Closer Examination

The keyboard comes in a plastic wrap to keep it dustproof out of the box, and we get our first good look at the unit with it removed. The ZM-K650WP is a full-size keyboard with an all-black color scheme, as with most keyboards, and this review sample has an ANSI layout. I do not believe there are other layout options available at this time, so please be aware of this if that is a deal breaker.

It does not have the smallest of bezels, especially on top, but it does look very clean and will go well in a professional environment, provided the writing above the arrow key cluster is okay of course. There are three dedicated volume control keys above the numpad cluster, along with a keylock button. Press it once to deactivate the Windows key, press and hold it for two seconds to deactivate all keys, and press it again to resume normal operation. There are thus four indicator LEDs here - one each for CAPS Lock, Num Lock, and Scroll Lock, and the fourth for the keylock button. The font for the legends is fairly uniform and not aggressive in anyway; only the Z is somewhat different, but, again, it is fairly subtly so.


On the back, we see a mesh structure Zalman claims will help add structural rigidity to the keyboard. In practice, the keyboard is quite sturdy and has no flex, although a lot of this can be attributed to the aluminum stiffening plate inside as well. There are rubber pads all over the periphery on the back, which will help prevent the keyboard from sliding off your desk. However, the two feet that can be raised do not have rubber pads on the bottom, which is an oversight or perhaps simply a measure to hit that low price point. The cable is non-detachable, non-braided, and terminates in a male PS/2 adapter (with a PS/2 to USB adapter pre-installed in retail units). You get full NKRO with PS/2 and 26KRO with USB, which should be plenty fine for everyone if I say so myself.


This not being a mechanical keyboard, keycap layout and compatibility are really more for the sake of thoroughness of the review than any practical standpoint. That is not an excuse for the extremely thin ABS plastic keycaps with pad-printed legends, however. They started developing a shine three weeks into typing already, and it would only get worse. No real replacement option means this is a big negative in my books. The keycaps have minimal sculpting and are certainly nowhere near the OEM profile from most mechanical keyboards. This is not to say one is better than the other, and in fact, I preferred the keycap layout here, which allowed easier movement of my fingers while still providing decent support when typing. The ZM-K650WP is a plunger membrane keyboard with blue color membrane "switches" which essentially just act to uniformly distribute the load on the rubber dome underneath. There are strategically placed holes next to certain keycaps, and tall housing around the switches helps any spilled liquids move downward and away from them as soon as possible. This is but one part of the water-proofing design that has gone into the making of the ZM-K650WP, where the WP does indeed stand for Water Proof. Larger keycaps use a wire to stabilize them further, but no auxiliary switch stems for support. The wire is thus fairly stiff and does the job even for the long space bar.