The keyboard is definitely a strange piece of hardware as far as gaming goes. Just when a standard keyboard seems to obviously do the job perfectly, we also witness so many releases of "superior" keyboards, but in what ways could they be superior? Are all of their features really worth it? Or are we once again getting tricked into buying something we don't need? Let's take a look at what features these gaming keyboards have that put them "above" the ones we receive with our computer when we buy it and that seems to be fully functional for gaming, despite not being specifically designed for it.

Backlighting

Let's start by talking about gaming keyboards with a positive tone, as backlighting is a feature that's pretty much universally welcomed amongst both casual and competitive gamers. A backlit keyboard has a light located under the keyboard that goes through the keys, allowing you to clearly see them at all times.

Of course, we don't expect it to be a game changing functionality because a keyboard is a keyboard, but backlighting is still a fun and useful feature. Clearly seeing the keys can make sure that each time you realign your hands on the keys, that you will be right on spot, no matter how dark the room or venue is. For some reason, being able to easily realign your hands with the right keys even in the dark feels really good for any gamer. And if you REALLY like the way backlit keyboards allow you to realign your hand in the dark, you can also go pick some even more expensive keyboard that allow you to light specific keys separately, so you can light your A,W,S and D keys to quickly come back to them if your hands wandered off to type some trash-talk during a dark LAN Party ;)

Extra Keys

This is where the subject of gaming keyboards can start to get a little ridiculous to some. From keyboards that have a few extra keys on the side, to keyboards themed towards a specific game like ZBoard, the additional key features of many gaming keyboards are getting quite out of hand. We barely need extra keys, we already have a ton. Even companies like Razer have started to jump on any major game release to release an associated "specialized" keyboard. Somehow, despite a standard keyboard being totally enough for anyone to perform, you can now "control your units like never before in Starcraft 2 with the Zerg Keyboard" or "kill your enemies like never before in Call Of Duty by selecting your gun with the sniper rifle key". Unless you're really willing to spend some extra bucks to display that you're the ultimate fanboy of your game or for collection purposes, I strongly recommend that you don't get caught in the extra keys feature thinking it will make you play any better.

Portability/Slimness

This is an aspect that you shouldn't neglect when looking for that new keyboard to buy. A keyboard that fits easily in your bag on the road is nice, but there’s more to good portability and slimness. It is mostly useful when you want to fit in your BYOC slot at any LAN Party. It has happened at least once to all of us to arrive late at a LAN Party, only to find out that the players in your row have all spread out over your spot, leaving you with little room to work with no matter how many times you tell them "move a little bit more please". The Fatal1ty keyboard is probably your best shot at such a keyboard, and that's why it's been copied by companies like Everglide. You will be thankful when you will be able to fit on that small table and immediately start playing at your friend’s house for a bootcamp.

Key Smoothness

Last but not least, key smoothness is what will separates a common gaming keyboard from your favorite keyboard. It is indeed hard to know how smooth are the keys of a keyboard before you buy one, but you can still get an idea by reading and comparing a few online reviews for what you're about to buy. One extra element to look for, and you will need your gamer friends to do that, is how the smoothness disappears over time. You want a keyboard that will stay smooth for years. If you have a clanmate who you know have been playing for years with a keyboard, try it out and if you're perfectly satisfied with its smoothness, you probably have your hands on a winner that's worth your credit card number.

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