but can't you buy 10 keyboards that'll last just as long and for the same price or less? and why not just get a joystick controller or are they not allowed in competition?

Nope, the [Backspace] key needs to be larger.

Okay, I really like the mechanical key things, which is what makes the "Das Keyboard" awesome, except for the whole lack of writing (which makes programming difficult as I'm not that l337). So a well made minimalist keyboard would be awesome (fuck LED backlighting). But damn, do I not want to pay $150 for a keyboard...

No-Click keys are bad Hmmm Kay?...no programable macros are BAD...

Why wouldn't you just buy the logitech G15? I'm no keyboard guru, but from what I can tell it's cheaper and has an assload more functions.

@Log1c: buy an IBM M1 on ebay.

@alpacalypse: Yeah I should just 'borrow' one we have from work...

I've the IBM M1 (PS/2) keyboard and its loud but can take a massive beating (or give one...weighs atleast a pound).

@Log1c: Give a it a year...likely down to $70...

g15 at home, g11 at work
no problem, backlit keys rule!!!!!

Honestly, while LEDs and extras do not make a keyboard a "good" gaming keyboard, the small screen on the keyboard to show stats and stuff like the logitech G15 does makes this keyboard pale in comparison and will end up being a dud. Also, if this was designed with gamers in mind, why is it the standard office keyboard layout. As a note, I do not use specialty layout keyboards and I am an avid gamer (BF2 and BF2142) but using a typical office layout keyboard is a waist of space.

I love SteelSeries products and all but with their Keyboard lineup (6G, 7G) they have failed hard.

Physical Appearance = 3/10, boring
Build Quality = 10/10, one hard mofo
Keys = 7/10
Price = 1/10, Simply overpriced.

There's no way that 7G can match my Razer Lycosa.

I even sold my G15v2 after using it for like 2 days.

Razer Lycosa is just the best out there. You'll know what I mean if you have used one.

@SigmundTheSeaMonster:
IBM M series is the way to go. Loud will be the last concern of the person on the end taking the beating...

@Whi7eRa66iT: Yeah, that little LCD screen is great - for a night light. Because that's all mine does any more, hasn't worked since the 2nd week I had it and Logitech can't seem to answer why. Nice.

I dont know why I in googling for user opinions as well as availability on this keyboard want to register for every odd site that has comment threads on it, because i'm not a plant nor particularly in love with steelseries and the notion of elite gaming gear or the kind of lost individual who gets suckered into following a brand as if they actually cared.
BUT the sheer unfairness in what people throw around is probably it, as well as for once finding a product that is tailored to your likes and alone cutting the crap. Here you have a keyboard, that probably IS too expensive, but that uses high quality mechanical switches that on its own carries a certain kind of cost, and all people care about is how it looks. "Gaming keyboard" seems to be synonymous with "christmas lights" rather than a functional tool for doing the job for a lot of people. Wanting a l33t looking keyboard is fine! But when it is a "gaming keyboard" (the notion is silly but anyway) why is people on a rule writing it off because of the way it looks?? Not everyone wants something out of the ordinary looks wise or lights to begin with, and might even think that extra keys and similar is really a problem when looking for a keyboard - people being so assuming, it's annoying.

To add something constructive for people deciding on getting one or not (not from first hand experience but from reading up on the few user accounts available), if you like what is usually referred to as "tactile feedback" ie some sort of resistance when you supress a key (like classy spring resistance or squishy membrane hell), this is not for you. It does not use springs like the legendary IBM Model M keyboard but another kind of mechanical switches that while being with regular high full sized keys really are a lot like laptop keyboards in that they respond half pressed (not different from any other mech switch though, I think) and simply go down without any friction. For me personally its a bit mixed since the few times i've come in the close vicinity of lappy keys it has been icky to say the least, but I do see the benefits of easily surpressed keys when doing combinations and I think lappy keys being flat and not slanted does make for an general difference in feel as well. The squishy plastic membrane sort of keyboard i'm using right now does make it an hassle to sprint and wasd + another key so i'll probably go with it simply knowing that.
And in the end it'll probably benefit my writing as well as just knowing that most people used to lappy keys dont want to go back.

Any possibility of doing a comparison with one of the keyboards from pckeyboard.com? The reason I ask is that the SpaceSaver in particular has a similar form factor to this one (sans the wrist rest), only the black version has silver keys instead of black ones.

I bought one for a friend as a present, and it is also built like a tank! It's fairly plain looking, but the fit-and-finish of the key caps and case is better than some of the flashier mechanical keyboards I'd checked out around that time.

[pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net]