Driver

The Zalman ZM-K900M needs no software for any of its features as everything is done via the hardware.

Performance

Having used the Zalman ZM-K900M for a while, it was comfortable to use, and the switches felt fine, which is as expected from Kailh switches. The keyboard doesn't feel too flimsy or light and the build quality is good. However, due to all the functions only being accessible through the hardware rather than a software suite, getting to grips with these functions was very complicated. Here is a list I had to make whilst testing, which helped me since I was using the manual rather often.


I use a lot of keyboards; I actually buy custom keyboards. This year, I spent almost $1500 on them. Most of these come with custom layouts, blank layouts which have to manually be programmed, or multiple layer layouts, and I have never had to refer to a manual as much as I have had to with the ZM-K900M. There are simply too many lighting options; they do look amazing, are bright, and the equalizer options are absolutely awesome, but with this many functions and features, it really could have been amazing with a software suite. It might not look like there are that many when you look at the list above, but most of the lighting options have to be pressed multiple times to cycle around to the option you want. FN + F9 gives us some really awesome gaming profiles which light up the keys you will need for each game, but again, there are just too many. There are 10! This makes changing lighting depending on which game you play far less intuitive than it would be with a simple drop-down box, for example.

Macros record well; the different types are very clever, and the ability to be able to change the delay somewhat is very clever. The major downside is that it just records everything you do. There are no options to add extra delays or pick and choose which delays to keep and which to lose; also, if you do the macro wrong, you have to record the whole thing again.

Now, I know I am basically arguing that there are too many options, and I know it seems counter to what I usually say as I love feature-rich keyboards! It is great that there are so many options, and it is great to see a keyboard do the same if not more than a lot of keyboards with a complete software suite, but it is very hard to create a keyboard that is feature rich and only hardware based. I think a lot of people would prefer less lighting features, but a nicer, simpler user experience.



The lighting effects of the Zalman ZM-K900M are some of the most vivid and interesting I have ever seen. They have some excellent modes which are very rarely seen.


Going through the many available had us come across some rather strange ones like this one. I have no idea why I like it so much, but I do!


Although this isn't one, there are four different equalizer modes - the keyboard dances to any music or audio you have playing around it. I have never seen this on a hardware-controlled keyboard. Such usually only works through audio that is played through the PC's output, but the Zalman ZM K900M actually listens! You can talk and will visually see it on the keyboard! It looks great.


Even in bright lights, the LEDs are vivid and can readily be seen without any problems.