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Cherry KC 200 MX mechanical keyboard review: Workplace warrior
A bulletproof office keyboard with enthusiast-grade switches
Mechanical keyboards are technically superior to the average membrane boards on store shelves or the integrated keyboard in most of our favorite Chromebooks. Mechanical options are built to serve you a lot longer than rubber dome and scissor switches in notebooks, and the longevity of the former isn’t tied to other components, which makes laptops feel dated after a couple of years.
X-Plus VickyBoard Ergo Split-V mechanical keyboard review: Fun in the danger zone
Beauty may be just skin deep
Of all computer parts, keyboards arguably have the least dramatic job despite their critical role in human-machine interaction. Worryingly, then, the layout of keys hasn’t changed since the typewriter days. They still look like boring old tools encased in black plastic, existing just as a means to an end. However, a small community of enthusiasts hasn’t forgotten the IBM Model M’s heyday, and a resurgence of mechanical keyboards has spawned an industry of vibrant designs and experimental layouts.
This weird, E Ink-powered keyboard phone looks amazing and is almost certainly vaporware
The Minimal Phone is has only passed the design stage, but it sure looks dope
Now that Boox has proved the combination of Android and E Ink can result in some niche but incredibly handy tablets, handsets have started popping up. That's right, E Ink smartphones. Hisense already offers a few, with more manufacturers popping up. Of which, there's a hot new mystery phone making waves (per Liliputing). The Minimal Phone already has a website available, offering a few mockups of the device along with a way to join the waitlist. The only trouble is that a Reddit AMA revealed the device has only recently passed its design stage, meaning there's nothing to show yet beyond renders. Still, if the device does manage to come to fruition, it could be the answer for those who want something in between a dumbphone and a smartphone, which certainly sounds appealing.
Mechanical keyboard switches: An in-depth guide
Understanding what they are can make your next purchase easier
Smartphones may have taken over the world of touch screens; however, there's still a massive market for external physical keyboards. The two primary keyboard types we have today are mechanical and membrane, each with unique properties. Many indirectly know of membrane keyboards since most laptops these days use them; however, not everyone will be familiar with mechanical ones. Mechanical keyboards have been around for a long time, but they've only recently resurfaced as a popular option. In this guide, we'll go over what a mechanical keyboard is and why you might consider getting one.
It's all too easy to get caught up in the hype surrounding new phones. Maybe you're excited for Google's Pixel 6 and its Whitechapel chip, or you're dying to get your hands on Samsung's latest stylus-friendly foldable. Regardless of your personal preference, there are all sorts of devices ready to launch over the next few months. But forget all of them — they're old news. We know what you're really looking for: keyboards, 5G, and one of the hottest brands from the 2000s. That's right, folks — another BlackBerry phone is still in the works.
A new BlackBerry phone with 5G and a hardware keyboard is set to launch next year
The brand name has been picked from the vine by yet another licensee
BlackBerry phones experienced a resurgence in 2016 when TCL became the exclusive global hardware manufacturer for its devices. The KeyOne and Key2 were solid options for customers crazy for physical keyboards, and it was satisfying to see the historic brand sticking around. Earlier this year brought some dire news for the future of the brand, as TCL ended the partnership entirely. Now it looks like BlackBerry is sprouting from the ground once more with a new 5G device from a new partner.
If you're still nostalgic for the good times when BlackBerry's physical keyboards were all the rage, the last vestige of this dying form factor is the BlackBerry KEYone, which was announced at MWC early this year. Despite its flaws, Jordan found a lot to like in his review of the device so it could be worth a go at a decent price.A $100 saving on the MSRP of $549.99 would do the trick, and that's exactly what Amazon and Best Buy are currently offering. BestBuy has the unlocked and Verizon models, both in silver, for just $449.99. Amazon has the Verizon (CDMA) version or AT&T/T-Mobile (GSM) model for the same price, both in silver as well.The cheapest we've seen it previously is $449.99 from AT&T. For your money you'd be getting a Nougat-rocking midranger with a Snapdragon 625, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of expandable storage. Worth more than that, though, is the chance to tap away on a BlackBerry keyboard once again.Source: BestBuy, Amazon
All three of Google's document editing tools have just received an update to add a nice feature for physical keyboard users: navigation controls. The latest Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides have the same changelog highlighting this option:
Read update
- BlackBerry has further outlined its vision for the Priv on its blog, along with providing a logo (pictured above). In short, BlackBerry sees now as a good time to release a phone that emphasizes privacy and security.
A rumored BlackBerry device has been making its way around the web for long enough now that it hardly qualifies as a rumor. Since June, we've seen leaked promotional photos and videos. We've seen photos of it in the wild. We've seen hands-on footage. And then yesterday we heard that its name would be not the Venice, as previous expected, but Priv.
We started hearing rumors about BlackBerry's plans to release an Android device with a full QWERTY keyboard in June. We later caught a glimpse of the device in promo photos and videos, then saw real world photos of it, and finally enjoyed a 4-minute hands-on video with the phone.
Hot on the heels of blurry-cam shots of the upcoming LS970, a rumored upcoming Sprint LG device, today we've heard that the carrier has yet another phone from the other Korean electronics giant waiting in the wings - though this one's a little less exciting.
If you love the idea behind ASUS' recently announced MeMO tablet but want a physical keyboard, you'll be delighted to know that the company has just announced two more Android tablets in the Eee Pad line - namely, the Slider and the Transformer.