Chinese clone KBs, what are your thoughts?

[mizzoperator]

FYI, I am referring to the cheap, Chinese clone keyboards with Outemu/Gateron MX Clone switches (blues/reds/browns).


Do you think they're actually a good value? Do you think they generate interest in mechs in the eyes of the general public?
Personally, I think that, because of their accessibility and cheap prices, they can easily get people interested in mechs.

However, pretty much all of the clone KBs appeal to the stupid gamer design, contributing to companies like Razer continuing to market
to them about higher-end KBs and announcing the usual marketing shlock (anti-ghosting, adjustable polling, etc.)
Granted, there's no real difference between these clone keyboards and the supposedly 'premium' options offered by the more well-known
companies, but the general public is very easy to market to (especially if you drill the 'gamer advantage' part of it.)

tl;dr do you think chinese clone mechs are good in general

[Surefoot]

Gateron switches have become really, really good. So, why not. They are far more convincing than those overpriced boards equipped with scratchy Cherry Browns or worse, Razer switches. And if you look into it these gamer brand boards are chinese made anyway.

So yeah, just get one of the clones, at least you get them from the source. The cheap case construction will lead people to better quality boards, either OEM like Ducky, Leopold or IKBC, and then to customs.

[mizzoperator]

Gateron switches have become really, really good. So, why not. They are far more convincing than those overpriced boards equipped with scratchy Cherry Browns or worse, Razer switches. And if you look into it these gamer brand boards are chinese made anyway.

So yeah, just get one of the clones, at least you get them from the source. The cheap case construction will lead people to better quality boards, either OEM like Ducky, Leopold or IKBC, and then to customs.

To reiterate, I think that these clone KBs are great entry-level boards. What I'm afraid of is that it's going to keep egging on the gamer aesthetic trend even further. I mean, is it really all that much to ask for a keyboard that doesn't look like Disco has come back for revenge on my eyes?

Additionally, while Gaterons are getting really good (almost identical to genuine Cherry), I'm also afraid that people will be afraid to try new switches out. Marketing being what it is, these people will be convinced that these are the best the mechanical keyboard industry have to offer
I'm probably just being terrified, but Cherry doesn't deserve the spotlight anymore IMO.

[Surefoot]

They have become better than Cherry. Stems are quite smoother, the range of options for springs is wider...

[kagamineryuki]

honestly, it's good value (at least in my country).

in term of build quality, there's some decent cheap ass generic gaming mechanical keyboard that cost around $20 - $50 in my country that using gaterons as the default switch.
those keyboards are aluminium plate mounted floating keys type keyboard. I can't even bend that s**t using my hand

in term of PCB quality, they're using cheap low quality PCB.
they're alright if you want to change the switch once or twice (if you want to use it as switch tester board then, buy hotswapable keyboard. they're as cheap as soldered one).

and for built-in features, there's not a lot of it. my first mechanical keyboard using Blue Gateron that cost me around $23 and got "anti-ghosting" mode that can be turn on or off, disable-able winkey (it's gaming keyboard so, i think its norm to have this feature  ) and some horrendous RGB light show thingies that mimic what razer has.
i think that's all features that it has.

tl;dr :
its decent i guess. its tough enough, the default switch is good enough to type on, and off course they're cheap.
just be careful if you're going to buy from some chinese website that only say that its got blue switch but never mention it specifically (lest they give you some no brand switches).