Ozone Strike Gaming Keyboard Review

Ozone enter the gaming arena with the their first mechanical gaming keyboard. Do the impressive specifications translate to real world performance though?

Product on Review: Ozone Strike Mechanical Keyboard
Manufacturer and Sponsor: Ozone
Street Price: £79.99 (inc V.A.T)

Ozone are a relative newcomer to the highly contested peripheral market and yet in the face some very stiff competition they have consistently produced some very high quality hardware specifically aimed at the serious gamer. The recently released Ozone Strike USB mechanical keyboard is one such product that is sure to appeal to those looking for a robust input solution for their gaming needs.

Your occasional gamer will quite happily settle for a £10 bargain basement keyboard offering, whereas your avid gamer requires a keyboard with more functionality. Pro gamers, such as the Ozone sponsored K1CK eSports Club demand the very best and this is where Ozone step up to the plate by offering products such as the one we have on test today; the Ozone Strike.

The Ozone Strike has one major difference from your run-of-the-mill gaming keyboards in that it has Cherry MX-Black switches. Being a mechanical keyboard, Ozone claim it is more precise than a standard gaming keyboard which use the more commonly applied rubber dome pads beneath the keys. Not only that but the Ozone Strike has full Nkey rollover function (with PS/2 attached) allowing every single key to be detected simultaneusly, a 1000 Hz polling rate, a USB/Audio hub and multimedia functionality. Couple this with gold plated connectors on the end of a double nylon braided cable and it appears Ozone are pulling out all of the stops to make this keyboard a success.

OZONE Gaming Gear, is an European brand of gaming peripherals that revolves around the concept “It’s all about Evolution”. OZONE is a brand created by and for gamers, the evolution is part of our gaming life, we all want to improve and evolve into a better gaming contender. OZONE is committed to the development, engineering and evolution of innovative gaming peripherals with an unique style and the best performance, to allow gamers to exceed their limits and become the best.

OZONE provides customers a wide range of gaming peripherals. Everyone from the occasional user to the professional gamer is ensured to find a OZONE product at a reasonable price which will fit their requirements to enjoy their favourite games. OZONE Gaming Gear, “It’s all about Evolution”!!

Let’s take a look at the keyboards main features…

Features

Mechanics
First and foremost, the Ozone Strike’s most defining feature is the mechanical keyboard. There are five Cherry MX type switches (Black, Red, Brown, Blue and clear) each with varying actuation force levels. Essentially, the actuation level is what makes a keyboard feel ‘right’. Some keyboards may feel too spongy while others feel very harsh. The feel of a keyboard can often be the deciding factor on whether you like or dislike it because for all of the flashy lights and macro settings, if the keyboard doesn’t feel right, it simply will not suffice.

The actuation level (the amount of pressure needed to press the switch for it to be recognised) is measured in grams. Now before all the physicists start bleating on about Newton all I can say is don’t shoot the messenger – it’s just what manufacturers’ use! For all intents and purposes though each gram of downwards force is equal to a centinewton (cN) so although I will be stating the measurement in grams, the purists can be satisfied with a 1g = 1cN conversion.

The type of switch used on the Ozone strike is of the Cherry MX Black variety which are a gold plated, linear (non-tactile) switches requiring an actuation force of between 40-80g (60g average) compared to a rubber dome type keyboard switch which requires around the 50g level. The actuation point is 2mm into its overall 4mm of travel and while this keyboard is specifically aimed at those who press and hold a key often with considerable force (think ‘Shift to sprint / C to crouch’), a detectable pressure point (think discernable click) is not required thus not provided. Also, because the actuation and release points are also at the same level (2mm), double tapping the keys is easier than other switches from the Cherry range and thanks to the Gold-Crosspoint contacts, actuation is not only quick but highly reliable.

