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Mechanical keyboard a game changer

SINGAPORE — If you have ever watched a pro gamer play say, League Of Legends, you would have seen their hands fly across the keyboard, seeming to registering hundreds of key presses in a moment. While not all of us are able to become a man-machine hybrid, the use of a mechanical keyboard might be just the boost you need. Gaming company Razer has introduced a new mechanical keyboard, the BlackWidow Ultimate (picture).

SINGAPORE — If you have ever watched a pro gamer play say, League Of Legends, you would have seen their hands fly across the keyboard, seeming to registering hundreds of key presses in a moment. While not all of us are able to become a man-machine hybrid, the use of a mechanical keyboard might be just the boost you need. Gaming company Razer has introduced a new mechanical keyboard, the BlackWidow Ultimate (picture).

Mechanical keyboards are keyboards that use mechanical switches — think of the heavy, loud “clicky” keyboards from the 1980s. Most modern keyboards use membranes, which allow for thinner, quieter and even flexible keyboards, but some gamers swear by the speed and accuracy of mechanical keyboards.

This is not Razer’s first mechanical keyboard, but it does include something different: Razer said that it developed the mechanical switches for each key in the keyboard specifically for gaming.

While it touts lots of numbers to show why it is better than other mechanical switches out there, what you do need to know is that these switches work great.

The keyboard is extremely responsive and easy to use, with each click of a key an extremely satisfying feel. The comfort also means that prolonged use is not an issue, but with that said, this keyboard does not have the odd shape of some other ergonomic keyboards out there.

If you have used Razer’s older mechanical keyboards before, it is worth noting these are just a little easier to depress — which can make a difference in your gaming, especially if you are serious about it.

Moving back to a membrane keyboard on my work laptop was a pain, and everything just felt mushy. If you never thought using a keyboard could bring a smile to your face, it might be time to give a mechanical one a go.

And if you are keen on more silent gaming, Razer does have a Stealth “orange” version of the BlackWidow Ultimate, which does not come with the “clicky” sound.

However, Razer did not provide one for testing, so I cannot say if the experience is as good.

Priced at more than S$200, the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate is quite an expensive investment and does not come with many bells and whistles other than an extra USB port, backlighting, and earphone and microphone jacks. But if you have the budget, it is a great keyboard that works great for both gaming and work, and even has an added benefit: Marital life has improved, purely because I could no longer game or do work deep into the night, because the sounds from the keyboard will disturb my wife.

Or maybe I should just invest in some silent switches. ALVIN CHONG

The Razer BlackWidow Ultimate is now available at S$229.90.

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