The The XArmor U9BL-S keyboard is a seemingly perfect marriage of the old IBM clicking keyboards combined with the allure and beauty of my Saitek Eclipse. While the old black and silver Saitek is a better design match with my new Dell Optiplex 980, after 5 years the once decent blue glow has faded to a ghost of its former glory. Some key paint has worn off - apparently not fond of traces of Purell on my hands.
What the XArmor U9BL-S lacks in sheer beauty, it makes up in practicality and utility. No longer a hard core gamer, I need a productive keyboard which occasionally lets me save the virtual world. My beloved beige PS/2 IBM keyboard simply has lost cosmetic appeal in the backlit, black and silver world of modern computing. But modern keyboards have the problem of not being practical in my metallic keyboard tray, with only 6" of space between the inside tray lip to the computers' function keys. The large and swoopy lips on new keyboards are simply out of the question. There is something to be said about not mucking around with perfection. No featherweight at 2.8 LBS, the rubber feet keeps your keyboard in place. The rubberized wrist rest is nice, but not nearly as good as a gel one.
With the advent of Speech Recognition in Windows 7, I want something where the joyful chuckle of the keyboard is less of a noise issue, but do not want to give up too much tactile sense. I think I found the happy medium with the XArmor U9BL-S. 4 levels of brightness give the TRON-like joy of typing with light. The responsive feedback gives the level of professionalism I enjoy. As expected, the pleasant keys sing a symphony of clickiness beneath my fingertips without the crisp metallic "ting-ting-ting" of the IBM. The plastic clicks may not suit everyone, but the springiness is pleasant enough and shouldn't cause finger fatigue.
The keyboard includes a standard PS/2 connector with USB adaptor. PS/2 is required for N-Key rollover to function. The N-key function is impressive. It detected up to 10 key presses when I pressed with all fingers simultaneously - albeit, not in the order in which they are laid out on the keyboard. It detects "mashing" when I pressed both palms into the keypad causing it to beep, indicating a buffer overflow.
The second USB connector is optional only for lighting the keyboard and activating the built-in hub. Fear not if your computer is short on rear USB ports. The XArmor's rear connectors double as a media center utilizing standard microphone and speakers jacks, along with two USB ports to handle your mouse and game controller.
I see the wisdom behind a backlit keyboard defaulting to "off" when the computer is turned on. After 5 years my Saitek Eclipse keyboard has outlived the LED's which now barely register to the eye. I have consigned in my heart that turning the light on as needed is far better than remembering to turn it off to preserve life. I'll spend the first few weeks enjoying the lights, and thereafter use them only as needed - or to show off the extra bright glow to family and friends. It delivers a healthy glow even in the face of ambient light.
This is the brightest LED backlit keyboard I have seen. With 4 levels of brightness, most back-lit keyboards compare to level 2 or 3 of the XArmor. Obviously, the second USB plug is for light and powering the 2.0 hubs. Light adjusting requires pressing the FN key with the 8 or 2 keys on the number pad. You may barely control it one handed using your thumb and pinky. No matter which setting you use, each key glows a bit brighter when depressed - a direct result of being closer to the light source. The FN key replaces the seldom used Windows Logo key on the right side.
The four orange keys with key puller are mostly suited to gamers fond of the "WASD" layout. I'm more of an "ESDF" man myself as the home row F & J keys have touch nubs for sightless location. There are no lighting options for game-only keys. Considering my layouts are customized for a traditional typist, I'm not missing anything except the occasional keystroke. I suggest you try "ESDF" for the more natural slope of the keypad.
Minor dings:
Would like easier one-handed light settings. Numbers and special characters crowd the top of the key taps where the LED emitters are located. The dimming effect is most recognized with the media control function keys. The rubberized keyboard top (not the keys) gives a Borg-like allure of touch, but will scratch and mar over time, perhaps even peel and certainly grunge up. It could use an indent on the Caps Lock key. None of these failings should bother touch typists.
