Razer Deathstalker Ultimate Review
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Published: 23rd January 2013 | Source: Razer | Price: £250 |
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When your keyboard looks this spectacular, you don't need much frippery to attract the passers-by, and the Deathstalker certainly catches the eye. If anything the "tri-colour backlit keys" is doing a disservice to the abilities of it.
As a non-mechanical keyboard the Deathstalker is extremely low profile. The Switchblade part (the screen and touchpad) replace where a standard numeric keypad would be, but there is an app that replicates it so you're not losing it as such. With such a flat keyboard the feet are important for ergonomics and they raise the Deathstalker just enough to be comfortable both for typing and using the touchpad.
Our model is a US layout so a couple of keys aren't where we'd expect them, but we're used to that. On the left hand side are five macro keys which, similar to the Blackwidow. Given the abilities of the Switchblade interface you're more likely to utilise these for those instant macros you need in FPS games or other titles where you can't let go of the mouse.
The touchpad seems fairly benign when you look at it without any power. It's definitely worth the wait though to see it lit up, we promise.
We said at the top how flat the Deathstalker is, and this nearly highlights it. Short-travel keys with no dips or curves. It looks very futuristic. Pictures, as always, never do it justice.
The cable is, as you'd expect from a Razer keyboard, and especially one at this price point, extremely high quality with an outstanding braid job.
Most Recent Comments
Nonetheless; Good review
I'm thinking that touch pad area might be handy for game development...
Just needs some better apps added and its a winner. Id use it.....
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Originally Posted by MrKambo
now this is one amazing keyboard, but without actually using one dont think i could justify the £250 price tag, shame i dont have a store around me that might have this on display
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£250!! Fook that!
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Originally Posted by SPS
Ohhh... I could have sworn when I looked at the review it said £119.99.
£250!! Fook that! |
The keyboard looks AMAZING, but they've taken away a (somewhat) useful part of the keyboard (the numberpad) and added on something that is virtually useless.
I'm sorry, but I'd rather have nothing than have that touchpad, no matter how nice it looks. At least a tenkeyless keyboard has the advantage of giving your mouse an extra 5 inches of space to move around on.
Then again, it's really pretty.
The numpad thing is actually a non-issue besides the alt codes. The app replicates one perfectly, and there is a side-mode that modifies it to just directions. You really don't notice that it's not a "real" one at all. I only notice because, as part of my regular writings here, I have to use the alt symbols a lot.
Trust me, the pad and apps are incredible. If you look at it as an extra £150 for a 4" touch screen, applications, 10 Optimus style keys, and all the fun of a Synaptics touchpad it becomes a LOT more palatable. Like so many of the high-end reviews here at OC3D, until you've used it you just see the huge price and think it can't offer enough over a more cost-effective option.
Sure it's expensive as you like, but how much of your life is spent using the keyboard? Using a cheap keyboard is like buying a 22" TN monitor to put your SLI 680s through. Put the money down on an awesome keyboard and mouse and your hands will thank you.
All of that and not once did I make a comparison between buying a Focus and a Bentley. Damn...
The wristrest is too small for my liking, the keys are too flat and it's not mechanical! D:
250-80 = 170 Quid! Just for that touch screen? No thanks, I'll use my phone
You can literally buy either 3 regular edition keyboards for that, or 3 Corsair K60s ... or 3 CM Storm Quickfires
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Originally Posted by VonBlade
The numpad thing is actually a non-issue besides the alt codes.
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Originally Posted by VonBlade
Trust me, the pad and apps are incredible.
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Originally Posted by VonBlade
Using a cheap keyboard is like buying a 22" TN monitor to put your SLI 680s through.
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That's where my gripe is. For all the flashy features, I don't see anything that I can't already do better with equipment I already have. If I wanted to drop 250 quid on a keyboard, I'd probably pick up a HHKB 2 Pro.
I do think it's a cool concept, though. This just makes way WAY more sense in the Razer Blade than it does on my desk.
i was going to put some money down on the Standard deathstalker but now i have to rethink
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