Interesting. I guess the analysis is limited to the software, as the keys (and therefore the feel of typing) are a known quantity at this time.
Has anyone done a review of the other mechanical switches, namely buckling spring? I can't find (conveniently) any cherry MX switch based keyboards locally to test out the feel compared with my Unicomp keyboard (which I really like, at least for typing and casual gaming - while I like a good fps, I'm too old to be good at twitch fpsing). I don't ming the clackety clack of buckling springs at all.
Also what the heck is up with wasd?? Why did people migrate to that instead of esdf???! It doesn't make any sense to me to move your hands from home for.. But maybe that's my age.
Well, you can always move the keyboard so ESDF lines up and depending on how nimble your fingers are you then have access to the shift/ctrl keys as well as a bunch of extra letter keys on your pinky side... Basically you have more keys within overall reach.
I'd love a G13 with mechanical cherry red switches tho... In fact, that would kill my curiosity to try a TKL board. I could keep the Corsair K90 I like with media keys and macro keys for everything else (which I use for Photoshop/LR more than gaming) and just slide it back for gaming.
I'm surprised Logitech's never built one with all the rage over mechanical switches the last few years.
Dunno, maybe it's because WASD is a little easier to find by blind feel if you've taken your hand off the keyboard? I started off with WASD but I've used ESDF occasionally on MMOS which require lots of peripheral keys.
I'm sure there's reviews of buckling spring boards out there since they're still sold and refurbished, could try the geekhack boards... I'm sure there's people using them on the AT/Hard/OCN boards too tho.
Then there's Topre too... Anyway, if you just wanna test out the feel of cherry switches you can order a little sampler board (like 4-8 keys usually) with various switch types.
Blues probably give the most feedback and might feel the closest to buckling springs but it's subjective. Best Buy used to carry a Razer board with blues FWIW.
My local BB only claimed to carry one to the internet. I visited the store twice hoping to get my hands on it; only to only see the usual assortment of cheap Generic/MS/Logitech keyboards. The second time, I verified on BB.com that it was there before leaving work at the end of the day; got to the store couldn't find it; used one of their computers to visit the in store version of their site which said they didn't have it; went home and checked BB.com which again claimed the store had it in stock. Sooner or later I want to visit the store with a copy of bb.com claiming it's in stock loaded on my phone to harass the blueshirts about; but I haven't had any other excuse to go there for a while and don't want to make a special trip just for that.
Just in case you don't know BB keeps keyboards in two different areas. One has the normal cheap and wireless stuff and then they have the gaming stuff in another area.
I never liked WASD or ESDF. I hated how cramped my fingers got being squished up like that, so I've always had to remap my games to ASDF. I set them up as A=back, S=strafe left, D=strafe right, and F=forward. I find I can use more of the peripheral keys, still have my pinky available for modifier keys (since most games don't have me running or crouching backwards), and my hand never has to leave the home row. And even if I do pick up my hand, I can quickly find home row on keyboards that have a bump on either the D or F keys. And it's just more comfortable for long sessions of gaming.
But it is a PITA to setup a profile that works well since I have to modify just about every key around ASDF. But, it takes just as long (or longer) to setup my Logitech G13, so I can't complain too much.
Check out the Unicomp store. That's where I bought mine from in about 2010. Pckeyboard dot com. I got the spacesaver USB model. Unicomp wound up buying the license to make the buckling spring from IBM, and made all of their keyboards after about 1987 ish.
"Also what the heck is up with wasd?? Why did people migrate to that instead of esdf???! It doesn't make any sense to me to move your hands from home for.. But maybe that's my age."
LOL I was noticing that to the other day and noticed it has made me shift my hands left and now my touch typing is all off since my hands don't rest on the HOME keys a,s,d,f and instead now rest on the Cap lock,a,s,d much of the time. so I end up TyPing likE tHiS a loT. :-)
Too bulky for my taste, specially considering it lacks media keys... Could always repurpose the macro keys for that but ehh... In a related now, I wish Corsair would step up their software too and/or release some more TKL boards.
RAD has to be the most annoying feature I have ever heard.
