Happy New Year

As we embark on the 2018 journey, I wish you all a happy new year.  CES is about to start, so there may be some interesting mechanical keyboard related news coming up.  Let's see what this year brings.  Personally, 2017 was more of a quiet year for me because I am getting more and more settled with Topre type switch based keyboard.  However, I do look forward to see what innovations 2018 have in store.  Hopefully it's more than just RGB LED lighting.  :)

Merry Christmas!

Have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy a fantastic time with friends, family and loved ones.  It's the season of peace and reconciliation.  It is a season of reconnecting with long lost friends, saying sorry and returning home.  It is a season to remember that the heaven revealed the most wondrous gift of all- a baby boy who would take away the sins of the world and restored humanity's relationship with God.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wow!  Time flies.  I realize that I haven't had much of a chance to update the blog lately. However, I do want to take this time to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  Of course, Christmas shopping season is upon us once again and there are tons of great keyboard deals out there.  However, I think it's important to be thankful first.  So, I suppose it is fitting that Thanksgiving comes first before the holiday shopping.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

SteelSeries introduces Apex M750, featuring in-house designed switch

SteelSeries is no stranger to mechanical keyboards and just introduced Apex M750.  The keyboard has all the usual gamer friendly features as well as an in-house designed keyboard switch named QX2.  To my untrained eye, the QX2 is basically a tweaked rendition of the classical Cherry MX red.  The specs are pretty Cherry like as well, having about 40g actuation force, 2mm activation distance with linear resistance.  Of course, it is Cherry MX stem compatible to take advantage of that huge aftermarket key caps availability along with the usual durability claims.  One interesting thing is SteelSeries implying that is a pretty silent design.  So, those looking for a quiet linear keyboard may want to test it out first since there aren't that many silent Cherry MX red clones out there.

The keyboard retails for $140 US dollars.  So, it is not exactly bargain of the week, but places it in the mid-tier pricing range.  Those who are invested into SteelSeries ecosystem are likely to check it out.  For the outsiders looking in, this might tempt a few folks to take another look.

Another nifty feature for optical switches

Circuit design from Tech Resources

A couple of posting ago, I was wondering out loud what advantages an optical switch brings to the table that a mechanical switch cannot do or can only do so at a higher cost.  Well, I have thought that analog function might be the killer feature.

It's Computex time in Taiwan and I think I found one of the reasons optical switches might be better.  It's easier to water proof.  Gigabyte, a Taiwanese computer component maker debuted Aorus K9 keyboard.  An attendee has shot a video of it at the booth demonstrating such thing.  According to Tech Report, this keyboard is indeed outfit with an proprietary optical switch called Flaretech that is water resistant.  Gigabyte did not note any IP certification for the board.  So, we will settle on this device being water resistant rather water-proof.

Now, this is an interesting idea that I didn't think about, as I view Hall Effect switch to be better suited for this particular application.  However, it does make sense when it is thought out and I am glad people smarter than I am have thought carefully about it.  Since Gigabyte targets the gaming market with this particular board, I think being water resistance is a good feature to sell.  Accident happens, especially with an intense gaming session and drinks can spoil easily when the actions kicks into high gear.  So, it's one less thing to worry about.  If indeed there is a spoil, well, just wash it off, dry it and the board should be back for duty then.

Regarding to the Flaretech switch, no information has come out about the physical build of the switch itself, but I have a feeling that it will not wander too far from the Cherry MX design.  Hopefully Gigabyte will share some more information about this new switch in the near future.

Analyzing and musings about Tesoro's Excalibur SE Spectrum- an optical sensor based keyboard

Anandtech has a really good review of Tesoro's latest keyboard.  Excalibur SE Spectrum uses optical key sensor design rather than the conventional mechanical contact sensor.  Since the review does an excellent job, I would concentrate on the more interesting aspect of the article, which is optical side of things.

