Mechanical spider. Testing the mechanical gaming keyboard Razer Blackwidow Ultimate
Technical characteristics
Type of keyboard: Mechanical
Number of keys: 104 main + 5 additional
Layout: Latin, Cyrillic,
Optimized for games
Poll frequency: 1000 Hz
Response time: 1 ms
Connection: wired
Backlight: blue-white, 5 modes
Interface: USB 2.0
Connectors: USB, audio
Dimensions: 47.5×17.1×3 cm
Weight: 1.5 kg
Price: 5200 rubles
The fashion for mechanical keyboards came to the gaming periphery market about a year ago, when devices with clicking long -speed keys announced almost simultaneously three companies at once – Steelseries, Razer and Thermaltake. But if Steelseries 6GV2 and TT Esports Mekag1 reached Russia relatively quickly (we tested them in Gamemany No. 12/159 and No. 4/163), then two mechanical keypots Razer – Blackwidow Ultimate and Blackwidow – came to us only now.
We hardly dragged a huge heavy box with a senior model to the test laboratory and appreciated whether to give for Blackwidow Ultimate twice as much as for other game “mechanics”.
The lap of a black widow
The keyboards are named after black widows – toxic spiders that live mainly in America. Females of this species devour after the fertilization of their males – for which they became famous for the whole world. We will not be surprised if it turns out that our Blackwidow Ultimate ate half of its delivery set: a set of additional causals is quite meager. With the exception of the keyboard itself, in the box you can find only an envelope with instructions, a catalog of products and other familiar waste paper. There is no disk with drivers and software and, unfortunately, there is no handle stand. Detailed instructions for installing and using the software have not been translated into Russian – as well as the section of the official site, from where it is proposed to download the drivers. However, the developers equalized the score, creating an intuitive software and completely Russifying it.
A little about technical characteristics. The usual PS/2 connection is not supported by PS/2. For the sake of macros and additional keys, engineers donated a function to process an infinite number of simultaneous presses – and this is one of the main advantages of mechanical keyboards.
But the function of suppressing phantom presses is declared-it allows you to correctly recognize pressing around the WASD block, even if many buttons are used at once. In addition, the computer recognizes six simultaneously clamped buttons, if there are no modifiers among them (“alt”, “ctrl”, “shift” and “tab”), and four – if there is.
Fatal beauty
Blackwidow Ultimate is a real alloy of ergonomics and style: glossy plastic of the case is complemented by rubberized keys, numbers and Latin characters are highlighted in blue and made by Razer branded print. Here, however, there is a side effect: this non -standard font will have to get used to it for a long time. So, the Latin “R” looks exactly like the Cyrillic “G”, which is only two keys to the right, and this is very confused.
At the same time, Blackwidow, in our opinion, is the most successful – with a low button "Enter". In this layout, next to the Z key, there is no inconvenient and useless Slash Dubler button, and the right button “Windows” is replaced by “FN”, which allows you to use multimedia functions combined with the corresponding keys. Using “FN”, you can turn off the “Windows” button or save the macro on the fly (a special mode is launched, during which all presses are recorded in macro, which can then be tied to any button, and all this is without vomiting in the software).
Additional macros buttons are located on the left edge, reinforced to the main block, so that they are easier to press. For the same purpose, a group of functional keys from “F1” by “F12” cost closer to each other. In addition, they are shifted a little to the right so that the “F1” button is located strictly above the “w” and it is easier to stretch from the combination of WSAD.
Particular attention deserves the design of indicators “Num Lock”, “Caps Lock” and “Scroll Lock”. They are made in the form of stylized icons, and these icons seem to flicker through the thickness of the case and perfectly harmonize with illuminated characters on the buttons. By the way, about the backlighting buttons – it can be just turned off, it can slowly flicker and can burn with three brightness levels.
Two USB wires go to the computer from BlackWidow-one for the keyboard, the other for backlighting-and two audio cables (audio ports and a USB hub are on the right side of the keyboard). The wires are covered in one woven winding – a modern standard; At the same time, the cable is very long, more than two meters, and quite flexible, does not interfere. On the bottom are non -slip rubber and retractable supports, which raise the housing a couple of centimeters (although the keyboard is already made with a slope to the user).
Unfortunately, there were no drawbacks. The sliding legs turned out to be very unstable, and if you lightly move the keyboard forward, they will develop and drop Blackwidow on a belly with a roar (by the way, so that this does not happen, some manufacturers make the legs transverse). In addition, the keyboard is distinguished by the iPad syndrome: the glossy surface is stuck at the moment, and from it I want to wash your fingerprints and divorces all the time.
