Software

There is no dedicated software driver support for the Vortex keyboard at this time—all functionality is hardware based. As such, I have chosen to combine the Software and Performance pages into one. Note that Vortex states that software customization tools for Windows and MacOS will be availsble soon, and I look forward to seeing that long-due feature come to fruition.

Performance

The Vortex 10 keyboard supports N-key rollover USB, which tested successfully using Aqua's test. Switch Hitter confirmed no chatter with these keys either, and as is usually the case with mechanical keyboards these days, the right Windows keys is replaced by an Fn key. Also, as with the other Vortex keyboards we have seen, the Menu key is replaced by their Pn key, which adds more functionality via layers. The Switch Hitter screenshot above also shows the functions with dedicated keys on the base layer of this TKL keyboard.


When first powered on, the keyboard LEDs may not be on by default. I had to toggle them on using Pn+Esc as mentioned in the manual, which kicked off the light show. In fact, I dare say that the keyboard can be an emergency torch over a broad area on the back given the LEDs and the polycarbonate case! In use, the legends are lit up, as are the areas around the floating keycaps, with side lighting also adding ambient lighting to the experience. There is some color bleed around the keycaps, especially in the custom lighting modes, but enraptured by the entire lighting scene, your eyes will not be nitpicking this. Onboard controls are all you have here, including for manual changes over the R/G/B channels in a total of 512 colors, though 16.8 M colors are used for all the effects. Moreover, when you add all three channels to represent white, the keyboard actually does it very well across the top. But given the limited LEDs on the bottom, and presumably a different control scheme, the side lighting is actually more blue than white.

Here are some of the lighting effects demonstrated, which again can be controlled via onboard presets for static, dynamic, and reactive LED modes. There are per-key lighting modes as well, and you can change the brightness as well as the speed of the effect, but not the direction.

In addition to the onboard controls over backlighting, Vortex has a lot of pre-programmed functions. This makes or breaks 60% keyboards, so Vortex relied on its past 10 years of experience here. The POK3R was good to begin with, and the Vortex 10 takes it up a notch with dip-switch control for layer selection. There are still the indicator LEDs on the space bar to tell you which layer you are in, but this time, we also have LEDs on the back doing the same, which is definitely a first. As with the other Poker keyboards, there are four layers aboard the Vortex 10, with the default layer not programmable. The included manual covers the base layer and Fn/Pn layers for the Vortex 10, including Windows, Linux, and macOS layouts that can be changed on the fly. This means you have options of Colemak and Dvorak for multiple operating systems, in addition to QWERTY. Having arrow keys be default with the dip switches is also a first for Vortex, and one many will appreciate. The lighting and macro programming functionality is as strong as before, and the manual once again does a good job explaining it.

Using the Vortex 10 will not be that simple if you are used to a full-size keyboard, and those going from a membrane keyboard to a mechanical keyboard may want to first try out a switch tester to see which switch option they prefer. The ability to swap switches is neat, but the steeper learning curve associated with a 60% keyboard and all onboard programming makes life hard for many no doubt. Vortex says they will have firmware for Windows and macOS, but only time will tell whether it just adds or patches functions or actually introduces drivers for software control. The latter, sorely needed in 2020/1, will go a long way with brand adoption.


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 Vortex 10 keyboard sample at ~105 WPM as it comes out of the box with the Cherry MX Brown RGB switches. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with tactile switches. No complaints about the Cherry MX Brown switches used here, which are adequate but not my favorite tactile switch by any means. They are very good in uniformity, however, which remains Cherry's strength. These should also be the newer switches Cherry rates for 100 million strokes without any perceivable issues in feedback and function.