New CM Storm mechanical keyboard education page - looking for feedback!

[CM-Rajiv]

Hi everyone,

The team is looking to roll out a simple way to educate the masses with the mechanical keyboard technologies and wanted to get some feedback from you all.  We plan to launch this tomorrow and while we have some cleaning up to do, we wanted to give you guys a crack at providing some feedback.

http://coolermaster-usa.com/cmuniversity/switches.php

Head over there and let me know your thoughts on what additional information we can add.

[ITzNybble]

I think it is very informative without overloading the reader. One thing that bugged me was that the entire time I was reading I and I am sure most GeekHackers will know you are talking about MX Cherry but there are other switches so maybe specify that they are Cherries in the beginning and not wait until the bottom of the page. Besides that little pet peeve I like it. GJ!

[SpAmRaY]

I don't know if I'd go with university but you could call it a cheat sheet or something like that.

Not bad, one suggestion is instead of just having the words underlined you can click on maybe make them a different color.

Also adding sound clips for the keys would be interesting as well. I see it says video coming soon so that might cover it as well.

Pretty basic and gets some info out there to those who might not otherwise know.

Actually it would be really cool if the keyboard illustration at the top could be changed to the different switch colors and you could click the keys and hear the sounds...

[esoomenona]

- you use it every time you're at your PC
- Cherry[space]MX
- The unique characteristics* to each certain switch types include feedback (audio and/or tactile)
- CherryMX Red is another very popular “gaming” switch [It's the first one called a "gaming switch" when moving from left to right, so not another]

Other than that, there is a lot of "gaming" wording, but I understand you're a gaming company.

[esoomenona]

I think it is very informative without overloading the reader. One thing that bugged me was that the entire time I was reading I and I am sure most GeekHackers will know you are talking about MX Cherry but there are other switches so maybe specify that they are Cherries in the beginning and not wait until the bottom of the page. Besides that little pet peeve I like it. GJ!

This is especially true when it comes to the 50 million keypresses. Other mechanical switches have less or more.

[ITzNybble]

I think it is very informative without overloading the reader. One thing that bugged me was that the entire time I was reading I and I am sure most GeekHackers will know you are talking about MX Cherry but there are other switches so maybe specify that they are Cherries in the beginning and not wait until the bottom of the page. Besides that little pet peeve I like it. GJ!

This is especially true when it comes to the 50 million keypresses. Other mechanical switches have less or more.

very true!

[esoomenona]

Not bad, one suggestion is instead of just having the words underlined you can click on maybe make them a different color.

I don't see why it's even necessary to click on them. They should pop-up when hovering over them.

[CommunistWitchDr]

I think it is very informative without overloading the reader. One thing that bugged me was that the entire time I was reading I and I am sure most GeekHackers will know you are talking about MX Cherry but there are other switches so maybe specify that they are Cherries in the beginning and not wait until the bottom of the page. Besides that little pet peeve I like it. GJ!

This is especially true when it comes to the 50 million keypresses. Other mechanical switches have less or more.

For that matter tactile/clicky cherry is advertised as 20mill. Only the linears are 50.

[ITzNybble]

What would be a nice idea is to get CM sponsored  pro players to state which CM board and key switch they use, I know there are a lot of fans out there that just want to use what the pros use. Just a thought to help increase sales....I'll take 0.05% whenever you would like to deposit to me 

[file_id]

What would be a nice idea is to get CM sponsored  pro players to state which CM board and key switch they use, I know there are a lot of fans out there that just want to use what the pros use. Just a thought to help increase sales....I'll take 0.05% whenever you would like to deposit to me 

Good suggestion. Just take a page from MonsterCable Beat Headphones. They sold a ton of them.

[CPTBadAss]

What would be a nice idea is to get CM sponsored  pro players to state which CM board and key switch they use, I know there are a lot of fans out there that just want to use what the pros use. Just a thought to help increase sales....I'll take 0.05% whenever you would like to deposit to me 

I think this is a really cool idea. Having some of the guys from Curse or Polt in an interview would be cool.

Other than that, there is a lot of "gaming" wording, but I understand you're a gaming company.

I agree that there is a lot of gamer terms and generalizations. I think MX Blues and Browns are both really good introductory switches and I actually don't mind playing video games on MX Blues. Just glad that you guys highlighted the personal aspect towards the top.

