Nath are you being sarcastic? That obtrusive logo should be much less noticeable than the rest of the characters. It should not be a distraction for novice typers. That’s a deal breaker for me, unless it’s $20 and come with some black tape.
Because people will pay it without looking around for better deals. I bought a Redragon on Amazon that's very similar to this keyboard for half the price.
I bought a Model M still new in packaging at a computer show in 2001 for $5. However now that mechanical keyboards are marketed as premium products, they gain product features that add cost (LEDs, value-added software, advertising cost, etc.) and the OEM adds a considerable markup since people will endure the higher price for what they fell is an improvement or added prestige. I hate to use a "compare-everything-to-a-car" thing, but pickup trucks were really inexpensive to manufacture and produce until they were accepted as a status symbol. Its hard to blame companies for taking advantage of that sort of situation or actively working to create a product category like this through marketing efforts. As a shareholder, I'd want heads to roll at the C-level if easy profits were left on the table because the company had an attack of ethics and didn't fabricate a need for a high margin product since those profits translate into share price and dividends.
It's interesting how culture and geographic location affects values. I'd want heads to roll at C-level if profits were made at the cost of ethics. Sustainable business, especially in a lower-income country, can't rely on a fabricated need. I'd have concerns as a shareholder that the business foundations aren't solid.
We just have to stop buying what we don’t need. But most Americans are materialistic. It’s impossible for those to distinguish between “need” and “want”.
While I "understand" the logic behind PeachNCream's statement, I wholeheartedly agree with your stance here, even coming from one of the wealthiest countries in the world. The Milton Friedman-derived status quo (and current legal practice) of american business where profit is the only real motive for running a business is absurd when viewing business as part of an actual world. While differentiating between "real" and "fabricated" need is at best a sliding scale and at worst impossible, there's plenty of evidence of how unregulated businesses are able to fabricate consumer wants/needs that are detrimental to the well-being of consumers.
There's a whole host of factors more important than shareholder profits (one might argue that shareholder profits ought to _not_ be a priority, given how accumulation of wealth harms society): - Ensuring steady gainful employment for people - Manufacturing products that meet societal needs - Ensuring worker safety and welfare - Ensuring that manufacturing is as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible and plenty of others. Single-minded profit-orientation is a recipe for disaster.
Much of what you're arguing is perfectly valid and I can't disagree. Then again, when your investment income starts to outpace your working income after years of careful personal financial management, strict adherence to a budget, and aggressive investing is it unreasonable to hold people responsible to account? I'm not mega wealthy. I'm not in the 1% (at least not by US standards though possibly on a global scale) so what I've worked for is something I'm eager to protect since I've had to live in poor conditions and grind to get where I am. If my nest is padded by a few computer hardware manufacturers creating a premium keyboard category so they can eek out a bigger margin per sale on the people willing to buy said keyboards -- eh, it's not something I'm going to lose sleep over since those same people will sometimes come out of the woodwork to defend their purchases if they get called into question. They have every right to do that just as much as I have space to expect a company to cater to those people and pass the dividends back up the stack to me.
"one might argue that shareholder profits ought to _not_ be a priority"
Indeed.
The argument that commercial law forces companies to "maximise income for the shareholder" results in companies acting in ways that - if they were human - we'd call pathological sociopaths.
One of the bigger problems in the USA is that once you have an operation tuned for sociopathy, you end up with sociopaths in higher management (until their selfishness inevitably destroys the company, usually by hollowing it out from the inside to line "elite" pockets including their own)
30 years ago, mechanical keyboards (like the Model M) easily cost upwards of $250. When you adjust for inflation this makes them even more expensive.
Even a basic mechanical keyboard would set you back $125 in 1994.
