Looking to buy a fancy new keyboard

[Yvondith]

Looking for advice, again...

I'm looking to buy a reasonably priced gaming keyboard.

The thing is, I'm seeing a lot of terminology that I don't quite understand... and a lot of features I don't think I need.

The only games I play on the PC are FFXI, Morrowind, Oblivion, Skyrim, and Tomb Raider. I'll eventually get Elder Scrolls Online too.

Do I even need mechanical keys? What's the difference between mechanical and the normal keyboards?

Do I need macro buttons? ...What is the point of having them?

What is this anti-ghosting thing? Not quite understanding that.

Only thing I know so far is that I want Backlighting, I want to be able to see what key I am pressing in the dark. I'd sorta like the LED to be inside the keys, but I don't know how much of a difference it makes to have the lighting under the keys. Which style is better?

I just know I want a fancy new keyboard!

Contemplating buying this keyboard: Microsoft SIDEWINDER X4 Keyboard

What do you guys think?

[Norfy the Walrus]

All those terms I have no idea. Mine can be used for macro mapping but I never even looked at those. I bought mine cause it glows blue keys in the dark and matches my mouse which glows blue in the dark as well. Although the mouse gave me far more use when I was playing WoW. That thing was amazing.

My keyboard is the Razer Lycosa. Anything by Razor is good imo.

store.razerzone.com/store/razerusa/en_CA/DisplayCategoryProductListPage/categoryID.35156900

The mouse I used for WoW (and use now for The Old Republic) is this. Except the one I have glows blue, not green.

store.razerzone.com/store/razerusa/en_CA/pd/productID.169418900/parentCategoryID.35208800/categoryId.54536600

I know you're not asking about mice and probably have no use for this one. But this thing turned me into a god on WoW so I just have to put that one out there.

[masaia]

Will give you the long and short.

Mechanical keyboards are the older style keyboards that just use mechanical keys instead of plastic ends. They are more sturdy, but they are also loud as hell. Mechanical keyboards have been removed from general use for about... 8 years or so, but some gamers perfer these keyboards because of the, uh, consistancy they mash their boards.

Anti-ghosting is a bit more difficult to explain. Essentially, it's a technology that allows your keyboard to anticipate more than one key at a time. Better explained, if you hit the A key and S key at the same time, it would recognize both of them being pressed, instead of just one. Any keyboard that brags about this is just basically stating the obvious normal functionality of 99% of keyboards nowadays.

As far as macros go, they have little to no practical use unless you like mapping shortcuts to programs you normally open. They have 1-10 buttons that allow you to customize the opening of these programs. For those too inconvenienced by the double click.

Hope that helps. I use a logictech wireless keyboard/mouse set with a rechargable mouse. It's a bit more pricy, but never have to pay for batteries on mouse, and my kb has never run out of steam from its batteries since I bought it (6 months or so).

[Yvondith]

Thanks Mark, that helps a lot. I was looking for a gaming mouse for WoW too when I played. Might look for one if ESO looks like it's going to be mouse heavy. I've clicked many mice to death playing WoW and TES. >.>

I ordered the one I posted. It's not too fancy, but it has those keys that I lurve.

[Yvondith]

Quite happy with the Sidewinder. Timothy bitched, saying I got jipped because it's not mechanical.

These keys are nice and quiet.

Granny has been known to yell at me at night when she hears key clacking, so this should help.

I can game at night and not disturb anyone.

Plus my keys are purdy in the dark.