"Cheapest" tenkeyless keyboard

[gcardinal]

Surfing and consuming beverages is fun, but sometimes you order stuff you kinda regret ordering...

So for 35$ inc shipping I got this in the mail:
LINGBAO JIGUANSHI Backlit Mechanical Keyboard, 87-key with Blue Switches

Generic box outside:

Box

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A bit more fancy box inside with decent printing:

box in a box

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First look at the board it self (especially the keycaps...)

Inside

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Some kind of a clone (marked with K RGD ?)

Switch

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The backside:

Back

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Single led for the lighting - it has 2 modes:

Light

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The eye is a hole, which has potential to light up - but led place on pcb is not populated - so its just a hole for the eye:

pils

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closeup

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This is the most interesting part - from what I could find out this is a atmel chip (or a copy of one). There is no markings on the chip it self:

controller

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backside

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closeup backside

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It has kinda strange layout - it has a ISO enter but dont have the usual extra key near the left shift - so only usable in a ANSI layout (being partially ISO by design...)

Also keycaps has extra long stems so even regular cherry mx keycaps do fit - they are hitting the frame and sitting quite loose the the switch. So its impossible to switch for better keycaps without removing top cover or creating a new one.

All in all typing on this keyboard is louder then on IBM Model M. Switches them self feel "ok" - but the combination of the build quality, plastic for the inside frame and just the combination of it all makes for an insane loud keyboard. Typing isnt great, switches do wobble and do have some play - but on part with what Razer keyboards deliver. Switches are not consistent and one was a bit sticky.

PCB and soldering are of decent quality. Aluminum frame is stamped and is quite thin. However keyboard is surprisingly stiff and stable. Lighting is quite even. Cable even not braided is of a good quality. Has about 10 key rollover.

On the positive side, board is extremely responsive - almost twitchy and do invite to type fast.

This board could have some potential for a case mod and if maybe even re-flashing with custom firmware.

Worth then any mechanical keyboard I have even tried... - but It works.

[scottc]

Wow, interesting for the price. Those stabilisers look weird too.

[gogusrl]

O.o, that's the layout I like.

Can you post the link from where you bought it ?

edit : found it http://www.aliexpress.com/item/LINGBAO- ... c54167384e

[Stabilized]

Great review, and thanks for the pictures and teardown
Seems strange that they didn't mount the switches to the top aluminium plate and instead mount them to a plastic plate. Almost seems a bit overkill really!

[cookie]

Well 35 bugs for that one is a fine price, even though I dislike the caps and pretty much everything else
Fun thing that they had the chance to put a metal backplate inside for that price which would be crazy but unfortunately they faked one to look like the switches are plate mounted!

For someone who'd like to start with mechanical keyboards, this one is quite fine!

[shreebles]

This is also not bad for true ISO, heard good things about it on german forums, but have not tried it myself:

https://www.amazon.de/VicTsing-Mechanis ... omput0d-21

[terrycherry]

That's the very common 达尔优company with 凌豹logo keyboard. Almost Chinese gamer using it if they don't have enough money to buy the Cherry keyboard.
Only the PCB and case are useful for DIY.
The cheapest mechanical keyboard are 99RMB with LED but not this keyboard.

[JBert]

Some kind of a clone (marked with K RGD ?)

IMG_0591.jpg

Likely it's "K RGB" similar to Cherry's line of switches, though I wonder what the K stands for. It's more stylized than Kaihua and their footprint doesn't resemble the former's existing line of switches. And I swear I've seen that stylized K before...

[shreebles]

This is also not bad for true ISO, heard good things about it on german forums, but have not tried it myself:

https://www.amazon.de/VicTsing-Mechanis ... omput0d-21

It's 10€ off today, so I thought fuck it, I'll give it a try, even though I don't really need it.
Looking forward to seeing how much it can be improved with better keycaps, since it has a standard ISO layout.

[cookie]

I think I will jump in as well!

[shreebles]

Or wait two weeks after I have tested mine, and realize once again that blue switches are not for me

[cookie]

Good call!