As previously mentioned, optical sensor based key switches are the current frontiers in this business.  There are active work on advancing the technology rather in simple iteration approach that Cherry has been going through for sometimes.  It appears that Gateron is the supplier for the mechanical portions of the key switch.  Since it is designed to mimic the key action, the key switch itself is pretty much a standard mechanical switch, minus the electrical leaf contact (the moving piece that makes the electrical connection.)  What surprising that the optical device is mounted on the keyboard PCB rather integrated with the switch so that existing layout can be recycled.  Now, perhaps Gateron gave some steep discounts to drop the metal leaf part, moving the IR emitter/sensor to the circuit board does add some flexibility.  However, nothing is free; so, the added flexibility likely come at the cost.  The saving Gateron gave to Tesoro will now be spent on IR sensor and mounting it to the PCB.  So far, Tesoro is using this design to facilitate switch swap.  However, the same thing can be achieved using conventional Cherry MX type as well.

At this time, I don't see any distinct advantage of the optical sensor versus a mechanical sensor for an "on/off" device such as a simple keyboard switch.  Sure, I am sure in certain applications or use case, it is meaningful.  However, ordinary users like me, there's no compelling reasons yet.  To duplicate that mechanical feeling, the key switch design still has to rely on some simple mechanical machine.  Now, not having to worry about making the electrical connection part certainly does free the designers to make something more interesting.  I don't know if we are there yet.  So, the optical system's focus ought to be in the analog function and finding novel ways to use that.

What Tesoro did was cool, but we haven't move up sort of speak.  It's just making player substitutions at this point.  However, I am sure the Tesoro has something interesting up in its sleeves.  Can't wait to see what the next version of this keyboard is going to be.

Razer announces new gamer friendly mechanical switch

Credit: Tomshardware.com

Well, actually, Razer just announced a new gaming oriented mechanical keyboard with a new switch: a yellow one.  As with its previous products, it caters to the white hot and still growing PC gamer's market.  Since my focus tends to be on the switch, I will just keep attention there.  It should not be a surprise that this new switch now possess shorten actuation distance, linear force and now silent operating features.  So basically this is like combing various different types of MX linear switches traits into one.

I suspect that we will begin to see a volume decline of the more classical switches such as the MX brown and blue.  These switches will continue to be popular with typists, programmers and other non-gamer's market.  However, MX red and black now are standard with any gaming oriented keyboard.  I think even those two MX switches will eventually be surpassed in shipping volume by the newer short throw types.  Noise consideration is likely to be secondary, but the actuation distance war has begun.  Maybe we will come full cycle and back to the scissor/rubber dome switches because they have very small actuation distance already. Oh wait....  Razer has already announced something like that for the tablet/mobile device market.  I am just waiting for someone to produce a 0.5mm MX version within a year or two.  Let's see if I am right.  :)

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.

More about Topre Realforce RGB availability

I just found out that Massdrop now has one drop going for Topre Real Force RGB Keyboard.  So, looks like Topre is producing more than a few keyboards just to see what the market is thinking.  Although this has not reached CoolerMaster NovaTouch availability level, I take it as a good sign that there are sufficient interest out there.

Since this keyboard is relatively different from a typical Topre Realforce, I think it speaks to Topre's confidence that this may perhaps become a cult hit like the HHKB.  I will be watching this development very closely because I do think that Topre has a one of the more interesting products out there right now.  This is one Topre Realforce that has a rather broad market appeal.  As with any Topre Realforce product tho, the price is almost always a show stopper.  At $260 US dollar/unit, this thing better be good.  :P

What is Hall Effect keyboard switch anyway?

Hall Effect illustration (Wikipedia)

Some of the keyboard related blogs recently mentioned Hall effect key switches.  It was not a term that I have heard for a while and have forgotten what it does.  After a little research, memories come flooding back.  Good and bad...  Anyway, Hall effect sensors or switches work because of a pretty cool physical phenomenon.

