Poker II & I'm an addict

[Kian]

EDIT: Canceled my order for the Poker II, I really need to not order things right on impulse when I hear about them. Considering the Poker II is a bit more expensive than the QFR I would rather keep the QFR and actually enjoy the arrow keys and such. I feel like I will use the arrow keys and dedicated home, end, etc buttons a lot more then it would for me to keep the board itself. Hopefully Banggood can quickly refund my order and not ship it. :S


Hello everyone, just yesterday my QFR rapid arrived from Amazon and then I found this forum so I could find some information about it, it wasn't my first mechanical keyboard since I had been using the Blackwidow for years before. However, discovering this forum comes with discovering more keyboards. Long story short, I just blew another $122 USD on another keyboard and some keycaps, to replace this QFR.

I just bought the Poker II & White PBT Keycaps from Banggood.

But I have some questions:

I know the QFR is made by Costar, which is extremely reputable but how reliable and durable are the Poker II's. Who are they made by? I want something that is long lasting and I can use for the next years on end, I really don't want to be spending more money on keyboards!

[SpAmRaY]

If you search there are some review threads on the poker II that might give you some more information.

[Hyde]

Based from what I've read so far that it appears Vortex is a little bit flaky when it comes to quality control and communication (sometimes they disappear).  But since people really like the layout and customization so people usually put up with it.

I wouldn't really worry about it at the moment.  Since Poker II is the only stock keyboard at the moment that offers such layout (unless you go GH60 or phantom or Korean customs) so you don't really have too much choice.

That being said, recently I've bought a set of DSA keycaps to try.  But instead of swapping out keycaps I've decided that maybe I should buy a Poker II to go along with the keycap set, and since I'm buying a Poker II maybe I should get a aluminum case for it while I'm at it.

Moral of the story:  Geekhack kills your wallet, and I haven't even purchase the Poker II yet and I've already spent $37 on DSA keycaps and $140 on aluminum case.

[Kian]

Tell me about it.

Hopefully the Poker II is good in quality, I'll try and research around. I haven't heard or seen anything from Vortex. Do they even have a website about the keyboards? All I see is resellers.

[Hyde]

Yeah they don't really have a website, I guess their facebook page is sorta a site I guess.

LOL you canceled your order eh?  I have to admit, I usually only use full size keyboards since I use the arrow and number pad a lot.  And I usually don't do impulse buys like I'd research tons and tons before I commit to my purchase.

I don't know what happened this time, I bought all these things purely because I see them so frequent on geekhack so I want to try it LOL.

[PointyFox]

Poker IIs are nice, but only an upgrade on a QFR if you value desk space or need a programmable layer.

[ValerieV]

I have a Poker II. I like it a lot but i wish it had dedicated arrow keys. Still, for a compact mechanical keyboard it is nice. There blues sound louder for some reason. The quality is great as well.

[PointyFox]

I have a Poker II. I like it a lot but i wish it had dedicated arrow keys. Still, for a compact mechanical keyboard it is nice. There blues sound louder for some reason. The quality is great as well.

I toggled the left Win key to Fn.  It's actually easier for me to do the arrow shortcuts on the Poker than it is to press dedicated arrow keys on another board now

[Kian]

Yeah they don't really have a website, I guess their facebook page is sorta a site I guess.

LOL you canceled your order eh?  I have to admit, I usually only use full size keyboards since I use the arrow and number pad a lot.  And I usually don't do impulse buys like I'd research tons and tons before I commit to my purchase.

I don't know what happened this time, I bought all these things purely because I see them so frequent on geekhack so I want to try it LOL.

Yup, I canceled the order. I've agree'd to keep myself from ever buying on impulse again. Now here's the problem, hopefully Banggood receives my e-mail to their customer support before they actually ship the order... If they ship the order and it gets here then I can't pull myself to return it and then from then on out it begins my keyboard collection. It's all in Banggoods hands now.

[Kian]

I have a Poker II. I like it a lot but i wish it had dedicated arrow keys. Still, for a compact mechanical keyboard it is nice. There blues sound louder for some reason. The quality is great as well.

I toggled the left Win key to Fn.  It's actually easier for me to do the arrow shortcuts on the Poker than it is to press dedicated arrow keys on another board now

If I did that it would take some times getting used to, I'm really into keyboard shortcuts and a lot of Windows/Mac ones use the Windows key (Option key on Mac) 

[HesterDW]

My fellow newbie, I know exactly what you're going through. Clutch your purse tightly while walking through Geekhack.

[tbc]

^ futile advice....i didn't make it very long lol.

[Hyde]

lol I'm actually the opposite, I resisted my buying impulse pretty well for a year since I joined geekhack.

But I really only plan to buy Poker II because "it looks cool with all the custom mods" LOL.  Oh I'll probably cry when I have to adjust from full size keyboard to 60% layout.

[Jocelyn]

lol I'm actually the opposite, I resisted my buying impulse pretty well for a year since I joined geekhack.

But I really only plan to buy Poker II because "it looks cool with all the custom mods" LOL.  Oh I'll probably cry when I have to adjust from full size keyboard to 60% layout.

Same here and I've probably bought even less than you. Just be forewarned, there is no bottom right arrow cluster with the Poker II like there is with the Poker X, or at least I don't think this is possible.

[Hyde]

lol yeah I was reading the manual today, I might use the dip switch and switch left win key to FN or capslock key to FN.

