Logitech introduces G410

Whatever they wanted to be call these days, Logi or Logitech is introducing G410 mechanical gaming keyboard.  It's basically G910's little sibling, a TKL version of G910.  Aside from that, it shares many features from G910 such as RGB lighting, the Romer-G switch and assorted gaming profiles controls.  It however, does not have the macro keys that G910 has on the left side.  This board also does not sport the funky key cap surface G910 has, but instead opted for the more traditional shape.  So, for those who cannot stand the key caps on G910, but loves Romer-G, here's your board.  Logitech bills this keyboard as the keyboard on the go.  So, it's designed to be smaller than its larger older sibling while retain many of its major features.  Interestingly, the keyboard interface cable is not detachable.  For traveling keyboard, I can see that detachable USB keyboard cable is extremely useful even though I don't need such thing.  However, I can certainly see this as a breaking point for some people.  The talk is that it will retail for about $130 US dollars.  It's a little less than $170 that Logitech is asking for G910.

After G910 was introduced, the immediate questions was when Logitech will introduce a TKL version.  There was some rumbling in summer 2015 when prototypes were shown.  Now, we have an answer.  Indeed, Logitech intends to make more boards with the Romer-G switch.  I wonder if they will build one for the mainstream K keyboard line with this switch.  I would like to see that sometimes as I don't have a good reason for gaming keyboard, but I love to try out new key switches.  I guess we will see how confident Logitech is with the Romer-G's appeal to business and regular consumers.

Musings about the 60% keyboards

I must admit that curiosity got the best of me.  As mentioned, I have begun to venture into the 60% keyboard world.  Suffice to say that this is where a lot of creativity are taking place.  The basic premise of the 60% keyboard is completely eliminating the numeric pad and the navigation cluster and ending up with the classic “typewriter” such as qwerty layout along with some interesting ways dealing with the necessary navigation keys, function keys and other meta keys.  The 60% keyboard scene is probably the most interesting to watch as many of the boutique players put out their own unique spin on it.  So, this is probably one of the most competitive and innovative space aside from the gaming keyboard that I have seen.

Keyboard Paradise is one player in Taiwan already mentioned, but Ducky Channel is not sitting idly by and introduced the Mini not too long ago right after Shine 4.  Vortex Poker series is already on the 3^rd iteration with the Pok3r and rumors of the 4^th type is already in the works.  Even Filco has a Minila keyboard out there to compete in this space.  I am just naming a few off the top of my head, but there’s others such as Leopold, Tex, Keycool, Noppoo and countless others all have some product offerings in this arena.  And of course, there’s the most famous 60% keyboard of all, the Happy Hacking Keyboard.  So, it’s kind of fun to watch this space as it evolves.  I am thinking getting on to try out just to see how a 60% board compares to an 87 keys or 104 keys setup.

One interesting question

There is a supposition that better designed keyboard makes someone a better typist.  Of course, what is a better designed keyboard is up for debate.  However, I am wondering about this question myself.  My primary motivation initially was simply to get a keyboard that’s better for my hands.  I was having some rough spots using an old keyboard that is getting too stiff for me type within reason.  So, it’s more of an ergonomic reason than anything else.  However, I do want to look into the theory that some keyboards can make someone a better typist, pending on the style of course.  Let’ suppose that a touch typist will likely dread the buckling spring keyboard made by Unicomp.  But who knows, by building up the finger muscles with the buckling spring switches, these “trained” touch typists would go to their favorite keyboards and just dance because everything is suddenly so light.

I don’t know how to put this idea to the test, but it is definitely appealing.  However, without properly thought out experiments and controls, it’s tough to draw any reasonable conclusion or even to demonstrate a solid correlation.  I am sure keyboard makers are also trying to come up new ways to justify the superiority of their wares.  What better way to make a sale than to demonstrate that keyboard X will make you a better typist, or better yet, a better person.  For now, I believe the focus is on reaction time to make someone a better gamer rather than making someone a better typist.  Perhaps someday that will come.  We will see….

