"Metallic brace supports have been placed under the larger keys, which are not as good as cross-type supports." The device you identify as a "metallic brace support" is generally referred to as a Costar stabilizer since the most common source of these when they first appeared were Costar produced keyboards. The "cross-type supports" are Cherry stabilizers since they were first manufactured by Cherry. As to which one is better that's very much up to the end user, many prefer Costar since they impact the feel of the switch far less than Cherry which have their own in-built spring at the bottom of the keystroke.
I love a good keyboard but as I'm not a nail biter due to having really hard (I guess healthy) fingernails I have tended to wear the tops off backlit keycaps rather quickly. Suddenly that really expensive keyboard looks really scruffy.
Same here, kinda glad I'm not alone in this TBH. I probably should just cut my nails more often but even at their shortest they tend to scratch the painted keys.
Some good double shot keys would sort that out. I could have sworn I've seen keys with polycarb legends double shot into ABS caps, but can't find them now.
Do many people even use the "programmable" part of a keyboard. I haven't tried programming the keys on a keyboard in about 15 years, and certainly all mainstream games don't require it, or at least let you map the keys internally.
You could use any key to do that, but all the easily accessible keys are usually used in game or for typing and all the typically unused keys would be too far away to hit readily for push-to-talk comms.
It's not like having dedicated, easily accessible, keys for PTT/TS is a downside on keyboards. I for one wish more companies would include some macro keys below the spacebar, instead of off to the left side, which is fine for MMO, but useless in shooters.
Those would be extremely ugly cars and spaseships. This problem somehow rears its head with almost every gaming perifery device, some low-key Logitech mice being the exception.
I actually quite like the keyboard, but why does the software interface for every peripheral have to be so ugly? I mean with the neon colours, absurd non-rectangular windows, fake bevelling on every button. Oh wow and Facebook and Twitter share buttons at the bottom so you can show your friends how ugly it is.
I don't like how wide those bezels are. They are just asking to get a mouse rammed into them, followed by keyboard breaking sounds as you get killed, because you couldn't turn to the left from an overly wide keyboard.
My old Eclipse keyboard had this problem, I bump the mouse click button on the base that sticks out. My new one is a generic membrane one that looks just like the Corsair K70, but white / translucent so the whole thing lights up instead of just the cutout of the keys.
This. The edge of a gaming keyboard should end at the edge of the outer keys. Number pad should be modular. W A S & D should be distinctly textured. And frankly, this type of mechanical key sucks because of the long drop. Someone needs to make short drop digital/mechanical keys. Loads of room for innovation in this market. Less bling, more functionality, please.
You simply want red or black switches, not blue. Blue switches have the deepest actuation depth due to the floating carriage used in the switch. Even brown switches have a shorter depth for actuation of the switch. As for WASD keys, its a standard keytop, if you like it different, go out and pickup something special. Personally I HATE different keytops for the WASD keys. You already have a texture placement on the F key to know where your hands are, the D key is directly next to the F, so you should have no problem simply feeling where your hands are located.
F & J have texture because they are the home keys when typing. Your index fingers go there. The home keys are different for gaming. The point of the textured keys is movement efficiency. It makes no sense to require extra movement to feel if you are in the right place by reaching for a non-home key. Besides, your and Michael Bay's peeves can be placated by including alternate keycaps with the keyboard.
I am happy to see this for selfish reasons. I have a Logitech G710+ and these keys look identical. Its hard to find backlit replacements for my keyboard. As the keys are very poor quality, I am hoping further use of this layout will spawn better aftermarket support.
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SniPerfidy - Thursday, April 30, 2015 - link
Does the packaging remind anyone else of something...?https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZMd9_yTJAY0/VUI...
dagnamit - Thursday, April 30, 2015 - link
Looks like Harry Potter vs. the allied Autobot and Decepticon Master Control Programs.der - Thursday, April 30, 2015 - link
I just wanna be second, again.alaricljs - Thursday, April 30, 2015 - link
"Metallic brace supports have been placed under the larger keys, which are not as good as cross-type supports."The device you identify as a "metallic brace support" is generally referred to as a Costar stabilizer since the most common source of these when they first appeared were Costar produced keyboards. The "cross-type supports" are Cherry stabilizers since they were first manufactured by Cherry. As to which one is better that's very much up to the end user, many prefer Costar since they impact the feel of the switch far less than Cherry which have their own in-built spring at the bottom of the keystroke.
