Razer Arctosa Review by Peter Brennon

My Overall Rating:

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One look at the Razer Arctosa and it’s clear why Razer is a leader in gaming keyboards. This baby looks like something you’d expect to see in a high-tech game itself. Fortunately, there’s much more value here than just good looks.

That starts with the slim chassis. You won’t have any trouble fitting this into a keyboard holder. It’s 470mm wide x 165mm deep x 20mm tall without wrist rest, 470mm x 222mm x 20mm with wrist rest. It’s lightweight, too. You won’t have to struggle to take it to a friends house. Slip it into a backpack and you’re gone.

Like its cousin, the Razer Lycosa, this model lets you program any key to serve as a quick-access macro. Yes, that’s ANY key. Logitech offers several models with a number of dedicated “G” keys, and multiple profiles to amplify the total macro keys available. Razer turns the entire keyboard into a set of “G” keys.

Watch this great review of the Razer Arctosa gaming keyboard

Buy and save on the Razer Arctosa at Amazon.com!

Creating and modifying them is zero hassle, thanks to well-designed software. It’s also highly flexible, allowing for 10 different profiles. Changing the profiles you set is a breeze here, too. A quick press of the Razer Logo button then a tap of one of the F1-F10 keys and zingo, you’re done. You use that same Media Control Panel for, well, media control (i.e. Play, Pause, and more).

There’s another nice user-friendly feature: the ability to remove the wrist rest. While most gamers like the comfortable feel, some prefer their keyboard to be plain vanilla. A quick removal of four screws and off it comes. Either way, resting your hands on the keys is a pleasurable experience.

That pleasure is enhanced when you start tapping them. “HyperResponse Technology” may be silly marketing buzzwords, but they actually have a valid meaning in this case. The keys have a very functional, tactile feel in part due to their low profile.

The hyper-responsiveness also extends to speed. Razer created 1000Hz Ultrapolling (granted, another marketing buzzword) that makes the system respond lightning quick to a pressed key. You couldn’t sense those individual tiny 1 ms actions, but they do add up when you’re playing at top speed. For skilled gamers, that’s a real advantage.

All gamers will appreciate the anti-ghosting feature. “Anti-ghosting” disables the repeating keystroke from holding down the key that is standard function on normal keyboards. The Arctosa also allows you to disable the Windows key to eliminate accidentally being thrown out of gaming mode during active play.

One thing is missing and gamers are likely to separate into two groups of “bummer” and “don’t care” over it. Unlike its big brother, the Lycosa, there’s no backlighting feature. For those who enjoy playing in the dark, or just like the cool factor of a lit-up keyboard, that will be a disappointment. The black lettering on black keys doesn’t help, either. Others will appreciate the lower price that results from leaving that feature off.

The Razer Arctosa is not the company’s top of the line gaming keyboard; it wasn’t intended to be. But at this price, you wouldn’t expect it to be. Nevertheless it does have some great features.

Read what other users of the Razer Arctosa have to say about it:

Keith J.,
“Slick looking, key response is lightning fast and nice basic design for gamers who want better response and macro options without a million extra buttons and extra bulk to take up desk space. The customization software is powerful if not a little confusing but does allow the media buttons to automatically adjust to most popular media players with a simple selection. The best feature is the ability to turn off the annoying windows buttons quickly and easily… ” Read full review

Yang Z.,
“The keyboard is relatively small and slim in form factor and looks pretty decent; the key-press depth is pretty good as well. Typing on this keyboard actually feels pretty good to me, but that’s ultimately just a matter of personal opinion. One thing I do like is that the keyboard doesn’t slide around on my desk like my old one used to – it seems more or less glued down to the desk. Don’t seem to notice any ghosting issues when playing Mass Effect 2, but perhaps in a more intensive game like Counter Strike it could become an issue. Razer claims to have anti-ghosting around the gaming cluster though. At least it is a decent looking keyboard, and will serve the basic purpose of typing and a bit of light gaming, but I still feel for $40 worth of keyboard, I should have gotten a much more solid product than this.” Read full review

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Microsoft Sidewinder X6 Review by Peter Brennon

My Overall Rating:

Save on the Microsoft Sidewinder X6 gaming keyboard for a limited time at Amazon.com!

