Alright, I'm in the market for a mechanical keyboard and I figure if I'm gonna pay over $100 for one I kinda want it to be backlit (and also have some basic multimedia keys). I'm okay w/either red or brown switches. It seems like these two are the prime candidates.
I made a lil' pros/cons list but then Newegg threw a huge monkey wrench into it by slashing the Corsair prices until Monday, but here it is anyway (roughly ranked in order of importance)...
Corsair K90 - currently $83 after DC/MIR @ Newegg
+ nice looking aluminum back plate that's open on the sides (easier to keep clean, I'm a hairy mofo)
+ nice metal roller drum for volume & discrete multimedia keys (could do w/o the latter but since I don't use an ext. amp I really like that vol. control)
+ rubbery soft touch coating on key caps
+ $45 cheaper atm (about $20 when regularly priced)
+ Corsair support & 2 yr warranty
+ cushy wrist rest that screws on
+ discrete Windows key disabling button
+ USB pass-thru port
+ discrete macro keys (which I'll probably use more as app shortcuts than for gaming)
+ thick braided USB cable
- F keys, Home/Insert/Page block, and macro keys are not mechanical, rubber domes
- I've read more than a couple of complaints amongst reviews that individual LEDs have gone out on keys within weeks of use, Corsair's warranty/support counters this some I guess
- rubbery coating can get dirtier or oily faster, I dig tho
Ducky Shining DK9008S - $142 to $150 @ Tiger Imports
+ available w/other Cherry MX switches (I might possibly try browns rather than red)
+ available w/other backlighting color options (might opt for white instead of the tired blue)
+ multimedia keys for volume & track control
+ discrete computer, e-mail, internet & calculator keys
+ DIP switches underneath to disable Windows key
+ standard key caps all around make replacement easier
+ removable/replaceable USB cable
- volume & multimedia keys require Fn + F-key combination (volume bothers me particularly)
- price difference
Not a lot of negatives either way, just can't seem to make up my mind. Thoughts? Anyone own both or either? Any other suggestions?
Update: They both use Costar stabilizers which lead to slightly different feeling Shift/Enter keys, more info in a post below, along with some initial impressions of the K90 and a Rosewill with brown switches that I also bought.
I made a lil' pros/cons list but then Newegg threw a huge monkey wrench into it by slashing the Corsair prices until Monday, but here it is anyway (roughly ranked in order of importance)...
Corsair K90 - currently $83 after DC/MIR @ Newegg
+ nice looking aluminum back plate that's open on the sides (easier to keep clean, I'm a hairy mofo)
+ nice metal roller drum for volume & discrete multimedia keys (could do w/o the latter but since I don't use an ext. amp I really like that vol. control)
+ rubbery soft touch coating on key caps
+ $45 cheaper atm (about $20 when regularly priced)
+ Corsair support & 2 yr warranty
+ cushy wrist rest that screws on
+ discrete Windows key disabling button
+ USB pass-thru port
+ discrete macro keys (which I'll probably use more as app shortcuts than for gaming)
+ thick braided USB cable
- F keys, Home/Insert/Page block, and macro keys are not mechanical, rubber domes
- I've read more than a couple of complaints amongst reviews that individual LEDs have gone out on keys within weeks of use, Corsair's warranty/support counters this some I guess
- rubbery coating can get dirtier or oily faster, I dig tho
Ducky Shining DK9008S - $142 to $150 @ Tiger Imports
+ available w/other Cherry MX switches (I might possibly try browns rather than red)
+ available w/other backlighting color options (might opt for white instead of the tired blue)
+ multimedia keys for volume & track control
+ discrete computer, e-mail, internet & calculator keys
+ DIP switches underneath to disable Windows key
+ standard key caps all around make replacement easier
+ removable/replaceable USB cable
- volume & multimedia keys require Fn + F-key combination (volume bothers me particularly)
- price difference
Not a lot of negatives either way, just can't seem to make up my mind. Thoughts? Anyone own both or either? Any other suggestions?
Update: They both use Costar stabilizers which lead to slightly different feeling Shift/Enter keys, more info in a post below, along with some initial impressions of the K90 and a Rosewill with brown switches that I also bought.
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