Love Corsair's RAM, PSU, H20 Cooling and Fans.
Your S/W for controlling the H80i is a joke though. I mean, really?
And FWIW, Corsair truly needs to rethink its trade logo and its placement on HID devices.
Brand name, uh... Okaaay but that logo? I will never buy a single peripheral with that logo on it. Not that I mind it... it's fine for things that are way out of site, but it is not a forward facing logo to begin with and even if it was, HIDs are really not a place for logos.
Example? Consider apple. There is absolutely no product sold by apple that has an apple logo on the front (user-facing) side of the product. Nuff said. Don't do it = increase sales.
Seriously... right now you guys are about as bad as Razer.
Welcome aboard!!
Hi Corsair,
Many GHers already provided many opinions, however I would like to feedback what I think about Corsair Keyboard.
Indeed, I try to provide my opinions as objective as I can.
Honestly, I like Corsair brand for what they did with Corsair PSU, Case, RAM and SSD...
However, coming to keyboard, I think Corsair should improve :
- Layout : even they did a big improvement from K90, K60 to K95 and K70, the layout is the biggest disadvantage, especially the spacebar, please change the spacebar to 6.25 + standard stem so users can change easily with standard keycaps
- Keycaps : I think the keycaps are quite sleek, if Corsair has more PBT keycaps choices, users will be very happy
- Switch : Corsair should have more choices like Brown and Blue switch
- Corsair logo: I have no issue with the current position of Corsair logo
Other than that, I think the K70 is very close to what users are looking for,
if the last row is 1.25+1.25+1.25+6.25+1.25+1.25+1.25, it is much more better :thumb:
Your S/W for controlling the H80i is a joke though. I mean, really?
And FWIW, Corsair truly needs to rethink its trade logo and its placement on HID devices.
Brand name, uh... Okaaay but that logo? I will never buy a single peripheral with that logo on it. Not that I mind it... it's fine for things that are way out of site, but it is not a forward facing logo to begin with and even if it was, HIDs are really not a place for logos.
Example? Consider apple. There is absolutely no product sold by apple that has an apple logo on the front (user-facing) side of the product. Nuff said. Don't do it = increase sales.
Seriously... right now you guys are about as bad as Razer.
@Heissler, I am an official representative here. :)
I bought an all-aluminium casing. once A really nice Lian-Li job... they made a bunch to sell under the house brand at Best Buy, who had no clue what to do with $200 full-tower cases, so they ended up dumping them at $48.
So... corsair... Ergodox style keyboard.Show Image(http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/014.gif)
Thanks everyone for the warm greetings. It has been a blast here so far with all your guy's input and feedback!
@Elrick: We don't sell all aluminium because it would make our cases extremely expensive without much to show for. The 900D for example in all aluminium would be priced beyond what most people would pay for such a case.
@tp4tissue: I've been reading a lot of threads and you're quite infamous with your replies. :)
@shrapneL: I haven't use as many of the keyboards discussed in this forum beyond the OTS (off the shelf) models you find in retail stores but I use the K70 Red/Black here @office and @home. The blues are too noisy for me and I like the sensitivity of the reds. Of course I'm also a bit bias too though to be fair, mosty OTS keyboards truly aren't built as nice either. Part of the reason I am here too though is to see what you all like and gives me an incentive to try the lesser known stuff as well.
Love Corsair's PC components. I would really love to see standard sized modifiers which would allow for custom keycap sets to be used.
+1Love Corsair's PC components. I would really love to see standard sized modifiers which would allow for custom keycap sets to be used.
this
I may start a thread soon to ask about what you all like/dislike about the keyboards available in general. Some of our engineers would really like in-depth feedback as to what can be improved. I think this is the place to ask those questions :)
So, my personal opinion. I'm assuming that Corsair will stay in mostly gamer mode, so I'm not going to say anything wild like suggest that you make a 60% board.
A few observations from a more moderate standpoint.
I don't mind having non-mechanical keys on the f-rows/six nav keys if it'll shave $10 off the cost. Honestly the only protest would be on principle, which I find less important than savings and efficiency.
