Happy New Year

Art by Freedesignfile.com

I want to wish everyone a happy new year and a great start.  This is a precious time to set up new goals while remembering what great year of blessings we had.  It's been a wonderful ride thus far and I look forward to all the new exciting developments in the mechanical keyboard world.  :)

Merry Christmas

Art by Vectorfresh

Often we lost the reason for Christmas celebration during this busy season.  Indeed, it's all about the birth of a special person who changed the world for the better and brought forth family reconciliation between God and His people.  Let's celebrate this wonderful news.  Merry Christmas, joy and peace to all.

Hands on impression of butterfly switch

Ah…  Black Friday and then Christmas shopping season.  The busiest shopping time around the US it seems.  I had a chance encounter with the Macbook and of course had to try my hands on the new butterfly switch.  Boy.  It was not what I expected and not exactly in a positive way.  Apple’s reputation precedes it.  Therefore, it’s always risky to be critical of Apple products; but if I am honest, then I need to call it for what I see it is.

The extremely short key travel of the butterfly switch exacerbated all that is associated as a negative in a scissor switch in my humble opinion.  I was surprised how stiff the switch was even though it was rated at 55g.  Because all of that compression happens so quickly, it felt like tapping on tablet with almost no feedback.  It felt that the keys just suddenly sink after I push it hard enough.  The experience was so jarring that I had to take a double take to make sure that someone wasn’t pulling a fast one on me.  Now, I must say that I could get used to it if forced.  I am sure some people enjoy using the board, but I must admit that I am not a fan.  At this point, I can see why Apple went back to a more traditional scissor switch rather than the hyped butterfly version because the butterfly switch felt so alien to older hands like me.  People who do buy extra boards are more likely to prefer the older or more classical style, I guess.

People who don’t use more traditional or mechanical keyboards much or are used to the virtual ones on a tablet will probably adapt to the butterfly switch relatively quickly.  I wouldn’t be surprised that they prefer it after some use.  However, I am not exactly a huge fan of virtual keyboard or a real keyboard pretending to be one.  So, this is really not my cup of tea.  This really does drive home a major point for me tho.  If you have chance, try before you buy.  You never know what might change your mind…..  even if it's something with great reputation like Apple products.

Special Topre Realforce keyboards up for pre-order

I kind of stopped posting about sales and specials because there are so many and other folks do much superior jobs than I would.  However, this one is rather unique not to say anything.  Mechanicalkeyboards.com is offering Ducky Channel's 104-UB DK Realforce keyboard for pre-order.  The keyboards probably won't ship until late January of 2016 at the earliest.  So, I think they are trying to gauge the volume.

In any case, their offering is rather unusual.  Ducky Channel also happens to be one of Topre's distributors as I have posted before.  However, Ducky doesn't just sell the board, they seems to like to offer something that's different from the mainstay just to make things interesting.  This is one of the reasons that I really do appreciate Ducky Channel. They are just so eccentric sometimes.  Anyway, the 104UB from Ducky comes with 2 different flavors.  One with uniform 45g weights and another with 30g.  First, there's an ANSI version of a 104 keys Realforce with uniform 30g, but it is extremely difficult to find outside of Japan.  Thus, this is definitely a rare bird, err...  I mean duck.  For 45g version, there are a few more options, but again, they are difficult to source outside of Japan, Korea or Taiwan.  So, if you are itching to get your hands on one of 104 keys Topre keyboards with uniform weights in the West, this is indeed a good opportunity.

1/4/16 Update:  Looks like they are in stock.  So, I was wrong about the late January date.  It showed up in the online-store early.  What a pleasant surprise.  I like being wrong in this instance then.  :)

1/6/16 Update:  How could I miss this...  According to the SKU, these two keyboards are the silenced (purple cap, not black) version.  I think this is the only ANSI 104 version with silenced Topre switches that I am aware of.  So, this wasn't just a rerun of XF11R0 (104UB-DK), but new models with silenced switches, XF31RS and XF01RS (104UB-DK30S and 104UB-DK45S).  This just keep getting better and better....

Yeah, Topre wins this round…. for now....

