Simplify your laptop buyingRazer Lycosa
Manufacturer: Razer Inc. Part number: RZ03-00180100-R3U1
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Razer's Lycosa gaming keyboard has a lot of promise, and it mostly delivers, thanks to its solid feel, smooth typing, and powerful macro capabilities. We wish Razer had paid more attention to the LED lighting, but for strong touch-typing gamers, we think you'll like the Lycosa once you put your hands on it.
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CNET editors' review
Razer Lycosa price range: $63.18 - $80.46
- Reviewed by: Rich Brown
- Reviewed on: 01/24/2008
- Released on: 11/01/2007
The good: Small profile; powerful macro software; smooth typing; strong desk grip.
The bad: Only one spare USB port; dim, non-adjustable LED backlighting; unintuitive software.
The bottom line: Razer's Lycosa gaming keyboard has a lot of promise, and it mostly delivers, thanks to its solid feel, smooth typing, and powerful macro capabilities. We wish Razer had paid more attention to the LED lighting, but for strong touch-typing gamers, we think you'll like the Lycosa once you put your hands on it.
Razer's new Lycosa gaming keyboard has several unique features. The rubber coating on the keys provides a soft, comfortable touch. You can switch between three backlight configurations via a touch-sensitive control pad. You can even use Razer's software to program each of the Lycosa's keys to work as a separate macro, either individually or in combination with one another. We're frustrated, though, by a few things left half-baked. None of the Lycosa's issues are bad enough to make us dislike it outright, and we'd recommend it--especially for confident touch-typing gamers. For $80, though, we expect Razer to follow through on the promises of its features.
Setting up the Lycosa is only a little convoluted. It requires two USB inputs, as well as separate audio inputs if you want to plug in your own headset and microphone. Because the Lycosa has a single spare USB 2.0 jack on its top edge, we understand why Razer relies on two USB outputs; presumably it wants to preserve the pristine data stream for the keyboard itself to ensure typing responsiveness. Fair enough. Razer still could have added a second USB input, though, since the current one has a dedicated data stream all to itself via the second USB cable.
The software is easy to set up, although hard to navigate because of small type and a less-than intuitive layout. If you don't plan on using macros, you might not even need it. The touch pad's media control and backlit profile button work without installing anything.
The Lycosa's backlighting is its biggest problem. With the blue LED turned off, you're left with an almost illegible keyboard, that's similar to the purposefully blank Das keyboard of a few years ago. If you're not secure in your touch-typing prowess, the reasonable thing to do would be to turn on the Lycosa's backlighting, which reveals the letters on the keys, along with the touch pad buttons. The problem is that the lighting is so faint that in a lit room, it gives you only a suggestion of which key is which. Unlike Saitek's Eclipse II keyboards, there's no way to adjust the brightness on the Lycosa's LED, let alone the color.
In a darkened room, however, the lighting is sufficiently bright. The only other option is a third profile that lights up the W, A, S, and D keys (with roughly twice the brightness of the standard lighting scheme), commonly used by PC gamers as direction controls, but keeps the rest of the board unlit.
Assuming you can find the proper keys, typing on the Lycosa is a pleasant experience. The nonstick rubber coating is soft to the touch, and combined with the response of the low profile keys, we actually like the Lycosa's typing action better than Razer's higher-end Tarantula keyboard. The Lycosa's glossy plastic housing is also attractive enough, but we're less enamored with the detachable wrist rest. For one, it requires four screws, which seems overcomplicated when surely a plastic clip or two would suffice. The wrist rest is also made from a nonvented matte plastic that seems to induce sweating. This is gross, especially if, like your reviewer (he swears), you're not normally prone to sweaty palms.
If you do go so far as to install the software and can figure out how to use it, you'll find that you can make any key perform the work of several via the macro software. Razer also promises the ability to press more than three keys at a time. For gamers especially, we can see how this might be useful for executing a complicated series of moves. Unlike the Tarantula, the Lycosa has no dedicated buttons for macro hosting. The benefit, though, is that with no macro keys, the Lycosa has a much smaller footprint than the 20.25-inch wide Tarantula or Logitech's 21.5-inch wide G15 keyboard. At its widest, the Lycosa comes in just under 18.5 inches, smaller than even the Saitek Eclipse II.
Finally, in addition to the Lycosa's scaled-down size, we also like how well it holds its position on your workspace. It's not an overly heavy keyboard, but the rubber feet gripped our desk firmly. You can also elevate the Lycosa via two drop-down feet on the underside.
