My impressions of the Deck Legend

[Iceman]

I just received my new Deck Legend keyboard. It's the "Frost" variant (Cherry "clear" switches and white LED's). The board both looks and feels stout and the backlighting looks amazing, the pics on the Deck site don't do this board justice! In fact, the pics on the site show the casing of the keyboard to be black. However, mine is almost like a gunmetal grey, which I actually like, so that was a pleasant surprise.

The clear switches are going to take some getting used to after using blues for so long. They feel a bit heavier to me (and I kind of miss the satisfying "click" lol) but, that's not a bad thing in my opinion as I kind of felt that the blue switches were slightly light. To be honest, if the clears had the audible click of the blues they'd be perfect. That's more of a mental thing for me than anything though, so I can live without it.

Unfortunately there are a few things that I don't like about the board and they have to do with the keycaps. I've noticed that some of the keys (backspace, enter, shift, and almost all of the numpad keys) are not evenly lit. Take the "Backspace" key for example, the middle of the key is well lit (the letters ksp) while the ends of the key (bac and ace) are noticeably more dim. The next issue is with the dye on some of the keys. Put simply there are light gaps where the dye didn't penetrate the plastic (or something like that). It's noticeable along the top raised edge of about a dozen or so keys. My final issue is with the font used on the caps. I'm just not a fan. That is about personal preference though and as such isn't much of an issue.

All in all I'm very happy with my purchase. This thing is already doing better than both my Filco boards lol!

[Mr. Perfect]

This will seem like a strange question, but is the frost board backlit with white, or a very pale blue? I have a hard time telling from the Deck website.

[Iceman]

Not a strange question at all. It is difficult to tell from the pics but the Frost board is in fact backlit white.

[lootbag]

How do the switches feel compared to your other Cherry switches?
I am sort of interested in this keyboard myself.

[Dr.Pepper]

I have never tried cherry clear switches, altough I do have a keyboard with cherry blue, and 3 IBM model m keyboards, I am a little tired of hearing the noise when I am gaming, when I am typing it's fine, and I was looking into the tactile but not clicky key switches, Topre is to expensive for me, I've been looking into cherry brown, but I do like the Deck keyboards, but am unsure if it has the distinct bump under your finger when your typing. ( I have also never tried brown switches ) I am also unsure of the white backlighting..

[Mr. Perfect]

Ah, so it is white. White back lighting looks classy, I think. "Clean" Hmm... I do like the clear switches too.

I have never tried cherry clear switches, altough I do have a keyboard with cherry blue, and 3 IBM model m keyboards, I am a little tired of hearing the noise when I am gaming, when I am typing it's fine, and I was looking into the tactile but not clicky key switches, Topre is to expensive for me, I've been looking into cherry brown, but I do like the Deck keyboards, but am unsure if it has the distinct bump under your finger when your typing. ( I have also never tried brown switches ) I am also unsure of the white backlighting..

SirClickAlots STN arrived here yesterday, so I've been comparing the clears to the browns, blues, reds and blacks. The clears have a very distinct bump and the spring gets quite heavy just past the actuation point. The browns aren't as tactile, less then the blues that you have. I actually rather like the clears.

[drsauced]

Grats!  How's the spacebar?  Mine (Ice Linear) is a little wobbly and I haven't fixed it yet.  I'm saving up for another keyboard, though, I'm actually thinking Cherry Clear.

[Iceman]

I have never tried cherry clear switches, altough I do have a keyboard with cherry blue, and 3 IBM model m keyboards, I am a little tired of hearing the noise when I am gaming, when I am typing it's fine, and I was looking into the tactile but not clicky key switches, Topre is to expensive for me, I've been looking into cherry brown, but I do like the Deck keyboards, but am unsure if it has the distinct bump under your finger when your typing. ( I have also never tried brown switches ) I am also unsure of the white backlighting..

Yes as Mr. Perfect stated there is quite a distinct bump. The best I can describe it is like a heavier blue switch (though not as heavy as a black switch) without the audible click. In my opinion if the clears had the same click as the blue switches, while retaining the weight and tactile feedback (of the clears), that would be it for me. I would never look for another switch again lol. As for the white backlighting, I love it! It gives the lettering amazing contrast without looking gimmicky or cheap.

Ah, so it is white. White back lighting looks classy, I think. "Clean" Hmm... I do like the clear switches too.

"Clean" is probably the best word I could use to describe the backlighting as well.

