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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsRazer announces specialized MMO gaming keyboard
by Zach Yonzon 
Oct 27th 2010 at 11:00AM
The difference between this keyboard and other gaming keyboards is simple. There are seven configurable modifier keys below the space bar that can assigned to the common modifiers such as Alt, Ctrl and Shift, making all those keybinds and macros even more accessible. Designed by Razer to be paired with its MMO gaming mouse, the Razer Naga, the Anansi also sports features such as 100 programmable Hyperesponse keys, one-button profile switching (for up to 20 profiles with the built-in software driver), five additional gaming keys, and an option for those multi-colored lights that are becoming in vogue with most gaming peripherals lately.
It also has an optimized key matrix that prevents the ghosting that typically happens when more than two keys are pressed simultaneously. The engineers at Razer have reconfigured the hardware to enable recognition of up to six simultaneous keystrokes, centered around the left-hand cluster generally used for gaming (the W, A, S, D keys). It's a cool feature that most MMO gamers probably won't need, but all you button-mashers can rejoice. There's a nifty gaming mode option that temporarily disables the Windows key so you can stay in the game without having to remap your Windows key for fear of hitting it the chaos of a raid or arena match.
The Razer Anansi is compatible with Windows and Macs and will retail for $99. It is scheduled to ship in December, with pre-orders starting soon.
Filed under: News items
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
Cbeefman Oct 27th 2010 12:08PM
ah yes, i see the spider now
its confirmed then, i dont want this board due to my built in distrust for anything related to that con artist spider
Heilig Oct 27th 2010 12:44PM
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say they knew what they were doing with the name. You might have noticed from your tales that Anansi always has an ace up his sleeve and comes out on top.
Sounds kinda like the way you would like your PvP to go, huh?
fernando Oct 27th 2010 11:44AM
i use the mouse and a peripheral keypad, not the keyboard at all, where is the advantage of using a keyboard? i must be missing something.
Oskiee Oct 27th 2010 11:52AM
less crap on your desk.
ikandiman Oct 27th 2010 11:47AM
gah! I just ordered a G110 logitech...curse you Razer!!!
Methuus Oct 27th 2010 11:59AM
Yeah, I have to give kudos to Razor for a pretty clever and novel idea on this one.
Rather than just slapping some random extra buttons, they asked themselves "what finger doesn't do much" and came up with the left thumb (only jumping for most people).
And then asked "what can we do with the left thumb" and thought that many MMO players use modifier macros but that using the pinky to activate those modifier keys can be awkward (and multi-modifiers are very awkward).
So yeah, good thinking here, IMHO.
Elyxaar Oct 27th 2010 1:32PM
It's not a new idea. The Roccat Arvo has 3 thumb keys and has been out a while now.
http://www.roccat.org/Products/Gaming-Keyboards/ROCCAT-Arvo/
Luftwaffles Oct 28th 2010 2:24AM
Yeah your thumb is not hitting buttons, but that doesn't mean it's not *doing* something. Your thumb and wrist rest/push down on the empty space to support the rest of your hand.
It seems like keys down there will do two things: force you to place your wrist at an awkward angle, and make you keep your thumb airborn, lest you accidentally keep hitting those keys. It doesn't seem like an issue on the surface, but I imagine it will suck after several hours of playing.
Joe Oct 27th 2010 4:33PM
@Elyxaar Thanks for the info. I guess, yeah, somebody must have thought of it before. But I still think it's good on Razer for going this way instead of just slapping more random keys and calling it a day.
@Luftwaffles I must admit that that is the first time that I have ever heard of supporting your left hand with your thumb as a typing technique. Everyone I've seen hovers their thumb; particularly when playing a game so you can hit jump quickly. But I guess it takes all kinds.
And anyway, it looks like there's still room on the keyboard to rest your thumb nearby, if that's how you roll.
kooda Oct 27th 2010 12:05PM
BUTTONZ!!!!
Arturis Oct 27th 2010 12:05PM
Why are all gaming keyboards so damn flat? Its like the moment they start designing a gaming keyboard, the entire concept of ergonomics is thrown right out the window.
As a web developer, I'm constantly at a keyboard of some sort, and if I didn't have ergo keyboards at both home and work I would be in carpel tunnel hell right now. Until someone designs a gaming keyboard with proper wrist support and ergonomic elevation/split/key row angles, I'm going to have to stick with my Microsoft Natural.
Kylenne Oct 27th 2010 3:39PM
I'm not a web developer, but I feel you on that. My ergonomic keyboard's a Logitech that I swear has saved my wrists. I feel like there has to be a huge market for ergonomic-minded gaming keyboards yet no one cares.
Also, while we're at it, can we actually get gaming peripherals that people with small hands can use? I swear to god some of these mice I've seen were designed by and for yetis.
Nate Oct 27th 2010 12:17PM
I'd really love to see, here or elsewhere, a hands-on comparison of some of these new MMO (or even WoW) centric peripherals that all seems to be coming out prior to Cataclysm. Like the Anansi here and the Cata Steelseries keyboard mention a day or three ago, and the new Steelseries Cata mouse against the Razer Naga Epic that both come out around the beginning of December. Chances of that?
Richard Oct 27th 2010 12:27PM
Yeah, I know I'm like the .5% of gamers out there, but:
I don't even use the mouse for gaming. I put my left hand on WASD and my right hand on my number pad. I have any number of keybinds with that combination. I can target with Tab, I can fully work 4 (at least) hotbars simultaneously without clicking.
Equally as important to me, I do this on a Mac keyboard that has 19 function keys. That's like a whole extra row above my number pad. Why don't keyboard makers get on board with this. I'd love this keyboard, but I'm trained to having that extra row of function keys.
funkmastersolo Oct 27th 2010 12:42PM
uhm what happened to normal enter keys?
am I the only one who has a problem with a single-line sized enter keys? I always keep tripping the one they squeezed between the backspace and enter on accident :/
Ghritke Oct 27th 2010 12:43PM
I made a huge mistake buying a razor keyboard. It must be made in China or something because I've got to keep a nickel on the top right of the touch controls to prevent the keyboard from self-adjusting the main volume and also from forever opening and reopening my default media player.
I miss my dear logitech 'elitel keyboard. It was perfect. This one sucks. That's all.
CKRush Oct 27th 2010 1:33PM
My Razer Lachesis worked for less than one year before it's laser started getting screwy. I've decided that I can work with normal stuff since then, as my $19 Logitech mouse has yet to fail me.
StopQQ Oct 27th 2010 12:54PM
Srly no keyboard can beat the merc stealth srly common the gaming pad on the side is just awesome, anyone got anything looking more awesome than a merc stealth and 90$ for it is just the perfect price for a good gaming keyboard.
jfofla Oct 27th 2010 12:57PM
What I love about Razer is their products are Mac compatable.
James Oct 27th 2010 1:20PM
I urge anyone looking for a serious WoW keyboard to consider the Merc Stealth.