Introducing the SHIFT Mechanical Keyboard | Okay, well, just...

May 9, 2019

I’ll wait to see if Massdrop releases a keyboard with a standard layout with removable switches. I’ve been wanting one of those since before Massdrop was a thing. However I want a standard full sized keyboard that is silver or white, not the mini’s we’ve been seeing. With legs on the back to make it into higher profile if need be. Also any good keyboard needs a wrist rest preferably attachable which prevents it from moving. Anyone who games or uses a keyboard at a commercial, or professional gaming level knows this. Especially after they’ve been to the hospital for wrist damage. To me build quality is everything. RGB lighting is just a nice addition. I’ve been using Corsair for a long time largely because of the build quality, wrist rest and anti ghosting. If Massdrop can produce a keyboard with modular switches with these features I will be happy to change over but until then it just isn’t enough. The wrist rest and regular layout is a make or break for me.

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May 11, 2019

AsreiYou think Corsair has good build quality? Dude, my main PC’s cooling system of 9 fans and two AIOs, 3 different mice all newest models, K95 Platinum RGB, K70 Lux, Qi charging mousepad, and you know what? iCue’s software has completely ruined any love for them that I had left at all. My suggestion if you want a full-size keyboards is to get this SHIFT... because it pretty much is minus what, 4 columns of keys despite every key you’d need being from a full size keyboard already being l there, the only difference being reduction of divider spacing between the alphas, arrows, navigation and numpad. Did you take an actual look at this keyboard.., or are you just talking for attention? Okay, firstly all keyboards from Drop have removable magnetic feet that would serve the same exact purpose as your under feet high profile adjustment. Every single Massdrop keyboard offered allows removable and hotswappable switches. Your commentary about the wrist wrests being a required feature of gamers and not having them causing injury..., I’m sorry but this is false. To use a keyboard ergonomically you must type with your fingers and hands floating over the keyboard and level with your desk, only resting on the home keys with your fingers, wrist rests are actually more responsible for carpal tunnel than anything because of impingement on all of your wrist ligaments and tendons while trying to type quickly. I could go on a bit more but I’ll stop there. I realize that you were just sharing what you’d like to see in your next purchased KB, but before you post something like this next time; you might want to do some actual research into the quality and features of what you are dissing and supposedly waiting for. These keyboards are of fantastic build and design quality, and possess every feature in your requirements list and does each of them 100x than your Corsair crap and shitty buggy iCue software. Just look at how many they’ve sold for each model as well as partnership models with other major players in the mech keys space. You can program each keyboard to have multiple functionalities per key, for many, many modifiers. Also these keyboards absolutely do both NKRO (no ghosting) AND 6KRO (6 keys pressed at same time). Sounds like maybe you should just go ahead and preorder the SHIFT because it suits everything you are looking for and more.

May 11, 2019

akarsnerI owned the very first mechanical keyboard they ever produced and it never broke to regular use 8-14 hours a day and that was 7 years ago. I wasn’t talking about their other products or their software just the physical build quality of their keyboards. Also the part about causing gamers damage is not false. If you’re a casual gamer that’s different. If you’re playing professionally then no. It’s not always possible to keep your hand floating over the keys especially not in long sessions in games that require it like Starcraft which is extremely demanding at a macro level. In regards to the features I was stating some features that are important. I was aware these had anti ghosting on them. I'm not saying Massdrop a products are bad but they are catered to a certain keyboard user base. There’s many I’ve seen post since their first keyboard launch that have asked for these features as well.

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May 11, 2019

AsreiOkay, well, just saying that your original post up there didn't really give the impression that you had ever tried or were fully aware of the features that come native with all of Massdrop/Drop-specific keyboard design. And while I am aware that they originally got their design from a deal with KDBFans for the CTRL, the ALT, both of their high-profile case variants, and now the SHIFT have all been very solid keyboards. And that's speaking from an actual owner of them all, they are fantastic. Don't get me wrong, I used to love my K95 Platinum RGB from Corsair, but the switches (Cherry MX Speed Silents) were causing way too many actuation errors and getting me killed in game way more often than I should ever have been. After spending hundreds with Corsair cooling and peripheral products only to be completely let down by their shit iCue software which is now required to make use of any of their newer items and well, let's just say that I will never buy another Corsair product ever again. Today, instead of the K95, in its place I use my ALT high-profile with Zealios switches for the keys, and SA profile caps from a set from Signature Plastics acquired separately from the stock offering. It was the best choice I ever made. The keyboard, after fine tuning the choice of switches and key molding, plus lubrication and stabilization of those keys with the appropriate solutions, just feels like it was engineered just for me. And that is the whole point behind all of the DROP kits is that you can customize the entire build to suit what you need, and even if you aren't a mech keyboard modder and enthusiast the stock product comes with pretty decent switch options and the keycaps (from TaiHao I believe) have a super nice feel to them. I still don't get what your issue is in regard to build quality... they are all CNC milled from solid blocks of aluminum, the PCB has fantastic overall design and all components are securely soldered without any connector weaknesses, and the keys/switches are supplied by very well known manufacturers and designers by the overall mech keyboard community, but I digress. To each their own, but if you -haven't- actually tried or built one of their main keyboard products (ALT, ALT-High, CTRL, CTRL-High, and eventually SHIFT) then I recommend you give one a try. Currently the SHIFT is the closest to full-size layout you will get, CTRL being within the TKL range only 1 column smaller in width from the 1800 layout on the SHIFT. By the way I own all 4 of their current models, and use them all in various places in my home and at the office. So far so good, only have had one minor hiccup that I was able to correct myself, caused by a carless person on the pre-assembly line, not the manufacturer, and was able to be corrected by tearing down the keyboard by its primary components within 15 mins time to find the problem. You can't do that for a Corsair keyboard because you will completely void your warranty for one, and everything is solderered together and would require soldering iron to remove every Speed Silent MX switch and then re-solder each one back into place... yikes.

