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Red-key & Blue-key mechanical keyboards (under $30)

PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 1:50 pm
by Docjon
Red Key ($28.99):
https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id= ... 1&format=2

Red Key, Backlit ($39.99):
https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id= ... 1&format=2

Blue Key ($28.99):
https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id= ... 1&format=2

Blue Key, Backlit ($39.99):
https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id= ... 1&format=2

The "backlit" is is shown as multicolor in some pics, but it's WHITE only, and "underlit", not backlit according to the pics. That is, the light is only under and between the keys, and does not seem to light up the letters and numbers. That's actually a lot not right with the description, isn't it? Still it's a cheap intro to mechanical keyboards - and I'm told THAT part is right :)

Re: Red-key & Blue-key mechanical keyboards (under $30)

PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 6:30 pm
by Prophet
Does not say anywhere if these are Cherry MX switches. Named like they are but says it nowhere.

Re: Red-key & Blue-key mechanical keyboards (under $30)

PostPosted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 2:03 am
by Docjon
Prophet wrote:Does not say anywhere if these are Cherry MX switches. Named like they are but says it nowhere.


No, not Cherry MX. I read where it's another maker, but one that's well thought-of. Didn't really care enough to post about that, since I got nearly to the end of the post and decided:

1. I'm not really loving this deal after all, but I typed all that out and linked everything. :D I mean, some of the pics show colored lights, but it's apparently only white lights. I'm getting the idea that Monoprice gets a few different keyboards in, and depending on which shipment they got, the features vary. TBH, looking over these keyboards and the way Monoprice presented their features made my opinion of Monoprice go down. If I thought anyone actually wanted a keyboard right now, and might be swayed by my post, I probably would've deleted it by the time I was done typing it, but hey, it's forum content. Makes it look like people post here. :mrgreen:

2. It's less than $30. If you wanted quality, you wouldn't be paying $30.

The naming thing is fairly common, I think, though obviously misleading. I tried to find the post that gave me the name of the switches, but I failed. I think maybe we should just take this whole thread out to the desert and bury it with all the E.T. cartridges Atari buried in the '80's.

Re: Red-key & Blue-key mechanical keyboards (under $30)

PostPosted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 3:30 pm
by Prophet
Once in a while, you see clearance sales where you can get Cherry MX keyboards cheap. Some distribution place dumping a load somewhere. Was thinking it might be one of those deals till I looked at it.

Re: Red-key & Blue-key mechanical keyboards (under $30)

PostPosted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 3:50 pm
by Docjon
Prophet wrote:Once in a while, you see clearance sales where you can get Cherry MX keyboards cheap. Some distribution place dumping a load somewhere. Was thinking it might be one of those deals till I looked at it.


I probably would have posted if I knew they were Cherrys. I'll be sure to post the switch type in the future, or say that I don't know.

I'm kinda down on Monoprice now. I've heard good things about some of their products, like their cheap knock-off guitars, for example. I heard a bunch about their $20 headphones, so I got a pair. Yeah, they sounded good for $20, but their construction was not great. They constantly 'squeaked' because of the plastic hinges on all the joints, and they broke in less than 2 years of light use. I even put silicone grease on them, and it didn't do anything. Now, with this conflicting description of their keyboard, maybe I'll just use Monoprice for cables and connectors.

Re: Red-key & Blue-key mechanical keyboards (under $30)

PostPosted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 10:50 pm
by Prophet
I get cables from them. Great prices for that kind of thing.