Why is Aluratek Mechanical Keyboard so much cheaper than others?

Happy Hopping

Happy Hopping

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http://aluratek.com/levetron-usb-clicker-mechanical-gaming-keyboard

The street price is only $55 or so. Now, since all the keys of mechanical keyboard are from Germany, should this keyboard be just as good as others? As it is too cheap to be true. Has anyone own 1?

If this is a piece of crap, would Adesso be a good, yet inexpensive mechanical keyboard?

http://adesso.com/products/product-detail-124.html

any1 unhappy about the Adesso Mech. keyboard?

Also, the Ducky DK1008XM as well as the TT sport Poseidon Z is also not expensive at all

http://www.ttesports.com/productlist.aspx?c=2

any1 has anything negative to say about either 1 of them?
 
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This is where things get fuzzy with mechanical keyboards. Mechanical boards have the potential to be long-lasting, but this depends on build-quality and to a somewhat lesser degree design options (back plating, PCB quality, component quality); with a lot of cheaper boards it's more of a gamble as to whether you get something that is sufficiently useable for your desired task and whether or not it would be fully useable or last for any amount of time.

But, these cheap boards are great for switch harvesting. TVS Gold were very popular for this reason, if you could get a deal on shipping or bought in bulk; the boards them selves were a toss up between useable or not, but they're so cheap you could afford to make the gamble.

edit; the old Ducky XMs used alps from what I remember, but their build quality is more or less iffy from reports I've read. I'm not sure about the other boards.
 
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Look for the CM Quickfire Rapid, Stealth, or XT models on sale. They often get down into the $55-$65 range and the 3 models I specified are built by one of the top KB makers in the world, Costar. Absolutely rock solid boards.
 
I'm waiting for a TT sport Poseidon Z to go on sale so I can get a reasonably priced keyboard for work, or maybe a CM. What switches does that keyboard in the first link use? I'm going to guess not browns :(

The only thing with LED CM keyboard is the Compact version has a weird layout rather than just being Ten Key less.

Now that I have gotten rid the the Ten Key on my at home keyboard I'm not sure I really need it, and it certainly saves some space on my desk at work (Smaller keyboard firs way better). Might just have to fork up the another one like I have now. The CM is temping though!
 
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Kueller said:
Look for the CM Quickfire Rapid, Stealth, or XT models on sale. They often get down into the $55-$65 range and the 3 models I specified are built by one of the top KB makers in the world, Costar. Absolutely rock solid boards.
Click to expand...

I am somewhat happy w/ the price of CM Storm Quick Fire XT--$90

Can you recommend any other brand that is a full size keyboard, and lesser price?
 
that levetron kb is cheap partly because it has knock off alps switches (and it is crap also)


I have had one of these as a back up keyboard for over a year now... I got mine for $24.99 on sale main reason i bought it...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201044


but it is about $70 now.... there is a catch some of these apparently have issues with the usb port.. later production supposedly fixed the issue (sort of by putting some glue in there to try to reinforce the port.)

i haven't honestly used mine that much but i have had no problems with the port.

i mostly use my WASD V1 MX-Brown keyboard.

there is something to be said for spending a bit more these keyboard can last for years really.

my WASD was a gift (which is awesome) but even if i had bought it with my own money i'd consider it money well spent really. very nice keyboard to use day in and out.
 
Justintoxicated said:
So you guys do not like the Tt Poseidon?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823162027
Click to expand...



what i think is going to be unfortunate is the keycaps... they are going to be someone odd sized on the lower row (space bar) and the stabilizers sound like they are a bit different.

you can see the odd first row keys here... (don't remember what page but the spacebar makes the other keys on this row hard to replace).
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/57...minated-mechanical-keyboard-review/index.html

since mechanic keyboards can last for a very long time it is quite possible eventually the keyboard itself would still be in fine shape but the keycaps have become worn (shinny) in fact now at about 1.5 years I am in the market soon for new key caps for my WASD V1 as the included ABS keycaps have begun to get shinny on some keys.

