Qpad MK-80 mech keyboard

Merlin5

Merlin5

Merlin5

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How does this keyboard compare in tactile response and general quality compared to the top brands I keep hearing about, ie, filco majestouch and DAS? The Qpad looks really nice and is backlit (something I would find hard not to have anymore) and I'm wondering if I'd be happier with it over my Lycosa. I like the light and fast feel of the short travel keys of the lycosa, and am not sure if I will be gaining a better or worse experience by going back to normal profile keys, but of course, with mechanical feel.
 
MX Browns are actually very light and do not require a HUGE amount of travel to activate. I imagine the profile will be less of a factor and switch selection will be.

As for the Qpad, could not comment quality having never seen one but outside of switches (which will be a known factor) the other quality compromises could be in the key caps, printing on key caps and construction around the switches themselves.
 
Sin_Chase said:
MX Browns are actually very light and do not require a HUGE amount of travel to activate. I imagine the profile will be less of a factor and switch selection will be.

As for the Qpad, could not comment quality having never seen one but outside of switches (which will be a known factor) the other quality compromises could be in the key caps, printing on key caps and construction around the switches themselves.
Click to expand...

I found a video comparison of filco majestouch v xarmor. I believe the Qpad MK-80 is a rebranded Xarmor. Only difference seems to be that the Qpad is using cherry blue and this Xarmor is using brown. What do you think after seeing this video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huXCL0qsU0g
 
I received my Qpad today and have only been typing on it for a few minutes. Quality is great, this keyboards is quite heavy compared to my old standard keyboard. The backlight looks great! Each key is translucent and is coated with black except for the letter shape. This way the letters cannot wear off from the key and the light shines through each letter nice and clearly. If you're looking for a tactile switch I think the blue switches are a great choice. Each key stroke is light and responsive which makes them really good for typing. However they are a bit noisy as each key clicks when you type.

As for how it compares to other mech. keyboards I cannot comment as this is my first one. Quality wise I think it's up there with all the top brands. It was 1st in a top 10 keyboards (link is posted in some other keyobard thread here). The keyboard also has a mic. and headphone jack and two USB ports on it. Also has media keys if those interest you.
 
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I looked at the Xarmor in that youtube video and the boards are exactly the same except the switch. Looks like they are indeed rebranded.
 
AzZ said:
I received my Qpad today and have only been typing on it for a few minutes. Quality is great, this keyboards is quite heavy compared to my old standard keyboard. The backlight looks great! Each key is translucent and is coated with black except for the letter shape. This way the letters cannot wear off from the key and the light shines through each letter nice and clearly. If you're looking for a tactile switch I think the blue switches are a great choice. Each key stroke is light and responsive which makes them really good for typing. However they are a bit noisy as each key clicks when you type.

As for how it compares to other mech. keyboards I cannot comment as this is my first one. Quality wise I think it's up there with all the top brands. It was 1st in a top 10 keyboards (link is posted in some other keyobard thread here).
Click to expand...

Thanks for the mini review AzZ. Is the backlighting very even? My lycosa was terrible on some keys, some symbols were barely lit and barely visible while others were perfect.

The surface of each key, I believe they feel smooth and rubber like instead of normal plastic key caps? I prefer something like that because the lycosa has a velvety feel to the keys.
 
The backlighting looks very even to me as each key is individually lit with it's own LED. I'll take a picture at night and post it later so you can see how it looks. As for the keys they are smooth and the coating feels different to plastic keys. Kind of like a non slip type coating so your fingers don't glide from key to key. It's not ott though like proper rubber.
 
AzZ said:
The backlighting looks very even to me as each key is individually lit with it's own LED. I'll take a picture at night and post it later so you can see how it looks. As for the keys they are smooth and the coating feels different to plastic keys. Kind of like a non slip type coating so your fingers don't glide from key to key. It's not ott though like proper rubber.
Click to expand...

Sounds good. I also like that it appears you can read the letters and symbols when it's not backlit. The lycosa letters are invisible without the backlight on.
 
Yeah, I've not got the backlight off now and it's perfectly clear :)

6233331.jpg
 
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It's an XArmor U9BL. Easier to find reviews if you need an opinion on the keyboard.

I am very interested in the thing myself. Would love MX brown in it though. I think there is a XArmor version with browns (Xarmor U9BL-S).
 
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I have the MK-80, it is a great keyboard. I find for typing it is better than browns, but thats just my preference. The one downside for the backlight is the enter key is not fully lit. As for the switches, they are blues, so you know you are getting a good click and solid feedback, they only downside is something like the backspace key, when using membrane keyboards, i float the key, not releasing it fully with the key not active though, therefor i can stop and start quickly. With the blue switch, you have to fully release the key to stop the activation. It is something i got used to very quickly, but you need to be more precise and not lazy with your typing.

redbridge2011080300011.jpg


The enter key
 
Thanks for the pic, AzZ. There's a full review here which is interesting.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/QPAD/MK-80/1.html

For gaming, hmm, seems ok.

"In terms of gaming performance the Cherry MX Blue type key mechanism is not as bad as one might think. Sure the sound is obtrusive but the keys themselves work quite well for FPS gaming. The real issue is that the keys feel a bit slow going over the hump compared to how fast you can actually move your fingers. This will hamper performance of any competitive RTS or RPG gamer to some extent their double taps are crucial. The actuation force of the Blue keys is somewhere in the middle between the semi soft Browns and the hard Blacks. "
 
AzZ said:
Each key is translucent and is coated with black except for the letter shape. This way the letters cannot wear off from the key
Click to expand...

If it is a 2 plastic fill as opposed to translucent plastic and black paint then that is the best you can ask for, it's very rare though and the most expensive form of key cap.

It's likely to be painted black and while the letter cannot wear off, the paint around it can, a fate my Logitech G15 suffered :D Took a while before that was an issue really.

I considered getting something other than a Filco for the backlighting but I wont miss it really. I can type blind so for me it's more bling than functionality :D
 
Tweaker said:
I have the MK-80, it is a great keyboard. I find for typing it is better than browns, but thats just my preference. The one downside for the backlight is the enter key is not fully lit. As for the switches, they are blues, so you know you are getting a good click and solid feedback, they only downside is something like the backspace key, when using membrane keyboards, i float the key, not releasing it fully with the key not active though, therefor i can stop and start quickly. With the blue switch, you have to fully release the key to stop the activation. It is something i got used to very quickly, but you need to be more precise and not lazy with your typing.

redbridge2011080300011.jpg


The enter key
Click to expand...

Blue lighting does look sweet, I'm so shallow :D
 
Goddamn you all... I'm more and more tempted, and use my LIK at work... God forbid they introduce a MX brown / black version, or I'll be £100 poorer, albeit with a shiny new keyboard.

I do love the quietness of the LIK though. But I do have a Qpad mouse... hmmm shallow you said...
 
I'm pretty sure it's just a translucent key coated in black. With the coating on it though I think it you'd be buying a new keyboard before you notice the black rubbing off.

It comes down to preference when choosing a switch for gaming. I pretty much only play FPS so the blues are fine as I don't need to do a lot of double tapping etc. If you play a lot of RTS/RPG and you need to hit the same key fast then I think MX blacks are the best. I chose to go for blues as it suits me for gaming and typing on blues is, for lack of a better word, fun..lol. I guess browns may be the best for bost scenarios as they are good for typing and gaming (qualities from both the blue and black). However I can't really comment as I haven't personally tried the switches.
 
Here is the pic I promised showing how even the backlighting is. (Click for bigger picture)



That's with the second highest brightness level.
 
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