As much as I hate to admit it, I have come to love Topre switch based keyboard.  That means a lot of money sunk into a keyboard that’s close to a rubber dome, rather than a true mechanical switch keyboard such as the Cherry MX.  I really enjoy using Cherry MX based keyboard as well.  I love both the MX Brown and MX blue.  I most certainly enjoy my time with the buckling spring.  It’s so much fun to drive a few people nuts with that board.  Sometimes….  So, I am not that picky to be honest.  Then again, please no variable force keyboards please.  I simply cannot abide by that.  It was an interesting experiment and somewhat tainted my views of Topre switch for quite some time.

The one thing I truly value in a Topre switch is the smoothness.  It’s something that Topre has perfected and hard to put a finger on it.  Pun intended.  However, I am beginning to hear good things about Gateron.  Yes, Gateron is one of the many Cherry MX cloners, but it seems to begin to claim a certain personality of its own: smoothness.  Perhaps it was choices of plastic and/or slight different position of actuation and hysteresis make it appear to do so.  I don’t know.  However, I am now quite eager to evaluate a Gateron based switch keyboard and see what happens.  If it does have that prized smoothness that I found Topre to be so endearing, then it would be an excellent and economical choice.  Stay tuned.

Unicomp Ultra Classic 104 long term use review

Ahhhh… Buckling spring switches keyboard certainly turns nostalgia up a notch or two.  The keyboard switches remind me much of my youth.  I always thought it was funny to having a PC with a buckling spring keyboard in a library.  Echoes could be heard around the library when someone busy typing up a book report.  Fun times…..  Anyhow, as much as I want to be objective, the tinted rose color memory of teenage years simply get in the way, but I will try anyway.

Since IBM no longer manufactures Model M keyboard and sold the rights to Unicomp, it’s up to Unicomp now to maintain the mantle.  Given that Unicomp is vastly smaller than IBM or Lexmark, it’s hard to have the same market presence.  Also, the Model M keyboards are close to indestructible.  So, one can still find one within reasonable price in the used keyboard market.  Despite these negative factors, Unicomp soldiers on with this important keyboard legacy.  The world is just a little better place because of it.

Now, the buckling spring switches work, sound, feel overall just as I remembered it.  The classic PBT key cap feel right at home with this keyboard and boy is it loud!  The melodies of the buckling spring keyboard is a divisive force.  One might enjoy it while others will give you a dirty look as soon as your hand get near the keyboard.  Folks who passed by also commented that the keyboard sound reminded them of college and high school computer labs.

Indeed, Unicomp priced these keyboards to move.  The price is competitive with the Cherry MX clones and are within shouting distance of a mainstream genuine Cherry MX board.  Perhaps because of cost or even acoustic factors, Unicomp ditched the all metal clad shell and opted for a plastic case that could easily manufactured, provided that it has a good mold and plastic injection machine.  I bring this up because it clear that the keyboard’s looks are secondary design goals.  Upon first glance, someone might mistake this board for a run of the mill cheap board.  OK, it does look cheap, run of the mill cheap keyboard.  However, one push on the key and all perception change.  So, the production value is on the low side.

Quality control is another thing.  Little things here and there don’t quite align perfectly; nothing a little trim here and polish there won’t solve, but it simple pales in comparison to higher machining prowess of other larger keyboard makers.  For example, putting it next Ducky Legend with its all metallic top covering and it is clear as day and night.  Unicomp spent all the budget on the key feels and not really the looks and it shows.  However, this keyboard will hold up to years of use without much missing a beat because all the attention is on the important bits.  I have been using this keyboard for a while now and I have gotten quite used to the key weights and it still looks new.  So, I have reasonable confidence in its durability.  I have not encountered any issues regarding to the keys thus far.

I enjoy typing on this keyboard quite a bit, but it is most certainly an acquired taste.  The keys march in precision with authoritative affirmation, a traditional typist’s dream, but touch typist need not apply.  Also, this keyboard will not be welcomed at a library these days, I am pretty sure about that.  The only minor thing I have noticed is that the key caps seem a little slippery to me, probably because it doesn't have as deep of a scoop like the Realforce 104UG.  On the other hand, fingers easily glide off from one to another if needed.  Thus, it does facilitate higher typing rate if one learns to take advantage of that.  I, however, don't have such graceful typing style.  So, that's probably their goal rather than a design slip up, no pun intended.

