Introduction

Vortexgear, or simply Vortex as more commonly referred to, is a small Taiwan based company founded in 2010 with an emphasis on making mechanical keyboards in smaller form factors, as well as keycap sets as accessories. Their most popular product is perhaps the Poker, now in its third iteration with RGB LEDs, which is a 60% keyboard having a layout similar to the keyboards on most 13-15" laptops. It relies on layers, which if you think about it is something we have been used to for ages now. The shift key when actuated activates a layer on top of the usual key base- shift + a gives A for example. 60% keyboards take this further by removing the function key row, and re-working the others into what can potentially be a more efficient typing experience with some practice. Things can go smaller though, and that is where 40% keyboards come in with an emphasis on portability added in. Until now, these were rare and usually either individual projects or produced in batches. The Vortex CORE aims to change this by producing and selling worldwide a 40% keyboard, and today we get to take a look at it.


As can be seen, a 40% keyboard goes even further and skimps out on designated number keys as well as some others while introducing some specific keys that aid in the use of various layers as well as programming layers in case the default layout is not to your liking. At this point there is no single 40% layout that is universally adopted so the keys and layout on the CORE will be different from those on others. Notice also the split space bar here, one of the many things we will get into as the review progresses. Let us begin with a look at the specifications in the table below.

Specifications

Packaging and Accessories

The packaging is really nice, if I say so myself, and reminiscent of gift boxes. The box is black with a striped pattern, has the word CORE etched on the top, and has a magnetic flap on the side. No seals or flaps, you immediately see the keyboard inside. On the underside of the cover is written out "FIND OUR LATESTPHILOSOPHY AND ENJOY YOUR FEELING." I urge readers to get past the language barrier here, as it hardly affects the product and they have had a history of similar.. headlines before anyway. The keyboard is in a shaped, cut foam piece with two strings on either end as well as cutouts to help remove not just the foam/keyboard piece but also the keyboard out as well. It is one of the better unboxing experiences I have had.


Below this is another cutout, this time made out of cardboard and housing a USB Type A male to microUSB male cable. Retail samples should have a user manual included as well, but that is it as far as accessories go! Let's take a look at the keyboard on the next page.