Logitech K400 Image Gallery

Now for something a bit different.  Logitech K400 is a popular HTPC wireless keyboard with an integrated track pad.  This combination is quite attractive because of continence and form factor.  Just make sure you are not going to type a novel on this one.  :)  Anyway, enjoy.

Front view

Left side view, note the media control buttons

Right side view, note the track pad and accompanying buttons

Key cap view, the legend likely pad printed with a protective lacquer

Backside of the key cap

Rubber dome switch

Backside of the keyboard, the battery compartment is on the top

On/Off switch is on the back of top right hand side

Metadot announces Division Zero Gaming Keyboard

Metadot, the company behind the acclaimed Das Keyboard lines has just announced a new line of products aimed at the booming PC gamers market called Division ZeroGaming.  I am just going to focus on the keyboard announcement because it’s a bit more than another day, another gaming mechanical keyboard.

The X40 keyboard features an ANSI standard 104 key layout, red LED lighting and 5 macro keys along with media control keys.  Emulating Apple a bit, there is a single cable from the keyboard to the back of the computer that comes with USB2 port, headphone and microphone jacks pass through.  (Think pass through as an extension cable that connects to the keyboard back panel so that the user can connect peripherals to it rather having to reach to the back of a PC.)  It has a fancy interchangeable front/top plate if one wants a different design.  So far, it’s been pretty standard.

Now, borrowing some of Razer’s ideas, Metadot has also announced its own line of mechanical switches with specifications rather like the Cherry MX ones called Alpha-Zulu.  There’s one with linear (olive color) force profile and another with soft tactile feedback (mustard color).  They even sound like the original they are based on.  However, unlike the standard Cherry MX devices, these has a shorter actuation distance around 1.7mm.  Romer-G is around 1.5mm, whereas other Cherry MX clones tend to be around 2mm, including Razer’s custom one.  The theory is that a shorter distance allows quicker activation.  In the gaming world, that’s probably important, but not for someone like me who tends to bottom out.  Anyway, like Das Keyboard’s OEM mystery, Metadot has declined to identify the switch maker. Some online commentators speculated that Kailh is the most likely candidate since they are also the OEM for Razer’s custom switches.

In any case, if one has any doubt that mechanical keyboards market has evolved to largely cater to the gaming crowd, here is another piece of evidence.  Metadot started out making keyboards for programmers.  It has now changed direction and branched out to gaming.  It’s not a bad thing per se.  Let’s see where this wave takes us.

Hands on impression of Cherry MX linear switches

Continuing my conquest to at the minimal, try out how each of the major mechanical switch type operate and how it fits my style.  So, I had a chance to test out some Cherry MX linear switches at a local computer store.  You know, they are exactly what I expected.  Springy.

OK, I think I got my corny joke out of the system for now, but the switch is exactly what I thought it would be.  The feeling is same as press on a spring board or anything that uses a spring to provide resistance.  The switch gets harder to push down until it bottoms out in a rather linear fashion.  There’s no hints what so ever when it was activated or when hysteresis has completed.  Just plain old spring going up and down.  Now, there’s nothing wrong with that if that’s what someone likes.  I can see why this appeals to gamers because often key press timing and repeating speed means winning and losing.  Since the key resistance is the lowest at the beginning, by exerting little effort and learning by force feedback on the fingers, a gamer can easily tap out commands at lightning speed.  Feedback really is rather optional.  Why have something to distract you?  Makes sense I suppose.  I personally do like some tactile hints and feedbacks on what and how am I doing.  So, each to his/her own.  :)

The red Cherry MX switch is indeed less resistant than the black one.  I sense that I might accidentally activate a switch since it’s a habit of mine to rest my fingers on the keys.  This was one of the many things that drove me bananas with the Topre ergonomic key weight setup.  So, my feeling is that the red switches will appeal to the touch typists while the black and the clear ones are more for the traditional typist like me who likes to pound on the keys.  It’s great that Cherry and most of the mechanical switch vendors offer varying weights.  Options are good since almost no one types the same way.

MechanicalKeyboards.com is now a keyboard brand

MechanicalKeyboards.com has been a go-to store for all sorts of mechanical keyboards here in North America.  They carry many products with an easy to use search function and a very good inventory.  Once in a while, they have something quite exotic for sale.  I have purchased a few boards from them and my experience has been fine.

Toward the end of 2015, the store began to carry its own brand of mechanical keyboards.  From the reviews that are starting to pour in, it seems like Ducky is the OEM.  Good choice, I must say since Ducky is one of the premier keyboard makers in Taiwan and has a long history as an OEM.  So, I don't think MechanicalKeyboards (shorten to MKBC so I don't have to keep typing that long name) is going to get some inferior products and so far the reviewers are smitten, thus pointing to a good start.  Not to be outdone by other manufacturers, MKBC currently carries quite a variety of different keyboard configurations.  They offer 104 with Cherry MX switches and PBT keycaps like the old Ducky Premier and Legend.  They also have an TKL version with and also without RGB lighting both using Greetech switches.  The best part is that they are priced relatively reasonable given the features and OEM's reputation.  Some folks are begging them to make keyboards based on Gateron switches.  Perhaps the next production run they will do so, but we will see....

Looks like their partnership with Duck Channel is also bearing fruit, such as having some rare Ducky Realforce keyboards available for sale at MKBC.  Anyway, for the first time up at bat, they are doing quite well.  I really do wish them well.  I just hope that they continue to carry other brands' keyboards and I think they will do so.  They are well positioned at the sales front line and knows exactly what the consumer sentiment is and where the momentum is by volume and interaction with customers.  After all, money does talk when you ask the right questions.

Matias Tactile Pro keyboard image gallery

A little bit overdue, but here's the Matias Tactile Pro keyboard image gallery to start off this new year.  I hope you find this useful.

Front view

Left side view

Right side view

Key switch and key cap 

Key cap, legend is supposedly laser etched

Back side of the key cap.  Notice that this is ALPS like stem 

Key switch view.  The tactile switch is white

Back side view

Keyboard foot, retracted.
Also the USB port on the upper corner albeit obscured in this view

Keyboard foot, extended

USB port hub, two of them in view (one to the side and one in the front)

PSA: Updates about Ducky Channel's Topre Realforce keyboards

I think this is too good to keep to myself.  Please see my blog post update on "Special Topre Keyboards up for preorder".  In a nut-shell, this is a rare production run of Topre Realforce with silenced switch.  MechanicalKeyboards.com didn't highlight this and I totally missed it until I looked at it more carefully.