The XArmor U9BL-S has few compromises and achieves a blend of utility for both professionals and moderate gamers alike. You will look forward to making "cherry brown" a part of your daily computing experience.
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**WARNING: I originally wrote this review for the U9BL-S (Cherry MX Brown) but my review has recently been linked to the U9BL (Cherry MX Blue) which I have NEVER used. Again, this review was originally linked to the correct keyboard which is apparently no longer available through Amazon.**First, a little about why I made the decision to purchase this keyboard and a few notes on mechanical keyboards in general. I was looking for a keyboard for both typing as well as gaming in a dark room. I had grown to really like the back-lighting on my previous keyboard (Microsoft X4) and while I was open to a keyboard without it, back-lighting was definitely a factor. Also, even though I'm a fast touch typist at 100 wpm, I play a variety of fps/rts games where my hands aren't alway positioned in the same place, or uncommon keys are used for uncommon actions. Needless to say, in a dark room the back-lighting can be very helpful at times. Previous "gaming" keyboards I've owned have included macro keys and shortcut keys which I found very little use for. Sometimes they would actually just get in the way. However, I've used media keys regularly so that was a factor. As a typist, another big factor for me was key layout and placement. Standard key positioning and key size was an absolute must. I was definitely not going to purchase another keyboard with oddly positioned function keys (Razer BlackWidow) or worse, undersized function keys. I also avoided keyboards with a repositioned backslash key which is common with the L-Shaped Enter key (Steelseries 6Gv2).I had tried a keyboard with Cherry MX Blue switches, specifically the Razer BlackWidow and absolutely loved the feel of the keys for typing. In fact, if you're looking for a keyboard just purely for typing, Cherry MX Blue is arguably the best option aside from possibly Buckling Spring (IBM Model M) or Topre switches which I haven't had the opportunity to try. Topre switches are basically a hybrid mechanical & rubber dome switch, which provide a nice mechanical feel while being much quieter then Cherry MX switches. However, they're also very expensive.Getting back to Cherry switches, here's a basic overview of the most common varieties:Cherry MX Blue (Tactile & Clicky): The one negative (or positive) for many people with Cherry MX Blue switches is the distinct clicking noise they make. For some, the noise alone is a deal breaker as it can be annoying to you or the people around you. On the other hand, the light tactile feel and sound of the switches can actually make you a faster typist and improve accuracy. The original XARMOR-U9BL Backlit Keyboard Illuminated Mechanical Keyboard uses Blue switches as does the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Mechanical Gaming KeyboardCherry MX Black (Non-Tactile & Non-Clicky): If you're looking for a keyboard purely for gaming, these switches are commonly considered the best option since they're linear without any tactile feedback until you bottom out. If you want to try these out look for the Steelseries 6Gv2 Gaming Keyboard which you may also be able to test at a local retailer. Note that they still actuate half-way down but there isn't any tactile feedback at the half-way mark.Cherry MX Brown (Tactile & Non-Clicky): These are the switches used in the U9BL-S. They're considered a good middle-ground between Blue & Black switches. Due to the tactile feel, you can actually type very lightly without the need to "bottom out". You can feel the keys actuate half-way down, thereby eliminating the need to press them all the way down. This does take a little time to get used to but I've been typing on them regularly for almost two weeks now and at first I would always bottom out since I was used to typing on traditional rubber dome keyboards. Adjusting to the feel of the keyboard will actually result in quieter typing when you're not bottoming out.Other impressions and experiences after 2 weeks with the U9BL-S keyboard:The spacebar sqeaked occasionally at first but that has actually stopped completely after a few hours of use. I can't make it squeak at all no matter the location and speed that I press the spacebar down. If the problem comes back I'm confident that white lithium grease will resolve it.The surface of the entire keyboard, wrist rest and keys have a soft matte texture which both looks and feels very smooth and somewhat soft/silky. If you're curious to see what the surface feels like, try out the wide grip that comes with the Logitech G9x mouse which has the exact same surface. I don't know if there are any disadvantages to this or how it'll wear over time. If it's the same quality as the