of differs from keyboard to keyboard. The materials utilized by Razer keyboards are rubber, high-gloss plastic and ABS plastic resin. The finishing on the rubber keycaps is textured and provides the most friction and grip of all the keycap finishing. High-gloss plastic is reflective and provides a sleek and smooth feel. Keycaps made of ABS plastic resin offer moderate grip and are highly durable.

Backlighting

Standard backlighting refers to a shared illumination source for all the keys, below the keycaps. This feature is especially handy for users who are accustomed to playing in the dark as it would make the keys easily visible. Independently backlit keys, in contrast, are illuminated by dedicated LED bulbs below each and every key. Backlighting in the latter case is especially bright, more uniform in intensity and long-lasting, providing gamers with reliable and effective illumination of their keyboard.

Audio Jacks

Audio jacks, like Audio OUT and Mic IN, allow the keyboard to function as an 'accessory hub' - connecting headsets and a microphone to a single device before it is all transmitted to the computer via a neat set of wires. This is extremely convenient for users as they no longer have to reach to the back of their computer to connect headsets and other audio accessories.

USB Pass-through

Additional USB ports built-in on the keyboard provide gamers an extra level of convenience, perfect for connecting accessories like a gaming mouse.

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