Console to Computer Gaming..? Made the Switch... Now only if a keyboard..

[jonlsmith]

I've just recently within the past week and a half ago or so picked up SWTOR. To my unexpectedness, I'm absolutely in love. Its still going slow for me, as I'm normally just a console gamer. My roommate has been trying to get me to take full use of my custom built computer I bought from him for quite some time. I've never actually played an MMO, normally just console RPGs and Action-RPGs. (UNLESS YOU COUNT DIABLO 2 ) Well, after a short while of deciding to commit to 90 days of SWTOR and seeing where it went, I bought a new mouse (the Razer Naga). I honestly absolutely love it.

 

Along with a new mouse I bought a Cyber Snipa gaming pad for absolutely dirt cheap. I was assuming that the transition would be more comfortable from console to PC if there was a dedicated gaming platform for controls. I was wrong.. I got the pad for roughly 10$ so its not that big of a loss, but I was thinking that this pad would confirm/ deny the viability of the Steelseries Merc Stealth that I was anxious about. There are some similarities that have led me astray from this keyboard now and decided its time to "put on my big boy pants" and use the keyboard. I'm using a 15$ microsoft keyboard at the moment that is horrid. I've been wanting to upgrade for quite some time anyways.

 

THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN:

 

I've done some research as far as what type of gaming keyboard would be the most suitable. I'm not quite sure which would be the best value. I have a range of spending from roughly $50 - $100. Below is a list that I have compiled that I've found to be the best value, but rather than taking the leap, anyone else have some input? I've read countless other forum and there has been some rather wide discretion concerning feedback. The keyboard will be primarily used for SWTOR as far as gaming goes. I am just reluctant to go full-out gaming mechanical keyboard for the sake of typing. I use CAD drafting quite a bit and type on my keys constantly. I poked around Best Buy earlier today and found the keys on the Razer Blackwidow to be rather enjoyable, but not sure how they would be to type on.

 

From my reading, the "brown" and "red" keys are better happy mediums between Black and Blue. I haven't quite committed fully to a mechanical keyboard, but it seems the most logical route. I do have a distinct love for backlit things (neon blue computer case, clear blue glowing xbox controller, new Razer Naga, and the Cyber Snipa pad). It shouldn't dissuade me, but I'm a sucker for flash

 

Anyways, here's the list below that I've narrowed down. Please sell me on one or two so that I may maintain my sanity, and commit to a keyboard.

 

 

- Razer BlackWidow Stealth

- Tt eSPORTS CHALLENGER ULTIMATE

- ROCCAT Isku Illuminated

- Logitech G510

- Microsoft Razer Reclusa

- Razer Lycosa

- Razer Arctosa

- Logitech G110

- Microsoft Sidewinder x6

- Saitek Eclipse

 

 

I know its quite the list. I just have problems committing lol. I've seen countless others, but have been able to narrow it down to 10! (~pat on my own back)

 

Thanks for the input!

[Gruug]

Before I comment on keyboards......just let me say that consoles would be so much better if you could use a keyboard and mouse. Or, correction to that, if the consoles shipped with a keyboard and mouse and the games took advantage of them. Of course if they did that, then consoles would no longer be considered consoles but rather what they actually are...keyboard-less and mouse-less computers.

 

Anyway, I have a G510. I have also have a Razer keyboard in the past. Both are good keyboards but for quality I would pick the G510 over the Razer. My personal preference I am sure. The problem I had with the Razer was that the keyboard keys were "painted" black and the paint kept wearing off. The G510 appears to be "molded" in the color and so far has not deteriorated as quickly (at all so far). Beyond that, they are both good keyboards.

[Knockerz]

Good choice switching to the darkside.

 

Now hopefully Sony and Microsoft decided to add that function that doesn't let you play used games to their next generation system to deter more players from buying those systems and instead decided to play games on a computer. :jawa_evil:

[EvilZeRo]

g510 is the best in that list the LCD is great if you use vent alot or listen to lots of music

 

razor stuff is ok but its a bit flimsy and doesn't last anywhere near as long.

Edited April 7, 2012 by EvilZeRo

[jonlsmith]

Before I comment on keyboards......just let me say that consoles would be so much better if you could use a keyboard and mouse. Or, correction to that, if the consoles shipped with a keyboard and mouse and the games took advantage of them. Of course if they did that, then consoles would no longer be considered consoles but rather what they actually are...keyboard-less and mouse-less computers.

