Surely does looks like a nice hardware, I mean, just look at a comparison between an Costar made keyboard's hardware (Das Keyboard Model S) and this iOne Razer Blackwidow.
Wow, and they even cost the same! Props up for Razer, really...
I don't even know why gamers would pay for a Razer Blackwidow if they can buy for the US$ 120 range:
1. Cooler Master Trigger (which has 4 different models, with different Cherry MX switches each) which is made by Costar.
2. Thermaltake Meka G-Unit, also made by Costar.
3. Filco Majestouch-2, also made by Costar.
4. Ozone Strike (this one isn't cheap in the US, but is cheap in Europe and other countries) which is made by Costar.
5. Thermaltake Meka G1, also made by Costar.
So, there isn't a lack of options better than the Blackwidow, but why do people buy it? Appearance's sake and due to the Razer logo.
I don't even know why gamers would pay for a Razer Blackwidow if they can buy for the US$ 120 range:
1. Cooler Master Trigger (which has 4 different models, with different Cherry MX switches each) which is made by Costar.
2. Thermaltake Meka G-Unit, also made by Costar.
3. Filco Majestouch-2, also made by Costar.
4. Ozone Strike (this one isn't cheap in the US, but is cheap in Europe and other countries) which is made by Costar.
5. Thermaltake Meka G1, also made by Costar.
So, there isn't a lack of options better than the Blackwidow, but why do people buy it? Appearance's sake and due to the Razer logo.
You keep saying "Costar made". But I don't get why that's better. I've asked that before on here, and I didn't get any real answers, so I'm wondering if you could elaborate? What sources do you have, etc.? Is there a link already on this forum that you could point me to that would explain which is better than the other and why?
I'm not trying to stick up for Razer, so don't get me wrong. I just really don't get why folks bash them so hard when I've had one for a year + and it's worked fine and feels good. I have two QuickFire Rapids and I'm trying to decide which one to keep, but I can't tell that they are any better build than the Razer just by using them.
Also, the xpensive Razer is backlit (the Ultimate). I think that is what adds to the price of $140, since the Expert model (older model, not 2013) is only $70 now in some stores. That's the one I have btw. You can get the "old" version for close to $100 now though with backlighting, which at that price point isn't too bad. I do agree that Razer is overprice on their Ultimate line though. $140 is so expensive!
I'm trying out a BlackWidow Ultimate 2013, and I am going to return it. It is a great board, but I don't like it enough more to keep it for the price vs the Rapids. It isn't a quality thing though, for sure. I sure do love that backlighting though. The thing is so loud though that my wife would never be around me when I use it. Ha! ;D For some that might be a good thing, but we just got married recently so I want to keep her around a little longer.
I think the Azio and Corsair were actually made by iRocks, not iOne. Asides from the iOne Scorpius that has a layout vaugely like the Cherry 1800, they have always stuck with the 1.5 1 1.5 6 1.5 1 1 1.5 bottom row. iRocks on the other hand like to use all sorts of different bizzare keyspacing there. In regards to the Azio, yes it is hideous, but I haven't seen complaints about the build quality. As for the Corsair, all it's problems stem from incorporating rubber domes for absolutely no good reason which seems to be why there are so many behavior problems stemming from thier bizarre code they had to implement for the firmware to attempt to account for behavior chrachteristics of 2 wildly different switch types. Otherwise the build quality is quite nice.
iRocks is also likely the oem for the new Logitech, the backlight Rosewill model, and the upcoming CM TK.
if i had known then what i know now i would not have bought a bwu, however it has been a solid board since purchasing and everything works flawlessly.
i did however have to defile some ds cherry caps and swap out the ones that came with it- which makes it more tolerable aesthetically. it does have some serious backlit when turned to highest setting.
since being here for a while i know better now and what to buy and not buy :eek:
Most of the issues with iOne produced boards have to do with poor assembly. They are notorious for really, really bad soldering which is what causes so much failures. There used to be a bunch of photos of this on here on the old version of the site that showed how bad it was. Lots of solder joint that were big globs, some that bridged traces, soldermask all over everything, stray solder, and so on. Solder joint on the switch should look like a nice shiny tent, not a dull grey ball. Bad joint will break off easily, which will make at least that switch stop working, stray broken off solder can go anywhere and bridge something that could cause a short and fry the controller for example.
