SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Mechanical Keyboard Black $239 (RRP $349) Delivered @ Amazon AU / [eBay Plus] @ Bing Lee eBay

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ozbs25 on 27/02/2022 - 14:41 amazon.com.au (599 clicks)
Last edited 28/02/2022 - 11:29 by 2 other users

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Amazon seem to be matching Bing Lee who are clearing this keyboard out. Cheaper than the cheapest on staticice by around $29. The full size version is available for $295, same price as Umart.

Steelseries' own page for the TKL keyboard:

https://steelseries.com/gaming-keyboards/apex-pro-tkl

Edit: Actually also on Ebay through Bing Lee for $239 delivered if you have Ebay Plus. May work out better if you can find some applicable coupons or gift cards.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/165238846672

Price History at CamelCamelCamel.

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• 

  Brrrrt on 27/02/2022 - 15:00

  Hows the wrist rest, build quality? What cherry equiv is used in this keyboard? Are the big key stabs good? Would appreciate if anyone can fill me in on this :)

  • 

    ozbs25 on 27/02/2022 - 15:09

    I'm wondering how practical a compact keyboard is. Do people really have a dedicated gaming PC? What do you do if you need to do online shopping or banking? I couldn't imagine doing stuff like that without a keypad.

    • 

      lasterato on 27/02/2022 - 15:16

      +3

      I shop and bank fine with my TKL. Out if interest, what shopping do you do exactly that needs a numpad?

      • 

        ozbs25 on 27/02/2022 - 15:29

        Stuff where I need to type in my credit card. I try to never store my credit card anywhere. I would find typing in a credit card using the normal numbers at the top of the keyboard really frustrating. I guess you could always get a separate usb keypad.

        • 

          CrispyChrispy on 27/02/2022 - 15:47

          @ozbs25: You get used to typing in numbers fast with the top row number keys.

          And yeah, you'll find plenty of people with PCs dedicated to gaming. Of course you can do other stuff on it too if you wanted, but lots of people only use their PCs for gaming, then a laptop for work.

          • 

            ozbs25 on 27/02/2022 - 15:52

            @CrispyChrispy: I guess that's true. I've never had a work laptop.

    • 

      Erwark on 27/02/2022 - 15:41

      +1

      I use a 60% keyboard on my main computer. That's probably getting a little TOO compact, but TKL is absolutely fine unless you do data entry for a living. I'll take the extra desk space over a numpad any day of the week. I do work with numbers on a regular basis and the top row is more than enough most of the time.

      • 

        ozbs25 on 27/02/2022 - 15:42

        I did quite a bit of data entry in a previous job so that's probably why it feels weird to me.

        • 

          incipient on 27/02/2022 - 15:46

          @ozbs25: A 96% keyboard is a good option if you aren't used to using the arrow keys and home/ins/etc keys by touch.

          • 

            ozbs25 on 27/02/2022 - 15:51

            @incipient: Cheers for the info. Maybe look at that option when I need to move on from my current keyboard. I imagine it'll reduce your options a little if you want full RGB in that format. I don't think I could ever go back to no RGB/backlighting. I'm pretty much always in the dark.

            • 

              incipient on 27/02/2022 - 16:00

              @ozbs25: Haha yeah it's really limited in the 96% space. If anyone is looking at this, you're basically limited to the keychron K4 (the rgb one) and that's it.

              I'm using the white backlit one and that's acceptable (the only issue is the battery indicator is a bit iffy. No clue why they didn't add a single rgb key for the indicator lol)

              • 

                ozbs25 on 27/02/2022 - 16:05

                @incipient: Yeah, I just looked at the youtube video and can't say that I'm impressed by the RGB. I went from pfft RGB to a full blown RGB addict when I built my current PC. I can't and won't go back. :P

                • 

                  incipient on 27/02/2022 - 16:12

                  @ozbs25: I'm not sure what the RGB is like, i'm more minimalist so am happy with the white backlight. It's quite bright, especially in a darker room.

                  The RGB looks…'reasonable'? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0_OOiF9ZQk

                  But yeah i'm not sure on RGB in general =P

            • 

              Erwark on 27/02/2022 - 18:01

              @ozbs25: I probably sound like a heathen to you then, since my tiny keyboard has no labels on top (so shinethrough RGB wouldn't have anything to light up)

              I find a total lack of being able to see the keys makes a huge difference to touch typing! Although it does slow down longer number entry. I have looked at getting a separate numpad for when I specifically need to type lots of numbers…

              • 

                ozbs25 on 27/02/2022 - 18:33

                @Erwark: I can type ok but I do need to see the keys sometimes. I don't ever need to type huge amounts of text so improving my typing isn't really that important anymore.

      • 

        p1 ama on 27/02/2022 - 19:05

        I'll take the extra desk space over a numpad any day of the week.

        Depends on how much desk space you have to begin with, I suppose.