User reviews
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Pricey, but worth it for gamers.
by mattnews22 on August 26, 2008
Pros: Pure and simple, the feel of the keys is the sole reason I bought this board. I find it prevents fatigue in my hands from long gaming sessions. The non-slip surface and the slight snap and short throw of the keys is heaven.
Cons: The back light is rather dim and harder to view at an angle. Lack of dedicated hotkeys (but that is not why I chose this board). Is rather pricey if you look at the feature list of similarly priced boards.
Summary: For me the draw of this board was the tactile sensation when pressing the keys. I mainly play World of Warcraft which means long sessions in front of the keyboard, ...
Summary: For me the draw of this board was the tactile sensation when pressing the keys. I mainly play World of Warcraft which means long sessions in front of the keyboard, and the wrong kind can wear you out. I type all day at work and was tired of feeling like I was doing the same at home. If you notice your fingers fatiguing during gamplay I highly suggest this board. If you are looking for a feature rich board with all the bells and whistles you might look elsewhere.
One novel thing about this board is that it stays put, but when I suddenly find myself in the heat of battle while "yelling" at my Battleground partners to stop covering the flag and grab a tower, I can easily slide it to the classic angled "battle stance" for proper pwnage.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Razer Lycosa....ROCKS!
by dpbohr on November 20, 2007
Pros: Slim design, nicely lighted keyboard, availabilty for macros
Cons: There are no real cons I can think of...the price is a little steep however I really think in the end it was worth it.
Summary: I just rec?d my Lycosa keyboard yesterday. I really like it. To address those concerned with whether the wrist pad is cheap or not...It is not! It is ...
Summary: I just rec?d my Lycosa keyboard yesterday. I really like it. To address those concerned with whether the wrist pad is cheap or not...It is not! It is detachable, however you must use a screwdriver to remove it. It is not a cheap wrist pad, it is very sturdy. All in all, I really love it. The keys are very responsive and are very similar to those found on a laptop keyboard.
It does allow for programming of all the keys and you can set up to 10 profiles, all that are easily accessible by pressing the razer logo on the media touch panel and then selecting one of the F-keys from 1 to 10, matching the selected profile you want. Also, you can set it up to auto load the profile based on application launch.
As for the USB and Audio ports, I have not tested them yet. The cable has 4 connections, 2 USB (one for the extra port, and one for the keyboard itself), 1 microphone and 1 headphone connection.
With the touch panel, you can also assign which media player to launch when pressing the Play button. I assigned mine to iTunes, and when in there the forward and reverse buttons allow you to skip to the track of your choice.
Like I said, I really love this keyboard. Best keyboard I have ever purchased. I really hope that this helps anyone considering this, because I would definetly would recommend this again and again2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Not worth the high price
by kinrossian on April 25, 2009
Pros: Rubberised keys,
Sound and USB portsCons: Rubberised paint comes off after a few months of use.
Hard to see the light behind the keys - day or night.
Software is abysmal.Summary: I wanted a keyboard for gamers - I tried to put up with the poor visibility of the markings on the keys, but now the paint is coming off the ...
Summary: I wanted a keyboard for gamers - I tried to put up with the poor visibility of the markings on the keys, but now the paint is coming off the keys (after one year of use) I feel cheated. I contacted Razor who dismissed my warranty claims in a rather abusive manner. Imagine how impressed I am with their products now! Or how many I will buy from now on.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Flawless Keyboard! Perfect Lighting! Excellent Macro Features!
by Shisouka on July 2, 2008
Pros: Great key feel and responce, slim profile, nice to have the extra USB and audio ports.
Cons: None that I've found. If I had to say something negative, they could have made the spacebar a bit quieter.
Summary: This is a great keyboard. Don't listen to the CNET guy when he says that the lighting isn't bright enough. I've opened the blinds for full sunlight ...
Summary: This is a great keyboard. Don't listen to the CNET guy when he says that the lighting isn't bright enough. I've opened the blinds for full sunlight and turned on the room lights and I can see the keys just fine! They illuminate very well in lighted conditions and are superb in a dark room / LAN Party environment. In fact, when I first purchased it, I was worried that the keys were going to be too bright and blind me at night and annoy me during the day. So I was very happy to find out that Razor had managed to choose the perfect illumination level.