"Congratulations, you've unlocked a trophy!" while playing a game, watching a movie or just browsing sites is not annoying at all. I don't know what they were thinking adding such a "feature".
Of course there are only 16 trophies to unlock, so unless you reset the counter it's not like it happens very often. A few weeks takes care of the easy milestones, and then maybe once or twice a month you'll get another. By the time you're six months down the road it won't happen at all.
Definitely agree with you on this point. The point of getting a gaming keyboard is so I can play better games. The achivement system is useless since most games come with their own achivement system.
To anyone wanting to buy this keyboard, please steer away from the backlit version. I bought one ryos mk pro last year, and four back lights failed within a month. Went through RMA, received a brand new replacement, and the backlights started to fail within three weeks of use one by one.
I've been using the replacement keyboard for eight months now, and 45 backlights failed already. The build quality of the keyboard backlight is absolutely terrible.
The keyboard functions fine and is nice to type on, It's just the terrible QC and backlight design which makes the backlit version fell short. Just think twice before you purchase the backlit version.
I own one. It was WORTH EVERY PENNY! Linux support with software and drivers. I've never been happier with a keyboard. Now I need one for home as the one I bought went to work and my Sidewinder X4 feels like a cheap toy.
this is why I like roccat, Linux need to steal the spot as master race some time soon. It stupid that gaming componys would shit on there stock and leave a bunch of wight hat hackers to feed me my games. (technically that is a whight hat hack to get those games to run in linux) ps, sorry for the red lines, god cursed my spelling ...... I hate Webster
I've personally moved away from mechanical gaming keyboards. I soon found out that mechanical keyboards slowed me down. They just are not the best keyboard any more.
I bought the Logitech G710. Then the LED died after 2 weeks. Weeks earlier i returend a Corsair H100i becouse of dead LED and fan control, so my only option was this awsome beast of a keyboard. I bought it for the quality, and it really feels well build, and i havent had a single dead LED or problems with it. Installed O-rings on mine, and rotated the space key, to give it less of a rough angle for the thumb to rest on, very great mod idear :)
I had my Roccat Ryos MK Pro (with Cherry MX Red keys) for about 9 months and it has never given me any problems, unlike the other mechanical keyboards I had the misfortune of owning. The Corsair K70 (which the Ryos replaced) simply died after two months of moderate use. A month ago, I got a Razer Blackwidow Ultimate because I was feeling nostalgic and missed the loud clack of old IBM keyboards. I was really looking for Cherry Blues but all that's available where I live are Reds and the Blackwidow was the closest I could find. That thing worked well for a week then the FN key started acting up. It would work intermittently making access to the multimedia keys frustrating. On top of that, the 'T', 'N'', and 'C' keys double-taps intermittently, even when pressed lightly, making the Blackwidow unusable for typing.
Fortunately, I had the Ryos to fall back on, like an old fiend patiently waiting in the wings. Looking at this article I got curious and opened up it up to see the internals for myself. It is then that I realized it's real strength: solid German design and engineering. Everything is built solid from the base to the key tops. No cheap components from the board, chips, keys, LEDs, down to the USB and audio connectors. Everything inside screams quality and assembled with superb workmanship. No wonder it's expensive. I was actually amused with myself. It felt like I had a Benz and I was trying to replace it with a flashy Japanese car.
Granted the Ryos MK Pro's overall appearance is polarizing, either you love the look and the heft or you hate it. But to me, it remains a great value because it's reliable and feels solid. It simply works.
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erple2 - Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - link
Interesting. I guess the analysis is limited to the software, as the keys (and therefore the feel of typing) are a known quantity at this time.Has anyone done a review of the other mechanical switches, namely buckling spring? I can't find (conveniently) any cherry MX switch based keyboards locally to test out the feel compared with my Unicomp keyboard (which I really like, at least for typing and casual gaming - while I like a good fps, I'm too old to be good at twitch fpsing). I don't ming the clackety clack of buckling springs at all.
Also what the heck is up with wasd?? Why did people migrate to that instead of esdf???! It doesn't make any sense to me to move your hands from home for.. But maybe that's my age.
