Ok. I have used a prototype of this keyboard extensively for the past week. Here are some of my thoughts on it:
The Bad:
The Cherry Plate mount stabs are rattly out of the box. NOT a huge deal, by any stretch. This is something that is a Cherry Stab issue (which i still prefer over Costar, mind you) and not a Z70 issue. After a dab of lube they are dandy.
The legends on the keycaps aren't great. They were slightly inconsistent. Think POK3R caps, same deal.
Being able to open the switches from the plate would be a good addition for future runs.
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The Good:
The caps are Cherry profile (need to confirm to make sure it is exactly Cherry Profile and not a "close" OEM), PBT, and quite thick. Other than mediocre legends, they are quite good for stock caps.
The case is great. I think the low profile design looks much cleaner when the screws are on the bottom, not the top (like the WhiteFox). The case is also angled, which is something I enjoy seeing being done over a flat case with feet.
The programming is quite easy. I have used the 'beta' software for a few days and generally have good things to say about it. Won't go into a ton of detail here, because I was aware of some known bugs that will be worked out soon and won't be anything you guys and gals have to deal with. It basically allows you to very easily select what you want each key to do, with 10 layers to work with. Programming it simply requires pressing a single button on the software. No unplugging the keyboard, no putting it in flash mode, nothing. simply hit the button and the new layout is ready to use immediately. It's not incredibly in depth, but it works and works well. Thumbs up from me on that.
Overall build quality was above average. No issues with the PCB or hardware at all. It came in a nice box and even included a piece of foam that could be put inside of the case to reduce resonance. This did make a noticeable difference in the sound of the keyboard when it was being used, making it slightly quieter overall.
USB-C!
The Personal Preferences:
The USB-C is great, though some people will love that the connector is on the side, other people will hate it.
White per-key LED backlighting. I think it is classy. Works just fine.
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Overall, for the price, I totally dig this keyboard. It is a perfect size to travel with, though will really pack a punch as far as utility go thanks to the layout/split space/and full/easy layout programming. I toyed around with the split space for a while, making it FN, CTRL, and BS, and ended up landing on BS as the main key. I really enjoyed how easy it was to program as well. When I was initially setting it up I forgot a few things here and there, and I was quickly able to click the key I needed to fix and hit the save button and immediately use the updated layout with no need to compile firmware again, or reset the keyboard, etc. That part is awesome for sure.
If you have questions please feel free to just respond to any of my comments here and I'd be glad to answer them or take more pics, etc. Whatever is needed!
The Bad:
The Cherry Plate mount stabs are rattly out of the box. NOT a huge deal, by any stretch. This is something that is a Cherry Stab issue (which i still prefer over Costar, mind you) and not a Z70 issue. After a dab of lube they are dandy.
The legends on the keycaps aren't great. They were slightly inconsistent. Think POK3R caps, same deal.
Being able to open the switches from the plate would be a good addition for future runs.
----
The Good:
The caps are Cherry profile (need to confirm to make sure it is exactly Cherry Profile and not a "close" OEM), PBT, and quite thick. Other than mediocre legends, they are quite good for stock caps.
The case is great. I think the low profile design looks much cleaner when the screws are on the bottom, not the top (like the WhiteFox). The case is also angled, which is something I enjoy seeing being done over a flat case with feet.
The programming is quite easy. I have used the 'beta' software for a few days and generally have good things to say about it. Won't go into a ton of detail here, because I was aware of some known bugs that will be worked out soon and won't be anything you guys and gals have to deal with. It basically allows you to very easily select what you want each key to do, with 10 layers to work with. Programming it simply requires pressing a single button on the software. No unplugging the keyboard, no putting it in flash mode, nothing. simply hit the button and the new layout is ready to use immediately. It's not incredibly in depth, but it works and works well. Thumbs up from me on that.
Overall build quality was above average. No issues with the PCB or hardware at all. It came in a nice box and even included a piece of foam that could be put inside of the case to reduce resonance. This did make a noticeable difference in the sound of the keyboard when it was being used, making it slightly quieter overall.
USB-C!
The Personal Preferences:
The USB-C is great, though some people will love that the connector is on the side, other people will hate it.
White per-key LED backlighting. I think it is classy. Works just fine.
--------------------------------
Overall, for the price, I totally dig this keyboard. It is a perfect size to travel with, though will really pack a punch as far as utility go thanks to the layout/split space/and full/easy layout programming. I toyed around with the split space for a while, making it FN, CTRL, and BS, and ended up landing on BS as the main key. I really enjoyed how easy it was to program as well. When I was initially setting it up I forgot a few things here and there, and I was quickly able to click the key I needed to fix and hit the save button and immediately use the updated layout with no need to compile firmware again, or reset the keyboard, etc. That part is awesome for sure.
If you have questions please feel free to just respond to any of my comments here and I'd be glad to answer them or take more pics, etc. Whatever is needed!