Why no wireless gaming keyboards?

[crossy]

My question, as the title says is, why does there appear to be no wireless gaming keyboards? Is it something to do with the latency of the connection?

Background is this ... over the weekend we had two Logitech K340 keyboards fail (flashing red/green light issue which seems to be terminal). I replaced one with a K400 (it's on a kids PC), but decided that I quite fancied a "gaming keyboard" for the other one (it's on my Windows PC which is only really used for gaming).

When I checked PC World, Argos, etc all the gaming 'boards are wired which left me curious as to why.

In the end I bought a Razer Blackwidow Ultimate Stealth from Scan. Liked the Bw, but the normal edition is too 80's style clicky for my liking. Plus my missus would have great fun with "oh we've got the tap dancing mice again" type comments. One reason why I'm currently using a Logitech K800 for my home office - it's very quiet.

[mynameissi]

I would say its because they simply wouldn't sell enough to justify bringing a lot out, because they aren't very popular.
People who buy gaming keyboards would tend to have a gaming pc right? So you are not likely to move it around a lot. So what would be the point in buying a wireless keyboard which can be dodgy sometimes, when you may as well get a wired keyboard.

If you had a gaming laptop and liked to use a proper gaming keyboard, I could see the attraction, but that would also imply you won't be moving your laptop around a lot, seen as you would also have to haul around a keyboard as well. So essentially I don't think there are many because nobody wants them.
That's how I see it anyway.

[KeyboardDemon]

I would say its because they simply wouldn't sell enough to justify bringing a lot out, because they aren't very popular.
People who buy gaming keyboards would tend to have a gaming pc right? So you are not likely to move it around a lot. So what would be the point in buying a wireless keyboard which can be dodgy sometimes, when you may as well get a wired keyboard.

If you had a gaming laptop and liked to use a proper gaming keyboard, I could see the attraction, but that would also imply you won't be moving your laptop around a lot, seen as you would also have to haul around a keyboard as well. So essentially I don't think there are many because nobody wants them.
That's how I see it anyway.

I think most gamers tend to prefer wired keyboards, some (including me) prefer a wireless mouse, the main reason I can think of is that a mouse moves and the cable becomes an issue, they keyboard doesn't tend to get moved so if the cable is routed sensibly it never gets in the way.

Plus there are issues with batteries, latency and the last time I had a wireless keyboard (about 8 years ago) it had constant connection issues which meant I'd end up having to restart my PC in order to get it to recognise the keyboard.

[Bugbait]

I think most gamers tend to prefer wired keyboards, some (including me) prefer a wireless mouse, the main reason I can think of is that a mouse moves and the cable becomes an issue, they keyboard doesn't tend to get moved so if the cable is routed sensibly it never gets in the way.

This is my reasoning as well. I have a mechanical, wired keyboard paired with a wireless mouse. I can't stand any kind of drag on the cable, not because I'm a good gamer, simply fussy.

[Spreadie]

If you really must have a wireless board, there are wifi mod PCBs available for some Filco boards, and GON do a bluetooth mod I believe.

As far as I'm concerned, wireless rubber domes were bloody awful so I'm in no rush to go wifi on my mech boards.

[Lee H]

Wireless can mean an increase in latency.

Oh and there's nothing worse than playing an important match in a game and have your batteries die on you half-way through.

As a previous wireless keyboard owner and gamer - stick with wired as some wireless ones can be a bit funny in getting to the BIOS as well.

[Pob255]

Battery is also the main reason I stick with wired mice too, I still remember the time, back in my city of heroes days (mmo), when we were in a battle with a massive load of mobs when the tank suddenly ran off to one side and into a wall losing the agro and causing a wipe.
His wireless keyboard battery had died. for a good time after that we always started a task force with "are your batteries charged?"

[kopite]

I use wired keyboard because the keyboard doesnt move so the wire doesnt cause any issues.

Wireless mouse because the amount of times the cable would get caught up in the heat of a battle made it annoying.

[drone567]

All very sensible, keyboard doesn't move, etc, but for me it's about aesthetics. I expect a great wireless keyboard, that looks great, and isn't tied to my PC by an umbilical cord! crossy>what did you think of the different keyboards you've tried? The Razor Blackwidow really sounds and looks the business! I bought a Logitech K360(wireless) as a basic keyboard, it's quiet, no latency or connection problems. I've been using it for gaming, no problems. I think a gaming version would be great! Maybe it's about what consumers demand.