It's not isolated to the BW, but anything they have oem, like qpad, adesso, xarmor, tessoro, max and the dozen or so other rebrands they do.
I hope you don't send the board you don't like as rma just because you don't like it. That's not good to do. If you don't mind selling to Europe, I know a lot of people would potentially be willing to buy one as they can't easily get other switch type but black there.
Though I dislike Razer now, before I owned a Razer product I was a fan and wanted to try them out because they had so much selection with so many different cosmetic styles, I had to try them all! Even though my current mouse, the Razer Lachesis was a total bust and doesn't fit the hand very naturally at all. I am currently thinking about getting a new mouse and one of the ones on my list is the Razer Taipan, the successor of the Lachesis... But it is still very new, I think I will wait till I hear about the problems, a price drop, or when an upgraded version comes out a year from now. Yes, I know, I am a fool. Lol.
2013 version - matte case, green led, improved KRO. All the other cons are still present more than likely. Basically they took the stealth version and made it the general version, but kept with blues.
Though I dislike Razer now, before I owned a Razer product I was a fan and wanted to try them out because they had so much selection with so many different cosmetic styles, I had to try them all! Even though my current mouse, the Razer Lachesis was a total bust and doesn't fit the hand very naturally at all. I am currently thinking about getting a new mouse and one of the ones on my list is the Razer Taipan, the successor of the Lachesis... But it is still very new, I think I will wait till I hear about the problems, a price drop, or when an upgraded version comes out a year from now. Yes, I know, I am a fool. Lol.
I also dislike Razer, after buying some of their products (a ****ing bugged Razer Imperator and a Razer Deathadder which I paid more than my current Corsair M60, which is far far far better), but believe or not, based on the specs they used, the laser sensor (which isn't that god damn Philips Twin Eye) and the mouse style, I think that maybe the Raizer Taipan is indeed a good mouse.
But o' well, not like you can't really buy stuff as good as or maybe even better for less money...
Though I dislike Razer now, before I owned a Razer product I was a fan and wanted to try them out because they had so much selection with so many different cosmetic styles, I had to try them all! Even though my current mouse, the Razer Lachesis was a total bust and doesn't fit the hand very naturally at all. I am currently thinking about getting a new mouse and one of the ones on my list is the Razer Taipan, the successor of the Lachesis... But it is still very new, I think I will wait till I hear about the problems, a price drop, or when an upgraded version comes out a year from now. Yes, I know, I am a fool. Lol.
I also dislike Razer, after buying some of their products (a ****ing bugged Razer Imperator and a Razer Deathadder which I paid more than my current Corsair M60, which is far far far better), but believe or not, based on the specs they used, the laser sensor (which isn't that god damn Philips Twin Eye) and the mouse style, I think that maybe the Raizer Taipan is indeed a good mouse.
But o' well, not like you can't really buy stuff as good as or maybe even better for less money...
My Lachesis is kind of faulty. I figured out it was due to their software, lol.
No, same pcb can be used. Cherry does it quite often. For example use same pcb for vanilla 2KRO 3000 and 6KRO 3494, different firmware only.
for some spare parts.
Besides, the Razer Blackwidow isn't the biggest fiasco that came out from iOne...
XArmor keyboards are terrible based on the reviews I've seen and the Aziotech Levetron Mech4 was probably the worst thing they ever made.
+1
Btw the XArmor I gave to someone I hate is no longer working.
