A keyboard to match the Habu mouse, but is it any good?

Logic dictates that the partnering of a giant like Microsoft and a specialist like Razer should only result in good things.  So far this has been true. The Habu gaming mouse is pretty solid evidence.  The second offspring of the Microsoft/Razer partnership is the Reclusa keyboard; the technological companion to the Microsoft Habu mouse.  It’s a solid, but far from perfect, entry into the gaming hardware marketplace.

Appearance

The Reclusa, to be perfectly honest, is a pretty nondescript looking piece of equipment. Aside from its large, oddly oblong shape, a couple of unusual control knobs in the top corners, and its blue backlighting, the keyboard is not particularly eye catching. This is not to say that it is unattractive in any way, but it is not the type of keyboard to stand out on your desktop.  This is mostly due to its mostly matte black construction.

Considering the only variation in color is from the less-matte black keys and the blue backlighting, those who are in to flashy peripherals might want to look elsewhere. Even the two usb ports on the top ridge of the unit are hidden away so as not to effect the overall aesthetic. If you are like me, however, you appreciate a subtle, unobtrusive, classy keyboard, and that is what the Reclusa is. The only complaint that I really have about the appearance of the unit is the fact that the function keys are much more dim that the rest of the keys, probably due to the placement of the LEDs.

Performance

As far as basic gaming is concerned, the Reclusa is a very sturdy, capable keyboard, but is not without its issues. Keystrokes are smooth, quiet and very responsive. The only problem that I had with the keys themselves was with the two jog dials at the top left and right of the keypad. The default settings for these programmable dials are “scrolling” for the left one and “volume” for the right. For whatever reason, these dials are not as smooth to operate as the rest of the keys. They actually feel a little on the cheaper side.

Also, the fact that they are actual knobs, rather than flat discs (like the Logitech G series keyboards), means that you have to repeatedly grab and twist, rather than just moving your finger in a circular motion, indefinitely. Ultimately, if you don’t use dials like this for navigation or gaming, the fact that they are a bit cheesy shouldn’t bother you.  What might bother you, however, are the supports for elevating the back of the keyboard. With these supports folded into the body of the keyboard, four rubber feet hold the unit firmly in place. As soon as you flip down the supports, the rubber feet lose traction and the keyboard starts skating around the desk like Monica Lewinski. Okay, that is a slight exaggeration. Still, there is an obvious loss of traction with the stands flipped down, so you will want to leave them up.