Features:

  • High-Performance Mecha-Membrane Switches: Provides the tactile feedback of mechanical key press on a comfortable, soft-cushioned, membrane, rubber dome switch suitable for gaming
  • 20 Mecha-Membrane Keys for More Hotkeys and Actions: Perfect for multitasking during gaming and everyday use with fully programmable keys
  • Thumbpad for Improved Movement Controls: The 8-way directional thumbpad allows for more natural controls for console-oriented players and a more ergonomic experience
  • Fully Programmable Macro Support: Razer Hypershift allows for all keys and keypress combinations to be remapped to execute complex commands
  • Immersive, Customizable Chroma RGB Lighting: Includes 16.8 million colors w/ included preset profiles; syncs with gameplay and Razer Chroma-enabled peripherals and Philips Hue products
Worth the upgrade from Nostromo

Can't find a reason not to love it. I switched from keyboard gaming to keypad exclusively years ago when I bought my Nostromo, and it was well past time to upgrade. First thing: the thumb button is much more sensitive than the Nostromo. It's more like a lever. I was afraid i wouldn't like not having a button there, or that it would be too much resistance versus the button, with the way its designed, but that's not the case. It works well, so don't let that deter you. It's constructed like a tank. I'm a big guy, so I need certain accommodations for huge handedness, and with the extension possibilities on the orbweaver, it finally feels perfect. If you don't have the same issue, right out of the box it is the same size and feel as the nostromo. With the exception of the added top row of buttons, and somewhat more comfortable. ...and the lights. Sweet Zeus, the lights are bright, even in a well lit room, these suckers shine! If you've read any tom's hardware reviews of the Chroma vs. Logitech vs . corsair products, they lie and claim the corsair are brighter. Obviously a paid review. I spent months going over which products had the best and brightest lighting, and Razer definitely won again.

I use this for digital drawing

What a wonderful device! I don’t use it for gaming. I use it for digital drawing/photo editing. It took about a day of time and research; I meticulously mapped controls that I use constantly for digital drawing into two kep maps on this device. For example, the scroll wheel changes the digital brush size. The space bar is my undo button. The various other keys change the brush type; I have an erase, create new layer, undo, redo and take-a-scree-shot v button as well as a volume and skip song control. It’s wonderful! But boy, did it take some time! Well worth it though! Now, I have memorized the key map layout and gotten used to the button placement. I am so fast with this gaming keyboard now. I press buttons for controls without even thinking about it. I now can no longer digitally draw comfortably without it. When I draw on my iPad, I crave the use of this device! I have used it on both Windows and Mac. The only drawback on Mac that I see is that I can’t take advantage of the option that allows automatic input of text. You press one button, and the predetermined text automatically appears. That option does not work on my Mac, but it works on Windows. Gosh! It would have been so useful, as I rename many layers constantly the same in every drawing such as “background” or “base color”, “shadow.” But oh well. Perhaps it will become available in the future. I hope they never stop selling this. When my device finally gives out in ten years (hopefully), I don’t know what I’ll do. Maybe I should buy two or three more now just in case...

Wonderful Digital Artist Tool! + SOME TIPS GETTING STARTED!

