Two big downsides I see to this keyboard. One, it's ABS keycaps. I hate ABS. I destroy ABS. Took me less than 3 days to develop an insane amount of shine on my QF Rapid's spacebar. (It's like a damn mirror. Grrgh. I demand more PBT.)
Number two is the big one that's going to bite everyone. Those LED windows are hawt, oh yes. But they indicate two things. One, the LED's external to the switch. No big. Two, there are no existing molds with that type of windowing. Meaning any replacement keycap set is going to require two new molds to handle caps lock and num/scroll lock. And that's presuming they aren't using light pipe - now that would be an expensive keycap.
Otherwise looks pretty solid. Especially when you consider it's essentially an improved Vortex ONE ($110) with ABS instead of PBT.
I don't really think they intended for this keyboard line to be on the high end but more so for the entry level, which is why they didn't include PBT keycaps. They have the DK9008 G2 Pro series for that, but being Ducky, I woudn't be surprised if they did eventually provide this line with PBT keycaps for a slightly higher price like they did with the standard DK9008's. I can understand your hate for the shining on an ABS spacebar though. I don't mind the feel but man does it look ugly when it does that.
That's the confusing thing - the DK9008G2 is available with PBT. But the Zero is pretty clearly higher end in terms of appearance and function. So commence epic confusion as everyone looks and goes "wait, the 9008G2 has old style LED windows and the Zero has these really nice LEDs, 9008G2 is single layer while Zero is two layer. And they both have about the same layout but the Zero is way cheaper?"
Seriously. Do the comparison. The Zero is
ahead of the 9008G2 in many regards. (It also appears to have a significantly more ergonomic Fn layer, depending where the track control buttons are.)
The whole LED windowed keycaps thing you talk about, standard OEM/Cherry profile keycaps wouldn't fit? I'm confused (sorry). Are you saying that the replacement keycaps from Ducky will be expensive or that standard keycaps won't fit? If you're saying standard keycaps won't fit, that'd be an issue, for sure.
Would standard keycaps fit? Yes. Would the LEDs be visible? No. Would standard windowed keycaps work? No - they wouldn't show the LED. You need keycaps that match that specific window layout. So this would make truly compatible keycaps more expensive because it requires a new mold to be made. Otherwise, you would basically lose the LED functionality.
My greater fear is that Ducky is using a light pipe (basically specially shaped optical plastic) as part of the keycap, which would make replacement keycaps
extremely expensive - seriously, just the light pipe would probably cost near half a dollar in qty 1000+ - but could mean the LED's in front so windowed keycaps would work.
So much I don't know about keyboards :S Learning something new everyday.
Heh, I think most folks missed that little caveat. Still it looks like a very solid keyboard overall. I'm certainly giving some consideration - just want more information on the Fn layer. I can live without volume controls, but I cannot live without my track controls.
