razer blackwidow love

[irecresum]

Razer if anything can be commended for providing that little cutout in the box so that people could fondle their clicky blue switches. In that way they helped the resurgence of mechanical keyboards immeasurably.

I'm one of the supposed minority who has never had one of their mechanical keyboards break down.

So if you are a razer fanboy or just wanna express your positive experience with your blackwidow feel free to let us know.

[epzy]

Love my blackwidow.

[Xowie]

[JPG]

When I was first searching for a mech keyboard, I tried the switch on the blackwidow and didn't like it at all. It felt too soft and not firm enough to my taste. I am really glad I went for a Filco instead. I am not saying the Blackwidow is a bad keyboard since I never really used one for real.


As for Razer products, well I have been using their mouses for a few years and had no problem with them (Naga and deathadder). I use the everyday, one for work one at home. They work very well and they don't feel cheap to me. The deathadder is the only mouse that I prefer over my old old logitech dual optical mouseman that I LOVED until I went through the rubber grip and the scrollwheel virtually stopped scrolling (after many years of good job).


Also never had any issue with their software. I don't think they are such a great company and I am no fan of them, but I don't despise them either and their mouses are nice. Their biggest problem with us is that they are clearly positioned in the "gamer" market and their marketing and products clearly show it. That's how they make money also. Not a bad thing in itself and not much worse than many companies out there.

[esoomenona]

When I was first searching for a mech keyboard, I tried the switch on the blackwidow and didn't like it at all. It felt too soft and not firm enough to my taste. I am really glad I went for a Filco instead. I am not saying the Blackwidow is a bad keyboard since I never really used one for real.

As much as it can probably be seen as a positive to have an open hole in the box, it's also a negative.

As people walk through the store and press on it multiple times, they began to wear and tear, and significantly reduce the life of that switch and wear the key.

Then, someone buys this keyboard and they have a keyboard with all new switches, and an area of which are already used. And the longer it sits on the shelf, the worse that area gets.

I wonder if the problems a number of people have with Razer keyboards can be relayed to that area? I wonder if anyone ever cared to pay attention to that little detail?

A better option would be to have a display board that is checked periodically by a Razer representative to see if it needs to be replaced to maintain their integrity in their product as opposed to people hammering on a crappy keyboard that was worn beyond where it should've been from all the eyeballers in the store.

[irecresum]

When I was first searching for a mech keyboard, I tried the switch on the blackwidow and didn't like it at all. It felt too soft and not firm enough to my taste. I am really glad I went for a Filco instead. I am not saying the Blackwidow is a bad keyboard since I never really used one for real.

As much as it can probably be seen as a positive to have an open hole in the box, it's also a negative.

As people walk through the store and press on it multiple times, they began to wear and tear, and significantly reduce the life of that switch and wear the key.

Then, someone buys this keyboard and they have a keyboard with all new switches, and an area of which are already used. And the longer it sits on the shelf, the worse that area gets.

I wonder if the problems a number of people have with Razer keyboards can be relayed to that area? I wonder if anyone ever cared to pay attention to that little detail?

A better option would be to have a display board that is checked periodically by a Razer representative to see if it needs to be replaced to maintain their integrity in their product as opposed to people hammering on a crappy keyboard that was worn beyond where it should've been from all the eyeballers in the store.

yes, but would you agree while raising awareness for their keyboards they also may have introduced ppl to keyboard communities and helped other companies like keyed up labs get a foothold in the mech keyboard biz

[1391406]

When I was first searching for a mech keyboard, I tried the switch on the blackwidow and didn't like it at all. It felt too soft and not firm enough to my taste. I am really glad I went for a Filco instead. I am not saying the Blackwidow is a bad keyboard since I never really used one for real.

As much as it can probably be seen as a positive to have an open hole in the box, it's also a negative.

As people walk through the store and press on it multiple times, they began to wear and tear, and significantly reduce the life of that switch and wear the key.

Then, someone buys this keyboard and they have a keyboard with all new switches, and an area of which are already used. And the longer it sits on the shelf, the worse that area gets.

I wonder if the problems a number of people have with Razer keyboards can be relayed to that area? I wonder if anyone ever cared to pay attention to that little detail?

A better option would be to have a display board that is checked periodically by a Razer representative to see if it needs to be replaced to maintain their integrity in their product as opposed to people hammering on a crappy keyboard that was worn beyond where it should've been from all the eyeballers in the store.

Considering how popular Razer products are with gamers, I wouldn't think most of the keyboards on the shelf would sit there long enough for passersby to degrade the switch in the cursor keys (which are the only keys that are exposed through the box) to any notable degree. The last time I was in the keyboard aisle at Best Buy (a month or so ago) I tinkered with some of the keys on one of the Blackwidows on the shelf and I can't say I noticed any real difference between the way it and my three year old BW felt. At my local Best Buy, they also have a display unit that's fully exposed.

[esoomenona]

yes, but would you agree while raising awareness for their keyboards they also may have introduced ppl to keyboard communities and helped other companies like keyed up labs get a foothold in the mech keyboard biz

Oh, I don't doubt it. Empirical evidence has shown it. Unfortunately, more often than not, the people are introduced to them, not due to Razer's greatness, but Razer's seeming lack of quality (can't account to it personally, only via what I've seen over and over). These people get a taste via Razer, and then must move on to something else, something better. And it's not like they want to exceed average. They want to exceed below average. They want something that works better/works at all.

So yes, Razer does play a part in helping others. In the meantime, they take people's money and then send them on their way to give what would be return customers' money to other vendors.