I've had this nifty device for the past few months now, and I've finally decided to write a review. Note that I'll be updating my review as time goes on. Things might change, but my need of this (or a similar) device will certainly stick. I didn't buy this to game with, though I'm looking forward to trying it out in the future. My goal for this purchase was to streamline my workflow, both for ergonomic and speed reasons. Working with a wacom + keyboard setup on my small desk was wreaking havoc on my shoulder, and because I do this professionally, I can't afford to miss work thanks to pinched nerves or sore arms. On top of that, I use a variety of programs throughout the day and I have trouble remembering all those shortcuts. I considered buying just an average keypad but I didn't much care for the idea that I'd have to switch up my shortcuts for everything, especially since I don't always work from home with my own setup. Enter... the Orbweaver. Comfort: As a woman with fairly small hands, I worried that this device would be too large for my needs; Now that I have it with me, I can see why some reviewers struggle with its size. My fingers don't quite reach the top row, and the bottom row can be a little on the awkward side to use. But because I'm not using this for gaming, I don't really see this as an issue. I've assigned my top row for things I don't typically need all that often (Save As, New Layer, etc) and it's worked out just fine. As for comfort, I found the default configuration to be best for my needs. I've suffered no pain when using it (well, at the fault of the device anyway; more on that later) and I have yet to have the glue seepage issue arise (but I'm keeping an eye out for it). My thumb can reach the side buttons fine, though the SPACE button is out of reach; again, since I didn't buy this for gaming, it hasn't been much of a problem. I imagine if/when I do pick up a game, I can always reassign that button to one I can actually reach if need be. Functionality: This thing has completely changed my workflow for the better. I'm using it for three apps right now (one at a time, so I can get used to my key layouts -- more on that later) and aside from some minor things here and there, it's been a dream to use. I love that I can change the backlighting per profile. Esoteric Spine is set to red, PS is blue, CSP is currently lilac. I'm able to create countless profiles, each with a bunch of keymaps if I need it, and I've got half a dozen already! I do have some tips at the end of this review to help you create your own layouts, so check that out if you need it. Cons: Yes, there are cons... as much as I love this device, I'm disappointed by a few things. These things are pretty much all SYNAPSE related. Synapse isn't a terrible app; I'm pretty okay with it, to be honest. Still, the hiccups and compatibility issues have given my Orbweaver quite the... uh, personality, and while I can find workarounds and fixes for some of its quirks, I'm still annoyed by its failings sometimes. Most of these things are issues that probably won't plague others, except for maybe the Mac version of Synapse: the biggest drawback I think we Mac users can all share in here is that one cannot change the color of the individual keys like advertised. Not a dealbreaker, not even really a big issue, but it's still an ability I would have liked to have. Okay, now for the fun part my write-up... TIPS! When I first considered using the Orbweaver for my art needs, I combed the internet looking for recommended layouts and everything, and I found... NOTHING. I know, I know... a layout is a personal thing, based on one's own preferences; what works for one person isn't going to necessarily work for someone else. Still, I wish I at least had a list of suggestions I could go by. TIPS ON GETTING STARTED: (Now, I'm still working on my layouts. Don't be frustrated if you don't have the perfect setup right away; it takes time to figure out what feels right. But here is what I've picked up so far.) -My BIGGEST tip for you? Create an OFF mode! Disable every key for every keymap on this profile. Whenever you create a new profile, do so by duplicating this profile; that way, you have a clean slate every time you make a profile. This saves you SO much time, since Synapse doesn't seem to have a disable all option. -Whenever you start a new profile, give it a version number. (Example: Clip Studio Paint v1.) When you decide to make changes, duplicate that profile and make changes to your new version. That way, if you decide you prefer the old layout, you can just switch back. (I test out the new layout a few days and then delete the old one if I prefer the new one.) -I have found that 8, 12, and 14 are best used for my most frequent keys, since my fingers naturally rest on them. In Esoteric Spine, for example, I have these keys set to translate, rotate, and scale -- everything one needs to animate a character. I radiate out from these three keys by importance of other tools: copy/paste, play, save, etc. (Personal preference tip: 19 is great as undo! It's within quick reach, but you aren't going to accidentally hit it.) -Utilize multiple keymaps. You don't need to fill out one keymap completely before starting on the second! Like I said before, I assign my keys starting from where my fingers rest and radiating outward from that based on importance/frequency of use, but instead of sending certain shortcuts out of reach, I make them share keys with other shortcuts by using keymaps. (Brush is assigned to 8, for example, but so is brush size, because it's easier to remember for me. I can toggle between keymaps using left Alt, easy peasy!) -Assign harder to reach keys to things not so important/frequently used. (01 is assigned to Save for me. 03 is new layer. 05 is delete. etc.) -Either hunt down someone's lineart of the Orbweaver or make your own and print out a dozen or so copies to keep on hand. You can use these to visualize a layout plan and/or to put together a cheat sheet while you're learning to use your new keypad. Bust out some colored pencils and make a nice chart for yourself. -Seriously, you have to spend like... a week using the orbweaver and ONLY your orbweaver when it's time to make some art. Place your keyboard somewhere terribly inconvenient to you so you don't end up using it out of habit. You will be slow the first hour or so, but you'll be back to your usual speed by the end of the day; as you get used to it, you'll find yourself going MUCH master than before. Do this ONE PROFILE AT A TIME! You'll have a hard time remembering everything if you're switching between your profile for After Effects and your profile for Photoshop. Trust me, I tried. One program at a time, one profile at a time if you can. Good luck! If you have any questions about how I use the orbweaver, just drop me a line in the comments.

