November 21, 2014 at 21:56Ducky Mini Keyboard Review
Hello everyone!
I apologize for the small tautology in the title - this is how I wanted to emphasize that the keyboard is really mini .
Many who are interested in mechanical keyboards have heard about the Taiwanese company Ducky Channel. Recently they had an official reseller in Russia, which cannot but rejoice (if the dollar exchange rate were lower, then my shorts would be full of happiness).
This reseller (I will not call it, because it will be an advertisement, you can see it on the company's website in the Where to buy section) and I purchased this keyboard on pre-order.
As I managed to notice, almost any review starts with a bunch of photos of the device box. Well, I was no exception and the first thing I took a picture of the box:
On the box is the Apple Magic Mouse for an approximate estimate of the dimensions
I admit, I expected that the box would be smaller. But these are trifles. Hurry up! Let's open it!
Total we have:
And more good news for the Russians: Ducky included a cover in the Mini package! As I understand it, it was necessary to buy it separately (although here I am not sure).
The case seems to me very big:
As you may have noticed, the keyboard has a Russian layout.
This, however, is not surprising, because Ducky, so to speak, fully entered the Russian market, making a reseller a fairly well-known online store in the circle of gamers (I personally wandered into this store and saw a pre-order for Ducky, thanks to my friend-doter (Kirya , thanks!)).
Deliveries, however, were delayed, which gave rise to many of the same type of questions from pre-orders (including me). The store, as a small “apology” (by the way, there was no fault of them) handed out Ducky branded keychains to everyone - a Cherry MX switch (I got a black one) with Ducky keycaps:
I removed the keycaps to demonstrate the switch. Unfortunately, the inscription “Cherry” is not visible in the photo.
But, this is a departure from the topic, let's get back to the hero of the occasion.
The keyboard frames are made of metal, the rest of the body, of course, is made of plastic. The metal has a fairly embossed surface, so you cansafely eat chips and not be afraid that ugly greasy spots will remain on it.
Before the arrival of the Ducky Mini, I used the Razer BlackWidow Tournament 2014 keyboard on the green (desyd by Reiser) switches, which many compare with the blue Cherry. So, the difference between them is huge. But this is already a question of different types of switches. It’s enough for the reader to know that my model uses blue switches:
And here is the comparison of sizes with my “Widow” (there is a feeling that she will become not a widow, but an abandoned mistress):
Since the distance between the keys is the same, the difference is the absence of the F-row and the arrows + higher keys. As if they took, and cut off.
If the reader did not notice the absence of arrows earlier, then now he should have wondered: “How can it be without arrows ??”
Looking ahead, I will answer: “it’s very convenient, albeit unusual.” But more on that later.
Rear view:
It is visible that there are no legs to increase the angle between the keyboard and the table. Alas, this is indeed the case and it cannot help but be sad :(
View “in profile”:
There is a slight backlash (by eye - even less than a millimeter), but I do not belong to people who make a problem out of this (hello, the bendable lids of phones!)
The cable, as seen in one of the previous photos, is attached to the side. In general, this is very convenient, especially since his direction is still at a right angle, i.e. it is not perpendicular to the side of the keyboard, but parallel to it.
The keyboard has a backlight, moreover, two-color: 7 levels of brightness of red and the same number of levels of blue. Of course, they can be combined, total we have: 8 2 = 64 backlight options.
There are several backlight modes. All of them are painted in the instructions (like many other important things, which is why I crossed out the original version of the paragraph). For example, the photo shows the Raindrop mode, in which all the keys just randomly change their color (disco-ooo-oo-oo-oo).
It is worth noting that the keyboard does not require any drivers and software, everything is configured directly on it (I hope you did not throw out the instructions).
For example, there are two color profiles where you can adjust the backlighting of each key manually. Here is an example:
By the way, the person who asked to photograph the keyboard for him noticed that the Russian letters “are better highlighted”.
Well, this is true:
All because of the location of the diode.
I know, I know, I could just ask to look at the pictures above. But I would like people to see that the key is attached very simply, and this, in turn, means that there is freedom for customization! Googling on the Internet Custom keycaps
Of course! Although, one of my acquaintances said that for such a price she should be able to run to the kitchen for coffee, which must be drunk away from her (it's a pity after all!).
We have Cherry MX Blue and standard keycapses, therefore, typing is not much different from other mechanical keyboards, except for an unregulated angle.
Now about the chips.
The keyboard is simply teeming with various functions, despite the fact that the keys on it are noticeably smaller. All thanks to the great and terrible Fn button.
Here is what she reveals to us:
I think most of all you were intrigued by the QWERASDF block. You were not mistaken, the keyboard allows you to control the mouse (some non-Russian saying, what do you think?). I really like the idea on Thinkpad laptops - a trackpoint that allows you not to take your hands off the keyboard in order to jump a couple of lines above and to the left. Or poke some close button.
We get the same functionality on the Ducky Mini. Moreover, we have scrolling (RF) and clicking with both mouse buttons.