The Microsoft Sidewinder X6 isn’t the latest gaming keyboard out of Redmond. Despite the backwards numbering scheme, the X4 is newer.

But even at over two years old, this unit is a serious competitor to models by Logitech and Razer. With the Sidewinder X6, the company is clearly aiming at serious gamers.

Their aim is accurate.

The X6 has that cool factor that all gamers – even those who say they’re interested only in function – find irresistible. It’s slick, sleek, and all around sexy looking. For all that, it’s a bit large at 20.2 inches wide by 9.22 inches deep. Not quite as large as the Logitech G510 (21″ x 9.9″), but it does require some real estate. Into that large rectangle Microsoft has placed some of the most desired gaming keyboard features around.

Watch this great review of the Microsoft Sidewinder X6 gaming keyboard

Buy and save on the Microsoft Sidewinder X6 at Amazon.com!

The X6 offers a feature no other gaming keyboard we know of has: a removable key pad. Apart from that ever-important cool factor (who doesn’t like gear with moveable parts?), it lets you reduce the size with a tug. Raising the cool – and function – factor still higher, it attaches via a magnetic contact to either side of the keyboard. Finally, left-handed gamers (or just individualists) get something just for them.

That keypad holds 30 programmable “S” keys in a well-thought out rectangle. (Hey, they had to call them something other than Logitech’s “G” keys, right?) They feel good, too, with a tactile feedback as good as anything on the market. A matter of taste? Sure. Judge for yourself.

It’s a breeze to record personalized macros on the fly. Press the Macro Record button. Then press the S-key that you want to use for the keystroke series. Then tap any sequence of keystrokes you want. You’ve just created a set of actions tailored to your individual game and style of play.

The “cruise control” feature adds to that uniqueness by allowing you to combine up to any four key presses into a single keystroke. That’s like having WASD anywhere on your keyboard. There’s also a Quick Launch button that initiates Game Explorer in Vista or the Intellitype app in Windows XP.

The software lets you assign specific functions for a range of popular games. Load the game and those individual customizations are loaded automatically at the same time.

With a 1-2-3 profile key on the upper left you have near-instant access to a dizzying array of options. Just to the right there are small 1-2-3 lights that illuminate to show you clearly which mode you’re in. It will very quickly become an indispensable visual indicator to help optimize your game.

The backlighting scheme is also exceptionally well done. Standard keys glow red; the keypad and programmable buttons show up in amber, another great visual aid for optimal gaming. The intensity is adjustable by a large knob at the top, making personalization effortless. Just to its right is an equally handy, equally ginormous Volume control knob.

The guys in Redmond may make a mediocre operating system – ok, maybe that’s another matter of personal taste – but most gamers will agree they make one heckuva gaming keyboard. The Microsoft Sidewinder X6 is proof.

Read what other users of the Microsoft Sidewinder X6 have to say about it:

Brett S.,
“I received this keyboard today and have had nothing but good experiences with it so far!! The back light is bright but not offensive; the numberpad/macropad easily switches between sides and removes completely when not needed; macros are easy to program, though the macro programing ui could be a bit better. The different modes makes it easy to turn off buttons that annoy me during game play (windows key, app key) without remapping them or using custom keybinding software. All in all I love this thing and can’t wait to play more games with it!! If you’re in the market for an illuminated gaming keyboard that provides plenty of options, this is the one!… ” Read full review

Paul K.,
“I have owned a number of keyboards, and this is by far the best. The simple reason is that it is a gaming keyboard that allows the number keypad to be placed on the left side of the keyboard. I am right handed, so this may seem a strange reason to recommend this keyboard, but ergonomically moving out the keypad puts the main part of the keyboard and the mouse closer together. You don’t reach far to move the mouse. For regular and gaming use this is a big win. As a gaming keyboard it is fine, and the keys feel adequate (not stellar). If Logitech made a keyboard with this break-off keypad design it would beat the Microsoft keyboard in most respects… ” Read full review

Get the Microsoft Sidewinder X6 gaming keyboard at a discount for a limited time at Amazon.com!