Overall:  This is a specialist keyboard, but it excels at its primary directive at the expanse of its looks.  So, this one will not attract attention, unless it’s the A-10 Warthog type attention you are looking for.  Indeed, the Ultra Classic is not going to win any design awards, but boy, does it shine at what it does while holding up well after much use.

Grade: B

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is something rather unique in North America in general.  Canada and US celebrate it on different days and Mexico does it a little differently, the idea is still the same.  A few other countries around the world also picked up on the tradition.  I understand that the readership is world wide and I am grateful.  So, I want to take this time to wish the blog readers a happy Thanksgiving.  It's a wonderful time to be with friends, family, to help those in need and to give thanks for all the blessings.  Enjoy.

Congratulations, you got twins! Leopold FC660M and FC660C

Leopold is clever enough not to waste a winning layout design.  Apparently, Leopold also manufactured an identical looking keyboard named FC660M, which is Cherry MX based.  That alone should bring the price back to Earth.  From the looks of it, mechanical keyboard.com is selling it for $150 or so, depending on the color schemes and MX switch types.  I am aware that there are white color scheme versions with MX brown and MX red switches.  I am pretty sure that other combinations exist.  It’s not that much difference, but could be a deciding factor.  If one fancies that Leopold’s layout but doesn’t like Topre switches, then this is a good alternative to consider.

I don’t have a FC660M in house for testing, so I can’t honestly tell you what exactly to expect.  By most indication, the keyboards should be almost identical, except the switch and some minor differences because of the switch related changes.  You never know tho.  So, this is more of an informational post than anything else.  If you have experience with FC660M that you would like to share, that would be great!

That Topre switch sound

One of the key reasons that people love Topre switch based keyboard because of its switch sounds.  Topre switch has an unique “thock” sound signature that is pretty universal on all the Topre switch based keyboards I have tried out.  The volume might vary based on the weights.   Honestly tho, there’s not much difference that I can detect.  The only one that I believe has a slightly different bottoming out sound is HHKB because of the different mounting method it deploys.

However, these various Realforce keyboards still sound different when I do type on them.  What gives?  Turns out that like any keyboards, there’s at least 2 sound events, on for bottoming out and topping out after the key bounces back to neutral.  There are others as well such as the finger tap on the key caps.  So, the material of the key cap can make a difference as well as the keyboard construction itself.  The key cap and surrounding build can influence the upstroke sounds.  So, the 104UG sounds different from the 87UW and Leopold’s FC660C sounds even more so all together.  Which one is better depends on the listener.  I really like them all.  Then again, I really like the buckling spring keyboard sounds too.  So, check out Youtube as many folks have posted videos and audio of various different keyboard sound recordings.  Pretty cool.

Topre Realforce 87UW55 SE08T0 image gallery

Here are some images that I took of Topre Realforce 87UW55 SE08T0.  This is the Realforce keyboard with off-white 87 keys (TKL) layout using uniform 55g actuation force switch.  Enjoy!

Front view

Right view

Left view

Topre switch revealed and key cap.  There is no easy way to tell what actuation force is

Key cap view, notice the extra legend in number-pad mode on the front side

Back side of the key cap

Switch view

Back side of the keyboard, notice the trench for the cable routing

DIP Switches for configuration changes like switching the shift and control keys around

Keyboard foot stand down

Keyboard foot stand up

Cherry announce new MX keyboard switch- RGB Nature White

This one came more or less as a surprise to some, including yours truly.  Cherry recently announced a new Cherry MX RGB switch that is a linear switch with little or no tactile or auditory feedback.  This new white switch slots itself neatly in between the MX red and MX black with 55g activation force.  It comes with all the latest bells and whistles such as clear casing for lighting and RGB color capability.  For some reason, Cherry designated this one as “nature white”, not to be confused with a previous, discontinued white switch.  To distinguish the two, Cherry added “nature” before white to denote the new switch.  Unexpectedly, this one does not use the new quieting polymer that Cherry recently announced.  So, this is a more traditional version.  However, since Corsair has an exclusive on the new quieting technology, thus this switch is either an exclusive to some other keyboard maker or available to all.