 

Anyway, I have a G510. I have also have a Razer keyboard in the past. Both are good keyboards but for quality I would pick the G510 over the Razer. My personal preference I am sure. The problem I had with the Razer was that the keyboard keys were "painted" black and the paint kept wearing off. The G510 appears to be "molded" in the color and so far has not deteriorated as quickly (at all so far). Beyond that, they are both good keyboards.

 

Yeah, Logitech and Razer were both sticking out there alot. I've used many logitech products in the past and have had no serious quarrels. The recent Razer Naga purchase for a mouse though seemed to legitimatize them though too.

 

Good choice switching to the darkside.

 

Now hopefully Sony and Microsoft decided to add that function that doesn't let you play used games to their next generation system to deter more players from buying those systems and instead decided to play games on a computer. :jawa_evil:

 

The Dark Side? Is that what this is...? :X I'm a die heart light-sider (as uncommon as that may be nowadays) So don't unconvince me

 

And I'm not sure I want that to happen! That would be a cold turkey drop!

 

 

g510 is the best in that list the LCD is great if you use vent alot or listen to lots of music

 

razor stuff is ok but its a bit flimsy and doesn't last anywhere near as long.

 

Noted! But have you used a mechanical keyboard rather than the membrane ones on the list?

 

BTW, after more scrutiny, my decision has lowered down to the following:

 

- Razer BlackWidow Stealth

- Tt eSPORTS CHALLENGER ULTIMATE

- ROCCAT Isku Illuminated

- Logitech G510

- Razer Anansi (was talked out of the lycosa by my roommate)

- Microsoft Sidewinder x6

 

All so tempting!

Edited April 7, 2012 by jonlsmith

[Yakito]

I'd go for Logitech, I don't like brands that I have no experience with. I trust Logitech though.

[EvilZeRo]

mechanical keyboards are good also but id still atm prefer my g510

 

over the years ive used alot of brands keyboards/mouse

 

Microsoft are normally ok but they lack features or performance.

 

Razer are ok but the quality is low (easy to wearout/break) but a razor deathadder is a good budget mouse if you want a good gaming mouse on the cheap.

 

Thermaltake keyboards/mice are pritty average not good not bad just in the middle

 

Saitek make good steering wheels and joysticks but the mice arnt as good.

 

Logitech are the best brand for gaming sure they have their problems (like logos wearing off mice and headset foam wearing out or the coating comming off) but that stuff is very minor problems they are by far the best quality made stuff.

 

they are also great with support and software too.

 

 

 

my current gear is:

1 logitech g9x mouse

2 logitech g35 headset

1 logitech g510 keyboard

1 logitech g15 keyboard

1 razer deathadder mouse

1 logitech 3d pro joystick

1 microsoft wireless xbox 360 controller with wireless receiver (to connect it to the pc)

 

overall the mouse/keyboard and headset if i broke it tomorrow id replace it with the same item the g9x/g510/g35 best combo for gaming.

 

i do recommend getting a good mouse mat tho for that id recommend a Razor Vespula the one thing razor does best is mousemats.

 

and you can get swtor/mass effect 3 branded ones if you so choose.

Edited April 7, 2012 by EvilZeRo

[jonlsmith]

mechanical keyboards are good also but id still atm prefer my g510

 

Hmm, the LCD intrigues me for sure. What sort of stuff do you display on there personally? Do you know if there are some third party display programs that will utilize it for SWTOR? I seen the list was rather short honestly and that's why I couldn't commit to that one yet.

[Keldain]

I love Razor myself. I use the Razor Anansi, which has served me well since it came out and put it through a lot of abuse.

 

I don't know about the specific keyboards you've posted however I can give you some general advice:

 

1. Something I didn't follow, but is generally agreed upon by almost everyone that's serious about gaming on the PC, mechanical keybaords are awesome. If any of the keyboards you listed are mechanical move them to the top (mechanical keyboards are louder than normal keyboards though - they have "clicky" keys, so be warned - but they are much more durable and precise).

 

2. Illuminated keyboards are nice to have. I'd put any that have illumination near the top if you like to play in the dark.

 

3. SWTOR has a lot of keybindings. You want a keyboard with programmable keys and extra programmable buttons if you can get it. Check that the extra buttons are in a place were you can get to them easily.

 

4. An LCD display is a fun addon, but not essential.

 

5. Your choice of mouse, which you made well with the Naga, is probably much more important than your choice of keyboard. So don't sweat it too much.

