The keyboards don't look very good. Cherry MX has, for a while, expired the license on its mechanical switches, and chinese clone manufacturers have been making performance-competitive and aggressively low-costed alternatives for a while now, like Kailh, Gateron, Outemu, and more. On Amazon, you can get a fully featured mechanical keyboard (albeit with poor software/lighting controls, but if RGB doesn't matter to you then this isn't a fault) for $40 or less. Some even with a "premium looking" aluminum frame (really just a sheet) for $50 or less.
The mouse looks interesting, though. Lightweight, good sensor, looks like a basic shape, (RGB for those that care), at an affordable price of $30.
They look good to me. When it comes to keyboards build quality and feel are more important then "looking" premium. These keyboards have the features and looks so if the quality is there I'd say the price is about right.
Not sure if I'd agree. It's $50 for an RGB membrane keyboard. You can get real mechanical keyboards for under $40 and the mechanical feel of the keys will be better than a membrane switch.
Also, I've never been a fan of floating key "open frame" aluminum backplate keyboards. Dust can get into the keys, and when exposed it can start causing issues. Not to mention that aluminum is by nature lightweight, which doesn't give a sturdy/heavy feeling on the desk. I don't think either a cheap Amazon mechanical, nor the 2 steelseries keyboards shown here would have the premium heavyweight feeling, but that can't really be expected for a low-cost mechanical keyboard.
I'm not sure about the $50 membrane one either. Probably not worth it but I'd be willing to be proven wrong.
As to the AL thats about providing a ridged and durable frame and looks. Anodized AL looks sick and is plenty strong, its not about adding mass. I have a Logitech keyboard with a pretty similar design, AL deck open frame. Very solid keyboard with no flex and I've never had any issues keeping it clean vs any other keyboard.
"Dust can get into the keys" have you ever cleaned out a keyboard? Keys sitting down in a well doesn't prevent dust from getting down there, on the contrary it just makes it harder to get it out. Give me floating keys anytime instead of a pit for all that gross to just get trapped in.
This is a common problem with floating key style keyboards. I don't have this issue because I avoid those kinds of keyboards to begin with, but I've had 2 acquaintances come up to me asking about how to fix double/multi-pressing keys on a mechanical keyboard (after I talked to them about mechanical keyboards which got them interested in buying one), and turns out they had both gotten floating-key Corsair style keyboards and started getting that issue in less than a year.
Seems priced ok, depends on quality, the height/size and of course if the software works properly.
something rated for 10s of millions of clicks means little if the software jibs out.
last Steelseries thing I had (headset) constant loss of connection as well as constant "need to get newest drivers" or would not work at all (though it also had onboard storage)
seems like this would be a good option IF and only IF that 2nd part would not rear it's ugly head....probably not as bad as Kingston with the Negenuity software which you have to get from MSFT site it still in BETA and does not do a proper background task (so therefore reset itself however it sees fit each reboot/close cycle...will not even remember its polling rate regardless of Sync or make a profile....
I myself am not fond of RGB as it seems more often than not the various makers prioritize have to make RGB look good over baseline functional (as well as robust) product using it.
errr... if you're experiencing software issues i would just uninstall the software. The keyboard, mouse, and headsets will still work as plug in play in windows 10. Software just enhances the experience.
Thank goodness SteelSeries is giving us low cost gaming peripherals since other low cost peripherals cannot ever, for any reason, be used to play video games. Those other keyboards and mice not labeled strictly for gaming - nooo, you shall not use such things for a game. The gamer police will show up at your door and arrest you.
I have a Rival 500 gaming mouse, and I think its excellent. Better than the Logitech G502 Hero. I bought it originally to temporarily replace a G502 Hero that broke a few months after I bought it, but I was so impressed I didn't switch back and relegated my replacement G502 Hero (credit to Logitech for honoring their warranty) to my work laptop (so I still use both mice, the Steelseries is just better).
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JoeyJoJo123 - Tuesday, January 21, 2020 - link
The keyboards don't look very good. Cherry MX has, for a while, expired the license on its mechanical switches, and chinese clone manufacturers have been making performance-competitive and aggressively low-costed alternatives for a while now, like Kailh, Gateron, Outemu, and more. On Amazon, you can get a fully featured mechanical keyboard (albeit with poor software/lighting controls, but if RGB doesn't matter to you then this isn't a fault) for $40 or less. Some even with a "premium looking" aluminum frame (really just a sheet) for $50 or less.The mouse looks interesting, though. Lightweight, good sensor, looks like a basic shape, (RGB for those that care), at an affordable price of $30.
