Can't really speak for the new ones, but my 2011 is actually really well built compared with my other boards. Sure the keycaps are dreadful, but the thing is made like a tank. Unlike my DAS and QFR, the keyboard is screwed on to the back housing with ~8 screws, and another 5 keep the top bezel firmly on in addition to the tabs. No squeaks, rattles, and no play in the case (unlike my Realforce 87U), and never missed a beat.
Is the case still solid on newer ones?
Credit should also to be given for bringing a $100 - $150 (in Canada anyways) mechanical keyboard with MX Blue/Brown and backlight options to mainstream local stores back at a time before anyone else did. That allowed me to try it and was a bit of a risk for them. Now that they tested the waters, others have followed suit.
Having said that, my Razer Imperator mouse drives me crazy sometimes as it'll randomly only track one axis.
The keyboard was heavy. How much of that is due to thickness in the case, I'm not sure.
In general it still felt very plastic (though like you mentioned, better than the QFR)
I just didn't get the premium feel of a keyboard that after tax cost me $190.
The only Realforce board I owned was the 89s (Japanese layout) and that felt extremely solid.
Right now I have the HHKB which cost me about the same as the Blackwidow (of course they're targeted at completely different markets)
If the keyboard had been in the sub$90 range I would have been a lot more lenient on it but between the switches (whether they were faulty or just a product of using knockoff switches) and the keycaps (it was the first time I felt physically sick due to keycaps. Though the PBT caps on the poker 2 were also really awful for me, just not as bad) I definitely did not feel it was worth its price or anywhere near it.
I imagine if it still had blues I would have enjoyed it a lot more as even if I'm opposed to using blues, they would not have been nearly as bad.
Can't really speak for the new ones, but my 2011 is actually really well built compared with my other boards. Sure the keycaps are dreadful, but the thing is made like a tank. Unlike my DAS and QFR, the keyboard is screwed on to the back housing with ~8 screws, and another 5 keep the top bezel firmly on in addition to the tabs. No squeaks, rattles, and no play in the case (unlike my Realforce 87U), and never missed a beat.
Is the case still solid on newer ones?
Credit should also to be given for bringing a $100 - $150 (in Canada anyways) mechanical keyboard with MX Blue/Brown and backlight options to mainstream local stores back at a time before anyone else did. That allowed me to try it and was a bit of a risk for them. Now that they tested the waters, others have followed suit.
Having said that, my Razer Imperator mouse drives me crazy sometimes as it'll randomly only track one axis.
The keyboard was heavy. How much of that is due to thickness in the case, I'm not sure.
In general it still felt very plastic (though like you mentioned, better than the QFR)
I just didn't get the premium feel of a keyboard that after tax cost me $190.
The only Realforce board I owned was the 89s (Japanese layout) and that felt extremely solid.
Right now I have the HHKB which cost me about the same as the Blackwidow (of course they're targeted at completely different markets)
If the keyboard had been in the sub$90 range I would have been a lot more lenient on it but between the switches (whether they were faulty or just a product of using knockoff switches) and the keycaps (it was the first time I felt physically sick due to keycaps. Though the PBT caps on the poker 2 were also really awful for me, just not as bad) I definitely did not feel it was worth its price or anywhere near it.
I imagine if it still had blues I would have enjoyed it a lot more as even if I'm opposed to using blues, they would not have been nearly as bad.
It would be interesting to see people talk about actually failed Razers, but there doesn't seem to be many around.
As I observed on another thread, I have never known anyone's Razer to totally break down or fail. (I would consider one switch in an important position not working as keyboard failure also since that prevents you from using the keyboard.)
Now that I have just noticed this thread and some of the comments, I think I have figured Razer out.
-> The build is indeed OK. They may be cheapskates, but their keyboards are still plate mounted and soldered by the same OEMs that make many keyboards. Razer is not going to fall apart. They are not going to hire monkeys to solder, because they genuinely expect gamer kids to be rough and don't want to have people come to them for warranty.
Don't forget, one year of Razer being hammered 24-7 in a Korean cyber cafe, is equal to 10 years of a Filco being typed in a standard white collar office.
-> They have been cheap with many other parts intentionally. EG with the rubber feet and the easily scratched casing. Most gamer kids want something new every Christmas. Even though their Razer is far from death, they will use the fact that there are scratches and lost legs to ask for new presents.
Again thats why you can see Razers dated by year, because Razer wants to put pressure on the kids to keep updating their keyboards and not be 'left behind' by their peers.
In contrast, no other maker brands their keyboards by year. EG Filcos don't have year. Ducky has only model number and some special editions. And so on.
From what I've observed visiting lots of other forums ("lots") and one in particular where users buy a lot of garbage just by brand name, what you say does hold true, mainly your second point.
The products don't fall apart as much as specific components are built to fail it seems.
I've owned a handful of Razer products myself and read about them enough.
Their headsets sound awful, even their $200 Razer kraken.
The one mousepad I owned from them was one of the biggest wasted of money I've ever tried (Razer vespula). It somehow managed to scratch within a few weeks and ruined the glide pads on my mouse. Inexcusable for a $45 mouse pad.
I've owned two of their mice. The first was the naga hex that felt really cheap in hand (ergonomically was fine). The naga hex is also known for having click issues.
The second mouse being the deathadder which at the average sale price of $40 is fine for build though like the naga hex has a low average lifespan it seems.
I owned my 2013 edition for 4 months, taking extreme care of it. I sold it to someone online and within two weeks of him receiving it the mouse had broken. I'm not sure what he did to it but when I sent it to him it was basically like new in box.
It may be noted that the majority of my real life friends are gamers so between them lending me products from different brands and the demos from the retailers I get a pretty decent sense of the Razer products.
As for the comment about naming by year, it's most likely in respect to the swag factor that's common in the age group they're targeting. Like your second point, most of the time they won't just completely break, but develop nuisances regularly. "Oh my mouse double clicks every now and then"
While this is generally inexcusable to myself, the people buying it may just consider normal as the product ages (source: my experience discussing the topic with the target audience on other forums). So between "swag factor" between peers and the developed nuisance they're pressured to "upgrading" every year (like you said).
But it's really the combination of the various factors that does it and the ignorance of the buyers to actually read real reviews on the products they're buying.