Adesso AKB-636UB Typewriter Keyboard

[VSG]

Adesso has a typewriter-inspired USB mechanical keyboard now, with round keycaps, a black and silver trim, and Outemu Blue clicky switches. Priced below $100, this also has novel twist-style feet to appeal to typists both old and new.

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[Chaitanya]

1 year warranty is another con for such an expensive keyboard.

 

[VSG]

1 year warranty is another con for such an expensive keyboard.

Yeah, I agree with you. The keyboards coming in 2017 should have 2 years minimum so henceforth I will stop using 2 year warranty as a pro, and put 1 year warranty as a con.

 

[silentbogo]

Another rebrand of this stupid boad?

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823839038
http://nanoxia-world.com/en/products/keyboards/ncore-retro/
... or anything else in a $40-$250 range from chinese OEMs
https://www.aliexpress.com/popular/typewriter-mechanical-keyboard.html

Yeah, I agree with you. The keyboards coming in 2017 should have 2 years minimum so henceforth I will stop using 2 year warranty as a pro, and put 1 year warranty as a con.

That's the consequence of using the risky Outemu switches. This sub-brand of Gaote is relatively new, and chinese Outemu keyboards only hit "shelves" of internet stores about 2-3 years ago (I mean massively). So, there is not enough failure rate data to solely rely on manufacturers claimed 50M clicks to justify 2 year warranty.

That's why almost all shitty chinese keyboards only have 12 mo warranty (including my Zalman K500, aka Rapoo V500, aka who knows what).

 

[Mescalamba]

Apart aesthetics, I cant understand why would anyone want to buy this.

Just got my Originative keycaps today, put on my boring Novatouch TKL they look rather nice, but feel even nicer. And unlike this wannabe typewriter, I can actually type on it pretty good (400 per minute, give or take 20).

If I want something good to type on, Topre is the way. After that maybe some Gaterons.. and it should end with regular Cherry MX. When someone wants nice keyboard, they should never go lower than genuine MX switches on some decent board.

 

[Ruru]

This would be cool with some steampunk modified chassis.

 

[VSG]

Another rebrand of this stupid boad?

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823839038
http://nanoxia-world.com/en/products/keyboards/ncore-retro/
... or anything else in a $40-$250 range from chinese OEMs
https://www.aliexpress.com/popular/typewriter-mechanical-keyboard.html


That's the consequence of using the risky Outemu switches. This sub-brand of Gaote is relatively new, and chinese Outemu keyboards only hit "shelves" of internet stores about 2-3 years ago (I mean massively). So, there is not enough failure rate data to solely rely on manufacturers claimed 50M clicks to justify 2 year warranty.

That's why almost all shitty chinese keyboards only have 12 mo warranty (including my Zalman K500, aka Rapoo V500, aka who knows what).

Oh, there are more versions of this incoming. I am doing my best to say no to covering the exact same rebrands again unless the switches used are interesting enough or they have modified the design enough to warrant another article (one coming soon with this perspective).

Outemu isn't that much newer in the clone market, and 2-3 years is plenty of time for failure rate data if my discussions with Cherry, Kaihua, Greetech and Gateron are anything to go by. I would say the Outemu Blue is one of the more consistent clones too, and Input Club's assessment of an older batch is similar. I did tell them that they might want to get a newer batch of some of those tactile clicky switches though as many have improved their molds and yields this past year.