Day 1 Impressions - Everything I hoped it would be.
Ok, so I'm only going on a few hours of typing on this beast, but I am extremely happy with it, how it was packaged, how it sounds/feels and the speed/accuracy. For reference, I am a professional writer and hit about 10k words a day - so I do A LOT of typing and don't 'settle' on keyboards. I'm coming into this having been a long-time Logitech Wave devotee, then a Microsoft Sculpt owner, followed by a brief stint with a SteelSeries non-ergonomic keyboard. Though everyone's hands and posture are different, I would not trade this for ANY of the others. 1. Packaging - The only thing I've ever seen packaged better was my SecretLabs chair. Thick foam everywhere, both halves of the keyboard securely wrapped in anti-static bags, cords, keycap puller and extra keycaps sealed in zip baggies and in cutouts in the foam. If this arrives damaged, it wasn't the mailman... unless he backed over it - twice. 2. Set-up - attach a 8" cable between the two halves, plug the micro-usb end of another cord in the keyboard and the other end into a USB end of your computer. BINGO... that's all you NEED to do... of course, you can go download the drivers and software (all of which triggers Windows Defender since these folks saved some cash on buying the license from Microsoft but doesn't hurt your system (that I know of)). I really don't think the average Joe needs to download the software as this baby is plug and play and has TONS of cool color effects that can be cycled with a press of a button on the keyboard. Everything, including the wheel and the Copy/Paste/Select/Cut keys worked without the drivers. 3. Keys - ONLY downside is when you really get humming on this thing and misstroke a key, there is a bit of a metallic 'ring' sound... not a big deal... just struck me as funny as if they keyboard is sayin', "JEEZ... slow down there killer!" I opted for the brown keys... if you are a light fingered typist, they are pretty close to silent with a NICE little tactile bump when the key actuates... very little though... if you are going over 80 wpm, there's no way you'll feel it and the air will be filled with the clacky-clack-clack of the keys bottoming out (which takes a VERY satisfying amount of pressure - not too much, not too little - the springs are set PERFECT). The wrist pad is nice (not shockingly amazing but nice) and the adjustable height is perfect and VERY stable. 4 - RGB lighting - I won't ruin this one for ya... it is PER key, customizable (thru the software), but you REALLY don't need to mess with customizing, there are some AMAZING set-ups pre-configured and they are simple. 5 - The WHEEL - probably more of a gimmick than anything... it does feel nice, it nicely made, has tactile bumps as you twist it (like the wheel on your mouse) so it doesn't just spin willy-nilly. I'm sure there are people out there that are program switching fiends, but if you have multiple monitors, this'll probably just be used for volume control and muting. 6 - Overall - I considered buying the ZSA Moonlander for $365, then decided I'd try this first... I dunno... maybe the Moonlander IS better with its fancy-schmancy key setup... but... again, only a day into this one... I think I made a great choice going with this keyboard. Yes, this is relatively expensive... but, the quality and ease of operation justifies the price. If keys fly off, it catches fire and chases my dog down the hall while typing REDRUM over and over, I'll update this review. Read more
