Also, the open aluminum casing is great. Very strong, easy to clean, and looks wonderful. No need to change that, but having both brushed and anodized black available for all switches seems to make sense.
The aesthetic is good; the branding is there and not obtrusive, and looks quality as it's actually metal rather than printed, but as I think some others have said having standard keycap sizes would be good. Lots of modders, and I've never seen a single modified Corsair board for that reason. In fact, if you offered different colored keycaps as an option, like white, I feel as if it would be very popular with us as well as the general public. I would definitely want to get a white-keycap Corsair board, because I already like the board itself and the font is readable but different enough that it's better looking than a 1990s keyboard.
As far as the build, I understand that there are two cables, which necessitates the cable being very thick, but making them even slightly thinner would be good. The cables on my K60, while never being able to be accused of tangling, are rather large (love the braiding, though). Another option or thing to put in conjunction is having channels, and given how there's already a raise at the top of the board, it would seem like it'd be good to take advantage of that feature.
Also, a TKL version of the K70 is pretty much a must. Most all of us have different tastes in switches than just Red, so having the most popular keyboard of yours in the more common layout would seem sensible. Even having the K65 with an option of different switches is fine.
Other than that, the little touches of quality in you guys' work is is just great. The metal name, aluminum design, volume drum (which none of my other boards have) and cable are just some of the touches that I've come to appreciate from all of you.
We originally assumed that people wouldn't mind the rubber dome keys to save a little on costs but it seems from that we were wrong judging by the success of the K70. I'm a fan of the aluminum too and I personally think (no bias involved) that we do have one of the best looking keyboards available. It certainly isn't everyone's cup of tea but it does add to the raised key design.
I can pass the feedback along by using a thinner cable but would you all prefer something like the K65 its removable? Maybe a removable braided cable like I read in another post? The TKL version of a K70 is a good idea too though I wonder if the price would justify it over the K70. Thats always the tricky part about customizing keyboards as balancing costs and design can be very difficult to do.
We originally assumed that people wouldn't mind the rubber dome keys to save a little on costs but it seems from that we were wrong judging by the success of the K70. I'm a fan of the aluminum too and I personally think (no bias involved) that we do have one of the best looking keyboards available. It certainly isn't everyone's cup of tea but it does add to the raised key design.
I can pass the feedback along by using a thinner cable but would you all prefer something like the K65 its removable? Maybe a removable braided cable like I read in another post? The TKL version of a K70 is a good idea too though I wonder if the price would justify it over the K70. Thats always the tricky part about customizing keyboards as balancing costs and design can be very difficult to do.
Corsair could do something that'd make both gamers and many enthusiasts happy at the same, which is actually offering GOOD and unique backlit mechanical keyboards.
As for GOOD, it's not only adding lights to it, I mean good keycaps and not the same crap as Logitech uses on their G710+ and Cooler Master on their CM Quick Fire TK. Honestly, all these boards suck when it comes to keycap quality. I'd either suggest getting a new OEM or get the keycaps from a Third Party.
Second, people should not focus only on the overused Cherry MX Switches and the overpriced and difficult to use Topre switches. Matias is already selling their Quiet and Clicky switches to whoever wants them and they allow some things that both gamers and enthusiasts would enjoy:
- Better tactile feel than Cherry MX switches
- Quiet switches make much less noise than either Cherry or Topre.
- Both Quiet and Clicky switches are transparent, allowing backlight and best of all, RGB Backlight. I know people who'd kill for that.
What I mean is, instead of making half-assed backlit keyboards with few light effects, crappy keycaps and nothing new, Corsair should think about releasing some high-end mechanical keyboard with Matias switches and maybe RGB backlighting that would be able to compete against keyboards such as the Ducky Shine III, which has features that both gamers and enthusiasts enjoy.
The premium edition should come with PBT keycaps. You can market them to non-keyboard enthusiasts as more durable/non-fading, gaming caps.
The premium edition should come with PBT keycaps. You can market them to non-keyboard enthusiasts as more durable/non-fading, gaming caps.