In that case I can press FN + WASD (arrow key) with one hand.  Or I'll come up with something on the right side with programming layer. 

[Jocelyn]

lol yeah I was reading the manual today, I might use the dip switch and switch left win key to FN or capslock key to FN.

In that case I can press FN + WASD (arrow key) with one hand.  Or I'll come up with something on the right side with programming layer. 

Or just pick up a GH60 in the future and sell the modded Poker II

PS - There will probably be a module available for full LED GH60

[Kian]

lol yeah I was reading the manual today, I might use the dip switch and switch left win key to FN or capslock key to FN.

In that case I can press FN + WASD (arrow key) with one hand.  Or I'll come up with something on the right side with programming layer. 

Or just pick up a GH60 in the future and sell the modded Poker II

PS - There will probably be a module available for full LED GH60

Still waiting on Banggood to cancel my order, we'll see how they handle and see if they either ship it (start my keyboard addiction) or cancel it (stop my keyboard addiction right then and there).

But... if they don't ship it and I stick with my QFR then look in my signature and that's how I'm planning to have the final version of my keyboard to be.

But if the Poker II arrives, then imagine that but in 60% form.

We'll see how things play out. 

[HesterDW]

Canceling it won't cure the addiction, but it's the first step to recovery. Did you order the white keycaps from Banggood as well? I've got a set of the white blank PBTs on the way.

[Kian]

Canceling it won't cure the addiction, but it's the first step to recovery. Did you order the white keycaps from Banggood as well? I've got a set of the white blank PBTs on the way.

Yup, I have ordered the 87-key PBT White Blank set. I talked to Binge a little ago and he said that his items from Banggood come in a week. I'm US located and fairly close to Binge so I'm hoping it doesn't take 2 weeks to get to me. It's already been a business day and Banggood has no response about canceling the Poker II (It's still marked as "Ready to Process" though, not shipped). I'm so impatiently waiting for the White PBT Keycaps. I don't know what is up with these keyboard makers these days, seems like no matter what keyboard I look at it has the absolute ugliest font on the keycaps ever. Binge also told me the keycaps are actually pretty decent quality, so I can't wait.

Also check in your Banggood order tracking, did they give you a tracking number for your order?

[HesterDW]

A week? That's not bad at all. I ordered mine on Friday, still processing.

...wait, just checked my order status and it says back order. Does yours say the same thing?

[Kian]

A week? That's not bad at all. I ordered mine on Friday, still processing.

...wait, just checked my order status and it says back order. Does yours say the same thing?

Nope, mine shipped! It's the bottom order.

[SNF]

Poker 2 is a solid 60% board if you could live with the layout

[Kian]

Poker 2 is a solid 60% board if you could live with the layout

I don't think I could have lived with the layout, good thing I canceled the order. I was too quick to purchase it and really didn't notice how much I use arrow keys. I know I can easily adjust to using the Function method of them, but why not just have the dedicated buttons there in the first place.

[Hyde]

Poker 2 is a solid 60% board if you could live with the layout

I don't think I could have lived with the layout, good thing I canceled the order. I was too quick to purchase it and really didn't notice how much I use arrow keys. I know I can easily adjust to using the Function method of them, but why not just have the dedicated buttons there in the first place.

lol I've been running into the same dilemma recently.  To be honest I ordered on impulse because I wanted the aluminum case that go along with it.  But I thought about it afterwards, I actually use the arrow key, home, end, del, tenkey pad all quite frequent.

Tempted to cancel this project that I was planning to do (keycaps + Poker + aluminum case).

>_____>  sighhhhhhhh

[RapidCancel]

I toggled the left Win key to Fn.  It's actually easier for me to do the arrow shortcuts on the Poker than it is to press dedicated arrow keys on another board now

Crap, you can toggle it to the left Win key?  I should have read the manual better :X  Is there a way to switch the PN key elsewhere as well?

[Hyde]

I toggled the left Win key to Fn.  It's actually easier for me to do the arrow shortcuts on the Poker than it is to press dedicated arrow keys on another board now

Crap, you can toggle it to the left Win key?  I should have read the manual better :X  Is there a way to switch the PN key elsewhere as well?

Yeah it's one of the dip switch, as for PN I think it's stuck there.

[Kian]

Poker 2 is a solid 60% board if you could live with the layout

I don't think I could have lived with the layout, good thing I canceled the order. I was too quick to purchase it and really didn't notice how much I use arrow keys. I know I can easily adjust to using the Function method of them, but why not just have the dedicated buttons there in the first place.

lol I've been running into the same dilemma recently.  To be honest I ordered on impulse because I wanted the aluminum case that go along with it.  But I thought about it afterwards, I actually use the arrow key, home, end, del, tenkey pad all quite frequent.

Tempted to cancel this project that I was planning to do (keycaps + Poker + aluminum case).

>_____>  sighhhhhhhh

Whatever you think man. I purchased straight up on impulse right when it got into my head. But then after just thinking about it and observing my work flow, arrow keys & those common home, end, etc buttons are some things I use a lot (even though I hadn't noticed that before). But I'm sure that it wouldn't be too hard to get adjusted to either. I'm going to be sticking with my QFR and waiting until my Blank PBT Keycaps get here. If I can use this QFR with the Browns + PBT Keycaps for a month, I'll order another with PBT's and Browns for my office at work as well.