Mechanical keyboards are an enigma to me, with a lot terminology for fruit-flavoured switches, fanciful colors, and a complete load of lovers who swear by them. I’m nonetheless not fully certain what contemporary fruit has to do with something, however I’m starting to know why these keyboards are so beloved.
I’ve solely ever used low cost keyboards. The form of wired ye olde keyboard design prevalent in faculties, workplaces, retailers, and nearly anyplace that has a pc current. I’ve tried a number of generic gaming keyboards previously too, however at all times ended up again with a trusted and unremarkable design, whether or not it’s to play video games or write. I’ve by no means actually put a lot thought into the keyboard I take advantage of since taking a full-time job in good old style word-writing, so maybe it’s time to alter that.
The Ducky One 3 Dawn SF sports activities a vibrant blue design, toned-down gray keycaps, and a yellow accent that every one contribute to a really snazzy aesthetic – and I’ve to be trustworthy, I used to be drawn by the slight Vault-Tec really feel the design affords. Nonetheless, how is the keyboard itself? Properly, as somebody fully unfamiliar with the ins and outs of mechanical keyboard design, enable me to sort out some clickety clackety phrases to specific why this keyboard is so joyful to make use of.
First off, for those who haven’t grasped it but, these mechanical keyboards are clicky, in an effective way. The truth is, the completely different switches they use – Cherry Brown, Cherry Pink, and many others. – account for simply how clicky it behaves. With various levels of noise, resistance, and journey distance, you possibly can choose a keyboard really feel that fits you completely. For me? I picked Cherry Brown as a result of I used to be guessing that may be high quality for me, and lo and behold, I find it irresistible. The satisfying clicks whereas penning this overview give me energy.
It additionally comes with some further bits and items, together with instruments to take away keycaps for those who want to clear the keyboard – which is extremely straightforward to do – or swap out keycap designs fully. There are even a number of alternate keycaps included within the field, simply in case you desire a bit extra of that yellow accent to be outstanding as an alternative of an array of blues and grays.
The keyboard is simple sufficient to plug in and get began, and there isn’t a lot to fiddle with software-wise. There are updates you possibly can set up for it, which is fast and straightforward to do, however past that: you’re good to go. It has numerous capabilities, together with controls for RGB backlighting, which has a number of modes to change between – or you possibly can flip it off fully. This is a bit more fiddly, and I nonetheless don’t fairly perceive the precise capabilities to regulate it, however for those who spend a while and discover some sort particular person on-line to elucidate it, it’s straightforward sufficient to understand and set it to the mode you want greatest.
At first, the peripheral appeared fairly small, too – it is sensible, as a result of it is smaller. To be exact, it is a 65-percent-sized keyboard, so the soar between my boring previous customary non-click keyboard and this one took a number of days of adjustment, however now I recognize its compact type. It’s neat, it’s tidy, and it seems I didn’t want a num pad practically as a lot as I believed I did.
Whereas there are specifics that I haven’t delved into, such because the concave, angled keycaps, I don’t know a lot about these items of tech or have any level of reference for comparability. What I can say is that the Ducky One 3 Dawn SF is an excellent keyboard to make use of, and that I’m excited to enter the world of mechanical keyboards with what seems like the proper entry level. Additionally, now I’ll by no means cease clicking and clacking as I work. Glorious.
The Ducky One 3 Dawn SF was supplied for this overview.