Rapoo V7 Cheapo Mechanical

[speakeasy]

http://detail.zol.com.cn/keyboard/index286630.shtml




Check out that fake cherry! Not yet released.  Board is said to be ~300rmb (~$45), 92 ABS keys (87 keys + vol+,vol-, mute, macro recording, and windows key disable), 9KRO via USB, comes with software.

Just what the doctor ordered for those teenage gamers that are dying for a mechanical but can't afford a filco!

[The Solutor]

Just what the doctor ordered for those teenage gamers that are dying for a mechanical but can't afford a filco!

 
Yeah, maybe is not even pinging :pound:

[eyeshield21san]

What is up with these "poo" keyboards?

Noppoo, Rapoo....

[IvanIvanovich]

Since it cost about the same as mid-range rubberdomes, it would be a good one to convince cheapskate people to try a mechanical too. The body style reminds me a lot of old imac keyboard. I wonder which MX switch they feel closest to?

[CeeSA]

yellow switch, for the yellow man

[redpill]

Fake cherries?

[noodles256]

in for 3

[The Solutor]

yellow switch, for the yellow man

 
My general rule says that yellow things usually are working better.

I'm curios to know if this is one of the rare exceptions. :pop2:

[redpill]

Well it has to be good, it says right there on the case it's a PRO mechanical keyboard.

[wompwomp]

I like the layout a lot haha. A more compact tenkeyless as well as dedicated volume keys.

[DaemonRaccoon]

Are the clone switches pin compatible with REAL Cherry MX?

[The Solutor]

I presume they are as are looking more cherry clone



than the cherry compatible previously seen

[speakeasy]

I don't think those switches are the same as the "Taiwan's White Axis" switches that have been previously documented in the Wiki. According to what I could glean from PCHome, they're a Rapoo in-house reverse engineered design, takes more force to push down than reds. Implying they're linear? Perhaps close to blacks or somewhere in between reds and blacks.

[The Solutor]

Implying they're linear? [...]somewhere in between reds and blacks.

This is what I understood from Chinese websites, although I haven't spent much time in searching.

[calavera]

hmmm...looks interesting though, I'd buy one just to try it out.

[redpill]

hmmm...looks interesting though, I'd buy one just to try it out.

Post a review =)

[himynameisbunny]

Implying they're linear? Perhaps close to blacks or somewhere in between reds and blacks.

If they're like this it might be worth grabbing one for its' springs.

[The Solutor]

If they're like this it might be worth grabbing one for its' springs.

 
Likely for you in Australia is a good option, here in Europe, one can get an original cherry board for 40€ and with 105 springs/stems/switches...

[himynameisbunny]

Likely for you in Australia is a good option, here in Europe, one can get an original cherry board for 40€ and with 105 springs/stems/switches...

Missed the point here. If they're in between Reds and Blacks it would likely mean the spring rate is different to any other genuine Cherry.

[The Solutor]

OK, thanks. I thought you intended indented it as a cheap alternative to original cherrys, to made some getto red/ergo clears.

[sordna]

http://detail.zol.com.cn/keyboard/index286630.shtml

Show Image

Wow, never seen a metal plate like that before, interesting !

[dreamingftw]

Wouldn't mind buying this board and modding it with another switch. I kind of like the layout of the keyboard itself.

[qtan5370]

Cheapest? What do think about PLUM.....

[domin8r]

hmmm...looks interesting though, I'd buy one just to try it out.

 
Yeah for $45 it's worth a shot anywayz

[chongyixiong]

For those who are more interested in knowing more about the yellowish china made Cherry,
http://mouse.zol.com.cn/229/2297497_all.html#p2299674

Pretty interesting read and the numbers are fascinating - if these are able to be produced at almost half the original Cherry keyswitches, I guess we should see them invading the Rapoo market very soon (if they are accepted nationwide I guess)




Black MX | Yellow China MX | Red MX

Also, the whole article on the Rapoo V7
http://mouse.zol.com.cn/232/2322828_all.html#p2323076

[500_pts]

just saying, im in for a group buy if some people wanna try this out, i mean cmon at 45$ we cant lose. besides, who could say no to those sexy led's

[The Solutor]

 I guess we should see them invading the Rapoo market very soon (if they are accepted nationwide I guess)

 
Although I think Cherry will be not so happy I hope they will made some other switches like a Chinese ergo clear.

[domin8r]

just saying, im in for a group buy if some people wanna try this out, i mean cmon at 45$ we cant lose. besides, who could say no to those sexy led's

Show Image

 
Seconded :D

[Daniel Beaver]

just saying, im in for a group buy if some people wanna try this out, i mean cmon at 45$ we cant lose. besides, who could say no to those sexy led's

Heh. Sure, why not.

[Tohveli]

Could anybody translate the picture with the diagrams? Would be grately appreciated ^^

[xargos]

just saying, im in for a group buy if some people wanna try this out, i mean cmon at 45$ we cant lose. besides, who could say no to those sexy led's

I also have to agree here.  That is, if the price including shipping in the end would still be low enough.

