今年早些时候，华硕以(ASUS)Cerberus 品牌(Cerberus brand)推出了一系列价格实惠的新游戏外围设备。Cerberus游戏键盘(Cerberus Gaming Keyboard)、Cerberus 游戏鼠标(Cerberus Gaming Mouse)、Cerberus 游戏鼠标垫(Cerberus Gaming Mouse Pad)和Cerberus 耳机(Cerberus Headset)都包含在Cerberus 系列(Cerberus line)中。我们设法拿到了华硕 Cerberus 游戏键盘(ASUS Cerberus Gaming Keyboard)，经过一个多星期的测试，我们对它的功能和性能非常满意。这绝对是任何预算游戏玩家(budget gamer)都应该考虑的最佳选择。阅读此评论以了解原因：
拆箱华硕 Cerberus 键盘
华硕 Cerberus 键盘(ASUS Cerberus keyboard)的包装非常简单。在盒子的正面，您可以看到设备本身及其最重要的功能列表。
在盒子的背面，您可以看到它的详细规格，以及它的宏和多媒体键(macro and multimedia keys)的亮点。打开包装盒后，您会发现以下元素：键盘本身、保修、用户手册和快速入门指南(start guide)。
现在您对拆箱体验有了更多了解，让我们看看这款键盘在硬件规格方面必须提供什么。
硬件规格
ASUS Cerberus是一款单USB 键盘(USB keyboard)，具有 19 个按键的防重影功能，如下所示。如您所见，这些键用于大多数游戏。
您可以将键盘插入USB 端口(USB port)，它适用于所有Windows版本，从Windows XP开始。ASUS Cerberus被检测为标准多媒体键盘(multimedia keyboard)，不需要任何特殊驱动程序即可工作。它很可能在Linux 和 Mac OS X(Linux and Mac OS X)中同样有效。但是，我们无法在这些操作系统中对其进行测试以确认，也没有官方支持。
ASUS Cerberus使用带有橡胶圆顶的薄膜开关。在它的价位上(price point)，这是一个非常好的选择。其开关的预期生命周期(life cycle)为 800 万次击键，足以使用几年。键盘是背光的，有两种颜色（红色和蓝色）和四级灯光设置：高、中、低和关闭。您可以在下面看到它以红色点亮时的外观。
ASUS Cerberus有 6 个多媒体按键用于音量控制(volume control)、播放/暂停、上一曲和下一曲，它们兼容大多数多媒体播放器，包括Winamp、Windows Media Player 和 VLC Player(Windows Media Player and VLC Player)。还有 12 个宏(Macro)键（F1 到F12），可以手动对其进行编程以执行任何您想做的事情。
该键盘还具有防溅设计，可防止意外溅出的液体。集成的排水孔(drain hole)可防止液体被困在键盘内，并确保溢出后易于清理，因此您可以在最小的干扰下重新开始游戏。这在负担得起的游戏键盘上并不常见。
在尺寸方面，这款键盘相当标准：长度为 18.54 英寸（471 毫米），宽度为 7.32 英寸（186 毫米），高度为 1.61 英寸（41 毫米）。它的总重为 2.42 磅或 1.1 公斤。这款键盘的背面是红色塑料，它包括两个支脚，用于将其边缘抬高到舒适的打字位置(typing position)。此外，用于将其稳定地固定在桌面上的标准支脚经过橡胶处理，这有助于在激烈的游戏过程中进行。
如果您想查看有关此键盘及其官方规格的更多详细信息，请访问此网页：ASUS Cerberus 键盘(ASUS Cerberus Keyboard)。
使用 ASUS Cerberus 键盘
安装ASUS Cerberus就像将USB 连接器连接(USB connector)到USB 端口一样简单(USB port)
您的计算机。您的计算机会自动检测并安装键盘驱动程序(keyboard driver)。安装完成后，您可以开始使用游戏键盘，这通常需要几秒钟。对于这款价格实惠的游戏键盘，ASUS Cerberus提供了许多功能：
由于不涉及驱动程序，因此只有在您知道如何按键盘上的相应键时才能使用所有这些功能。这就是为什么，为了利用ASUS Cerberus所提供的功能，您必须阅读手册。它提供了大量有用的信息，如果没有它，您将无法弄清楚如何充分使用此键盘。
这种“无软件”方法还有一个缺点：一旦您将键盘与计算机的USB 端口(USB port)断开连接，[Fn] + [F11]、[Fn] + [Q]、[Fn] + [Tab] 和[Fn] + [Win] 功能键将重置为出厂默认设置。因此，如果您自定义了它们，则需要再次重新配置它们。这很烦人，但考虑到这款键盘的极低价格及其众多功能，这是我们可以忍受的缺点。
总的来说，华硕 Cerberus 键盘(ASUS Cerberus keyboard)感觉很棒。我们用它来玩MOBA 和冒险游戏(MOBAs and adventure games)，我们很喜欢使用它。此外，我们做了一些简单的办公室工作和大量(light Office work and plenty)的打字工作，我们在所有使用场景中都获得了积极的体验。与我们在这里评测过的Razer DeathStalker Essential相比， (Razer DeathStalker Essential)ASUS Cerberus是一款几乎适用于任何使用情况的更好的键盘。我们喜欢键盘的坚固程度、打字时的感觉以及防止液体意外溅出的防溅设计。许多游戏玩家在玩游戏时会将大量液体洒在键盘上。
另一个有用的功能是背光，当你在黑暗的环境中打字和在夜间玩耍时，它会给你带来很多好处。
总的来说，我们对华硕 Cerberus(ASUS Cerberus)提供的用户体验(user experience)非常满意。
优点和缺点
华硕 Cerberus 键盘(ASUS Cerberus keyboard)有许多令人惊讶的优点：
- 游戏键盘(gaming keyboard)价格实惠
- 它非常坚固耐用，因此应该可以使用很长时间(t ime)
- 防溅设计可防止意外溅出的液体
- 在光线不足的环境中使用键盘时，背光非常有用
- 它具有许多功能和自定义功能，适用于价格实惠的键盘
还有一些缺点：
- 不涉及驱动程序，这意味着配置需要更长的时间。如果不仔细阅读手册，您将无法对其进行个性化设置
- 从USB 端口(USB port)断开键盘后，许多功能键将重置为出厂默认设置。任何自定义都会丢失，您必须重做。