WRT your comment about Pickup trucks: Look up "The Chicken Tax" on Wikipedia and you'll understand why pickups became both popular _and_ expensive, whilst simultaneously destroying US Domestic car manufacturing viability - thanks to import tariffs. (Hint: pickups/vans have a _much_ higher profit margin than cars, so marketing pushes people in that direction)
Well the model M was an entirely different beast and very very durable, actually 30 years ago there was the Model M and then everyone else, with Cherry being in the mediocre low cost field. The downside of the Model m from a modern perspective is that it can only handle one pressure of the main character keys at a time (which is perfect for typing but not so for gaming) . But the thing was a tank, beginning from the keycaps ending with the switches and it was built to cope heavy typing for decades and I have never had a keyboard afterwards with such a clear and string pressure point (ymmv if you like that) and it was loud.
Cherries have not changed that much, but the quality of the rest went downhill which means Cherry now is top of the heap and then there is everyone else using cheap chinese Cherry knockoffs with a lower quality branding them as their own developments.
Maybe I missed it in the software section, but does the software have to be running all the time for the lights and media controls to work or does it actually program the keyboard and then you can close it and everything still works?
I own this keyboard...its AWESOME! The software saves 3 RGB layouts in the kyeboard itself. I love being able to hit the button and cycle through 3 of my fave designs. Best keyboard I have ever used, period!
I recently ordered a third Alloy Elite, as I've been very happy with the first one I started using about six months ago. I'm an infrequent gamer, was looking for something better for typing, and based on various articles wanted to give Cherry switches a try. However, an integrated wrist rest was also high on my list, and that alone narrowed the field a hugely! The HyperX Alloy Elite is also a lot tamer in the lighting, with simple red backlighting, as I didn't want RGB configurable LED's. Having this new RGB version push down prices on the original is a plus in my book, the latest regular Alloy Elite I picked up on Amazon was only $60.
I just got this keyboard a few months ago. It is my first mechanical keyboard since the 1990's. I was using Logitech Wave keyboards for a long time, but the the keys eventually lose their spring. I like the weight of this keyboard. When I would play games with other keyboard, I'd get a little rambunctious and the keyboard slide around and almost fall off my desk.
I mainly use it for crunching in spreadsheets. It is nice to get back to a keyboard with real tactile feedback and heft. I forgot that it had the NGenuity software download until I saw this review.
Owning this keyboard for about half a year I'd say its fine. However the software does have its limitations. Especialy the macro functions are rather useless as they directly replace key functionality and dont work with key combo's. There is also the matter of the caps lock light being hidden the way I use it.
Ordered one after reading this review and I'm noticing the space bar makes an annoying ringing sound from the spring. Anyone else experiencing this or did I get a dud?
I've had this keyboard with MX blues since April of last year, and its has good or better than my Corsair K90, Ducky Legend and My Ducky Shine 5....I use the software for just using static colors and its alright....get it you won't be sorry!
Hey I loved the way you shared the valuable information with the community. I would say that please continue these efforts and we want to hear more from you. Well if you get time you must read more on https://krogerfeedbackreview.us/ and it will surely help you. Regrads!
I have a HyperX Alloy Red and the keyboard has started freezing up. I tried to access the firmware which is supposed to be a fix but there is nowhere I can find on their site to download it. Supposedly the possibly new possibly not firmware fixes this, but I cannot even get a response from them. this is probably user error, I am just confused why their firmware is not something I can find for a product I purchased from them.
I've been using the non-RGB version of this keyboard with Cherry Blue switched for a over a year now. for the most part, it's a dream - but there is one extremely annoying aspect - and it looks like this one has the same problem: The CAPS LOCK key doesn't light up when it's on - and the little light that DOES go on is so well hidden behind the minus key on the number pad that you have to lean waaaay over the keyboard to actually see it. This is EXTREMELY ANNOYING FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO ACCIDENTALLY SHOUT ON THE INTERNET. (Oops.)