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May 11, 2019

akarsnerOh, and, have been a hard core gamer since age 4, and I'm 36 today. Senior developer professionally. No carpal tunnel to be found in these wrists! This is because I have always had an ergonomic workstation thanks to my parents, who both worked for telecom companies their entire careers and knew better when it came to wear and tear on the human body following long typing sessions. So while yes, wrist pads can make up for an ergonimically lacking desk and seat height or overall typing position, they are no longer recommended for use by a regular typist because of the strain and pressure they put on your metatarsals and metacarpals in your wrists and fingers over time and cause bad typing habits and weakness.

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May 11, 2019

akarsnerI understand, I did throw that post together pretty fast. Corsairs quality on a lot of products isn’t what it used to be. Their keyboards are sturdy at a physical level. Their software sucks though I agree 100% with that

May 12, 2019

AsreiTotally. I still am a bit sad that the K95 Platinum didn’t work out for me because it really is a beautiful KB with the white doubleshot keycaps. Corsair is trying to be too many things at once and disrupt the market in too many areas. They need to refocus and fix iCue because every PC cooling and peripheral product they are selling now requires it for updates and configuration... sad to see a company roll downhill so quickly. :/

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May 12, 2019

akarsnerI wish these companies would just focus in one area. Apple set that example when Steve Jobs took the reigns again and he broke the company down into a focus on just a few small products when they were on the verge of bankruptcy. Now look at where Apple is today. I for one cannot stand all these “Gaming headphones” that are junk in comparison to real audiophile headphones. None of Corsairs headphones will ever beat a high end headphone for gaming. I tried the HD 700’s and I said I would never buy another “Gaming headphone” again.

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May 12, 2019

AsreiCorsair’a Void Pro RGB Wireless gaming headset is a total piece of junk. And not even because of iCue either. If you have a Windows desktop, you can take a look at the available sampling rates that the headset can output. They output 16-bit, 48000hz. What a complete disgrace. Don’t be harsh on all headsets though. I own two pairs of the Sennheiser PC37X headsets for both myself and my partner.. It is Sennheiser and Massdrop’s collaboration on a “gaming” headset. And what a gaming headset it is, too. The sound quality of the headset and its boom mic are very very good for the price point. Both of us drive those via Sound BlasterX AE-5 soundcards, mainly because they have a built in headphone specific dual-amp jack and if using direct sound output, will output at a 32-bit, 384,000hz rate! I mostly use my PC37X for work calls taken at home, but I prefer using my other pair of fantastic Senns, the 58x jubilee which is driven over balanced output from a Liquid Carbon X SDAC/amp. I have the THX AAA amp ordered several months ago finally arriving in just a few days, and when that comes I may also pick up an even higher tier pair of Sennheisers to make use of the THX’s insane raw power. This site gets way too much of my income diverted to its coffers... heh.

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May 12, 2019

akarsnerYeah, I bought a Burson Play myself shortly after release and paired it with the HD 700's the main deal for me being the sound stage while maintaining clarity and separation. Bursons V6 Vivid amps achieve this well in almost any sound card/amp combo they are placed in. I disliked the 600 series because of their lack of sound stage. I heard the 7xx/8xx were amazing for their sound stage but I tried to keep it within a budget so I went with the 7xx and I love them. I've owned them for almost 3 years now. Heck I even took them on my first international trip. I just couldn't live without them.

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May 12, 2019

AsreiIf I went for an upgrade to my 58X, i'd shoot for a pair of the high-end HiFiMan Planar Magnetics, or a pair of ebony or purpleheart Fostex collabs, all of which are offered here from time to time. It's just a pretty big hike in price over my current ones, and while I'm getting a lot more engaged in the audiophile world I don't really consider myself at a level of enthusiast to justify dropping that kind of money when i already bought so much audio gear from Drop in the past year alone. Of course I say this now and probably will do it anyway. Meh :P

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May 14, 2019

akarsnerMy biggest thing is I'm a sucker for sound stage. I wish Drop would develop a high end headphone based on this.

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joshwt

Jun 5, 2019

akarsnerYou sound like a ad for massdrop, ahem sorry drop. Like massdrop and shipping times i fail to trust anything you say because like i said you sound like a shill for massdrop or at least a huge tool. I bet your home is stuffed full of ikea and sharper image,lol

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