Drop Mech Keys Meetup Recap - Thanks for Visiting!
As you may have seen, we just hosted our first meetup in quite a while here at Drop HQ (Corsair HQ, but they seem to like us enough :) )! It was a blast to get to meet so many enthusiasts local to the bay area—it had been 10 years since I was last hanging out with keyboard nerds in the bay, at KeyCon 2014. We had a great time hosting everyone at the offices, checking out all the very nice boards y'all brought, and sharing some of our own projects/spaces! I knew it would be fun to host in the Game Room when I first saw it in person, but seeing it come to fruition was still so cool. Alright, I'll stop blabbering on now. xD Picture time! (Oh, real quick - there will be more of these! Stay tuned for more info and to catch the next one!)
May 15, 2024
check this article :)
- Poker 3 comes with an aluminum base (worth $100+ alone) - Poker 3 comes with thick PBT key caps - Poker 3 uses FN+IJKL instead of FN+WASD by default for arrow keys - Poker 3 has more FN layers / every single key can be reprogrammed - Poker 3 keys are now capable of executing 32 keystrokes - Poker 3 DOES NOT have media keys (though you can use AutoHotKey if you really need them) - Poker 3 comes with more switch types, but no backlit option anywhere yet - Poker 3 has a red PCB with Vortex logo instead of black PCB (just aesthetic) - Poker 3 has different placements for certain keys like Delete (FN + [...})
****EDIT**** Vortex confirmed Pok3r will get Volume Control via firmware update: https://www.facebook.com/Vortexgear/posts/850016605066051?comment_id=857439330990445¬if_t=feed_comment
If you don't care about the aluminum base, increased programming options, and other Poker 3 specific stuff, you can just go ahead and buy the Poker II because they're almost the same board. Visually, they're the same except for that the Poker doesn't have "Enjoy You Feeling" on the spacebar, the PCB is red instead of black, and certain characters/commands (like Delete) are in different places.
You can get a Poker 2 with MX Clears and Backlighting for the same cost (~$125) as the Poker 3 with Clears and no backlighting. However, if you care about the aluminum base, you're better off buying the Poker 3 because aluminum bases go for $70 new MINIMUM (Vortex's own generic black one). If you currently have a Poker 2, I wouldn't recommend buying a Poker 3 unless you absolutely need the increased FN functions/layers. I wouldn't say the Poker 3 is a downgrade, but it's more of a sidegrade.