Gaming keyboard

Thermaltake Meka G1. Just dropped 100 on one. I have been using a Logitech Wave but dont like the battery issue although it is a good keyboard. 

Ditch using a keyboard and get a game pad, you'll like it more in the end. I have been using a Nostromo n52 for about 6 years now and I will never give it up. I got it at first for FPS games and even use it to play WoW which requires a LOT more key binds then a FPS game.

The biggest reason I suggest getting one is a comfort issue. The n52 is specifically designed to fit your hand, spreading the weight/pressure of your hand across your entire palm and it gives you the ability to bind keys to buttons that you trigger with your thumb. On a regular keyboard your thumb is useless except for your space bar.

I use a total of 18 buttons on my n52, 14 normal keys plus 4 on the d-pad. The d-pad can be used like your arrow keys but I prefer my arrow keys on my fingers with the d-pad for other various abilities/spells. So take out 4 keys for arrow keys and that leaves you with 14 keys to bind to what ever you need. It has other things on it like a mouse wheel, which is very usable, but I personally do not find a need for it. Add in the 2 buttons on my mouse and I bring my total back up to 16.

16 key binds is more then enough, even for a game like WoW. If you like to get really crazy with your key-binds you can set up multiple profiles that you switch to via pressing a special button on the game pad. You would use this for something like having different key binds for PvE and PvP.

I strongly recommend trying to find an n52 like I have over the slightly newer n52TE. Unfortunately Nostromo had Razer make the new software for them for the TE version and it SUCKS big time. The n52 is just as good, it just doesn't light up, but has the better software. You can even program the buttons to perform macros which comes with it's obvious benefits and uses. You can make your own macros in WoW but I use the macros on the n52 for things like Counter Strike and other FPS games. I can set up a macro to make something like an AK-47 fire in a burst mode, basically 3 rapid single clicks set up faster then I could ever press the button It makes it much more accurate because I am not using the mouse button to fire, which moves your mouse ever so slightly.

What ever you do, do not get Logitech's version of a game-pad, called the G13 I think it is. It's very poorly designed and impossible to use unless you have huge hands and really long fingers. The n52 is contoured to fight your hand, the G13 is not. The G13 also has too many buttons, you can not place your hand in one spot and reach all the buttons. The buttons are also to small and not raised up enough, making it very easy to press the wrong one. I tried the G13 for a week and took it back and went back to using my Nostromo.

I personally have a G15, mainly just for it's LCD display so I can see in game info and things like that. The most I use is for is typing in chat and I have the G keys on the side bound to random things like chat macros and /roll for loot rolls. Stuff I don't need in combat but are nice to still have. If you are going to go with a keyboard still I'd say go with the G15 or G19. I also like the game pad + keyboard combo over things like those Z boards out there because I don't have to push my keyboard all the way to one side. I can keep my keyboard centered with my small game pad next to it.


Edited by jmaster299 - 26 Sep 2011 at 12:25am