Got the board on Friday (printed browns), but have had a busy enough weekend that I haven't had a chance to spend quality time on it! This always happens to me when I get a fun new toy. Still, my first impression of it has been very, very good. The shape and size work perfectly for my setup, and I really love the detachable/redirectable cable. It just makes situating the keyboard so convenient - it's full-sized in the ways I want it to be, and compact in the others. I like the plain and simple look, and there's a feeling of subtle quality about the whole board. Whereas my Unicomp Spacesaver feels slightly creaky in the plastic casing and the keypresses have a bit of 'hollowness' about them, the Leopold feels solid, firm and sleek. I haven't decided yet whether I prefer the browns to the buckling springs of my Unicomp - different but equal is my verdict so far. I enjoy the 'bounciness' of the Unicomp, whereas I find the browns to feel more... firm? While also being less resistant? I'm not very good with the technical lingo. The browns have delivered on their promise of being real mechanicals while also being significantly quieter than buckling springs, and for that I'm happy.
My only niggle with the Leopold is the spacebar - maybe I'm just having to get used to it, but it doesn't quite travel in the way I like. Something about the keypress feels restricted, and its travel seems shallower than the rest of the keys. Maybe it will just take a little longer to break in, and it's not a big deal so far. It does stand out to me, though, as feeling different from the rest of the keys, and it's mainly this inconsistency that bugs me.
Other than that, I'm very pleased with my Leopold! It meets my needs almost perfectly, and I feel that every element of its design has been carefully considered. I'm not very experienced with mechanical boards, but I'm thinking this board will end up being a crowd-pleaser around here.