Opinions, changed, or as they say, evolved

It’s interesting to read back on my own writing to see how my views of certain things has changed or how it stubbornly stayed the same.  For example, my love for the Cherry MX brown has been relatively stable.  And, no matter how hard I tried, I still can’t get used to the Matias tactile clicky switch.  On the other hand, it took me a while to begin to like the Cherry MX blue and eventually come to enjoy the switch personality on its own merit.  I mostly softened up my view of the Matias family after a good encounter with the Matias quiet tactile.  It was really a revelation that how little things can change the characteristics of switch and at this level, every little things count.  The buckling spring mechanism was something that was just as how I remembered it.  Using it some more confirms that it really is an acquired taste.  It’s likely not my cup of tea since my fingers are not strong enough yet to type on that board all day long still.

The thing that swings around the most surrounds the Topre switches.  Initially, it was love at first sight.  However, upon closer examination, I simply cannot abide by some of its behaviors.  Coming from my experience with the Matias, I decided to try another switch type within the same family and see how it goes.  Indeed, it was hard to get used to, like the Cherry MX blue had been.  However, my persistence paid off and now, I also think very highly of the Topre switches, within a certain configuration parameters of course.  :)  Oh, the other thing is that I am beginning to bottom out with less fury now as my fingers are adapting to the force needed to just push the buttons till it touches the bottom.  I still bottom out quite a bit, but in somewhat less frequency as well.  I seems to know when to stop as time goes on.  This is good development as the impact can slowly damage the joints.

Logitech K350 keyboard image gallery

Hey!  It's the Wave Keyboard's younger twin!  Enjoy!

Front side view of the keyboard with the universal nano receiver

Front key cap view, looks like printed legend with protective coating

Back side of the key cap, looks slightly different from the Wave Keyboard

Rubber dome switch, same as the Wave Keyboard

Back side view of the keyboard, almost the same, except for the nano receiver logo

Logitech Wave Keyboard image gallery

I dug around and recovered not only the keyboard, but also the wireless receiver.  This is the precursor to the Logitech K350, which is based on the same design, but using the universal nano receiver instead.  Enjoy!

Front side view of the keyboard along with the wireless receiver

Front side view without the receiver, notice the slight wave shape of the key heights

Left side view

Right side view

Top side view, showing the media control keys

Key cap view along the built-in palm rest

Underside view of the key cap

Rubber dome switch

Back side of the keyboard, notice the battery compartment and the on/of switch

Keyboard foot retracted, this keyboard has two sets for different height

One of the keyboard foot extended, the taller one is still retracted

104UG versus uniform 55g TKL, part 2

More and more typing on the Topre UG104 has generated a better response from me than from the 55g.  The 55g indeed adapts very quickly, but didn’t do much from distinguish itself from the rest of the pack.  So, for Topre to win, it has to be more than just being subtly better.  The 55g is subtly better, but not ostensibly better.  Therefore, those who really appreciate its qualities, 55g is the perfect one to get into.  The 104UG on the other hand, behaves like a movie star.  One either adapts its unusual key cap design mechanism or GTFO.  This keyboard also carries the “don’t hate me because I am beautiful” attitude to the max.

104UG indeed is something that’s quite impressive.  The high key design certainly takes some to get used to.  I really took my sweet time.  However, I do have fun while typing on this keyboard and worry less about correcting the errors.  The tactile feedback now is at two levels.  First, where the fingers are rested and then the key press themselves.  So, by going that extra mile, Topre succeeded in creating a new keyboard typing experience that’s not like anything out there.

Thus, for an unusual keyboard typing experience, the 104UG is something to try.  However, Topre switch and the high profile key cap design is not for everyone.  So, if someone with a more conventional taste in keyboarding, then the uniform 45g or 55g would be my first try instead of the 104UG.  From my point of view, the 104UG is the epitome of Topre keyboard design philosophy.  The only issue is price….  At $300 USD, it is a tough pill to swallow….  As I said, it’s that movie star attitude again…..

