Razer releases "razer-brand" Cherry switch clones

[scottc]

Quote from Razer CEO's Facebook page:

"The all-new Razer Mechanical Switch - Green (Clicky) and Orange (Non-Clicky).

Designed from ground up for gaming."

...seriously?

What are the bets that they're just rebranded Kailh switches again like our friends at Thermaltake?

[JBert]

Good luck to anyone documenting Cherry-like switches in the future.

[noobie94]

Are switches like that any good? If not why?

[scottc]

They just look like Cherry clones with possibly lighter springs or maybe O-rings pre-installed. They might even be Kailh switches.

[Broadmonkey]

I'm gonna barf! as if Razer is known for making quality products made for durability!
But I wonder if they can just get away with something like this? they even state they just copied the "original" mechanical switch (like there is only one) and made it with a shorter actuation point, which I guess they did by just altering the legs on the stem a bit.

But the funny thing is they bash the "original" switch for being made for typing, and yet they choose to copy an MX green?!?!

[tlt]

Can they actually make a clone without licencing the design from Cherry?

[dorkvader]

Can they actually make a clone without licencing the design from Cherry?

Sure, why not? Chery doesn't have a trademark on the shape (like coke does on their bottle or zamboni does) and the cherry switch patent is from 1983, so it's far past he 20 year term.

[Muirium]

Are switches like that any good? If not why?

Oh, no reason…

http://imgur.com/a/7ujle

[wetto]

Both Carter and Edgar Matias had already told me months ago that Razer was working with both Kailh and iOne to bring new keyboards with Cherry MX Clones with RGB backlighting.

Gentlemen, our worst nightmares are going to become true...

"The traditional switches were always designed for typing, not for the demands of gaming"...

Oh god... Here it comes..

"Durability increase to 60m keystrokess"...

Jesus christ, I'm going to puke.

[Muirium]

But the funny thing is they bash the "original" switch for being made for typing, and yet they choose to copy an MX green?!?!

Just to annoy us, I bet the colours are not the same as Cherry's. I mean, MX orange? They're probably aiming right at MX blue with their greens.

[Julle]

Brown and blue clones with different actuation points... Does Marcellus Wallace look like a bitch?

I just cannot get over the smugness of the narrator's voice in that video. I usually support any development that occurs in mechanical keyboards but this is just smoke and mirrors. I'd rather disturb a hibernating bear than listen to that pompous cack again.

"We pioneered the first mechanical gaming keyboard". Yeah, you keep telling yourself that.

[BlueBär]

Going to quote some stuff from over at GH if you don't mind:

Spoiler:

"If it comes down to play and skill, you know, all that matters, too, but, you know what it really comes down to is the tools that you use!"

You heard it here first folks.

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

Shorter actuate point definitely helps in fast pace games.
I'll wait for them available in retail store, try on their arrow keys

To give you an idea how much 0,3mm is, take three pages of normal printer paper. I'm sure this is going to help a ton for gaming.

Spoiler:

True, there are significant differences, but the concept behind both designs is similar: a higher actuating switch.

I'm still not convinced that the higher actuation isn't just a byproduct. Take a look at their data sheets:
http://www.kailh.com/en/products.asp?Ca ... 113&rel=14

Pretravel: 2.0 ± 0.6mm

-> The higher actuaction is well within the tolerances and could be just part of a production batch.

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

All Razer is doing here is saying that these new switches are specifically designed for gaming. But that's like saying a toilet is specifically designed for shitting. It doesn't make it a better product...

And I think it is even a straight up lie, too. The Kailh switches were designed as a copy of the Cherry switches. The thing that Razer changed here are the color of the switches and their name on it. I'm tempted to buy some Kailh Blues and compare them to the Razer Greens to prove this...

As for switches... I think they won't be worth Razer's price.

For comparison, a Newmen GM-10 with Kailh Blues (a TKL board) cost around ¥220.00 on Taobao (some evene only 170), that is about $36. Now the Razer BlackWidow TE (a TKL as well) on the other hand costs about $80.

[scottc]

Those are some fantastic quotes. Can't stop laughing!