Basically the position of magnet (due to magnetic field) can affect a transducer voltage.  So, if the magnetic strength is known, then one can determine the distance of the magnet from the transducer by the output voltage.  Therefore, putting the two and two together, this sensor would make a very good analog keyboard switch.  Also, there are very few moving parts that may fatigue and break, thus Hall effect sensors are also very reliable devices.  So, it shouldn't be a big surprise in the sudden interest in this type of switch lately given the latest rage in analog keyboard.  The simplest resistance mechanics to a key press is a spring, therefore this technology seems well suited for a linear keyboard switch.  It's a pretty good match to what the gaming market desires.  There are some rumblings that keyboard manufacturers are going to bring some Hall effect keyboards to the market that caters to the booming gaming market.  However, it doesn't stop anyone from adding clicky emulations to the key switch.  So, perhaps some enterprising company will figure out how to do so.

Although the idea has been around for a long time, the recent interest in analog gaming sensors has resurrected interest in this kind of device.  However, Hall effect devices are more complex compared to a simple mechanical key switch.  So, in a cut-throat market, price would be a very important factor as well.  So, we will see how well the gaming market adapt to this type of switch or it is just needless complications.  I think there's room for analog keyboards for specific gaming niche.  We will have to figure out a purpose for these wonderful devices outside of that for something this cool to become mainstream.

More Topre Realforce RGB Premium on the way to North America

Wow, that was fast.  The stock mechnicalkeyboards.com had for preorder are already sold out at this point.  Perhaps they will restock in the near future.  I guess Black Friday business was rather brisk.  However, fear not if you missed it.  EliteKeyboards.com is now accepting preorder for the same keyboard.  It should be available around the end of November.

12/02/2016 Update: Yes, mechnicalkeyboards.com has received another shipment.

So it begins.... Christmas shopping season already underway

As the traditional Black Friday expands its domain over a week, probably going morph into over a month, there are plenty of deals for mechanical keyboards all around.  So, if someone just want to take a peek and see what the big deal is all about, this is a good time to get into the game.

Because someone else already does a much better job catching great deals than I do, I will leave it to the experts over at those deal aggregation web sites.  However, it is indeed a good time to score a good deal here and there.  So, have fun and enjoy that new keyboard(s) experience!

Asus announces Claymore keyboard that splits into two

Asus recently introduced yet another gaming mechanical keyboard called ROG Claymore.  This one has all the usual bells and whistles using the ever popular Cherrry MX RGB switches.  However, one thing that is interesting about this keyboard is that it can split into two units.  The main unit is a typical TKL called the core while the number pad is the other entity.  One thing that is interesting Asus mentioned is that the number pad can be used on the left side of the keyboard.  I don't know if the keypad is still usable detached or it has to be attached for it to function.  I can't really tell from the press release.  However, it reasonable to assume that the number pad has to be attached based on the what Asus left unsaid.

Too bad that this keyboard didn't split in the way I would have like it, emulating the Microsoft Natural keyboard line had.  Maybe the next iteration.  We will see.

Topre Realforce RGB Premium now available for pre-order

This is happening a little sooner than I thought, but it's a good thing.  Just like last year's special Ducky Channel Realforce editions, somehow mechanicalkeyboards.com will be able to secure some for the North America market.  The online retailer is now taking pre-order.  The target ship date is end of November.

Indeed, this keyboard is a quite a departure from the classical Topre that we know well.  Previously, Topre has partnered with other OEMs and distributors to feel out new markets, but with this one, I think they are going for it by themselves.  I hope it works out since the gaming market is a bit crowded at the moment.

Microsoft announces Surface Ergonomic Keyboard

I have tested the sculpted ergonomic keyboard just a while ago.  I found the keyboard rather pleasant and worthy successor to the illustrious line of natural ergonomic keyboards.  However, the intermittent wireless connection issue pretty much ruined it for me.  Ah, the Microsoft designed ergonomic keyboards are like old flames that never really dies out, even though I have not been using one of them for a while.  So, when there's news about a successor, I can't wait to find out more.

