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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Atranox on Tue, 13 November 2012, 12:57:36

Title: Max Keyboards
Post by: Atranox on Tue, 13 November 2012, 12:57:36
Does anyone have any experience with Max Keyboards?  I was looking at the X8 with a promo code for $100: http://www.maxkeyboard.com/max-keyboard-nighthawk-x8-blue-backlit-mechanical-keyboard.html

My only concern was the similarity to iOne/X-Armor, but it's my understanding that the only similarity between the two is the actual shell/case.  I've read that they are indeed different, but I contacted their support anyways and they responded with this -

Quote
Thank you for contacting us for your inquiry.

We are not affiliated with X-Armor,  our design and material are definitely different to X-Armor (internal PCB, key cap, components, LED, onboard memory, heavy duty braid cable and strict QC procedure).

Xarmor - (No) onboard memory, (No) software, (No) braided cables, (No) resistor on all leds, (No) full usb nkey roller, 2 usb cables instead.

Max Keyboard - Onboard memory (yes), Software to program macro (yes), braided cables (yes), resistor on all leds (yes), USB full nkey roller (yes), memory form wrist pad (yes), only 1 USB to power everything, customize Leds (yes)

Ps: Xarmor uses green color Printed circuit board, Max Keyboard uses red color Printed circuit board (double layer)

I hope we have clarified your question. Thank you.

Still, I was curious if anyone had any experience with these keyboards or has heard anything particularly good/bad about them.  I'm figuring the quality is fairly comparable to Ducky?
Title: Re: Max Keyboards
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Tue, 13 November 2012, 13:01:16
They are still made by iOne, just like xarmor so... even though they have some difference, I doubt the build quality is really that much better. There are defineatly better board to spend $100 or less on.
Title: Re: Max Keyboards
Post by: esoomenona on Tue, 13 November 2012, 13:05:05
That bottom row layout is just odd...
Title: Re: Max Keyboards
Post by: daerid on Tue, 13 November 2012, 13:06:47
If you're going to go Cherry, don't touch anything made by iOne with a 10 foot pole. Stick with Costar (or Leopold) and you'll be ok.
Title: Re: Max Keyboards
Post by: Atranox on Tue, 13 November 2012, 13:09:50
They are still made by iOne, just like xarmor so... even though they have some difference, I doubt the build quality is really that much better. There are defineatly better board to spend $100 or less on.

I was under the impression that they weren't affiliated with iOne or Qumax?

Edit: Same parent company I'm assuming or OEM?
Title: Re: Max Keyboards
Post by: Binge on Tue, 13 November 2012, 13:10:18
I'll be receiving a few of these MAX keyboards for review, and be assured there will be links to the review put here.
Title: Re: Max Keyboards
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Tue, 13 November 2012, 13:16:29
Right same oem, iOne. They make a lot of boards which are all very similar under many different brand name. You can easily spot them as they all use that 1.5 1 1.5 6 1.5 1 1 1.5 bottom row arrangement on the modifiers.
Title: Re: Max Keyboards
Post by: Atranox on Tue, 13 November 2012, 13:17:59
Right same oem, iOne. They make a lot of boards which are all very similar under many different brand name. You can easily spot them as they all use that 1.5 1 1.5 6 1.5 1 1 1.5 bottom row arrangement on the modifiers.

Thanks, would the Ducky Shine II's be any better?  Reason I'm asking is I'm looking for MX browns with blue or white backlighting....trying to avoid Razor.
Title: Re: Max Keyboards
Post by: FoxWolf1 on Tue, 13 November 2012, 13:19:01
I was a bit curious about these as well...not that it's the sort of thing I'd buy, but I like information. If they can customize everything down to the switches of individual keys, does that mean that a significant portion of the work (at least for "full custom" keyboards) is being done by Max themselves rather than by the OEM? In that case, the usual caveats about iOne products might not apply...
Title: Re: Max Keyboards
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Tue, 13 November 2012, 13:19:30
Quite right to avoid Razer, it's iOne too. Most accounts are Ducky Shine 2 is very nice, or if you are dead set on backlight you might also look at Keycool and Vortex for some other options.
Title: Re: Max Keyboards
Post by: Binge on Tue, 13 November 2012, 13:22:57
Quite right to avoid Razer, it's iOne too. Most accounts are Ducky Shine 2 is very nice, or if you are dead set on backlight you might also look at Keycool and Vortex for some other options.

Let's also not forget CM's Quickfire TK.  That is a quality board with back-lighting.
Title: Re: Max Keyboards
Post by: FoxWolf1 on Tue, 13 November 2012, 13:24:07
Quite right to avoid Razer, it's iOne too. Most accounts are Ducky Shine 2 is very nice, or if you are dead set on backlight you might also look at Keycool and Vortex for some other options.

Let's also not forget CM's Quickfire TK.  That is a quality board with back-lighting.

And of course, there's always Deck.