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This is my first mechanical keyboard, and also my first "gaming" keyboard (i.e. one with crazy LEDs). I was looking for an ergonomic, mechanical keyboard and so that's why I wanted to try this one.Because this is a DIY keyboard, it's not for the non-technical or the unadventurous. As the listing makes clear, there's quite a bit of work to do to get the keyboard ready. I found it hard to know which way the key switches even went into the base of the keyboard because the manual's diagrams are tiny and unclear, but if you watch the product video, that makes it pretty clear.Once I had all the keys connected, I found four didn't work. I pulled them out and found folded (and, in one case, concertinaed) pins. I carefully straightened the pins out (they're nice, ductile copper, and needle nose pliers fixed even the concertinaed pin) and reinserted each one successfully, so I didn't need to use the two, spare switches.Unfortunately, I couldn't get all the switches to insert fully, especially along the top row, so I was left with some keys sticking up a little, and the LEDs under them glaring out. Fortunately, once the keycaps were on, and after a bit of typing on the keyboard, I found that I could push the switches down into place with a little bit of force--the typing must have repositioned the keyboard base somehow. The result was a nice, clean looking keyboard.The next step was reconfiguring the keyboard with the VIA software. This was a bit tricky, and the video in the listing (visible from a desktop browser, at least) was most helpful. If I carefully followed the steps there I could get VIA working with the 2.4G connection. I wanted to remap the FN+left and right arrow keys to do HOME and END, instead of the relatively useless function of changing the RGB lights. After that, I was much happier with the keyboard.I've been using it for a while now. I have left the default RGB pattern for the keyboard and sides on (changing the hue a little), and I'm using the 2.4G connection. The battery seems to last forever (I like the battery meter accessed from FN+Backspace). I quite like the layout, although it took a bit to get used to. I also quite like the feel. I'm not so keen on the noisiness of a mechanical keyboard (see the video). I also need to get a wrist wrest for this keyboard, it's quite high (I'm not even using the feet) and so my wrists are not at an ideal angle.It's a shame a rest is not included, especially considering the unique shape of the front of the keyboard.However, for the adventurous, this is an excellent introduction to mechanical, gaming keyboards, and a quality product.
