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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: The Solutor on Wed, 06 April 2011, 09:08:50
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After a long (and quik) journey across the Atlantic ocean, and a two day stop in the Italian tolls, the keyboard is finally here.
So I'm posting the my very firs (and not necessarily definitive) impressions.
First: the keyboard sounds very solid, with a pleasant low pitched sound when a key is pressed to the bottom. A waaaay better sound than the one that comes from the Black Widow i used in thr past week.
Second: The blue light is pleasant: is not the standard blue used on most (really too much) electronics in the last ten years, btw i still think that a red or amber baklighting is a better choice.
Third: I bought the brown switch version because I've already tried the blues, but with the idea of swapping them with a bunch of clears.
After a quick test I'm still not changed my mind, the blue's click sounds a bit fake, the brown's bump is definitely too weak for my taste, I'll go for clears and likely i will do some LED mod at the same time.
Fourth: The legends seem a bit changed since the photos previously seen: the lower and upper case symbols are now "printed" roughly with the same font (I'm not sure this is a good idea, but definitely not a biggie).
Fifth: the keyboard in general seem very well built, the key and case finish is very good, the legend are well centered on the keys, the wrist rest is nice and also well finished, the USB cable is thick but flexible enough, the USB hub is more than welcome.
Sixth: I still hate the stupid linear enter key, I will never get used to it, and I really hope that an ISO or Bigass backlit version will come in the near future, from Xarmor or whatever.
To summarize I got exactly what I've expected, for a price that is really too much for a person outside the US, but is absolutely reasonable if the shipment and import fees aren't taken in account.
Surely a definitely better spent amount money than the ones used to try the Black Widow.
As usual apologies for the very poor English, I'll upload some photos later...
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(http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/1636/imag0081fu.jpg)
(http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/230/dsc00204l.jpg)
(http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/8107/imag0090je.jpg)
The Xarmor keycap side by side whith the BW one: more than a segment of DNA is shared...
(http://img864.imageshack.us/img864/1156/imag0101wj.jpg)
(http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/5130/imag0094b.jpg)
There was some concern about the soldering points, really they are perfectly done, as you can see.
(http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/8884/imag0112j.jpg)
(http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/4103/imag0117.jpg)
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What's the story on this company?
http://www.xarmor-usa.com/
^^ This is their website. Does that look ominous to anyone else besides me?
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I think they just stopped to sell the keyboard in the US directly.
You have to look at their main website
http://www.ione.com.tw/
And, if you want, buy it trough ergogeek or amazon.
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you're supposed to post this in another forum noobie!
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you're supposed to post this in another forum noobie!
Do you mean another room ?
Frankly this topic was not meant as a full featured review but rather as a discussion topic, I think that the mods/admins can move the topic quickly if they think this topic can belong to the reviews room.
BTW, I have probably 60000 messages posted in the last 14 years, i don't think that newbie is the better term to describe myself.
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Give the dude a break. You or your grandparents used to be FOB once.
I know this because there ARE no Native Canadians.
DOOD, my grandparents are still FOB you noobiecake.
and I believe they like to call them aboriginal Canadians because they originate from the aboriginese mountains.
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Frankly this topic was not meant as a full featured review but rather as a discussion topic, I think that the mods/admins can move the topic quickly if they think this topic can belong to the reviews room.
ok fine i ruse and i aporogize, but you noobie like ripster.
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How much (€) did you paid for your Xarmor U9BL-S all together?
I'm not sure what i should buy the U9BL-S or the Deck Legend Ice Tactile PS2 :(
First I want the Deck but now the European Distributor told me that it isnt possible to get one. So I have to buy in the USA and get them to Germany :(
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How much (€) did you paid for your Xarmor U9BL-S all together?
Too much, really, but I'm childish enough to do it, when I like a "toy".
140€ (the keyboard's price + shipping) + 21€ (VAT + import fee) + 11 euro (what the Italian postal service charges to manage the toll process).
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but you noobie like ripster.
Now I'm definitely Happy :cool:
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Now I'm definitely Happy :cool:
how do u feel about getting a panda hug?
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how do u feel about getting a panda hug?
I really prefer a Koala hug, but a Panda one is still fine, thanks :smile:.
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I really prefer a Koala hug, but a Panda one is still fine, thanks :smile:.
ok but i'm warning you, you might get bamboozled. :D
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It's time to upload my usual avatar I presume...
ROOARRR!!!!
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I think they just stopped to sell the keyboard in the US directly.
You have to look at their main website
http://www.ione.com.tw/
And, if you want, buy it trough ergogeek or amazon.
Good to know.
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Good to know.
Got mine from ErgoGeek. Reliable and fast. Me happy camper.
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I'm pretty sure it's 2KRO.
Hold down w + r + v
wwrrvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Already done, haven't read it, on the U9 thread on OCN ?
BTW I couldn't care less about NKRO, I'm not an hard core gamer, and probably I'm the only one in the world that has never used the WASD keys, I'm used with the cursor ones and I never had a single ghosting problem even on a 5$ keyboard.
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Oh, I thought that was the non-backlit model.
Seem that the behavior of the two keyboard is different.
This one register whatever you want, if connected via PS2
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What are you using to test?
I recommend Aquakeytest. Squash down both hands under PS/2.
I used the MS online test.
Now I tried the program you suggested and the KB does a 6KRO, because I'm now connected via USB.
I need to reboot to test via PS2.
So please wait.
P.S. have you read my pm ?
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An arm used to press a lot of keys, and a finger used to press PRT SCRN
(http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/954/nkro.png)
Should be enough, isn't it ?
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I got mine from ergogeek too. First impression was that the keyboard is pretty well built. The feel of the keys is a tad bit different than my previous MX Brown board - Das Keyboard Professional S. It is also more quiet. The keys produce a lower pitched noise when pressed (not the same claky kind of metalicky sound as the Das).
What sucks is that I managed to break the wristrest somehow when trying to remove it - flimzy plastic clips!! grrrr...
Anyways, it will take a while to get used to the keyboard but so far I guess I got what I overpaid for (thanks to importing it from the States - gotta love duty fees!!!).
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I got mine from ergogeek too. First impression was that the keyboard is pretty well built. The feel of the keys is a tad bit different than my previous MX Brown board - Das Keyboard Professional S. It is also more quiet. The keys produce a lower pitched noise when pressed (not the same claky kind of metalicky sound as the Das).
Exactly, sounds better than other keyboards, its a pleasant sound.
What sucks is that I managed to break the wristrest somehow when trying to remove it - flimzy plastic clips!! grrrr...
You have just to rotate the wrist rest, like when you close a book, to remove it.
Anyways, it will take a while to get used to the keyboard but so far I guess I got what I overpaid for (thanks to importing it from the States - gotta love duty fees!!!).
Same here, I also imported it, and I also love so much the VAT paid twice...
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I don't like the idea of painted keycap. Its going to be ugly when the paint wears off... with all the light leaks..ew..EwEW
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Afaik there aren't other alternatives in production, yet.
Btw I used (heavily) a MS/Razer Reclusa for more than two years and haven't noticed any sign of wearing, and the Reclusa's key were pretty similar to the ones used on the U9BL.
Obviously would be nice to have doubleshots.