Edit:

For those who are more interested in knowing more about the yellowish china made Cherry,
http://mouse.zol.com.cn/229/2297497_all.html#p2299674

Also, the whole article on the Rapoo V7
http://mouse.zol.com.cn/232/2322828_all.html#p2323076

After running these through Google Translate, the keyboard and switches actually sound pretty nice.  

The switches are said to be between the Cherry MX Red and Black in the amount of force needed to actuate them.  The testing supposedly shows that they should be good for 50 million actuations, but the initial expectation looks more like 30 million.  The quality isn't supposed to be quite up to that of the Cherry switches, but still pretty decent.

The keyboard itself may be a little more than meets the eye, too.  Supposedly it has onboard memory for storing macros and the like.  Whether or not the software to edit the onboard memory will be available in English or not is something I would wonder, but it certainly would be nice.

[sordna]

Could anybody translate the picture with the diagrams? Would be grately appreciated ^^

Sure, here's the translation:

  We copies the Cherry bery exactry.

Seriously, the graph is self explanatory, force is between reds and blacks. The graph lacks showing the actuation point though.

[Atenacius]

The plate curving out to the surface is a neat idea but it looks really ugly.

[sordna]

It would look nicer if it were anodized aluminum, with sharp edges.

[xargos]

Sure, here's the translation:

  We copies the Cherry bery exactry.

Actually, if you read the article on the switches you will find that, while pretty close, the design isn't an exact copy.  In fact, I dare say that some of the differences are probably intentional.  Whether or not they are a good idea remains to be seen.

[The Solutor]

Actually, if you read the article on the switches you will find that, while pretty close, the design isn't an exact copy.  In fact, I dare say that some of the differences are probably intentional.  Whether or not they are a good idea remains to be seen.

 
Look at the previous pages, this switch is not the same of the wiki.

[xargos]

Look at the previous pages, this switch is not the same of the wiki.

I'm not talking about something from a wiki.  I'm talking about what is in the switch review.  The pictures of the yellow switches on the Rapoo and in the article about the switch look the same to me, and neither looks like a real Cherry.  I put them side by side for a comparison.

[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 19910[/ATTACH]

Also, the article about the switch even mentions that it will be used in the keyboard.

[The Solutor]

Ah, ok.

Yes these two are clearly the same kind switch.

Looks to me as thy started from an exact copy an then changed slightly some not functional details, I guess purposely changed to have something to say, during a lawsuit.

BTW i think it's safe to call them "clones", while the ones from the wiky are more "compatible" than true clones.

[xargos]

I'm wondering what difference the choice of a larger, (supposedly) silver-plated contact point will make in this switch design.  Hopefully it will not be a problem since the idea of a switch between the red and black would be nice.

Does anyone know if there is an official release date for this keyboard?  The one reviewed was only an engineering sample, but it looks pretty much like a finished product other than the missing rear label.

[speakeasy]

Ah, ok.

Yes these two are clearly the same kind switch.

Looks to me as thy started from an exact copy an then changed slightly some not functional details, I guess purposely changed to have something to say, during a lawsuit.

BTW i think it's safe to call them "clones", while the ones from the wiky are more "compatible" than true clones.

The article I read explains that it's ok for them to clone it since cherry's patent was filed 25 years ago, IANAL but it sounds fishy to me. But who cares, it means cheap mechanicals for all!

[The Solutor]

The article I read explains that it's ok for them to clone it since cherry's patent was filed 25 years ago, IANAL but it sounds fishy to me.

Yeah this is a point I missed, time flow too fast....

AFAIK Patents should last in 20 years, so look reasonable what you read.

Btw other than the patent there are other forms of coverage of the design itself. If this is the case is not easy to guess.

[keyb_gr]

These Cherry clones don't have the typical gold-plated crosspoint contacts but rather something that you might expect in a relay or somesuch. Not sure what the implications on long-term reliability will be. Crosspoint contacts minimize contact area for maximum pressure, which in turn means high contact reliability at the expense of low maximum currents (which aren't needed at all anyway).

Now for the question that I absolutely cannot resist asking:
If a girl with long braid buys such a board, will she be nicknamed "Rapoonzel"?

[The Solutor]

These Cherry clones don't have the typical gold-plated crosspoint contacts but rather something that you might expect in a relay or somesuch.

A relay must be way more reliable than a keyswitch, usually they are stated for 1 billion of mechanical operations and from 100K to 20M or more electrical operations depending on the current and voltage managed. (a cherry switch is meant to survive from 20k to 50k of activations)

Contacts are usaully made from varius alloys of gold, platinum, silver, iridium, palladium and so on, depending on the application the current managed, the average number of activation and so on. And lack of gold doesn't mean cheaper choice but just different specs needed.

If a girl with long braid buys such a board, will she be nicknamed "Rapoonzel"?

Obviously :happy:

[elbowglue]

Niiiice.. I like the layout.  
<-would tap that.

Wow, stepped capslock too.  Another +1

[sordna]

qtan sells these for $75 shipped!. Very tempting.