The price might drive some people away, but it would be good to have this as an option. Again, thinking that the more premium products would be online order.
Also I don't think that PBT text fades any less quickly, unless you mean shine.
Shine as well. Sorry, just realized I wasn't clear -- I was referring to the finish fading. I saw a few K60 and K90s in the corsair forums where the finish of the key was getting rubbed off.
I'd love to have more options for good quality, non pad-printed PBTs -- if Corsair offered them separately and didn't use a heinous sci-fi legend, I could see many enthusiasts picking a set up.
Shine as well. Sorry, just realized I wasn't clear -- I was referring to the finish fading. I saw a few K60 and K90s in the corsair forums where the finish of the key was getting rubbed off.
I'd love to have more options for good quality, non pad-printed PBTs -- if Corsair offered them separately and didn't use a heinous sci-fi legend, I could see many enthusiasts picking a set up.
It would be nice for sure, I don't like the pad printing at all. My legends are quite faded, and I don't use my K60 very much given that I have an MX Blue now. But what's wrong with the font? :(
I'd love to have more options for good quality, non pad-printed PBTs -- if Corsair offered them separately and didn't use a heinous sci-fi legend, I could see many enthusiasts picking a set up.
The K60 font is nice! I don't like the sci-fi fonts displayed on the BlackWidow, newest Keycool, or Deck boards.
The premium edition should come with PBT keycaps. You can market them to non-keyboard enthusiasts as more durable/non-fading, gaming caps.
The price might drive some people away, but it would be good to have this as an option. Again, thinking that the more premium products would be online order.
Also I don't think that PBT text fades any less quickly, unless you mean shine.
Shine as well. Sorry, just realized I wasn't clear -- I was referring to the finish fading. I saw a few K60 and K90s in the corsair forums where the finish of the key was getting rubbed off.
I'd love to have more options for good quality, non pad-printed PBTs -- if Corsair offered them separately and didn't use a heinous sci-fi legend, I could see many enthusiasts picking a set up.
^^ that, but I don't mind the modifiers and I'm not a fan of Cherry font.
^^ that, but I don't mind the modifiers and I'm not a fan of Cherry font.
and when the keys wear? you cant find modifiers, only Max keyboard have them + matching space bar. 1.25 x6 layout will give you tons of options when comes to keycaps.... even if you don't like Cherry legends you can always go with something else when you have proper modifiers and space bar options. Look at all responds, every body is complaining about the bottom modifier row + space bar layout.
^^ that, but I don't mind the modifiers and I'm not a fan of Cherry font.
and when the keys wear? you cant find modifiers, only Max keyboard have them + matching space bar. 1.25 x6 layout will give you tons of options when comes to keycaps.... even if you don't like Cherry legends you can always go with something else when you have proper modifiers and space bar options. Look at all responds, every body is complaining about the bottom modifier row + space bar layout.
My opinion isn't based on everyone else, as I don't ascribe to mob mentality. I simply state that I do not care if I can't swap them out, because they don't hinder my typing ability at all. That's probably why there's a minority (you and other posters) vs the majority (gamers and people who appreciate it as a keyboard and not an action figure to modify). As for wear, I already stated my grievances. Lasered or laser-infill keys (an example of the latter being the Quickfire TK) would solve that issue.
What I stated is that the majority of people who buy the keyboard are not geekhackers, and don't fault them for their modifiers, which is the exact same as that on Cooler Master's, with the exception of having a right-click key rather than Fn. I'm just saying that it's not correct to assume that geekhackers are the primary market for these keyboards. It's not like we're known to change in our ways.Then open keyboards section and look for how many people have asked for replacement keys for their Corsair boards, CM TK, Razer.... to no available whatsoever, no options to choose.... While the standard layout 1.25 x6 is everywhere.....
But I guess todays gamers rather be flashy and different and deal with keycaps coating wearing off, then going the normal standard layout. Heck I'm a gamer and I prefer the normal layout because of the available options, 80% of GHers here are gamers if not more.
