Roccat Isku FX

[l0calh05t]

What are your thoughts on this keyboard? I'm looking for a keyboard for my GF and she absolutely wants something with green backlighting (or even better RGB), macro keys and numpad (we're both 100% users). Considering the many reviews that say Razer keyboards are unreliable, I looked for other options and this seemed good and I only found positive reviews(and she likes the looks of it). Also it costs about half what a Razer mech would cost. She certainly doesn't mind that it's not a mech, as she has been happy with her $20 Star Wars Keyboard for years

[Premonition]

I don't want to be that guy, but you're asking if you should cheap out and buy a non-mechanical keyboard on a mechanical keyboard forum. Are you serious?

[l0calh05t]

For one, the description of this particular subforum is "dome, scissor, capacitive, mechanical, buckling-spring, laser, membrane, hall-effect, etc.", so it dosen't seem to be mech-exclusive. Also I wouldn't exactly call it cheaping out if the options are between a expensive mechanical with bad reviews and a somewhat cheaper non-mech with good reviews.

[Grim Fandango]

It is one of those keyboards that focuses on giving you tons of additional features (like backlighting, macros, and so on). But when it comes to its use as a keyboard, it is a very basic rubber dome.

For me personally, I do not care about all those features. I buy a keyboard to give me the best typing experience. When it comes to gaming, I only care about a few things. Despite all its features, one of those things is not even mentioned on the spec-sheet of this keyboard. There is no mention of it having n-key rollover. Personally I need at least 4-key rollover or it will cause issues. This is one of the few essential features a "gaming keyboard" needs to have.

I think that many people here would feel that you are overpaying for a rubber dome when you are buying that keyboard. And to be honest, I feel the same way.

[Puddsy]

check this out

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=62772.0

[Morwrath]

I would just go for a Ducky Shine 3 imo. Good quality, backlit with multiple colors to choose between and some choices in switches aswell.
Macro keys does not work that well, think I only used 2 of them on my old G11.

[Premonition]

For one, the description of this particular subforum is "dome, scissor, capacitive, mechanical, buckling-spring, laser, membrane, hall-effect, etc.", so it dosen't seem to be mech-exclusive. Also I wouldn't exactly call it cheaping out if the options are between a expensive mechanical with bad reviews and a somewhat cheaper non-mech with good reviews.

It's mech exclusive, if you can't tell by the threads. Just look through the keyboard section pages, it's pretty obvious.

[Puddsy]

For one, the description of this particular subforum is "dome, scissor, capacitive, mechanical, buckling-spring, laser, membrane, hall-effect, etc.", so it dosen't seem to be mech-exclusive. Also I wouldn't exactly call it cheaping out if the options are between a expensive mechanical with bad reviews and a somewhat cheaper non-mech with good reviews.

It's mech exclusive, if you can't tell by the threads. Just look through the keyboard section pages, it's pretty obvious.

Hey man, we just like keyboards. Doesn't matter if they're mechanical or not.

[Grim Fandango]

We do also talk about Topre, so technically...

[JinDesu]

For one, the description of this particular subforum is "dome, scissor, capacitive, mechanical, buckling-spring, laser, membrane, hall-effect, etc.", so it dosen't seem to be mech-exclusive. Also I wouldn't exactly call it cheaping out if the options are between a expensive mechanical with bad reviews and a somewhat cheaper non-mech with good reviews.

It's mech exclusive, if you can't tell by the threads. Just look through the keyboard section pages, it's pretty obvious.

If you can't be helpful, you could just not post?

From the images, it looks similar to the Logitech G series keyboards. I had an older one (my girlfriend is using it now) and it does have nice features with regards to headphone jacks/mic jacks/volume roller. The Isku seems to use volume buttons instead, which is not my preference. I sorta like the thumb keys, I dislike side macro keys so thumb keys make sense to me. If it were like $30-40, it'd be nicely priced for a rubber dome "gaming" keyboard. At $60-70 it's a less impressive choice.

[Firebolt1914]

To be totally honest, I'd personally recommend a good mechanical keyboard over a rubberdome, but if typing feel/quality doesn't really matter, and functions are more important, go for the Roccat. After all, you will be paying less money for something that is perfectly fine for your usage.

[Premonition]

For one, the description of this particular subforum is "dome, scissor, capacitive, mechanical, buckling-spring, laser, membrane, hall-effect, etc.", so it dosen't seem to be mech-exclusive. Also I wouldn't exactly call it cheaping out if the options are between a expensive mechanical with bad reviews and a somewhat cheaper non-mech with good reviews.

