Razer Tarantula™ (RZ03-00070100-R2U1) Keyboard
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- Input Interface Type: Keyboard
- Connectivity: Cable
- Interface: USB (keyboard)
- Platform: PC
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Excellent keyboard overall
Pros
Zero ghosting, fast response, customizable
Cons
Not all keys backlit, occasional driver bugs
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
If you can find this for less than $50, it's a worthy investment, although I would question paying $70 or more.
My Razer Tarantula finally replaced an old IBM "clakkety" keyboard from 1990. I found it on sale for less than $50, and I haven't looked back.
The Tarantula is one of Razer's first entries into the "gaming keyboard" niche, and it's a solid example of what a gaming keyboard should be. The keyboard is rather wide, with a comfortably curved wrist rest section. The Razer logo in the center of the wrist rest is backlit, and periodically dims and brightens, almost giving a sense of breathing... an odd effect, but it manages not to be distracting.
Keys are shallower than many other keyboards - almost as shallow as laptop keys - which ends up being a very good thing. Shallower keys means shorter travel time when a key is pressed. This means less work for your fingers, and faster response from the time you decide to press a key until it is fully depressed.
Another great advantage is that there is zero ghosting with this keyboard. Ghosting occurs with most typical keyboards because of the way circuits for various keys are laid out in a "matrix." Certain key combinations can cause a "phantom" or "ghost" key to register as well, even though that key was never pressed. The Tarantula eliminates this by placing every single key on its own dedicated circuit. No more "but I pressed space, not V!"
The keyboard includes 10 macro keys, which can record keypress sequences for one-touch use, or can be used as one-touch shortcut keys to run various programs. It also supplies a handful of replacement key tops with various graphic icons, such as a helmet, laser, or grenades, as well as a key removal tool. Keys on the Tarantula are fully replaceable, so the keyboard can be customized for gaming layouts, or even rearranged to other typing standards such as Dvorak.
There are standard multimedia keys such as volume controls, play/pause, stop, and forward/reverse which work off the bat with Windows Media Player, and can control overall Windows sound. There are also some basic browser keys, such as "Home" and "Refresh."
The keyboard provides additional USB ports, allowing quick, convenient, easy access to various USB peripherals. It also supports analog headphone and microphone (or headset) connection.
A unique port included is the "BattleDock," which appears to be little more than a standard mini-USB port surrounded by a specialized mount to clip in various devices, such as a small light to illuminate the keyboard. Razer has so far only released two accessories for the dock, and given the keyboard's age, is unlikely to release more, making the dock virtually worthless.
The keyboard has a dedicated key for instantly switching between two primary profiles, which can load differences in macros, among other things. It also supports automatic loading of profiles tied to specific games, and can store over 30 profiles.
Backlighting is provided only for the macro keys and a handful of the additional keys - the primary keyboard is not backlit. The drivers also occasionally confuse profiles or may load the wrong one, but primary functionality of the keyboard has never been compromised. The keyboard will work out of the box without drivers, but requires drivers for profile and macro management.
The Tarantula is one of Razer's first entries into the "gaming keyboard" niche, and it's a solid example of what a gaming keyboard should be. The keyboard is rather wide, with a comfortably curved wrist rest section. The Razer logo in the center of the wrist rest is backlit, and periodically dims and brightens, almost giving a sense of breathing... an odd effect, but it manages not to be distracting.
Keys are shallower than many other keyboards - almost as shallow as laptop keys - which ends up being a very good thing. Shallower keys means shorter travel time when a key is pressed. This means less work for your fingers, and faster response from the time you decide to press a key until it is fully depressed.
Another great advantage is that there is zero ghosting with this keyboard. Ghosting occurs with most typical keyboards because of the way circuits for various keys are laid out in a "matrix." Certain key combinations can cause a "phantom" or "ghost" key to register as well, even though that key was never pressed. The Tarantula eliminates this by placing every single key on its own dedicated circuit. No more "but I pressed space, not V!"
The keyboard includes 10 macro keys, which can record keypress sequences for one-touch use, or can be used as one-touch shortcut keys to run various programs. It also supplies a handful of replacement key tops with various graphic icons, such as a helmet, laser, or grenades, as well as a key removal tool. Keys on the Tarantula are fully replaceable, so the keyboard can be customized for gaming layouts, or even rearranged to other typing standards such as Dvorak.
There are standard multimedia keys such as volume controls, play/pause, stop, and forward/reverse which work off the bat with Windows Media Player, and can control overall Windows sound. There are also some basic browser keys, such as "Home" and "Refresh."
The keyboard provides additional USB ports, allowing quick, convenient, easy access to various USB peripherals. It also supports analog headphone and microphone (or headset) connection.
A unique port included is the "BattleDock," which appears to be little more than a standard mini-USB port surrounded by a specialized mount to clip in various devices, such as a small light to illuminate the keyboard. Razer has so far only released two accessories for the dock, and given the keyboard's age, is unlikely to release more, making the dock virtually worthless.
The keyboard has a dedicated key for instantly switching between two primary profiles, which can load differences in macros, among other things. It also supports automatic loading of profiles tied to specific games, and can store over 30 profiles.
Backlighting is provided only for the macro keys and a handful of the additional keys - the primary keyboard is not backlit. The drivers also occasionally confuse profiles or may load the wrong one, but primary functionality of the keyboard has never been compromised. The keyboard will work out of the box without drivers, but requires drivers for profile and macro management.