Good for him, he had it coming :-)
Besides, the Razer Blackwidow isn't the biggest fiasco that came out from iOne... XArmor keyboards are terrible based on the reviews I've seen and the Aziotech Levetron Mech4 was probably the worst thing they ever made.That's one of the ugliest looking keyboards I've seen in a while...who even conceived of such a horrific design? Anyways it's no mystery that Razer keyboards are just terrible. The only reason people buy them is either they are: inexperienced, fell for the aesthetics, backlighting, and/or the amount of advertising they do (which is A LOT, and they do it well). I can't tell you how many times I've had to go to a tech support forum on sites I go to and read how "my Razer BWU broke" or "X-Y-Z key is not working right". If they just fixed their quality control on the keyboards and switched OEM manufacturers, I'm sure they'd be a more respectable brand.Show Image(http://assets.hardwaresphere.com/uploads/2011/11/AZiO-Levetron-Mech4-Mechanical-Gaming-Keyboard.jpg)
Just check its reviews on Newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823839010
Most people aren't actually bashing Razer, but its OEM. The strange thing, is that no one defends Corsair's keyboards quality here, only occasionally you see a Razer fanboy getting mad at our opinions, but hey, why is there no one defending Corsair? Why no one defends the Aziotech Levetron Mech4? Why no one defends the Cooler Master Quickfire Pro units produced by iOne?
Besides, the Razer Blackwidow isn't the biggest fiasco that came out from iOne... XArmor keyboards are terrible based on the reviews I've seen and the Aziotech Levetron Mech4 was probably the worst thing they ever made.That's one of the ugliest looking keyboards I've seen in a while...who even conceived of such a horrific design? Anyways it's no mystery that Razer keyboards are just terrible. The only reason people buy them is either they are: inexperienced, fell for the aesthetics, backlighting, and/or the amount of advertising they do (which is A LOT, and they do it well). I can't tell you how many times I've had to go to a tech support forum on sites I go to and read how "my Razer BWU broke" or "X-Y-Z key is not working right". If they just fixed their quality control on the keyboards and switched OEM manufacturers, I'm sure they'd be a more respectable brand.Show Image(http://assets.hardwaresphere.com/uploads/2011/11/AZiO-Levetron-Mech4-Mechanical-Gaming-Keyboard.jpg)
Just check its reviews on Newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823839010
Most people aren't actually bashing Razer, but its OEM. The strange thing, is that no one defends Corsair's keyboards quality here, only occasionally you see a Razer fanboy getting mad at our opinions, but hey, why is there no one defending Corsair? Why no one defends the Aziotech Levetron Mech4? Why no one defends the Cooler Master Quickfire Pro units produced by iOne?
I'm surprised you can't feel a quality difference between the BW and the QFR.
I'm surprised you can't feel a quality difference between the BW and the QFR.
Then again, I even found a guy on the internet saying that the Razer Blackwidow's quality wasn't inferior to his Das Keyboard (but wait, he did made a five pages review, disassembled the thing and that was a review sample)... Ow well...
I'm surprised you can't feel a quality difference between the BW and the QFR.
Then again, I even found a guy on the internet saying that the Razer Blackwidow's quality wasn't inferior to his Das Keyboard (but wait, he did made a five pages review, disassembled the thing and that was a review sample)... Ow well...
it's 1 guy, outta how many of the "REST OF US" here who got screwed by RAZER...
I'm surprised you can't feel a quality difference between the BW and the QFR.
When I started looking for a mechanical keyboard earlier this year the first one (and only one) I found that matched my criteria was the BWU. It had to be mac layout (command/option, eject etc.) and backlit.Had you bought the BWU, your girlfriend/wife would've left you for a better man, a man with a "costar" built magical wonder.
I joined here and asked a few questions and did some research, and eventually settled on a Ducky Shine.
The only thing missing from the Ducky Shine was the eject key, but I installed a background app that put an icon on the menu bar that does eject (not that the optical drive in my Mac is especially reliable anyway).
Since then no worries at all. But I do wonder what life would have been like had I bought the BWU.
Lolz.. You probably would have bought 10 more board just to before you filled in the hole in which the BWU left you...When I started looking for a mechanical keyboard earlier this year the first one (and only one) I found that matched my criteria was the BWU. It had to be mac layout (command/option, eject etc.) and backlit.Had you bought the BWU, your girlfriend/wife would've left you for a better man, a man with a "costar" built magical wonder.
I joined here and asked a few questions and did some research, and eventually settled on a Ducky Shine.
The only thing missing from the Ducky Shine was the eject key, but I installed a background app that put an icon on the menu bar that does eject (not that the optical drive in my Mac is especially reliable anyway).
Since then no worries at all. But I do wonder what life would have been like had I bought the BWU.