Topre switches, getting to know you, finally…

Ah, I think I am beginning to “get” the switch.  This is after weeks of struggle, encountering a keyboard design that I simply cannot abide.  I fought though the pitfalls and finally discover a combination that seems to work well with me and speaks loudly of the Topre switch greatness.  It’s the 104UG.  I have come to really appreciate its finer quality and have adopted to its exotic keycap design philosophy.  It’s a joy to use and now it sits side by side with the Das Keyboard with Cherry MX brown switches.  It will be tough for me switch back to the MX brown now because I enjoy using this keyboard so much.

I stand by my belief that the Cherry MX family has hit the market just right where it is.  Thus, it is very difficult to overcome for others to muscle in.  Topre, Unicomp and Matias are outsiders looking in.  Now, both Unicomp and Matias have the heritage as an advantage and they use that wisely to promote their switches.  So, if one has certain weakness for ALPS switches or the old-fashioned buckling spring, these are your guys and gals.  Topre went the other way since they don’t have a base to build on.  So, they set out to outdo what’s available in market, a superior rubber-dome and address its weakness: contacts wearing out.  Indeed Topre has succeeded with plenty of room to spare.

However, there’s a reason why rubber dome rules the roost.  It’s cheap and extremely easy to build.  Topre keyboards have the opposite problem.  It’s expansive and tricky to manufacture.  So, despite the technology advancement, Topre will have to sell this as a superior keyboard experience to overcome the price different.  Is it a superior experience? It is.  The question is, how much someone is willing to pay for it?  For some, it’s worth every penny and some, not a single cent.  I am slowly moving toward the worth every penny camp, if I can afford it that is.

Roswill RK-9000 V2 versus Unicomp Ultra Classic 104

As promised, this is a more reasonable match up then having Unicomp going up against Ducky Legend, which is more of a premium product that is in a different price bracket.  This is an interesting comparison because not only the switches are different, but whole keyboard package feels different as well.  So, let’s break down a bit.

Unicomp Ultra Classic 104 is a full sized keyboard with an extra shoulder above the function keys as in tradition with the IBM model M.  So, someone can park some little items such as pens or paper clips or post-it even there.  It’s rather convenient.  However, it does take a lot of space.  Rosewill elected for space saving by eliminating that extra margin.  The outer shell for Unicomp is likely ABS plastic while Rosewill opted for some metallic material for the top cover and plastic on the bottom.  So, in turns of style, Rosewill has flairs to spare while Unicomp is ultimately one of the most utilitarian keyboard I have encountered thus far.  The key legends on Unicomp is dye sub while the Rosewill is supposed to be laser etched with ink filled in.  Ultra Classic’s key caps seems smaller, which demands more precision while Rosewill appears to be roomier, tolerating more sloppy strikes.

So, when one breaks down to the bottom of it, The Ultra Classic really should viewed as a workhorse, capable of doing its tasks day in and day out without missing a beat, while the Rosewill has a bit of a showy tendency and personality but not far enough to distract its purpose.  These external factor differences are not likely to take over the switch choice discussion.  So, in this case, the switch choice will dominate the decision if I have to pick one or the other.  I think most people would agree that this is almost like comparing apple to oranges.  Thoughts?

Ducky Legend versus Unicomp Ultra Classic 104

The Ducky Legend is certainly a keyboard that I like using.  It is well made, has a great style and a little bit of bling here and there just to keep things interesting.  The Unicomp on the other hand, is the ultimate utilitarian design.  There really isn't much that is devoted for aesthetics.  Side by side, they are like Arnold and Denny in the movie Twins.

The heart of the matter is the key switch.  Both of them are the clicky type that generate fine tactile feedback and well as auditory sensations that some equates to assault.  Each has its own personality and flair.  I won't repeat my characterization of the two type of keys switches, but I want to compare and contrast the keyboards as whole package.  As I learned early on, the whole thing viewed together is a better assessment since no one just use the switches by themselves.  The best switch could be placed on a mediocre platform and the whole experience would be mediocre at best.