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Keycap_wear



blah blah blah.. what would be nice about something like WASD, Filco, Ducky.. the Rosewill 9000 ...etc with same key cap layout is that it is relatively easy to find replacement keycaps for these boards, It would but me off the Tt board that the key caps would be rather difficult / impossible to find replacements for, potentially leaving you no choice but to use shinny / smooth keys or replace the keyboard entirely... .02
 
atarione said:
what i think is going to be unfortunate is the keycaps... they are going to be someone odd sized on the lower row (space bar) and the stabilizers sound like they are a bit different.

you can see the odd first row keys here... (don't remember what page but the spacebar makes the other keys on this row hard to replace).
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/57...minated-mechanical-keyboard-review/index.html

since mechanic keyboards can last for a very long time it is quite possible eventually the keyboard itself would still be in fine shape but the keycaps have become worn (shinny) in fact now at about 1.5 years I am in the market soon for new key caps for my WASD V1 as the included ABS keycaps have begun to get shinny on some keys.

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Keycap_wear



blah blah blah.. what would be nice about something like WASD, Filco, Ducky.. the Rosewill 9000 ...etc with same key cap layout is that it is relatively easy to find replacement keycaps for these boards, It would but me off the Tt board that the key caps would be rather difficult / impossible to find replacements for, potentially leaving you no choice but to use shinny / smooth keys or replace the keyboard entirely... .02
Click to expand...

That's a good point but the keyboard is 1/2 the cost of similar keyboards with back lighting, I mean in 4 years you could probably just buy another one and still come out ahead. Also I have something like 6 or 7 years on my Logitech G15 without any need to replace any keycaps, and that's on a board known to have keycap issues :) Not saying I have never worn out other boards keycaps. I'm thinking to pick one up for work since I'm typing all day. Would the CM board fit the bill better?
 
1 thing that just happened to me today is that I have USB driver problem on my own Tesoro Sword of Victory. I need firmware update, as well as driver update. Now, it's very frustrating, as the keyboard got disconnected (PC no longer see the keyboard), and all these happen when I insert the MagicJack to the USB port, and I have to temporary pull out 1 of the USB port of the keyboard (Keyboard requires me to insert 2 USB port to the motherboard)

So for a simple mechanical fullsize keyboard (this is for a few friends), I need the keyboard uses the generic microsoft USB keyboard driver only. As these few friends of mine can't deal w/ keyboard disconnect due to driver problem or firmware update.

Does the keyboard you guys recommend REQUIRE its own driver?
 
Happy Hopping said:
that link is for regular keyboard. I thought Cherry MX key are all made in Germany w/ a guarantee fo 50M keystrokes?
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i am talking about the keycaps .. yeah the cherry switches (under the key caps) are supposed last something like that

but the caps wear as is the nature of such things with your sweaty (or not sweaty whatever) mitts banging away on them day in day out.
 
You're right. I got the 2 mixed up. So the better question is, I need keys that are "laser burned"? I forgot the term, that the printing of the key itself won't disappear in the next many yr. to come.

That and good quality key caps that you've mention
 
Doesn't have Cherry switches. What are we discussing here?
 
Happy Hopping said:
1 thing that just happened to me today is that I have USB driver problem on my own Tesoro Sword of Victory. I need firmware update, as well as driver update. Now, it's very frustrating, as the keyboard got disconnected (PC no longer see the keyboard), and all these happen when I insert the MagicJack to the USB port, and I have to temporary pull out 1 of the USB port of the keyboard (Keyboard requires me to insert 2 USB port to the motherboard)

So for a simple mechanical fullsize keyboard (this is for a few friends), I need the keyboard uses the generic microsoft USB keyboard driver only. As these few friends of mine can't deal w/ keyboard disconnect due to driver problem or firmware update.

Does the keyboard you guys recommend REQUIRE its own driver?
Click to expand...

What about if you don't use the USB on the keyboard?

Happy Hopping said:
You're right. I got the 2 mixed up. So the better question is, I need keys that are "laser burned"? I forgot the term, that the printing of the key itself won't disappear in the next many yr. to come.

That and good quality key caps that you've mention
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You mean double injection molded like the blackbird? Or just laser etched?
 
Justintoxicated said:
What about if you don't use the USB on the keyboard?