U serious? :D they want it? :D to be unable to see an actual key, but have a eye piercing rainbow on the table. Whats the point of that? ... is it some kind of rgb fasion? like it was in late 90´
Frankly most keyboard tests are pointless, because they omit a vital aspect, the durability of the keycaps. Most keyboard tests are like... cherry switches feels like cherry switches, same pressure point etc.. well for f*** sake the cherry switches are known parts and top notch and have been for decades. The problems start somewhere else. Buy a 160 USD Corsair keyboard, you will get cherry switches, excellent to type on, you will get an aluminum case, again feels nice, but then you will get the cheapest thinnest keycaps on top of that so that Corsair can sell you overpriced durable doubleshot ones which should have been integrated upfront. The result the keycaps start to break after a few months til 2 years of usage (for me it happened after precisely 2 years) and people buy the durable double shot ones, because Corsair does not use a standard layout so you have a hard time to find cheap replacements for the bottom row. And Corsair is not alone in this Razr etc... many of those high end boards cheapen out on the caps to save a few dollars and add an artificial obscolescense point to the normally very durable switches. Unless this aspect is tested, you can basically forget about most keyboard tests. The funny thing is with a 60$ run of the mill cherry keyboard you get good caps also with Duckies but once you hit the "Its fa da gamers hence it must be expensive" region you will get pure junk in those parts.
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jtd871 - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link
Shame about the obtrusive branding...nathanddrews - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link
You mean the single HyperX logo above the 10-key and the small symbol on the spacebar? Yeah, WAY over the top!jtd871 - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link
It could have been yet more subdued is all.sonny73n - Friday, January 25, 2019 - link
Nath are you being sarcastic? That obtrusive logo should be much less noticeable than the rest of the characters. It should not be a distraction for novice typers. That’s a deal breaker for me, unless it’s $20 and come with some black tape.Orange_Swan - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link
meh, I'm not that bothered. guess its personal opinionDigitalFreak - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link
I've never understood why these types of keyboards are so expensive.sarcasm9 - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link
Because people will pay it without looking around for better deals. I bought a Redragon on Amazon that's very similar to this keyboard for half the price.PeachNCream - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link
I bought a Model M still new in packaging at a computer show in 2001 for $5. However now that mechanical keyboards are marketed as premium products, they gain product features that add cost (LEDs, value-added software, advertising cost, etc.) and the OEM adds a considerable markup since people will endure the higher price for what they fell is an improvement or added prestige. I hate to use a "compare-everything-to-a-car" thing, but pickup trucks were really inexpensive to manufacture and produce until they were accepted as a status symbol. Its hard to blame companies for taking advantage of that sort of situation or actively working to create a product category like this through marketing efforts. As a shareholder, I'd want heads to roll at the C-level if easy profits were left on the table because the company had an attack of ethics and didn't fabricate a need for a high margin product since those profits translate into share price and dividends.Carmen00 - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link
It's interesting how culture and geographic location affects values. I'd want heads to roll at C-level if profits were made at the cost of ethics. Sustainable business, especially in a lower-income country, can't rely on a fabricated need. I'd have concerns as a shareholder that the business foundations aren't solid.sonny73n - Friday, January 25, 2019 - link
We just have to stop buying what we don’t need. But most Americans are materialistic. It’s impossible for those to distinguish between “need” and “want”.Azethoth - Saturday, January 26, 2019 - link
I like to live not within my means or need, but within my want.Anyway, if you want nice pricing just keep a watch over at massdrop. They have constant drops for gaming peripherals.
Valantar - Friday, January 25, 2019 - link
While I "understand" the logic behind PeachNCream's statement, I wholeheartedly agree with your stance here, even coming from one of the wealthiest countries in the world. The Milton Friedman-derived status quo (and current legal practice) of american business where profit is the only real motive for running a business is absurd when viewing business as part of an actual world. While differentiating between "real" and "fabricated" need is at best a sliding scale and at worst impossible, there's plenty of evidence of how unregulated businesses are able to fabricate consumer wants/needs that are detrimental to the well-being of consumers.There's a whole host of factors more important than shareholder profits (one might argue that shareholder profits ought to _not_ be a priority, given how accumulation of wealth harms society):
- Ensuring steady gainful employment for people
- Manufacturing products that meet societal needs
- Ensuring worker safety and welfare
- Ensuring that manufacturing is as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible
and plenty of others. Single-minded profit-orientation is a recipe for disaster.
