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A community member
Apr 6, 2018
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st_burt
67
Jun 1, 2018
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Janky is putting it very mildly.
I would encourage anyone who's considering this keyboard to look for reviews on Reddit or Geekhack. The keyboard itself is excellent, but the software is so bad. There's an "improved" version of the software available (newer than the one you linked) that removes the ability to program the base layer.
Just to give an example of how the software "works," if you want to program a key that isn't on the GK64, you have to plug in a second keyboard to enter the keystroke.
I'm normally a big believer in not saying anything if I don't have anything nice to say, but I think it's important that anyone who's considering this keyboard knows what they're getting into.
I would encourage anyone who's considering this keyboard to look for reviews on Reddit or Geekhack. The keyboard itself is excellent, but the software is so bad. There's an "improved" version of the software available (newer than the one you linked) that removes the ability to program the base layer.
Just to give an example of how the software "works," if you want to program a key that isn't on the GK64, you have to plug in a second keyboard to enter the keystroke.
I'm normally a big believer in not saying anything if I don't have anything nice to say, but I think it's important that anyone who's considering this keyboard knows what they're getting into.
st_burt
67
Jun 1, 2018
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brneorIt might be difficult to do that. The GK64 has to be plugged in and the software running for some functions to work. There is an offline mode, but I don't know if flashing QMK firmware would disable some functions that need the software to run. I think a lot of the lighting stuff is done via software.
I'm using hasu's USB-USB converter with mine, and it works great that way. The only programming I've done via the GK64 software was changing a couple keys in the base layer. I haven't played around with the lighting at all except to figure out how to turn it off.
If you could put QMK on this keyboard I think it would be unbeatable. The hardware is so nice, and there just aren't many 60% hotswap options right now.
I'm using hasu's USB-USB converter with mine, and it works great that way. The only programming I've done via the GK64 software was changing a couple keys in the base layer. I haven't played around with the lighting at all except to figure out how to turn it off.
If you could put QMK on this keyboard I think it would be unbeatable. The hardware is so nice, and there just aren't many 60% hotswap options right now.
Makami
4255
Jun 1, 2018
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st_burt" I'm using hasu's USB-USB converter with mine"
Hello fellow comrade, "best" mk gadget ever made so far :)
Hello fellow comrade, "best" mk gadget ever made so far :)
coffeeshopcoder
281
Jun 3, 2018
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st_burt> The hardware is so nice, and there just aren't many 60% hotswap options right now.
This is so true - I've been trying to locate a 60% hotswap PCB for so long now. I did not know that the software was so bad on this or it would require "online" background drivers. Thats a deal breaker for mac&linux users like me.
The best hotswap PCB I've seen so far is the HS60 on a UK site, and I dont even know if any sellers in the US stock it.
This is so true - I've been trying to locate a 60% hotswap PCB for so long now. I did not know that the software was so bad on this or it would require "online" background drivers. Thats a deal breaker for mac&linux users like me.
The best hotswap PCB I've seen so far is the HS60 on a UK site, and I dont even know if any sellers in the US stock it.
HumbleBrag
7
Jun 9, 2018
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st_burtI'm brand spankin' new to mechanical keyboards... should I be worried about this keyboard? The software for what is bad, the RGB or the keyboard itself?
st_burt
67
Jun 9, 2018
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HumbleBragIt's not so much that the keyboard is bad. It's more that the software makes it difficult to do things that wouldn't be difficult with other keyboards. Stuff like having to run the software in the background, or having to plug in a second keyboard to input keystrokes, makes it seem like the people who wrote the software weren't mechanical keyboard enthusiasts. There are excellent community-developed alternatives like QMK or TMK that they could easily have used instead of writing their own lame software.
As far as using the software, I haven't played around with the LED stuff. Other people have said it's difficult to use, but it should be possible to figure it out.
If you aren't planning to program the keyboard (switch keys around or program your own function layer), you don't need to worry about that. Since it's your first keyboard, you may not have expectations about what you should or shouldn't be able to do. For me, not being able to map Function to Caps Lock with the first version of the software was frustrating. That was eventually implemented, but the newest version of the software wants you to switch layers, rather than using a momentary modifier. If none of this means anything to you, then you don't need to worry.
What was frustrating about the GK64 for me (and for other people whose comments I read) was that I wanted to set it up the same way I had set up my other keyboards. The software made that impossible in some cases and unreasonably difficult in others. The frustration really came from expectations I had from using other keyboards though. I guess this was a really long-winded way of saying that because it's your first mechanical keyboard, you'll probably be happy with it. You'll just be happier with whatever you get next :)
As far as using the software, I haven't played around with the LED stuff. Other people have said it's difficult to use, but it should be possible to figure it out.
If you aren't planning to program the keyboard (switch keys around or program your own function layer), you don't need to worry about that. Since it's your first keyboard, you may not have expectations about what you should or shouldn't be able to do. For me, not being able to map Function to Caps Lock with the first version of the software was frustrating. That was eventually implemented, but the newest version of the software wants you to switch layers, rather than using a momentary modifier. If none of this means anything to you, then you don't need to worry.
What was frustrating about the GK64 for me (and for other people whose comments I read) was that I wanted to set it up the same way I had set up my other keyboards. The software made that impossible in some cases and unreasonably difficult in others. The frustration really came from expectations I had from using other keyboards though. I guess this was a really long-winded way of saying that because it's your first mechanical keyboard, you'll probably be happy with it. You'll just be happier with whatever you get next :)
HumbleBrag
7
Jun 9, 2018
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st_burtSolid response, thank you! It sounds like I won't have a lot to worry about. But I hope it ends up working out for the real enthusiasts out there.
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Edit: I found it but be careful using the 3rd off line section. I thought I nearly bricked my keyboard or something because it kept disconnecting and reconnecting when I went to that section but it works. The program itself feels janky and I just set the colors to white because I really don't want to mess with it after the initial scare.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9XoYZuzpjWncUpmelctM3VqMUk/view
Where I got it from: https://kbdfans.myshopify.com/collections/keyboard/products/gk64-mechanical-keyboard-64key?variant=41021830669