[rootwyrm]

So, I'll raise you the second cheapest TKL you can possibly buy...
The Adesso AKB-625UB at $52 from Amazon. (I paid $45.)

I have one obviously - it's my secure work board. Features? Eh, not really. Has Win Lock I guess. Construction? Shockingly solid. Suitable as a melee weapon. Switches? Kailh Blues - the good QC ones. Stabilizers? Knockoff Cherry's from Kailh. Keycaps? Utter garbage. Thinnest pad-printed ABS junk with the ugliest font.
But as a daily driver, once you replace the keycaps, it's actually pretty amazing. The case itself is really, really solid. Very good bones. I honestly suspect it's an up-market Costar build with the cost cut at the switches and keycaps, with Adesso accepting lower margins to make it up in volume.

Edit: should not describe boards prior to coffee.

[cookie]

I remember the old days where I had to spend 160 EUR plus shipping and tax for a fucking Filco with cheap ass ABS caps...

[shreebles]

Yes, those were the days when I was happy with this, for 10€

Spoiler:

Used that thing for a good two years before the keyboard virus completely took hold of me.

[cookie]

These day were the best!
It were the Sweetspot where you could get a really nice MX board for good money... It was all so undiscovered and fresh.

Good old times where I was never satisfied though

[shreebles]

True, but as you stated correctly it was all so expensive.

The value newcomers can get nowadays is insane. Cheap PCBs and kits everywhere, and cheap complete boards from China, though most of them are ANSI only.

As for ISO, I have news. I received the VicTsing board today.

My verdict is the same as for the JellyComb numpad for 16€, that also has blue clone switches.
It won't satisfy us snobs completely but for the price it's an insane value.

Keycaps are absolute crap but can be easily replaced due to the standard layout.
The build is almost a clone of the Ozone Strike battle that retails for 80€ (and which I considered a good deal when I got one for 50€, now this here is 30€...). The switches are actually on the plate and free-standing as on the Ozone or Corsair keyboards. Rather solid construction and decent weight overall. The large bezel on top is a slight turn-off.

Spoiler:

Switches are labelled "Switch Master" and look and feel very similar to the Outemu Blues in the JellyComb, but the stems look slightly different. Slightly heavier than Cherry MX Blues. I actually prefer these to Cherry Blues (which I don't like much anyway) because they seem tighter with a smaller hysteresis. The whole board isn't quiet but sounds a lot better than you would expect at the price.
Its USB interface actually does more than 6KRO, I'd say it's complete NKRO, done by simulating multiple devices at once.
It features Leopold/Cherry clone style plate-mount stabilizers.
Horrid logo as on the Strike Battle, but here it doesn't seem so easily removeable.

Time to swap some keycaps and remove that logo.
Sorry cookie, at this price I will keep it, you'll have to get your own for testing
Luckily it is still on sale.
I have sold many blue switch boards because their use was highly situational for me. But those were of much higher value than this. This is a fine board to whip out every now and then, although I will probably mod out mine and give it to my girl to write her Master's thesis with.

[cookie]

No Problem!
I'd love to see if there is one in white/beige instead of black?

I have some vintage DS caps I'd love to put on those

[shreebles]

Nice, good idea.

The heresy.

- 30€ for doubleshots (or >60€ for dye subs)
- 25€ for Moogle/HADapter kit

55-90€ for keycaps. And then 30€ for this keyboard

Edit:
There's another thing this has over the Strike Battle. Due to its stabilizers thick custom keycaps should fit without a problem. This was not possible on the Ozone with it's badly cloned Costar Stabs. Only the original keycaps would fit on that one

[cookie]

I always liked Costar Stabs over the cherry ones :O

[shreebles]

These do not feel like regular "unclipped" Cherry stabs on a Cherry board. They are much lighter and mostly feel like Costar, but are a lot less finnicky.