Operandi - Tuesday, January 21, 2020 - link
They look good to me. When it comes to keyboards build quality and feel are more important then "looking" premium. These keyboards have the features and looks so if the quality is there I'd say the price is about right.JoeyJoJo123 - Tuesday, January 21, 2020 - link
Not sure if I'd agree. It's $50 for an RGB membrane keyboard. You can get real mechanical keyboards for under $40 and the mechanical feel of the keys will be better than a membrane switch.Also, I've never been a fan of floating key "open frame" aluminum backplate keyboards. Dust can get into the keys, and when exposed it can start causing issues. Not to mention that aluminum is by nature lightweight, which doesn't give a sturdy/heavy feeling on the desk. I don't think either a cheap Amazon mechanical, nor the 2 steelseries keyboards shown here would have the premium heavyweight feeling, but that can't really be expected for a low-cost mechanical keyboard.
Operandi - Tuesday, January 21, 2020 - link
I'm not sure about the $50 membrane one either. Probably not worth it but I'd be willing to be proven wrong.As to the AL thats about providing a ridged and durable frame and looks. Anodized AL looks sick and is plenty strong, its not about adding mass. I have a Logitech keyboard with a pretty similar design, AL deck open frame. Very solid keyboard with no flex and I've never had any issues keeping it clean vs any other keyboard.
MamiyaOtaru - Tuesday, January 21, 2020 - link
"Dust can get into the keys" have you ever cleaned out a keyboard? Keys sitting down in a well doesn't prevent dust from getting down there, on the contrary it just makes it harder to get it out. Give me floating keys anytime instead of a pit for all that gross to just get trapped in.JoeyJoJo123 - Wednesday, January 22, 2020 - link
https://www.howtogeek.com/337283/how-to-fix-a-stuc...This is a common problem with floating key style keyboards. I don't have this issue because I avoid those kinds of keyboards to begin with, but I've had 2 acquaintances come up to me asking about how to fix double/multi-pressing keys on a mechanical keyboard (after I talked to them about mechanical keyboards which got them interested in buying one), and turns out they had both gotten floating-key Corsair style keyboards and started getting that issue in less than a year.
Dragonstongue - Tuesday, January 21, 2020 - link
~$50 CAD for the mouse (likely)Seems priced ok, depends on quality, the height/size and of course if the software works properly.
something rated for 10s of millions of clicks means little if the software jibs out.
last Steelseries thing I had (headset) constant loss of connection as well as constant "need to get newest drivers" or would not work at all (though it also had onboard storage)
seems like this would be a good option IF and only IF that 2nd part would not rear it's ugly head....probably not as bad as Kingston with the Negenuity software which you have to get from MSFT site it still in BETA and does not do a proper background task (so therefore reset itself however it sees fit each reboot/close cycle...will not even remember its polling rate regardless of Sync or make a profile....
I myself am not fond of RGB as it seems more often than not the various makers prioritize have to make RGB look good over baseline functional (as well as robust) product using it.
ahh well.
Sushisamurai - Wednesday, January 22, 2020 - link
errr... if you're experiencing software issues i would just uninstall the software. The keyboard, mouse, and headsets will still work as plug in play in windows 10. Software just enhances the experience.shabby - Tuesday, January 21, 2020 - link
Are these creator friendly peripherals? Or is the rgb a creator no-no?gurok - Wednesday, January 22, 2020 - link
I don't know if creators could get past the black colour scheme.PeachNCream - Wednesday, January 22, 2020 - link
Thank goodness SteelSeries is giving us low cost gaming peripherals since other low cost peripherals cannot ever, for any reason, be used to play video games. Those other keyboards and mice not labeled strictly for gaming - nooo, you shall not use such things for a game. The gamer police will show up at your door and arrest you.EdgeOfDetroit - Thursday, January 23, 2020 - link
I have a Rival 500 gaming mouse, and I think its excellent. Better than the Logitech G502 Hero. I bought it originally to temporarily replace a G502 Hero that broke a few months after I bought it, but I was so impressed I didn't switch back and relegated my replacement G502 Hero (credit to Logitech for honoring their warranty) to my work laptop (so I still use both mice, the Steelseries is just better).docbones - Monday, January 27, 2020 - link
But will any of those extra features work with a KVM?