John brodersen
10/30/2020 11:25 AM
Clarín.com
Technology
Updated 10/30/2020 11:31 AM
It takes
some
getting used to.
Going from a traditional keyboard to a mechanical one is not entirely comfortable: you have to prepare to commit various
types
(
typos
).
But with the passage of time, the
muscle memory
of the fingers corrects the movements and everything begins to flow: we could see that with the
Hyperx Alloy Elite 2
, which is an elite keyboard for those who write a lot, but above all to play video games on
PC, Playstation and Xbox
.
Made with top-quality components, weighing
one and a half kilograms
, a steel resistant to any fall or impact and
high-end
ABS
keys
, the Alloy Elite 2 feels as soon as it is touched: we realize that it is a premium product .
As a bonus, it has one
of the brightest
RGB lighting
on the market.
Hyperx Elite Alloy 2, radiant RGB lighting.
Photo Juan Brodersen
Of course, the price is through the roof: although Kingston explains that the suggested price is
$ 18,999
, on ecommerce sites in Argentina it appears sold out under that figure.
And in ecommerce sites it can reach
34,349 pesos
, an exorbitant price that would never have to be paid when retailers play with the lack of stock.
There are also some criticisms to make:
how did they not include a wrist rest
for that price?
Considering that the previous version did have, it is a
very strong
downgrade
.
Outside of this, these are the characteristics that make the Alloy Elite 2 a precision surgical instrument for writing.
And, of course,
to play.
Mechanical keyboard: learning to type again
It takes time to adapt to the Hyperx Elite Alloy 2. Photo Juan Brodersen
To understand what we are talking about, it is necessary to specify what is called a "
mechanical
"
keyboard
.
Especially since there are a series of concepts associated with these technologies that are not understood without explaining how they work (keycaps, switches, travel distance, etc.).
Traditional keyboards (called "membrane") are generally found in laptops and computers that operate with "input" peripherals, that is, what comes by default.
They do not necessarily have to be of low quality, it
is
just
a different system.
In other words, almost any experience we have had, we have had with traditional keyboards.
Unlike traditional ones, which
work with a flexible membrane
underneath the keys, mechanical keyboards work with
individual keystrokes for each key
: you have to use less force to operate them, they are more precise and also tremendously durable.
On the left, a membrane keyboard;
on the right, a mechanical one.
Photo Hyperx - Apple
On the Alloy Elite 2, for example, it lasts
about 80 million keystrokes against the 10 million
that a good membrane keyboard can offer.
There are reasons of comfort (or even health, by our hands) to choose a mechanical keyboard, but hey, the main selling point of the manufacturers is one that is being abused:
gamer
.
They are ideal for playing video games that are played with a keyboard and mouse, the choice of professionals in fact, because they have some functions that are key when playing.
Precisely for all this they usually have lights (RGB).
Marketing, of course.
100% keyboard with extra functions that are appreciated.
Hyperx Elite Alloy 2. Photo HyperX
But we said that
there are even reasons to take care of our hands
to choose a mechanical keyboard: for those who write a lot, whether for jobs associated with writing or for programmers, mechanical keyboards are ideal because
less force must be applied to actuate the keys
: no need to “hit bottom” with every key.
This is what is called the
“actuation point”
: the exact moment of the key travel at which the command is activated.
It happens that many times
carpal tunnel syndrome
is due to hours and hours of working with keyboards that require us to do more strength than we think.
The mechanics (in particular the
red switches
) have a system that does not ask to press the key all the way to be recognized.
That is,
a much lower actuation point.
With all this clarification done, let's go to the Alloy Elite 2, which is a really impressive keyboard.
Heavy and robust: pure steel and elite keycaps
The front structure is made of steel.
Hyperx Elite Alloy 2
The Alloy Elite 2 feels like what it is, a professional keyboard.
Its materials are very robust:
the front is metal
and the entire keyboard weighs more than one and a half kilograms (1530 grams).
The keycaps, which is what we press (strictly speaking, the keycap and the switch make up what we call a "key"), are made of a plastic called ABS that results in a
totally ergonomic
touch sensation
.
They can be removed by pressing up, in case you want to clean the keyboard.
A keycap like Hyperx brought it to the world.
Photo Juan Brodersen
The front material of the keyboard has a welcome feature, and that is that being matte, it
does not collect fingerprints
.
It always looks very clean.
