A question I’ve always pondered is how much can you actually change on a keyboard? The designs are always QWERTY-based so it would take a special something of a keyboard to make me decide the lunatic ‘100 extra programmable button’ keyboards are worth it.
Enter the Thorium 100, the first step up from Microsoft-brand QWERTY keyboards in the gaming world and my first keyboard that wasn’t bought from Tesco value range or physically attached to the appliance. Boasting a few extra multimedia keys for the enthusiast, this is the cheapest of the range yet still a good keyboard. Never heard of Element Gaming? Don’t worry, I hadn’t, however from what I can gather they are seriously good bang-for-buck range of keyboards, as well as mice and headphones. The website claims the following features:
- Wired USB
- Dedicated multimedia keys
- 5mm x 175mm x 27mm
- Weight 550g
- 110 keys
- 50g key pressure
- 8mm key travel
- Rated voltage / current: DC 5V / <35mA
The keyboard is packed snugly in a good looking box, arriving with a small promotional manual and a driver CD (No typo, an actual CD.) However, I didn’t need to use it at all and plugging straight in working fine if you want. However, straight out of the box, several keys had abrasions and damage upon them. From a brand new keyboard this is unacceptable and something I noticed instantly. However the damage does not affect the function of the keyboard.
So is there any problem with the basic functions? Well, no. As a normal keyboard, it functions perfectly well, and I am using it to type this review, although I doubt that offices are lining up to buy this in bulk for that function. Apparently the space-bar is larger than normal, although I do not see it. Key’s feel fluid in their impression and it doesn’t feel clunky or awkward to use. The keyboard also comes with drainage holes in the bottom of each main grouping of keys which will make your spilling of (your beverage of choice here) a little less troublesome.
So what is different about this keyboard? Well, firstly it’s the shaping. While this keyboard isn’t as fancy as the other keyboards, you still get a more dynamic shape than your basic QWERTY. While I wouldn’t call it extreme or radical it’s somewhat different and the rounded edges make it feel a little bit small under hand. As this is the starting model, you get none of the fancier features such as LED’s in varying colours and hundreds of extra keys.
You only get six extra keys on this model. From left to right, they are rewound; play/pause; fast-forward; mute; volume down and volume up. The three volume controls are useful as it works with whatever sound driver is running quickly and without issue. The video controls work with most basic video programs and some online sites such as YouTube. Sadly, I found that it didn’t work with Netflix, but this may be due to me not installing the drivers from the disc. It also seems weird that the extra keys, while useful, really are not gaming focused. This does detract from the gaming-centric pitch yet it has made the keyboard a good general-use keyboard.
The keyboard also comes with replacement blue keys. Ought to be precise; presumably to fulfil the desire of some people to change your WASD keys (or any eight keys you want on any keyboard, prank your mates!) And it also comes with a key remover, a welcome addition which is likely going to save you from any torture removing yours or your mate’s keyboard keys.
This is a mechanical keyboard and being mainly a laptop user and with a heavy text-oriented degree, I much prefer membrane keyboards as they are quicker to type upon. However, I’ve been using the Thorium 100 for my recent reviews and I have adapted to it quite quickly. I decided, for the sake of fairness, to also compare it with the basic Dell mechanical keyboard which I borrowed from my father for a day. In result, they are pretty much identical. Apart from the six multimedia keys there really wasn’t too much setting this keyboard apart from the Dell.
All in all the Thorium 100 is a fantastic keyboard. Not just for gaming, but for general use it’s a comfortable upgrade from the budget rack at only RRP £17.99. If you want to splash out a bit more push for the Thorium 300 model (Reviewed elsewhere on the site. I’m not doing everything for you, find it yourself.) But if you want a decent keyboard for a decent price, Element gaming appears to be the way to go, and are available from Ebuyer and Amazon.
My score for this keyboard is going to be a 4/5. This is a good quality, well priced keyboard not just for gamers, but for business use and even home media use with the additional keys. This isn’t especially a gaming-only keyboard; but that’s a bonus opening the market up for more people. If you think Razer is expensive (and by hell they are ) then picked up one of these, or check the site for reviews of some of the other models offered.
You can purchase the Keyboard Here or Here
Disclaimer:All scores given within our reviews are based on the artist’s personal opinion; this should in no way impede your decision to purchase the game.
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