Power to the gamers!

Saw this baby drop on sale the day after I decided to buy it. Very useful for gamers who want to have everything in one area but don't want to go thru all the fuss of owning a mechanical keyboard..... Or even for those who do.... LOL I use this to play many games like PlayerUnknown Battlegrounds and Overwatch to name a couple, and have had no problems with this slight adjustment and phenominal quality of this Razer product. Might just make a fan out of me Razer. ;^)

Software Is Now Great - Overall Excellent Product

SOFTWARE I have read many misleading reviews about how poor the software is for the Tartarus V2. Maybe the earlier versions of the software had some issues, but the current software is absolutely excellent. It is far better than anything else on the market, including similar software from Logitech. The software (Synapse) is modern and beautifully designed. All the buttons on your device can be programmed to do just about anything. The software shows a picture of the device, and all the keys and assignments. To assign a key, just click on it in the picture, and then assign what you want it to do. You can assign keys to keystrokes, macros, mouse functions, system functions, media functions, and more. Creating macros is as simple as hitting a record button, typing in the keystrokes, and hitting the stop button. You can also create profiles, such as a profile for each game you play. The profiles automatically activate for the game you specify (which is more than I can say for Logitech software, which has issues with this most basic feature). Each profile can have multiple keymaps assigned, and there is also a hypershift option to effectively double up the number of keys you can assign. I have been using gaming keypads, keyboards, and mice from various companies for over 10 years, and I can honestly say that this is the best software on the market today for your peripherals. HARDWARE I am an experienced gamer, and have used similar products such as the Logitech g13, and the Belkin n52te keypad for many years. The new Tartarus V2 is overall an excellent product, and definitely an upgrade from the Logitech and Belkin products. The keys are easy to press, and the ergonomic design makes everything feel so natural. I have a small hand, but I can easily reach all the keys with the palm rest in the forward position. The palm rest has a nice cushion on it, which is really comfortable. I use the thumbstick for WASD, and it works perfectly for that. It is much easier on the thumb, and activates much easier than the thumbstick on the n52te. The scroll wheel button is also much easier to activate than on the n52te. The RGB colors are nice, but not quite as nice as on the Logitech mechanical keyboards. BOTTOM LINE The software great. The hardward is great. I was pleasantly surprised at how much better it was than the reviews made it out to be.

After the disappointment that was the Orbweaver's thumbpad and thumb button

After the disappointment that was the Orbweaver's thumbpad and thumb button, the Tartarus v2 is exactly what I've been wanting ever since the release of the first Belkin Nostromo a decade ago. It's really just an n52 with a fourth row of buttons. Razer's mecha-membrane keys have a good feel and aren't too clicky. The Synapse 3.0 software, as of early 2018, is still sorta beta and certainly could be a bit more user friendly and fuller featured, but it does the job it's supposed to do. The RGB features are neither here nor there for me, as my hand covers it when I'm gaming and when I"m not it's mostly out of sight anyways, but there's a fair amount of prebuilt lighting modes and the ability to do some custom stuff, including effects that move across other Razer RGB devices. So that's cool, if that's your thing.

but now I love it. Having access to more keys with your ...

Took several days to adjust, but now I love it. Having access to more keys with your thumb is awesome, and the software is highly configurable. In an effort to improve my posture (and because my new desk doesn't have a keyboard tray), I was specifically looking for a gaming setup that would allow me to play with KB/Mouse on my lap. To that end, I bought this along with a Razer Manticor mouse mat (solid metal, doesn't flex) and I couldn't be happier. I use this primarily for FPS games and have never needed more keys than what this provides. If you play MOBAs, using the thumbstick for screen scroll is AWESOME. Note that the thumbstick is digital with 4 directions, not an analog stick. In FPS games I bound Jump to "left" on the thumb stick because I wanted to train myself to get comfortable taking full advantage of the thumb buttons. It felt unnatural for the first few days, but now I'm back to strafejumping without issue. I use the other thumb directions for things like walk or use/activate.