PeachNCream - Friday, January 25, 2019 - link
Much of what you're arguing is perfectly valid and I can't disagree. Then again, when your investment income starts to outpace your working income after years of careful personal financial management, strict adherence to a budget, and aggressive investing is it unreasonable to hold people responsible to account? I'm not mega wealthy. I'm not in the 1% (at least not by US standards though possibly on a global scale) so what I've worked for is something I'm eager to protect since I've had to live in poor conditions and grind to get where I am. If my nest is padded by a few computer hardware manufacturers creating a premium keyboard category so they can eek out a bigger margin per sale on the people willing to buy said keyboards -- eh, it's not something I'm going to lose sleep over since those same people will sometimes come out of the woodwork to defend their purchases if they get called into question. They have every right to do that just as much as I have space to expect a company to cater to those people and pass the dividends back up the stack to me.stoatwblr - Thursday, January 31, 2019 - link
"one might argue that shareholder profits ought to _not_ be a priority"Indeed.
The argument that commercial law forces companies to "maximise income for the shareholder" results in companies acting in ways that - if they were human - we'd call pathological sociopaths.
One of the bigger problems in the USA is that once you have an operation tuned for sociopathy, you end up with sociopaths in higher management (until their selfishness inevitably destroys the company, usually by hollowing it out from the inside to line "elite" pockets including their own)
stoatwblr - Thursday, January 31, 2019 - link
30 years ago, mechanical keyboards (like the Model M) easily cost upwards of $250. When you adjust for inflation this makes them even more expensive.Even a basic mechanical keyboard would set you back $125 in 1994.
WRT your comment about Pickup trucks: Look up "The Chicken Tax" on Wikipedia and you'll understand why pickups became both popular _and_ expensive, whilst simultaneously destroying US Domestic car manufacturing viability - thanks to import tariffs. (Hint: pickups/vans have a _much_ higher profit margin than cars, so marketing pushes people in that direction)
werpu - Thursday, February 7, 2019 - link
Well the model M was an entirely different beast and very very durable, actually 30 years ago there was the Model M and then everyone else, with Cherry being in the mediocre low cost field. The downside of the Model m from a modern perspective is that it can only handle one pressure of the main character keys at a time (which is perfect for typing but not so for gaming) . But the thing was a tank, beginning from the keycaps ending with the switches and it was built to cope heavy typing for decades and I have never had a keyboard afterwards with such a clear and string pressure point (ymmv if you like that) and it was loud.Cherries have not changed that much, but the quality of the rest went downhill which means Cherry now is top of the heap and then there is everyone else using cheap chinese Cherry knockoffs with a lower quality branding them as their own developments.
stoatwblr - Thursday, January 31, 2019 - link
You can get genuine Cherry G80 / MX3000 keyboards for less than $60 if you look around.No leds, no multimedia keys, no USB hub - but they're great keyboards (even if officemates complain about the clackiness)
QChronoD - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link
Maybe I missed it in the software section, but does the software have to be running all the time for the lights and media controls to work or does it actually program the keyboard and then you can close it and everything still works?Zeromus2003 - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link
I own this keyboard...its AWESOME! The software saves 3 RGB layouts in the kyeboard itself. I love being able to hit the button and cycle through 3 of my fave designs. Best keyboard I have ever used, period!Zeromus2003 - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link
Q, you won't need the Ngenuity software once you save your 3 layouts. The buttons for media work fine without it.NoWayMan - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link
I recently ordered a third Alloy Elite, as I've been very happy with the first one I started using about six months ago. I'm an infrequent gamer, was looking for something better for typing, and based on various articles wanted to give Cherry switches a try. However, an integrated wrist rest was also high on my list, and that alone narrowed the field a hugely! The HyperX Alloy Elite is also a lot tamer in the lighting, with simple red backlighting, as I didn't want RGB configurable LED's. Having this new RGB version push down prices on the original is a plus in my book, the latest regular Alloy Elite I picked up on Amazon was only $60.SkyDiver - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link
I just got this keyboard a few months ago. It is my first mechanical keyboard since the 1990's. I was using Logitech Wave keyboards for a long time, but the the keys eventually lose their spring. I like the weight of this keyboard. When I would play games with other keyboard, I'd get a little rambunctious and the keyboard slide around and almost fall off my desk.I mainly use it for crunching in spreadsheets. It is nice to get back to a keyboard with real tactile feedback and heft. I forgot that it had the NGenuity software download until I saw this review.
