Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is popular among avid gamers because their keys are characterized not only a kind of a mild stroke but, unlike the cheaper membrane models much faster to respond to pressing. And if in normal keyboard mode of use is not so noticeable in the dynamic game difference of several tens of milliseconds can be for someone critical. The a4tech company decided to go a step further and introduced a keyboard with … an optical switch, which, according to her, even faster than the traditional “mechanics”.
EQUIPMENT GAMING KEYBOARD A4TECH BLOODY B418
The keyboard comes in a medium-sized box of cardboard predominantly black, in which, besides the actual device, the warranty card, and a two-on connection management, you can find a removable rubber pad under the left palm.
DESIGN AND ERGONOMICS GAMING KEYBOARD A4TECH BLOODY B418
When designing the appearance A4Tech Bloody B418 from the manufacturer seems to have been the main task – to make this most unusual keyboard. And I must admit, the whole he succeeded. Quite compact black plastic housing is almost imperceptible – it overrides the front panel of the metal 1 mm thick gray “for steel” color, with a mass of different cuts (do not carry any payload), and bends. However, the biggest one notch (a “window” in the upper right part of the additional number pad) still has its purpose – a “holder” for the smartphone.
However, it is difficult to say, for any practical purposes, this may be required, besides the lack of rubber gaskets and enough sharp corners make to treat it with caution – on subjective sensations, such use could easily leave scratches on too “gentle” the cover of today’s smartphones.
Stand palm initially absent, but included a special rubber panel, which can be mounted on the left side, in the form of a stop under the left palm – a decision clearly targeted at gamers who most of the time on the keyboard is only the left hand, and in the area WASD keys block. Unfortunately, people who have a computer not only play but also typing, were left out – they will have to keep his right hand in the air, since the height of the keys and the general rise of the housing such that comfortably positioned his hand on a metal bar at the bottom of the keyboard while typing text just will not work.
Location of keys classic, with large “Shift” and the Backspace, and “double decker» Enter. The keys are raised above the keyboard hard enough housing – to the actual full-size “hat” (6 mm in height) is added the same base as a result of the whole structure is slightly reminiscent of a mushroom on a stalk height of as much as 12 mm.
The base is located LED backlight, which by default glow light blue light (to change the style of the glow, you can use proprietary software). To adjust the brightness (available 3 gradations, as well as its complete shutdown) Use the key combination Fn + «cursor up / down” switch the lighting style you can use the Fn + F12.
THE PAPER BLOODY B418
The keyboard used a very unusual approach: the main part of the key – the usual membrane, however, 8 buttons, usually used in modern games – optical. And to be precise – that mechanical with an infrared sensor, by which the pressing and recorded fact.
According to the manufacturer, this allows you to get rid of the delays necessary to eliminate the effect of “chatter” (debouncing) in the usual keys (which can be up to 30 ms) – in the “optical” keys the delay, according to the A4Tech, is only 0.2 ms. Plus, this construction allows for operation of the keys at the beginning of the course (at the press of 1.5 mm, while this option is a little more than 2 mm for ordinary mechanics). The company calls this technology Light Strike and to demonstrate the principle of her actions even recorded a special video.
According to the subjective impression, “optical” keys do have a very high responsiveness and triggered, it seems, by the slightest touch. The course is very soft and light emitted by the low noise keys and noticeably quieter than the typical “mechanics”. Perhaps the feelings we have compared these keys with Cherry MX Red.
Other keys at the same time – a typical membrane, the course they are relatively mild, but obviously stiffer and with a well palpable “pushing through” typical membrane keys for height (ie, much lower than the activation occurs in “Optical”). In other words, the tactile sensation of “playing” the unit are very different from all the other keys, and fast typing somewhat confusing – the letters are pressed QWERASDF much easier and faster than any other. In games, we note, the situation depends on the style of management – in a simple “one-touch” action movie (where the keyboard player controls only the movement of the character, and performs another couple of actions) A4Tech Bloody B418 shows itself from the best side, instantly reacting to the actions of the user and significantly increasing the responsiveness of the character. But in more complex games like MMO with their layout half keyboard sensations similar to those that you experience when typing (and sometimes even more); the difference in response between “gaming unit” and all the other keys is easily visible – in my case, in the session of the game World of Warcraft, there was some discomfort from a clearly noticeable difference in responsiveness, besides some spells (assigned to the usual buttons) sometimes did not work because to them in the heat of battle, I tried to push as well as in the game – a light touch.
In the test for simultaneously pressing the gaming unit was able to work 6 simultaneous key presses in any combination; membrane keys, depending on the combinations, practiced from 4 to 6 clicks.
SOFTWARE GAMING KEYBOARD A4TECH BLOODY B418
To configure the keyboard has a special tool manufacturer – KeyDominator1. With its help, you can create up to three different layouts profiles (for office work, various games, etc.), and record macros to facilitate the implementation of long commands. Macros can be stored in separate files to facilitate the transfer to another computer or use in another profile. Unfortunately, the utility interface is not very intuitive, so for the development of its capabilities may wish to consult the help file other programs from A4Tech – (and failed to find help for KeyDominator 1 us) Bloody 5, which is a similar tool, but to adjust the mouse.
PROS GAMING KEYBOARD A4TECH BLOODY B418: 8 GAMING KEYS WITH OPTICAL SENSORS; UNUSUAL DESIGN
CONS GAMING KEYBOARD A4TECH BLOODY B418: OTHER KEYS – CONVENTIONAL MEMBRANE; HIGH PRICE
CONCLUSION GAMING KEYBOARD A4TECH BLOODY B418
The new gaming Keyboard A4Tech Bloody B418 – a very unusual keyboard in which the keys of the highlighted in a special “game flow”. The keys are used Light Strike technology with an optical switch, thereby achieving high responsiveness and the almost complete absence of input lag. Unfortunately, the rest of the keys using a standard membrane mechanism, and tactile sensations of them are pretty much different from the game of keys, which may create some inconvenience for the user.
Source: nsmartphone
