Product Description

The SteelSeries Merc Stealth gaming keyboard features 34 dedicated gaming terrain keys, making it easier and more intuitive than ever to walk, run, jump, crouch and move directionally in games. The gaming terrain keys, tilted at an 11° angle, are ergonomic and comfortable even during long gaming sessions. The keyboard features 3 different illumination colours (blue, red and purple), which can be set to 4 different illumination modes (subtle, ambient, intense and off). SteelSeries Merc Stealth supports simultaneous keystrokes and features a number of hotkeys for multimedia, navigation and other one-click controls. The keyboard features two USB 2.0 ports, gold-plated microphone and headset jacks all connected through a gold-plated USB connector. All keys on the keyboard can be programmed with the powerful SteelSeries Z Engine software, allowing for programmable keys and easy to use drag-and-drop macro creation. Features :- SteelSeries Z Engine enables programmability of all keys Pre-defined profiles for more than 150 games 3 colour illumination options: blue, purple and red Internal hub with 2 USB ports Anti-ghosting capability: Up to 7 simultaneous keystrokes Special gaming key area Rubberized movement keys for enhanced tactile feedback Gold-plated microphone and headset jacks

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8983 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Ideazon
• Released on: 2007-10-09
• Platform: Windows XP
• Dimensions: 4.30 pounds

SoftHardware
The Merc Stealth Gaming Keyboard is incredibly versatile when it comes to different styles of gaming' 9.5/10 Incredible Award

Manufacturer's Description

Dedicated Gaming Terrain: Amazing touch and response for hours of comfortable gaming

• Rubberized butterfly directional keys
• Tilted 11 degrees to match natural wrist position
• 34 - Specific to gaming - keys labelled, clustered together and property spaced far ultimate precision end control

• Astounding three color illumination in RED, BLUE and VIOLET
• Choose your level of brightness [Subtle, Ambient, Intense, Off)
• Illuminated characters on every key

• Effortless drag and drop re-mapping of all keys
• 125+ pre defined user layouts far all top PC gaming titles [updated weakly]
• Create and share your layouts, including those with macros of up to 250 characters, for any game

• H USB 2.0 ports to plug in mica and other peripherals
• Gold plated audio jacks for headsets end microphones
• Multimedia controls for in and out of game use

• llluminated characters on every key
• Colour and Intensity illumination controls
• 34 gaming tartar toys with 9 rubberized keys for jump. crouch, run and directional movement
• 97 stand art QWHTTY keys
• 7 multimedia controls
• 3 user-defined hotkeys
• 1 Z Engine instant Access key
• Combined navigation and number pad with 11 ore-click shortcuts
• Gold-platad UB8 connector
• Large arrti-slip rubber fast
• 3-height adjustable legs
• Plug & Floy - software not required for basic typing and naming functionality

Customer Reviews

Best gaming keyboard available at the moment.
I upgraded to Merc Stealth from a normal Merc so I knew what to expect from this keyboard which is why I just had to have it.

Every single key on this keyboard is programmable to do anything you would want them to do in a game. People say this is best for FPS but I find it perfect for any game that would normally use WASD controls.

Being able to program keys with keysequences including time delays is ideal for MMORPGs to execute a string of spells with a single click (its almost unfair on those who cant).

A keyboard of this design is a very logical progression for gaming and I will never go back to WASD after using the Merc. For this reason there is no way people should be calling a keyboard like this a gimmick because keyboards werent designed for gaming at all so everyone was forced to use the WASD layout which is far from convenient. I want to see more changes like this.

The illuminated keys are perfect. My last illuminated keyboard was the saitek eclipse which was good at the time and had a lot of light between the keys but the Merc Stealth has very little light around the keys which makes letters stand out much more. I find the Red glow to be the sharpest to look at with my eyes although it may be different for other people so having the different choices has prooved to be great as I would normally have looked for a keyboard with only a blue glow.

The USB connections and headset sockets are a convenient addition too but might not see much use from me other than using the occasional USB storage stick so I wont be fiddling around trying to find a slot on the back of my PC.

Great for FPS fans
I researched a number of keyboards before buyying and finally settled on the MERC Stealth and cannot say I have been disappointed at all. The dedicated directions pad is essential for FPS gamers and once you become accustomed to the layout and configuration you definitely improve your performance for switching weapons and employing grenades etc.

Another plus is the colour LEDS on the keys as I prefer a darker room to game in, it makes essential for that quick glance at the keyboard. As another review said though the colour effectiveness varies by day/night, Red is better in the dark and purple better during the day.

The main Qwerty keys aren't too bad for general use and typing so if you're not a heavy user then they should be fine. If yout type a lot then consider an alternative that is not quite as clunky.

One bug bear that does take some getting used to is that the number pad and cursor arrows/page controls are now combined menaing you have to activate the num lock to switch between either. This has taken quite a bit of getting used but is now not too bad, that is the only real downside I can see to this keyboard... oh and its much wider than a conventional board so make sure you have room.

Gaming -Yes. Typing -No
While a brilliant Stallion of a gaming keyboard, the Stealth is a carthorse when it comes to typing. The keyboard is also gaming standard - which means its built to take punishment, not touch-type. The main custom gaming pad built into the left-hand side only has rubberised keys, which quickly wear. On plus side it looks great and the choice of colours is not just a gimmick - certain colours work better than others at certain times of the day. I am still none the wiser as to some of the LED's as the documentation sucks, because there is no keyboard layout diagram. Overall good build quality, should last longer than my last, but then it cost over twenty times as much!!