Thermaltake W1 Wireless Gaming Mechanical Keyboard (Cherry MX Blue) $99 + Delivery ($0 C&C) @ Umart & MSY

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Umart

• 

  ginormousgiraffe on 05/10/2023 - 20:05

  +1

  This is a pretty ordinary keyboard for the price, even at half off. Would probably be better off going for something like this

  Or waiting for a good deal on a keychron keyboard. Even this one at $99 should easily be better than the Thermaltake

  • 

    CrispyChrispy on 05/10/2023 - 20:23

    +1

    Tbf this is a full sized board over those TKLs (not saying this is good value though). Wireless 96% or 100% Keychrons are ~$20 more or so.

    But hotswap and RGB backlighting for the same $99 price are definitely worth it if you don't need the numpad and volume scroll. Probably better build quality too.

    • 

      scrimshaw on 05/10/2023 - 20:38

      +2

      I've bought plenty of mechanical keyboards (all from various big-box electronic store brands like Logitech, Razer, Thermaltake) but ever since getting my off-brand Akko hot-swap keyboard and falling into the custom keeb rabbithole, suddenly any keyboard that's priced over $100 that doesn't feature hot-swap switches looks terribly expensive.

      Don't be afraid to venture out of the 'well known brand' comfort zone. There are lots of brands now that offer a lot more bang for your buck than Logitech or Razer.

      • 

        CrispyChrispy on 05/10/2023 - 20:46

        I share the same sentiments.

        My $99 Epomaker TH80 has worked a charm over the past year or so of use. It's interesting and refreshing to see Razer and Asus ROG start to offer hotswap boards and more enthusiast features but they're still extortionate in comparison to not-so-big brands like Akko and Epomaker. Obviously these brands do not have the marketing budget and thus influence that Razer/Corsair/Logitech G has, which is a shame considering their value for money.

      • 

        bert-lifts on 06/10/2023 - 15:37

        +1

        There are lots of brands now that offer a lot more bang for your buck than Logitech or Razer.

        Better value and quality too. The big gaming manufacturers have lost the plot on this stuff. All their "high end" keyboards are insanely overpriced. It's not like the quality can justify the price either.

    • 

      ginormousgiraffe on 05/10/2023 - 20:43

      +1

      Yeah agree, but they have a full size for $130. Or they have a 98% for $119. They usually offer 10% off your first order, but it might be better to see if any have it on sale for Black Friday. Both keyboards will be significantly better than the one posted.

    • 

      congo on 06/10/2023 - 12:26

      Not sure about Redragon.
      I do have Akko which are nice, but haven't tried 'hot-swap'.

    • 

      shapeshifter on 25/10/2023 - 09:01

      What does hotswapping do?

      • 

        CrispyChrispy on 25/10/2023 - 10:10

        Allows you to take out the keyboard switches and replace them with other switches. You take off the keycap, then use a switch puller to remove the switch from it's socket on the PCB (extremely simple and easy to do).

        Don't like your clicky blue switches anymore? Swap them out for linear red switches, or black switches, or even fancier ones like Boba or Gateron Ink switches. There are so many switches out there; hotswappability just allows customisation, versatility and repairability, and is a feature more and more keyboards are offering nowadays. YouTube and Reddit are your friends if you want to know more.

        • 

          shapeshifter on 25/10/2023 - 10:55

          @CrispyChrispy: Yeah right, how is that hot? Hot swapping is swapping out powered on components without needing to restart, is that what you do here? Why is that even important for a keyboard? Everyone's talking like its the feature to have, but I've never swapped a key.

          • 

            CrispyChrispy on 25/10/2023 - 11:27

            -1

            @shapeshifter: How isn't it hot-swap? No need to desolder, can pull out switches with the keyboard still powered, pop in a new one and it'll work perfectly without any need to restart. No need to strip down your keyboard to the PCB and pull out a soldering iron and pump just to replace a faulty switch or upgrade them. Have a faulty Logitech or Razer board and don't own a soldering station? Shit out of luck buddy, you've got to replace the whole keyboard with another or live with the faulty switch/es.

            Why is that even important for a keyboard? Everyone's talking like its the feature to have, but I've never swapped a key.

            If you enjoy whatever keyboard you're already using, keep using it. If you haven't ever had problems with your keyboard or the typing experience, you'll be fine without a mechanical and/or hotswap keyboard. A $100,000 car will get you from A to B, but so will a $500 shitbox.

            If you spend all day typing, it's at least a consideration worth having.

            • 

              shapeshifter on 25/10/2023 - 12:56

              @CrispyChrispy: Are the keys powered? I thought they were just switches, so yeah you more or less confirmed what I thought. Just because you can change something while the thing its attached it is turned on doesn't make it hot swapping. I'm not debating being able to change keys is bad, i have a mechanical keyboard i can replace the keys on. I can replace the cup holder in my car while its running is that hot swapping?

              • 

                CrispyChrispy on 25/10/2023 - 13:03

                +1

                @shapeshifter: Wiki: Hot swapping

                Hot-swappable keyboards enable changing the switches without having to disassemble the keyboard. On standard mechanical-switch keyboards, the switch is directly soldered to the PCB. Hot-swappable keyboards instead have a socket in its place that allows the switch to be freely replaced without re-soldering.

                Wiki: Hot-swappable keyboard

                Hot-swappable keyboards are keyboards where switches can be pulled out and replaced rather than requiring the typical solder connection. Instead of the switch being soldered to the keyboard's PCB, hot-swap sockets are instead soldered on. They are mostly used by keyboard enthusiasts that build custom keyboards and have recently begun being adopted by larger companies on production keyboards. Hot-swap sockets can allow users to try a variety of different switches without having the tools or knowledge required to solder electronics.

                Whether it's technically right or wrong, it's the naming convention used.

                • 

                  shapeshifter on 25/10/2023 - 13:28

                  @CrispyChrispy: Yeah right, sounds like marketing came up with that definition. It appears to be the only thing in that wiki that's not actually receiving power from the thing it's plugging into. I originally thought hot swapping keys meant i could take my 'a' key and move it and it would still print an 'a', kinda disappointed its literally just removable keys.