Yup.  Looks like Ducky’s flagship Shine-5 keyboard is the launch product as Ducky Channel has won the exclusive right to this particular switch, at least for a while.  I wonder if there was a bidding war going on in the background since Cherry has historically favored Corsair.  Maybe Ducky asked Cherry to make a special switch for them because Corsair kept getting mindshare.  Who knows…..  In any case, the one who’s laughing all the way to the bank is still Cherry.  This is another strong evidence that Cherry is still large and in charge despite the recent influx of cloners.

This also offers another indicator of the mechanical keyboard market: it’s largely gamer oriented.  Folks like me more or less benefited from this gamer wave and has elevated mechanical keyboards popularity and prompted recent innovations.  However, I am not a gamer, so I don’t really fancy these new linear switches.  Perhaps someday, Cherry will migrate some of these new hot technologies to a more traditional switches such as MX brown, blue and its cousins.  Let’s hope that’s the case.  Then again, maybe someday, I will try a linear switch to see what the hype is all about.

The clones’ war

Cherry MX switches are the most popular mechanical keyboard switches.  There’s very little doubt about that.  However, being popular does bring its own set of issues as I noted before: unwanted attention.  This time, from the cloners.  Indeed, an interesting thing that’s happening in the main stream and lower tier market segments is the move to Cherry MX clones and away from genuine Cherry switches.  The price range from $50 to$90 USD boards are now dominated by Cherry clone switches.

I have no doubt that Cherry MX clones are of decent quality.  It’s foolish to underestimate China’s manufacturing prowess and does it well cheaply.  So, a Kailh or a Gateron or other cloners’ switch might not have the coveted Cherry logo.  Never the less the quality doesn’t suffer much, at least from what I have been hearing.  I think any respectable cloner would like to put a little bit of their spin or perceived improvements into the product to differentiate themselves from the myriad of other cloners.  So, these clone switches aren’t exact copy just like the original Cherry.  Often many reviewers detect hints of differences perhaps due to slight design change here and there.  The only consistent issue that comes up is the consistency of the switch feel across the keyboard.  Now, there are several factors that could influence this.  However, the manufacturing tolerance of the switch is a major one.  Therefore, I think people tend to veer back to the Cherry MX switches based boards after a while because the price difference is just not wide enough yet to justify a perceived difference.  It also appears that Cherry is ramping up production to meet demand and is starting to take the cloners more seriously.  After all, Cherry can no longer use patent rights to deter copies from flooding the market.

In any case, I think this should be another interesting space to watch.  Often cloners tend to begin a war of attrition for race to the bottom because it doesn’t have a brand recognition.  Only the fittest survive as keyboard switches are treated as commodity item that are sold cents per unit.  Of course, the other way is to branch out and strike out a path on its own.  From the look of it, Gateron and Kailh are starting to look into beating Cherry at its own game: innovation.  Also, given the durability of these switches, I doubt there will be some sort of massive upgrade cycle coming soon unless there’s some major breakthrough.  So, there’s a huge incentive to move the ball forward in order to drive sales.  Man, things are just getting more interesting these days.

Everyone tries to guess where Apple is going next- my prediction of its next moves

Piezoelectric effect illustration 

Soon after introducing the new Apple Magic Keyboard, Apple Insider has discovered a patent on a possible new keyboard mechanism that Apple is considering.  The patent mentioned using piezoelectric material for switch activation and perhaps haptic feedback.  Now, piezoelectric are sensitive to pressure applied and itself can generate a slight mechanical moment given an electric field.  So, Apple might be thinking of making an array of little trackpads with each cell to function as a key switch.  It’s going to even thinner than a butterfly switch that for sure.

