Functional usage
Functional usage
As we always do, a little history first. Keyboards have always been a part of computing since the very beginning. The original IBM PC came with one, the Model M, which I used as a kid. The Model M, of course, set the standard for all keyboards that came after it. There are some variations in layout, but it's all based off the 101-key Model M. The modern keyboard, thanks to Windows, now has 104 keys, and depending on your location, you can have many more keys than that. Suffice it to say, keyboards are still the most efficient way of interacting with your computer, even with the great strides made in voice-recognition, touch screens, and GUI optimizations. I think the chances of humans ever growing out of the keyboard are pretty slim. In the early days of personal computing, the keyboard really meant something because it really was the only way to interact with the machine. Having a good-feeling keyboard was very important, at least until the mouse and GUI came along, and shifted the focus a little bit. Mechanical keyboards have always been around, though, part of the collective geek consciousness, and the enthusiasts that inhabit that world are as hardcore as their keyboards. new thus is Mechanical-optical.
Usage
The overall usage is totally fine. For gaming, Cherry MX has become the leading trend over the past few years. Compared to dome/membrane keyboards they feel a little unnatural but yeah, I am not against it either as mechanical switches are not for everybody. Ergo, I was very interested to learn about the new hybrid mechanical optical ones. Why optical? Well that can depend on functionality. With a mech switch the key reports on or off, 0 or 1 pressed or not pressed. Optical keys are different, but still can be considered mechanical. Under each switch casing, and mounted onto the PCB, is an LED for backlighting and a sensor that uses infrared photothermal radiometry technology to identify actuation when a physical object (in this, a switch) descends upon it. Corsair however does not make use of that functionality.
Why Optical Switches?
There are various motives why optical switches can be superior to traditional mechanical switches. In the above chapter, I explained a thing or two. However, for Corsair, it is different as they developed the switches (in-house btw) for reasons of speed, durability/ruggedness, and the ability to expand the capabilities of the switch. In the end ... another reason is marketing. Some keyboards like wooting and more recently Cooler Master have made the news intensely, Corsair has been listening and wanted to be on that track as well.
Infrared light?
To divert and move away from that on/off binary input, how can you make something analog? Well, you need to measure the distance between the base and keycap. The switches make use of small infrared lights, these can be used to measure the depth that a switch has been pressed. For pure precision, full mech's are recommended. Let me also make clear that OptX switches are an option, as you can purchase a Cherry MX Speed switches version as well. Other than that, the K100 functions and feels like any other Cherry MX keyboard, it offers really solid aesthetics and functionality. The main difference is the new switches, which do not even feel differently from 'standard' mechanical keyboards. So in the end, faster and more durable is what Corsair is going after. The RGB LEDs really pop out btw, very nice.
