Price drop on this keyboard, normally around $149-$179
Logitech G310 Atlas Dawn Compact Mechanical Gaming Keyboard $99
I read they're not great for typing but OK for gaming. IMO the Khail switches are a better all round bet for a budget board. There is a Tesoro board on evatech for $40 ATM with those which is a steal. Alternatively the Thermaltake Poseidon at MSY is another better option for $99 at MSY.
Having said that the cherry switches are the best of the lot but more expensive.
Once you get used to the edges sticking up they're great for typing. Your fingers won't slip off as easily. Most reviewers are cherry fans and will hate anything that isn't.
I've got a number of keyboards (some with cherry blacks and reds), along with an Orion Spark which I bought after owning an Atlas Dawn for a few months. I can say, without a doubt, the Atlas Dawn is my current favorite of the bunch.
The keycaps seem better on the Atlas Dawn as opposed to its bigger brother, the Orion Spark, due to the ergonomics not being hindered by that god awful 50% wrist rest. Touch typing is a breeze. I never had an issue with the keycaps and always felt that most reviewers were just over exaggerating.
The actuation point of the Romer G's are quicker than cherry's so your input lag is slightly reduced in gaming (I noticed it significantly playing BF4).
Other pluses: Doesn't require drivers. Comes with a surprisingly sturdy, yet gimmicky, mobile holder. Takes up little desk space. Great gaming ergos. The keycaps.. yup.. I saw what Logitech was getting at with them and with the Atlas Dawn.. it worked (desk top wrist resting has never been so ergonomical - check out the spacebar's shape in: http://static.techspot.com/images2/news/ts3_thumbs/2015/07/2… )
My only gripes are it feels and sounds a little cheap (designed to be light so key presses are a bit plasticy and echoy through the chassis, and the wrist rest (though mostly for decoration on the Dawn) could have and should have been removed entirely, though it doesn't get in the way when typing, only when reaching for the F Keys.
Get one of these over the Spark, and definitely check them out if you're in the market for a new gaming keyboard.
Nowhere near as good as Cherry Switches
Do yourself a favour and avoid!
Alot of the marketing behind these boards lay in its flashy lights and funky "gaming style look" but in terms of quality there are better alternatives.
See the post below for some other entry level cherry boards.
How about "do yourself a favour and try before you buy".. Which honestly should go for all mechanical keyboard recommendations. As all the switch types feel different, and what one person might like, another may not. I for one wouldn't consider the brown switch you recommended below.
Besides, some people actually prefer the Omron Romer-G switches in the Logitech.
@TheContact
Each to his own but I wouldnt be comfortable recommending A Omron Romer - G switch to anyone
Soz Brah
There's a lot of marketing behind all boards. It's called… well… marketing. There are a lot of cherry mx fanboys who put down Romer-G's without even actually trying them or make the mistake by testing them out on the Orion Spark instead of the Atlas Dawn… yes, the size and wrist rests of the Orion Spark creates for a different experience.
No flashy lights on the Atlas Dawn.. just a plain old single coloured LED, the keycaps are more practical than cosmetic, and the overall look is pretty minimal when compared to a lot of other 'gaming' keyboards out there.
Do yourself a favour OP and try before you buy and take all of our suggestions, insights and opinions as exactly that.
Would not recommend this keyboard at all compared with what else you can get for similar prices. avoid at all costs!
Would suggest this https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/kogan-backlit-tenkeyless-mechan…
which is currently on special. (79$ shipped)
http://www.mechkb.com/products/specials/deck-francium-non-ba…
Another solid option
You can use some rubbing ascetone to remove the kogan logo or the top plate is removable
Comes with
Thanks Kapinny. Just ordered one of the $79 ones - cheapest price for cherry browns that I have ever seen!
no worries hit me up if u have any more questions
I hate kogan and his rubbish! I am eyeing out the Asus strix keyboard with red switches but I really don't need the macros.
Would also not recommend an Asus Strix once again
You said it yourself, you dont need the Macros so the Kogan would be a good suit for you?
Reviews from this Kogan board have been thus far generally positive not sure why you are calling it rubbish.
If you like bigger boards I would recommend the Ducky Shine 4/5, CM Storm XT, CM Storm Quick Fire Rapid or even the Deck Hassium that is found on mechkb/pccg
Cheers!
@Kapinny: i can get the asus for about $110 one of the cm storms was on sale for $100 the other week at msy but i missed out
hi, what do you mean by non standard bottom row?
hi mate
look at the bottom row of win cntl alt
different size keycaps.
Standard is the ducky one (without backlighting)
Non standard is the CM Storm (blue LEDs)
this affects the type of custom key caps you can purchase as most are designed for the standard bottom row.
If you buy standard row keycaps for a non standard bottom row you will find yourself with gaps between these keys and will ultimately make the board less aesthetic.
http://content.hwigroup.net/images/products_xl/166799/ducky-…
http://cdn.overclock.net/5/59/596858e7_1qEKS.jpeg
Heard a lot of nasty stories of cheap Chinese re-branded kogan products. Shoppers buy at own discretion.
To clarify points against the Atlas Dawn.
1 - Logitech have heard the outcry of people not liking their new ergo shaped keycaps so they have created a set of standard shaped keycaps that fit the romer-g switches, though the keycaps are actually quite good, and even preferred by some, for gaming and touchtyping… they weren't designed to be visually pleasing.
But if you want to be creating custom keyboards with custom keycaps you shouldn't be considering the Atlas Dawn.
2 - Not everyone is a sheep, not everyone follows the latest trending fads, and not everyone stares at their keyboard while they are gaming on it. Some would argue it's a great looking keyboard. Some would also argue what does it matter what a keyboard looks like as long as I can see the keys in the dark, and it works great, anything else is a bonus.
3 - Ergo shaped keycaps. The WASD keys have a little extra clear bits that light up to make them stand out, but they are in no way differen't to the other keys. In fact all of the keycaps are designed around ergonomics.. refer to my earlier post for a pic.
4 - Correct. Non-detachable usb cable. No accidental disconnects. No broken usb port in keyboard. A lot of perks to having it non-detachable plus you can't use a keyboard without it being attached.
Better off spending an extra $20 and buying a brand you can trust.
interesting review about Romer & Cherry http://www.tomshardware.com/news/logitech-g910-orion-spark-r…
anyone got an opinion of the razer blackwidow stealth? all these terminology about mechanical keyboard is foreign to me.
Does any one know about the keys? Are they as good as the cherry switches?