Review: Steelseries 7G gaming keyboard

It’s been some time since we reviewed a keyboard here at GGL, and to be honest, quite some time since any “gaming keyboards” have been released. The nice guys at Steelseries have aimed to rectify this problem with the $149.99 USD Steelseries 7G keyboard. Featuring no-click keyswitches, 18K gold plated connectors and a projected lifetime of 50 million keystrokes, the 7G definitely talks the talk.

Does it walk the walk? In order to find out, Steelseries sent us a review sample of the 7G.

I was amused to hear a couple of loose keys rattling around in the box when I was opening it, though this probably says more about DHL’s shipping practices than Steelseries’ QA. Regardless, the loose keys popped back on easily and I continued on my way.

The Shape and Feel

My initial impression of the keyboard: Heavy and quite large (18.9 x 9.8 in) with the optional wrist rest attached. The solidly-manufactured feel is commendable, but (with the wrist rest) the keyboard was almost too long to fit on my desk. It’s not a wrist rest as much as it is an arm rest, and I recommend not attaching it to the keyboard for ergonomic reasons.

I also couldn’t help but notice that the 7G’s keys are very tall and have a long key travel, which I personally don’t like because they can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome. Luckily, the 7G keys themselves are very easy to press, so there’s no pounding on the keyboard. The keyboard is very sensitive–some may call it mushy–it takes very little pressure to trigger a keypress, and they don’t click. This is also one of the great downfalls of the product, and we’ll get into that later.

Connectivity

Steelseries paid special attention to connectivity options for the keyboard, which warrants a special category in our review. The thick, fabric-covered cord terminates in four connectors: A USB connector, a PS/2 connector, a microphone connector and a headphone connector. The audio connectors exist so users can plug mics/headphones directly into the back of the keyboard; they are of dubious utility, but can be handy for travelers…though it’s worth noting that to plug them in you have to head under the desk anyway.

The USB connector connects (duh) the keyboard and powers the two USB ports on the back of the 7G. All well and good.

But a dedicated PS/2 connector? I have to wonder why this was lobbed in, and will only contribute to the rat’s nest of wires behind any gamer’s computer. A simple USB to PS/2 adapter would have sufficed. Most people spending $149.99 on a keyboard can spare a USB port for their keyboards.

Courage Under Fire

The 7G performed well in games, and due to the mushiness of the keyboard, it’s comfortable for hours of use. No pounding on the keys means less stress on the fingers, which is a good thing for gamers. Unfortunately, I would think most gamers expect their keyboard to double as an adequate keyboard for typing, which is not really the case for the 7G.

Its keyswitch mushiness leads to plenty of mistyped sentences because just grazing a key can trigger a press. This is compounded by the height of the keys. Also, the Backspace/Enter key configuration is the type I personally hate most, with Backspace represented by a single-width key and Enter being double-sized. Again, it just leads to typos.

I promise this isn’t just a guy who writes a lot whining about something inconsequential; when I drop some poor bastard on his head stop to have a chat with him about why he got dropped on his head and/or ask him if he was dropped on his head as a child, I don’t want any typos. He needs to feel really bad the first time I type it out, or else I haven’t had a good day.

I can’t praise the mechanical switches of the 7G enough when it comes to gaming, but it just doesn’t double as an all-around keyboard. It’s almost like your dream car–glorious on the track, but inadequate for picking up a pint of milk from the store. A bit uncompromising…

Conclusion

Steelseries bills itself as a company for gamers, by gamers, and this keyboard certainly delivers in games. Unfortunately, its contradictory nature makes it hard to use for other tasks.

Also, it’s important to state that the 7G offers little in the way of shiny gimmicks (such as programmable or backlit keys) that appeal to a more mainstream audience. It’s a very barebones product, and asking $149.99 for it is a bit much. While I’m certain that R&D for these types of things is expensive, try justifying that cost to a parent (or wife, for the emasculated out there). It won’t fly because without the wrist rest, it looks a bit generic. Let’s just say cost is an issue.

The Steelseries 7G receives a score of 7/10 from GGL.