Steelseries SHIFT Gaming Keyboard Review

All-round use: FPS, RTS, RPG

SteelSeries Shift can be configured, customized and personalized to do pretty much anything you can imagine. That’s why Shift is for everyone. Whoever you are. Whatever you do. It can reduce reaction time in First Person Shooters, it can increase Actions Per Minute in Real Time Strategy titles and it can do advanced macros (including timed delays) in Massive Multiplayer Online games.

Audio and USB hubs

The Shift base was also designed to make it easy to plug in your peripherals. We have included gold plated microphone-in and audio-out ports, as well as two 2.0 USB ports (one powered).

Media keys

Shift also offers easy access to Media controls, making it a convenient companion even when you are not destroying your friends and foes.

A keyboard chameleon

Just like our original patented concept from the SteelSeries Zboard, the new SteelSeries Shift also supports interchangeable keysets. The keysets are extremely easy to switch, just pull the rubberized lever to remove a keyset and insert a new one. We offer a wide range of keysets; most are designed in close cooperation with the best developers and publishers in the games industry – from the world’s leading MMO title World of Warcraft® to triple A FPS titles like Medal of Honor®. Our keysets are designed with developers and expert gamers to provide players with an immersive, easy to use experience, to ultimately master their game. Critical game commands are grouped together, making it easier than ever to build, raid, frag or just simply… win.

Multiple levels of macros

Personalization allows you to shift the rules to your favor. You can program every single key on the Shift through our advanced software. In fact, you can do this multiple times. That’s because we have added layers to the Shift which can be easily activated through hotkeys on the base of the Shift. This means there is almost no limit to how much you can ask the Shift to do or how many times you can ask the Shift to do it. We have added illuminated indicators to the Shift to quickly and easily indicate which layer is active.

On-the-fly layer switching

TheNum Pad and Function keys can also be utilized to access layers. Normally these are used for predefined tasks, but Shift makes it possible to apply macros to all of these buttons and in different layers to ensure that advanced gaming can be the main priority on your keyboard.

Dimensions

Height: 40 mm (1.6 in), Width: 490 mm (19.3 in), Length: 190 mm (7.5 in) – With wrist rest 240 mm (9.5 in)

Record macros directly on the keyboard

Youcan record macros and actions on-the-fly. You can start recording macros directly from the base of the keyboard and quickly assign them to 8 specific hotkeys with 3 unique layers – giving you an easy access to a total of 24 keys. The Shift will even record your timing and delays on-the-fly, making it as easy as ever to configure and personalize.

Fine-tuned heat spots

We have carefully fine-tuned the force you need to apply with your finger to operate the keys. Some keys are used more frequently than others, both when gaming and typing. The keys you use the most, like WASD for First Person Shooters, require less force than the keys you don’t use as often.