But noooooo, you want to be leet, fine then be leet and keep typing on this junk that's destined to happen in the first 4-6 months.... its ok, I know, ur leet....
Laser infill keys on the CM TK? What are you talking about men? No LED backlit board comes with keys that letters wont shine..... We have seen stock keycaps how well they fair coming stock on the boards, yes im talking of stock keys that are laser infill or pad print, the white legends starts to get grayish pretty soon, and when time comes for you to buy new caps to replace you can because of the bottom profile.... As I said CM TK does not have laser infill keys, if it did the led lightning wouldn't shine trough the legends...But I guess todays gamers rather be flashy and different and deal with keycaps coating wearing off, then going the normal standard layout. Heck I'm a gamer and I prefer the normal layout because of the available options, 80% of GHers here are gamers if not more.
But noooooo, you want to be leet, fine then be leet and keep typing on this junk that's destined to happen in the first 4-6 months.... its ok, I know, ur leet....
TK keycaps are laser infill, and I've typed very heavily on them daily for at least six months now, and there has been not a smidge of fading, due to the nature of the printing. I'm not leet or anything, if it doesn't get in the way of typing, it'- fine with me.
Laser infill keys on the CM TK? What are you talking about men? No LED backlit board comes with keys that letters wont shine.
TK keycaps are laser infill, and I've typed very heavily on them daily for at least six months now, and there has been not a smidge of fading,
I would hate to do a research for you men.... There is no way you can have lightning shine trough the legends if the legends are laser infill. Once you put an infill nothing will shine trough it. Its ok your new here 200 post. The way all keyboard companies make their keys to be compatible with leds, they take ABS clear/whitish ABS keycap, then they rubber coat the top of the keycap, then they laser cut the legends and remove the black rubber that's in the middle of the legends to get the shine trough, once when you remove the cut out rubber it leaves the the clear/Whitish original color of the keycap and that way the LED's shine trough the legends. Now companies try to spray some sort of protective clear coating that will protect the rubber coating from breaking down from lot of usage and acid that your skin releases while typing, but that sort of protection coating can only protect from short time, once u enter usage of 6 months, the rubber coating breaks down and your keycaps will look like I posted on the pics.Laser infill keys on the CM TK? What are you talking about men? No LED backlit board comes with keys that letters wont shine.
I said that they don't fade, because they do not. As you can see, the TK keycaps allow light through them in the letters, and if that isn't laser infill, my bad, I don't remember the name of the keys. But they certainly won't fade, because they're white. I never said that they won't shine, I said that they won't fade. The lettering is permanent. By the way, rubber coated? I have no idea where you got that idea, because I don't know any keycaps besides novelty and maybe the WASD cluster on the Corsair boards that are rubber coated.TK keycaps are laser infill, and I've typed very heavily on them daily for at least six months now, and there has been not a smidge of fading,
Someone please show me that TK keycaps are rubber coated.
I would hate to do a research for you men.... There is no way you can have lightning shine trough the legends if the legends are laser infill. Once you put an infill nothing will shine trough it. Its ok your new here 200 post. The way all keyboard companies make their keys to be compatible with leds, they take ABS clear/whitish ABS keycap, then they rubber coat the top of the keycap, then they laser cut the legends and remove the black rubber that's in the middle of the legends to get the shine trough, once when you remove the cut out rubber it leaves the the clear/Whitish original color of the keycap and that way the LED's shine trough the legends. Now companies try to spray some sort of protective clear coating that will protect the rubber coating from breaking down from lot of usage and acid that your skin releases while typing, but that sort of protection coating can only protect from short time, once u enter usage of 6 months, the rubber coating breaks down and your keycaps will look like I posted on the pics.Laser infill keys on the CM TK? What are you talking about men? No LED backlit board comes with keys that letters wont shine.
