PC Gamer - March 2012

Q&A

Buying new hardware: it’s a couples thing

Rosewill RK-9000

Utilitarian and pricey

Make no mistake, the RK-9000 is an unapologetically barebones key- board, concerned only with getting your fingers on the keys as easily as possible. It’s covered in a flat black finish, not overly large, and pretty easy on the eyes. It’s also got some sweet, full-sized keys that pop-up like the connector prongs on a LEGO brick. But there are no other bells and whistles here—no media playback keys, backlit buttons or extra USB ports. Its only stand-outs are three bright LED indicator lights for Caps Lock, Number and Scroll Lock. That’s it.

Although they’re obscenely loud, mechanical keyboards such as this one are worthwhile if you’re worried about tiring out your fingertips. The RK-9000 requires less force in key-presses, which is immensely helpful when you’re jamming away at WASD in Wo W and TF2.

Although they’re loud, mechanical keyboards are worthwhile if you’re worried about tired fingertips.

Q: My experience with com- puters begins and ends with a bit of surfing, and using Microsoft Office while I’m at work. My girlfriend is another story: she’s a hardcore PC gamer with a wicked competitive streak. Lately, she’s been complaining that her computer is having problems playing newer games and that it’s time for her to upgrade. I want to buy her a new computer as a gift but I don’t know where to start. Any suggestions?

A:It’s great to see that you not
only tolerate but also
support your part-
ner’s PC gaming
addiction! But
blinging her out
with the latest
computa-
tional sexy
isn’t as
simple as
picking up
the most expensive rig on the market: It
takes time and research. What kinds of
games does she like to play? Would she
benefit from the purchase of accessories
such as a flight stick, racing wheel, or a
3D monitor? Is the computer she cur-
rently owns worth upgrading or is it old
enough that you’d be better off starting
from scratch? These are things you
should know before running out to buy
anything. You might even want to con-
sider involving your girlfriend in
the selection process. Not only will it
allow you gain a little more insight
into what she requires to realize
gaming nirvana, but she may
already have a few ideas of her
own on what
to buy,
taking a lot
of the pain
out of the
shopping expe-
rience. Heck, if
you’re lucky, it
might even
strengthen the
bond between you!

Nothing says
“I love you”
like a wicked
fast processor.

Hard Stuff Trinity

Even better, none of my actions were ever lost no matter how frantically I mashed the keys: the RK-9000 detects up to six simultaneous keystrokes to avoid dropped characters.

Ergonomically speaking, the keyboard’s raised profile is a comfortable fit if you’re keeping your fingers glued to your board while gaming. But if you’re writing a thesis during your off-time, you better bring your own wrist-rest. Oftentimes, my digits got achy from typing all over the place trying to reach various keys, so smaller hands will find some difficulty adjusting to the size and shape.

Overall, the RK-9000 is a serviceable keyboard. If it weren’t for the astronomical price, I’d easily recommend it to everyone. But as stands, there are just too many other mechanical keyboards that give you more (such as USB ports and contoured keys), and don’t cost a whole Benjamin. n Florence Ion