MagicForce 68-Key MINI Mechanical Keyboard (Cherry MX-Blues)

My fully decked out Keyboard just arrived from Massdrop! This is probably the last keyboard purchase for a long time. This is my very first Cherry MX Blue Keyboard, and one of those keyboards whose form factor is not a standard one.

Not many words needed to describe this keyboard. The reason why this keyboard caused such a buzz is pretty much it represents the absolute size limit that you can shrink a tenkeyless form factor without compromising too much functionality. The close competitor with this similar size will be the Ducky MINI but it is more limited in functionality; the arrow keys, page up/down, Insert and delete keys (essential to my general workloads) missing compared to the MagicForce.

Be prepared to pay more as you deck this keyboard out. But this truly made this keyboard my own.

Differences between this keyboard and standard Tenkeyless Form Factor:

- 5 rows instead of the standard 6. F Keys are integrated to the Number Keys via Function key.

- The Home and End Keys are activated via Function Key on Page Up / Down.

Other Features:
- 9 Brightness LED Levels (Function + Up / Down keys)

- Pulsating LED effects (Function + Left Key to toggle. Function + Right to adjust pulsing speed)

- Available in all switches of Cherry MX, Gateron, or Kailh switches. (Currently, Kailh boards are out of stock).

- Media Playback Functionality (Via Function Key)

- Plug and Play.

- DIP Switches under its base:
Swap Left Caplocks for Left Control, Left Windows for Function Key (Awesome), Lock Windows Keys (Good)

Customizations:
Gold Chassis
White Keys
Gold LEDs on WASD and Arrow Keys.
Blue LEDs on the rest of keyboard
Cherry MX Blues.

Overview of the Keyboard that I received on the 26th January 2016.

Where to Get it:
If you want to get that keyboard from Massdrop, the link is as follows. Do support the drop if you want to get the keyboard at their lowest deals. Do allow some time for shipping, for around two and a half months as it does take a while to build it to user specifications.

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/magicforce-68-key-mini-mechanical-keyboard?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=influencer&utm_term=416&utm_content=randomfrankp


Gallery:

I'll shush up now. Take in the beauty of some of the photographs taken with both my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Nikon L830.

New addition to the fleet

Backlights off. You can see the Chassis much more clearly.

Standard Cherry-MX Blue Switch

Another Shot.

Comparison to a standard Tenkeyless Form Factor

Tale of Two Keyboards.

Moving a little further ahead, I went to compare the sound and feel between Cherry MX Blues and Blue Outemu's. YouTube Video above.

I found the Cherry MX Blues on this keyboard outclass the Blue Outemu Switches in almost every possible way as typing feel is a lot smoother and less mushy than the latter and it sounds slick to type on too. Although the Outemus are an okay switch, it has a more obvious tactile bump at the bottom, abit heavier and clackier once you bottom it out.

For typists, The Cherry MX Blues is really a perfect blend. Although clicky, they are not much louder than MX Browns which I also have. (Photo above: Comparison to TK Form Factor)


Conclusion:

The bottomline is that this form factor, though with less keys, still retains most of the functionality of a Tenkeyless Keyboard. Going even shorter like say the Ducky MINI without the arrow keys and Page Up/Down Keys is too much a functionality compromise since I use these keys for office work. Thus I feel between the Ducky MINI and the MagicForce, The 68-key config is just the perfect limit. 

This form factor is a perfect fit for small and tight spaces on your desk as a main keyboard (Albeit without the Num Pad). And because I'm used to MacBook Pro Style configuration which allowed me to live without the F1-F12 Keys, it's a viable addition to your MacBook setup. In fact, you configure this to a fully white keyboard with white case and LEDs and all, making it a complement to a Mac Setup or any build that doesn't use a dark colour computer case.

However even better, also as a portable compact, lightweight mechanical keyboard to bring along to LAN events and it just looks good. Highly customizable, it can be suited to your tastes and needs.