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Which keyboards are worth buying?
When you consider how much time we spend in front of our computers, how we interact with them should be a key concern. That said, unless you're a gamer or programmer, you probably haven't done much shopping around. Last month, we took a look at some of the best gaming keyboards that have come out recently. Now, we turn our gaze to some newer models designed for uses other than playing your favorite PC games -- including ones for work, controlling your home theater and portable units you can carry around in your bag for typing on the go.
Mad Catz' STRIKE M gaming keyboard fits in your pocket, cramps your fingers
Diminutive Bluetooth keyboards? Yeah, we've seen those before, but we've never really been able to fault them for their size. These tiny peripherals are meant for light work at best, but the Mad Catz STRIKE M wears a facade that outpaces its utility. From its skewed angles, to its collection of quick keys, under its backlit keycaps and behind the highlighted WASD keys -- the STRIKE M wears the colors of a serious gaming keyboard. It isn't one. Excusing its appearance, the STRIKE M is actually a decent little HTPC keyboard. It has a suite of media keys, an embedded scrollwheel and even an thumb mousepad -- but the actual keyboard layout is just too small to match its design language. Laying hands on the keyboard's home row required us to mash our fingertips tightly together, offering a cramped, uncomfortable typing experience. These tiny keys leave no room for error, and require precision to a degree that makes the red-accented WASD seem ridiculous. Showing off the keyboard at Expand NY, Mad Catz' representative actually agreed, saying it's more of a media keyboard than a gaming one. Still, he showed us the one advantage its size offers: the device fits comfortably in a jacket pocket. It's something, at least.
Mad Catz announces S.T.R.I.K.E.M keyboard for gamers on the go
Mad Catz is no stranger to gaming keyboards of course, but it had yet to bring its S.T.R.I.K.E branding to the mobile market. That changes today, however, with the launch of the S.T.R.I.K.E.M, a keyboard specifically made for portable devices such as its own M.O.J.O micro console for Android. Like the rest of the company's GameSmart devices, the S.T.R.I.K.E.M keyboard is equipped with Bluetooth for wireless connectivity, but it also features NFC technology for quick and easy pairing with compatible products. Frequent gamers will appreciate the micro P.U.L.S.E scissor keys underneath as well as an Optical Finger Navigation (OFN) mouse sensor. Other features include a rechargeable lithium polymer battery, backlighting for those late night gaming sessions and dedicated media keys. The S.T.R.I.K.E.M will be available in glossy black, white and red. We're not sure yet how much it'll cost or when it'll be available, but rest assured it'll likely arrive before the end of the y.e.a.r.
