Now that I’ve received the XArmor U9W keyboard that I mentioned in my last post, and had a chance to use it for about a week, I thought I’d post a follow-up review for anyone who might be interested. =)
(FWIW, I’ve added this review to the product page on Amazon as well.)
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I’ve been drooling over the Das Keyboard Model S Professional Silent Keyboard for a while (and the original Model S Ultimate, before that), but I wanted to find something a little smaller, and wireless. The XArmor U9W totally fits that bill, and I love it. =)
Pros:
- Cherry MX Brown keyswitches
(I’d love to see this model with the Blues, but my coworkers appreciate that I picked a keyboard with the browns instead, and the feel is just as good, IMO.) - Relatively compact size
- Solid feel
- Wrist-rest included is quite nice
- Itty-bitty USB wireless receiver
- Solid signal (haven’t had a missed/dropped key yet)
Cons:
- The mini-USB cable included only provides power, but doesn’t charge the batteries or carry any data. (Not really a big deal, since the point of this keyboard is to be wireless anyway)
- The transmit (Tx) light that flashes every time you press a key. (I think I might just put some electrical tape over it, since there’s no way to turn it off)
- The Num Lock light turns off when the keyboard goes to sleep (Again, might just put electrical tape over the whole lighting area and use on-screen notifcations instead.)
- No USB ports included (Not really a con, but notable in comparison to the wired Das Keyboard).
Summary:
If you’re looking for a great, (relatively) inexpensive, and wireless alternative to the Das Keyboard Model S Professional Silent, this is it. I’m very happy with my purchase. =)
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