Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...
 not so spectacular. October 3, 2008
Manolito V. Tulod
It's an ok keyboard. the looks is great, laptop keys are nice. but the the lights on keys are a bit dim and the keyboard is plain black when not lit. I like looking at my systems when not in use. lol...
 A professional gamer's keyboard. September 20, 2008
Freth (Delaware, OH United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The first thing you should do when you buy this keyboard:
*Download and update the drivers (for Vista, especially).
*Download and update the firmware after updating the drivers.
If you don't do this you'll run into compatibility issues with Vista and the keyboard won't work until Windows loads (i.e. can't press keys for BIOS or Windows boot menu). The firmware fixes this issue and the drivers that come with the unit are not Vista compatible, so they fail to install properly. A serious gamer is going to download the latest updates anyway, but I wanted to make it clear that the keyboard was originally released for Windows XP and not Vista, so drivers had to be written for Vista.
The functionality of the keyboard consists of 10 customizable keys (5 left, 5 right) that you can set macros on. The keys are backlit and can be changed out for a set of included keys that have various pictures on them (for gaming). On the right are play options for Windows Media Player (and others), shuffle and volume. On the left there is a home key that brings up your default browser. Rotate, zoom and 100% keys can be set to work with the Windows picture viewer, Photoshop and a few others.
The Home, End, Delete, Page Up and Page Down keys take some getting used to as the Delete key is huge and the End key is higher than it normally is. Another thing I noticed is the offset at which I had to place the keyboard in order to type with the home keys. As with any keyboard, it takes time to get used to a key layout and this isn't an issue in my opinion.
The keyboard takes a minimalist approach to gaming, but caters to the professional gamer with nice programmable features. Some gamers like fancy key layouts and loads of oddball looking gadgets. The Tarantula bypasses the fluff and goes right to the source--giving you what you need as a gamer and not stuffing the keyboard with items that you won't use anyway.
I changed from a Zboard (which still functions just fine) to this keyboard for a change in pace. If you're a serious gamer looking for a sleek approach to a gaming keyboard then this is probably going to satisfy your needs.
Razer makes quality products. This is no exception.
 Mammoth of a keyboard but not worth the price. July 5, 2008
WOWaddict (Florida)
Bought this thing for full retail price about a year ago, and I don't feel it was worth the money. It is a huge keyboard and the software is pretty good. Probably best if you play FPS but for me, playing WOW, basically like any other keyboard. Its not backlit so you might want to look for that feature. You can plug your headphones directly into it which is cool. Anyway it is broke right now at first the space bar stopped working and now most of the keys don't work. I contacted customer support by email and basically they told me I was S.O.L. They said they don't have any sort of repair program and don't exchange keyboards.
Decent gaming keyboard June 21, 2008
Christopher Fisher (MI, USA)
The Tarantula tries to be a great gaming keyboard but it falls a bit short of the line.
One of my biggest problems with this keyboard is the fact that Razer went to all the trouble to put backlighting effects on some parts of the keyboard but couldn't be bothered to backlight all the keys. There are plenty of keyboards out there that do, and when I'm playing games in the dark I sometimes wish I had.
Oh, but I could get the light attachment you say? I could I suppose, but that would mean plugging a device into the battle dock, also known as the 2nd thing I dislike about this keyboard. So far there have been no good uses for the add-on port.
In my opinion Razer attempted to match its competitors gimmicky gaming keyboards with the Tarantula but did not actually bother to go the distance with any of the gimmicks they chose to include, with the exception of the re-bindable keys.
I do like the additional buttons to be mapped, and the media controls. The software is decent and the fact that it has speaker/microphone jacks built in is nice for LAN parties, as is the built-in USB hub.
The biggest thing though, and the reason I gave this keyboard 4 stars, is the fact that the keys feel nice and respond nice, and the board as a whole just feels very solid and nice to type on. It feels and performs well enough as a keyboard that I can overlook some of its shortcomings.
CONS For Razer June 9, 2008
William I. Benton (SC)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I don't see the cons of a Tarantula keyboard enough in print. If I did I would not have bought mine. I pluged my nice 2.1 speakers into the keyboard and moving my keyboard broke my cord. Nice speakers no more. I do not plug my expensive replaced logitech z-2300 into my keyboard any longer. The keyboard is illuminated but not the keys most used: w,a,s,d,z,x,c,f,g,r,1,2,3,4,5,6,shift,control. They have a place for a raised light to sit. Like I want a lamp for my keyboard. Next time I buy a gaming keyboard it will have the correct keys illuminated, not a place for a lamp. Consider the cons before buying.
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