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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Blyawon on Tue, 01 January 2013, 05:11:36

Title: Vortex KBT PURE
Post by: Blyawon on Tue, 01 January 2013, 05:11:36
What is your opinion about that keyboard:
http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=109

I want me to get a new mechanical Keyboard for my 2nd PC. Or do you have any other
suggestions?

:)
Title: Re: Vortex KBT PURE
Post by: TotalChaos on Tue, 01 January 2013, 05:21:01
I hate it because it does not have cursor keys.

The description says it has pad printed keys.  Pad printing does not last.  A year later the writing will be erased.
Title: Re: Vortex KBT PURE
Post by: laffindude on Tue, 01 January 2013, 06:09:10
Except it is lasered printed.

Edit: I have 5 of them, and 6th on the way. It is bar none my favorite board (when it is in a dampened aluminum case).
Title: Re: Vortex KBT PURE
Post by: okooko on Tue, 01 January 2013, 06:16:22
the r_shift, r_ctrl, r_win and r_alt can double as cursor keys
Title: Re: Vortex KBT PURE
Post by: Rumudiez on Tue, 01 January 2013, 06:56:03
Also fn + okl; are very nice arrow keys that complement the wasd cluster. I love the fn layer on the Pure and would recommend it over any other 60% board. Also, as with any OEM keyboard, replace the caps after you learn the layout.
Title: Re: Vortex KBT PURE
Post by: TotalChaos on Tue, 01 January 2013, 07:03:20
Edit: I have 5 of them, and 6th on the way. It is bar none my favorite board (when it is in a dampened aluminum case).
What is dampened aluminum?  Does that mean you install O-rings?
Title: Re: Vortex KBT PURE
Post by: laffindude on Tue, 01 January 2013, 09:51:25
Aluminum case stuffed with rubberized foam to kill PCB resonance.
Title: Re: Vortex KBT PURE
Post by: TotalChaos on Tue, 01 January 2013, 10:20:34
Aluminum case stuffed with rubberized foam to kill PCB resonance.
Oh cool!  Are you one of those guys who sprayed some of that self expanding foam stuff into your keyboard?   And it wouldn't stop expanding and it oozed everywhere and destroyed your keyboard like some kind of monster from a cheap scifi movie?  :eek:  :))

Sorry but that was the funniest keyboard story I ever saw documented in pictures.  :))

Title: Re: Vortex KBT PURE
Post by: linuxid10t on Tue, 01 January 2013, 10:58:27
My friend has one that I have used a bit.  He has one with MX Blues and an aluminum case (limited edition.)  Anyway, I notice you have the Das Keyboard, I have one as well.  Anyway down to it.  While both of the ones I tried had blue switches, I would say the Das Keyboards switches felt a little bit better and less squishy at the end of the key travel.  I'm assuming it has to do with the Das being plate mounted and the Pure being PCB mounted.  All in all, if I were in the market for a 60% keyboard, I'd definitely buy one.  At their $99 pricepoint, they are an absolute steal for something that unique.  That is with the plastic case however.  The limited edition comes with an aluminum case, but costs $200.
Title: Re: Vortex KBT PURE
Post by: Blyawon on Tue, 01 January 2013, 12:15:42
Thanks for the replies! I guess I will get me one. Ill tell u my opinion about it when it arrived!
Title: Re: Vortex KBT PURE
Post by: Binge on Tue, 01 January 2013, 14:44:33
What is your opinion about that keyboard:
http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=109

I want me to get a new mechanical Keyboard for my 2nd PC. Or do you have any other
suggestions?

:)

Amazing keyboards.  I've had folks from work tell me they want to buy one for all kinds of reasons.

the r_shift, r_ctrl, r_win and r_alt can double as cursor keys

qtf

Except it is lasered printed.

Edit: I have 5 of them, and 6th on the way. It is bar none my favorite board (when it is in a dampened aluminum case).

qft
Title: Re: Vortex KBT PURE
Post by: Leslieann on Tue, 01 January 2013, 17:22:31
I hate it because it does not have cursor keys.

The description says it has pad printed keys.  Pad printing does not last.  A year later the writing will be erased.

Backlit keys are not pad printed, they are clear ABS with a (pretty) thick layer of colored abs over that.
Title: Re: Vortex KBT PURE
Post by: KangarooZombies on Thu, 03 January 2013, 02:58:01
I have one. It is magical  ;D
Title: Re: Vortex KBT PURE
Post by: okooko on Thu, 03 January 2013, 03:51:26
Ive got one with reds, I use it with my laptop for an on-the-go setup.
Also I used it with my desktop for tetris lol
Title: Re: Vortex KBT PURE
Post by: megaforce on Thu, 03 January 2013, 09:58:19
I've had my Pure with Al case for a week now, and it's lovely!

It's pretty easy to disassemble( the PCB is held down by 5-6 screws) and easy to change the switches + LEDs.
Title: Re: Vortex KBT PURE
Post by: mashby on Thu, 03 January 2013, 10:04:00
What is your opinion about that keyboard:
http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=109

I want me to get a new mechanical Keyboard for my 2nd PC. Or do you have any other
suggestions?

:)

I just purchased a Pure CNC edition (http://flic.kr/s/aHsjDsk5qz) and have been playing with it for about a day.

