keycool 84

[Sinzz]

So I finally decided to go with the KC 84 (MX blues with white LEDs) due to the want of a smaller keyboard, and boy does this fit that criteria for me. it feels as if my table suddenly got bigger and not as cluttered.

Build is decent, had a tad bit of flex. it is hefty with quite a bit of weight to it, nothing compared to my Ducky Shine, but its heavier than membrane keyboards even with its being smaller than them.

LED quality, is nowhere near the blinding brightness of the Ducky Shine that I have, but it DOES get the job done and quite honestly, if you need it any brighter than the settings available, you need to get your eyes checked. It's also more of a cool blue than a pure white LED.

One thing that I found that is a TAD nuisance with the KC84 is that when pressing down the keys, it seems to be really slow in repeating (eg if i hit backspace, it takes a bit longer than i am used to to delete even the shorter words). Might be fixed with a reboot, but I'm not sure. Oh and the kick stand things to angle the keyboard has a bias to open, and is RIDICULOUSLY tall. My wrists feel like they're bending a little TOO far back. I don't usually use kickstands on my keyboards though and this is plenty high without it.

And now onto the pictures that you guys would rather look at. I have to say though in advance, im sorry for not having any pictures of the stock board, i got to eager to put on the rainbow keycaps to see it glow rainbows.. :3

My haul from En Taobao! (dunno where the steelseries keychain came from though)


Inside the box:


Size comparison:


Extra keycaps of superheroes


Pictures of the keyboard with LEDs at brightest, dimmest, and off! (daytime here so there arent any good dark pictures)




Overall though, I am quite happy with this keyboard! especially for its price. and ooooh the blues are so click

[tp4tissue]

I do recall seeing a Thick POM jelly set that might diffuse the light from those leds better.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KBC-Rainbow-Jelly-POM-Cherry-MX-Key-Caps-105-keys-included-/330758397680?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item4d02bc9ef0

I don't know if these are the "thick-versions" 

[absyrd]

Looks nice. I wonder if the quality is better than the Race, especially long-term (all those posts about dead LEDs after a bit).

[boredgunner]

Thanks for the post, I'm now seriously considering a Keycool 87, but I will wait until Q1 2013 to see what else pops up.

[Sinzz]

hmmm i'll have to look into those POM jelly sets, what do they look like lit up?

oh and i just found out that hitting Function + F12 actually locks the windows key. pretty neat that they included that.

[quake4mhg]

Looks awesome! Thanks for the review

[MissMurd3r84]

hmmm i'll have to look into those POM jelly sets, what do they look like lit up?

oh and i just found out that hitting Function + F12 actually locks the windows key. pretty neat that they included that.

I ordered some of the POM's off Feng, I only ordered them 2 days ago, so can't show you yet, but check out half way down this page and you will see what they look like http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=33155.300

[tp4tissue]

hmmm i'll have to look into those POM jelly sets, what do they look like lit up?

oh and i just found out that hitting Function + F12 actually locks the windows key. pretty neat that they included that.

I ordered some of the POM's off Feng, I only ordered them 2 days ago, so can't show you yet, but check out half way down this page and you will see what they look like http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=33155.300

//Gives self a hankshake, I was right... better light diffusion

Also, I think if you paint the base plate, and top of the switch housing with a Chrome or White marker, the entire key would light up much more.

Because as is, a great deal of scattered light is being eaten by the switch housing and base plate/pcb

and remember LIGHT is a particle and bounces.

[Sinzz]

I ordered some of the POM's off Feng, I only ordered them 2 days ago, so can't show you yet, but check out half way down this page and you will see what they look like http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=33155.300

Damn, those POM keys do look a lot better than the rainbows I have now. I'll have to wait a bit on those considering I JUST forked over money for the ones I currently have. I still do like mine as they're darker in color with the lights on and lighter with the lights off, but I can't deny that those POM keys DO look pretty damn nice... if only I could nab a set that would replace ALL the keys on the KC84 considering they have a few differently sized keys.

[MissMurd3r84]

When I get my keys, I will post a picture of them on my Ducky YOTD (yellowish coloured leds)

[vividboarder]

So I just got a keycool 84 as well.

I bought it to use at work as I have a Filco Majestouch 2 at home. I have a few notes and a question:

Compared to Filco, keys feel more plasticy and keyboard feels all together more loose. Keys wobble a bit more. The key surfaces don't feel quite as good under my fingers and the spacebar stabilizer pings and rattles (I've heard buying some mech keyboard lube will help with the pinging)

Now my question: As I use this keyboard on a Mac, I've noticed some keys don't work. That I expected. I'm only wondering what the Lock key (Fn+F12) is supposed to do? NumLock and Scroll Lock don't work at all on the Mac but this Lock key lights up but appears to do nothing.

[xenon_chris]

How you finding the compact layout going from a full to 84 Snizz?

[JaccoW]

It is used to disable the windows key.

[vividboarder]

It is used to disable the windows key.

Ah. Thanks. That appears to work on Mac too then now that I know what to look for, haha.

[Sinzz]

Going from full to 84 is a huge difference. Honestly after going to a much more compact keyboard and using it a lot more now, using my ducky keyboard feels so bulky and takes up so much room. I mean I LOVE my ducky, but I've grown so accustomed to the small factor of the Keycool84 that I have stopped using it.

I wanted to list it in the classified along with the smoked keycaps that I bought, but I don't have enough posts to have it go to a good home. Also, not many others are fond of mx blacks or yellow LEDs. Though if I do manage to sell it. I plan to get another Keycool84 or something of that size in mx blacks because I really miss the little amount of effort used to press the buttons.

[dachef]

One thing that I found that is a TAD nuisance with the KC84 is that when pressing down the keys, it seems to be really slow in repeating (eg if i hit backspace, it takes a bit longer than i am used to to delete even the shorter words). Might be fixed with a reboot, but I'm not sure. Oh and the kick stand things to angle the keyboard has a bias to open, and is RIDICULOUSLY tall. My wrists feel like they're bending a little TOO far back. I don't usually use kickstands on my keyboards though and this is plenty high without it.

What do you mean by "the keyboard has a bias to open"?  Would you be able to tell me how much taller the keyboard feet are compared to other mechanical keyboards?  It funny what might be a tad nuisance to you would be a huge deal to me.  If the repeat takes too long I wouldn't be able to use the keyboard for gaming.  Keystroke repeat is such a big deal for.  Keyboards like Zowie Celeritas advertise how fast their keyboard repeats a keystroke when you hold it down.  Thanks!

[tinbilly]

The Fn combination key shortcuts on my keycool 84 no backlit do not work, except for <Fn­>+­<F­12> All key lock and <Fn­>+­<W­IN> WIN key lock.

Any advise? Thanks?