判决
如果您是一名游戏玩家，想要一个可定制的游戏键盘(gaming keyboard)，具有背光和溢出保护(backlighting and spill protection)，ASUS Cerberus是您能找到的最好的键盘之一。绝对比同价位(price point)的其他知名品牌好，包括雷蛇(Razer)。是的，它并不完美，您无法将其与使用机械开关的高级游戏键盘(gaming keyboard)进行比较，但是，对于您支付的钱，很难在功能和质量方面获得更多。打字体验扎实，长时间打字手也不会累，游戏内表现也很扎实。华硕地狱犬(ASUS Cerberus)绝对是成功争夺“最实惠的游戏键盘(gaming keyboard)！”称号的百思买。
Reviewing the ASUS Cerberus keyboard - Affordable gaming done right!
Earlier this year, ASUS launched a new line of affordable gamіng peripherals, under the Cеrberus brand. The Cеrberus Gаming Keyboard, the Cеrberus Gaming Mouse, the Cerberus Gaming Mouse Pаd and the Cerberus Headset аrе included іn the Cerberus line. We managed to get our hands on the AЅUS Cerberus Gaming Keyboard and, after testing it for more than a week, we are very рleased with its features and performance. It's definitely a best buy that any budget gamer should take into consideration. Read this reviеw to learn why:
Unboxing the ASUS Cerberus keyboard
The packaging for the ASUS Cerberus keyboard is very simple. On the front of the box you can see the device itself together with a list of its most important features.
On the back of the box you get to see its detailed specifications , as well as a highlight of its macro and multimedia keys. When you open the box you will find the following elements: the keyboard itself, the warranty, the user manual and the quick start guide.
Now that you know more about the unboxing experience, let's see what this keyboard has to offer in terms of hardware specifications.
Hardware specifications
ASUS Cerberus is a single USB keyboard, with anti-ghosting on 19 keys, which you can see listed below. As you can see, these keys are used in most games.
You can plug the keyboard into a USB port and it works with all Windows versions, starting with Windows XP. ASUS Cerberus is detected as a standard multimedia keyboard and it doesn't need any special drivers in order to work. It's likely that it will work just as well in Linux and Mac OS X. However, we couldn't test it in these operating systems to confirm and there's no official support for them.
ASUS Cerberus uses membrane switches with rubber domes. At its price point, that's a very good choice. The expected life cycle for its switches are of 8 million keystrokes, which should be enough for a couple of years of use. The keyboard is backlit, with two colors (red and blue) and four level light settings: high, middle, low and off. Below you can see how it looks when it is lit in red.
ASUS Cerberus has 6 multimedia keys for volume control, play/pause, previous track, and next track, and they are compatible with most multimedia players, including Winamp, Windows Media Player and VLC Player. There are also 12 Macro keys (F1 to F12), which can be manually programmed to do anything you wish.