G9x which I've owned for over a year, it won't become shiny/slippery in the heavily worn areas. I have noticed areas on the wrist rest where oils from my skin left an impression but it's not permanent and wipes clean with a damp cloth. Lint and dust particles may stick to the surface a bit but that's nowhere near as frustrating as finger prints and smudges on keyboards with a glossy black surface.The wrist rest is a really nice addition and I find the angle to be quite comfortable. While being a little flimsy it's better than nothing and easily removable if a padded wrist rest is preferred.The original U9BL keyboard used a shift key modifier for media and brightness controls. Thankfully they went to a Function key in place of the right Win key for the U9BL-S.I found the back-lighting state isn't remembered on reboot (both USB and PS2), my Microsoft X4 didn't have this issue. The default state is off so pressing Fn + Numpad8 twice will set it back to the 2nd lighting level.There are 4 brightness levels for back-lighting, 5 if you count turning it off. I almost always prefer the 2nd level and sometimes the 3rd. The 4th is very bright to the point of being distracting. It's a good range of options though, I don't think anyone would complain that it can't be set to a comfortable level. For anyone that's not into lighting, the keys have a nice gray on black look when the lighting is turned off. The keys won't turn shiny and wear off either.A keycap puller and 4 replacement orange keycaps are included. They're intended to replace the standard movement keys for gaming (WASD). I put them on once just to see how they looked but probably won't ever use them again. It's a nice option though and the keycap puller has been improved from the original U9BL so it doesn't leave marks on the sides of the keys.The XArmor website is practically nonexistent, currently consisting of nothing more than an email address for support. For me and I'm sure many others, the brand is one of the biggest causes for concern with this product but I took the risk seeing that the Amazon seller has a solid rating. I concluded that if I received a defective unit that I could at least have it replaced by the reseller.The backspace and right-shift key were raised a bit higher than the other keys, even after a good amount of typing as I didn't notice it at first. Just something to watch out for if you pickup this keyboard as there may be a few keys that need to be properly seated.While they adjusted the legends (letters/symbols) a bit for better lighting coverage than the U9BL, there are still some keys that are a bit unevenly lit. Since the light is under the upper-half of the keys this is most noticable with the F1-F6 keys where the media icons are on the lower half of the key. There's also a wide horizontal line on the spacebar which isn't fully lit but I don't really mind, it's actually kind of a cool effect. It's also noticable on the Windows key when the lighting isn't on the highest level since the Windows Logo is in the center of the key.All things considered, I absolutely love this keyboard. Seeing that there were only two reviews written so far I felt compelled to review it since it definitely deserves more exposure.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2011
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2011
**WARNING: I originally wrote this review for the U9BL-S (Cherry MX Brown) but my review has recently been linked to the U9BL (Cherry MX Blue) which I have NEVER used. Again, this review was originally linked to the correct keyboard which is apparently no longer available through Amazon.**
First, a little about why I made the decision to purchase this keyboard and a few notes on mechanical keyboards in general. I was looking for a keyboard for both typing as well as gaming in a dark room. I had grown to really like the back-lighting on my previous keyboard (Microsoft X4) and while I was open to a keyboard without it, back-lighting was definitely a factor. Also, even though I'm a fast touch typist at 100 wpm, I play a variety of fps/rts games where my hands aren't alway positioned in the same place, or uncommon keys are used for uncommon actions. Needless to say, in a dark room the back-lighting can be very helpful at times. Previous "gaming" keyboards I've owned have included macro keys and shortcut keys which I found very little use for. Sometimes they would actually just get in the way. However, I've used media keys regularly so that was a factor. As a typist, another big factor for me was key layout and placement. Standard key positioning and key size was an absolute must. I was definitely not going to purchase another keyboard with oddly positioned function keys (Razer BlackWidow) or worse, undersized function keys. I also avoided keyboards with a repositioned backslash key which is common with the L-Shaped Enter key (Steelseries 6Gv2).