        Having tried multiple keyboard layouts in the past, I can't find a better layout than the traditional full size layout. I can live with a TKL, but the truth is that a NumPad is still the best way to enter numbers. Yes, I agree you can be almost as fast with the top row for straight numbers, but when you consider that the operations (i.e. +, -, *…etc.) are all accessed through the shift key, as well as needing two hands to type numbers at the same speed as the NumPad with one hand, and also the enter key being in a better location for typing numbers with the NumPad, it's objectively still much better IMHO.

        Any smaller than a TKL, I just cannot live with because I use the arrow keys, and Home / End / PgUp / PgDown keys with muscle memory.

        • 

          Erwark on 27/02/2022 - 21:16

          @p1 ama: It's also a posture thing. My desk isn't small, but having the mouse in a natural shoulder position rather than off to the side (without having the letters off-centre) is a big plus for me. (having a left-aligned numpad would also help here). I would agree that if you are regularly entering numbers then a numpad is obviously the right tool for the job. Don't count out the idea of a separate numpad in that case.

          I'm definitely not trying to convince anyone to change their ways - just sharing that other alternatives are entirely workable should the benefits or preference outweigh the change in routine for an individual.

    • 

      PuppieWayne on 27/02/2022 - 18:07

      "What? Do you guys not have phones?"

    • 

      wid on 27/02/2022 - 21:11

      I use mine for gaming and coding (for my job), the only thing i really used the numpad for previously was in Diablo 3.

      I really rate this keyboard.

• 

  PvsNP on 27/02/2022 - 15:37

  After using low-profiles for some time, I feel there's no going back to these keyboards. (noob typer here)

  Also regarding this format of keyboard, I'd rather go with arrows keys etc and no pageup or down, and get a seperate numpad.
  Or something like the Keychron K4 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard (Version 2)
  https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-k4-wireless-mecha…

  • 

    Zackeroo on 27/02/2022 - 18:06

    +1

    I'm with you on this. Low-profile keyboards are my preference. I'm definitely not a "noob typer" and have spent a lot of time perfecting my typing style. I still hold this opinion nevertheless.

    I bought a blue-switched mechanical keyboard a couple years back. I expected a lot from it, considering all the good expectations that everyone seems to have for mechanical keyboards. I ended up typing much slower on it, and found my ThinkPad keyboard to be much better.

    Nowadays, I regretfully don't have that ThinkPad anymore :(

    It was the best keyboard I had ever typed on. My current keyboard is my low-profile laptop keyboard (Zephyrus G14) which isn't anywhere near as good, but I still prefer it a lot more than these massive desktop keyboards.

    Stats (15 sec tests - Best scores):
    Typing speed on current keyboard (G14): 153wpm
    Typing speed on blue switch mech (NOT low-profile): 110wpm
    Typing speed on Apple Magic Keyboard (Low-profile): 163wpm

    I found the Apple Magic Keyboard was incredible to type on. I'm a laptop user, however, so it's quite difficult for me to use the Apple Magic Keyboard for day to day tasks. I feel like I could have made my way to 180wpm on the Apple Magic Keyboard if I got used to it.

    • 

      p1 ama on 27/02/2022 - 19:00

      but I still prefer it a lot more than these massive desktop keyboards

      I find that it depends quite a fair bit on how hard you hit the keys. My numbers are generally the reverse of yours, i.e. I get ~150 wpm with a blue switch mechanical keyboard, and ~120 wpm with most notebook "low profile" keyboards, I find that I prefer the much longer travel distance of the mechanical switches and that I have to make some effort to type more softly when I'm typing on laptop keyboards, because the short travel distance can throw me off.

      • 

        Zackeroo on 27/02/2022 - 19:08

        Hmm fair enough. As someone who has always used laptops for school, I've gotten quite used to low-profile keyboards and would only ever use low-profile keyboards even on a desktop PC.

        I don't like the longer travel distance as I feel I take longer on each key, and sometimes find that each key gets in the way when I'm trying to slide my fingers on the keyboard. To each their own on this as my parents think the opposite of this (They've always used big keyboards on their desktop PCs).

        Congrats on those numbers btw. It takes a lot of effort to get past 100wpm, so it's clear you've taken some time to improve your typing. Good job :)

        • 

          p1 ama on 27/02/2022 - 19:39

          @Zackeroo:

          find that each key gets in the way when I'm trying to slide my fingers on the keyboard

          Think this is the major difference - I generally do not slide my fingers across the keyboard, in the sense that my fingers will rest 1 - 2 cm above the keys and will only punch down on the keys that I want to hit. I find that those who are more used to typing on low profile keyboards tend to keep their fingers much closer to the keys, with the action coming from the fingers as opposed to the wrist and the forearm.

          Congrats on those numbers btw. It takes a lot of effort to get past 100wpm, so it's clear you've taken some time to improve your typing. Good job :)

          Likewise for you - but I guess that's what happens when you spend day in day out typing :)

• 

  Diji1 on 27/02/2022 - 15:48

  That's Wooting money.

• 

  KILLER5196 on 27/02/2022 - 16:30

  +1

  Gaming keebs are a ripoff

  • 

    Zackeroo on 27/02/2022 - 18:07

    Yea, companies are clearly using gaming keyboards as a successful way to get a lot of money. They know people will buy into the hype.