[crossy]

All very sensible, keyboard doesn't move, etc, but for me it's about aesthetics. I expect a great wireless keyboard, that looks great, and isn't tied to my PC by an umbilical cord! crossy>what did you think of the different keyboards you've tried? The Razor Blackwidow really sounds and looks the business! I bought a Logitech K360(wireless) as a basic keyboard, it's quiet, no latency or connection problems. I've been using it for gaming, no problems. I think a gaming version would be great! Maybe it's about what consumers demand.

Unfortunately my aged fingers aren't good enough to give any keyboard the kind of test that a "l33t gam3r" would be able to, but since you asked here's the feedback I've got for the various keyboards I've used for gaming.

Logitech K340. Not noisy but (as Lee@Scan says) there were occasionally issues on startup if you wanted into the BIOS. In my normal use a set of normal AA's would last about two months, I think a keen gamer would need a new set every 3 weeks or so. I also noticed some (intermittent) latency issues - particularly noticable in Medal of Honor:Warfighter. Use of the "Unifying" receiver makes it easy to pair with a mouse and only lose one USB port. I also used this keyboard as my day-to-day "business" one and best I can say is that it was "functional".

Logitech K520. Quiet, with less of the BIOS and latency issues than the K340. Not that good for gaming (it's larger than the K340) but superb as a day-to-day one. Great battery life, only downside being that the key markings are printed on and mine wore off after a year of business use.

Logitech K800. Can be slightly more noisy than the K520, but generally very quiet. Uses proximity sensing lighting so key markings are cut into the key - so no longevity issues (unlike the K520 - and I've had mine for nearly three years as my day-to-day). Rechargeable, but needs a recharge every week if used 5days x 7hours - but recharging is via USB lead, and you can use it while recharging. Barely acceptable imho for gaming as the keys are VERY short stroke, but conversely that makes it very, very good for a normal keyboard use. You can easily type while on a teleconference and not have colleagues hear you typing.

Logitech G15 - borrowed one of these and wasn't impressed, seemed overly large for no good reason, although the feel was good. I'd strongly recommend that if you're thinking of one of these then definitely find a PC World etc with one to try first.

Razer Blackwidow (BW) - relatively inexpensive (only the Roccat and basic Corsair stuff was cheaper locally). Very well made, with a pretty discrete lit logo that is brightness controlled, andcan be set to pulse if you want (it's a nice touch). Zero problems getting into BIOS and definitely NO latency (in the brief tests I did). Keys are (comparatively) very, very noisy with a definite click (and rattle) to them - audible clicks on press AND release. Closest comparison I can make is to an original IBM PC keyboard or a DEC LA36 that I used to use. I don't want to sound too negative, the key feel is very "industrial" and gives you the impression that it could take a LOT of FPS-generated abuse. Unfortunately, this is definitely NOT the keyboard that you'd want if you wanted to play late night sessions with someone trying to sleep in the same room.

Razer Blackwidow Ultimate Stealth (BWUS) - price=OMG (by my standards anyway). Like the non-UltimateStealth version, there's no observable latency nor BIOS access issues, and the keyboard itself feels solid, (but the USB port is USB2 only). Keyboard is completely lit with a green hue, and like the standard BW this can be set to pulse and/or brightness can be controlled (good thing too - the default setting is too bright). Key feel is probably halfway between the BW and my K800, it's definitely not silent but there's none of that "click" that the BW has - a sleeping partner would definitely still prefer the noise of the K800 (or lack of noise rather), but the BWUS is actually comparatively quiet. Since I'm used to the very light touch of the K800, I definitely prefer the BWUS typing experience - which is probably broadly comparable to the "cheap" keyboards that you get bundled with Compaq etc desktops. You can definitely hear the key being pressed, and the key has to go further than on a touch-typer like the K800/K520, but I think I could still use this as my day to day, should I need to. Although I'd have to be slow-and-careful doing any typing during a teleconference as I think the noise would be perceptible otherwise. On the other hand the BW would definitely be a no-no on a teleconference.

So, all in all the BWUS gets my thumbs up, but if the noise wasn't an issue (i.e. no light sleeping wife in the same room as the gaming PC) then the standard (and cheaper!) BW is probably a pretty good buy.

Speaking of good buys, I now have a relatively unused BW for sale - anyone got any ideas how best to shift it?

[deFiniLoGy]

Personally I think wireless keyboard does have a higher latency than wired one so I would never use one for games like FPS etc.