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Wireless Mechanical Keyboard

P

Polydactyl

n00b
Joined
Apr 3, 2010
Messages
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Oh wow. This is what I've been looking for. I bought the Black Widow Ultimate last month but I'm returning it tomorrow because the wires really bother me.

I ordered a logitech k750 this past week because I wanted a wireless keyboard... I think I may have to order this keyboard too and see which one I like better. Nice find!
 
Nope. Probably Friday at the earliest. It's being shipped UPS ground from CA to FL. Haven't received a shipping confirmation yet.
 
Can't wait to hear about it. :) I just got my k750 today and I'll be shipping my ultimate blackwidow back this week but if all goes well with this xarmor one I'll purchase it.
 
It appears that company has gone out of business too (XArmor that is).

I want to order it... mmm.. I really wanted to hear your review first though. I'm liking the k750 so far...
 
Finally got my U9W this afternoon. Sorry, no pix. However, it looks like it does in the photos on Amazon.

The keyboard itself is solid and has some heft to it. I also have a Filco with brown Cherry switches, and it the tactile response feels the same (that's a good thing), although I can't do a side-by-side since I don't have the other keyboard with at the moment. The Filco makes a faint metallic ping sound when you type, but this keyboard does not. The case housing (and the removable wrist rest) is that rubbery plastic, which I happen to like. No worries about fingerprints either. Also, the Windows keys are smaller than normal...the size of a regular letter key. I'd prefer them a little bigger, but given some people's dislike of this key, that might be a good thing. The tilt of the keyboard is NOT adjustable, although it sits at a height/angle as if you had the little folding legs on a regular keyboard extended.

Wireless: So far no issues with the wireless(*see below). I was worried about interference since the 2.4 GHz frequency is the same as my mouse (Logitech G700) and router. The router used to be on the desk <2 feet from my mouse, and would drown it out when transmitting. I took me a while to figure out that was what caused my mouse to seem to stop working. I honestly wish it was Bluetooth instead of a proprietary wireless connection, but that's just me.

The keyboard also includes a USB cable to power the keyboard if the batteries run out. The cable only provides power, it can't be used instead of wireless. The manual also says the cable will not recharge batteries. There is no physical ON/OFF switch. Hopefully I won't learn about how short/long the battery life is for a good long time.

The LEDs that are where the CAPS LOCK/SCROLL LOCK/NUMLOCK LEDs would be on a wired keyboard are actually for NUMLOCK, low battery, and transmit. The transmit light blinks every type you press a key, but it's not horribly bright (like the Filco LEDs.) Still, it might get on one's nerves after a time. The NUMLOCK light stays lit until you press another key.

I've experienced a few glitches. Once, while typing this writeup the keyboard stopped responding, and the transmit light stayed lit, like a key was stuck down. After a few seconds it went out and the keyboard starting working again. *I don't think this is a wireless interference issue, mostly because the transmit light seemed to be stuck on. I'm definitely going to keep an eye on this. The other glitch was that the spacebar seemed to catch a little bit from time to time. I removed it and trimmed the outer edge of the little white inserts (in the spacebar itself) to prevent the little metal bar that balance the spacebar from catching on it. I'm not going to try to explain this in detail without pictures unless someone who actually has this keyboard experiences the same problem. I'm sure in some technical sense, this voided the warranty.

Don't ask me about lag...my senses aren't finely tuned enough to notice things like this. Also, if n-key rollover is important to you, you won't get it with this keyboard, or any keyboard that uses wireless USB connection for that matter.

I fully expect that with that if Xarmor is truly out of business, that there will be not support or replacement under warranty if I have any major problems. With only 16 left in Ergogeek's inventory (according to their website) I'm guessing this will be a hard to find item before too long. There were 48 when I ordered it a week ago.

So far I really like the keyboard, but with the glitch I experienced, I can only remain cautiously optimistic and hope it's not a frequent problem.

Incidentally, I'm using it on a 27" iMac as a replacement for the little aluminum Apple Bluetooth keyboard that has the stupid fn switch in the lower left corner where the CTRL key should be.

EDIT: I just figured out that the CAPS LOCK can be turned on and off from the computer using the virtual keyboard, and the setting transfers to the keyboard, which means the wireless on the keyboard is send/receive, which means the problem I described above may have been interference. At the time it happened, my iPhone (also connected via 2.4 GHz wi-fi of course) was sitting directly in front of my keyboard. I moved it, and haven't had the problem since.
 
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Why do people keep saying the X-Armor is out of business?

I think their parent company (qtronix right?) just didn't want to maintain the American website.
 
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