So, the word is thin.  I don’t remember how much moment a piezoelectric material can generate without some sort of amplifier, but the moment it generates is small and requires quite a bit high voltage.  So, I am going out on a limb and say that Apple is not only trying to build a thinner keyboard, but moving toward a virtual keyboard design in general.  I have commented earlier that Apple is hard at work to unify the user experience across its Mac lines.  I have a feeling that the next goal is to unify that user experience with that of the iDevices.  Since all the iDevices have virtual keyboards, the logical step then is to get rid of physical keyboard and go into a virtual one.

Apple is pretty patient with its plans and it needs a stop gap or stepping stone to move users away from a physical keyboard to something in between- hence piezoelectric actuators and sensors based key switch.  The travel will be very small, and likely the feedback as well.  The switches are pressure sensitive rather than mechanical movement sensitive.  Unless it’s supplemented by solenoid like device (just like the iPhone) and without an amp, the tactile feedback from a piezoelectric device is likely small as well.  So, by slowly taking away the sensations of key travels and tactile feedback of the keys themselves, people are more likely to accept a virtual keyboard later on after they get used to a piezoelectric one.

I am not sure if I like what I am predicting since I really enjoy using a mechanical movement based keyboard.  Not that physical keyboard is going to disappear overnight, but Apple pretty much commands the trend of industrial design and large chunk of capacity for much of the personal computer manufacturing industry.  Just look at the popularity of the Chiclets keyboard on laptops.  It’s not easy to find one without it nowadays.  I think physical keyboard will likely become rarer and everyone will be tapping on a pad like thing instead.  Physical keyboards are not going anywhere, I am sure.  Somehow, I feel things will be less lively and less interesting if Apple goes with the virtual keyboard route.  Typing on a virtual keyboard is a portability compromise, not really the best way in my humble opinion.  So, not a fan of that future, I must say.  So, hopefully this is just one of those experiments rather than a sign of things to come...

Image credit- ("SchemaPiezo" by Tizeff - Template:Ownnn. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons)

Leopold FC660C keyboard image gallery

Since I just mentioned this keyboard, here's an image gallery for it for your enjoyment.  :)

Traditional front view

View from the left side

View from the right side

Switch and key cap view

Key cap view, note the front side legend for numeric pad mode

Back side view of the key cap, sporting a typical Topre switch cap connection

Back side of the keyboard

DIP switches for alternative modes on various control key locations

Keyboard foot down and the QC sticker

Keyboard foot up and the non-slip pads on top and bottom of the keyboard

Mini USB port making keyboard cable detachable, suitable for transportation

Corsair announce Strafe RGB MX silent keyboard

As expected, Corsair is the first one out of the gate with the new Cherry MX silent switch based keyboard.  The characteristics of the new switches are described in previous blog posts, so I won't bore the readers again.  However, to summarize, the new switches are like the gamer oriented linear switches like the red or black.  Instead of using O-rings to dampen the noise, Cherry decided to use some fancy high tech plastic to do the work, built into the switch itself.  So, this is a very interesting concept.  I wonder if this new mechanism will migrate over to the other switches as well.

In any case, Corsair Strafe keyboard is a pretty high end gaming keyboard, costing $170 USD.  This is definitely in the higher price range with all the bells and whistles such as RGB LED lighting, key reassignments, fancy key caps for WSAD, etc.  Looks like everyone is positioning their high end Cherry MX based keyboard in that range now.  Here's Corsair's Youtube introduction video.  Enjoy!

Leopold FC660C first impression part 2

Well, it is a Topre switch based keyboard.  However, it feels just a little different and sounds differently more so from the RealForce keyboards that I have tested and used.  The keys seems to be stiffer than the 45g ones I have used while the sound is higher pitch.  It is definitely has a more of a snap rather than a soft bounce on the upstroke and the noise it makes correspond to that.  Not quite in the Cherry MX blue territory, but certainly higher than that classic thud noise Topre switches tend to make.  So, this one is somewhat of a surprise.  The word on the street is that Leopold has changed the key caps production.  So, some earlier ones didn’t quite sound like the one I got.  So, the reviews may be different depending on the production runs.  Again, this is more or less personal preference.  Some may like the clear crisp snap while other may prefer to the more stately stump or clack from the Realforce.  As with Realforce keyboards, Leopold also implemented the ability to swap control keys with cap keys and a few other alternative meta key arrangements.  One will reconfigure the key caps and set DIP switches on the back of the keyboard for these arrangements.