qlum - Friday, January 25, 2019 - link
Owning this keyboard for about half a year I'd say its fine. However the software does have its limitations. Especialy the macro functions are rather useless as they directly replace key functionality and dont work with key combo's. There is also the matter of the caps lock light being hidden the way I use it.notR1CH - Sunday, January 27, 2019 - link
Ordered one after reading this review and I'm noticing the space bar makes an annoying ringing sound from the spring. Anyone else experiencing this or did I get a dud?fvbounty - Sunday, January 27, 2019 - link
I've had this keyboard with MX blues since April of last year, and its has good or better than my Corsair K90, Ducky Legend and My Ducky Shine 5....I use the software for just using static colors and its alright....get it you won't be sorry!sabaali - Monday, January 28, 2019 - link
Hey I loved the way you shared the valuable information with the community. I would say that please continue these efforts and we want to hear more from you. Well if you get time you must read more onhttps://krogerfeedbackreview.us/ and it will surely help you.
Regrads!
inmytaxi - Wednesday, January 30, 2019 - link
I have a HyperX Alloy Red and the keyboard has started freezing up. I tried to access the firmware which is supposed to be a fix but there is nowhere I can find on their site to download it. Supposedly the possibly new possibly not firmware fixes this, but I cannot even get a response from them. this is probably user error, I am just confused why their firmware is not something I can find for a product I purchased from them.mikegray - Thursday, January 31, 2019 - link
I've been using the non-RGB version of this keyboard with Cherry Blue switched for a over a year now. for the most part, it's a dream - but there is one extremely annoying aspect - and it looks like this one has the same problem: The CAPS LOCK key doesn't light up when it's on - and the little light that DOES go on is so well hidden behind the minus key on the number pad that you have to lean waaaay over the keyboard to actually see it. This is EXTREMELY ANNOYING FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO ACCIDENTALLY SHOUT ON THE INTERNET. (Oops.)gertas - Thursday, January 31, 2019 - link
How it can be high-end challanger if it fails in basics?! like backligt leaking all around keys! unacceptable.Xenx - Thursday, January 31, 2019 - link
That's actually a feature when it comes to RGB keyboards. The users want it to do that. That isn't to say all users, but enough.gertas - Friday, February 1, 2019 - link
U serious? :D they want it? :D to be unable to see an actual key, but have a eye piercing rainbow on the table. Whats the point of that? ... is it some kind of rgb fasion? like it was in late 90´jahid - Tuesday, February 5, 2019 - link
hyperx keyboard not available in Bangladesh But Razer RGB Keyboard available in Star Techwerpu - Thursday, February 7, 2019 - link
Frankly most keyboard tests are pointless, because they omit a vital aspect, the durability of the keycaps. Most keyboard tests are like... cherry switches feels like cherry switches, same pressure point etc.. well for f*** sake the cherry switches are known parts and top notch and have been for decades. The problems start somewhere else. Buy a 160 USD Corsair keyboard, you will get cherry switches, excellent to type on, you will get an aluminum case, again feels nice, but then you will get the cheapest thinnest keycaps on top of that so that Corsair can sell you overpriced durable doubleshot ones which should have been integrated upfront. The result the keycaps start to break after a few months til 2 years of usage (for me it happened after precisely 2 years) and people buy the durable double shot ones, because Corsair does not use a standard layout so you have a hard time to find cheap replacements for the bottom row.And Corsair is not alone in this Razr etc... many of those high end boards cheapen out on the caps to save a few dollars and add an artificial obscolescense point to the normally very durable switches.
Unless this aspect is tested, you can basically forget about most keyboard tests. The funny thing is with a 60$ run of the mill cherry keyboard you get good caps also with Duckies but once you hit the "Its fa da gamers hence it must be expensive" region you will get pure junk in those parts.
gertas - Friday, February 8, 2019 - link
amen to that...