The Rosewill RK-9000I is a very well-made mechanical keyboard for gamers and typists alike, but the bare bones design might be a little too basic for most.

The Rosewill RK-9000I ($99.99 direct) is the special edition of the RK-9000, a high-end mechanical keyboard. Ditching Rosewill's usual black and red color scheme for white with black keys, it's a slick looking variation on the basic keyboard, and the back to basics approach will appeal to typists and gamers who don't want to mess with extra features. With solid construction inside and out, the Rosewill RK-9000I is a good keyboard for anyone who wants smooth typing and a minimum of extras.

Design

The RK-9000I has a black and white motif, with black keys contrasting against an ivory white chassis. There's no backlight, so gamers used to playing in the dark will be out of lucktry the if you want something backlit. That's not to say, however, that the Rosewill has no visual accents. The internal metal frame of the RK-9000Iwhich also provides rock-solid stability for even the fiercest typisthas the same white color as the outer chassis, which contrasts nicely against the black keys. Other variations of the RK-9000 have clack exteriors and red internal frames, which also make for an interesting (if subtle) visual appeal.

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Measuring 1.5 by 17.3 by 5.4 inches (HWD) with a tiered key layout, the RK-9000I is slightly more compact than the typical desktop keyboard, but doesn't sacrifice any typing comfort, and instead trims some of the fat that other manufacturers typically add to a keyboard, like extra buttons or indicator lights. The RK-9000I weighs 3.6 pounds, making it one of the heavier keyboards availablethe 3.1-pound Editors' Choice is half a pound lighter, and even that was heavier than most competitors. This weight, when paired with firm rubber feet, keeps the RK-9000I stationary, even if you're an enthusiastic key-smasher.

The individual keys are laser printed with each character, so they will stay readable after months or even years of use. Each key uses Cherry MX Blue switches for fast response and durability. These are the same switches seen in the stellar . Cherry MX Blue switches also have two stages of actuation, providing a better tactile response than most other switch types. The result is extremely durable, with a 50-million click lifecycle on each key, so marathon gamers and typists suffering from hypergraphia can hack away without the keyboard wearing out.

The only items included with the Rosewill RK-9000I are two braided 4-foot connector cables, for use with PS/2 and USB connections, respectively. The braided cable prevents tangling, but the 4-foot length might be a little short for anyone wanting to snake the cable around and behind objects to a PC tower. The RK-9000I offers slightly different anti-ghosting capability depending upon the connection used, as the USB connection offers 6-key anti-ghosting, but the PS/2 connection expands it to include all 104 keys, simultaneously.

Regardless of the connection used, the keyboard is a plug and play device, with no drivers to download or customization dashboards to fiddle with. This is a bit of a departure for gaming keyboards, which often include programmable macro buttons and swappable profiles, but the RK-9000I has none of that. Rosewill covers the RK-9000I with a three-year warranty on parts, and a one-year warranty on labor.

Performance

As part of my testing, I used the keyboard for several days, including the writing of this review. During this time, I've been impressed with the simplicity of the designthe RK-9000I is as basic as it gets. While I appreciate a device that doesn't get in my way with spurious buttons, there are some extra functions, like media and volume controls, that I had long since taken for granted as basic keyboard accoutrements. For some users, the RK-9000I will actually be a little too basic.

The typing feel is excellent, with a comfortable springy feel and a satisfying click with each press of the keys. Mechanical keyboard enthusiasts will find plenty to love about the RK-9000I, as it feels and sounds just right. In use, the RK-9000I didn't disrupt my typing flow at all. There was no need to grow accustomed to a unique layout, and the fast key response meant that there were no missed or double-pressed keystrokes even when typing quickly.

For a bare-bones mechanical keyboard, the Rosewill RK-9000I is very well-built, and perfectly suited to its task. When compared to other mechanical keyboards we've reviewed, however, it's just a little too basic. The Editors' Choice Corsair Vengeance K90 offers an array of extra features, like a detachable wrist-rest, volume control knob, and a phalanx of programmable macro keys, and manages to provide all of these extras without requiring extensive use of the customization software. The Rosewill RK-9000I doesn't unseat it, partly because it cuts back just a bit too far on the extras, but that's not to say it isn't a superb keyboard. If you're looking for one of the best made keyboards available, the Rosewill RK-9000I is a worthy (albeit basic) model to put on the list.

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