If you are like me, then you probably interact with one of these day in and day out... I'm talking about an input device that has not changed since the 1970s; the computer keyboard. Fast forward to today and the story is mostly the same; key layouts are about the same, a few more keyboard colors are available, and extra multimedia keys have become regular additions. Today we will see if the OCZ Technology Alchemy Series Elixir I keyboard can differentiate itself from nearly four decades of bland keyboard designs.
The promotional image above provides a quick look at the Elixir keyboard, where it can be see that the general styling seems somewhat traditional with a unique color scheme. Before taking a closer look at the sample provided for review, let's take a look at some of the published data on the Alchemy Series Elixir I keyboard, as taken from the official product page on the OCZ Technology website.
Features:
10 Blue Macro Keys with 3 User Defined Profiles
7 Internet Hot Keys
8 Keys for Media
Mode Selection: Switch between standard PC Mode or customized gaming mode
Lifespan: 5 million cycles
One-year warranty
Specifications:
Dimensions: 20" x 7.87" x 1.14" (W x D x H)
Weight: 1.85lbs
Travel Distance: 3.8 +/- 0.2mm
Operating Force: 55 +/- 12g
Connection: USB 2.0
Membrane Tactile Switches
Rubberized Coating on All Keys
Company Profile:
And for those of you not familiar with OCZ Technology, here is some background information on them, as taken from their website.
"Entering the memory market in August 2000, OCZ Technology was built around the determination to manufacture the best high speed DDR and RDRAM. OCZ was founded by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts, and our commitment to the end-user has not digressed. OCZ Technology has been an innovator in many areas. We were the first manufacturer to make Dual Channel optimized memory available to the public, which originally took advantage of nVidia's Twinbank or Dual DDR architecture, found in their nForce chipset. We have now taken that technology and tailored it for the Canterwood, and Granite Bay chipset's. OCZ developed and was the first to implement ULN technology, which has been a critical element in our manufacturing process for some time. We at OCZ diligently work to improve communication with CPU and motherboard chipset manufacturers prior to the release of their products. Only in this manner can we fine-tune our memory's SPD settings, ensuring a synergistic relationship between the memory module, memory controller, and microprocessor. In today's rapidly evolving semiconductor industry, such communication is not simply research, but a necessary component of our manufacturing process."