I've tried buckling spring, black alps (complicated), cherry blue, cherry brown, and now cherry clear switches. I have to say out of them all, cherry clears are my favorites. Like I said above though, if Cherry made a switch with the weight and tactile bump of the clears and click of the blues that would be the ultimate switch for me.

[Dr.Pepper]

Cool, Yeah I was thinking of getting a nice cool backlit keyboard for my desk, as my IBM looks a little bit out of place next to my 3 22in monitors, gaming mouse, and my ridiculous computer case Still a lot of fun to type on, I don't care about the noise, as my music and my case fans drown it all out. I just wish that I could get a red or green backlit keyboard in the white switches, because when I am not gaming I also do a lot of typing, and I don't think that I'd like the black switches. And another thing is the price, anyone know about getting one for closer to $100? ( And I don't like cherry blues for gaming, I always end up double tapping some keys )

[runeazn]

niacu have fun

[turbocharged]

Can you take some pictures of the white backlighting (preferable both during the day and at night without using flash)?

I have been considering getting a Deck Legend Frost later this year for work (absolutely love my Deck Legend Fire here at home), so I would love to see some actual pictures of the white backlighting.

Here is a picture of mine in the lighting that I am talking about.

[Curetia]

Unfortunately there are a few things that I don't like about the board and they have to do with the keycaps. I've noticed that some of the keys (backspace, enter, shift, and almost all of the numpad keys) are not evenly lit. Take the "Backspace" key for example, the middle of the key is well lit (the letters ksp) while the ends of the key (bac and ace) are noticeably more dim. The next issue is with the dye on some of the keys. Put simply there are light gaps where the dye didn't penetrate the plastic (or something like that). It's noticeable along the top raised edge of about a dozen or so keys. My final issue is with the font used on the caps. I'm just not a fan. That is about personal preference though and as such isn't much of an issue.

The unevenly backlit is because of the position of the LED. But the gap shouldnt be there. In the picture of the fire one here I cant see any gap so you should mail to deck about this. Someone posted it in this forum that deck send him a new set of keycaps to australia because of the gap problem.

[turbocharged]

The unevenly backlit is because of the position of the LED. But the gap shouldnt be there. In the picture of the fire one here I cant see any gap so you should mail to deck about this. Someone posted it in this forum that deck send him a new set of keycaps to australia because of the gap problem.

The picture of my fire doesn't show any gaps but it does have a few that are barely noticable. You can only see them at the perfect angle but they are there.

[audioave10]

The "Toxic" is very green in the darkness. Cherry Black linear-good for gaming.
I do miss having a tactile bump for typing. (not a good picture)

[Iceman]

The gaps are there because it is a two piece key.  Not doubleshot.  See the Key Reference Wiki for pics.

Ya found that after I wrote my OP
`

[Malerik]

Are the gaps annoying at all levels of lighting? I am considering a Legend Frost myself and just trying to figure out if the build quality is all that Deck says it is. I have seen a lot of folks mentioning things about wobbly keys and the lighting showing through gaps in the keys. Knowing what you know now, would you have still bought the Deck?

[Iceman]

Can you take some pictures of the white backlighting (preferable both during the day and at night without using flash)?

I have been considering getting a Deck Legend Frost later this year for work (absolutely love my Deck Legend Fire here at home), so I would love to see some actual pictures of the white backlighting.

Pics were taken with LED's at 50% brightness if I remember correctly.
Room light on:



Room light off:



Sorry about the image quality. All I have is my cell phone camera.

Are the gaps annoying at all levels of lighting? I am considering a Legend Frost myself and just trying to figure out if the build quality is all that Deck says it is. I have seen a lot of folks mentioning things about wobbly keys and the lighting showing through gaps in the keys. Knowing what you know now, would you have still bought the Deck?

If you look at the tops of the F3 and left ALT keys in the pics above you can see the light gaps that I'm talking about and those aren't the worst. The worst would have to be both CTRL keys and the TAB key. Then there are others like the "8" key (top row) that you can BARELY see the gap while there are still others that have no gap at all. Also, you can see them at all levels of lighting. As far as wobbly keys go, they all wobble slightly, but not to the point that it feels like there is anything wrong.

Knowing what I know now I would still have purchased a Deck. Simply because the issues that I have are minor (imo) cosmetic problems and in no way affect the functionality of the keyboard. For those of you thinking that I'm crazy for being so accepting of even minor issues consider these 2 things:

1. They're just keycaps that can be replaced.
2. I own 2 Filco boards, a 104 and an 87 (both with cherry blue switches) and BOTH have functionality issues. The 104 key has a messed up controller board wherein the keyboard only works for and hour or so at a time (if I'm lucky). On the 87 key keyboard the switch under the "C" key stopped clicking about 5 minutes after I first started using the board.