I just showed the keyboard to my girlfriend.
A while ago, when I was using TKL boards, she told me she would like TKL better (I had modded a G80 1800 for her).
Now I am using 60%, and I have this new TKL for her, and she tells me she would like 60% better. I say "you won't have arrow keys". She says: "What are they for? I never use mine. I have the mouse". She does a lot of research and text editing. I told her: "You won't have Home and End keys." She looks at me like she has no clue what I'm talking about. "They are essential for text navigation!", I insist. She just uses the mouse. Sigh.

I think I have identified two groups of people who can use 60% keyboards:
Those who can work with shortcuts and those who simply don't give a shit because they do everything with the mouse.

[Chyros]

Guys, out of interest, how much would the closest Cherry OEM equivalent of this keyboard cost?

[Wodan]

Anyone looking for cheap, MX-based keyboards in ISO layout ... Corus Keyboard finally stocks the Noppoo Spyder 87 (88 ?!) for 30GBP:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mechanical-Key ... +keyboards

I got one just for fun, shipping to Germany is reasonable and it only took 3 days to arrive.

Can't say anything bad about it ... but then again I just put on some ISO-DE PBT caps and hacked at it for a little while.
It's a shame they aren't offering anything but Kaihl switches sice the ANSI Spyder was available with many other switch options. Still a VERY VERY affordable way to enter the mechanical keyboard game without ordering from China.

Build quality is good, nice little cable management under the case and Cherry stabilizers. The cable is not detachable.

[shreebles]

Guys, out of interest, how much would the closest Cherry OEM equivalent of this keyboard cost?

What do you mean? The cheapest ISO Tenkeyless with real Cherry switches in Europe?
I think that's the Ozone Strike Battle or Corsair K65, depending on where you look.

Or a tenkeyless OEMd by Cherry? (doesn't exist I believe)

Wodan:
Nice, interesting. Cool to have a choice of switches now, even though it's only Kailh. While the keycaps don't look good, they still beat the horrid VicTsing ones. How much did you pay total?

[Wodan]

My credit card charge ended up being 40,50€ (35GBP) delivered.
The caps came straight off and I put some lasered DUCKY PBT caps on it. Quite nice.

[shreebles]

That's pretty good, the VicTsing is back at 39€ now, and should have even worse clones than the Noppoo, so it makes less sense now.

[Chyros]

Guys, out of interest, how much would the closest Cherry OEM equivalent of this keyboard cost?

What do you mean? The cheapest ISO Tenkeyless with real Cherry switches in Europe?
I think that's the Ozone Strike Battle or Corsair K65, depending on where you look.

Or a tenkeyless OEMd by Cherry? (doesn't exist I believe)

Thanks, so about twice as much then Oo . And how much is a normal Cherry-made Cherry board then?

[Wodan]

You can get some ISO Ozone Strike Battle keyboards from a reseller in my area for around 40-50€
Since I already have one with my fav switch (MX RED) I couldn't justify getting another one.
Also keep in mind that the Ozone Strike Battle is a cool keyboard with turd stabilizers. It also has a fixed cable.

The Spyder87 has the "better" stabs and is half the price of the Ozone Strike Battle.

[Wodan]

Thanks, so about twice as much then Oo . And how much is a normal Cherry-made Cherry board then?

Come ooooooon:
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=cherry+g80+keyboard

[shreebles]

Then again, real Cherry MX starts at 3€ used, for black switches.

The G80 is not only overpriced, it also seems out of production, or at least it's being taken out of the market slowly, I remember two years ago you could get a brand new G80 with Clears for around 60€ total (still pricey) while nowadays availability seems to keep decreasing.

Or maybe Chyros meant normal as in, full size, not Tenkeyless.
The QPAD MK50 starts at just under 60€ which I consider a good deal for real Cherry switches.

But I don't care about either option, if you are a Cherry enthusiast with a soldering iron you can just keep collecting stems, springs, and old keyboards, and take the switches out of the aforementioned 3€ keyboards. Due to the modular nature of MX, and good availability of replacement parts, it's easy to build what you want as long as there's a PCB for it.
And even if there isn't, it's still not impossibly difficult (Teensy).