Overall, it’s an interesting keyboard that is small enough to travel with if one cannot stand the built-in keyboard found on many laptops.  It does features a detachable USB connection cable.  Now, I can see a good use case for such thing.  In any case, this keyboard can simply sit on top of a cardboard and place right over the laptop keyboard if one desires.  My impression is quite positive since I am quite used Topre switches now and don’t think much about it.  However, it is quite expansive and are in the Happy Hacking Keyboard (HHKB) price range.  Eeek!

Leopold FC660C first impression part 1

Leopold is one of the boutique keyboard makers in South Korea with a strong professional Starcraft player’s endorsement and following.  So, I decided to check out their 60% keyboard offering with Topre switch and see how I like it.  Long time readers know that I had a love and hate affair with Topre switches and I think I am finally a convert as a fan as long as the price is within a reasonable reach.  A new FC660C is on the lower two hundreds, which is pretty expansive if you ask me, but that’s the price of admission into the Topre kingdom.  Just how it is.  Sigh….

Aside from the expected sticker shock, this keyboard is rather unique in many ways.  The keyboard layout is definitely non-standard.  I appreciate the dedicated arrow keys, but many of the navigation keys requires Fn key to access.  So, it’s kind of choosing which one is more frequently used and which one is not and they depends on the user preference.  So, one may prefer one configuration while the other leans a different way.  Anyhow, I use the arrow keys quite a bit; so it makes sense for me.  I also use PgUp and PgDown quite a bit, but it needs the Fn to activate.  The Fn key is right next to the arrow keys so I am not going to freak out.  I probably wished that instead of Ins and Del, Leopold would use these keys for Page movement keys because I use those more than Insert and Delete.  However, for some games, these keys are more important.  So, I guess that’s why Leopold elect to put them in there rather than page moment keys.

So far so good.  This keyboard sounds more snappy and crispy to me when compared to the 87UW.  I am inclined to attribute that to the key caps as Leopold has their own cap design and make the keyboards themselves rather than contracts it out to Topre as before.  So, more to report later on.  Stay tuned!

If it's an Apple product, iFixit will do a teardown- the new Magic Keyboard

iFixit.com is well known for their teardown prowess.  Like it or not, Apple products announcements simply command attention, even for something as mundane as a keyboard, something many folks don't think too much about until it breaks.  As expected, iFixit did perform a product teardown of all the new accessories.

My main interest of course is the keyboard.  Indeed iFixit confirmed quite a few things in the magic keyboard teardown.  Yes, it is a scissor switch, not a butterfly switch.  To see a butterfly switch, iFixit's got it covered as well.  Comparing the two kind of switches, I think Apple went with the more traditional scissor switch because it doesn't need LED keyboard lighting.  The scissor switch design seems to take more real estate than the butterfly one.  That's a major design factor if one needs keyboard lighting as one prefers the support mechanism to be out of the way as much as possible to allow better lighting.  Butterfly switch design moves the support arms out of the LED's way to make even key lighting, but the trade-off is a more stressed hinge in the middle as it flexes during key presses.

The other thing is that the key travel for this keyboard is indeed quite shallow, measured to be around 1mm or so.  That's pretty close to what Apple Macbook's as well.  The key caps are indeed completely flat, another Chiclets style keyboard signature.  In any case, I think the speculation that Apple is trying to merge its desktop and laptop user experience is not without merit.  Given the market trend, laptop usage is now the dominant one.  Thus, it is no surprise again that Apple is showing preferences to its mobile platform.

