ZOWIE GEAR CELERITAS Mechanical Gaming Keyboard w. RTR Technology

Pros: Keyboard does not do anything strange with keycodes so it works as it should under Linux. This keyboard is definitely well built and sturdy, it has weight to it so the pads ensure the keyboard does not move. The "RTR" is really noticeable when you're occilating between units, queuing up unites, typing very quickly and anything that demands high apm. I would explain it by saying this keyboard feels amazingly responsive. My expectations have been greatly exceeded.

Cons: I knew the "problems" with this keyboard and I don't see them as really much of an issue at all. This keyboard has no cons in my book.

Other Thoughts: We'll see how it stands the test of time I suppose.

Pros: Will have owned this for 1 year in about 2 months from now.

Brown cherry keys are fantastic, have heard complaints about the spacebar but have no such complaints or issues myself.

Tactile keys are great.

WPM went from 95-105 to a solid 123 with 99%+ accuracy within a couple of months ownership.

RTR is great for obvious reasons, not so obvious is how well it works for counter-strafing in FPS'.

Heavy, does not move unless you intend for it to move. The rubber stoppers do not wear because it does not move, and they are designed exactly how they should be.

Cons: Zowie key + F8 disables lights, but when pressing caps the lights come back. There is no way to resolve this to my knowledge/research.

Not a big enough deal to knock off any eggs.

Other Thoughts: Occasionally will double tap letters that will register after the following; ex: abcdedfghi...

The issue was far more common within the first month or two of ownership. After familiarizing myself with the keyboard the problem is completely user error, not being used to the incredible brown cherry keys. Almost never happens now, but is simply user error.

I have owned many keyboards, I used to have macros as a must for my keyboard (G15/G19). Making the move to mechanical keys I can never go back. I now prefer to just use Autohotkey, or Auto-it, to replace the necessity of keyboards with macro keys.

Pros: Stepping up from a dome switch keyboard, mechanicals are a lot of fun to type with.

Cons: I constantly double space with the spacebar. Even writing this, I accidentally add double spaces between words and have to go back to change them. Despite doing a lot of typing over the few weeks I've used this board (several thousand words), I have been unable to get used to the spacebar issues.

Also, the frequently used keys (WASD) are showing noticeable wear after the first two weeks.

Other Thoughts: I plan to e-mail the company with my concerns.

Pros: When I first got my Celeritas i noticed some slight rattling inside the keyboard but everything worked fine so I didnt think anything of it. A month later, several of the keys stopped working. I instantly RMA'd to Zowie, sent the keyboard back, and received a new keyboard within a week. I believe the keyboard was damaged during shipping and the fact that Zowie would replace it with no questions asked is really impressive (for all they know I could have broken the keyboard myself). I love the feel of the keyboard and would highly recommend it for a nice mech keyboard!

Cons: None

Pros: Look:
All black and red lights.
I enjoy it because it's not flashy like other keyboards. The clean look goes will anything you put next to it.



Performance:
-I noticed other reviewers encountering issue with the USB, but I have not encountered one.

-I bring this keyboard to work everyday and then home and it has never caused an issue.

-PS/2 connector allows you to enable the RTR technology which is kind of a turbo button. Holding a key down at 1x acts like a normal
keyboard, but will register 8 times more in 8x.

-Cherry MX Brown Switches are used. They feel AMAZING. The moment I tried my friend's Zowie Celeritas, I bought mine from Newegg.

-Keyboard has survived being plugged\unplugged, lugged in a backpack 5 days a week for the past 3 months...and no problems so far.

-Rubber Feet, which are 4 long strips, hold this keyboard down. Keeps the keyboard in-place.

-Works on my Macbook Pro 15in (March 2011)

Cons: Cons are mostly preference related things:

-If this is your first mech keyboard, prepare for loud clack-clack. I don't mind it nor do my co-workers. But again this is preference.

-Since the Enter key is larger, they moved the \ Key right next to the SHIFT key. It takes a while to get used to. But not enough to detour me.

-There are no plastic tabs on the bottom to change the angle. Currently the keyboard sits at a nice angle for me. (Preference)

Other Thoughts: If your are looking for a good mech keyboard, I would recommend this. This is great for both work and play. With daily travel, this keyboard still performs. It's a tank yet feels amazing at the fingertips. I don't want to say it improves gameplay because that is the player that makes it happen. But to give some gaming feedback, my friend has used this keyboard on the MLG Mainstage (SC2) and I continue to get banned from servers thinking that I hack.

Pros: Cherry MX Brown switches are great to type on.

Cons: The keyboard constantly undetects and redetects on my computer. No other USB device does that. I think I'll have to replace it with a different keyboard.

Pros: The Cherry MX Brown switches feel awesome.

Cons: This keyboard is no compatible with Linux. Many of the keys just do no function. (Shift, Alt, etc.)

Pros: comes with ps/2 adapter. metal plated gut and heavy.

Cons: The packaging is bare. I didn't get any manual with my keyboard. The keys are already fading from one week of use. two color tone for the logo to be on.

Other Thoughts: You better off spending your money on a fico, das keyboard, razor blackwidow ultimate than this brand. I really thought this keyboard would had been a good buy. after using the keyboard for week feel like it was a waste of money.

Pros: I originally had a Deck keyboard with Cherry MX Black switches and wasn't a huge fan. I decided to try the Zowie since it has brown switches. I've never been so happy with a keyboard before. Typing and gaming with it are a dream.

Cons: USB cord could be a little longer.

Pros: Cherry MX Brown switches feel like a charm
Build is extremely solid
Ability to disable windows key
Doesnt take up a lot of space

Cons: There are only two noticeable problems with this keyboard at this point:
1) the forward slash button has been moved down to take the place of the extended right shift key, making it considerably harder for those of us with smaller hands to use that key. This right shift key has been replaced by an extended enter key which isn't too aesthetically pleasing
2. The one that really grinds my gears is the mushiness and the stickiness of the space bar. If you pill out the keycap for the space bar you will notice what looks like a cherry mx brown switch in between two9 cherry mx black switches. Those two switches actually serve as stabilizers that ensure that the space bar remains level. This may be necessary for the hardware of the keyboard to last millions of keystrokes, but as of know, it is just a bother to my typing rhythm.

Other Thoughts: I am typing on this keyboard right now, and with every other key press you feel some sort of tactile feedback except for the space bar which is unfortunately one of the most used keys on the keyboard if not the most used.