However, these are trifles compared to the largest miss – unsuccessful backlight. On all buttons, only the upper characters are illuminated, the lower ones are applied with white paint. As a result, additional symbols on the digital keys and the icons of multimedia functions on the functional buttons were left without illumination, as if there would be a good part of the Cyrillic layout, with the exception of “x”, “k”, “g”, “e”, “e”, “e”, “ b "and" yu ", which is why the whole idea with illumination looks even more awkward. It turns out that using the keyboard in complete darkness will be convenient only to lovers of jokes.
Back to the mechanics
We have already mentioned that Blackwidow is a mechanical keyboard. But that's not all. Manufacturers of game mechanical keyboards usually use Cherry MX Black sweaters – quiet, with a soft move. And although noiselessness is considered the main advantage of Cherry MX Black, the manufacturer Blackwidow considers this property rather than a disadvantage than a dignity. Indeed, it is not always clear on the Baby -Cloud Keyboard whether the key has worked, which leads to double hackers and typos. As a result, Razer applied Cherry MX Blue sweaters. They have almost the same properties as MX Black, but at the same time click under a finger in the middle.
And since the choice of the keyboard is a purely individual business, there is a special hole in the Blackwidow box through which you can put clicking cursor keys. A trifle, but nice! However, we advise not to succumb to minute delight and, before buying, unpack the keyboard entirely and try to print it on it. The fact is that Blackwidow has a kind of keywide shape – tall and narrowed at the top. That is, the size of the button itself is standard, but the site on which the finger lies is less and a different shape. It doesn't matter to someone, but someone will not be able to print because of this.
About keys and macros
The software is made in a recognizable Razer style: the jagged edges and the branded black and green gamut. The interface is standard. There are three bookmarks in the window: “Assign the keys”, “Profile Management” and “Macro Management” – their names say for themselves.
It is very convenient to tune the keys. You can select the keyboard right on the image and hang on it the function of another button, tie macro or configure the launch of any EXE-file. The keys are also set up for a quick change in profiles. But multimedia functions will not be possible to reconfigure, and this is not necessary.
In total, the program supports up to 10 separate profiles, each of which contains its own keyboard settings and can be launched both manually and automatically at the start of some application.
The combinations of the keys in the macros are recorded both with a delay and without. In addition, you can tie up such commands of the operating system as “rolling all the windows” or “block the computer” to the macros.
Kill, Loot, Repeat
In fact, Blackwidow Ultimate showed itself – having played it for several hours, I no longer want to use another keyboard: the rubberized plastic and mechanical sweaters of Cherry MX Blue create an incredible effect. All additional keys that may be needed in the battle are in the reach of reach, pressing are practiced very clearly and obviously.
Someone may not have enough additional keys for macros, someone will not like that to control the player, you need to pinch two buttons instead of one, and someone will not be able to get used to the buttons of an unusual shape, but in general the ergonomics of the keyboard is extremely verified and simply can't fail to like. Yes, and the text is a pleasure: all this article was printed precisely on Blackwidow.
Despite some shortcomings, Razer Blackwidow Ultimate, perhaps one of the best game keyboards today. Great design and outstanding ergonomics – everything is in place and nothing more. In addition, a mechanical keyboard with backlight is a rarity. Yes, and it will last five times longer than its membrane goods (for nothing that it is five times more expensive): if we do not switch to, say, virtual interfaces or mouse controllers, who knows, maybe she may also be grandchildren It will fit!
Pros:
Great ergonomics
Stylish design
There is a backlight
clicking mechanical keys
Cons:
No lower symbols
A peculiar form of keys
A kind of font
glossy plastic is easily dirty
clicking mechanical keys
The youngest
Not everyone can afford to spend five thousand rubles on the keyboard. The developers understand this, so there is a relatively budget option on sale, Razer Blackwidow, without the word “Ultimate” in the title. The keyboard is not possible from the older model by the absence of audio and USB-shares on the housing and keyboard backlights (they could not refuse the logo backlighting in Razer).
The abandonment of these not too necessary options will save you about two thousand rubles – while all the functionality and ergonomics of the high -class mechanical gaming keyboard will remain. In addition, the usual Blackwidow will take not two USB connectors, but one. Well, if you are annoyed by Blackwidow Ultimate backlighting features described in detail on this page, but you still want to dare an expensive mechanical keyboard, then the younger version will be a real salvation for you.