Call me the day Razer Keyboards can handle stuff like this.
And hell, I'm pretty sure my Das Keyboard also works as a melee weapon.
I do know the Costar stabilizers are smoother / easier to press down than the Cherry stabilizers but using a Costar stabilizer over a Cherry won't raise my productivity any... the Cherry one just seems kinda mushy in comparison. I tend to ignore this.
Had you bought the BWU, your girlfriend/wife would've left you for a better man, a man with a "costar" built magical wonder.
I used a black widow for a few months in Seoul. I upgraded to my HHKB2 now that I have from here. I don't really miss it. I found the keys to be very large, and I found it to have a plastic like feel that my Filco never had. Got my Filco after fruitdealer won GSL Season 1 with it. Yayr.
Lol. Go on ebay and search up the BlackWidow and any other keyboard you want. How many of the Black Widows are sold "for parts" "as-is" "for parts not working"?I see none.
I do know the Costar stabilizers are smoother / easier to press down than the Cherry stabilizers but using a Costar stabilizer over a Cherry won't raise my productivity any... the Cherry one just seems kinda mushy in comparison. I tend to ignore this.
Having tried both stabilizers on a few boards (mostly MX Red), I felt very little difference between the two except when bottoming out. I couldn't speak for the Blackwidows or other iOne boards, but I don't notice any difference in travel other than the Cherry stabilizers feeling like they have less play in most cases.
I used a black widow for a few months in Seoul. I upgraded to my HHKB2 now that I have from here. I don't really miss it. I found the keys to be very large, and I found it to have a plastic like feel that my Filco never had. Got my Filco after fruitdealer won GSL Season 1 with it. Yayr.
A free keyboard from fruit dealer?
My fault. I stated something false.
Well after doing some research, I can no longer try to defend the BWU. Lots and lots of returns due to crappy defects, like LEDS going out, the board sits uneven, stuff like that. I retract my statement from before about this being an okay starter board - I would definitely check out the CM Storm keyboards and not consider a BWU at this point.
I'm currenly typing this on my BWU but it isn't easy. Sometimes i hit a key like "u" or "i" and it just doesn't register... sometimes i hit space bar and it does two spaces, or "y" comes out as yy... it's so hard to type anyything, and putting in my passwords is a nightmare, i usually have to tyype them somewhere where i can read it and then copyy and paste it. I will never buy another razer product ever again. I just ordered a Keycool 87 white led/cherry reds, based on the info from this site. Buyer beware on BWU.
My first mechanical was a Blackwidow. Am fairly sure it was one of the first recent mechanical keyboards to actually be out in Australia, so I had no other choice but that or rubber dome. It worked fine for over a year but now it sometimes does oo instead of o. Other than that, had no issues with it at all. I don't think it's as bad as some make out, mine sits flat, as for LED issues, don't the Pure and that stuff have some issues with LED as well?
Hmm maybe I was thinking of a different keyboard with led issues. Can't recall. Eitherway, yes, I feel like a f-wit for buying a BW from all the comments on here, but meh. Lol.My first mechanical was a Blackwidow. Am fairly sure it was one of the first recent mechanical keyboards to actually be out in Australia, so I had no other choice but that or rubber dome. It worked fine for over a year but now it sometimes does oo instead of o. Other than that, had no issues with it at all. I don't think it's as bad as some make out, mine sits flat, as for LED issues, don't the Pure and that stuff have some issues with LED as well?
The pure has "dim" leds, they don't usually go out though.
Hmm maybe I was thinking of a different keyboard with led issues. Can't recall. Eitherway, yes, I feel like a f-wit for buying a BW from all the comments on here, but meh. Lol.My first mechanical was a Blackwidow. Am fairly sure it was one of the first recent mechanical keyboards to actually be out in Australia, so I had no other choice but that or rubber dome. It worked fine for over a year but now it sometimes does oo instead of o. Other than that, had no issues with it at all. I don't think it's as bad as some make out, mine sits flat, as for LED issues, don't the Pure and that stuff have some issues with LED as well?
The pure has "dim" leds, they don't usually go out though.