I had tried a keyboard with Cherry MX Blue switches, specifically the Razer BlackWidow and absolutely loved the feel of the keys for typing. In fact, if you're looking for a keyboard just purely for typing, Cherry MX Blue is arguably the best option aside from possibly Buckling Spring (IBM Model M) or Topre switches which I haven't had the opportunity to try. Topre switches are basically a hybrid mechanical & rubber dome switch, which provide a nice mechanical feel while being much quieter then Cherry MX switches. However, they're also very expensive.
Getting back to Cherry switches, here's a basic overview of the most common varieties:
Cherry MX Blue (Tactile & Clicky): The one negative (or positive) for many people with Cherry MX Blue switches is the distinct clicking noise they make. For some, the noise alone is a deal breaker as it can be annoying to you or the people around you. On the other hand, the light tactile feel and sound of the switches can actually make you a faster typist and improve accuracy. The original [[ASIN:B003XQE040 XARMOR-U9BL Backlit Keyboard Illuminated Mechanical Keyboard]] uses Blue switches as does the [[ASIN:B003ZJ5B4I Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Mechanical Gaming Keyboard]]
Cherry MX Black (Non-Tactile & Non-Clicky): If you're looking for a keyboard purely for gaming, these switches are commonly considered the best option since they're linear without any tactile feedback until you bottom out. If you want to try these out look for the [[ASIN:B0038X3ZVM Steelseries 6Gv2 Gaming Keyboard]] which you may also be able to test at a local retailer. Note that they still actuate half-way down but there isn't any tactile feedback at the half-way mark.
Cherry MX Brown (Tactile & Non-Clicky): These are the switches used in the U9BL-S. They're considered a good middle-ground between Blue & Black switches. Due to the tactile feel, you can actually type very lightly without the need to "bottom out". You can feel the keys actuate half-way down, thereby eliminating the need to press them all the way down. This does take a little time to get used to but I've been typing on them regularly for almost two weeks now and at first I would always bottom out since I was used to typing on traditional rubber dome keyboards. Adjusting to the feel of the keyboard will actually result in quieter typing when you're not bottoming out.
Other impressions and experiences after 2 weeks with the U9BL-S keyboard:
The spacebar sqeaked occasionally at first but that has actually stopped completely after a few hours of use. I can't make it squeak at all no matter the location and speed that I press the spacebar down. If the problem comes back I'm confident that white lithium grease will resolve it.
The surface of the entire keyboard, wrist rest and keys have a soft matte texture which both looks and feels very smooth and somewhat soft/silky. If you're curious to see what the surface feels like, try out the wide grip that comes with the Logitech G9x mouse which has the exact same surface. I don't know if there are any disadvantages to this or how it'll wear over time. If it's the same quality as the G9x which I've owned for over a year, it won't become shiny/slippery in the heavily worn areas. I have noticed areas on the wrist rest where oils from my skin left an impression but it's not permanent and wipes clean with a damp cloth. Lint and dust particles may stick to the surface a bit but that's nowhere near as frustrating as finger prints and smudges on keyboards with a glossy black surface.
The wrist rest is a really nice addition and I find the angle to be quite comfortable. While being a little flimsy it's better than nothing and easily removable if a padded wrist rest is preferred.
The original U9BL keyboard used a shift key modifier for media and brightness controls. Thankfully they went to a Function key in place of the right Win key for the U9BL-S.
I found the back-lighting state isn't remembered on reboot (both USB and PS2), my Microsoft X4 didn't have this issue. The default state is off so pressing Fn + Numpad8 twice will set it back to the 2nd lighting level.
There are 4 brightness levels for back-lighting, 5 if you count turning it off. I almost always prefer the 2nd level and sometimes the 3rd. The 4th is very bright to the point of being distracting. It's a good range of options though, I don't think anyone would complain that it can't be set to a comfortable level. For anyone that's not into lighting, the keys have a nice gray on black look when the lighting is turned off. The keys won't turn shiny and wear off either.