I kind of feel that the comparison is a bit unfair, since Ducky Legend obviously has a higher production value.  A more fair comparison perhaps would be the Rosewill RK-9000 V2 against Unicomp's Ultra Classic 104.  They are more closely priced.  Since I just wrote all these, I am not going to toss it.  So, stay tuned for a more fair fight.  :P

In any case, if you are a fan of the buckling spring keyboard, there really is no other choice besides Unicomp or an used Model M keyboard.  However, if someone is more open to try different switches, then Ducky Legend is certainly worth considering regardless of which Cherry MX switches type.

Cooler Master introduces Quick Fire XTi

Full RGB LEDs seem to be the rage these days, for better or worse.  From the keyboard side of things,, full RGB Cherry MX Switches are still difficult to come by.  Aside from Corsair, no one else seems to have something.  Ducky Channel is moving forward with Shine 5, which is a full RGB design, but it won't arrive in North America till probably late October with a price tag that matches Corsair's offering.  So, it's kind of a surprise to see Cooler Master to introduce a new keyboard that is not full RGB.  I guess Cherry still can't make them fast enough....

Quick Fire XTi is an interesting beast.  It's likely to implement the older LEDs rather than full spectrum RGB one for lighting.  Perhaps Cooler Master got a good deal on those Cherry MX switches.  Who knows....  For one thing, this keyboard is a rather minimalist design.  It doesn't even have Cooler Master's logo in the front.  Instead, it is embossed on the back side of the keyboard.  The focus of the keyboard seems to be its ability to store profiles and macros.  These information are stored with the keyboard and not dependent on a computer host.  So, the approach is more akin to Ducky Channel's by including a decent ARM based micro-controller rather than Corsair's approach, which depends on the computer host for most of its functionality.  There are pros and cons to each approach.  It's interesting to see Cool Master electing to go with the more independent route.  I suppose one could be traveling to tournaments that allows one to bring their own keyboards and mice.  So, having the settings and macros stored on the keyboard could be an important advantage.

The one thing Cooler Master left out was the media control keys.  Instead of media keys, the programmable keys took their place.  So, it's another give and take for one to end up with a minimal 104 key board foot print without resorting to extending outward like Logitech's G910.  Cooler Master is asking for $150 USD for one of these.  It's available with almost all the popular MX switches, such as MX blue, brown and red,  According to keychatter.com, Cooler Master may even do a MX green production run pending demand.  The price is a bit of surprise as Cooler Master used to play more or less in the mainstream and economy brackets.  So, this is signaling that they moving up to higher end.  Indeed, it's a bit on the higher end, but given its ample abilities, Cooler Master felt the price is justified.  We will see how the market respond.

Looks like Cooler Master Quick Fire XTi with MX blue switches is available from Amazon.com already.  Handy links are listed below if you are looking to purchase one from Amazon.com to support this site.  Thanks!

Cooler Master QuickFire XTi Multi-Color Backlit Mechanical Keyboard, Blue Switches (SGK-4060-KKCL1-US)

What about the Matias quiet switch again?

So, another good comparison for the Topre switches are the Matias quiet ones.  I had trouble with the clicky tactile version, but I enjoyed using the Matias quiet version quite a bit after I get used to the slight wobble and jitters.  It’s almost unfair actually, since the Topre is so smooth and the Matias just a hair too jumpy or bouncy for me.  So, the decision is simple in this case.  However, again viewed from a more practical stand point of view, the whole picture changes.

The Topre is just too expansive, but Matias are priced just a little higher than the Cherry MX family.  So, it’s a reasonable option.  Against the vast aftermarket options that Cherry MX family line has amassed, Matias doesn’t stand a chance to compete.  So, the switch must be superior to compensate.  At this level of the game, the switch superiority is more or less a personal preference.  Like the Topre or Cherry MX, the switches are built to last.  So, there’s no mechanical issues that’s holding it back.  The questions boils down to, do you like ALPS switch in general versus the more common Cherry MX family?

