Neither of them use cherry browns afaik, so neither of them will see my keyboard money. By far the most important part of a keyboard purchase is your switch preference (and maybe layout, e.g. I like tenkey some people want it without tenkey).

Lysergic

United States355 Posts

July 01 2011 04:42 GMT

#42

Black Widow is $70 and many people prefer cherry blue switches over the blacks. I've also heard blue's are better for RTS and black's are better for FPS. Blue's also feel amazing to type on.

The layout of Black Widow is better than Steel Series. Razer doesn't have a short backspace/ right shift key or that big Return key. The F keys are also shifted more to the right, which I like because I use F1-F4 in SC2 for save/jump to location.

Black Widow is the best deal really. Don't get the Ultimate, it's spending $40-50 more just for LED lights and useless USB ports (it's better to plug things into your PC's USB ports rather than have it go through a keyboard).

iinsom

Australia339 Posts

July 01 2011 04:46 GMT

#43

I am quite used to my Steelseries 7g now, i dont know what id do without it

RESTRiCT

Canada123 Posts

July 01 2011 04:49 GMT

#44

i just got my blackwidow, i love it

i would strongly recommend if you don't mind a loud keyboard

nihoh

Australia978 Posts

July 01 2011 04:52 GMT

#45

Steelseries, Das or Filco. Just not Razer because you can't press all the keys and have it work.

HuggyBear

Australia377 Posts

July 01 2011 04:54 GMT

#46

Imo, just check if you like the key layout.

IF you haven't used a mechanical before, I doubt switch preference would matter as you'd just get used to whatever lands on your lap.

I voted for Steelseries though, the Blackwidow doesn't have full N-key rollover.

Kennigit

Canada19447 Posts

July 01 2011 04:54 GMT

#47

Moved to tech support

DoubleRainbow

Canada85 Posts

July 01 2011 04:54 GMT

#48

i like the das keyboard. It has a nice simple design, no macro keys or anything like that but it is sturdy and has a nice feel to it.

echO [W]

United States1495 Posts

July 01 2011 04:55 GMT

#49

On July 01 2011 13:26 mafiameower wrote:

Show nested quote +

Ahh very nice to note, I have used keyboards with shortened backspaces, And I can get back into that but, Im going to have to go to my computer store and see if they have the 2 kinds of switches. THanks!

If you're into mechanical keyboard, I HIGHLY recommend that you read some intro to mechanical keyboards and do some good reading into it.

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=START HERE -- The Geekhack Mechanical Keyboard Guide - Includes Glossary and Links

http://www.overclock.net/keyboards/491752-mechanical-keyboard-guide.html

There are so many other mechanical keyboards other than just Steelseries and Razer, that you would be doing yourself an injustice if you did not do the proper research to see what's out there.

crms

United States11933 Posts

July 01 2011 04:56 GMT

#50

where is the option for neither?

filco for life.

if i had to pick steelseries is a much nicer product but if you really hate blacks go with razer for the blue switch regardless of the inferior production.

2WeaK

Canada550 Posts

July 01 2011 04:58 GMT

#51

I love my Black Widow... Blue switches feel great, my brother has a filco brown switch, I personally prefer the blue, while he prefers the brown, I tried the steelseries, which I didn't like (black switches and lame big enter key is a deal breaker for me at least)

One BIG complaint I have, mostly from my WoW days... The F keys are really far away compared to most keyboards (between the 2 and 3 key, instead of 1 and 2) so if you use your F keys, keep that in mind

I wouldn't recommend buying the backlit keyboards as they're more of a gimmick than anything else (Are you really looking at your keys midgame anyway? >.>)

The M keys I don't actually use, because I tend to lose my hand position when I use them, but that's because I have my laptop that I use quite heavily too so I never got around getting used to them

CptFlowers

United States30 Posts

July 01 2011 04:59 GMT

#52

Razer has terrible quality control, steel series much more reliable in my experience. I also appreciate the plain looks of my steel series 6Gv2 compared to its flashy, but cheaply made counter part.

Sultan

United States52 Posts

July 01 2011 05:09 GMT

#53

When I was looking to invest my money into getting a new keyboard, I scoured everywhere, and it was always the same trend: the people that went ahead and bought w/e keyboard (whether it was razor, filco, steelseries, or some other brand) absolutely loved it. I'm guessing their new keyboard was always better than the standard-pc one they used to have, so it was very hard finding an honest bad review and coming to a decision. I ultimately ended up buying the steelseries 6gv2, and I can't see myself using another keyboard. It just feels awesome typing and playing using that thing.

I personally could not imagine using the tiny backspace key of the steelseries 7, and the razor keyboards seem to have wayy too many lights for my taste.

It all comes down to personal taste, OP, so just go with your gut.

JimSocks

United States968 Posts

July 01 2011 05:23 GMT

#54

using steelseries 6gv2. have no issues with blacks. no finger fatigue.
after reading jinro's review of razer mechanicals. i'm staying away big time.

Dracolich70

Denmark3820 Posts

July 01 2011 05:28 GMT

#55

I bought a Steelseries 7G, but I recommend, as others has, that you test all three switches before making up your mind.

There used to be arguments that black cherry were better for FPS, and blues were better for RTS. With browns somewhere in between. I often wonder if I would have been the most happy with browns, which none of the 2 suppliers have in their keyboards. That said I am very happy in my choice nonetheless. By far the best(and only mechanical) I have had with good margin.

Blacks is the most silent.

agtemd

Canada362 Posts

July 01 2011 06:02 GMT

#56

Using a 6gv2 right now, now problems at all with the switches. And people complaining about small backspace and shift should just get a 6gv2 rather than a 7g. The blackwidow just looks too cheap for my liking not to mention the gloss seems like it would get dusty pretty fast. Steelseries mechanicals also have a metal plate in em(HEAVIEST KEYBOARD EVER p.p ) so i can be sure it won't snap or move around on my desk.

Dhalphir

Australia1305 Posts

July 01 2011 07:45 GMT

#57

I don't like the 7G keyboard layout, but the 6GV2 is essentially the same keyboard except minus a wrist rest and it has a non-shitty layout.

Tuczniak

1561 Posts

July 01 2011 07:50 GMT

#58

I can't vote since i haven't tried Steelseries one, but i have blackwidow and i'm completely satisfied.
It doesn't have CZ layout, but who cares. I remember where all diacritics are.

ZiegFeld

351 Posts

July 01 2011 07:59 GMT

#59

On July 01 2011 13:14 toadyy wrote:
Both horrendously overrated, I never understand why people get conned by this shit spending like 100 quid on a keyboard because it sounds nice to press.

You've never felt cherry brown switches at 160 apm for a 40 minute game, Platty

.

Quick suggestion for other guys out there, get a Filco tenkeyless. If your buying this expensive of a keyboard, your going to local lan tournaments to compete, and the tenkeyless fits in just a small backpack that you can carry with mouse pad and mouse.

Bambipwnsu

Canada698 Posts

July 01 2011 08:08 GMT

#60

On July 01 2011 16:59 ZiegFeld wrote:

Show nested quote +

You've never felt cherry brown switches at 160 apm for a 40 minute game, Platty

to be fair the keyboard probably gives you like a .1% skill increase...its mainly for comfort, aesthetics and overall enjoying an experience. I've played on laptop keyboards almost all my life and it really hasn't had any effect really.

To the OP, both companies produce keyboards of similar quality that hits a budget price point. It would be wise to make a decision based on the switch you want. SS keyboards are cherry black and linear/non tactile while the razor BW is cherry blue and tactile/audio feedback. You can find extensive reviews online in the form of videos and text.