Hello, all. My new Rosewill RK-9000 arrived in the mail today.
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I would like to document that fleeting 'first impression' point of view for other new people out there who are considering buying one of these boards.
The very first thing that I noticed, right out of the box, is that the board looks fantastically plain. It's quite small in size compared to the Model M that previously owned my desk space, but is comparable in footprint to most of the full travel keyboards you'd see in any big box store. Think of the ubiquitous Dell keyboard and you'll get the idea. Build quality, however, is leaps and bounds ahead! The board isn't a tank like my trusty M, but it certainly is solid feeling.
It's like comparing one of those children's plastic sewing machines to a professional model. You feel like you're typing on an actual tool, rather than a gimme that they threw in with the PC. Safe to say it won't be migrating on my desk or losing its little feet any time soon. Comes with two detachable cables, USB or PS2, which is also handy in case I need to hook it to an older computer or suddenly find a need for NKRO. Has a red panel behind the keys which I actually quite like.
As for Cherry Blues, they're not anything like what I was expecting. Fresh out of the box they actually felt sticky and flimsy, but after typing awhile they either loosened up or I just got used to them. Probably some combination of both. They are a very light switch compared to the buckling springs the M houses. To me, the Model M feels more like a programmers keyboard while the Cherry MX feels like it would do better on a writer's desk. The M gives off a utilitarian vibe, while MX's feel more creative. That's all subjective, though...
So that's it. For anybody out there that still types on a rubber dome, I would recommend this keyboard, especially if you write allot. You'll notice a huge difference in quality. You'll WANT to get to the computer and type that next bit of literature, rather than dread it. For those typing on Ms, it's a toss up. I would personally try to borrow one for a day or so before purchasing, but go for it if you come across the extra spending money. At the very least, you could always put it up on the market around here if you're dissatisfied. Personally, being a programmer and a free time writer, I'll keep both