Author Topic: Monoprice (Read 1873 times)

Crowat · « **on:** Mon, 09 January 2012, 22:18:30 »

Anyone saw this on [H]? Check the lower right...

http://www.monoprice.com/home/promo.asp?pn=CES_2012&utm_source=January_Newsletter_2_CES&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=January_Newsletter_2_CES_Email_P_Coming_Soon_CES_Landing_Page

I hope the price/quality combination is like their cables/monitor mounts.

iBro · « **Reply #1 on:** Tue, 10 January 2012, 00:03:30 »

The keyboard looks horrendous. I really don't get what people see in back lighting.

It also cracks me up that they advertise keyboards with numpads as "gaming" keyboards. If you used it as a gaming keyboard, there would be little use for a numpad. In fact it might make the gaming experience worse because of the mouse being father away from the keyboard.

demik · « **Reply #2 on:** Tue, 10 January 2012, 00:09:51 »

I can see why some people would need backlighting.

I don't understand why gamers need back lighting tho, well aside from cosmetic reason (some can be quite anal about all their stuff matching).

TranscendingLogic · « **Reply #3 on:** Tue, 10 January 2012, 00:38:24 »

Backlighting is probably just bling for the gamers. I don't see why they use keyboards at all for gaming. Why wouldn't they just use one of those Nostromo things?

(disclaimer: not a gamer)

demik · « **Reply #4 on:** Tue, 10 January 2012, 00:42:02 »

^ because it's just another device to have on your desk that you really don't need (IMO) when your keyboard can do the same and it's already something you're using anyway.

mechanisch · « **Reply #5 on:** Tue, 10 January 2012, 01:21:08 »

After going tenkeyless and compact, I could never game on a full size board again. The ergonomics just isn't there.

IMO backlighting is rarely done well, and usually looks gaudy / tacky. However, I am one to still appreciate a clean, not-too-bright, preferably White backlight, because I often game and type in the dark or low light conditions. So for me its much less of an aesthetics thing, and much more of a usability thing. That is why I like backlit.

I would likely buy something like a Ducky Shining in White if it were tenkeyless. If the RACE keyboard were released in White LED I might consider that, too although there's something a little off-putting about its layout.

Regarding Monoprice, I'm not familiar at all with that company, but the board in that picture is an example of my opinion on back lighting done poorly.

TranscendingLogic · « **Reply #6 on:** Tue, 10 January 2012, 01:31:00 »

I must be going blind because I can't judge the quality of the board or backlighting from a crappy web graphic. Looks like a Qpad or Xarmor to me. I've read a couple of posts about poor soldering and failing LEDs. I do have a backlit Xarmor from another member in the mail, so I'll find out real quick how well it holds up with my heavy hands and sandpaper fingertips pounding on it for an extended period of time. I just hope it holds up better than my Filco.

demik · « **Reply #7 on:** Tue, 10 January 2012, 01:34:42 »

It's a qpad, which is just an xarmor under a diff name.

eth0s · « **Reply #8 on:** Tue, 10 January 2012, 01:42:16 »

Quote from: TranscendingLogic;487092

Backlighting is probably just bling for the gamers. I don't see why they use keyboards at all for gaming. Why wouldn't they just use one of those Nostromo things?

That's the reason I love my KBC Poker 40% for gaming: it's like one of those Nostromo things, but better, because it's a whole keyboard. It's a lot smaller than a TKL, so you can place it under your left hand, and the mouse under your right hand, and be sitting in the middle of the screen, and pwn nubs all day long (well I did that before, tbh, it's just more comfortable now). However, my wife told me today that she hates my little KBC Poker 40%, and she hates using it. She's not much of a gamer, so she doesn't appreciate it like I do. So I guess this little guy is going into the drawer for the time being, and we're going back to the TKL-sized keyboard for gaming. But if you're a gamer, you really should try the Poker, or another mini, as the mini's are better for gaming than a TKL, IMHO. It feels a little freaky at first, with just a little 40% keyboard under your left hand and your right hand kind of hanging out where it feels like it's never been before, and there is no solid block keyboard in front of you, but it really works, if you give it a try.

TranscendingLogic · « **Reply #9 on:** Tue, 10 January 2012, 02:08:28 »

I like the look & size of the poker, but I couldn't live with the layout. A simple Shift+ArrowDown to select a line of code becomes Fn+Shift+ArrowDown. Same problem with Del and PgUp/PgDown. I just prefer dedicated keys for those functions. A regular TKL is about the smallest board I'd want for everyday non-gamer use. I'm lefty anyway, so it makes sense to me to use the tenkeypad for movement and mouse with left hand.

eth0s · « **Reply #10 on:** Tue, 10 January 2012, 02:25:15 »

Quote from: TranscendingLogic;487124

I like the look & size of the poker, but I couldn't live with the layout. A simple Shift+ArrowDown to select a line of code becomes Fn+Shift+ArrowDown. Same problem with Del and PgUp/PgDown. I just prefer dedicated keys for those functions. A regular TKL is about the smallest board I'd want for everyday non-gamer use. I'm lefty anyway, so it makes sense to me to use the tenkeypad for movement and mouse with left hand.

Actually you can lock the bottom four right-corner keys (Rshift, Rctrl, Menu, & RWin) and turn them into arrow keys, so Shift+ArrowDn still works. (I use that combo all the time.) Fn+Del is a PITA honestly, as is Pgup/Pgdwn, but those aren't deal-breakers for me, plus I wouldn't recommend that anybody spend ten hours coding with a Poker. I think it's intended use is supposed to be as a portable mechanical KBD for laptops, but what I was saying is that it also makes a great gaming keyboard, and I think it is overlooked as a gaming keyboard. Also I was saying that my wife has already expressed your view that the Poker is not the best option for a regular-duty keyboard. But I love it. And it has great potential as a gaming KBD if people will give it a try.

theta · « **Reply #11 on:** Tue, 10 January 2012, 02:27:44 »

I got really excited when I saw that CES preview email, but I just knew it had to be a cheapie. After all, Monoprice has some pretty stupid-low prices.

Thanks for confirming it's a Qpad.

Human · « **Reply #12 on:** Tue, 10 January 2012, 03:25:21 »

Just another Xarmor/iOne/Qpad rebrand... I wonder how many more rebrand of the board will I see until it gone EOL...

Crowat · « **Reply #13 on:** Tue, 10 January 2012, 06:36:30 »

Tbh I like backlighting cause my office is dark. About the color matching. I would prefer stuff to be the same backlight color.

I just hope the keyboard is cheap a of decent quality.

Crowat · « **Reply #14 on:** Tue, 10 January 2012, 09:39:46 »

Quote from: ripster;487264

On [H]? What about the Ripster subforum@@!

1) I saw it on [H] and didn't know you posted on it.
2) I tend to read your forum in 3/4 day increments as it mostly consists of 80% troll / 20% content.
3) Looking at it seems that [H] beat you to the punch by a day. I hope you are not getting sick or something.

Interesting that Monoprice would release such a crap product. I hope their standards are not dropping. Though I would tend to assume that cables are much harder to screw up compared to mechanical keyboards.

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Author Topic: Monoprice (Read 1873 times)