My previous board was the Vortex Race S, which is a 70%, so I knew there was going to be some adjustment to the 60% Pure. There are some elements that I prefer to the Race and some that I'm finding some friction with. Here's a quick rundown of my thoughts thus far:

- I prefer the wider right shift key of the Pure. It's one of the friction points I had with the Race.
- Having to use the Fn key for the Function keys hasn't been much of an issue.
- Having to use the Fn key for the arrow keys is a bit awkward and may actually be a deal breaker for me. I didn't realize just how much I use those keys.
- There's an option to enable the right bottom modifiers to be the arrow keys, but I use the right shift key so it's unusable for me.

Overall, based on my initial use of the keyboard, the area of concern in recommending this keyboard are the function keys and the arrow keys. If using the Fn key to access those keys are acceptable, I think it's a great keyboard.

Hope that helps!
Title: Re: Vortex KBT PURE
Post by: Binge on Thu, 03 January 2013, 11:54:33
- There's an option to enable the right bottom modifiers to be the arrow keys, but I use the right shift key so it's unusable for me.

I've gotten used to using the left shift, ctrl, alt, and win-key more often because if you use FN+space bar it turns the right shift, alt, win, and ctrl into arrow keys.  I love how they are larger than regular arrow keys :)  Don't force yourself to stick with old habits!
Title: Re: Vortex KBT PURE
Post by: mashby on Thu, 03 January 2013, 11:58:34
I've gotten used to using the left shift, ctrl, alt, and win-key more often because if you use FN+space bar it turns the right shift, alt, and ctrl into arrow keys.  I love how they are larger than regular arrow keys :)  Don't force yourself to stick with old habits!

I don't use the right modifiers, but I still have a bit of a habit with the right shift key. Guess that typing class I took eons ago has stuck with me.  :))

It's only been a day, so we'll see if I'm able to break the habit, or simply adapt my cursor habits. So far it hasn't been that bad.
Title: Re: Vortex KBT PURE
Post by: Glod on Thu, 03 January 2013, 12:14:27
I hate it because it does not have cursor keys.

It does have arrow keys, so does the Poker and the HHKBPro2. there is nothing wrong with having your arrow keys in the second layer, the HHKB's function key is next to the arrow cluster (;['/) for painless use of arrow keys using only 2 fingers and the poker even has a nice arrow key lock feature to bring the arrow keys into the primary layer.

that being said i'm not fond of the PURE layout, i prefer the HHKB the best followed by the Poker. To each their own though.

 If you want a 60% and you want backlit, the PURE is the board to get.
Title: Re: Vortex KBT PURE
Post by: TotalChaos on Thu, 03 January 2013, 12:43:45
I hate it because it does not have cursor keys.

It does have arrow keys, so does the Poker and the HHKBPro2. there is nothing wrong with having your arrow keys in the second layer,
Not for u.  But for me, pressing 2 keys to do the work of 1 key = 2x the pain.

If I needed a tiny travel keyboard with a built in Raspberry Pi then one of these tiny KBT keyboards would be a good candidate.



Quote
the HHKB's function key is next to the arrow cluster (;['/) for painless use of arrow keys using only 2 fingers and the poker even has a nice arrow key lock feature to bring the arrow keys into the primary layer.
I have read about locking in the 2nd layer.  The problem then is that I use my Right OS key all the time, constantly.  I don't want it locked out.  On real computers the Right OS key is totally different from the Left OS key and they perform different functions.  OS Keys are just modifier keys, like ALT or SHIFT.  They are used to generate an extra 1000 keycodes that perform useful functions.


I love the way the RACE looks.  If I was a male keyboard looking to sex up a female keyboard I would totally do the RACE.  :p

She is h0t.  Not an ounce of bodyfat on her her lean mean small little Racy body.  ;D

Or am I mixing up the Race and the Pure?  Doggone it I forgot which is which.  Whichever one LeslieAnn has.
Title: Re: Vortex KBT PURE
Post by: mashby on Thu, 03 January 2013, 13:33:24
I love the way the RACE looks.  If I was a male keyboard looking to sex up a female keyboard I would totally do the RACE.  :p

She is h0t.  Not an ounce of bodyfat on her her lean mean small little Racy body.  ;D

Or am I mixing up the Race and the Pure?  Doggone it I forgot which is which.  Whichever one LeslieAnn has.

:)) You're thinking of the Race. LOL! 
Title: Re: Vortex KBT PURE
Post by: megaforce on Thu, 03 January 2013, 14:22:11
What is your opinion about that keyboard:
http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=109

I want me to get a new mechanical Keyboard for my 2nd PC. Or do you have any other
suggestions?

:)

I just purchased a Pure CNC edition (http://flic.kr/s/aHsjDsk5qz) and have been playing with it for about a day.

My previous board was the Vortex Race S, which is a 70%, so I knew there was going to be some adjustment to the 60% Pure. There are some elements that I prefer to the Race and some that I'm finding some friction with. Here's a quick rundown of my thoughts thus far:

- I prefer the wider right shift key of the Pure. It's one of the friction points I had with the Race.
- Having to use the Fn key for the Function keys hasn't been much of an issue.
- Having to use the Fn key for the arrow keys is a bit awkward and may actually be a deal breaker for me. I didn't realize just how much I use those keys.
- There's an option to enable the right bottom modifiers to be the arrow keys, but I use the right shift key so it's unusable for me.

Overall, based on my initial use of the keyboard, the area of concern in recommending this keyboard are the function keys and the arrow keys. If using the Fn key to access those keys are acceptable, I think it's a great keyboard.

Hope that helps!

To turn the "FN" LED on, you gotta press FN + Z. Doing that well set your 'backspace' key permentanly as 'delete'. Of course you can reverse that if you hit FN + Z again.