Cooler Master Rapid or MasterKeys Pro M: A good hesitant first step into TKL?

[NewToKeyboards]

Hey everyone,

I am looking at getting into the every popular market on this forum of TKL and less than 100% keyboards for when I am doing a lot of paper based work. I think that I have finally found the switch that I am going to stick with (the nice and neutral Cherry MX brown  ), and now the next step is to try and nail down my go to keyboard(s). I am currently using a K95 and while it does make certain productivity based (keyboard and mouse only based) tasks much easier and fast since the 18 G keys are there and are easily programmable, it is not a very small keyboard, actually pretty large ) So, I am looking at getting either a TKL keyboard (although I do like the number pad a lot) or a keyboard that is like a TKL keyboard, mostly looking at the Cooler Master Quickfire TK. I have been also looking at the Filco 87 key but have not been able to find it in a store or on Amazon with the ability to return if I am not that fond of the TKL layout.

So to get down to the question, are the Cooler Master Rapid and the MasterKeys Pro M in Cherry MX Browns(or blues) quality keyboards that stand the test of time and get the GH stamp of approval?

Thanks in advance for all of the help,

EDIT: I changed the title to have the MasterKeys Pro M instead of the Quickfire TK since there is really no need for the Quickfire TK with the non-standard bottom row that I already fight with on both of my Corsairs!)
NTK

[boTy]

Hi,

Yes, they are both quality keyboards, but I would say that the Quickfire Rapid is higher quality than the Quickfire TK, because they are both made by different factories(or OEMs).
The Quickfire Rapid also has a standard bottom row layout, which means you can easily change out the keycaps if you would want to do that later on.

If you really want the Quickfire TK, I would recommend going for the Coolermaster Masterkeys Pro M, as it's essentially the same, but updated and with a standard bottom row layout.

Hope this helped, if you have any more questions, don't hestitate to ask!

[NewToKeyboards]

Hi,

Yes, they are both quality keyboards, but I would say that the Quickfire Rapid is higher quality than the Quickfire TK, because they are both made by different factories(or OEMs).
The Quickfire Rapid also has a standard bottom row layout, which means you can easily change out the keycaps if you would want to do that later on.

If you really want the Quickfire TK, I would recommend going for the Coolermaster Masterkeys Pro M, as it's essentially the same, but updated and with a standard bottom row layout.

Hope this helped, if you have any more questions, don't hestitate to ask!

Thanks for the reply! I will try out the Quickfire Rapid first then and if I really need the number pad I will start looking into the Masterkeys Pro M or just go with a plain old 100% keyboard. Thanks for the help!

[NewToKeyboards]

Hi,

Yes, they are both quality keyboards, but I would say that the Quickfire Rapid is higher quality than the Quickfire TK, because they are both made by different factories(or OEMs).
The Quickfire Rapid also has a standard bottom row layout, which means you can easily change out the keycaps if you would want to do that later on.

If you really want the Quickfire TK, I would recommend going for the Coolermaster Masterkeys Pro M, as it's essentially the same, but updated and with a standard bottom row layout.

Hope this helped, if you have any more questions, don't hestitate to ask!

I actually do have a few more questions  First, does the MasterKeys Pro M have the same ghosting problem with the 00 and the other keys on the keyboard as the quickfire TK (according to some review)? Second, does the MasterKeys Pro M have the same metal back-plate that the quickfire TK does? and Lastly, am I able to buy an aftermarket keycap set with the MasterKeys Pro M even with the 00 key, does that mean that I would have to buy a keycap set and use a two of the old keys so that I can cover both of the 00 keys?

Thanks for the help!

I was about to order the Quickfire Rapid when I realized that I use the numpad far too often with the computer work that I do to be able to get rid of it LOL

NTK

[Puddsy]

I actually do have a few more questions  First, does the MasterKeys Pro M have the same ghosting problem with the 00 and the other keys on the keyboard as the quickfire TK (according to some review)?

Ghosting is a rare issue in mechanical keyboards in and of itself. From what I can tell, the issue has been fixed.

Second, does the MasterKeys Pro M have the same metal back-plate that the quickfire TK does?