Like most tech companies, Microsoft likely did see something good and something bad in its products.  Later on, the firm will put out a new iteration to fix issues found and hopefully not introduce new ones.  So, this week, Microsoft announced a new iteration of the their famed ergonomic keyboard, the Surface Ergonomic Keyboard.  Upon first glance, one can easily see the Sculpted Ergonomic Keyboard design DNA.  However, instead of the bat wing like design, the two keyboard halves are now fused as a single piece.  Speaking of fusion, the numeric pad is also fused making this pretty much as standard ANSI 104 keyboard.  That's a good thing.  Microsoft also introduced a minimalist type Surface Keyboard that may appeal to other folks.  My love affair has always been with ergonomic keyboard designs, however.  Another key change is the wireless protocol is now Bluetooth 4.0 rather than something funky Microsoft cooked up in the lab.  I am hoping that this will help with the wireless connection issues that I had.  There are also other changes such as a new palm rest material, color changes and minor touches.  I am assuming that this will have a scissor switch design like its predecessor.  I don't believe there will be significant changes to how it types,  Oh, one more thing, the magnetic tilt bar is nowhere to be found.  So, fans for the forward keyboard tilt will have to come up with some home-brewed hacks.

The elephant in the room is price.  Microsoft has increased the price quite a bit to $130.  That number definitely puts it within shouting distance of a Topre Type Heaven on a Black Friday special and many other high end Cherry MX mechanical keyboards.  Microsoft probably figured that the Surface brand represent a significant premium quality difference and superior experience.  There's only one way to find out if this keyboard warrant such distinction.  :)

More RGB LED lighting goodness?

Well, hindsight is always 20/20, and I should have seen this coming a mile away, but didn’t.  Many mechanical keyboard market observers have already noted the craze that is RGB LED lighting.  One company after another trying to outdo each other.  Well, what else can we use these beautiful lights for?  Metadot is going for a more utilitarian approach by coming up with different uses for the lighting.  Or, we can go the other extreme, lighting to the extreme just because.

Well, I guess that might be what Cooler Master’s MasterkeysPro L RGB – Crystal Edition is all about.  This is a keyboard for the RGB LED lighting loving folks.  The keyboard case is translucent and it features new placement design to allow the LEDs more room to shine brighter, pardon the pun.  The keyboard itself has no legends or other markings on the user side.  So, in some way, it’s like a Das Keyboard Ultimate, except it is in clear casing.  Cooler Master thoughtfully used a translucent plastic rather than transparent one to more evenly distribute the lights and to cut down on reflections and glare.  Other things like faster keyboard micro controller, programmable API for controlling the lights, Cherry MX brown or blue switches and other goodies people now come to expect from a high end keyboard with lots of cool factors.

I am likely not in this particular market segment anymore, but I can see the appeal, however.  I still remember when Nintendo or some other gadget manufacturers outfitted their latest toy with a transparent case, it was always something special.

More gaming oriented key switch and cap designs

One of the trends lately has been shortening the key stroke distance from the traditional 4mm to 3mm or so.  Another is shortening the height of the key cap itself.  Now, changing the key cap height doesn’t do anything mechanically since it is a rigid body.  However, they can affect the look, static key heights and perhaps reduce the key wobble because of a very so slightly lower center of gravity.  It’s probably more of an aesthetic and style choice.  Besides, it does save a bit of plastic.  In the cut-throat electronic business, that may mean something for the bottom line.

Tesoro’s new Gram Spectrum keyboard captures these trends quite well.  It features an “agile” mechanical switch, which is basically Kailh’s response to Cherry’s Rapidfire line.  This particular switch has a 3.5mm travel distance and supposedly features a clicky feel.  So, it’s a bit of a departure from the typical linear spring type favored by the gaming community.  The other thing is the “slim” key cap.  This key cap sort is the half-height version of the regular, standard issue Cherry MX kind.

Adding these elements together, Tesoro produced a keyboard with a different look and certainly a different feel because of some interesting key switch design choice.  Furthermore, looks like Tesoro will introduce an IR sensor switch based keyboard.  Now, let’s see how the market is responding to this after a bit.

Musings about optical (IR) sensor based key switches

Circuit design from Tech Resources

Optical sensor on switch is not a new concept and certainly there are optical sensor based key switches that has been around for quite a while as well.  However, with dominance of spring centric keyboard switches such as buckling spring design or the entire Cherry MX line and its clones, optical keyboard switches are rare birds indeed.  On the other hand, analog switches are now coming back in fashion as the new bleeding edge in gaming sphere.  It is no coincide that mechanical switches are popular these days.  The simplicity, reliability, manufacturing ease and cost are factors that contribute to this.  Adding optical sensors and emitters put more complexity.  However, the benefits are starting to make a good case for an optical based switch.

Mechanical switches are, well, mechanical based.  When two separate metal pieces come in contact, an electrical connection is made and thus generating a signal.  Optical switch depends on an emitter, which is often the case, an infrared light source and a sensor.  When an object obstructs the light path or changes the reflectivity depending on the design, then the sensor knows that a key is pressed.  Now, some clever engineers already realized that if the object that is obstructing the light path is a gradient, then the sensor can capture a diminishing light emission as a function of distance.  Add some computing power, the senor can also calculate velocity and so on.  An optical based system might generate a clear on/off signal as well since physical connectivity is not always a sure and entirely consistent thing.  Because the sensor is entirely optical, the physical interaction of the key switch can entirely be up to the designer’s imagination.  Therefore, it is possible to design some complicated interactive switch that does not depend on any mechanical contact to trigger the switch.

For strictly typing keyboard, these added complexities have little benefit since typing just need to know if a key is pressed or not.  However, as a gaming device or navigational system for say a VR or AR device, then the possibility use cases make much more sense.  Thus, there is a sudden interest in these switches.  Perhaps sometimes later this year, we will see a mass marketed optical sensor based keyboard.  There are already a few prototypes and Kick Starters efforts floating around.  Let’s see what innovations these folks can bring to the table.

Virtual keyboard strikes again

I thought Apple would be the first one to try put out a virtual keyboard on a Macbook or the like given its penchant to make everything as thin as possible.  However, Lenovo has beaten Apple to the punch.  The new Yoga Book has a laptop clamshell design rather than a traditional slate design.  Instead of where the keyboard goes, it is a touch sensitive pad that is a digitizer and a doubles as a virtual keyboard.  It is not another touch sensitive display, however.  So, someone can trace drawings and it would transfer to the screen on top.  It's just like having one of those Wacom tablets attached a regular laptop or desktop.  From the images published, seems that the keyboard legends are simply baked into the pad itself and not reconfigurable.  Just lights get switched on or off as the pad changes its functions.  I think Apple might go with a reconfigurable design, judging from rumors of prototypes floating around.  Supposedly, the new Yoga Book comes in either Chromebook flavor or Windows flavor, with Chromebook version coming first.  Oh, it's also a 10" form factor.  Smaller than I thought.  So, the keys might be not be 100% sized either.  This is an interesting experiment that is worth watching closely.  Now, let' see if some clever marketers are going to jump onto the virtual 0mm travel as a competitive gaming advantage....

PAX gaming accessories sale on amazon.com

I usually don't post sales, but since it's a large sale that applies to many items, I figure I will give it a try in case someone missed it.  Anyway, amazon.com is holding a PAX gaming accessories sale.  So, many mechanical gaming keyboards, mice and other related items are on sale.  The promotion code is "PAXWEST20"; enter at check out to get your 20% off.  See link for details.  Code information is posted on techbargains.com.