The relative high level of compression required to press a Cherry MX Black enabled key means typing mistakes are also eased as each key requires much more force than usual giving you a sense of security as the faintest of taps will not generate input thus accidental key presses are rarely detected. That said, while this keyboard is perfectly adequate for occasional typing, it is certainly not a keyboard I would recommend for writing long essays on a regular basis. The Cherry MX Black switches are simply not designed for this purpose. They are gaming switches – pure and simple.

NKey Rollover Function
The Ozone Strike features something which many manufacturers claim to have but some are exaggerating the truth while others are telling little white lies. Some manufacturers grace their keyboards with ‘Anti-Ghosting’ but misinterpret its meaning. Anti-Ghosting is when you press multiple keys but the surround keys would also be detected. What manufacturers really mean are that multiple key presses can be detected at once yet despite some manufacturers claims, this often only incorporates the typical WSAD area, not the full keyboard. The Ozone Strike however has full NKey Rollover capability (NKRO) meaning every single one of it’s keys would be detected if pressed at the same time (if you had enough digits of course). Few keyboards can make this claim.

1000Hz Polling Rate
The keyboard is also furnished with a 1000Hz polling rate. The polling rate is measured in Hz which is the frequency by which the keyboard communicates with the PC. For example, should a polling rate be advertised as 125Hz, the keyboard would communicate with the PC every 8 milliseconds. With a polling rate of 1000Hz, this is quadrupled to every millisecond, making for ultra-fast response times, essential for FPS players…or so manufacturers would have you believe. While it is all very good and well having such a high polling speed (and I will concede it is great for gaming mice), a keyboard has no such requirement. You simply cannot type fast enough, press a key fast enough or move your fingers fast enough to warrant such speeds and response times. That said, a little extra speed is never a bad thing but it is not a feature of the keyboard I would place a great deal of weight on.

Specifications

Switch type: Gold plated Cherry Black switches

Lifecycle: 50Million keystrokes

Multiple Key Presses: Anti-ghosting / Nkey rollover function (with PS2)

Connectivity: 2x USB 2.0 + Audio and MIC jacks

Cable:Braided cable with Gold Plated connectors

Comfort: Detachable palm rest

Polling Rate: 8x FASTER – Polling Rate of 1000Hz: Response time 0.1 milliseconds

AccessoriesExtra WASD keyset (red marking) + tool for easy exchange. USB Interface with USB to PS2 adapter included, Installation manual

Compatible OS: Windows® 7 / Vista / XP and MAC

Body Dimensions (L*W*H): 430*160*40mm

Let’s take a first look at the Ozone Strike package…

Packaging & First Look

Box

The package is presented in a blood red, matt box very similar to the ASUS Republic Of Gamers colour scheme. A large circular sticker to the right of the package informs us that we have the UK version of the keyboard although the picture on the front of the box is that of the US version. The four main features of the board can also be found on the front of the box. The rear of the box goes into the features greater detail which are also presented in multi-language format.

Accessories

The included accessories are brief but useful. As with most gaming keyboards, the Strike has an optional palm-rest for comfort which in all honesty is not the most robust I have ever held being manufactured from thin plastic. A nice feature of the Ozone Strike though is the ability to change the WSAD keys (a spare red set is included for this purpose). The keys are easily changed using the included plastic ring pull. For full NKey rollover functionality, a USB – PS/2 adapter is included. Lastly, there is an installation guide which perhaps is not really required as the information contained within is very brief as you would expect because it is hardly rocket science plugging a USB peripheral device into your PC. Note there is no software or driver CD included for the keyboard as it does not require it (no macro capability).

Ozone Strike

Here we see the keyboard itself. The layout, as you would expect is traditional QWERTY style with little regard for ergonomics. The keys are of sculpted design and while there is a slight curve from top to bottom, the Ozone Strike could never put claim to being the ultimate in ergonomic design.

Ozone Strike

The overall package is nothing out of the ordinary. The lack of a driver disc means this keyboard is simply plug’n’play which is no bad thing however, those looking for multiple macro settings will be disappointed. The one thing that struck me regarding the package and indeed the keyboard itself was the weight. Despite its size, the keyboard weighs more than my older, much larger (retired) Logitech G15 v.1 which came as quite a surprise.