 

6. Don't discount specialised gaming controllers like the Razer Nostromo or Logitech G-13. A lot of people swear by them. Esepcially if you're not yet used to playing with a keyboard anyway the learning curve may be reduced for you. Obviously you'd still need a keyboard for standard computing tasks - but you could go for a bog-standard keyboard for that and use the Nostromo or G-13 for gaming.

[EvilZeRo]

Hmm, the LCD intrigues me for sure. What sort of stuff do you display on there personally? Do you know if there are some third party display programs that will utilize it for SWTOR? I seen the list was rather short honestly and that's why I couldn't commit to that one yet.

 

i use it for displaying what songs are playing when im playing music and in vent it displays whos talking/connecting/disconnecting ect ect but theres tons of things you can display on it.

 

also a good thing about the g510 is you can choose what back light color you want on the keyboard it isnt just one set color like most.

[jonlsmith]

I don't know about the specific keyboards you've posted however I can give you some general advice:

 

1. Something I didn't follow, but is generally agreed upon by almost everyone that's serious about gaming on the PC, mechanical keybaords are awesome. If any of the keyboards you listed are mechanical move them to the top (mechanical keyboards are louder than normal keyboards though - they have "clicky" keys, so be warned - but they are much more durable and precise).

 

2. Illuminated keyboards are nice to have. I'd put any that have illumination near the top if you like to play in the dark.

 

3. SWTOR has a lot of keybindings. You want a keyboard with programmable keys and extra programmable buttons if you can get it. Check that the extra buttons are in a place were you can get to them easily.

 

 

Thanks! Very helpful advice to be honest! 2 out of the top 3 in the list of 6 are mechanical. I'm just not sure about mechanical for typing and drafting situations. Also, all the other ones are at least illuminated! With the keybindings though, is that a macro type button set? Or just reprogramming of keys? (if so how do you set this up in SWTOR?)

 

 

Thermaltake keyboards/mice are pritty average not good not bad just in the middle

 

Saitek make good steering wheels and joysticks but the mice arnt as good.

 

Logitech are the best brand for gaming sure they have their problems (like logos wearing off mice and headset foam wearing out or the coating comming off) but that stuff is very minor problems they are by far the best quality made stuff.

 

my current gear is:

1 logitech g9x mouse

2 logitech g35 headset

1 logitech g510 keyboard

1 logitech g15 keyboard

1 razer deathadder mouse

1 logitech 3d pro joystick

1 microsoft wireless xbox 360 controller with wireless receiver (to connect it to the pc)

 

 

That's a lot of Logitech! I've used a lot of their general equipment before and had no quarrels, but had no real experience with their gaming features. Also, Thermaltake is middle ground? I had assumed they were like upper platform. And regarding the saitek, their affiliation with Mad Catz kind of scares me. =/

 

and in vent it displays whos talking/connecting/disconnecting ect ect but theres tons of things you can display on it.

 

also a good thing about the g510 is you can choose what back light color you want on the keyboard it isnt just one set color like most.

 

What do you mean by "in vent?" But i noticed that bout the back lighting which was a huge plus+

Edited April 7, 2012 by jonlsmith

[iResist]

 

 

 

What do you mean by "in vent?" But i noticed that bout the back lighting which was a huge plus+

 

Vent (full name Ventrilo) is a program for the computer used to communicate with other people using a mic.

 

Some PC games have a voice talk feature built into their game, but many don't, so many gamers use Ventrilo to talk to each other.

Edited April 7, 2012 by iResist

[EvilZeRo]

That's a lot of Logitech! I've used a lot of their general equipment before and had no quarrels, but had no real experience with their gaming features. Also, Thermaltake is middle ground? I had assumed they were like upper platform. And regarding the saitek, their affiliation with Mad Catz kind of scares me. =/

 

 

 

What do you mean by "in vent?" But i noticed that bout the back lighting which was a huge plus+

 

i buy the logitech stuff because in my experience they are the best quality and best performance.

 

my main gaming gear is the g9x mouse the g510 keyboard a g35 headset and a razor vespula mouse pad those 4 items are the best quality ive ever seen.

 

the g15 is my old keyboard i use on my file server along with the death adder and one of the g35's (which i won in a comp)

 

the joystick was 20 bux at a huge ebgames sale

[jonlsmith]

Vent (full name Ventrilo) is a program for the computer used to communicate with other people using a mic.

 

Some PC games have a voice talk feature built into their game, but many don't, so many gamers use Ventrilo to talk to each other.