[CM-Rajiv]

What would be a nice idea is to get CM sponsored  pro players to state which CM board and key switch they use, I know there are a lot of fans out there that just want to use what the pros use. Just a thought to help increase sales....I'll take 0.05% whenever you would like to deposit to me 

Already in the works This is going to be added to revisions later down the line

[CM-Rajiv]

Not bad, one suggestion is instead of just having the words underlined you can click on maybe make them a different color.

I don't see why it's even necessary to click on them. They should pop-up when hovering over them.

We tried this, and it was actually very annoying.  There is a glossary at the bottom for a full collection of terms.

[CM-Rajiv]

I don't know if I'd go with university but you could call it a cheat sheet or something like that.

There will be other sections (keyboard sizes, mouse grip types, surface technology, headsets) so it's just a fun way of educating really.

[F u r u y á]

Those forum feedbacks provide really valuable information to the companies. Only a few years back then they realized they can get free valuable information in the forums that would otherwise cost them tens of thousands dollars (or more) if done internally. Myself I worked for fun (aka for free) for their Spawn mouse a lot...

And I like very much the idea of educating the masses instead of profting based on ignorance (and feeding the ignorance) of people (example: marketing that you need "gaming" mice with 5-digit cpi with 7-digit LED colors).


That being said, I would

• make more clear that PALM | CLAW | FINGERTIP and Blue Switch | Red Switch  | ... are a menu (clickable link);
• agree with not underline to highlight links (I'd use the purple color you used instead);
• add more items to mice glossary (Polling Rate, Jitter, Perfect Control Speed, Acceleration, Prediction/Angle Snapping/Drift Control, and mention different switches here too!);
• fix the linear switches's (MX Red and Black) flash animation which have a minor artifact (small square that appears in the to top of the switch housing).

[CM-Rajiv]

Those forum feedbacks provide really valuable information to the companies. Only a few years back then they realized they can get free valuable information in the forums that would otherwise cost them tens of thousands dollars (or more) if done internally. Myself I worked for fun (aka for free) for their Spawn mouse a lot...

And I like very much the idea of educating the masses instead of profting based on ignorance (and feeding the ignorance) of people (example: marketing that you need "gaming" mice with 5-digit cpi with 7-digit LED colors).


That being said, I would

• make more clear that PALM | CLAW | FINGERTIP and Blue Switch | Red Switch  | ... are a menu (clickable link);
• agree with not underline to highlight links (I'd use the purple color you used instead);
• add more items to mice glossary (Polling Rate, Jitter, Perfect Control Speed, Acceleration, Prediction/Angle Snapping/Drift Control, and mention different switches here too!);
• fix the linear switches's (MX Red and Black) flash animation which have a minor artifact (small square that appears in the to top of the switch housing).

Thanks for the feedback.  We have a good amount of info internally to share, but I'm going to hear it from you guys when I read posts ... so might as well let you get an early look as opposed to having to constantly make changes.   Community outreach more than trying to get free info...

As for the mouse stuff.. that is all not going to be live (it's open right now due to testing) and I have TONS of work to do on that still.  Mechanical keyboard section is the first to launch tomorrow so just cleaning up what I can.

[remmeh]

I took a quick look and it appears the MX red slider has a tactile bump - it should look like the MX black (linear).

[ping111]

Also, on the Brown Switch, it's lightning-fast.

[CM-Rajiv]

Also, on the Brown Switch, it's lightning-fast.

Good catch Will be edited.

[CM-Rajiv]

If I wanted to create a simple graph to compare the different switch types, what do you guys feel would be necessary?
Imagine it would be simple enough to be rated out of 5 ...


So far I have:

Force (Actuation):
Loudness: 
Feedback:
Gaming:
Typing:

So an example would be:

Green Switch
Force (Actuation):  xxxx
Loudness: xxxxx
Feedback: xxxxx
Gaming: xxx
Typing: xxxxx

Red Switch
Force (Actuation): x
Loudness: xx
Feedback: x
Gaming: xxxxx
Typing: xx

[Tarzan]

Switch Type:
Linear vs. Tactile
Clicky vs. non-clicky

[esoomenona]

Why would Red have a loudness of two? Theoretically, it wouldn't have any sound. The sound you hear from it is from caps and bottoming out. If you don't bottom out, you barely hear anything. The same for Blacks. Browns/Clears would have a bit louder noise because you can hear the tactile bump, at least as far as I remember. Of course, if we're basing loudness on clicky switches, Blues/Greens win to prize.

