Fine keyboard, especially for the price
I will say up┼ front that I have to sigh at reviews that complain this keyboard "doesn't have this" or "isn't a mechanical keyboard"... as if they expected top-dollar features from a $15 keyboard. Seriously? I got this on sale for $13. Even at the normal price of $15, this is an excellent keyboard. It's unrealistic to expect a $95 keyboard for $15. I was looking for two things: 1) Ease of press (I do a LOT of typing). While the keys could be a LITTLE easier to press, they are just fine. They are far "softer" than my previous Logitech keyboard, and this keyboard is half the price. After several days of typing I am liking this keyboard more and more. I'd buy it again. 2) Lit keyboard (including the characters), so I can see the keys even in dim light. Some people state the keyboard is "mushy". I type at 90 wpm and have typed for over five decades. I don't find it mushy at all. True, the keys don't have an audible click or a "definite feel" when they make contact, but they DO make contact, every time. I personally like the "softness" of the keys. I don't notice any key bounce. Every key is responsive. I understand that sometimes folks do get a lemon (especially with dirt-cheap priced items). But my experience thus far has been great. Some reviews state that the painted-on tops wear off quickly, and I will admit that is a disappointment. If there's one thing I hate about cheap keyboards, it's the letters wearing off so you can't read the keyboard. What good is a backlit keyboard if the letters are worn off? This could be corrected by painting the keys on the inside (which is a feature of good keyboard) or putting a "carved keycap" over the keyboard (which of course costs a lot more than simple paint). So that's a downside. But then again, this is a $15 keyboard. One can reduce key wear by painting the keycaps with a high-quality clear sealant, but even that will wear off with time. I would ordinarily knock this keyboard down to 4 stars on that issue alone but... FIFTEEN DOLLAR KEYBOARD. For the price it's great. (Still painting the keys on the inside would be a whole lot smarter.) In addition there are other features on this keyboard that I like a lot. 1) You can turn off the WINDOWS key easily (FNC Win)... which I love because I often accidentally hit the Windows key, and rarely use it. It is just as easy to turn back on. 2) There is a single "light" key at the bottom of the keyboard which turns the backlighting on and off instantly... which is nice because there are times I don't want the distraction. And while this keyboard cannot change colors (again, $15)... it does have 4 levels of brightness, easily switchable. Plus if you turn the backlight off, it remembers the prior level of brightness when you turn it back on. One user stated that the keypad doesn't work in gaming if the Numlock key is on. This is common with many games, and will differ from game to game and keyboard to keyboard. The solution: Don't hit the Numlock key while playing a game. If ya do... either hit it again or FAIL. That's part of gaming. Nuther option: if you're a hard-core gamer paying lotsa dollars for your computer and games, don't cheap out with a $15 keyboard. Seriously. This is advertised as a "gaming keyboard" and I would agree that; it seems to work very well in that area. But I have learned over the years to not hit the Numlock key when gaming. ;D There are several other features standard with multimedia keyboards. I do believe it is the best keyboard I've ever owned. I prefer it even over mechanical keyboards (which really, I've never found to be all they're lauded to be-- and usually over-priced). This keyboard has high reviews. It is rated to last 5 million keystrokes (whatever that means). If it lasts as long as my prior keyboard, I'll be happy.... especially if I can buy a replacement for $15. :D Read more