HARDWARE

Roccat Isku FX - Multicolour Gaming Keyboard

8/19/2013 9:05:44 AM

Roccat's latest membrane keyboard can talk to mice. Sort of.

The high end keyboard market tends to be split into two separate categories. In one are the membrane keyboards filled to the brim with features, macro keys and lights, and in the other are mechanical boards that offer unmatchable typing experiences and high build quality but comparatively fewer features. Roccat's $120 Isku FX falls distinctly into the former grouping.

Aimed at hardcore gamers, the Isku FX is designed much the same as the original Isku, with an angular aesthetic and two tone black plastic finish. The glossy black plastic around the keys picks up fingerprints with ease, though, making it a questionable choice for a keyboard. The textured plastic edging and wrist rest is nicer, being neither too sticky nor too slippery in use.

Roccat Isku FX - Multicolour Gaming Keyboard

Roccat Isku FX - Multicolour Gaming Keyboard

The reliance on fairly light plastic means the board isn't nearly as solid as other mechanical boards in the price range.

On the rear of the board you'll find some channels to help you keep your desk free of cable clutter, as well as the flip-up feet. Having these feet up definitely provides the best typing angle, and the grip on them is also good, ensuring that the board doesn't slide around your desk in use.

Five macro keys to the side and three well placed Thumbster' buttons beneath the space bar join eight media keys along the top of the board. The Caps Lock button has been replaced by an Easy-Shift one, which graces the macro, Thumbster and twenty more keys in the WASD zone with a secondary function while it is held down (while normal Caps Lock use can also be configured). It's a neat way of adding functionality without smothering the keyboard in extra keys.

These functions can be assigned in the intuitive software, which allows the Isku FX to store up to five profiles. Each profile contains loads of settings, but mainly these are primary and secondary key functions, backlight settings and macro editing. You'll find plenty of preset functions for all your favorite programs and games, but the comprehensive macro editor will allow you to customize the keyboard's functionality to your heart's content. There's even a record button, which allows you to record and assign macros on the fly.

These functions can be assigned in the intuitive software, which allows the Isku FX to store up to five profiles.

These functions can be assigned in the intuitive software, which allows the Isku FX to store up to five profiles.

In most ways the Isku FX is identical to the Isku before it, but two new (and sadly unexciting) features on the newer model are the backlighting and Talk FX. The backlight color can now be set in the software to any one of 16.8 million colors thanks to RGB LEDs. There are also five levels of illumination (as well as an off mode). Sadly, the thumb buttons and profile lights remain blue no matter what color is set, somewhat spoiling the consistency of the look.

Talk FX is merely an extension of Roccat's Talk driver found in the original Isku. It turns the keyboard into the Pied Piper of the peripheral world, allowing it to communicate with a handful of compatible Roccat mice (allowing one to activate the Easy-Shift functionality of the other, for example). Talk FX is also supported by a few Roccat mice, and allows software to take over the backlighting of the hardware, supposedly to increase in-game immersion. However, very few applications support it, and it's essentially the dictionary definition of a gimmick anyway.

Roccat Isku FX back

Roccat Isku FX back

The keys themselves are shaped, spaced and textured well, and also fairly secure. The Thumbster buttons require a bit too much pressure to activate, but otherwise the lowered key height and reduced actuation distance makes the Isku FX feel more responsive than many other membrane boards, and the anti-ghosting technology works well too. There are still occasional problems of key presses not registering and a touch of sponginess too, however, so despite a good effort it still doesn't come close to the typing experience offered by mechanical models.

As membrane keyboards go, the Isku FX is a decent high end model that offers an above average typing experience and enough features and customization to keep even the most hardcore MMO players satisfied. However, the same can be said of the original Isku, and the FX offering brings little new to the table. Also, as most people don't need as much functionality as the Isku FX provides, the majority of people shopping in this price range will be better served by a mechanical board.

Specifications

·         Product Code: ROC-12-900

·         Dimensions: 24.7cm x 50.9cm

·         Usable Keys: 123 Medium-Height Keys

·         Programmable Keys: 3 Thumbster Keys (T1-T3), 5 Macro Keys (M1-M5)

·         Easy-Zone Keys: 20 Additional Macro Keys (w/ Easy-Shift[+])

·         Length of USB: Cable     2m

·         Polling Rate: 1000Hz

·         Response Time: 1ms

·         System Requirements: Windows XP/Vista/7/8; Internet Connection (for driver installation); USB 2.0 Port

 

Other  
 
Top 10
Review : Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
Review : Canon EF11-24mm f/4L USM
Review : Creative Sound Blaster Roar 2
Review : Philips Fidelio M2L
Review : Alienware 17 - Dell's Alienware laptops
Review Smartwatch : Wellograph
Review : Xiaomi Redmi 2
Extending LINQ to Objects : Writing a Single Element Operator (part 2) - Building the RandomElement Operator
Extending LINQ to Objects : Writing a Single Element Operator (part 1) - Building Our Own Last Operator
3 Tips for Maintaining Your Cell Phone Battery (part 2) - Discharge Smart, Use Smart
REVIEW
- First look: Apple Watch

- 3 Tips for Maintaining Your Cell Phone Battery (part 1)

- 3 Tips for Maintaining Your Cell Phone Battery (part 2)
VIDEO TUTORIAL
- How to create your first Swimlane Diagram or Cross-Functional Flowchart Diagram by using Microsoft Visio 2010 (Part 1)

- How to create your first Swimlane Diagram or Cross-Functional Flowchart Diagram by using Microsoft Visio 2010 (Part 2)

- How to create your first Swimlane Diagram or Cross-Functional Flowchart Diagram by using Microsoft Visio 2010 (Part 3)
Popular Tags
Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft OneNote Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Project Microsoft Visio Microsoft Word Active Directory Biztalk Exchange Server Microsoft LynC Server Microsoft Dynamic Sharepoint Sql Server Windows Server 2008 Windows Server 2012 Windows 7 Windows 8 Adobe Indesign Adobe Flash Professional Dreamweaver Adobe Illustrator Adobe After Effects Adobe Photoshop Adobe Fireworks Adobe Flash Catalyst Corel Painter X CorelDRAW X5 CorelDraw 10 QuarkXPress 8 windows Phone 7 windows Phone 8