Rosewill RK9000 V2 long term use review

To be honest, the articles about Rosewill RK9000 V2 on this site has the greatest number of hits.  So, to meet the demand, I here present you with a long term use review.  Now, my reviews typically are not about the keyboard since most other sites have done a great job about it.  Instead, I want to focus on what’s it like after using the equipment for a while and evaluate where I stand, in comparison to other offering out there.  For those who may not know, Rosewill is Newegg.com’s house brand.  It’s kind of like Costco’s Kirkland brand.  Since Costco doesn’t want to directly compete against its suppliers, it uses another brand to sell the same things in the same space.  Same idea applies here.  Newegg.com doesn’t really want to come out and show-up Corsair, for example by making and selling their own mechanical keyboard.  So, this avoids the look of the conflict of interest.  Another example is Amazon Basics.  Anyhow....

Right off the bat, the Rosewill RK9000 is an excellent entry to mid-level mechanical keyboard.  One can find it for sale on Newegg.com for around $100 and lower if it’s on sale.   The one I received has Cherry MX blue switches.  One can find more of my impression and views about this switch.  So, I won’t repeat the same material.  However, as a package, this keyboard is indeed quite well put together.  The rumor is that Filco is the OEM.  Therefore, it shares many characteristics of a Filco keyboard, including the minimalist design, robust construction and well thought out designs.  The keyboard has a nice weight and presence despite its smaller footprint and does not slide around when typing.  Because of the metal back plate and MX blue switches, the keyboard has a ringing or reverb effect when typing.  It’s like pressing the piano sustain pedal to keep notes going.  I enjoy that kind of harmony, but some may find it irritating and prefers a crisper pop rather than decaying ringing.  With the MX blue, it’s quite obvious.  However, I haven’t driven anyone crazy yet, unlike with the Unicomp….

Normal typing and typical operation with the keyboard are nothing noteworthy and that’s exactly how it should be.  Just be aware that the numlock LED is be quite bright if one look straight at it.  Since most people don’t tower over the keyboard, it’s a small thing.  For someone who prefers a dimly lit room while watching a movie on a computer, the light emitted can be distracting.  The key cap is fairly standard ABS type with cylindrical shape to prevent slip.  The cap feels semi-smooth and doesn’t bother me and my fingers don’t slip out while typing.  The white ink used does feel bumpy on the fingers.  As time goes on, it does get wear down a little it seems.  I however, haven’t got any key’s ink to come off completely.  This is not the case with an older Das Keyboard I have however.  I have worn out a few keys there and it’s obvious now.  So, long term wise, I do think that the key legends will slowly wear out.  Good thing is, one can easily procure some new key caps since it is a standard Cherry MX key cap and stem. So, I don’t see this as a negative per se, but something to be aware of if dirty looking legend bothers you.

One thing I don’t quite get is the detachable USB keyboard cable for a device that’s meant for desktop.  I definitely get its use for a keyboard that moves around like the Leopold’s FC660C.  The RK9000 version 1 suffers connection issues because of this choice.  I am in the KISS school of engineering design.  So, I would have eliminated this all together to avoid any issue.  However, this version (the V2) vastly improves the robustness of the connector.  Rosewill wisely supplied a 90 degree braided cable to avoid having it stick out.  So, I don’t think this is a problem anymore unless the user is really sliding the keyboard around during a heated FPS session and ramming it up against other objects for example.

After using the keyboard for a while, I think Rosewill has put out a very good starting point for people who want to try out a Cherry MX board.  Its price is a bit high compared to other entry boards because of the genuine MX switches while other brands may opt for cheaper clone switches.  So, as far as Cherry MX based keyboard goes, this is reasonable market priced, especially if one catches it on sale, which seemed often.  Using this keyboard has given me a firm starting point to explore.  In some way, it serves as benchmark for its peers.  Obviously it is no match against, say Ducky Legend which has a far higher production value and budget, but RK9000 is exactly where it should be and does very well in that space.

Overall: Well thought out, minimalist approach to engineering with a little flair in artistic design choices.  Offers a solid platform for Cherry MX switches to shine.

Grade: B

Apple introduces new Magic Keyboard

Probably not getting top billing from Apple anymore, the Macs now play second fiddle to the iDevices.  Never the less, Apple continues to move forward in this space, albeit with less fanfare now....  In any case, today, Apple announced a new Magic Keyboard with integrated battery and uses Lightning cables for pairing and charging.

