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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: berserkfan on Wed, 03 April 2013, 10:10:28

Title: anyone heard about Zalman
Post by: berserkfan on Wed, 03 April 2013, 10:10:28
I'm just wondering about the Zalman Mechanical Keyboard - ZM-K500. It looks cheap. The switches - no details. I'm guessing they got a cherry red knockoff, but can't find much info.

I want to know if it is cherry compatible and if Cherry keycaps fit fine. Wouldn't mind buying and modding and fooling around with it. If I break it when opening, at least it's a Zalman, not a Filco, that I broke!
Title: Re: anyone heard about Zalman
Post by: Vintage on Wed, 03 April 2013, 10:22:06
Looks like a version of the rapoo v7 which makes knockoff linear Cherry switches. I think they are in between the heaviness of Red and Black cherry switches, but they are supposed to be low quality and poorly made.

They should be compatible with Cherry mx keycaps though. The stem is very similar except for the yellow color.

If you search this site for rapoo v7 I am sure you'll get more info.
Title: Re: anyone heard about Zalman
Post by: omgFiRE on Wed, 03 April 2013, 11:03:04
The switches - no details. I'm guessing they got a cherry red knockoff, but can't find much info.

Kaihua PG1511 series (http://deskthority.net/wiki/Kaihua_PG1511_series) - Cherry MX clone:
Viewsonic V1
Genius M1
Newmen GM-10
Shogun Bros. Cross Blade
Zalman ZM-K500
Rapoo V7

Specs: http://www.kailh.com/en/products.asp?Categoryid=113&rel=15
Title: Re: anyone heard about Zalman
Post by: omgFiRE on Wed, 03 April 2013, 11:37:22
I want to know if it is cherry compatible and if Cherry keycaps fit fine. Wouldn't mind buying and modding and fooling around with it. If I break it when opening, at least it's a Zalman, not a Filco, that I broke!
QFR?
Title: Re: anyone heard about Zalman
Post by: Vintage on Wed, 03 April 2013, 16:23:03
I'm just wondering about the Zalman Mechanical Keyboard - ZM-K500. It looks cheap. The switches - no details. I'm guessing they got a cherry red knockoff, but can't find much info.

I want to know if it is cherry compatible and if Cherry keycaps fit fine. Wouldn't mind buying and modding and fooling around with it. If I break it when opening, at least it's a Zalman, not a Filco, that I broke!
Pretty sure this is a lot cheaper that the QFR.
Title: Re: anyone heard about Zalman
Post by: daerid on Wed, 03 April 2013, 21:49:44
If this is a Cherry knockoff...

those guys need to stick to CPU coolers
Title: Re: anyone heard about Zalman
Post by: Hak Foo on Wed, 03 April 2013, 23:48:35
WRT CPU coolers, I used to really like Zalman's stuff-- had a 7000 on my old Athlon 64, and then a 9700 on my Phenom-- but they tend to be very expensive for the performance offered.  I had one of their VGA coolers on a 6800LE and it was very impressive too, but again, fairly costly compared with, say, Arctic Cooling.
Title: Re: anyone heard about Zalman
Post by: 1391406 on Thu, 04 April 2013, 00:31:12
(http://blog-imgs-51.fc2.com/w/a/t/watchmonoblog/ZM-K500_20.jpg)

(http://www.zalman.com/DataFile/product/ZM-K500_b_05.jpg)


BELOW: Zalman's switch on the left. Cherry Red on the right.


(http://blog-imgs-51.fc2.com/w/a/t/watchmonoblog/ZM-K500_23.jpg)
Title: Re: anyone heard about Zalman
Post by: Grim Fandango on Thu, 04 April 2013, 02:52:52
I only know them for two things

-Their clip on mic
-Their CPU coolers

Did not know they made keyboards.
Title: Re: anyone heard about Zalman
Post by: davkol on Thu, 04 April 2013, 04:35:56
I only know them for two things

-Their clip on mic
-Their CPU coolers

Did not know they made keyboards.

They don't make keyboards, it's a rebranded OEM design.
Title: Re: anyone heard about Zalman
Post by: berserkfan on Fri, 05 April 2013, 22:09:36
yes, it is very cheap, so much that I am tempted. but the purpose of a mechanical keyboard is the pleasure in typing. a poorly made knockoff only needs one damn swtich to break or spoil, and it's all downhill from there.


Some Chinese stuff has become seriously good quality over the past 10 years. kaihua may still be cutting its teeth. I'm totally willing to consider them - once they start gaining a rep for quality.

I'm just wondering about the Zalman Mechanical Keyboard - ZM-K500. It looks cheap. The switches - no details. I'm guessing they got a cherry red knockoff, but can't find much info.

I want to know if it is cherry compatible and if Cherry keycaps fit fine. Wouldn't mind buying and modding and fooling around with it. If I break it when opening, at least it's a Zalman, not a Filco, that I broke!
Pretty sure this is a lot cheaper that the QFR.