Yes. MOST (not all) mass market mech keyboards like that are plate mount. I think I remember something about plate mount switches being cheaper when ordered in gigantic numbers like manufacturers do. Don't quote me on that, I'm probably wrong.

 and Lastly, am I able to buy an aftermarket keycap set with the MasterKeys Pro M even with the 00 key, does that mean that I would have to buy a keycap set and use a two of the old keys so that I can cover both of the 00 keys?

If all else fails, 1x blanks are cheap.

[boTy]

Hi,

Yes, they are both quality keyboards, but I would say that the Quickfire Rapid is higher quality than the Quickfire TK, because they are both made by different factories(or OEMs).
The Quickfire Rapid also has a standard bottom row layout, which means you can easily change out the keycaps if you would want to do that later on.

If you really want the Quickfire TK, I would recommend going for the Coolermaster Masterkeys Pro M, as it's essentially the same, but updated and with a standard bottom row layout.

Hope this helped, if you have any more questions, don't hestitate to ask!

I actually do have a few more questions  First, does the MasterKeys Pro M have the same ghosting problem with the 00 and the other keys on the keyboard as the quickfire TK (according to some review)? Second, does the MasterKeys Pro M have the same metal back-plate that the quickfire TK does? and Lastly, am I able to buy an aftermarket keycap set with the MasterKeys Pro M even with the 00 key, does that mean that I would have to buy a keycap set and use a two of the old keys so that I can cover both of the 00 keys?

Thanks for the help!

I was about to order the Quickfire Rapid when I realized that I use the numpad far too often with the computer work that I do to be able to get rid of it LOL

NTK

Hi, sorry for my late reply (not really used to "traditional" style forums like these haha).

I haven't heard about ghosting problems, but I'm guessing they've fixed any problems with the new version of the keyboard as it also has a new PCB.

The MasterKeys Pro M also has a slightly different backplate, as it got a slightly different switch layout and it's painted white to reflect the light from the LEDs. This looks very nice in my opinion, I like the effect it gives as it distributes the light evenly on my KC60 with a silver backplate.

Most higher quality keycap sets include a "00" key as well, I know DSA Dolch, made by Signature Plastics, does this, and my NPKC Blank PBT keycaps also have a "00" key included. Most cheap sets don't have this, although that's to be expected from cheap sets that usually only include the most common keys.

Hope it's useful, and again, if you have any more questions, feel free to ask them

[NewToKeyboards]

I actually do have a few more questions  First, does the MasterKeys Pro M have the same ghosting problem with the 00 and the other keys on the keyboard as the quickfire TK (according to some review)?

Ghosting is a rare issue in mechanical keyboards in and of itself. From what I can tell, the issue has been fixed.

Second, does the MasterKeys Pro M have the same metal back-plate that the quickfire TK does?

Yes. MOST (not all) mass market mech keyboards like that are plate mount. I think I remember something about plate mount switches being cheaper when ordered in gigantic numbers like manufacturers do. Don't quote me on that, I'm probably wrong.

 and Lastly, am I able to buy an aftermarket keycap set with the MasterKeys Pro M even with the 00 key, does that mean that I would have to buy a keycap set and use a two of the old keys so that I can cover both of the 00 keys?

If all else fails, 1x blanks are cheap.

Thank you! Those were my main concerns, are plate mounted switches not better than PCB mounted though? I guess that is more of a question for the simple questions thread if it is not already there.

Thanks for the help

NTK

[NewToKeyboards]

Hi,

Yes, they are both quality keyboards, but I would say that the Quickfire Rapid is higher quality than the Quickfire TK, because they are both made by different factories(or OEMs).
The Quickfire Rapid also has a standard bottom row layout, which means you can easily change out the keycaps if you would want to do that later on.

If you really want the Quickfire TK, I would recommend going for the Coolermaster Masterkeys Pro M, as it's essentially the same, but updated and with a standard bottom row layout.

Hope this helped, if you have any more questions, don't hestitate to ask!

