Testing the K90
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Being a mechanical keyboard, the K90 is way superior to the membrane models. It quickly responds to two or three rapid presses on the same key. Usually, MMORPG and RTS games don’t require as much precision as an FPS match does. We’re not saying that those are slow games or that the players don’t require a fast keyboard to ensure that they quickly cure the warrior that is facing the final boss of the dungeon; it’s just that MMORPG and RTS are not as insanely ferocious as a full-on virtual shootout. We’re pointing that out because the 18 macro keypad is not made of mechanical keys, so the user will feel the slight difference between the regular keys and the G1-G18 keys on the left, but that didn’t compromise the performance in the least.
In terms of typing, we had the same impression with the K90 as we did with its small brother, the K60; it felt like an old typewriter when we stopped playing to write this test. The keys made a strong clicking noise that was picked up by the Skype teleconference with our fellow gamers. They offe
r some resistance, so extended periods of typing can get a little tiresome.
Corsair’s software is powerful and interesting. For those who own an M90 mouse, the application can actually configure both peripherals. Macro recording features four playback options and several delays if the user so chooses. The operation is simple, but the tricky part is memorizing all those choices, especially considering that you can reach 54 macros over three profiles. Of course, nobody has to create that many macros, and it’s nice to have more keys rather than fewer. The number of keys also make the pad a little crowded, and the wrong key will end up being hit from time to time. As we said before, the user will take some time to get used to the K90, so it’s a good idea to create similar macros next to each other just in case. After all, it’s not like he or she will end up running out of keys…