This keyboard also features a splash-proof design to protect against accidentally spilled liquids. An integrated drain hole prevents liquids from being trapped inside the keyboard and ensures easy cleanup after spills, so you can get back to gaming with minimal disruption. This is not very common on affordable gaming keyboards.
In terms of size, the keyboard is quite standard: it has a length of 18.54 inches (471 mm), a width of 7.32 inches (186 mm) and a height of 1.61 inches (41 mm). It also weighs a total of 2.42 pounds or 1.1 kg. The back of this keyboard is red plastic and it includes two feet for raising its edge into a comfortable typing position. Also, the standard feet for holding it steady on your desk are rubberized and that helps during intense gaming sessions.
If you want to see more details about this keyboard and its official specifications, go to this webpage: ASUS Cerberus Keyboard.
U sing the ASUS Cerberus keyboard
Installing the ASUS Cerberus is as simple as connecting the USB connector to the USB port
of your computer. Your computer automatically detects and installs the keyboard driver. When the installation is completed, you can start using your gaming keyboard, and that usually takes a couple of seconds. For a gaming keyboard this affordable, ASUS Cerberus offers plenty of features:
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Swap mode - lets you exchange the functions of some keys on the keyboard, except for these keys: F1 to F12, Q, Tab, Win, ESC, Caps Lock, Insert, Home, and the multimedia keys.
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Macro keys - configure the function keys (F1 to F12) as macro keys to conveniently launch often-used apps or key combinations, and perform repetitive tasks or actions with a single keystroke. They may be useful both in games and when doing Office work.
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Dual lighting with blue and red - One aspect that it isn't very clear from the official specifications is that when you use the blue backlight, ASUS Cerberus turns into a normal keyboard with no support for Macro and Swap functions. If you want complete Macro and Swap functions, you must use the red backlight.
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Breath Light - a function that allows you to set the keyboard backlight in a looping bright to dim mode. There are four breath light levels: High, Middle, Low, and No Light.
These four modes are available for both backlighting colors.
Since there are no drivers involved, all these features can be used only if you know how to press the appropriate keys on the keyboard. That's why, in order to take advantage of what ASUS Cerberus has to offer, you must read the manual. It offers a wealth of useful information and without it, you won't be able to figure out how to use this keyboard to the fullest.
There's also a downside to this "no software" approach: once you disconnect the keyboard from the USB port of your computer, [Fn] + [F11], [Fn] + [Q], [Fn] + [Tab], and [Fn] + [Win] function keys will be reset to factory defaults. Therefore, if you customized them, you need to reconfigure them again. This is rather annoying but, considering the very low price of this keyboard and its many features, it's a downside we can live with.
Overall, the ASUS Cerberus keyboard felt great. We used it to play MOBAs and adventure games and we enjoyed using it. Also, we did some light Office work and plenty of typing and we had a positive experience in all usage scenarios. Compared with the Razer DeathStalker Essential, which we reviewed here , ASUS Cerberus is a much much better keyboard for almost any usage s ituation. We liked how sturdy the keyboard is, how it feels when you type, and the splash-proof design that protects against accidentally spilled liquids. Many gamers spill lots of liquids over their keyboards while playing games.
Another useful feature is the backlight, which does you a lot of good when you type in dark environments and when you play during the night.
Overall, we are quite pleased with the user experience offered by ASUS Cerberus.
Pros and cons
There are many surprising pros for the ASUS Cerberus keyboard:
- It's affordable for a gaming keyboard
- It's very sturdy and solid so it should last quite a long of t ime
- The splash-proof design that protects against accidentally spilled liquids
- The backlight is very useful when using the keyboard in low light environments
- It has many features and customizations for a keyboard that is so affordable
There are also a couple of downsides:
- There are no drivers involved which means that it takes longer to configure. You won't be able to personalize it without carefully reading the manual
- Once you disconnect the keyboard from the USB port many function keys will be reset to factory defaults. Any customization is lost and you have to redo it.
Verdict
If you are a gamer who wants a customizable gaming keyboard, with backlighting and spill protection, ASUS Cerberus is one of the best keyboards you can find. It's definitely better than what other famous brands offer at the same price point, including Razer. Yes, it's not perfect and you can't compare it with premium gaming keyboards that use mechanical switches but, for the money you pay, it's hard to get more in terms of features and quality. The typing experience is solid and your hands won't get tired after long sessions of typing, while the in-game performance is very solid. ASUS Cerberus is definitely a best buy that successfully competes for the title of "The best affordable gaming keyboard!".