For the Keyboard Disbabled

Let me start by saying I am completely unable to play a first-person shooter using a keyboard. I can't ever find the right keys, my hands wander off the home keys, etc. It's so awful that I have chosen to use a game controller for years instead of the keyboard. Obviously that places you at a significant disadvantage against other players who use a mouse to aim. Enter the Orbweaver. It took about two days for me to get used to it. Now I am hooked. I absolutely love this thing. A couple of thoughts: Get this one as opposed to the smaller Tartarus. The Orbweaver has five more keys (an additional top row). And I find that I use almost every key on the Orbweaver. The directional pad/controller is digital buttons for directional movement. It's not an analog joystick. There is no light pressure for slower movements. It's on or off. I wasn't expecting this. I was thinking the directional pad would be more akin to an Xbox controller. It is not. There are a ton of features for remapping and changing lighting. I wasn't thinking I would use those, but I was completely wrong. I have every key modified in my own custom design for each game, and the lighting grouped by colors for functions. For example: crouch, prone, run, slow are all stance/movement keys, and therefor all the color blue. Lean left/lean right are green. Reload is red. Etc. It's been very useful for me to learn how to use it. Two weeks later, all I use is the Orbweaver and mouse when playing a FPS. That's been a dramatic change for me. So if you are keyboard challenged like I am, the Orbweaver is exactly what you have been looking for to still use a mouse.

Replacement for my Orbweaver of 6 years

I was just replacing my Orbweaver which I've had since they were basically released. I personally find Orbweavers highly preferable to keyboards since I'm able to move with the joystick on the side, freeing up my other fingers to click buttons. The failure on my old one was the "A" key or up on the joystick, which after six years seems like it just randomly went out. No big deal. The buttons on this one are slightly louder and have more of a click to them, but I like a little noise so that's fine for me. Some of the colours look similar to other ones, but overall the colour quality is very pretty. I mean, I loved my old Orbweaver and this is basically the exact same so I don't foresee having any issues with this. The cover where the palm of your hand goes wore out on my old one and it took me way too long to take it off, wash the old glue off, and superglue it. If that starts happening to you get superglue immediately to avoid the sticky stuff on your hand. If I have any issues I'll update.

This is the speedpad to get for gaming.

Outstanding! I've been using a nostromo n52te for over 10 years and I finally wore it out. I was able to switch to using this without any learning curve. The buttons feel MUCH better and have a much lighter touch. because of this I can hit the keys much faster and feel more confident. The tiny click you can feel when it's pressed feels very reassuring and makes gaming a much more pleasant experience. And the D pad is a HUGE upgrade. The D pad also uses mechanical switches and it takes so much less effort to use than the n52te. And it's completely adjustable. Its default position is very awkward for men's hands (under your thumb's joint) but you can easily adjust it to fit your thumb perfectly. And the palm pad can be set to ROCK back and forth freely (pull the adjustment pin and leave it out) which makes reaching the top row of keys very easy and increases the overall comfort dramatically. For anyone who is trying to decide between this and a logitech G13, I have purchased BOTH. I tried using the G13 for a month and finally had to return it. The problem is that all the keys feel the same (they're all in the same plane and aren't tilted toward your fingers). This makes it impossible to "feel" where your hand is on the logitech's keys without looking. I found myself constantly looking down at the pad to reorient my hand and it just didn't work for me. However the orbweaver solves this problem by giving the keys a very distinct feel. You can put your hand on the pad and find the keys without looking at all. And the logitech's screen looks cool, but I found it worthless. I can't be looking down at my keyboard and trying to read tiny bits of information while trying to play a game. And the information is already on the monitor so what's the point? Anyway, I've used every speedpad out there for gaming, and this is the one to get. Trust me, I've been using these speedpads for many years.

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