Reviews - Cooler Master NovaTouch TKL

[HEXUS]

Meet the £150 keyboard for gaming enthusiasts.

Read more.

[Otherhand]

Does anyone have any recommendations in the area of tenkeyless keyboards that aren't necessarily for gaming? I mainly use a controller these days, so what I want is a small keyboard that feels good for typing and is quieter than my current basic (non-mechanical) Logitech.

(I realise I'm asking this question in a glowing review of exactly such a keyboard, but I was thinking I'd maybe graduate to a luxury TKL once I was sure I liked the change!)

[Animus404]

Does anyone have any recommendations in the area of tenkeyless keyboards that aren't necessarily for gaming? I mainly use a controller these days, so what I want is a small keyboard that feels good for typing and is quieter than my current basic (non-mechanical) Logitech.

(I realise I'm asking this question in a glowing review of exactly such a keyboard, but I was thinking I'd maybe graduate to a luxury TKL once I was sure I liked the change!)

Filco Majestouch Tenkeyless...?

[Tunnah]

List of cons surely needs:
No media keys
No USB ports
No macro capable keys
No backlighting
A hundred and fifty stinkin' bloomin' quid just for the chance that maybe-some-day-might-feel-like-a-change-and-go-full-mechanical

[Animus404]

List of cons surely needs:
No media keys
No USB ports
No macro capable keys
No backlighting
A hundred and fifty stinkin' bloomin' quid just for the chance that maybe-some-day-might-feel-like-a-change-and-go-full-mechanical

I'd say no media or macro keys was a plus, but completely agree with your other points.
I guess if they included everything on this first version then they wouldn't be able to charge £200 for it's successor.

[mark_a_scott]

A bit thocking expensive compared to the K95 RGB and its programmable keys and backlighting.

[miniyazz]

Wow.
No number pad and half height enter key rules it out for me at basically any price. Only thing going for it is a full size backspace key which my current £5 keyboard lacks and is a source of continual annoyance (only the fact I generally only use the keyboard for consumption means I haven't ditched it, and it's otherwise excellent for the price).

[tribaljet]

This is all fine and dandy but the fact is that basically there are close to none mechanical board manufacturers that do multiple key layouts (particularly with a wide switch availability), which then forces me to either get keyboards with blank caps or keyboards with layouts other than what I'd like (at the very least 105-key ISO, please).

[CustardInc]

Wow.
No number pad and half height enter key rules it out for me at basically any price.

I think the smaller enter key is an American thing.

Not having a numpad, on the other hand, is hardly something you can criticise a tenkeyless for not having.

[Ttaskmaster]

Nah, keeping my Logitech G19, thanks!!

[naturbo2000]

Not only is it "an American thing", this keyboard is a US layout, no '£' key, '\' moved etc. You can adjust to be keyboard layout ambivalent (I have: US layout at work; UK layout at home), but you probably wouldn't want to.
For £150 I'd want a UK layout if I hadn't already gone through the adjustment.

[directhex]

Corsair do reasonably on this front - they do plenty of different layouts and switches. Ducky does many switches but I don't know about layouts.

[dfour]

Way to expensive especially as its not even back lit so late night gameing would be awkward to say the least. No media keys/keypad and usb ports is all fine with me but no backlighting....

[Spreadie]

150 notes for rubber domes, meh.

[TaintedShirt]

As naturbo says it's the US layout. The @ and the " key are swapped, amongst others. For that type of money I'd also want the UK layout.

@ the Otherhand, if you are going to look at the Filco Majestouch, make sure to get the Majestouch II version. The original was weaker and if you are a heavy typist (like me apparently) then you can actually damage the solder joints. Damned annoying. It hasn't happened to my Majestouch II and I've been using it for over three years.

I don't understand the backlighting that has become trendy lately but then I'm getting old :/ I understand it has the space age, go faster, cool glow about it but really... it does nothing else, except maybe as something that can go wrong on the keyboard. If you game seriously or even use a keyboard a lot then you know where the keys are and don't need lighting. Am I wrong? I use the filco ninja keys (sounds cool too and no lights!!) just for something different but it has definitely improved my accuracy with the keyboard. It also has the added benefit that it annoys my wife enough that she will go use her laptop rather than use these keys.

[iranu]

I think the smaller enter key is an American thing.

I hate that half height enter/return key. It's on so many keyboards and just rules it out for me no matter how good it is.