The purpose of the remaining keys, I think, is clear. And those that are not clear are used when setting the backlight.
I think the trackpoint is still more convenient, but it looks ugly, does not have a right button and scroll. And convenience is a subjective thing.
What seems dubious to me personally is the position of the Fn key. I would put it in place of the right viola, and he, along with the Meta key, would move it to the right. So I would not have to reach for it with my little finger, but it would be enough to put a thumb on it.
So I did! The keyboard allows you to change the functions of some keys (remember the spare keycaps? So they are not spare, they are just designed for other options for the key functions, for example: Fn + backspace = Del, and the keyboard allows you to “swap” them, turning the key into Del, and when pressed Fn - in BackSpace).
It feels like using the arrows on Fn and the mouse on it is very unusual, but it's worth it. Surely, you weren’t annoyed by the moments when you had to transfer your hand to the mouse for a second for some little thing, and then come back, sometimes with a miss on the position of the fingers?
The review turned out to be very fragmentary and, in my opinion, something is missing in it (even a lot of things, but I don’t know what, sorry for the pun). Therefore, I will simply sort out a handful of facts “to the heap”:
upd. Since I am often asked: “How is the typing on it different from other keyboards?”, “And how is it better than other keyboards?”
I answer:
Nothing. In the first case, we have Cherry MX Blue switches, which are found in many keyboards and high-quality plastic, which many simply do not care about.
Check out the article on mechanical keyboards: geektimes.ru/post/140454
In the second case, we just have a small device, customizable backlighting, mouse control. Someone may not give a damn about it, so this keyboard will not work for them, especially in the first paragraph.
At the expense of high cost.
On Habré (already Giktayms) there was an article where the author said that his ten-year-old (not sure of his accuracy) mechanics died. 10 years.
People often buy smart phones for 30 thousand each, which serve them for a year or two (not always, of course), so why not spend 10 thousand (Ducky Mini is now 7500) on a good keyboard that you will always use and which will last to you for many years?
upd2 Found this article: geektimes.ru/post/86240 I quote
:
Once in a cold winter season ahorse was nailed to the fence oh ... Well, yes, my workhorse was nailed - a cherry keyboard with a mechanical click that has been traveling with me since the beginning of the 90s.
Post written in 2010, judge for yourself
I apologize for the small tautology in the title - this is how I wanted to emphasize that the keyboard is really mini .
Many who are interested in mechanical keyboards have heard about the Taiwanese company Ducky Channel. Recently they had an official reseller in Russia, which cannot but rejoice (if the dollar exchange rate were lower, then my shorts would be full of happiness).
This reseller (I will not call it, because it will be an advertisement, you can see it on the company's website in the Where to buy section) and I purchased this keyboard on pre-order.
Box
As I managed to notice, almost any review starts with a bunch of photos of the device box. Well, I was no exception and the first thing I took a picture of the box:
On the box is the Apple Magic Mouse for an approximate estimate of the dimensions
I admit, I expected that the box would be smaller. But these are trifles. Hurry up! Let's open it!
Equipment
Total we have:
- Keyboard
- Gold-plated mini-usb cable
- Multiple Keycaps
- A tool for “picking out” keycaps (to be honest, I don’t know how to call it in Russian, I repent).
Waste paperInstruction, warranty card.Apple magic mouse
And more good news for the Russians: Ducky included a cover in the Mini package! As I understand it, it was necessary to buy it separately (although here I am not sure).
The case seems to me very big:
As you may have noticed, the keyboard has a Russian layout.
This, however, is not surprising, because Ducky, so to speak, fully entered the Russian market, making a reseller a fairly well-known online store in the circle of gamers (I personally wandered into this store and saw a pre-order for Ducky, thanks to my friend-doter (Kirya , thanks!)).
Deliveries, however, were delayed, which gave rise to many of the same type of questions from pre-orders (including me). The store, as a small “apology” (by the way, there was no fault of them) handed out Ducky branded keychains to everyone - a Cherry MX switch (I got a black one) with Ducky keycaps:
I removed the keycaps to demonstrate the switch. Unfortunately, the inscription “Cherry” is not visible in the photo.
But, this is a departure from the topic, let's get back to the hero of the occasion.
Keyboard. Appearance
The keyboard frames are made of metal, the rest of the body, of course, is made of plastic. The metal has a fairly embossed surface, so you can
Before the arrival of the Ducky Mini, I used the Razer BlackWidow Tournament 2014 keyboard on the green (desyd by Reiser) switches, which many compare with the blue Cherry. So, the difference between them is huge. But this is already a question of different types of switches. It’s enough for the reader to know that my model uses blue switches:
And here is the comparison of sizes with my “Widow” (there is a feeling that she will become not a widow, but an abandoned mistress):
Since the distance between the keys is the same, the difference is the absence of the F-row and the arrows + higher keys. As if they took, and cut off.
If the reader did not notice the absence of arrows earlier, then now he should have wondered: “How can it be without arrows ??”
