Software

With all functionality hardware based, there are no software drivers for the James Donkey RS2. As such, I have chosen to combine this section with the performance section below.

Performance

The James Donkey RS2 supports NKRO out of the box in wired mode, which tested successfully using Aqua's test. The same continues also with 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity, and using the keyboard in Bluetooth mode defaults to standard 6KRO as expected. No key chatter was detected on all the keys using Switch Hitter. The image above also shows what the base layer on the keyboard is programmed to as far as dedicated keys go. As with most keyboard these days, there is no right Windows key, as it has been substituted by an Fn key here. I have already mentioned on page three my thoughts about the base layer and will not repeat them here.


Given this keyboard only comes with white LEDs and the keycaps are opaque, there isn't much to talk about when it comes to the lighting on offer. These work as accent lights shining between and around keycaps, and James Donkey provides onboard control over all these LEDs in the form of not only brightness steps but also 17 static, dynamic, and reactive lighting effects to choose from, some of which are seen above.

I once again urge you to go through the instruction manual to know exactly how to toggle through the effects and change the brightness/lighting effect speed too. It is also helpful to understand how to turn on the Bluetooth mode given the switch defaults to the 2.4 GHz mode assuming the dongle is plugged in. The keyboard can be paired with up to four devices simultaneously in wireless mode (three Bluetooth + one 2.4 GHz), with Fn + 1-4 going through them as needed. Bluetooth pairing itself works plenty fine as tested on a desktop PC, a laptop, and my Android phone too. The 2.4 GHz mode allows for a more consistent and lower latency connection at the expense of battery life. In general, there is a sleep mode built into the firmware to preserve battery life and turn off LEDs. The battery life in Bluetooth mode can be on the order of a couple of weeks of my daily usage—which is more than typical—with the LEDs turned off. Given the opaque keycaps, I really saw no reason to have them on anyway. Charging takes ~2.5-3 hours off a 5 V/1 A connection accounting for any losses along the way. There is a battery life indicator on the keyboard too, but I would have liked more granular feedback on the current battery status.


My sample of the James Donkey RS2 came with the Gateron G Pro Brown (also referred to as the Gateron Brown G Pro or simply Gateron Pro Brown) switch. Aside from the internal updates which make it a more consistent and smooth tactile switch that has a pre-lubed stem, it is functionally no different from the older Gateron Brown and other such "Brown" MX-style tactile switches. The tactile force is rated for 55 gf and the bump comes up well before actuation does at 2 mm. The peak force is just past 65 gf at 4 mm, making this a medium force tactile switch. It's not my favorite switch, but I do appreciate an updated take on the familiar formula many people like. I can also see this being a safe overall choice for typing and gaming alike.


As always, the sound of a keyboard is based on more than just the switch type. So when comparing sound clips, consider the keyboard as a whole. In this case, I have provided above an example sound clip of me typing on the James Donkey RS2 keyboard sample at ~110 WPM as it comes out of the box with the Gateron G Pro Brown switches. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with tactile switches. I did bottom out constantly as pointed out above, but really there is a single sound signature here coming from the switches alone. No reverberations or pinging off the plate, which in turn being an FR4 fiber glass composite also helps over the usual metal plates more prone to a higher frequency ping. The combination of the thick PBT keycaps and case along with the "gasket" mount design ends up playing a big role here, and the pre-lubed switches help further. But the stabilizers on the larger keycaps continue to be a weak point here, allowing not only for an inconsistent typing feel but sound too.