jabber - Thursday, April 30, 2015 - link
I love a good keyboard but as I'm not a nail biter due to having really hard (I guess healthy) fingernails I have tended to wear the tops off backlit keycaps rather quickly. Suddenly that really expensive keyboard looks really scruffy.blzd - Friday, May 1, 2015 - link
Same here, kinda glad I'm not alone in this TBH. I probably should just cut my nails more often but even at their shortest they tend to scratch the painted keys.Mr Perfect - Friday, May 1, 2015 - link
Some good double shot keys would sort that out. I could have sworn I've seen keys with polycarb legends double shot into ABS caps, but can't find them now.kmmatney - Thursday, April 30, 2015 - link
Do many people even use the "programmable" part of a keyboard. I haven't tried programming the keys on a keyboard in about 15 years, and certainly all mainstream games don't require it, or at least let you map the keys internally.meacupla - Thursday, April 30, 2015 - link
I think it's handy for teamspeak, so you don't have to use the same button to talk into both game comms and TS.which is also echoingly annoying
blzd - Friday, May 1, 2015 - link
You don't need a macro key to do that though. Any button will do.meacupla - Tuesday, May 19, 2015 - link
You could use any key to do that, but all the easily accessible keys are usually used in game or for typing and all the typically unused keys would be too far away to hit readily for push-to-talk comms.It's not like having dedicated, easily accessible, keys for PTT/TS is a downside on keyboards. I for one wish more companies would include some macro keys below the spacebar, instead of off to the left side, which is fine for MMO, but useless in shooters.
NotLupus - Thursday, April 30, 2015 - link
Reminds me of the other keyboard with the ugly bezel reviewed here.wurizen - Thursday, April 30, 2015 - link
These guys should design cars. Or, spaceships. Their company, even sounds like a car company. TESORO!Just saying....
Michael Bay - Friday, May 1, 2015 - link
Those would be extremely ugly cars and spaseships.This problem somehow rears its head with almost every gaming perifery device, some low-key Logitech mice being the exception.
And don`t get me started on cases and notebooks!
stephenbrooks - Friday, May 1, 2015 - link
I actually quite like the keyboard, but why does the software interface for every peripheral have to be so ugly? I mean with the neon colours, absurd non-rectangular windows, fake bevelling on every button. Oh wow and Facebook and Twitter share buttons at the bottom so you can show your friends how ugly it is.meacupla - Thursday, April 30, 2015 - link
I don't like how wide those bezels are. They are just asking to get a mouse rammed into them, followed by keyboard breaking sounds as you get killed, because you couldn't turn to the left from an overly wide keyboard.eadams9 - Thursday, April 30, 2015 - link
My old Eclipse keyboard had this problem, I bump the mouse click button on the base that sticks out. My new one is a generic membrane one that looks just like the Corsair K70, but white / translucent so the whole thing lights up instead of just the cutout of the keys.pogostick - Friday, May 1, 2015 - link
This. The edge of a gaming keyboard should end at the edge of the outer keys. Number pad should be modular. W A S & D should be distinctly textured. And frankly, this type of mechanical key sucks because of the long drop. Someone needs to make short drop digital/mechanical keys. Loads of room for innovation in this market. Less bling, more functionality, please.Fallen Kell - Friday, May 1, 2015 - link
You simply want red or black switches, not blue. Blue switches have the deepest actuation depth due to the floating carriage used in the switch. Even brown switches have a shorter depth for actuation of the switch. As for WASD keys, its a standard keytop, if you like it different, go out and pickup something special. Personally I HATE different keytops for the WASD keys. You already have a texture placement on the F key to know where your hands are, the D key is directly next to the F, so you should have no problem simply feeling where your hands are located.pogostick - Saturday, May 2, 2015 - link
F & J have texture because they are the home keys when typing. Your index fingers go there. The home keys are different for gaming. The point of the textured keys is movement efficiency. It makes no sense to require extra movement to feel if you are in the right place by reaching for a non-home key. Besides, your and Michael Bay's peeves can be placated by including alternate keycaps with the keyboard.Michael Bay - Friday, May 1, 2015 - link
WASD?ESDF is far, far better.
chmilz - Thursday, April 30, 2015 - link
Why does all gaming hardware have to look so bad?meacupla - Thursday, April 30, 2015 - link
because, focus groups with 10yr old children, instead of actual gamers.Tanisha - Tuesday, May 5, 2015 - link
http://www.escortservicepune.com/ WOW AMD IS SO GOODSeanJ76 - Wednesday, May 6, 2015 - link
At first I thought is was a box of weed......SeanJ76 - Wednesday, May 6, 2015 - link
then I realized it was just another shitty keyboard....wanna be G15rastaD - Friday, May 8, 2015 - link
I am happy to see this for selfish reasons. I have a Logitech G710+ and these keys look identical. Its hard to find backlit replacements for my keyboard. As the keys are very poor quality, I am hoping further use of this layout will spawn better aftermarket support.