Novaguy - Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - link
Re: wasd vs. esdf, i imagine the advantage of wasd includes easier reaching shift and control keys as well as a more neutral left shoulder angle.I personally gave up the wasd and now use a logitech g13 and put my keyboard away.
Impulses - Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - link
Well, you can always move the keyboard so ESDF lines up and depending on how nimble your fingers are you then have access to the shift/ctrl keys as well as a bunch of extra letter keys on your pinky side... Basically you have more keys within overall reach.I'd love a G13 with mechanical cherry red switches tho... In fact, that would kill my curiosity to try a TKL board. I could keep the Corsair K90 I like with media keys and macro keys for everything else (which I use for Photoshop/LR more than gaming) and just slide it back for gaming.
I'm surprised Logitech's never built one with all the rage over mechanical switches the last few years.
Impulses - Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - link
Dunno, maybe it's because WASD is a little easier to find by blind feel if you've taken your hand off the keyboard? I started off with WASD but I've used ESDF occasionally on MMOS which require lots of peripheral keys.I'm sure there's reviews of buckling spring boards out there since they're still sold and refurbished, could try the geekhack boards... I'm sure there's people using them on the AT/Hard/OCN boards too tho.
Then there's Topre too... Anyway, if you just wanna test out the feel of cherry switches you can order a little sampler board (like 4-8 keys usually) with various switch types.
Blues probably give the most feedback and might feel the closest to buckling springs but it's subjective. Best Buy used to carry a Razer board with blues FWIW.
DanNeely - Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - link
My local BB only claimed to carry one to the internet. I visited the store twice hoping to get my hands on it; only to only see the usual assortment of cheap Generic/MS/Logitech keyboards. The second time, I verified on BB.com that it was there before leaving work at the end of the day; got to the store couldn't find it; used one of their computers to visit the in store version of their site which said they didn't have it; went home and checked BB.com which again claimed the store had it in stock. Sooner or later I want to visit the store with a copy of bb.com claiming it's in stock loaded on my phone to harass the blueshirts about; but I haven't had any other excuse to go there for a while and don't want to make a special trip just for that.piiman - Saturday, January 3, 2015 - link
Just in case you don't know BB keeps keyboards in two different areas. One has the normal cheap and wireless stuff and then they have the gaming stuff in another area.knightspawn1138 - Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - link
I never liked WASD or ESDF. I hated how cramped my fingers got being squished up like that, so I've always had to remap my games to ASDF. I set them up as A=back, S=strafe left, D=strafe right, and F=forward. I find I can use more of the peripheral keys, still have my pinky available for modifier keys (since most games don't have me running or crouching backwards), and my hand never has to leave the home row. And even if I do pick up my hand, I can quickly find home row on keyboards that have a bump on either the D or F keys. And it's just more comfortable for long sessions of gaming.But it is a PITA to setup a profile that works well since I have to modify just about every key around ASDF. But, it takes just as long (or longer) to setup my Logitech G13, so I can't complain too much.
JohnMD1022 - Thursday, January 1, 2015 - link
Having tried Cherry-based keyboards, I still prefer my 1987 IBM Model M Space Saver.Has anyone thought of licensing buckling spring technology?
erple2 - Friday, January 2, 2015 - link
Check out the Unicomp store. That's where I bought mine from in about 2010. Pckeyboard dot com. I got the spacesaver USB model. Unicomp wound up buying the license to make the buckling spring from IBM, and made all of their keyboards after about 1987 ish.piiman - Saturday, January 3, 2015 - link
"Also what the heck is up with wasd?? Why did people migrate to that instead of esdf???! It doesn't make any sense to me to move your hands from home for.. But maybe that's my age."LOL I was noticing that to the other day and noticed it has made me shift my hands left and now my touch typing is all off since my hands don't rest on the HOME keys a,s,d,f and instead now rest on the Cap lock,a,s,d much of the time. so I end up TyPing likE tHiS a loT. :-)
Impulses - Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - link
Too bulky for my taste, specially considering it lacks media keys... Could always repurpose the macro keys for that but ehh... In a related now, I wish Corsair would step up their software too and/or release some more TKL boards.meacupla - Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - link
RAD has to be the most annoying feature I have ever heard."Congratulations, you've unlocked a trophy!" while playing a game, watching a movie or just browsing sites is not annoying at all.