You mean double injection molded like the blackbird? Or just laser etched?
Click to expand...

it's not the USB on the keyboard, it's the driver OF the keyboard, it needs to be their own driver, it doesn't work if it's a Microsoft USB driver.

and last night, my USB keyboard keep blinking out until I upgrade the firmware and update the driver. For a few of my friends, I DO NOT want that. Just a USB cherry MX keyboard that uses microsoft USB Keyboard driver

I am not verse in "double injection", is there a photo? And I don't care either way, as long as the printing of the key does NOT come off
 
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here this should give you all the info you might need

http://www.overclock.net/t/491752/mechanical-keyboard-guide

you can check out the printing methods and keycap material options.


personally i wouldn't just be worried about the printing wearing off the key getting shinny / slick is a issue also.

I still really strongly advocate (even if at higher initial cost) getting something with nice keycaps to start with and with the compatibility for swapping w/ readily~ish available replacement keycap sets down the road.
 
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Thanks for that link. Very useful.

My 1st criteria, would be a simple Cherry MX, but almost equally important, is that the keyboard uses generic mircosoft USB keyboard driver.

As right now, my keyboard is fading in and out, 1 moment I am typing, the next moment it lost connection w/ the computer, and I don't think it's a hardware failure, it seems to be driver related
 
Happy Hopping said:
I am not verse in "double injection", is there a photo? And I don't care either way, as long as the printing of the key does NOT come off
Click to expand...

Double injection is most often referred to as "Double-shot" and means that the legend is actually another a "separate" piece plastic molded into the shape of the legend and fused into the main body of plastic of the key cap like so.

LODEBAY_zps354403c8.jpg


This is often regarded as the most durable legend type followed by "Dye sublimated" where the legend is actually "soaked" into the plastic.

edit: bleh, didn't even see atarione's post on the second page, nice link.

edit 2: I'd also like to add that key shine doesn't effect the durability or functionality of the key, it's purely aesthetic and if it really bothers you it may be a good idea to look into getting PBT keycaps; POM is another option, but most have a low-gloss shine to begin with.
 
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Justintoxicated said:
How about this one?
http://www.maxkeyboard.com/max-keyboard-durandal-g1n-mechanical-keyboard.html
Click to expand...

this would have been my first choice. But maxkeyboard says this item has been discontinued.

I also try another website, they also said it's not available. But when I contact the manufacturer, they said you can buy it.

My 2nd choice is any1 of these, what do you guys think?

http://cherry.de/cid/corded_keyboards_CHERRY_MX-Board_20.htm?

for office use, I'm thinking either the red or the black switch.
 
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Does any1 knows of any other mechanical keyboard that is:

1) Brush Aluminium

2) Full Size

3) Does NOT use or require any software driver CD or firmware bullshit update, just the microsoft driver

4) does not any back light as I want to keep this under $70 to $80, because I need quite a few of them
 
I'm sorry, but there aren't really any worth-wile keyboards with aluminum/metal cases within that price range, the only ones I really know of are Korean custom builds that can be bought in kits (unless someone is willing to sell their assembled board) for a couple to several hundred dollars (USD). The closest you will probably get close to that price range are Corsair's range of keyboards.
 
Skull_Angel said:
edit; the old Ducky XMs used alps from what I remember, but their build quality is more or less iffy from reports I've read. I'm not sure about the other boards.
Click to expand...
Yep, I have a beautiful Ducky XM with Green Alps and absolutely LOVE it!


Happy Hopping said:
it's not the USB on the keyboard, it's the driver OF the keyboard, it needs to be their own driver, it doesn't work if it's a Microsoft USB driver.

and last night, my USB keyboard keep blinking out until I upgrade the firmware and update the driver. For a few of my friends, I DO NOT want that. Just a USB cherry MX keyboard that uses microsoft USB Keyboard driver

I am not verse in "double injection", is there a photo? And I don't care either way, as long as the printing of the key does NOT come off
Click to expand...

You want either double shot (the letters are one color plastic, the rest of the key is another, so even if you wear it down, you never loose the letters) keycaps or dye sublimation (the letters are dye which seeps into the plastic, keeping a long life as well)
Laser etched key caps are just that, a laser etches the letters into it and you get a little paint put on. These are the keycaps that fade after use
 
Happy Hopping said:
how come there is no such mechanical keyboard that is ergonomic? microsoft makes that funny looking ergnomic keyboard that the numeric keypad is separate

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/keyboards

but when I go to maxkeyboard or mechanicalkeyboard.com, you search under "ergonomic", there is nothing
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I forgot who actually said it, but basically it's "a niche market within a niche market currently". There are some out there, but I haven't seen any with that particular shape personally.
 
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