Now, I am far more interested in the key switch mechanism.  According to many sites, it is reported that Apple returned to the scissor switch mechanism rather than using the new butterfly type developed for the new laptops.  It's interesting to say the least that Apple went back to a scissor switch rather than using the butterfly design.  As usual, there are some improvements such as key stability over the previous generation, but nothing too surprising.  Granted, both are basically the same operationally, except the support structure mechanism, but still something a little unexpected.  Perhaps the butterfly switch is more expansive to make or has deficiencies in some way for desktop use cases.  Then again, there's no need to use butterfly switch if keyboard switch height is not a concern.  Maybe the board was already designed while the butterfly switch was still in development.   Apple is well known for running parallel internal design competitions.  Maybe, just maybe the scissor group won this round.  No one outside of Apple knows at this point.  It's likely they will never disclose the reason behind the decision.....  So, we are all left guessing.  Fun to speculate, but the proof is in the finished product.  Let's see how the users' reactions are after a while.

Apple has always marched to its own drum beat and its keyboard layout is no different in that regard.  This is an expanded version of Apple's laptop keyboard layout with full size keys.  Rumor had it that Steve Jobs hated function keys and wanted them removed.  So, the function keys size has atrophied and had shrunken to take less space.  Now, they are back to full size.....  The layout itself is not quite 60%, since it retains the function key row, but the navigation key cluster is missing and the arrow keys tucked under the shift key.  The up and down arrow keys are vastly smaller, sharing the same vertical space as a full size left or right arrow key.  So, somewhere between TKL (87 keys ANSI layout) and 60%.  How's 75%?  70% Maybe?  Since Apple does not use ANSI keyboard layout to begin with, the the comparison is moot anyway, but just for fun, I guess.

Also, because of the new integrated battery setup, there's no longer a need for that cylinder thing on the top side.  No more replaceable batteries.  So, the new shape is a wedge like to give the keyboard a bit of a tilt.  There's no option to change the angle that I can see tho.  So, stacks of post-it will do the trick I suppose.  The Lightning port is in the middle so I am assuming that one can charge the keyboard while in use.

Apple also announced a new mouse and a track pad.  Overall it's been an interesting announcement day for Apple peripherals.  From the look of it, Apple is trying to unify the desktop experience along with their laptop one....

Different 60% keyboard layouts

Because of the size restriction and keyboard estate limitations, many keyboard makers have come with many different methods hiding the navigation keys and meta keys.  Some very specialized keyboards can alter the entire layout based on which mode it is in.  It’s kind of like a super CAPS lock key if one can generalize it somewhat.  So, instead of K, it might be page down in one instance, or the number 2 or even a keyboard macro.  These multi-modal keyboards are very popular with the gaming crowds and programmers.  However, it can get tricky tracking which mode the keyboard is on without some handy indicators.  So, often Fn key becomes a critical player as it temporarily changes the meaning a key stroke without shifting to an entire mode.  In any case, Fn key placement becomes crucial as some people might prefer a single handed operation whereas some prefer the Fn key is elsewhere so that they don’t have contort the fingers just to reach some strange keyboard combo.  Instead, the more sane two handed approach is more appreciated.  Thus, different keyboard makers come up with different configuration schemes to address one or try to accommodate both.  Now, I am hearing people attempting that’s called 40% keyboard, which has even fewer keys.  So, that’s going to get complicated pretty quick.

So, now there’s more than just two key factors in the equation, we have to add another one, which is the layout.  Such thing is a minor consideration for the full size key and to most degrees the 84 TKL or variations of it, such as Cooler Master’s TK series.  However, with 60% or less, the layout and the operational factors for the necessary navigation keys will become a major deciding factor.  Fun times indeed.  What was a lot of personal preference is now even more so.  Perhaps this explains why some absolutely love Happy Hacking Keyboard and will never consider using another kind.  There are some other would rather burn it with fire.  I thought Topre keyboards were polarizing, try a Topre keyboard with 60% layout…..  :)  Now we are going full scale….  Super kamehameha!