The space key is a little clunky / is nosier than I would like, but not any worse than your standard keyboard. Not sure the WSAD only illumination is really that great, but they do show up extra bright when you select that mode. I shelled out the $70 because I can't stand most of the keyboards that Microsoft, Logitech, Saitek, or Kensington are putting out (actually, I haven't found one I like in the last few years). Most keyboard manufacturers have jumped on the "lowered arrow keys" bandwagon. I much prefer them to be inline with the Ctrl and 0/Ins keys. Also, the feel of this keyboard is excellent; both with the rubberized keys and key responsiveness. Most keyboards are so clunky an require too firm a press that they can't keep up with my typing speeds. So for $70, this was a bargain for me. I'll probably buy a few more just incase Razor stop making them. When I find a keyboard I like, it's good to have enough to last until I find another keyboard I like...1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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best keyboard i've ever had
by surgex on March 27, 2008
Pros: everything
Cons: can't program the LEDs...or can you?
Summary: Best keyboard ever...I have been using a wireless keyboard for the past 5 years and I got tired of the interference and the lag, so I decided to go ...
Summary: Best keyboard ever...I have been using a wireless keyboard for the past 5 years and I got tired of the interference and the lag, so I decided to go down to best buy so I could find a real nice wired keyboard that would be responsive and customizable. I came upon several choices, and I decided to get the Razer Lycosa keyboard, and I also purchased the Razer DeathAdder mouse. The keyboard is amazing...the keys are so comfortable, fast, and responsive...and best of all, they are illuminated! The LEDs are not THAT faint at all for me, but I wish they could be more customizable...The only options are off, on, or WASD to be illuminated. The macros are sick, and the software is not intrusive at all (unlike SOME keyboard software (ehem, microsoft, logitech), and it is VERY easy to use. The touch pad for media works awesome, and you can set the software to whichever media player you use; itunes, wmp, winamp, and there was another one i believe also. The wrist rest is very nice too, and all in all this was an amazing purchase. The only problem i have is that I can't control which keys can be illuminated. Perhaps there is a driver hack that allows us to do this? I don't see it as being impossible, but I've searched all over and haven't found anything to accomplish this. If you don't understand what I mean, lets say you play a game where you use the keys, C,V,R,up,down,left,right, w,x,z, and b. It would be cool to have a profile that only allows those keys to be illuminated. Other than that, this keyboard is the best i've ever had. I use the USB port on the back to plug in the DeathAdder mouse, which is nice to have easy access. Also I love the headphones jack on it. So, all you hacker \ programmers out there, lets find a way to program the LEDs!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This is a great keyboard!
by peptoBISMOL on March 21, 2008
Pros: Great lights (unlike the review states), amazing macro capability, Windows Logo key toggle in-game, rubber keycaps, great tactile feedback
Cons: instead of only WASD keys for gaming lights, there should be any that I define. I use EDSF and some people use others.
Summary: Unlike the review states, my keyboard has a fantastic bright blue LED powering the lights. It's bright enough to illuminate a small area around the keyboard.
The touch panel ...Summary: Unlike the review states, my keyboard has a fantastic bright blue LED powering the lights. It's bright enough to illuminate a small area around the keyboard.
The touch panel is quite sensitive, requiring only light tapping, rather than the hard pressing that microwaves and such require.
The volume control offers more levels than my previous multimedia keyboards offered. Rather than about ten levels, I get about thirty. Very nice!
I can toggle the Windows Logo key on and off in-game with the Razer-Logo Windows-Logo combo. That paid for the keyboard in itself.
The rubbery, tactile keys are a joy to type on. The shiny black surface with no goofy chrome trim or anything like that gives it a sleek, professional look.
The only thing missing is a leathery or rubbery cushioned wrist rest like Microsoft has gone to. That and configurable direction keys are the only two things. This keyboard is easily worth the price.
Great job Razer.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Not so bad
by MrSatyre on February 29, 2008
Pros: Great feel to coated keys, backlit, easy to use
Cons: Backlighting not adjustable, only one USB
Summary: It's possible cnet received a wonky keyboard for their review, as I had to go through two myself before finding one which was 100% functional (one had backlighting which ...
Summary: It's possible cnet received a wonky keyboard for their review, as I had to go through two myself before finding one which was 100% functional (one had backlighting which refused to stay consistently on, and another had Caps Lock issues). The backlighting on mine is easily viewable in bright room lighting conditions---provided it is down low enough (as on a slide-out keyboard desk tray) so you can look down on it. I do completely agree that there really should have been a second USB port. Heck, my $5 Dell notebook keyboard had two USB ports!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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The box is a better keyboard than the contents
by erictoni on August 27, 2009
Pros: It looks nice, however, like a hot rod with a VW engine, it is stops at the looks.