It's mech exclusive, if you can't tell by the threads. Just look through the keyboard section pages, it's pretty obvious.

Hey man, we just like keyboards. Doesn't matter if they're mechanical or not.

Wise and experienced man of keyboards, I will learn to embrace all keyboards.. 

[Hyde]

Hmmm to be honest most of the Razer reliability issue mainly points towards the iOne OEM era, I heard the new OEM is not so bad anymore.

Also based on the reports so far it seems that the new Razer switches actually feels pretty good.

If you don't want to spend too much I'd hunt for a 2013 Razer Blackwidow (The first one that started using green LED, that one has the same OEM as Logitech/Corsair/CM Storm TK and it's suppose to be good).

Though if you can forgo the macro keys then I think Ducky is a good option too.

And if you money is no matter for you then wait for the Razer Blackwidow Chroma since it will in theory fulfill all your requirements.

[Oobly]

If you care more about the extra features the board has than how it feels to use, then it's alright. Personally I can't use full size boards any more and defiinitely would not go back to poor feeling rubber domes.

It's actually not even very good for a rubber dome board (thin dome sheet and some reliability issues), so I would not buy one: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=62772.0

I would actually recommend the Razer Blackwidow Ultimate or Chroma with the orange switches over the Isku. It's more expensive, sure, but it's a much better feeling board, has mechanical switches and is compatible with (some) aftermarket keycap sets. The bottom row is non-standard, just like the Corsair RGB boards, so it limits the options a bit, but at least you can actually change the keycaps if you want.

A lot of us here on GH, myself included, are quite negative about these "gamer" boards. You pay a lot for stuff that ultimately doesn't improve the user experience. Flashy backlighting, macro keys, 1000Hz polling, NKRO vs 6KRO, etc.. Lots of gimmicks. A CMStorm XT is a far better board than most "gamer" boards, will last longer, has better feeling switches, has removable full size USB socket, has completely standard layout so all aftermarket keycap sets will fit and is even cheaper than some of the flashy gimmicky gamer boards.

For instance, do you actually use the macro keys? Surely doing Shift, Ctrl or Alt keybindings around WASD or ESDF depending which you use will be more effective since you don't have to move your hand to do them? Also, if you game with one hand on your mouse, it's not even possible to overload 6KRO since you only have five fingers available on the board. Also, backlighting. Only useful in the dark and then only for when you're typing. In which case, turn on some lights. You'll damage your eyes if your screen is much brighter than your ambient light level... I admit it can sometimes look nice, but it's certainly not going to improve your gaming experience.

[l0calh05t]

I actually specifically read user reviews of the 2014 Razer, where a couple users reported multiple defective keys. Wouldn't need to hunt long for a 2013, as most webshops here still appear to have more 2013s than 2014s

Foregoing the macro keys is not an option. Also she thinks the Ducky is ugly, so that's not going to happen (I did suggest it before starting this thread)

Hmmm to be honest most of the Razer reliability issue mainly points towards the iOne OEM era, I heard the new OEM is not so bad anymore.

Also based on the reports so far it seems that the new Razer switches actually feels pretty good.

If you don't want to spend too much I'd hunt for a 2013 Razer Blackwidow (The first one that started using green LED, that one has the same OEM as Logitech/Corsair/CM Storm TK and it's suppose to be good).

Though if you can forgo the macro keys then I think Ducky is a good option too.

And if you money is no matter for you then wait for the Razer Blackwidow Chroma since it will in theory fulfill all your requirements.

[HebrewHammer]

I had a friend just looking at the Roccat keyboards recently since he liked his Roccat Kone so much. If the person really likes rubber domes, and lots of features (as others have noted), then the isku may be decent.

That same friend I showed the Ducky Shine 3 to. He ended up ordering one and is extremely satisfied, lots of cool features with the lighting. If macro keys are absolutely required, I might look at one of the Razer keyboards even though I am not a big fan of Razer's keyboards.

[Hyde]

I actually specifically read user reviews of the 2014 Razer, where a couple users reported multiple defective keys. Wouldn't need to hunt long for a 2013, as most webshops here still appear to have more 2013s than 2014s

Foregoing the macro keys is not an option. Also she thinks the Ducky is ugly, so that's not going to happen (I did suggest it before starting this thread)

In this case I think you should just go for Razer Blackwidow 2013, they still use Cherry switch in that edition so the issue with defective switches shouldn't effect it (in theory).

Also the OEM for that generation seems decent from what I've heard.

Because there really isn't too many options that has both green LED and macro keys lol.