Other than the mice, and certain mice only, I wouldn't touch Razer products with a ten-foot pole (and by that I mean actually buying them). I did test the BWU before I got my first Filco, and at that time I was considering both since my knowledge of mech keyboards was pretty much zero. I went to the shop where both keyboards were available for testing. Boy, was I shocked at the difference in the feel of the switches although both switches were blue.
Its not that the BWU is bad, especially when comparing to rubber domes(although now I do think it is), but in comparison to other mechanical keyboards on the market, it kinda falls short, and isn't much cheaper anyway. In the end I started with a filco brown, which led to a ducky brown, which led to a cherry red. I want more keyboards, but I know its not a justified purchase. On the other hand, if money wasn't a concern, the order of my next keyboard purchases would likely be... Unicomp Ultra Classic/Model M, Something-With-Alps, and a board which I will eventually want Ergo Clears with. No where near any razers.
Gotta catch them all right? I don't think I want to buy an IBM. Just the idea of a 30y.o. used keyboard... The rarity of these keyboards(there are more common ones but I haven't looked into it), and just the way it takes up space. I hear people say that it is the best keyboard of all time. Anyone else think that it is true?
Key chatter? Please do elaborate on this.. You mean the keys got noisier?
really is the censorship this forum that bad now?
shiiiiiii really>?Will do later on. It's weird, I first thought it was something stuck there, but it certainly seems like rust to me and it's in more than one spot, also where it should be smooth paint it looks like rust is breaking through underneath making it more textured.
any chance you can pull some caps and get a photo going MM?
greens interest me as well. sucks that the keys started failing so soon, I'm 2 for 2 now on good BWU's.
I'm not sure how I'd feel about buckling springs, which one did you pick up?
Gotta catch them all right? I don't think I want to buy an IBM. Just the idea of a 30y.o. used keyboard... The rarity of these keyboards(there are more common ones but I haven't looked into it), and just the way it takes up space. I hear people say that it is the best keyboard of all time. Anyone else think that it is true?
UezeU that's a nice looking board, digging the blank black caps. I'd like to have something like that at work
guys/gals,
true shocking story:
I just got back from walmart and had to make my report. Walmart now stocks in my local store the newer green backlit BWU for sale. I never in my life thought i'd see a mechanical keyboard at walmart, but there ya go.
Kinda funny that glowing review thread turned into a Razer bashing thread.
A lot of the flak that Razer gets is because of the "gamer" tilt that their products are given. Many, including myself, use a computer for a living and having something designed for this demographic is hard to take seriously. At least they haven't resorted to plastering rifle cartridges all over products like some motherboard manufacturers. That is where I draw the line with styling. My computer is not a machine gun, even if the keyboard makes it sound like one :p
Good looks don't promise a good using experience. In other words, looks are more of an gimmicks than real deal.Kinda funny that glowing review thread turned into a Razer bashing thread.
I love razer, just not most of their products. Or prices/value. At least they look great! I am more fond of them than Apple, much more. I do like Mac products, they are easy to use and quite convenient. I just dont like their business style or their mindless drones that say "Windows, Samsung, and everything else are made of ****/crap and is nothing like Apple" tbh most Macs and PCs are the same hardware wise, only thing different would be the software. So all in all at least Razer has less mindless drones than Apple. ;)
Good looks don't promise a good using experience. In other words, looks are more of an gimmicks than real deal.Kinda funny that glowing review thread turned into a Razer bashing thread.
I love razer, just not most of their products. Or prices/value. At least they look great! I am more fond of them than Apple, much more. I do like Mac products, they are easy to use and quite convenient. I just dont like their business style or their mindless drones that say "Windows, Samsung, and everything else are made of ****/crap and is nothing like Apple" tbh most Macs and PCs are the same hardware wise, only thing different would be the software. So all in all at least Razer has less mindless drones than Apple. ;)
If anybody wonders what to do with their BWU I think this mod is great inspiration.... IDK I just stumbled across it and was like holy crap that's bad ass.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hifidelity4ever/8143096997/in/photostream/
(Attachment Link)
Not sure If this was from before or after I got it. Might be commoner than we thinkLOL. Makes your comment to me saying that it looks like I don't wash my hands even funnier.