Cherry's MX switch series is arguably the best you can buy in a keyboard. They come in various colors which indicated how the switch operates. It ranges from sensitivity that will create a key closure if you breath too hard on them all the way to those that require a deliberate effort to press; once past the switch point the key bottoms out and creates an audible click sound. There are about ten different versions of switches that have a vast array of qualities gamers are attracted to. My own personal experience is with the MX brown and red switches. The reds are the most sensitive and my meaty fingers resting on the home row of the keyboard would often cause unwanted key closures and lots of spelling errors. The repeat function being on high would cause a page of typing to fill up in just under one second. The browns are middle of the road and for me the most comfortable. But then, my gaming experience is limited and my demands low.
Truth be told, different characteristics in a keyboard are nice to have in different situations. When playing in a game tournament you want a much different keyboard than you would use to type these message here. Not only that, but different keys would ideally have different sensitivities. The home row, for example, would be more difficult to press than the number key row. This prevents errors and makes typing with fingers stretched a lot easier. The solution to all these needs seems to be present in the new Apex Pro keyboard I purchased from Steeleseries. The keys are full travel and have colored back lighting for those of us who enjoy eye candy. The back lights in my case also add to the visibility and clarity of the keys which my old eyes appreciate. But, the best part of this keyboard is that the keys are programmable. Each key sensitivity can be adjusted individually. The most sensitive setting will trigger a closer at .4mm of travel, while the highest setting triggers at 3.6mm of key travel. This is the perfect keyboard for a guy who simply can't leave well enough alone.
The keys are mechanical with the full travel us touch typists appreciate. Their construction involves the use of a magnet at the bottom of each key. They don't call it Hall Effect but that is exactly what it seems to be. There is a spring return that is guaranteed to work 100,000,000 times but no other contact parts. When a key is pressed it will cause a closure anywhere from .4 to 3.6 millimeters down. The key press resistance remains the same for all settings. That is the big difference between these key switches and the Cherry switches. The resistance to ones fingers pushing on the keys of a Cherry switch varies depending on the color of the key. Not so with this Apex keyboard. At first I thought that might be a problem. But now that I have a few hours of experience, I am very comfortable with the light touch required but the difference in travel needed to close a key on the home row verses the rows above and below.
As the ad on the box says, this MAY be the last keyboard I'll ever need to buy.
