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Author Topic: Steelseries 7G  (Read 7902 times)

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Offline cb951303

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 72
Steelseries 7G
« on: Sun, 14 December 2008, 05:57:53 »


Has anyone tried it? It looks like decent keyboard. 100-110$ at ebay.
http://www.steelseries.com/us/products/keyboards/7g/information
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Offline Korbin

  • Posts: 131
Steelseries 7G
« Reply #1 on: Sun, 14 December 2008, 21:58:34 »
I have one. What would you like to know about it?
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Offline hotswank

  • Posts: 33
Steelseries 7G
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 19 February 2009, 09:57:02 »
Quote from: Korbin;14814
I have one. What would you like to know about it?


I have a question if you don't mind ;) What colour are your keycaps? Mine turned yellow/brownish after a few weeks and it looks awfull cheap. Please take a look at these pictures: http://www.moregraphics.nl/temp/7g/index.html

Please reply with your SN (printed on the back), I need this info for RMA or refund if all current 7G's tend to discolour like mine does.
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Offline lam47

  • Posts: 688
Steelseries 7G
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 19 February 2009, 10:10:17 »
please dont take this the wrong way but could it be dirt?
I have read on another forum of one of these getting grey yellow tinge to the lettering.
Try rubbing the letters with alcohol or something and see what happens.

If you have tried that already then I dont know.
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Offline hotswank

  • Posts: 33
Steelseries 7G
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 19 February 2009, 10:33:53 »
Quote from: lam47;22123
please dont take this the wrong way but could it be dirt?
I have read on another forum of one of these getting grey yellow tinge to the lettering.
Try rubbing the letters with alcohol or something and see what happens.

If you have tried that already then I dont know.


Now you see, that's the whole point: it looks like dirt but it really isn't. Mind you, those pictures are taken just after 2 weeks of light/normal use and after 2 months the WASD keys are actually starting to wear off !!

What is the link of the forum you read about the same issue? This would help me a lot deciding to keep it despite of the 'dirty' look, or ask for a refund. This 7G rocks for gaming, but is terrible for anything else and the small size DELETE key sukcs because you need it A LOT.
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Offline itlnstln

  • Posts: 7048
Steelseries 7G
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 19 February 2009, 10:39:56 »
Quote from: hotswank;22125
Now you see, that's the whole point: it looks like dirt but it really isn't. Mind you, those pictures are taken just after 2 weeks of light/normal use and after 2 months the WASD keys are actually starting to wear off !!

What is the link of the forum you read about the same issue? This would help me a lot deciding to keep it despite of the 'dirty' look, or ask for a refund. This 7G rocks for gaming, but is terrible for anything else and the small size DELETE key sukcs because you need it A LOT.


I wonder if these keys are anything like the Costar-made 'boards.  After about 2 weeks of use, the "gritty" coating on the keys started to wear off.  I have never experienced that kind of wear that quicky on a keyboard before.  On normal textured keys, I usually start to see wear in about a year or so.  While I have not worn off any letters yet, the letter keys are almost shiny.  I know it's not a cleanliness issue as I always wash my hands before using my keyboards.  I just think that the current methods for manufacturing smooth-plastic keys do not prevent wear effectively.  While not as sleek visually, I prefer old-school textured keys to these new-fangled smooth keys. :)
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Offline lowpoly

  • Posts: 1749
Steelseries 7G
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 19 February 2009, 10:49:56 »
Quote from: itlnstln;22127
I just think that the current methods for manufacturing smooth-plastic keys do not prevent wear effectively.  While not as sleek visually, I prefer old-school textured keys to these new-fangled smooth keys. :)

Double injection keys can be totally smooth as well. That was a reliable process. The current Cherry POM caps are as good. The problem is what has been done in the transition time. Like car design in the eighties.
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Offline Chloe

  • Posts: 679
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Steelseries 7G
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 19 February 2009, 10:53:09 »
The legends look similar to the lasered keycaps on my Cherry G84-4700 numpad. I haven't had any discolouration.
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Offline cmr

  • Posts: 295
Steelseries 7G
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 19 February 2009, 11:08:26 »
it has the tiny backspace/backslash and gigantic enter key, hideous, what more do you need to know? :)
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Offline itlnstln

  • Posts: 7048
Steelseries 7G
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 19 February 2009, 11:44:33 »
Quote from: lowpoly;22130
Double injection keys can be totally smooth as well. That was a reliable process. The current Cherry POM caps are as good. The problem is what has been done in the transition time. Like car design in the eighties.


I am not having issues with the lettering, but the keys are already looking shiny, and that's a problem.
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Offline FKSSR

  • Posts: 529
Steelseries 7G
« Reply #10 on: Thu, 19 February 2009, 20:44:56 »
does the 7g come with an extra set of gray key caps?  

The 6g did, apparently.  I just found that out...now I really want one...stupid products being discontinued... :)
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Offline hotswank

  • Posts: 33
Steelseries 7G
« Reply #11 on: Fri, 20 February 2009, 06:46:20 »
Quote from: FKSSR;22196
does the 7g come with an extra set of gray key caps?  