Cons: The keyboards are garbage, touted as a gamers keyboard, yet you couldn't bet your electronic life on it - at all. The keyboard are best left in the box where they can look slick, and not do any significant amounts of damage on their own.
Summary: 1) We are on the second keyboard from Razer that has chronic keyboard faults. The keys themselves fail after a short period of time, and will randomly decide to work......
Summary: 1) We are on the second keyboard from Razer that has chronic keyboard faults. The keys themselves fail after a short period of time, and will randomly decide to work...or not. Certainly NOT a gamers keyboard, since you can not depend on any of the keys to even work.
2) The media pad, although slick looking, is abysmally buggy. Sometimes you get the expected result, sometimes not; sometimes in the middle of something all together different and on its own, the keypad decides to launch its own app- most of the time, over and over.
3) The Razer customer service is nearly like dealing with a group of albino ogres: hard to find, and when you do, you quickly realize you would have rather spoken to someone else. All in all, for a company that clearly has a quality control issue with their keyboards, you should expect that they would be more responsive to emails or feedback from their website, but they are not, which indicates that they either don't care or are too self-absorbed in being a gamer company that they forgot that gamers expect quality from the products they buy, not cheap plastic that would have been better used to make a Barbie doll.1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good but not Great
by uhawks66 on September 29, 2008
Pros: Solid feel to the keys and very responsive,backlit, great look will give it more cons then pros but its a great keyboard. I didnt have any trouble with the drivers or firmware.
Cons: I wish the keys were thicker like a normal desktop keyboard not like a laptop,backlight could be brighter, the software is "ok" but not great
Summary: I was able to find it really cheap online, under half price so no complaints there. You really just have to have the blacklight on all the time because you ...
Summary: I was able to find it really cheap online, under half price so no complaints there. You really just have to have the blacklight on all the time because you cant read anything on the board otherwise. The WASD keys light up alot brighter but only when only those keys are turned on. It works good in the dark but daylight is sometimes painful. This thing is responsive tho!
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Sexy, but there are better alternatives.
by the_epic_ninja on September 29, 2009
Pros: Looks amazing
Touch Screen Media Keys
Reasonably-well thought out software
usb port/ audio out / mic in
gaming mode
cluster lighting
low profile keys
rubberized keysCons: rubberized keys rub against each other, sometimes making certain keys difficult to press down
no feedback for touch screen (my old cyborg keyboard flashed twice if you pressed a touch screen sensor)
dim
fingerprints
expensiveSummary: This keyboard's rubberized key feel is unique, but the rubber keys themselves rub against each other, making it hard to type. I have to press harder on every key ...
Summary: This keyboard's rubberized key feel is unique, but the rubber keys themselves rub against each other, making it hard to type. I have to press harder on every key so that the key would go down and register a click. The lights could've had some type of flashing feedback.
There are better alternatives; I think i should've gotten the G15 instead.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Razer Inc.
- Part number: RZ03-00180100-R3U1
- Description: With an awesome host of features, the Razer Lycosa is on an unstoppable mission to destroy and dominate. Execute complex combat maneuvers with swift dexterity. Launch your assaults timed to perfection. Annihilate your enemies and reign supreme on the battlefield. You now have the tactical advantage on every terrain, and your enemies? fates are in your hands.
General
- Device Type Keyboard
- Form Factor External
- Depth 8.7 in
- Width 18.5 in
- Height 0.6 in
Input Device
- Interface USB
- Connectivity Technology Wired
- Features Detachable wrist rest
- Key/Button Function Programmable
Expansion / Connectivity
- Interfaces 1 x Headphones - Output - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x Microphone - Input - Mini-phone 3.5 mm, 1 x USB - 4 pin USB Type A
- Connections 1 x USB - 4 pin USB Type A
Miscellaneous
- Microsoft Certifications Certified for Windows Vista
Software / System Requirements
- OS Required Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition, Microsoft Windows Vista (64-bit versions)
- System Requirements Details Windows XP/Vista - HD 35 MB
Interface(s) Required
- Port(s) / Connector(s) Required 1 USB 4 pin USB Type A
Interface Provided
- Port(s) Total (Free) 1 Headphones Output:Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 Microphone Input:Mini-phone 3.5 mm, 1 USB 4 pin USB Type A
Manufacturer info
- Razer Inc.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Razer Inc. products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.razerzone.com/
- Address:
900 Fort Street Mall, Honolulu, HI 96813
