Ducky Channel's new Shine 6 Special Edition

Without fail for the last few years, Ducky Channel does a re-engineered of their flagship keyboard model known as Shine.  This is now the 6th time.  As usual, Ducky doesn't mess its winning formula, but made some significant changes that alter the aesthetics of the keyboard to set it apart from the crowd.

First and most noticeable change is the floating keycaps.  It's a pretty sounding name, but basically, it's a keycap that is half height rather than full height.  Ducky is not the first one, but seeing it on their flagship board signals that this is now in vogue.  So, expect some other keyboard makers making similar changes in the near future.  Half height keycaps serve an important purpose: letting more light out underneath the switch.  Because of the cross-shape key switch and cap interface design, the LEDs must be put somewhere not in the way.  Having half height keycaps allows more light as well as creating a more striking picture.  Using a black metal back plate instead of white one (such as in Shine 5), Ducky is counting on the float keycaps and brighter LEDs to compensate for the darker background.  The advantage is a cleaner light definition with a dark background.  So, I expect the LED colors to be more distinct and less affected by the neighboring ones.

Also, something new is the host PC software controlled lighting profile.  Although Ducky retained all the on board lighting and motion features, it too offers a customized profile.  The user costumed profile is the way to go now days.  I don't know how programmable it is, but it's a new direction for Ducky Channel.  With Metadot and Ducky going to the customization route, I think this feature will be around for a while and expanded to other experimental use soon.

The core features stay pretty much the same with Cherry MX switches and other expected features.  So, it's not going too far off to the deep end.  It is now available in North America through the usual channels for around $160.  The price places the keyboard on the top, high end side of the market.  I like what they got this year and I look forward to see what Ducky Channel comes up next year.

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.

Speaking of ergonomic mechanical keyboards

Well, I did some more searches on ergonomic mechanical keyboards.  Since I was coming from the Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard 4000, I might as well see if I can get the best of both worlds, assuming that I like mechanical switches.  First Google search turned up Truly Ergonomic Keyboard (TEK) and of course, the famous Kinesis Advantage Keyboard.  Both feature the split ergonomic design which I have been using.  Not that I am adverse to a traditional layout, but after years using a split ergonomic design like the Microsoft (MS) ergo keyboard lines, I figure I should at least take a good look.

Both keyboards are radically different from the MS designs.  TEK layout is really different, It is still QWERTY, but features straight matrix rather than the traditional staggered layout for the keys.  Also, a lot of the non-alphanumeric keys are moved to the middle.  Radical changes indeed.  Kinesis' difference is the sunken, bowl shape pit areas for the fingers and moved some of the non-alphanumeric keys to the center as well, but kept the staggered key columns.  Kinesis uses Cherry MX brown while the new TEK use with Kailh Next Generation switches which are basically copies of the Cherry blue and brown.  TEK has a third option, which does use Cherry MX white for firmer keystroke responses.  From the look of it, TEK's older refurbished keyboards have Cherry brown or blue switches.  Both kinds have their legions of fans and detractors.  I am not surprised, since keyboard preferences are quite personal.

Both priced well north of $200 US dollars.  Perhaps a bit too rich for my blood.  Besides, I have already ordered 2 new mechanical keyboards to try already.  I am too chicken to try them out at this time.  Maybe next round.  :)