1) I have noticed some of the keys sit lower than others, e.g. the F and J key sit lower down compared to every other key on that row, is this normal?
I've never noticed anything like this, but if it's F and J, it could be a feature just like some keyboards have dished keycaps on these home keys.
2) I noticed my keyboard does not have a blue light on some of the keys like it does in the picture on Amazon, and it also has a different layout; on the Amazon keyboard it has scroll lock, num lock, and switch lock keys in the top right, all with lights on, but my keyboard has print screen, pause break, and a delete key there with no lights. I am worried that I have a fake keyboard here?
This has been asked a few times, STFW and common sense people!
No, it isn't fake. Why would it be? Noppoo is already a brand that releases knock-off products. And if it were fake, does it even mean anything? I mean, this is a gabendamn cheap gaming keyboard, not a novelty like rare vintage Cherry boards or say cracks^Wclacks.
There have been many revisions of the choc mini, with slightly different layouts, cases, cables and all that jazz.
3) The keys have a 'scratchy' feel to them when typing, almost as if they are touching...is this common with Noppoo's? My old keyboard felt smooth.
It's Cherry MX and probably brand new. Moreover, there's certain level of inconsistency among different batches of the same switch. Nothing unexpected. It will change with use (or you just don't like the combination of switches, keycaps and mounting).
The only actual problem might be a keycap grinding against the case (happens with off-center presses of right arrow in my case).
4) Finally, I would like to ask if anyone knows where I can buy custom key caps for this keyboard (just the WASD and ESC keys) and if changing the key caps affects performance in anyway.
Go to the keycaps subforum, one of the first posts is a sticky that lists keycap vendors.
I believe the Choc Mini has OEM profile caps, so just make sure you get OEM profile replacements or you'll have uneven key heights/shapes. As long as you do that you should not have any issues.
Nope. It's Cherry profile by PLUM.
Cherry alphas, F keys and arrows fit perfectly. Actually, the only potential issues are spacebar (no replacements exist), right Shift (compatible with rack Cherry keyboards like 11900/1800), bottom-row modifiers (compatible with a mix of winkeyless and modern rack Cherry boards works on older revisions, newer revisions require a Moogle kit) and the navigation column (any column from the numpad works well).
Some people replace everything but the spacebar by aftermarket DSA sets. It's possible, but a downgrade in quality, if you ask me. Imsto's sets, stuff made by GMK in general, harvests from Cherry Corp. keyboards and possibly some Leopold keycaps are quite a lot of options in the end.