Looking ahead, I will answer: “it’s very convenient, albeit unusual.” But more on that later.
Rear view:
It is visible that there are no legs to increase the angle between the keyboard and the table. Alas, this is indeed the case and it cannot help but be sad :(
View “in profile”:
There is a slight backlash (by eye - even less than a millimeter), but I do not belong to people who make a problem out of this (hello, the bendable lids of phones!)
The cable, as seen in one of the previous photos, is attached to the side. In general, this is very convenient, especially since his direction is still at a right angle, i.e. it is not perpendicular to the side of the keyboard, but parallel to it.
The keyboard has a backlight, moreover, two-color: 7 levels of brightness of red and the same number of levels of blue. Of course, they can be combined, total we have: 8 2 = 64 backlight options.
There are several backlight modes. All of them are painted in the instructions (like many other important things, which is why I crossed out the original version of the paragraph). For example, the photo shows the Raindrop mode, in which all the keys just randomly change their color (disco-ooo-oo-oo-oo).
It is worth noting that the keyboard does not require any drivers and software, everything is configured directly on it (I hope you did not throw out the instructions).
For example, there are two color profiles where you can adjust the backlighting of each key manually. Here is an example:
By the way, the person who asked to photograph the keyboard for him noticed that the Russian letters “are better highlighted”.
Well, this is true:
All because of the location of the diode.
I know, I know, I could just ask to look at the pictures above. But I would like people to see that the key is attached very simply, and this, in turn, means that there is freedom for customization! Googling on the Internet Custom keycaps
Wow! Can I type text on it?
Of course! Although, one of my acquaintances said that for such a price she should be able to run to the kitchen for coffee, which must be drunk away from her (it's a pity after all!).
We have Cherry MX Blue and standard keycapses, therefore, typing is not much different from other mechanical keyboards, except for an unregulated angle.
Now about the chips.
The keyboard is simply teeming with various functions, despite the fact that the keys on it are noticeably smaller. All thanks to the great and terrible Fn button.
Here is what she reveals to us:
I think most of all you were intrigued by the QWERASDF block. You were not mistaken, the keyboard allows you to control the mouse (some non-Russian saying, what do you think?). I really like the idea on Thinkpad laptops - a trackpoint that allows you not to take your hands off the keyboard in order to jump a couple of lines above and to the left. Or poke some close button.
We get the same functionality on the Ducky Mini. Moreover, we have scrolling (RF) and clicking with both mouse buttons.
The purpose of the remaining keys, I think, is clear. And those that are not clear are used when setting the backlight.
I think the trackpoint is still more convenient, but it looks ugly, does not have a right button and scroll. And convenience is a subjective thing.
What seems dubious to me personally is the position of the Fn key. I would put it in place of the right viola, and he, along with the Meta key, would move it to the right. So I would not have to reach for it with my little finger, but it would be enough to put a thumb on it.
So I did! The keyboard allows you to change the functions of some keys (remember the spare keycaps? So they are not spare, they are just designed for other options for the key functions, for example: Fn + backspace = Del, and the keyboard allows you to “swap” them, turning the key into Del, and when pressed Fn - in BackSpace).
It feels like using the arrows on Fn and the mouse on it is very unusual, but it's worth it. Surely, you weren’t annoyed by the moments when you had to transfer your hand to the mouse for a second for some little thing, and then come back, sometimes with a miss on the position of the fingers?
Summary
The review turned out to be very fragmentary and, in my opinion, something is missing in it (even a lot of things, but I don’t know what, sorry for the pun). Therefore, I will simply sort out a handful of facts “to the heap”:
- Mechanics
- Small size
- Cool materials
- Cute look
- Beautiful, unusual backlight that can be configured without additional software
- Very functional despite the number of keys
Keys cannot be reprogrammed.Some keys can be reprogrammed.- High price
- An unusual manufacturer for the Russian market
- Low quality photos from the author of the post
- Author - just wanted to boast a new keyboard in front of the community
upd. Since I am often asked: “How is the typing on it different from other keyboards?”, “And how is it better than other keyboards?”
I answer:
Nothing. In the first case, we have Cherry MX Blue switches, which are found in many keyboards and high-quality plastic, which many simply do not care about.
Check out the article on mechanical keyboards: geektimes.ru/post/140454
In the second case, we just have a small device, customizable backlighting, mouse control. Someone may not give a damn about it, so this keyboard will not work for them, especially in the first paragraph.
At the expense of high cost.
On Habré (already Giktayms) there was an article where the author said that his ten-year-old (not sure of his accuracy) mechanics died. 10 years.
People often buy smart phones for 30 thousand each, which serve them for a year or two (not always, of course), so why not spend 10 thousand (Ducky Mini is now 7500) on a good keyboard that you will always use and which will last to you for many years?
upd2 Found this article: geektimes.ru/post/86240 I quote
:
Once in a cold winter season a
Post written in 2010, judge for yourself