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The SteelSeries Apex [RAW] can be plugged in and used without the need for any additional drivers. However, by not installing the SteelSeries Engine customization options will be limited to what can be configured through the operating system's control panel.
Installation of the SteelSeries Engine is straight forward and should not present a problem to most users. The drivers and firmware tool can be downloaded here.
The SteelSeries Engine serves as a hub where you can manage any SteelSeries devices you may have plugged in. The main screen for the Apex [RAW] shows an overview of the keyboard. Each individual key, with the exception of the SteelSeries key, can be selected and modified with ease.
It is also possible to move a key's function to another location on the keyboard. For example, the Escape key can be dragged to the spacebar. The Escape key will then function as the spacebar from that moment on and vice versa.
Before a macro is recorded it is also possible to select the option to record delays. Furthermore, the key's behaviour can be altered by selecting from one of four options: Keypress Macro, Launch Application, Text Macro and
Disable Key.
Along the top of the screen are 4 options: Buttons, Settings, Properties and Statistics.
The Settings screen only offers 4 options: Illumination Intensity, Polling Rate, Keyboard Layout and Restore To Factory Settings.
The Illumination Intensity values run from 0% to 100% and the polling rate values run from 125Hz to 1000Hz.
The Properties screen is where profiles can be assigned to specific applications or even all applications in a specified folder. In the screenshot above I selected my Steam folder which brought up a list of every executable in the 421GB folder. This is something to keep in mind if you are selecting a folder that has a lot of applications that will never be opened.
Finally, the Statistics screen can be used to keep track of key presses. Rather than function as a malicious key logger, it only records the number of times keys have been pressed. It then displays the information with a combination of colours. The screenshot above tells me that I have the typing skills of a nervous cat, pressing the spacebar only a couple of times more than the backspace key whilst typing this review.
With regards to the Apex [RAW]'s typing performance I was worried that the keys would have a spongy feel to it, not unlike the average laptop. However, SteelSeries has provided enough travel distance on the keys to provide enough tactile feedback without compromising their design choices.
It is worth noting that if you have been using a mechanical keyboard for a prolonged period of time, it will take a decent amount of time to get used to the Apex [RAW].
The spacebar in particular deserves a special mention. I personally assign the special functions of weapons in-game to the spacebar and use the Mouse 2 button to jump. The size of the spacebar definitely made my life easier in hectic situations and I wish more manufacturers would follow in SteelSeries footsteps for this specific design choice.
The Apex [RAW] supports anti-ghosting for up to 20 frequently used keys, allowing users to press 6 keys simultaneously. I confirmed these claims by using Microsoft's Keyboard Ghosting Demo which can be found here.