A keycap puller and 4 replacement orange keycaps are included. They're intended to replace the standard movement keys for gaming (WASD). I put them on once just to see how they looked but probably won't ever use them again. It's a nice option though and the keycap puller has been improved from the original U9BL so it doesn't leave marks on the sides of the keys.
The XArmor website is practically nonexistent, currently consisting of nothing more than an email address for support. For me and I'm sure many others, the brand is one of the biggest causes for concern with this product but I took the risk seeing that the Amazon seller has a solid rating. I concluded that if I received a defective unit that I could at least have it replaced by the reseller.
The backspace and right-shift key were raised a bit higher than the other keys, even after a good amount of typing as I didn't notice it at first. Just something to watch out for if you pickup this keyboard as there may be a few keys that need to be properly seated.
While they adjusted the legends (letters/symbols) a bit for better lighting coverage than the U9BL, there are still some keys that are a bit unevenly lit. Since the light is under the upper-half of the keys this is most noticable with the F1-F6 keys where the media icons are on the lower half of the key. There's also a wide horizontal line on the spacebar which isn't fully lit but I don't really mind, it's actually kind of a cool effect. It's also noticable on the Windows key when the lighting isn't on the highest level since the Windows Logo is in the center of the key.
All things considered, I absolutely love this keyboard. Seeing that there were only two reviews written so far I felt compelled to review it since it definitely deserves more exposure.
First, a little about why I made the decision to purchase this keyboard and a few notes on mechanical keyboards in general. I was looking for a keyboard for both typing as well as gaming in a dark room. I had grown to really like the back-lighting on my previous keyboard (Microsoft X4) and while I was open to a keyboard without it, back-lighting was definitely a factor. Also, even though I'm a fast touch typist at 100 wpm, I play a variety of fps/rts games where my hands aren't alway positioned in the same place, or uncommon keys are used for uncommon actions. Needless to say, in a dark room the back-lighting can be very helpful at times. Previous "gaming" keyboards I've owned have included macro keys and shortcut keys which I found very little use for. Sometimes they would actually just get in the way. However, I've used media keys regularly so that was a factor. As a typist, another big factor for me was key layout and placement. Standard key positioning and key size was an absolute must. I was definitely not going to purchase another keyboard with oddly positioned function keys (Razer BlackWidow) or worse, undersized function keys. I also avoided keyboards with a repositioned backslash key which is common with the L-Shaped Enter key (Steelseries 6Gv2).
I had tried a keyboard with Cherry MX Blue switches, specifically the Razer BlackWidow and absolutely loved the feel of the keys for typing. In fact, if you're looking for a keyboard just purely for typing, Cherry MX Blue is arguably the best option aside from possibly Buckling Spring (IBM Model M) or Topre switches which I haven't had the opportunity to try. Topre switches are basically a hybrid mechanical & rubber dome switch, which provide a nice mechanical feel while being much quieter then Cherry MX switches. However, they're also very expensive.
Getting back to Cherry switches, here's a basic overview of the most common varieties:
Cherry MX Blue (Tactile & Clicky): The one negative (or positive) for many people with Cherry MX Blue switches is the distinct clicking noise they make. For some, the noise alone is a deal breaker as it can be annoying to you or the people around you. On the other hand, the light tactile feel and sound of the switches can actually make you a faster typist and improve accuracy. The original [[ASIN:B003XQE040 XARMOR-U9BL Backlit Keyboard Illuminated Mechanical Keyboard]] uses Blue switches as does the [[ASIN:B003ZJ5B4I Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Mechanical Gaming Keyboard]]
Cherry MX Black (Non-Tactile & Non-Clicky): If you're looking for a keyboard purely for gaming, these switches are commonly considered the best option since they're linear without any tactile feedback until you bottom out. If you want to try these out look for the [[ASIN:B0038X3ZVM Steelseries 6Gv2 Gaming Keyboard]] which you may also be able to test at a local retailer. Note that they still actuate half-way down but there isn't any tactile feedback at the half-way mark.