[Candyflip]

"We pioneered the first mechanical gaming keyboard". Yeah, you keep telling yourself that.

The thing is people buy that stuff

[Muirium]

There will always be fools.

[davkol]

One bashing thread (GH) is not enough, let the shitstorm multiply!

[webwit]

Is this the same Razer which used and marketed Cherry Blue switches for gaming?

I used to troll overclock about that:
http://www.overclock.net/t/898198/some- ... lue-debate

Oh wait, that's about an earlier mechanical gaming keyboard.

[BlueBär]

Is this the same Razer which used and marketed Cherry Blue switches for gaming?

Cherry Blue? Is that one of those "standard mechanical switches" that only last up to 20 million keystrokes?

(it's a bit hard to see with the white font)

[guilleguillaume]

Why do they have to lie in order to sell their products?

Cherry MX switch info


Long life 50 million operations

[wetto]

Why do they have to lie in order to sell their products?

Cherry MX switch info


Long life 50 million operations

The only switch with "only" 20 million operations comes from Kailh themselves, which is the "Kailh Linear Red switch":



Maybe they posted by mistake the true specifications of their switches?

[002]

"We pioneered the first mechanical gaming keyboard". Yeah, you keep telling yourself that.

"We were the *first* to make a mechanical switch keyboard in a hideous case with LEDs and obnoxious branding and give it a totally rad wicked-awesome name that gives you the edge in all video-games! Remember kids, a poor tradesman never blames his tools"

[bhtooefr]

A few years back, tactile Cherry MX switches were actually rated at 20 million... but I'm pretty sure Cherry had re-rated the blues to 50 million before the BlackWidow came out.

Edit: 2008-10-24: Long life: 50 million operations (linear) and 20 million operations minimum (tactile)
2009-02-08: Long life 50 million operations

And the BlackWidow was announced 2010-08-18: http://www.razerzone.com/press/detail/p ... escom-2010

[Candyflip]

A few years back, tactile Cherry MX switches were actually rated at 20 million... but I'm pretty sure Cherry had re-rated the blues to 50 million before the BlackWidow came out.

Yea so Razer can brag with the meaningless numbers

[matt3o]

I stopped listening at "our scientists"... really?

[ماء]

A few years back, tactile Cherry MX switches were actually rated at 20 million... but I'm pretty sure Cherry had re-rated the blues to 50 million before the BlackWidow came out.

Edit: 2008-10-24: Long life: 50 million operations (linear) and 20 million operations minimum (tactile)
2009-02-08: Long life 50 million operations

And the BlackWidow was announced 2010-08-18: http://www.razerzone.com/press/detail/p ... escom-2010

Linear longer than tactile

this real or not?
blue some years ago>>>>>like brown
brown some years ago>>>>like reds
blacks/linear some years ago>>>>like water

[BlueBär]

What's funny though is that if you click on the orange variant, the standard mechanical switch suddenly is rated at 50 million

[bhtooefr]

You know, I wonder if any advertising regulation bodies can slap Razer for the "first mechanical gaming keyboard" claim.

SteelSeries would like a word with Razer: http://web.archive.org/web/200512250939 ... ed_in_asia

October 2005.

Although they claimed 60 million out of MX blacks, which Cherry has never claimed...

[cookie]

"We pioneered the verry first mechanical keyboard..."
What bullshit... Steelseries was one of the first companys who put MX switches in their "Gaming Keyboards"
Long before Razer sold their rubbish, overpriced, arctosa trash!

Man this commercial drives me mad

Edit:
WOOOOOW 0.3mm reduced travel! GENIOUS! This will surely overcome the latency of your internet connection...
Razer has gone to far... I am tossing my stuff!

[kbdfr]

Original Cherry data sheet for the "first generation" G80-2100 (with black switches), i.e. end of the 80s:

keymodule life.jpg (66.43 KiB) Viewed 16402 times

[BlueBär]

WOOOOOW 0.3mm reduced travel! GENIOUS! This will surely overcome the latency of your internet connection...
Razer has gone to far... I am tossing my stuff!

Best thing about that is that it is very well within the ±0,6mm pretravel tolerances