The 6g did, apparently.  I just found that out...now I really want one...stupid products being discontinued... :)

No, just plain black keys with bad white lettering on them :) I was looking for the 6G myself for an 1:1 exchange (I'm that desperate) but it's no longer available new, perhaps you could find it online somewhere in the world or second hand on ebay and such.

I really really really wanted the Filco FKBN104M/EB with N-key roll-over/brown Cherries and large DELETE key, but because that is not available in Europe, I bought the 7G with similar -looks only- in stead. Is it not a good idea to group buy a (couple of) dozen of those Filco's? Apparently the 'native' demands are very high at the moment, so it's just a matter of time someone smells the cash up and start importing it to the EU, perhaps I will...

@ KORBIN : are you still there? I really would like to know about your keycaps.
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Offline Korbin

  • Posts: 131
Steelseries 7G
« Reply #12 on: Fri, 20 February 2009, 08:12:44 »
Quote from: hotswank;22237
No, just plain black keys with bad white lettering on them :) I was looking for the 6G myself for an 1:1 exchange (I'm that desperate) but it's no longer available new, perhaps you could find it online somewhere in the world or second hand on ebay and such.

I really really really wanted the Filco FKBN104M/EB with N-key roll-over/brown Cherries and large DELETE key, but because that is not available in Europe, I bought the 7G with similar -looks only- in stead. Is it not a good idea to group buy a (couple of) dozen of those Filco's? Apparently the 'native' demands are very high at the moment, so it's just a matter of time someone smells the cash up and start importing it to the EU, perhaps I will...

@ KORBIN : are you still there? I really would like to know about your keycaps.


Yeah, I'm still here. Sorry about that, I must have missed this post :(.
To answer your question, yes my keycaps did looks a little "dingy" after a few weeks of use. It didn't really bother me that much since I use the board entirely for gaming.
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Keyboards: Nyquist, Ergodox, Levinson

Offline hotswank

  • Posts: 33
Steelseries 7G
« Reply #13 on: Fri, 20 February 2009, 17:34:14 »
Quote
The legends look similar to the lasered keycaps on my Cherry G84-4700 numpad. I haven't had any discolouration.

That description in the link is exactly how the 7G feels and looks like and even the colour of your numpad matches.

According to this link (found in the wiki) the printing method used for the 7G keycaps is also 'laser packing' or 'etching'. There is even a picture showing the ergonomically wrong* media keys of the 7G *the modifier for those F-keys is on the left and your thumb is on the right, or at least on my left hand that is :)

Quote
Laser packing method, first use of laser etching technology in the keycap surface burning carve dent characters, and then fill in ink characters grooves, the ink is no longer remain in the keycap surface, so greatly increased degree of wear-resistant, but because of After the two printing processes, so the cost will increase accordingly.

Knowing this, I pulled some caps and watched them with my little magnifying glass and I do see the 'etching' at the keys which are most discoloured, and as it turned out, worn the most. The less used caps still look like there is a thin 'layer' on top of the keycap which is of course the ink itself, but just not white any more.

Perhaps I'm still in the 'break-in' period of the keycap-wear and it supposed to discolour over time and should I not worry so much...
I have asked SteelSeries about the matter, but they did not reply yet.

UPDATE

I have received word from Steelseries:

Quote
The lettering are suppose to be white.  I would recommend asking your reseller for an exchange.
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Offline FKSSR

  • Posts: 529
Steelseries 7G
« Reply #14 on: Tue, 07 April 2009, 18:12:36 »
Alright, so I got a Steelseries 6G in, and I'm not digging the black cherry switches at all.  The thing that is bothering me most is not the amount of pressure needed to press down the keys, as that does not seem to be more than a white alps board, let alone Model M.  The thing that I can't take is the amount of pressure needed to hold the keys down.  I guess it makes sense that a tactile key would not have very much resistance once you get past the tactile bump, and the linear keys keep the same resistance the whole time, but I didn't think about it before.  I can't take it.

Anyway, the guy also said the keyboard would come with the extra set of gray keys, which it didn't.  So, I'm going to seek a refund.  I'll lose some money in shipping it back, which stinks, but there really isn't anything else I can do.  I really don't think I'll get the money I spent back out of it, since it is used and doesn't have the extra keys.  At least I now know I don't like black cherry switches...
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Offline lam47

  • Posts: 688
Steelseries 7G
« Reply #15 on: Tue, 07 April 2009, 18:17:23 »
There should be a grey set for sure.
The blacks are nice switches especially for gaming which is what the board is for.
However I dont think I would like to type on them for extended periods of time.
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Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline FKSSR

  • Posts: 529
Steelseries 7G
« Reply #16 on: Tue, 07 April 2009, 18:30:16 »
I could see how some people would like them for gaming (I bought them for gaming), but I find it annoying to have to put so much pressure to hold down keys.  I mean, they do bounce back well if pressing keys really quickly, but I prefer the brown switches even in that respect.

I'm not saying the black switches are bad.  I'm just saying that I'm not digging them for typing or gaming.
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Offline Ysaquerai

  • Posts: 14
Steelseries 7G
« Reply #17 on: Tue, 07 April 2009, 18:33:28 »
Steelseries 6G letters wear off pretty fast. Even the gray keys, when you play everyday.
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Mouse:
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Logitech MX518
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Keyboard:
Steelseries 6G - Epic Fail

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Soundcard:
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