[johndavis33]

The glossy plastic, price, and font were always what turned me off on the blackwidow.

Now that they're using Kailh switches, there's really just no redeeming quality of the keyboard.

Plus, that whole "new razer switches o wow so advanced" video was just a few steps up from false advertising to me.

[irecresum]

yes, but would you agree while raising awareness for their keyboards they also may have introduced ppl to keyboard communities and helped other companies like keyed up labs get a foothold in the mech keyboard biz

Oh, I don't doubt it. Empirical evidence has shown it. Unfortunately, more often than not, the people are introduced to them, not due to Razer's greatness, but Razer's seeming lack of quality (can't account to it personally, only via what I've seen over and over). These people get a taste via Razer, and then must move on to something else, something better. And it's not like they want to exceed average. They want to exceed below average. They want something that works better/works at all.

So yes, Razer does play a part in helping others. In the meantime, they take people's money and then send them on their way to give what would be return customers' money to other vendors.

case in point: fragility gave a rave review of the new razer, eric too and someone said it feels like typing on water. but slowly in order to conform to groupthink they begin to express hatred for it.

I still want to hear some positive experiences from the many lurkers or members who actually do own a razer new or old. It is a great keyboard isn't? Or is it just that you always hold a special place in your heart for your first mech?

For me, after buying my second, I realise that it really is a fine keyboard.

[irecresum]

This is a nice review of the new orange switches:

[MJ45]

Razer has exposed more people to mechanical keyboards than any brand, and probably sell the most. I see posts from all over the world where (in remote locations) mech kb's are rare BlackWidows are available. Love-em or hate-em I think they helped the interest in mechanical keyboards and the variety we can enjoy today.     

[1391406]

Based on my very limited experience with the Blackwidow that I own, I think the build quality of the board is pretty good. It's sturdy, in my opinion. Compare the build quality of the Blackwidow to something like a Chicony KB-5181, for example. For me, the Blackwidow was a gateway keyboard, however I didn't move on because I thought the Blackwidow was inferior. In fact, if I hadn't liked it, there's a good chance I might not have bothered to invest in other mechanical keyboards. If anything, it piqued my interest regarding the feel of other switch types.

[1391406]

If Razer's keyboards were that bad, it would likely be reflected in consumer ratings from sites like Amazon and Newegg. Generally, it's unsatisfied customers who are the most vocal on forums, though.

[Altis]

The BWU was one of my first mechanical keyboards a few years ago (the other being the Das Keyboard from the same time).

While my Razer Imperator mouse gives me intermittent problems (although is great when it works properly), the BWU hasn't missed a beat. It's worked flawlessly, including the backlighting.

The case is possibly the most sturdy that I have. It doesn't move at all, it's heavy, no squeaks/rattles... nothing. I'm not crazy about the gloss black finish, but I knew about it when I bought it (and the DAS is the same). I can't think of any way they could have improved upon the case build quality. It far exceeds that on the DAS and Realforce 87UW that I just received.

My only issue with it is the keycaps. Now, I know they have to work with backlit, but they are so tinny and brittle feeling, and the paint wears off them (not from normal use, but keycap removers will scrape them). So, if I had to change something, it would be that... but around here, nobody sticks with stock caps anyways. Vortex is supposed to be releasing some PBT caps that will work with backlit, although the bottom row isn't the right sizes... so we'll see.

While I don't own the new BW tournament edition, I've used them several times at Canada Computers, and it feels quite good actually. I'm not sure how I would feel using it on a daily basis, but it's inexpensive to buy and a mechanical TKL that's available pretty widely. Not such a bad thing, that.

Like you guys have been saying, I do have to credit Razer for making an MX Blue/Brown keyboard available (well two, actually) years ago when nobody else could be bothered. Had they not, I'm not sure other companies would have taken the initiative to produce their own, and we might not have gems like the QFR. People like me might not have noticed mechanical keyboards (or at least, not at the time that I did), and that's sure a sad thought.

I still use my BWU pretty frequently, although we'll see what happens now that I have the RF 55g.

[deci]

The original black widow was the first mech keyboard I ever bought.
I used it as my main driver for years with 0 problems.
The broken in blues in it feel better now than blues in any of my newer keyboards.
The only things I really hate about it are the shiny finish and the column of macro keys on the left that I never use.

I've even spilled multiple drinks directly into it (I think in my life I've knocked over a drink on my desk, and all 3 times were into the black widow).
Two of these times, it completely stopped working and I thought it was dead but as soon as the drink dried up, it worked perfectly again.

I moved on to other keyboards and switches long ago but recently I cleaned out the black widow in order to sell it and after a good cleaning it still looks and works good as new.

[cherpalla]

Razer if anything can be commended for providing that little cutout in the box so that people could fondle their clicky blue switches. In that way they helped the resurgence of mechanical keyboards immeasurably.

I'm one of the supposed minority who has never had one of their mechanical keyboards break down.

So if you are a razer fanboy or just wanna express your positive experience with your blackwidow feel free to let us know.

"supposed minority"

l2read --- "a lot of people" does not mean "the majority of people"

[1391406]

The only things I really hate about it are the shiny finish and the column of macro keys on the left that I never use.

The column of macro keys on the left was another feature that bothered me. I had to disable them because it was too easy to accidentally hit them.

[deci]

The only things I really hate about it are the shiny finish and the column of macro keys on the left that I never use.

The column of macro keys on the left was another feature that bothered me. I had to disable them because it was too easy to accidentally hit them.

I had to map ctrl to the bottom left one because I kept hitting it by accident when i went to use short cuts.