The recent move to mechanical keys has really opened up the keyboard market and choosing one is now about more than just a few backlights or media buttons. Scott has done a great job in showing what is meant by a mechanical keyboard as well as the differences between the main types in a recent article. One drawback to the mechanical keyboards is their size, they tend to be on the large side and are not the most easy portable of keyboards. Benchmark Reviews found a keyboard that might offer the best of both worlds, Cherry MX Blue switches on a trimmed down shell.
"Although mechanical keyboards have been making a comeback in recent years many of the design are quite bulky in comparison to their rubber dome counter parts. Looking to fill this area of the market Cooler Master designed the Storm QuickFire Rapid mechanical keyboard using the venerable Cherry MX Blue switches, fit into a comfortable 14" x 5" design. This makes the QuickFire Rapid perfect for LAN parties or mobile workers who may want a better typing experience than their laptops are able to offer. Benchmark Reviews will evaluate if the Cooler Master QuickFire Rapid is the perfect pint size keyboard or if corners were cut in order to meet size and price goals."
Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
- QPAD MK-50 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard @ techPowerUp
- SilverStone EC03 USB 3.0 adapter @ Bjorn3D
- Thermaltake’s Meka G1 and G-Unit keyboards @ The Tech Report
- Corsair Vengeance K60 @ XSReviews
- SteelSeries Kinzu V2 Pro Edition Gaming Mouse @ Tweaktown
- Cyborg M.M.O.7 Mouse Review @ Hardware Secrets
- Roccat Kone[+] Gaming Mouse Review @ Legit Reviews
- Corsair Vengeance K90 @ Guru of 3D
- Logitech Cube Grab-and-Go Mouse @ Tweaktown
- Gigabyte Aire M1 ultra Portable Mouse @ Funky Kit
NCIX had the black version
NCIX had the black version for $66 (US dollars) and free shipping, so I thought it was time to grab a mechanical keyboard.
If you still need a ten key, I believe there are mechanical keypads that can be bought, such as those from companies like Adesso and Filco.
I dig the separation of the ten key from the rest of the keyboard, as it cuts down on used desk space, and I’m guessing it will help somewhat on the ergonomic front.