Let’s take a closer look at the keyboard to see what other niceties we can find…

Closer Look Pt.1

Keyboard Layout

With the palm rest attached the keyboard looks a little less like your standard office DELL affair. The little splashes of red also hint that this is a gaming keyboard. The overall aesthetics of the board are good and once you become familiar with the different font used on the keys and the extra force required to press a key, it is adequate to type with. The key presses are much noisier than rubber dome equipped keyboards and sound akin to an 80’s Sci-Fi sound effect. Not that noise is an issue with gaming keyboards you understand but it is worth noting nonetheless.

Keyboard Rear

There is nothing spectacular regarding the rear of the keyboard. Rubber pads strategically placed around the perimeter ensure the keyboard remains seated in whatever position you place it with the only remaining item being two plastic feet which are used to extend the height/angle of the keyboard.

Palm rest attached

The Palm rest was easy to attach with the prongs simply snapping into place with a satisfying click. I do worry about the longevity that these prongs will afford though as they appear to be very flimsy. Certainly, I would have preferred to have seen something much more sturdy here and the cost of metal clasps would not add that much to the already bloated weight of the keyboard. The fatigue on the palm rest (and thus the attachment), especially when being carried to LAN events with the palm rest attached will be great and thus these little plastic clasps will likely fail after a short period of time if one is not careful.

Keyboard Length

As you can see from the picture above, the actual length of the keyboard is 44.5cm which is relatively small compared to most gaming keyboards. Indeed, a standard DELL keyboard measures the same length! When playing games and while writing this review, I did feel a little cramped on this keyboard and I feel it would have benefited by a slightly bigger surround.

Keyboard Width

Again, the width of the keyboard matches its length by being small, measuring just 16cm-20cm depending on whether you have the palm rest attached or not.

Keyboard Height adjustment stand

The height/angle adjustment stand again is plastic and again deserves criticism. While this is true of most gaming keyboards, I do feel it is an area which requires attention as I have had many keyboards which have failed in this area. While the keyboard itself is fine, having a wobbly palm rest or unstable keyboard just will not do and so it is replaced just because of one or two broken tabs. Both the palm rest prongs and the height adjustment tabs should be made of more robust material – is this too much to ask?

Keyboard Height adjustment (low)

Keyboard Height adjustment (high)

Above we see profile shots of the Ozone Strike in standard and raised positions. With the keyboard being small, the height adjustment tabs do not need to stick out too far to give the keyboard an elevated profile.

Cable Braid

Something I really liked about the keyboard was that the cable was braided and not just with cheap braid either, the dense weave used covers the cable completely. It is worth pointing out though that the cable itself is thicker than a standard kettle lead by approximately 50% and while it is pliable, the lead is more difficult to handle than your standard USB cable.

Gold plated USB & Audio plugs

Here we see why the cable is so fat! At the end of the thick braided section of cable there multiple cables including 2x Gold plated USB 2.0 cables, a headphone and a MIC plug to sheath. One USB cable powers the motherboard while the other acts as secondary power to the two on-board USB 2.0 hubs found at the rear of the keyboard. Both the Audio and MIC plugs are 3.5mm and allow the user to plug there headset and MIC directly into the keyboard itself.

Let’s take a look at some of the finer points of the Ozone Strike…

Closer Look Pt.2

Number Pad

The num pad area is pretty much par for the course. I would have liked to have seen replacement keys for the directional arrows as some gamers prefer this area to the usual WSAD configuration so catering for both parties would have been great. Alas, only the WSAD gamers get a replacement set.

Multimedia Controls

Despite the keyboard being aimed primarily at gamers, the Ozone Strike also affords some multimedia functionality thanks to alternative media controls utilised by pressing the Ozone ‘f-key’ (below). The functions available are mute, volume up/down, play/pause, stop, previous/next and a sleep button.

