A nice item overall, but one that could have used some media keys

Aug 9, 2012 14:52 GMT  ·  By

Upon first reading of it, the latest Rosewill RK-9000 seems like the perfect gaming keyboard: Cherry MX key switches, gold-plated USB and PSI/2 connectors, multiple color options, etc.

Unfortunately, the photo and the spec sheet reveal some drawbacks that might turn people off.

One is the total lack of media keys (volume, play, pause, etc). We know that gamers probably don't listen to music when they need to pay attention to enemy footsteps and such, but a volume scroll would still have been nice.

The other disadvantage is the rather bland design. Customers who like simplicity will be fine, but the rest might seek something more aesthetically fulfilling.

That said, the Limited Edition Elite Ivory RK-9000I, as the keyboard is called, joins its Black, Blue, Brown and Red siblings (switch, not key, color). The price should be of $80-$100 / 65-81 Euro.