Usage & Final Thoughts
I have been using the Tesoro Excalibur SE Spectrum for a few weeks now and I really like it. It is extremely comfortable and I love the blue key switches. I also like knowing that all of my keystrokes are being properly recorded with precision. That is what these new optical switches provide.
Like other Tesoro products this keyboard has great build quality and literally no flex at all. It is also a bonus that the keyboard is dust and spill-proof. We all have that one time we’ve spilled a drink on our keyboard! While I do think that this keyboard is comfortable, I do feel that it is a little flat for my liking. The pop-out feet could be just a little bit taller.
The backlighting on this keyboard is great and with the white steel plate the colors really reflect well. You have per-key backlighting and a good amount of different lighting effects to mess around with. For the hardcore gamers out there you do have four alternate (F1-F4) macro keys, which are easily accessible. You can also switch between 6-key and full N-key rollover.
I would really be all for this keyboard, but there is definitely something missing from this keyboard, which is software. Tesoro included it with their original Excalibur Spectrum keyboard, so I do not know why it is missing here. This would make programming the keyboard and macros easier, as well setting the backlihgting and lighting effects. I think that if you a releasing a gaming keyboard having software is a must, no one wants to hand-program macros. Not having software can be a huge deal-breaker for many people.
At the end of the day I like this keyboard, but without software it just seems limited and harder to work with. Right now you can pick up this keyboard at our favorite online retailer for $99. Overall ThinkComputers gives the Tesoro Excalibur SE Spectrum Gaming Keyboard an 8 out of 10 score.
Pros:
– New optical switch technology
– Switches mimick the feel and feedback of mechanical keys
– Solid build quality
– Completely plug and play
Cons:
– No programming software included
– Could be a little taller