Ozone ‘F-key’

While most keyboards will have 2 x Windows keys either side of ALT, the left side Window key has been replaced with what Ozone refer to as the ‘F-key’. This key allows access to the multimedia functionality and control of the keyboard. It is serves to prevent gamers from inadvertently pressing the windows key while in game which we all know can be very irritating.

USB/Audio Hub

To the rear of the keyboard we find the USB/Audio hub centre. Twin USB 2.0 ports are provided along with Audio out/ MIC 3.5mm ports. In testing, there was no interference from keystrokes while listening to music through this port however, there was a distinct drop in audio quality despite the audio plugs being Gold plated. The MIC performance worked well though and there was little discernable difference from using the keyboard jack.

Status lights off

As with most keyboards, gaming or otherwise, there are 3 status lights depicting the function of (from left to right) num-lock, caps-lock and scroll lock. The red LEDs are very bright but not so bright that they become distracting. It is a shame that the keyboard isn’t backlit red as this would certainly add to the overall appeal of the keyboard.

Key Removal

One great feature of mechanical keyboards with Cherry MX switches is the ease by which keys can be replaced. The ring-pull device, while basic is very easy to use with the tabs locking into place under the chosen key and a slight tug will allow the key to be pulled from the keyboard. This is a fantastic feature allowing users to swap and change keys when they become worn out or indeed to whatever colour they prefer as there are plenty of sources who provide key sets or individual keys for you to modify your keyboard to your own tastes. Ozone start you off by providing alternative black WSAD keys with red lettering instead of the keyboards white.

Cherry Black Switch

Here we see the Cherry MX Black switch itself. Note the lack of rubber and steel cradle which are found on most keyboards today. The Cherry MX Black switch is perfect for gaming thanks to the ultimate precision and durability they afford.

Alternative WSAD setup

Here we have a shot of what they keyboard looks like with the alternative WSAD keys in-situ. Personally, I prefer this look to the standard white font but what would have made it so much more appealing would be to have the WSAD keys light up as with many gaming keyboards on the market today.

Overview

Overall, the keyboard looks the part and certainly has the necessary technology that will appeal to those who are serious about gaming. There are a few minor flaws but these can be forgiven if the main features are of greater appeal.

Throughout this review, I was constantly asking myself, ‘Would I choose this over one of the high-end Logitech or Razer offerings’? I think it’s time we found out…

Testing

General Use
Switching from a rubber domed keyboard to a mechanical one was always going to be a difficult switch to make (excuse the pun). Keyboards, like mice are very personal to one’s own tastes. Once you find one that you like and feel comfortable with, no other product will replace it. We all have our own favourites and thus using a new keyboard was like riding someone else’s BMX back in the day – it just doesn’t ‘feel’ right immediately.

Given time though, the Ozone Strike began to feel much easier to work with. Indeed, I wrote this and other reports while using the Ozone Strike as I felt there was no better way to test this area. Touch typing was cumbersome due to the nature of the beast and the excessive pressure required to press the keys down eventually made writing a little more difficult than it would have been with a ‘normal’ keyboard. While the additional 5-10g of pressure required for each key press may seem very little, you begin to notice it much more after writing large documents. Fatigue can take it’s toll and while I wouldn’t suggest the Ozone Strike is uncomfortable, it isn’t the best keyboard I have typed with despite the satisfying ‘tap-tap-tap’ noises it makes. The Cherry MX Black switches are not the ‘click’ type though so the tactile feedback you get with this type of switch is the slight, yet satisfying raised bump feel rather than the mushy, wobbly feel of a rubber-domed key.