I don't know what they were thinking adding such a "feature".
JarredWalton - Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - link
Of course there are only 16 trophies to unlock, so unless you reset the counter it's not like it happens very often. A few weeks takes care of the easy milestones, and then maybe once or twice a month you'll get another. By the time you're six months down the road it won't happen at all.Cliff34 - Friday, January 2, 2015 - link
Definitely agree with you on this point. The point of getting a gaming keyboard is so I can play better games. The achivement system is useless since most games come with their own achivement system.crea - Monday, January 5, 2015 - link
To anyone wanting to buy this keyboard, please steer away from the backlit version.I bought one ryos mk pro last year, and four back lights failed within a month. Went through RMA, received a brand new replacement, and the backlights started to fail within three weeks of use one by one.
I've been using the replacement keyboard for eight months now, and 45 backlights failed already. The build quality of the keyboard backlight is absolutely terrible.
The keyboard functions fine and is nice to type on, It's just the terrible QC and backlight design which makes the backlit version fell short. Just think twice before you purchase the backlit version.
Darksurf - Saturday, January 17, 2015 - link
I own one. It was WORTH EVERY PENNY! Linux support with software and drivers. I've never been happier with a keyboard. Now I need one for home as the one I bought went to work and my Sidewinder X4 feels like a cheap toy.Ickda - Tuesday, March 10, 2015 - link
this is why I like roccat,Linux need to steal the spot as master race some time soon.
It stupid that gaming componys would shit on there stock and leave a bunch of wight hat hackers to feed me my games. (technically that is a whight hat hack to get those games to run in linux)
ps, sorry for the red lines, god cursed my spelling ...... I hate Webster
Narg - Monday, January 19, 2015 - link
I've personally moved away from mechanical gaming keyboards. I soon found out that mechanical keyboards slowed me down. They just are not the best keyboard any more.nilfisktun - Wednesday, January 21, 2015 - link
I bought the Logitech G710. Then the LED died after 2 weeks. Weeks earlier i returend a Corsair H100i becouse of dead LED and fan control, so my only option was this awsome beast of a keyboard.I bought it for the quality, and it really feels well build, and i havent had a single dead LED or problems with it.
Installed O-rings on mine, and rotated the space key, to give it less of a rough angle for the thumb to rest on, very great mod idear :)
Ickda - Tuesday, March 10, 2015 - link
If you have a Roccat mouse I am assuming the volume is a function of the scroll wheel. this assumption comes from the roccat pure easy shift functiond4nt3 - Sunday, October 18, 2015 - link
I had my Roccat Ryos MK Pro (with Cherry MX Red keys) for about 9 months and it has never given me any problems, unlike the other mechanical keyboards I had the misfortune of owning. The Corsair K70 (which the Ryos replaced) simply died after two months of moderate use. A month ago, I got a Razer Blackwidow Ultimate because I was feeling nostalgic and missed the loud clack of old IBM keyboards. I was really looking for Cherry Blues but all that's available where I live are Reds and the Blackwidow was the closest I could find. That thing worked well for a week then the FN key started acting up. It would work intermittently making access to the multimedia keys frustrating. On top of that, the 'T', 'N'', and 'C' keys double-taps intermittently, even when pressed lightly, making the Blackwidow unusable for typing.Fortunately, I had the Ryos to fall back on, like an old fiend patiently waiting in the wings. Looking at this article I got curious and opened up it up to see the internals for myself. It is then that I realized it's real strength: solid German design and engineering. Everything is built solid from the base to the key tops. No cheap components from the board, chips, keys, LEDs, down to the USB and audio connectors. Everything inside screams quality and assembled with superb workmanship. No wonder it's expensive. I was actually amused with myself. It felt like I had a Benz and I was trying to replace it with a flashy Japanese car.
Granted the Ryos MK Pro's overall appearance is polarizing, either you love the look and the heft or you hate it. But to me, it remains a great value because it's reliable and feels solid. It simply works.