A scissor action keyboard that’s a cut above the rest
i-Rocks has previously impressed us with its lowpriced but high-quality K10 USB Gaming Keyboard. Now, however, we’re upping the game slightly with a higherend model from i-Rocks, but will it impress us as much as the K10 did?
The first thing you’ll notice is the difference in weight. While the K10 was in excess of 1.2kg, the K50E is considerably lighter by about half as much. That doesn’t mean it’s lacking in sturdiness. i-Rocks engineering department needs to be congratulated on the design and structure of the K50E, because it’s as solid a keyboard as you’ll find anywhere.
It’s a USB keyboard, but comes with a USB-to-PS/2 dongle, with 24-key antighosting, fully LED backlit, three multimedia volume keys, a Windows Key lock and a decent cable length of 180cm. In terms of how it looks, it’s very similar to the K10, except for the extra keys along the top and an abundance of red colouring along the trim and the underside of the keyboard. As a nice touch, i-Rocks has engineered a three-way cable channel into the bottom of the keyboard for whatever orientation you prefer, while of course keeping the lengthy cable as tidy as possible.
The K50E uses a scissor movement key switch, which involves two pairs of parallel arms that raise the keycap a good 3.8mm from its activation on the specially designed membrane. Yes, it is a membrane, but as with the K10 ,this is a keyboard that essentially ‘feels’ more like a true mechanical switch than a more traditional membrane.
The performance of the keyboard when in use is extremely good. The keys are nicely spaced, and the 3.8mm travel makes for a fluid movement across the keyboard – one that’s very similar to that of a Cherry MX Brown switch. In addition, each key press is remarkably quiet, but you still get that pleasurable click with each depress, only somewhat dampened to reduce the higher pitch clicks from the mechanical counterparts.
We've mentioned in the past that it’s how a keyboard feels to the individual that’s more important than the numbers in the list of specifications. The K50E is thankfully one of the better keyboards we’ve used in recent years. In fact, only the significantly more expensive mechanical keyboards could top the typing feel that we have with the K50E.
It’s the simple design we like about i-Rocks' keyboards. Granted, it's lacking macro and media keys other than volume up, down and mute, but this is a high-quality keyboard and one that’s driverless and responsive. Plus, you can pick one up for around £25 from the likes of Beyond Technologies, which is pretty good value.
The scissor switch performs well under pressure, and thanks to the design of the membrane, it’ll last you something like 30 million key presses before you need to consider a new keyboard. Therefore, if you're after a simply designed, low-cost, mechanical-like keyboard, with a high quality of engineering, then we'd recommend you take a look at the i-Rocks Golem Series K50E. David Hayward
An excellent keyboard for an excellent price.
Specifications
• Interface: USB or PS/2
• Keys: 108 ( By language)
• Key stroke : 3.8 ±0.3 mm
• Key force: 55±15g
• Anti-ghosting:
- 24 keys in PS/2 (in main area)
- 13 keys in USB (in main area)
• Switch life: about 30 million life cycles
• Membrane key-switches with scissor-structure.
• Illuminated on/off function
• Electric current: 300 mA maximum
• Voltage: DC5V
• USB cable length: 180 cm
• Dimensions: 447 (L) x 144 (W) x 33 (H) mm