My goal was to find a good quality wireless backlit mechanical keyboard, which in years past was an impossible feat. I write a lot, with a laptop connected to a TV, so a "living room" solution was needed. I use a lap desk with wireless mouse alongside the wireless kb.
PROS
+ 80% size/ten-keyless. This is especially important due to the limited space on my lap desk, leaves room for the mouse on the right while allowing me to center the QWERTY keys straight in front of me instead of angled to the left.
+ The key press feel is nice and dependable. A bit louder than I would have liked, but not a dealbreaker. Key caps pop off easily without the need for a key puller (one is not included).
+ adjustable brightness backlit keys for dark setting via software (download from corsairDOTcom). Dedicated backlighting ON/OFF button at the top of kb.
+ solid wireless connection via 2.4 ghz USB dongle. I haven't tried the bluetooth method yet.
+ battery saver function goes into sleep mode after 15 min of non-use. Just tap any key to wake it up.
+ SOLID build quality. Has very little flex to the base, which is heavy and rubber feet keep it from sliding around, even at high pitched angles. ALSO IMPORTANT: the base has a border, which allows you to move the kb around the desktop without activating keys! I love the look and size of other mechanical kb's, but their borderless designs cause much unintended key press frustration. None of that with this kb!
+ has an ON/OFF switch. My last wireless kb didn't and I had to remove the AA battery sometimes to clean or reset to clear out glitches.
+ wrist rest almost perfect. Like all wrist rests, I wish it were just slightly higher, but it's way better than nothing. It attaches/detaches easily and stays on strong. Has a comfortable rubberized finish.
+ LED status lights are dim, as they should be. POWER/BATTERY STRENGTH, WIRELESS SIGNAL and CAPS LOCK indicators are comfortable in dark setting. My laptop's status LEDs are so excruciatingly bright I had to put black gaffer's tape over them.
+ dedicated media buttons, VOL, PLAY/PAUSE, STOP, etc. Very handy.
+ At first time use, I installed the kb's firmware update (corsairDOTcom) and it worked without a hitch. Instructions were clear and easy to follow.
CONS
- My only real big gripe with this kb is the key press SENSITIVITY. This is my first Cherry MX switch mechanical kb, so I can't compare it to other color varieties, but I have to warn fellow writers out there that they may dislike this kb. It's advertised "for gamers" because the Cherry MX RED key press sensitivity is very fast and light. This is not necessarily bad for writers, but here's my gripe: When writing, you aren't constantly tapping away. You sometimes pause and sit and think and rest your fingertips on the surface of the keys. This is where the key press sensitivity becomes a major issue for me. When using this kb, my LIFELONG HABIT of resting my fingertips during pauses results in CONSTANT unintended characters being written onscreen. The three common ones are my left and right ring fingers accidentally depressing S and L keys resulting in "ssssssssssssssssssssssss" and "llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll" and my thumbs depressing the space bar resulting in long blank spaces and then I have to backspace them out of the document. It's frustrating. I suppose I'll get used to it after time, learn not to rest my fingertips at all, but that's going to be a hard habit to break. Corsair only sells this kb with Cherry MX REDs at this time. If I had a choice, I would have probably gotten BROWN, which is considered more appropriate for writing, I believe.
- switches feel high quality, but I would have preferred quieter keys.
- blue only LED backlighting. I guess Corsair thinks their customers only want blue because blue is Corsair's signature brand color. Not true at all and inconsiderate on Corsair's part. I don't dislike the blue, but wish I had options, as I would definitely not use the blue. I don't use any of the special lighting gymnastics settings. I keep it solid, no effects, brightness turned way down.
This is the best kb I've used thus far, so I guess I'm going to learn to stop resting my fingertips when pausing. Otherwise, great kb. Don't hesitate to buy unless you're a writer.
| Brand | Corsair |
|---|---|
| Item model number | CH-9145030-NA |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Item Weight | 2.4 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 14.4 x 6.8 x 1.6 inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 14.4 x 6.8 x 1.6 inches |
| Color | Blue |
| Power Source | Battery Powered |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included) |
| Manufacturer | Corsair |
| ASIN | B077ZX9KJ7 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | January 8, 2018 |