Cherry MX Brown (Tactile & Non-Clicky): These are the switches used in the U9BL-S. They're considered a good middle-ground between Blue & Black switches. Due to the tactile feel, you can actually type very lightly without the need to "bottom out". You can feel the keys actuate half-way down, thereby eliminating the need to press them all the way down. This does take a little time to get used to but I've been typing on them regularly for almost two weeks now and at first I would always bottom out since I was used to typing on traditional rubber dome keyboards. Adjusting to the feel of the keyboard will actually result in quieter typing when you're not bottoming out.
Other impressions and experiences after 2 weeks with the U9BL-S keyboard:
The spacebar sqeaked occasionally at first but that has actually stopped completely after a few hours of use. I can't make it squeak at all no matter the location and speed that I press the spacebar down. If the problem comes back I'm confident that white lithium grease will resolve it.
The surface of the entire keyboard, wrist rest and keys have a soft matte texture which both looks and feels very smooth and somewhat soft/silky. If you're curious to see what the surface feels like, try out the wide grip that comes with the Logitech G9x mouse which has the exact same surface. I don't know if there are any disadvantages to this or how it'll wear over time. If it's the same quality as the G9x which I've owned for over a year, it won't become shiny/slippery in the heavily worn areas. I have noticed areas on the wrist rest where oils from my skin left an impression but it's not permanent and wipes clean with a damp cloth. Lint and dust particles may stick to the surface a bit but that's nowhere near as frustrating as finger prints and smudges on keyboards with a glossy black surface.
The wrist rest is a really nice addition and I find the angle to be quite comfortable. While being a little flimsy it's better than nothing and easily removable if a padded wrist rest is preferred.
The original U9BL keyboard used a shift key modifier for media and brightness controls. Thankfully they went to a Function key in place of the right Win key for the U9BL-S.
I found the back-lighting state isn't remembered on reboot (both USB and PS2), my Microsoft X4 didn't have this issue. The default state is off so pressing Fn + Numpad8 twice will set it back to the 2nd lighting level.
There are 4 brightness levels for back-lighting, 5 if you count turning it off. I almost always prefer the 2nd level and sometimes the 3rd. The 4th is very bright to the point of being distracting. It's a good range of options though, I don't think anyone would complain that it can't be set to a comfortable level. For anyone that's not into lighting, the keys have a nice gray on black look when the lighting is turned off. The keys won't turn shiny and wear off either.
A keycap puller and 4 replacement orange keycaps are included. They're intended to replace the standard movement keys for gaming (WASD). I put them on once just to see how they looked but probably won't ever use them again. It's a nice option though and the keycap puller has been improved from the original U9BL so it doesn't leave marks on the sides of the keys.
The XArmor website is practically nonexistent, currently consisting of nothing more than an email address for support. For me and I'm sure many others, the brand is one of the biggest causes for concern with this product but I took the risk seeing that the Amazon seller has a solid rating. I concluded that if I received a defective unit that I could at least have it replaced by the reseller.
The backspace and right-shift key were raised a bit higher than the other keys, even after a good amount of typing as I didn't notice it at first. Just something to watch out for if you pickup this keyboard as there may be a few keys that need to be properly seated.
While they adjusted the legends (letters/symbols) a bit for better lighting coverage than the U9BL, there are still some keys that are a bit unevenly lit. Since the light is under the upper-half of the keys this is most noticable with the F1-F6 keys where the media icons are on the lower half of the key. There's also a wide horizontal line on the spacebar which isn't fully lit but I don't really mind, it's actually kind of a cool effect. It's also noticable on the Windows key when the lighting isn't on the highest level since the Windows Logo is in the center of the key.
All things considered, I absolutely love this keyboard. Seeing that there were only two reviews written so far I felt compelled to review it since it definitely deserves more exposure.
Images in this review
