Game-winning keyboards

The humble keyboard has evolved into one of the most used peripherals for playing games on the PC. Windows checks out three of the newest gaming models...

Logitech G15

Logitech's G15 keyboard is packed to the brim with gamer-friendly features, so if you're having trouble scoring in your favourite title, this is one piece of kit you'll definitely want to consider.

The most useful feature this keyboard boasts is that it allows you to create, store and execute key macros at the touch of a button; very useful in any game that requires a sequence of keys be pressed in quick succession to perform a move.

Best of all, you can create these macros on the fly, so you don't have to worry about quitting your game to program the keyboard. The G15 also sports a built-in LCD, known as a GamePanel, which can display game stats and other nuggets of crucial info.

Razer Tarantula

The Tarantula has been on the market for over a year now but its relative age doesn't affect its ability to compete with the other products on the market as it's just that good.

Like the Logitech G15 this black beauty can store and execute key macros, offering ten customisable hotkeys to the Logitech's six. The Tarantula also boasts top-notch ‘anti-ghosting' capabilities, allowing it to recognise up to ten keystrokes simultaneously.

(This means you can run and perform the complicated spells - those that utilise several keys - in a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG), with ease.

The Tarantula also features a whizzy 1ms response time and ‘1000Hz Ultrapolling', which means there's virtually no lag between when you hit a key and it being registered by the PC.

Microsoft Reclusa

The Reclusa is the result of a joint venture between Razer and Microsoft's hardware division. The outcome is a feature-packed keyboard that'll have you kicking butt in no time.

The Reclusa one ups the Tarantula on a number of fronts starting with its built-in ambient backlighting. Whereas the Tarantula has to be upgraded via an external light source, the Reclusa's keys are backlit out of the box (as are the Logitech G15's). (Besides aiding the visibility of keys in low light conditions, the deep blue backlight also looks ultra cool.)

The keyboard also has a total of 12 programmable gaming keys - versus ten on the Tarantula - split into six hotkeys, two 360-degrees jog dials and four bumper buttons.

These are positioned strategically at the keyboard's sides, making them easy-to-reach and use. The Reclusa also features on-the-fly sensitivity switching, allowing you to fine-tune how responsively the keyboard acts to inputs.

READERS' COMMENTS

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM