Quiet summer time

I suppose it's that time of the year where family are on vacation, children trying to enjoy the last bit of summer and getting ready to go back to school  (For those in the northern hemisphere at least).  The world's attention is mostly on Summer Olympics at Rio for weeks now, I guess it's pretty quiet in the keyboard front at this moment.

So, with that in mind, I hope everyone is enjoying a fabulous summer  and a lovely winter season (for those in the south hemisphere).  In any case, I hope to have some more exciting things to share and to interact with you soon.  Have fun and enjoy the Olympics!

Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite image gallery

Another backlog item that I should posted sometimes ago.  Continuing my oldies, but goodies theme, here's Microsoft's Natural Keyboard Elite image gallery.  Yes, the key caps have yellowed because of UV exposure and age.  Enjoy!

Front view

Left view

Right view

Close-up of the infamous arrow keys cluster

Key cap view

Yup, it's rubber dome key switch 

Key cap back side view

Back side view

Keyboard foot retracted

Keyboard foot extended

PS/2 keyboard interface

Need a mechanical keyboard for iPad? There’s a Razer keyboard for that

Perhaps slowly deprecating the Mac computers to favor big iPads and with Apple fervent push toward enterprise acceptance, there’s little doubt that a keyboard is required for that to happen.  Apple themselves produced one to go with the big iPad Pro.  Along with Microsoft ceding the mobile market and bring Office to iOS, there’s increased validity about using an iPad Pro for productivity and pivot the product line away from a purely consumer device.  So, what if someone wants a mechanical keyboard for that brand new iPad Pro?  Razer to the rescue.

Tech Report noted Razer has announced a mechanical keyboard designed to accompany the large iPad Pro, aptly named Razer mechanical keyboard case for iPad Pro (12.9").  Of course, I am geeking out on the mechanical switch design and specification.  To accommodate iPad’s profile, Razer has designed a new keyboard switch, named Ultra-Low Profile Switch.  The switch itself is colored green, thus meaning it’s a clicky type switch according to Razer’s nomenclature.  The video seems to demonstrate that point as well.  It’s force-distance curve seems to scale like that of a clicky switch as well with activation and reset points further apart.

The switch itself is a modified scissor switch with a cone or probably a plunger to facilitate a smoother force-distance relationship rather than a typical on/off switch feel that many scissor switches exhibit.  Since the switch has a relative short 2mm travel, Razer elected to go with a high resistance, 70g key weight.  So, someone who are used to touch typing or using a virtual keyboard might not like that; however, the design decision here is probably to make sure that the keys are not accidentally activated when gliding from one key to the next since the travel distance is so short.

The keyboard itself is a Bluetooth device and has an estimated battery life around 10 hours or so.  The cost is on par with high end desktop mechanical keyboards around $170 or so.  Maybe Razer didn’t license Smart Connector interface to save a few pennies.  However, I suspect Razer will roll this out to other mobile device if the market accepts it.  Also, if one really wants, this might be a useful platform for someone who wants to use it for laptop or desktop environment.  So, it’s not a bad decision per se.

Anyway, let's see if there's a demand for a good portable mechanical keyboard that is tailored for the iPads and like devices.  Otherwise, a good Bluetooth mechanical keyboard like Filco's Minila Air or Majestouch Convertibles might be better suited.

Leopold FC660C Long Term Use Review

Leopold is one of the few keyboard builders that features Topre switch based keyboards.  Like Ducky Channel, the product line is mostly built by Topre rather than in its own factory.  However, it gets a little murky with Leopold since the keyboard may be built in China, South Korea or Japan.  Rumor has it that Varmilo manufactures many of Leopold’s products.  In any case, Leopold acts as the quality assurance agent.  So, honestly it really doesn’t matter who the OEM really is, as long as the product is as good as it can be.

