Ducky Shine 2 DK9087S TKL - A Few Thoughts

[furosuto81]

I got my Ducky Shine 2 DK9087S today...w00t! I'm pretty sure this will now be my new "daily driver" at home. Here are my thoughts about it:

• The TKL layout is PERFECT for my needs at home. I'm very happy Ducky finally came out with a TKL version of the Shine
• Still getting used to the light linear MX Red switches. In the short time I've used it, I think I prefer the MX Blacks for linear typing (the resistance seems to help reduce typing errors), but I prefer the Reds for gaming, which is what I will be using it for.
• As for key weight, I would define the difference as, I "notice" the effort of holding down the W key when walking forward in FPS gaming, whereas I don't notice it with the Reds (or MX Browns, for that matter). I figure if I "notice" it, it's probably not good.
• Speaking of MX Browns, I've pretty much determined that I don't like them. If I want tactility for typing, I'll stick with Matias Quiet switches or MX Blues. I now see what people mean when they say Browns feel like "gritty" Reds.
• I LOVE the fact that the Shine 2 remembers the LED state when waking from sleep or being unplugged. That always bugged me about the Shine 1. I'd go so far as to say it was design flaw.
• The programmable LED modes are nifty little feature. I might use it a bit to turn off the F keys and Home/End cluster.
• I got the White LED version. I now have three White LED keyboards: This one, a DK9008S, and a Keycool87. All three have a different temperature "white". The DK9008S is the most neutral of the three; pure white. If anyone has a MacBook Pro with backlit keyboard, that's what color the DK9008S is. The DK9087S is a light purple, and the Keycool is slightly blueish. All three are pleasant enough and I like purple, so I can't complain about the DK9087S
• My only complaint is a minor one, and probably only applies to my particular board. For some reason, the Up Arrow and Right Arrow switches have some fairly noticeable spring ringing on the upstroke. Near as I can tell, these are the only two on the board that really stick out. I haven't noticed such ringing on any of the three other Cherry switch boards I have.

[quake4mhg]

Does the Shine 2 remembers the LED state after boot up? Thanks.

[MissMurd3r84]

Does the Shine 2 remembers the LED state after boot up? Thanks.

I believe it does.

[WhiteFireDragon]

Wait, you got the Ducky Year of the Dragon in mx red switches, but you have white LEDs? I thought mx red switches only came with purple LEDs?

[laffindude]

No. He has the Shine 2.

[furosuto81]

Does the Shine 2 remembers the LED state after boot up? Thanks.

Yes! It has two custom program settings (CM1 and CM2) that let you set which keys are lit. So it HAS to remember. And thank goodness for that. I hated having to reset it every time my PC went to sleep.

Wait, you got the Ducky Year of the Dragon in mx red switches, but you have white LEDs? I thought mx red switches only came with purple LEDs?

Nope, this is the Shine 2. MechanicalKeyboards.com has it with all four switch colors and 5 LED colors (white, red, blue, green, purple). I was holding out for a White LED option that let me choose the switch color too. Plus the YoTD editions are sold out.

Interestingly, Red switch boards used to be more expensive by a little...now they're the same price, but Browns are more expensive. I know Browns are in short supply thanks to Logitech, but I wonder if Cherry is producing more Reds now that more boards are being made with them. I thought they were End of Life.

[rowdy]

Still some YoTD here by the look of it: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=36090.0

[WhiteFireDragon]

Oh I see. The TKL of Shine II must have just came out, because when I was looking for one, only the YotD was available for ducky, and the only Shine II at the time was the full size. Thanks for clarifying.

[IvanIvanovich]

Yes Shine tenkeyless only has been out for maybe 2 weeks, maybe less than that outside Asia. Still hoping the all white version they showed at some electronics shows in the summer makes it to production.

[gameaholic]

So do these have all the same lighting modes of the YOTD?  Also in the reactive mode, do the keys light up upon actuation or bottoming out?

[metalliqaz]

Just about, yes.  The only difference that I know of is the marquee mode on the Shine is a bit different than the one on the YotD.

[gameaholic]

Definitely gonna order.  Red switches for sure but having a hard time deciding between red or white LEDs.

[sovano]

How is the weight and grip of the keyboard? I'm contemplating of getting the TKL since the brown switches for the full sized keyboards have been out for more than a week and I don't know if I can take it anymore -.-

[metalliqaz]

I think browns are going to be out for a while.  Word on the street is that Logitech bought them all to launch a new product.'

Also, grip is good and weight is average.  Perhaps a bit above average because of all the LEDs and electronics in there.

[furosuto81]

So do these have all the same lighting modes of the YOTD?  Also in the reactive mode, do the keys light up upon actuation or bottoming out?

Reactive mode activates on actuation (tested this morning actually) and stays lit until you release the key. The marquee...I'm not sure if there are more modes, but the only one I've seen scrolls from left to right on the F-Key row. Seems like it should be able to do more than that, but if it can, I have no idea how to do it.

[rowdy]

I think I read somewhere here that the non-YoTD Duckys marquee does only go across the F row.

YoTD goes all over the keyboard - a special effect to commemorate the YoTD (in addition to the extra key caps).

[sovano]

I think browns are going to be out for a while.  Word on the street is that Logitech bought them all to launch a new product.'

Also, grip is good and weight is average.  Perhaps a bit above average because of all the LEDs and electronics in there.

That's good to hear. Although it is still a tough decision for me to decide whether to buy the TKL or to wait for browns to come back. I was a bit hesitant to buy the Ducky last week and a few hours later the browns went out of stock everywhere. Hoping the same doesn't happen now.  I already have a nice, TKL keyboard in blues with PBT keycaps. I'm not sure if I can justify getting another TKL keyboard.

[furosuto81]

How is the weight and grip of the keyboard? I'm contemplating of getting the TKL since the brown switches for the full sized keyboards have been out for more than a week and I don't know if I can take it anymore -.-

I have a glass desk and I've never had it slide around on me. Weight is solid enough...it does has a plate after all. If you REALLY want a full-size board with MX Browns now, I'd be happy to part with my Shine 1, which is also White LED. At this point, I don't really plan on using it, and it's still in pretty much perfect condition. Feel free to PM me if interested.

[sovano]

I'd have to pass on that offer. I absolutely fell in love with all the backlighting features (especially the reactive backlighting) when I saw the first Youtube reviews come out from Asia. It's one of the main reasons I'm planning to buy it. I look at my CM Storm QFP and wonder what made me buy a keyboard that isn't even half-lit lol...

[m00nshake]

The scrolling marquee on my Shine 2 only goes back and forth across the function row. It was the only thing about the back lighting on the board that underwhelmed me. I tried everything looks like that's all the scrolling marquee does.

[MissMurd3r84]

Not sure many would use the marquee feature anyways, would they? I'd find it annoying.

[rowdy]

I find even the pulsing light on my Ducky Shine 1 distracting, and only ever use it when someone remarks on the keyboard.

[furosuto81]

Yeah...most of the modes are pretty much just "bling". I didn't feel like I was missing anything with just three brightness levels on  the Keycool87. The keycaps (material/paint & typeface) are better on the Ducky though. The Ducky gets brighter overall too, but I find that the brightest setting is WAY too bright. So no advantage there either.