Features :

1. Slim Keycap Structure with Hyper response Technology

2. Selective anti-ghosting capability around WASD gaming cluster

3. Fully-programmable keys with macro capabilities

Introduction

With the Razer Arctosa Razer looks at giving the gamer the same slim design as the very popular Lycosa without some of the bells and whistles at a greatly reduced and enticing price.

It is also priced at a range that will allow many to be able to get one if they are looking for a gaming keyboard that has the essentials but makes do with the extra "bling" factors of some other keyboards on the market.

                

Features and Design

The Razer Arctosa gives the gamer a low profile keyboard with a very nice slick design and the abilites for Macros. The ability to write a macro for any key you want is a very big plus in my book. Some keyboards only allow you to write macros to certain areas of the keyboard. You don't have that problem with the Arctosa. If it's a key it has the ability to be programmed as a macro.

The overall feel of the keyboard might take some time for someone to get used to who is coming from a full size keyboard as the Arctosa isn't as long as a full size keyboard. I felt as if the key caps could have been better if they had a special coating on them as my fingers tended to slip off of them at times. The keycaps are very smooth.

The selective anti-ghosting around the gaming cluster keys (WASD) is useful if one needs to press a lot of keys at once. The keyboard will be able to handle this with no problem.

This keyboard does have a gaming mode option that will deactivate the windows keys to allow you to play in-game without accidently being kicked out by hitting the key. This can be very annoying but it's a thing of the past with this keyboard.

Switching profiles is a breeze as one just has to hold down the Razer logo and then press the F1-F10 keys to change profiles on-the-fly.

 

Macros and Software

Razer does a great job with the driver control software for the Arctosa. I had no problems installing the software it and the interface makes it very easy to set up your macros and program different profiles for the keyboard. You have a total of 10 profiles for the keyboard so one should always have enough "profile space" to suit their needs whatever they may be. 

The media control panel, which also allows you to change profiles by holding down the Razer logo and pressing any of the F1 through F-10 keys is very easy to use and it doesn't take much pressure to engage  the control. You do have to actually push down to push a button on this control panel. It doesn't just sense touch like some other keyboards like the Lycosa.

Keys

The keys were very easy to move across on the Arctosa. I would say that they were almost too easy to move across. I did find myself sometimes slipping off a key as they don't have any type of rubber coating for better grip. This keyboard also doesn't have any type of backlighting that other keyboards have so playing at night might be struggle for those of us who don't have the keyboard memorized. Or for those of us that just like the look of a keyboard that lights up at night for the cool factor. The keys can sometimes feel a bit loose as well but they are securely in place.

Conclusion