Now, the FC660C is a 60% keyboard that is not quite standard.  It has those extra arrow keys and two additional INS and DEL keys on the right side.  Therefore, it does not have a conventional 60% keyboard layout like KBParadise’s V60 or Vortex’s Pok3r.  These keyboards use fancy Fn remap functions to completely change the key stroke meanings and macro capability.  I am not smart enough to manage something that complex.  So, I tend to stick with something simpler like the FC660C where Fn+1 simply mean F1 key.  It also has DIP switches to change the default behaviors of various keys in case someone wants to swap key positions such as control or shift.  Due to a non-standard layout, it might not be as transparent moving from a FC660C to another TKL and vice versa.  However, its layout is fairly close to a typical laptop keyboard layout.  So, it’s not bad per se, but more as something to be aware of.  Again, I tend to leave these things alone since I deal with many different keyboards, workstations and laptops.  Thus, I try to keep things as standard as possible.  In this case, the FC660C fits right in.  I wish it would have PgDn and PgUp as well, but then that would pretty much be like an 87 keys TKL.  So kind of defeats the purpose.  Once in a while, I have to stop and think when I need to press a function key or need to use Page Down or Page Up.  However, these instances are more or less infrequent.  So, it’s not that much different from using a laptop keyboard.

With Topre switches anchoring the keyboard technology, one can expect a great typing experience.  I can attest to that, since I like the uniform weighting rather than the variable type.  For some reason, the keys are rated 45g, but I feel like keys takes a bit more force to press than my 104UG.  It’s more like a 55g or more.  Also, it’s the brightest sounding and chattiest Topre keyboard that I have around.  Not that it’s a bad thing, tho, it is louder than I have expected.  Now, it’s nowhere near buckling spring or Cherry MX blue for that matter, but still a bit unexpected.  The sound has a more squeaky pitch, perhaps an octaves or so higher than one from a regular Realforce.  Topre switch is something to be experienced as I said earlier.  However, it can be a bit odd if someone who is not familiar with its behavior and can be mistaken for a really good rubber dome keyboard.  Nothing wrong with rubber dome keyboards per se, as they are sold in the millions and there are many great rubber dome keyboards made every day.  However, someone can easily overlook the subtle Topre switch Zen-like beauty if one is not paying attention.  So, it’s what the buyer values.  I struggled with Topre switches for a while and finally come to really enjoy using it.  Leopold’s FC660C is an excellent ambassador for Topre switches.

Since this keyboard features PBT key caps, obviously it doesn’t have any LED lighting or stuff like that.  It’s a retro/old school keyboard that the keys cap feels assured, carries some weight.  So, it’s less likely that someone would accidentally tap on something.  The key cap surface are comfortable and fingers glide gracefully from one key to another.  No wonder it’s a favorite among some professional Starcraft gamers.  The only thing that I am not a fan of is the mini-USB interface location.  I fully understand why Leopold chose to put it there.  However, for my typical setup, it gets in the way and bends downward slightly generating unwanted torque on the connector.  If the keyboard would hide the connector interface somewhere out of the way and use some cable routers and channels to manage the cable travel, I think I will sleep just a little easier.  Since the keyboard is designed for folks on the go, I can see the design choices made to better serve them.

Now, remember, it’s a Topre switch based keyboard.  So one can expect the full Topre experience, along with a price tag to match.  Even though it is a 60% keyboard, it costs just about as much as a regular 87 keys TKL from Topre itself if not more.  So, one must be prepared to pay the price of admission to the Topre kingdom.  It’s just how it is…

In conclusion, FC660C is a joy to use, easily portable around and Topre switches make a great keyboard typing experience.  It makes me want to bring this keyboard around where ever I go so I get a chance to use it rather than what’s already out there.  Minor, but pesky USB connector annoyance and pricing issue aside, there is much to like about the keyboard in general.

Grade: A-

Matias Secured Pro Keyboard Image Gallery

Somehow this one didn't make it till now.  So, without further due, here is Matias' Secure Pro Keyboard.  This is basically Matias's Laptop Pro keyboard where the wireless signal is AES encrypted.  It does not use Bluetooth.  So, it can be used in a secured environment....  Oh, don't lose that USB transceiver!

Front view with the USB transceiver

Left view

Right view

Switch and key cap view

Key cap view

Back side of the key cap

Matias quiet click switch (light gray color)

Back side view

Keyboard foot retracted

Keyboard foot extended

USB ports on the top side of the keyboard

Power button on the right (white color)

USB transceiver

More thoughts about Das Keyboard 5Q keyboard switch

As previously noted, Das Keyboard 5Q’s biggest thing is programmable RGB lighting for each key that can be controlled by an external program via an API.  However, cool notifications and lighting control won’t do you any good if the keyboard itself is not interesting.  These days, the newer Das Keyboard entries no longer use Cherry MX, but instead going with another vendor since the 4C.  However, with the 5Q, Metadot is taking this separation a bit further.  Remember that they have release a brand new key switch for the gaming keyboard?  It’s basically a Cherry MX Red clone with a short activation distance.  With the 5Q, they have gone further.  Much further.