So, having a few keys with light gaps is not a big deal to me. Having a functional keyboard is.

[drsauced]

I think your Frost looks very nice, actually.  I think I like it the best, classy, understated, would fit nicely in a work environment or something.

Not to beat the subject to death, but it looks like yours also has much better keycaps.  I took a 5 second exposure of mine and there are about 65 keys showing their seams:



I still love the thing, though.  Never gonna give you up...  On a side note, Deck uses very narrow beam LEDs, so I suppose in theory you could just replace one, like on the backspace key, for a wider beam version (all things like voltage, current, and luminosity being equal).  One might also need to be God's gift to soldering irons to do it though.

[turbocharged]

Well I'm sold....Frost will be my choice whenever I get a Legend Tactile. Thanks for the pictures.

On a side note, Deck uses very narrow beam LEDs, so I suppose in theory you could just replace one, like on the backspace key, for a wider beam version

Good idea...I'll have to give that a try.

[drsauced]

Haha!  That's right!

I was thinking of the Cake cover, however:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXGnSrdj2pU

Happy Valentine's Day!

Edit: Totally messed up that link.

[Iceman]

I think your Frost looks very nice, actually.  I think I like it the best, classy, understated, would fit nicely in a work environment or something.


I still love the thing, though.  Never gonna give you up...  On a side note, Deck uses very narrow beam LEDs, so I suppose in theory you could just replace one, like on the backspace key, for a wider beam version (all things like voltage, current, and luminosity being equal).  One might also need to be God's gift to soldering irons to do it though.

Thanks! I really like the white as well. It looks more "professional" and makes the LEDs seem more functional than aesthetic if that makes sense.

As for using wider beam LEDs that occurred to me as well but it doesnt bother me near enough to go tearing apart my brand new board and taking a soldering iron to it.

[Atranox]

Thanks for the pics - I might be tempted to go for Frost now.  On the Deck site, they do look like a light blueish color.

How heavy are the clears compared to a typical dome keyboard?  From my understanding, they about the same?

[Iceman]

Thanks for the pics - I might be tempted to go for Frost now.  On the Deck site, they do look like a light blueish color.

How heavy are the clears compared to a typical dome keyboard?  From my understanding, they about the same?

You're welcome on the pics

I think they look blue on the site because the old frost model used to have a black casing with light blue LEDs I THINK. Now the frost is a metallic grey casing with white LEDs. As for the key weight, the clears are very close to a rubber dome in that regard (going from memory on this as I haven't used a rubber dome board in over a year and am too lazy to dig one out to compare). But, even though the key weight is the same as a rubber dome, nothing else is. I find myself looking for any excuse to type something up now. Take this post for example, it's far more wordy than normal lol.

[PeterDLai]

My final issue is with the font used on the caps. I'm just not a fan. That is about personal preference though and as such isn't much of an issue.

This might be a dumb question, but can one replace the key caps on Deck keyboards with ones that have a more common keyboard font? I assume you'd want to replace them with ones that will allow the backlighting to shine through as well, so that would limit the selection, but should they fit fine and work as expected?

[db_Iodine]

This might be a dumb question, but can one replace the key caps on Deck keyboards with ones that have a more common keyboard font? I assume you'd want to replace them with ones that will allow the backlighting to shine through as well, so that would limit the selection, but should they fit fine and work as expected?

I don't think there are any keycaps sold separately that allow back light to shine through like the stock keycaps.

[keyboardlover]

I asked before if they would fit a deck and was told that they wouldn't

[Iceman]

Update: I've got almost 3 weeks of usage with the Deck and so far so good. I'm used to the weight of the keys now and really like it for both gaming and everyday usage. Still not crazy about the keycap font but I've gotten used to it and as such I hardly notice it anymore. Still happy with my purchase.

On a side note I'm a bit scared as this mechanical keyboard thing is starting to move from a hobby to an addiction. The other day I was considering buying a realforce board for the hell of it! Are there such things as Geekhackers Anonymous meetings and if so where does one sign up?

[drsauced]

I would think Black Widow keys would fit fine on the Deck and give them a bit of a more normal scooped curve profile.

Then of course the Black Widow font isn't any better.  I wouldn't recommend the Xarmor keys as a replacement.

I'm surprised nobody has explored getting Signature to make all white keycaps out of the same translucent plastic they used for the Decks.

I assume other keycaps wouldn't work because the Deck has a flat profile?