I actually do have a few more questions  First, does the MasterKeys Pro M have the same ghosting problem with the 00 and the other keys on the keyboard as the quickfire TK (according to some review)? Second, does the MasterKeys Pro M have the same metal back-plate that the quickfire TK does? and Lastly, am I able to buy an aftermarket keycap set with the MasterKeys Pro M even with the 00 key, does that mean that I would have to buy a keycap set and use a two of the old keys so that I can cover both of the 00 keys?

Thanks for the help!

I was about to order the Quickfire Rapid when I realized that I use the numpad far too often with the computer work that I do to be able to get rid of it LOL

NTK

Hi, sorry for my late reply (not really used to "traditional" style forums like these haha).

I haven't heard about ghosting problems, but I'm guessing they've fixed any problems with the new version of the keyboard as it also has a new PCB.

The MasterKeys Pro M also has a slightly different backplate, as it got a slightly different switch layout and it's painted white to reflect the light from the LEDs. This looks very nice in my opinion, I like the effect it gives as it distributes the light evenly on my KC60 with a silver backplate.

Most higher quality keycap sets include a "00" key as well, I know DSA Dolch, made by Signature Plastics, does this, and my NPKC Blank PBT keycaps also have a "00" key included. Most cheap sets don't have this, although that's to be expected from cheap sets that usually only include the most common keys.

Hope it's useful, and again, if you have any more questions, feel free to ask them

Awesome! Thanks for clearing that up for me.... BTW, the Cherry MX Blue version of this board is on it's way 

[NewToKeyboards]

Just an update on this thread just in case anyone else is considering these two keyboard and was wondering what I ended up doing. I got the Cooler Master Masterkeys Pro M with White LEDs and Cherry MX Blue switches. My impressions of the board are as follows;

First of all, the Cherry MX Blues are really quite for some reason on this board, my assumption as to the SPL of these switches on this board is that they are quieter since there is a trough that the keys sit in as apposed to the keys that are on the Corsair K65-95 series of boards as well as any other board that has a surface mounted version of the cherry MX switch, although it makes it harder to clean it definitely makes the switch more tolerable if you find the clicking un-bearable. Next I found that the typing experience was great on the board, the keys feel great as well as the construction of the board is great, there is absolutely no movement in the board when you are hammering away at the keys. Also, the lighting on this keyboard is SOOOOOO bright, it is bright enough that it deserves a SOOOOOO! The white is a brilliant white that is most likely in the 6500K area and does not have a hue like most RGB switches that try and represent true white. The removable cable is an extremely nice feature, and I really like the ability to be able to move the cable to come out of the left, right, or center of the keyboard. That has come in handy  . I found that the number pad integration with the navigational keys has been for the most part good but I will get more into that in a bit. I really like the lighting mode where you can play snake on the keyboard that is fun to show to people who know the game    The wire key puller that they included in the box is a great addition, and I wish that more keyboard (looking at you corsair) would come with this feature. And, since we are on the corsair not doing a good job, having the standard key sizing on the bottom of the keyboard is great! To bring this back around to the keyboard at hand, the finish on the outside of the keyboard is a pleasure to feel as well as it makes a statement when it is on your desk. I do miss a wrist rest but that is not somethign that I would be able to fault against the board as a lot of boards do not come with wrist rest and the "proper" way of typing does not require a wrist rest (not to open a can of worms on typing technique though).

Is this going to be my daily driver after having it for a little while, the short answer? No.

The lack of separate number pad and navigational keys turned out to be not so great when I actually had to get some work done, I am sure that with some practice you would be able to get some serious work done with only a very small hit to time, but I am not interested in any hit to time 

For now that means that I am going to stick with the Cherry MX Brown Corsair K95 that I have until I find something that it is able to do and do it better (not including the macros). 

In conclusion, if you are looking for a compact keyboard, that has a number pad still as well as a full set of navigational keys. I would say that this is the keyboard for you, but if you need to do a lot of excel work for example, you need to be able to move from cell to cell and to be able to enter data quickly without having to use the num lock key all the time, this is not the board for you, you should go with a full 104-key layout. But, in terms of desk space, build quality, typing experience, and lighting (provided that you are not looking to go RGB) this is a great board that I would recommend for you.