Razer Revamps SpeedPad, Launched as Nostromo

This gaming keypad features 16 programmable backlit buttons and means to store up to 20 profiles.

Thursday Razer revealed its new 16-button gaming keypad called Nostromo. Its overall design is based on Belkin's n52te SpeedPad but adds improvements throughout including "extreme" customization, "tournament-grade construction", a soft-touch rubberized wrist pad and other enhanced features.

"A few years ago we had the privilege of working with Belkin to co-develop the highly successful Belkin n52te Speedpad." said Robert "RazerGuy" Krakoff, President, Razer. "The Razer Nostromo is an update to this illustrious gaming keypad to meet today’s competitive gaming demands. Building on the Speedpad’s proven ergonomic design, the Razer Nostromo incorporates the latest gaming technologies that Razer has developed over the past few years, including a new chipset and software drivers that allow all levels of gamers to program sophisticated command strings to help decimate their opponents."

According to Razer, the Nostromo uses 16 fully-programmable "Hyperresponse" backlit buttons and an eight-way directional thumb pad, all strategically arranged for greater intuitive access to commands across all game genres. The keys are engineered for rapid key actuation and crisp response while the programmable thumb pad can be used for movement, or as modifier keys to access auxiliary commands.

As for Nostromo's "extreme" customization features, they include the ability to switch instantly between eight keymaps (up from three on the SpeedPad) and means to store up to twenty gaming profiles (from the previous limit of ten). Gamers can also program sophisticated macros of unlimited length thanks to the Nostromo's on-board chipset and driver.

The Razer Nostromo is available now at Razerzone.com and at participating resellers for $69.99 USD.