 

Nice, haven't found too many people on there to play with other than the occasional random group. If I get into more serious parties, I'll consider, Ventrilo! Noted.

 

i buy the logitech stuff because in my experience they are the best quality and best performance.

 

my main gaming gear is the g9x mouse the g510 keyboard a g35 headset and a razor vespula mouse pad those 4 items are the best quality ive ever seen.

 

the g15 is my old keyboard i use on my file server along with the death adder and one of the g35's (which i won in a comp)

 

the joystick was 20 bux at a huge ebgames sale

 

Hm, yeah, I can't bring myself to take the logitech off the list. But here's it slightly more narrowed down!

 

- Razer BlackWidow Stealth

- Tt eSPORTS CHALLENGER ULTIMATE

- ROCCAT Isku Illuminated

- Logitech G510

- Razer Anansi (was talked out of the lycosa by my roommate)

[face_hindu]

- Razer BlackWidow Stealth

- Tt eSPORTS CHALLENGER ULTIMATE

- ROCCAT Isku Illuminated

- Logitech G510

- Razer Anansi (was talked out of the lycosa by my roommate)

 

I would say, don't waste your money on a keyboard.

 

I recommend the Logitech G13. Especially for a console gamer... but really, it is superior to any keyboard, regardless of your background.

 

G13 + Steelseries Sensei. I think that is the ideal combination for an MMO. I would not trade either for any other peripherals.

 

Seriously, look at a G13 over a keyboard.

Edited April 7, 2012 by face_hindu

[Loxion]

then consoles would no longer be considered consoles but rather what they actually are...keyboard-less and mouse-less computers.

 

You forgot a word in there....

 

"substandard keyboard-less and mouse-less computeres"

 

The only time consoles are even comparable to computers in hardware capability is when they are first released, they very very rapidly fall behind the drag curve.

[Shingara]

One thing to remember is that new and more expensive doesnt always mean better, you can spend hundreds and still have a keyboard as good as something a few years ago was top of the range but is now cheap as chips.

 

A G11 is a cracking board and almost indestructable and you can trust me on that, my dog has burried mine twice now and it still works. And logitech make some amazing peripherals for what they charge, they put razer to shame.

Edited April 7, 2012 by Shingara

[QuinteX]

- Logitech G510

 

I got myself one of these ****** keyboards on release day and have yet to encounter a problem with it. I simply love it. But i think it all comes down to personal preferences to be honest. But i tell you, i LOVE my G510.

[jonlsmith]

- Logitech G510

 

I got myself one of these ****** keyboards on release day and have yet to encounter a problem with it. I simply love it. But i think it all comes down to personal preferences to be honest. But i tell you, i LOVE my G510.

 

Yeah, I have been seeing a lot of people recommending the G510, I've narrowed it down even further and included it. I'm still not sure if it would be better than the Tt eSPORTS CHALLENGER ULTIMATE. I haven't heard to much feed back on that brand.

 

I would say, don't waste your money on a keyboard.

 

I recommend the Logitech G13. Especially for a console gamer... but really, it is superior to any keyboard, regardless of your background.

 

G13 + Steelseries Sensei. I think that is the ideal combination for an MMO. I would not trade either for any other peripherals.

 

Seriously, look at a G13 over a keyboard.

 

Hmm, I've had a few people tell me this, but my keyboard now is completely horrendous. I've needed one for quite some time. So rather than spending 60ish on the keypad and another 30 or so on a another better cheap keyboard, I'd just get one that could function for both.

 

- Tt eSPORTS CHALLENGER ULTIMATE

- ROCCAT Isku Illuminated

- Logitech G510

- Razer Anansi

 

Took off the ultimate stealth, feel like I could get equivalent quality for a lower price with these. Leaning towards the G510 I think!

[jonlsmith]

UPDATE:

 

After narrowing it down between the Logitech G510 and the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate, I went with the Logitech G510. Roughly 2 minutes after order, I decided to check the dimensions to ensure it would fit in my keyboard slot on my desk. Unfortunately the keyboard height is nearly twice the tray. Sooo, I hurried and cancelled my order and ordered the Ultimate BlackWidow for roughly 100$. That's about 10-12$ More than I decided on for the G510. I figured I'd lose out on multi-colored backlighting, along with more macros keys, but gain mechanical keys! As much as I've heard about Razer, if their product does anything to match the quality of my Razer Naga, I'll be content! Thanks again :]

 

 

Pending Victor (unless it disappointing me):

 

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate