Razer Tarantula Review

Good: Very flexible; great configuration software; comfortable; looks great.
Bad: Profile change button is in an awkward location; pricey for casual gamers.
Overall: Combines simplicity and flexibility to deliver a great gaming experience.
Price: $129.99
Where to buy: Amazon

If you ask a PC gamer to describe his or her ultimate gaming rig, they'll most likely focus on their cutting edge graphics card, powerful processor, and immersive surround sound system. They'll probably avoid the fact that they're using a three-year-old keyboard from a depreciated Dell. Gaming keyboards have been becoming more popular recently, but Razer's new Tarantula is one of more innovative products. Its features are so comprehensive that I agree with their decision to call it a "professional gaming keyboard."

The Tarantula is Razer's first keyboard--but it doesn't show. It was clearly designed with the hardcore gamer in mind. Its sleek looks and powerful set of features would make any gaming machine look and feel complete. The black finish with glossy outlining edges and the glowing blue Razer emblem make the Tarantula look damn sexy. The main QWERTY keys are not backlit due to the anti-ghosting feature, which allows ten keys to be pressed simultaneously without lag. But the macro keys and the profile change button glow blue to match the Razer emblem. The low profile shortcut keys on either side of the keyboard are well placed and blend in to the overall design. The controls for the media player and the volume are on the right side. Your preferred media player can be specified with the configuration software. The left side is home to the sleep and browser homepage buttons, as well as some image viewing buttons that allow you to quickly rotate and zoom pictures.

Each of the twenty-six QWERTY keys and ten macro keys are removable for cleaning and interchangeable for flexibility. The Tarantula comes with ten additional hotkeys, each with its own unique symbol. The included key removal tool can be used to replace a standard key with one of the hotkeys, so you can customize your keyboard and streamline your interface.

The configuration software allows you to create and customize up to 100 different profiles, which should be more than enough to have one for each game. The QWERTY keys can be remapped and the macro keys can run a customized series of inputs. The first five profiles are stored inside the Tarantula's on-board memory, making it easy to use them with another computer. The Tarantula drivers aren't even required on the destination computer for the profiles to operate correctly. But the on-board profiles are somewhat limited compared to the local profiles.

Profiles 6 - 100 all support two unique keymaps. Pressing the profile button will toggle between the two keymaps and a confirmation message is displayed on the screen. This is great for games that require a customized keyboard layout as well as a standard layout for chatting. Although switching between the two keymaps is fast, the profile button is awkwardly placed above the home and end keys. The local profiles also support auto switching, which will load a certain profile when a particular game executable is launched.

The microphone and headphone jacks on the back of the Tarantula make set up easy and the on-board USB hub is handy for mice and portable devices. The Tarantula's BattleDock is located above the F keys. It allows you to attach accessories that enhance the functionality of the keyboard. Razer currently sells the BattleLight, which illuminates the keys for late night gaming, and the BattleEye, a webcam that allows your opponents to see you.

The Tarantula has more features than many of the other gaming keyboards on the market and the configuration software is great. It's both visually appealing and very functional--a blend that Razer finely tuned. The Tarantula is available now for $129.99.