MSI has a new mechanical gaming keyboard available, and the GK-701 features MSI’s black and red "Dragon" styling with red LED backlighting for each key, and uses Cherry MX Brown switches.
MSI is emphasizing the quality of their build with this new keyboard, stating that each key “is created with precision laser etching for extra resistance to wear and tear”, and the red LED backlight for each key is rated for “over 50 million key presses”. Additionally, the GK-701 offers a braided USB cable with a 18K gold plated connector, and there is a set of multimedia hotkeys and a game mode that disables the Windows Key. As this is a mechanical keyboard one of the biggest aspects is of course key switch selection, and the Cherry MX Brown switches MSI has chosen for the GK-701 offer a tactile “non-clicky” feel that some prefer.
GK-701 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard specs from MSI:
- Cherry MX Brown switches
- Red LED Backlight
- Windows Key Lock
- N-Key Rollover
- Multimedia Hotkeys
- Anti-slip Rubber Feet
- Ergonomic Design
- USB 2.0 connection
- Braided wire and gold-plated connector
- Switches lifetime: 50 Million Clicks
- Dimensions: 450 x 165 x 38mm, 1200g weight
The MSI GK-701 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is available now and currently selling on Newegg.com for $119.99.
VERY SURPRISINGLY, looks
VERY SURPRISINGLY, looks quite good in my personal opinion (opinion of a PC hardware enthusiast who doesn’t really like most of the MSi’s products, preferring other brands/manufacturers). The only gripe I has with this particular one is that it’s not TKL. This is the last quarter of the year 2015, folks. Full-sized keyboards with Numpads pretty much starting to become extinct, obsolete, TKL is the way to go nowadays and in the future. Numpad is dead for both enthusiast and typical consumer segment, it might be still used in professional work space, but “full-sized Numpad keyboard” for “gaming” looks quite ridiculous and outright LAUGHABLE in this modern day and age, at least in my opinion.
I still use the Numpad for
I still use the Numpad for keymapping macros. But to each his own.
I use it a lot for Blender,
I use it a lot for Blender, and a handful of games.
Outside of size I don’t think there’s an objective argument you can make against the 10 Key.
Absolute majority of modern
Absolute majority of modern keyboards, be them of “gaming” kind or more simplified consumer variants, usually have at least some additional buttons dedicated for macros actions. Aside from professional work-space scenario, there is no good enough reason left anymore for Numpad usage these days. If you’re implying it isn’t so – you’re lying both to yourself and to people around you whom you proclaim such things to.
Looks alright I guess. None
Looks alright I guess. None of it’s features are anything special really. If it’s advertising durability, I want to hear steel backplate and fancier keycap construction. Really the durability of the cable is more likely an issue at the connector than midcable.
I personally prefer the look of the non-gaming branded tenkeyless mechanical keyboards like the CODE or KUL. TKL or not is very personal preference. I haven’t seen any data on which is actually more popular and by how big a margin.
I pretty much think Roccat’s
I pretty much think Roccat’s GODLIKE Ryos was the last truly worthwhile full-sized keyboard with full-blown Numpad block. And that one was released quite a while ago. It’s essentially the “last emperor” of full-sized keyboards. It was FAN-TASTIC, yes, but since then I’ve completely moved to quality TKL keyboards and never looked back even once. Progress is the progress and future is the future, you can’t fight them and you really shouldn’t to begin with.