Given more time to get familiar with the keyboard I could see it actually improving my typing skills and even the speed thanks to the mechanical switches but a less stiff key would benefit the typist more, perhaps a Cherry MX Brown or lighter red (if you can find one!) would be better suited for typing. The Ozone Strike is not promoted as anything other than a gaming keyboard though so while it is perfectly adequate for typing, this is not its defining use. That would be gaming…

Gaming
The keyboard performed admirably while gaming. I played through a few levels of Crysis 2 and also a few hours of Call of Duty MW and Battlefield 2 and was pleased with how well the keyboard felt. Rather than the keys feeling ‘mushy’, they were very direct and precise. The actuation point helped in speeding up strafing and because the keys were very linear in motion and not wobbly under my fingertips as with a rubber domed keyboard, each key press was distinct and accurate. In dim lighting conditions it would have been beneficial to have keyboard backlighting but as I was more than familiar with my control setup it wasn’t so much of a problem. During testing, I found that via USB the keyboard is capable of 6 Key rollover while the PS/2 affording full NKey rollover functionality.

While my K/D ratio did improve ever so slightly, I couldn’t say if it was directly attributable to the keyboard or simply coincidence. It did however feel much more solid and direct which perhaps aided my gameplay. Unlike my reservations while using this keyboard to type long prose, in the gaming arena it is sublime to use. Sure it took some getting used to, much the same with any new peripheral but once that issue was resolved, using the Ozone Strike was a pleasure to use. MY only disappointment was that after a few hours continual use, my hand began to cramp. I would put this down the size of my hands rather than a fault of the keyboard as this isn’t the first time I have experienced this but a larger palm rest may have alleviated this somewhat.

Audio
As stated earlier in the review, the audio level dropped ever so slightly in terms of both volume and quality. While this won’t seriously hamper gamers, audiophiles would definitely baulk at this. I used two different but quality headsets, one Technics and the other Sennheiser and both reproduced these results sadly which was disappointing. MIC quality was good though with no discernable drop in quality according to friends on Ventrilo. Neither Audio nor MIC inputs reproduced any interference from the keyboard which was a relief as I have used keyboards in the past that produced this irritating failing. The two additional USB ports worked fine. I found them most useful to charge my iPhone along with transferring data. Sadly these hubs are not USB 3 but in fairness USB 3 specification would no doubt increase the cost significantly.

Multimedia Keys
While the multimedia keys were a welcome addition, I would have preferred dedicated keys or indeed a scroll wheel/dial rather than having to use the ‘F-key’ to operate them. I found myself missing the ease by which my own keyboard worked for multimedia controls. I guess it’s about ease of use so while pressing two keys at once is not really a deal breaker, it is not as simple as having direct input. What I did like though was the omission of the left-side Windows key, replaced with the F-Key. I am one of those people who will inadvertently press the windows key instead of CTRL which will drop me out of game when all I wanted to do was crouch!

Overall Ergonomics

No, that is not a picture of a Half-Life 2 head-crab, it’s my hand! I did warn you I had large hands and here you can see that this keyboard would not be ideal for someone with hands on the larger scale. After a few hours of gaming, I began to get cramps in my left hand, not helped by the thin, brittle palm rest. Those with less huge appendages shouldn’t encounter many difficulties however as I guess my hands are not indicative of the average size. That said, there are mechanical keyboards on the market which have extendable, cushioned palm rests and there are even ones with much bigger palm rests than the one provided by Ozone which would have been better for me but perhaps too large for some.

With my testing complete it’s time we rounded the review off with my concluding thoughts of the Ozone Strike…

Conclusion

Mechanical keyboards are not a new phenomenon; they have been around for years are becoming more common today. More and more PC games have less single player content so the basis of their appeal lies in online multiplay. For this reason, people will look for anything that could give them the slightest of advantages. A mechanical keyboard is one such device which could give you this edge thanks to its performance, NKey rollover function and the overall precise feel of the keyboard. It has to be emphasized that the Ozone Strike keyboard certainly felt very robust and up to the task of exceeding its 50,000,000 keystroke lifecycle and thus it will be quite capable of taking many years of abuse at the hands of a gamer. The removable keys will make cleaning the product very easy too so should you be the type who likes to eat while lingering over your keyboard, be safe in the knowledge that those crumbs can be extracted very easily in the future! Sweaty fingers are no problem either as if a key becomes scrathed or faded then it can be easily and quickly replaced (should it be W, S, A or D).

