The World's First Mechanical Keyboard Designed for Gaming Launched at Gamescom 2010

COLOGNE, Germany, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- GamesCom -- Razer™, the world's leading manufacturer of high-end precision gaming and lifestyle peripherals, today announced the Razer BlackWidow™ mechanical gaming keyboard engineered for gamers who demand superior tactile feedback and comfort while playing.

Most mechanical keyboards in the market today are standard mechanical keyboards rebadged as gaming keyboards that feature stiff keys that cause key actuation fatigue. Such keyboards are inherently worse off for gamers as it actually decreases gameplay performance as opposed to enhancing it. As a result, most professional gamers eschew such marketing gimmicks for regular membrane keyboards.

For the past 3 years, Razer's design and engineering teams have been working on a mechanical keyboard – developed for gamers from the ground up, resulting in the Razer BlackWidow.

The Razer BlackWidow features a uniquely tactile mechanical key architecture that provides each key on the keyboard with a crisp response and tactile feedback similar to a mouse click. Coupled with a unique key actuation point halfway through the full travel distance, the optimized mechanical key structure found in each of the Razer BlackWidow's keys provide for greater precision and accuracy versus other traditional mechanical keyboards.  

The keys on the Razer BlackWidow also feature one of the lightest actuation forces for all keyboards. The key actuation force has been optimized by the Razer design team from readily available components but sorted with the rigorous quality standards that Razer is known for.  As a result, this enhanced key force allows gamers to type and click much faster than other mechanical keyboards in the industry.

"The Razer BlackWidow is the world's first mechanical keyboard that has been engineered from ground up for gaming," said Robert "Razerguy" Krakoff, president, Razer. "Imagine every single key on the keyboard with the precision of a mouse click – no more pressing of keys without knowing for certain if they have been actuated. Precision clicking coupled with an optimized lighter key actuation force, this changes the way gamers will play from now on."

The Razer BlackWidow is the only mechanical keyboard that features fully programmable keys with on-the-fly macro recording as well as five additional gaming keys, further leaving other mechanical keyboards in the dust when it comes to gaming compatibility and performance.

The revolutionary Razer BlackWidow mechanical gaming keyboard will be available in September 2010.  Also available in the same month is the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate, a step up from the original edition with the added features of individually backlit keys with 5 levels of lighting, 3.5" audio and microphone out jacks as well as an additional USB port.

About the Razer BlackWidow

The Razer BlackWidow's full mechanical key architecture provides a distinctive tactile feedback that simulates the experience and precision of performing a mouse click, giving gamers an entirely new feel with this keyboard. With its optimized actuation force of 50g and an actuation point halfway down the full travel distance of 4mm, the Razer BlackWidow's keys deliver crisp response with exceptional actuation speed.  An ultra robust construction, fully programmable keys, 5 additional macro keys, and on-the-fly macro recording round off this revolutionary gaming keyboard.

Razer BlackWidow

PRICE: US $79.99 / euro 79.99

AVAILABILITY:

Razerzone.com – September

Worldwide – September

Product Features:

• Mechanical key architecture for faster actuation and extended lifespan
• Fully programmable keys + 5 additional gaming keys with on-the-fly macro recording
• 10 Customizable software profiles with on-the-fly switching
• 1000Hz Ultrapolling™ for a blistering fast 1ms response time
• Gaming optimized key matrix
• Easy access media keys
• Gaming mode option
• Approx. size in mm: 475(L) x 171(W) x 30(H)

Razer BlackWidow High Resolution Image Links

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About the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

The Razer BlackWidow Ultimate is a step up from the original edition with the added feature of individually backlit keys with 5 levels of lighting, so players will never miss a step in the dark while giving them the cutting edge to launch assaults and flank foes even in low light conditions.  Its full mechanical key architecture with an actuation point halfway through the full travel distance of 4mm, combined with its distinct tactile feedback that simulates a mouse click, allows the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate to provide gamers a keyboard that responds like no other.  The ultra robust construction, fully programmable keys, 5 additional macro keys, and on-the-fly macro recording round off this revolutionary gaming keyboard. The Ultimate keyboard also includes 3.5" audio and microphone out jacks as well as an additional USB port. Now, the fate of your game is all at your fingertips with the BlackWidow Ultimate.

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

PRICE: US $129.99 / euro 129.99

AVAILABILITY:

Razerzone.com – September

Worldwide – September

Product Features:

• Mechanical key architecture for faster actuation and extended lifespan
• Individually backlit keys with 5 levels of lighting
• Fully programmable keys + 5 additional gaming keys with on-the-fly macro recording
• 10 Customizable software profiles with on-the-fly switching
• 1000Hz Ultrapolling™ for a blistering fast 1ms response time
• Gaming optimized key matrix
• Easy access media keys
• Gaming mode option
• Audio-out / mic-in jacks
• USB pass-through
• Approx. size in mm: 475(L) x 171(W) x 30(H)

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate High Resolution Image Links

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White Background

About the Razer Group:

Razer™ is the world's leading manufacturer of high-end precision gaming products and peripherals that are designed "For Gamers. By Gamers™". Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, Razer's award-winning line up of products includes desktop speakers, headsets, keyboards, mice, software, and gaming surfaces. Since 1998, Razer has collaborated with leading professional gamers to develop, manufacture and market cutting-edge gaming peripherals using proprietary technologies that give gamers the competitive edge. Razer products offer the best in precision, sensitivity, usability and distinctive product design and have a reputation for being leaders in gaming peripheral technology.

For more information, please visit www.razerzone.com.

Razer - For Gamers. By Gamers.™

SOURCE Razer