I said that they don't fade, because they do not. As you can see, the TK keycaps allow light through them in the letters, and if that isn't laser infill, my bad, I don't remember the name of the keys. But they certainly won't fade, because they're white. I never said that they won't shine, I said that they won't fade. The lettering is permanent. By the way, rubber coated? I have no idea where you got that idea, because I don't know any keycaps besides novelty and maybe the WASD cluster on the Corsair boards that are rubber coated.TK keycaps are laser infill, and I've typed very heavily on them daily for at least six months now, and there has been not a smidge of fading,
Someone please show me that TK keycaps are rubber coated.
there is only 2 companies that I know that have their keycaps made in double shot injected process, that's Deck and another keyboard board, they both range from $200-$350....
Do a research on rubber coated keycaps, CM,Corsair,Vortex,Razer,WASD Code have the keys made by the same process, rubber coating and then lasered legends, followed by protective coating that don't hold for very long time.
EDIT: Here I found pic for you..... They all are made the same way, see how the keycap originally is clear/whitish? the white CM TKL keycaps have same rubber coating.....
Thanks for posting the pictures wetto, but something tells me that Linkbane is stubborn as a rock. Only Letis and Deck include life time lasting keycaps with their LED keyboards, that's why prices are around $200 instead $100 -$150, keycaps like that are expensive....
Letis bottom row is all messed up, but when you think about it you will never have to replace keycaps for that keyboard + legends are pretty descent its all right because LED boards are made for the legends to shine :)
Deck on another hand, speaking of the new models, have all proper modifiers, but legends are out of this world lol. But then again the keycaps will last forever and if you don't like them, the bottom row is the standard 1.25 x 6.25 and you can always join GB and throw some DS or PBT dyesub ones.
Linkbane I hope you understood at least 20% of what we are trying to explain you, its not only about being leet, but longevity,quality,versatility play big role when you try to sell keyboard that goes $120-$150 price range.
I would be more than happy to pay $200 for Corsair K70 with 1.25 x6 layout + never fading keycap quality + moddable switch plate + more than just Red MX switch coming from the factory, instead of $120 for the current K70.
@ Corsair James:
Don't take this the wrong way, I'm just expressing my own opinion. For example when my Logitech Z2300 2.1 speakers die out one day I know that I wont buy the new model from Logitech that replaces the current speakers I have. Reason is because they cheapened out on things to keep the cost down. Crappy subwoofer, no remote separate, speakers are not as durable as the current ones I have. Price of the new model is around $130, pretty descent price right? wrong.....
I rather spend $230 for the Corsair 2.1 ( forgot the model) that cost $230 and enjoy longevity, durability, and all over quality.
You save more by buying once and paying more for quality, then keep on buying 2nd hand made in China products, offcourse not all products from China are bad, I've had extremely good quality products made in China, but they were anything but cheap.....
Welcome to Geekhack.
One suggestion I would try to make would be to get into other markets. For example, I live in Istanbul, and for a time I really wanted a K70, but they're simply not sold here. I sent an e-mail to Corsair and I believe they just said that they don't plan on selling them here. It just doesn't make a lot of sense, seeing as we have Corsair distributors bringing in RAM, cases, power supplies, SSD's, etc. A lot of people use Corsair products here, so leaving the keyboard market to Razer and Logitech just seems kind of silly to me.
I have since gone with another board, but I would still like to give the K70 a try because I really like the design. If it was available and had MX Browns, I would have bought it in a heart beat.
Thanks for posting the pictures wetto, but something tells me that Linkbane is stubborn as a rock. Only Letis and Deck include life time lasting keycaps with their LED keyboards, that's why prices are around $200 instead $100 -$150, keycaps like that are expensive....
Linkbane I hope you understood at least 20% of what we are trying to explain you, its not only about being leet, but longevity,quality,versatility play big role when you try to sell keyboard that goes $120-$150 price range.
But noooooo, you want to be leet, fine then be leet and keep typing on this junk that's destined to happen in the first 4-6 months.... its ok, I know, ur leet....
hello, I wonder if anyone here actually owns a corsair kb. :D
A question.
There's already many OEM resellers of Cherry mech keyboards. IMO the market already seems quite saturated and that you're all competing for a share of a finite sized pie.
Why not try to partner up with T0pre and release a more unique product that will separate you from the rest of the pack?