From the information gleamed on the site, looks like the switch is a completely new design, manufactured by Omron.  That name should ring a bell.  Yes, it’s the crew that make Logtiech’s Romer-G key switches.  So, from a first glance, the 5Q’s new gamma zulu is surprisingly similar to Romer-G’s design.  Both share many similar characteristics.  So, it’s possible that Omron provided a reference design and then each company selected features to make a switch type distinctly their own.  In any case, Metadot chose to identify their new switch to Cherry MX brown as a close comparison.  However, the switch is rated at 100 million actuation.  So, it’s about twice of that for a Cherry MX's rating.  Either way, I would be impressed if someone reached that many key presses.  Suffice to say that Metadot is confident of its durability.  Given Metadot’s history coming from software developers, I am not surprised that a solid, reliable key switch is a must have feature.

Short actuation distance is now in vogue.  The new standard is now around 1.5mm.  Anyway, this gamma zulu switch is no exception.  45g force is still the norm, but there’s some moment elsewhere to increase the key weight upward toward 70g or more.  That’s probably too much for most folks; but for heavy hitting typist, they are just getting started.  However, in that regard, gamma zulu stayed put.  It has a 1.5mm actuation distance, 3.5mm total travel and about 45g key weight, very similar to Romer-G.  Like Romer-G, it has a central LED lighting pipe that allows better lighting.  Since one main feature about this keyboard is the LEDs, I suppose it’s one of the reasons why Metadot went with Omron rather than Cherry.  One of the bigger MX weaknesses is the LED positioning.  Since the LED pipe is in the middle, Cherry MX key caps need not apply.  I am wondering if one can transplant Logitech’s Orion key caps to the 5Q and vice versa.  In any case, the LED lighting is crucial given that programmable LED lighting is the linchpin of the product.  It must work well.  So, the new Omron design solves a major problem for Metadot.

So Metadot has double down on this new keyboard design, trying to please both the gaming crowd and the coder/typist niche.  Let’s see if it works out.  I think Metadot is onto something, but they will need software development support and build momentum going forward.  I am keeping a close eye on this one.  Should be pretty interesting to watch.

Thoughts about Das Keyboard 5Q

After moving toward the gamer’s market with a relatively me-too product, Metadot is trying again to set the bar.  To fund product development, Metadot turned to KickStarter instead.  So, early backers who opened their wallets wide would be the first to reap the benefits.  As with any early adapters, there’s a risk and price to be paid.  Since Metadot is fairly established entity, this is less risky than some other ventures out there. Never the less, backers be aware.  Like investing in stock market, there are risks involved.  Again, backers be aware.

Now, with that out of the way, my focus is about the keyboard itself foremost.  As a spiritual descendant of the Das Keyboard 4 Pro line, the 5Q inherited a lot of the design and aesthetic elements.  Adding to the keyboard is a palm rest that can be detached for those who won’t need it.  Another big change is of course, the obligatory RGB LED lighting these days.  However, that’s only a little part of the story.

One big idea that Metadot is pitching for the 5Q is the ability to use the RGB lighting on the keys to serve as indicators.  Basically the keyboard lighting for each individual keys double as a notification system.  For example, when the D key turns bright red, it might mean that there’s a deal that you have been watching is on sale.  To enable this type of connectivity, Metadot is opening the keyboard lighting control APIs to the world so that developers can build custom apps for the keyboard to do something neat like that.  Basically, Metadot is going back to its roots as a developer’s tool to innovate.  According to Metadot’s word, it’s turning the keyboard into a dashboard.  The idea is rather interesting.  Basically the keyboard now serves as a notification screen like a smartphone, except the user don’t to have to go check on another device.  There is a companion application on the PC desktop to actually display the notification when the user wants to know what’s going on.

I can’t wait to see what other interesting applications that the development community will come up with.  Perhaps there’s going to be some interesting killer-apps that other keyboard vendors will ape.  Let’s see if that’ happens.  If this concept takes off, I am wondering if Metadot would just build an indicator array device independent of the keyboard.  Just a thought.

Anyway, I will give the key switch itself some more thought.  Stay tuned!