When I first cast eyes on the Ozone Strike I felt sure I has seen a keyboard like this before. After a quick browse I found an almost perfect match save for the printing on the keyboard itself, the Thermaltake Meka G1. While I cannot unequivocally state it is a direct copy, it is certainly a very, very similar product offering the exact same features as the Ozone Strike. The keyboard on test today however does weigh in a little cheaper costing £80 as opposed to £95 for the Meka G1. Other competitors to the Ozone Strike would be the Razer Black Widow (£74-114 depending on version) which offers macro settings, something the Ozone sadly doesn’t have and that could well be a deal breaker. The Zowie Celeritas Pro is another mechanical keyboard which offers similar features yet is much more expensive at £115. With this in mind the Ozone Strike appears to be good value for money for the most part.

I have often been ridiculed for having digits that resemble sausages and hands that are akin to a JCB scoop but even I noticed a difference using this keyboard. The keyboard feels much more solid and robust than the rubber domed Microsoft Reclusa I am using at present. While I wouldn’t claim it is easier to type on, each key press feels much more, well, linear and solid. It’s like the first time you sit on a new sofa; it usually feels much firmer and more rigid than your tired couch back home, yet not quite as comfortable. The same anecdote can be applied here with the Ozone Strike. Those who are looking for a keyboard for writing long essays may wish to look elsewhere though as this keyboard is not for you, nor is it designed to be. It is for those people who take gaming seriously, who want the very best kit that may just give them the slight edge in the heat of battle. Win you a tourney on its own it will not, even a Fatal!ty endorsed product can’t do that (despite Creatives’ claims to the contrary!). It will however give you a platform that you have faith in, one which will not fail you regardless of how many fists are slammed into it out of frustration. Put simply, the Ozone Strike is a keyboard which will be an asset to any gamer who does not need the razzmatazz of Razer or the looks of a Logitech. Performance is key (pun intended) and this is where the Ozone scores big.

While writing this review, one question was consistently playing on my mind. “Would I choose this, visually basic keyboard over a similarly priced yet better looking Razer or Logitech offering?” This is a quandary I am still engaged in as it is not as clear cut as you would think. On the one hand it feels so much better to work with while gaming. The solid feel to the keyboard really does deserve praise. On the other hand, I know I would miss the additional (perhaps unnecessary?) functions offered by the aforementioned companies. Aesthetically, the Ozone Strike is nothing special; in fact you could say it looks almost basic save for the occasional splash of red. It is certainly not as eye catching as your more traditional gaming keyboard with flashing lights, backlit keyboards and LCD screens but in all honesty, while you are gaming do you look at your keyboard or do you look at your screen? Do you need the flashy looks or should your preference be how the keyboard feels? If it’s the latter than the Ozone Strike will serve you well and most likely last longer than a rubber-domed keyboard. If however, you want a well-rounded keyboard that offers both functionality and you do not mind the mushy feel of a traditional gaming keyboard then perhaps this is not a keyboard for you. The problem you have is that you cannot judge the Ozone Strike’s appeal until you have tried it, once you have you will soon come to realise just how wobbly and instable a rubber domed keyboard input method is. The Ozone Strike a keyboard with one purpose in mind, gaming. If that is all you are looking for from a keyboard then you will not go far wrong with the Ozone Strike as it serves this purpose very well indeed and thus earns the Vortez stamp of approval.

Pros
+ Cherry MX Black Switches
+ Robust Keyset
+ Precise key strokes
+ USB & Audio Hub
+ Braided cable
+ Good price for a mechanical keyboard
+ Removable/Replacement keys

Cons
– Small, flimsy palm rest
– No backlight
– No macro capability