Gaming and Typing would be subjective IMO. Many people think Blues are just fine for gaming. Though, again, I understand you're marketing mostly to gamers.

That looks like it would be a good set of data points. There really isn't anything more I can think of.

[esoomenona]

Also, under Cherry MX Red, - gaming switch due to its extremely

[davkol]

It makes a sound unless you release your finger from the key very slowly.

[F u r u y á]

Gaming and Typing would be subjective IMO. Many people think Blues are just fine for gaming.

I agree. There's not a consensus about "switch X is good for Y". Each person has its personal preferences

So I'd provide more objective characteristics (clicky/nonclicky, tactile/nontactile), like Greystoke already said.

[The_Beast]

I think the description on the MX green feels forced

"One of the rarest switches available, the Cherry MX Greens can best be described as Blues with a bit more resistance. Still classified as a “typist switch,” it has grown within the enthusiast community as the holy grail of Cherry MX switches. The only switch that can require a “break in period” due to the stiffer nature, they become a dream to use once your fingers have adjusted to increased weight. "

It's not really the rarest switch (I think whites are harder to come by, super blacks or dark stem blues are way more rare than greens), and isn't the "holy grail" of MX switches.

I also don't think there's a break in period for the switch, it's more of getting used to the switch itself.

[FoxWolf1]

Gaming and Typing would be subjective IMO. Many people think Blues are just fine for gaming.

I agree. There's not a consensus about "switch X is good for Y". Each person has its personal preferences

So I'd provide more objective characteristics (clicky/nonclicky, tactile/nontactile), like Greystoke already said.

I have to third this sentiment. It's already too easy for people to be pushed away from the switch that is right for them by of crude marketing generalizations relating switches to purposes.

[esoomenona]

I think the description on the MX green feels forced

"One of the rarest switches available, the Cherry MX Greens can best be described as Blues with a bit more resistance. Still classified as a “typist switch,” it has grown within the enthusiast community as the holy grail of Cherry MX switches. The only switch that can require a “break in period” due to the stiffer nature, they become a dream to use once your fingers have adjusted to increased weight. "

It's not really the rarest switch (I think whites are harder to come by, super blacks or dark stem blues are way more rare than greens), and isn't the "holy grail" of MX switches.

I also don't think there's a break in period for the switch, it's more of getting used to the switch itself.

I tried to steer clear of addressing much of the sensational marketing jargon.

The break in thing is valid though. And it's the same for Blacks, being they have the same a roughly similar spring. Maybe just a bit more for Greens based on the tactile bump.

[remedyhalopc]

Greens and Blacks don't have the same spring.

[tp4tissue]

Minor correction Rajiv... it's quire rarely "Finger Fatigue" from keyboarding, rather  "wrist-fatigue" from having to bottom out requires stiffening of one's wrist. the actual force exerted by the fingers is usually not in excess.

[esoomenona]

Greens and Blacks don't have the same spring.

Is that better?

[tp4tissue]

Greens and Blacks don't have the same spring.

Is that better?

is this true? I thought they were the same springs?

[esoomenona]

The Black spring may be a tad lighter (it has one coil more/less, can't remember which) though the metal itself might make a difference up or down as well. They're similar enough to warrant putting a Black spring in a Blue switch and calling it a Ghetto Green, though.

[JPG]

NKRO (N-Key Roll Over):
Being able to press as many keys as possible at the same time. Some keyboards are limited to 6KRO or 12KRO.


I would specify that most non-mechanical keyboards are 2KRO since only some very specific usage need more than 6KRO while 2KRO is VERY limitative.

[remedyhalopc]

Greens and Blacks don't have the same spring.

Is that better?

Don't get butthurt about it.
Similar =/= same.

[esoomenona]

Butthurt? You're confused. I changed my answer because you are correct. I was not fazed at all by your pointing that out.

[remedyhalopc]

Butthurt? You're confused. I changed my answer because you are correct. I was not fazed at all by your pointing that out.

Sorry. I read too much into that.
I thought you were being sassy.

[linziyi]

Would be a great idea to add clear switches if that is gonna come live!