Like the Cherry MX family, ALPS switches comes with a wide variety with varying different personality and specifications.  However, most of that is lost now because ALPS is out of the keyboard switch market.  So, like the buckling spring, we have a small company left to pick up the mantle and run with it.

I believe Matias has done an admirable job reviving the ALPS legacy, especially with the Mac community.  Like Unicomp, it’s sort stuck in the shadow of the large gaming community that prefers the Cherry MX linear switches.  Matias has wisely began to make and market a linear switch that’s popular with the gaming community, but I haven’t seen it gaining any traction yet beyond an experimental stage.  I will keep an eye at this as it develops.

Cherry MX Brown switch revisited….

After exploring the Topre switches, it’s kind of nice to come back to a switch that’s familiar and comfortable to use.  I have grown to appreciate the Topre switch, but also time for me to reflect on some of the other types that I have liked thus far and help me reexamine why I like them more than others that are around.  Brown is simply the champion right now.  However, the Topre and Matias quiet click have given me sufficient reasons to take another look.

The Matias quiet is really complex tactile switch that reached back to the heydays of ALPS switch.  The ALPS switches were really popular with Mac crowd.  I didn’t have the privilege of using the Apple Extended Keyboard as much as I should have, just like the Model M, but I have heard they are great.  Different from the classic Model M, but shined in its own way.

So, how does the MX brown stand up to those challengers.  I think it stood up pretty well.  For one thing, there’s really not much I dislike about the switch and lot for me to like.  Topre’s smoothness is legendary and Brown’s a little scratchy tactile feedback is just fine for someone like me.  It doesn’t bother me at all.  It’s not too loud, but has enough auditory cue for me to know what’s going on with the switch operation.  It doesn’t have the melodic songs ringing out from Model M.  Instead it’s kind of chirpy rather than out right songs.  It doesn’t have a complex tactile sensation like the Matias, but enough to let me know what’s going on.  I do appreciate these little things.  It’s one of the most popular switches, and Cherry is definitely doing something right.  Yes, it’s not for everyone, but it’s a generalist that’s good enough for most use cases.  Topre, Model M and Matias are specialists that cater to certain groups.  I would like to examine that concept a bit more closely later on.  For now, the Das Keyboard with Cherry MX brown switches is here to stay because it really does offer a really good overall package.

Really complicated……

For me at this point, Cherry MX Brown is still the standard.  It’s practical and doesn’t have any glaring weakness, perhaps only on the smoothness front since its tactile feedback is more akin to a scratch than a bump.  However, I think a 55g or 45g Topre keyboard with uniform weighting come close to dethroning it from my desktop.  No quite however, because of the price.  For every Topre keyboard, one can buy probably 2 or so Cherry MX based keyboards.  So, I think an apt analogy is indeed luxury cars.  The Topre is more or less the Mercedes Benz convertible where the Cherry MX is more the Honda Odyssey.  Both will get you to places.  One can haul a volleyball team comfortably while the other will get there in style and opulence with just two.  Matias is kind of like that plucky mini-Coop car and Model M is like the Ford F150.  I am in more of the mini-van style right now, but that might change later on.

Do I love typing on the Topre keyboard?  Absolutely, especially if someone foot the bill and if it’s one with the uniform weighted keys.  Do I love typing on the Cherry MX brown keyboard?  Yup and I might be able to afford to get one and another one for work with a completely different feel.  :)  I think I just have a love-hate relationship going with Topre switch keyboards.  I mostly love Cherry MX browns.  There are just so much more options available to me as Cherry MX family are some of the most popular switches out there.  Therefore, it simply makes more sense from a pragmatic point of view.  But man, that Topre sometimes just does everything right, however rarely it does so.  Then when it all clicks, that’s indeed as close to typing heaven as one can be.  Now, I just need to figure out what are the trigger conditions….