Red switch, lethal weapon to play
The Alloy Elite 2 is built around what is called a
"Cherry MX Red" switch
.
The switch is, as its name implies, the individual mechanism that each key has to fulfill its function.
What are the red switches?
A type of mechanism that requires less force to be pressed than others (there are blue, brown, transparent, all with
different sensations to the touch
).
Different types of switches with different functions.
Hyperx photo
What happens is that the ones on this keyboard are very good because they
“go up” very fast
, as much as what we need to react with speed in a game.
But this results, beyond the fact that the main function of the red switch is the game, in a
tremendous capacity of adaptation to write at high speeds.
As we said: the first few months with the keyboard were somewhat difficult, a bit like learning to type on a computer again.
But once we get down to the job of "relearning" (that is, going a little slower),
speed, fluidity, and precision come alone.
Like any quality keyboard, it has
anti-ghosting
: we can press many keys at the same time without it getting blocked or “confused”.
This technology is mandatory on any gamer keyboard for playability reasons.
Extras: volume, playback and USB 2.0 port
Volume wheel: we use it a lot.
Hyperx Elite Alloy 2
The keyboard has a series of commands to control playback and a volume wheel that is very welcome.
First, the playback (play, forward, back) and volume control in the form of a wheel.
But there is also a USB port behind the keyboard (it is 2.0, to be taken into account, due to the transfer speeds) to connect a pen drive or a USB Dongle (for example, the mouse if we have wireless: it is an excellent option due to its closeness that remains to improve reception).
The built-in USB port is very convenient - we used it for the mouse dongle.
Hyperx Elite Alloy 2
In addition, it has three command keys to manage the keyboard lighting, and one that overrides the Windows key (this is for gaming: if we are in a game,
touching the Windows key by mistake
can take us out of the game to take us to the desktop ).
RGB lighting: extreme brightness and software control
The RGB bar is above the function keys.
Hyperx Elite Alloy 2
The
Pudding Keycaps
and the plastic that Kingston uses are key in the illumination of the keyboard: it is really impressive, to the point that even in daylight and in bright light you can see the lighting.
It is not something necessary at all, but it is a detail that enthusiasts look for.
If you prefer a lower profile, it is best to leave it with white lighting and low brightness: that is comfortable for writing in low light environments.
Hyperx Alloy Elite 2, in "sober" mode.
Photo Juan Brodersen
It has different modes that are configurable through Hyperx's proprietary software,
Ngenuity
.
As a criticism, it can only be installed through the
Microsoft
store
, not directly.
The must: what about the wrist rest?
The Alloy Elite 2 has some issues to improve, which are quite powerful if we consider the price it has in Argentina: it
is an expensive keyboard
, to begin with, although, within the top-of-the-line range, it is not one of the most expensive - there are some over 50 thousand pesos in our country.
What is not understood is
why Hyperx removed the wrist rest that it did have in the predecessor model
.
For being an elite product (and for the price), Hyperx could have included one, since the height of the keys makes the wrists
stay in the air when we write and this can be tiring
.
The height of the Hyperx Elite Alloy 2 keys. Photo Juan Brodersen
The fairest comparison is with its price abroad: about $ 129.
And
the criticism remains:
in the $ 80-110 range, there are keyboards of similar condition that include wrist rests.
Nor does it come with a keycap remover
, which is something very simple and useful: removing the keys to clean the keyboard takes a lot of force.
The cable is a bit annoying
, since it is very rigid and to accommodate it in the setup it can be a bit uncomfortable.
Anyway, it is not a problem and it is logical because it contains not only the keyboard connection but the extra USB port that connects to the PC.
Conclusions
Moving to a mechanical keyboard is an experience from which it is difficult to return.
After trying it for three months, you may not want to know anything with a membrane one.
If you type a lot or work long hours on a keyboard
(journalists, writers, programmers), it is a worthwhile investment.
In particular, the Hyperx Alloy Elite 2 is a step up in component quality and comfort, but
a step back
in the wrist rest it doesn't include.
Finally, it should also be mentioned that the keyboard is multiplatform: it works on Windows, Mac and even on
PS4 and Xbox One consoles
for first-person video games.
And in the next generation: Xbox Series and PS5.
HyperX definitely makes excellent quality products.
It would be interesting to adjust some details to make the Alloy Elite 2
the ultimate mechanical keyboard.
