If you’re familiar with mechanical keyboards, you’ll know that they sound very much like a typewriter when typing. Basically, a mechanical keyboard uses physical switches underneath the keys, hence the reason you hear a clicking noise. They’re extremely popular with gamers.

If you’ve been looking to try a mechanical keyboard as a gamer or even just for casual usage, you’ll love this mechanical keyboard by KKmoon. Not only does it have a true typewriter sound and feel to it (due to the suspended keys), but it also features nine different LED backlit modes, eight different pattern zones, plus two programmable profiles.

Here’s a closer look at the KKmoon LED gaming mechanical keyboard.

What Comes in the Box

With this keyboard you simply get the wired mechanical keyboard and a user manual (English and Chinese) inside the box.

Using the Keyboard

As with any wired keyboard, you’ll need an available USB port to plug it into. The wire is pretty long, so you definitely won’t be limited by its length.

As soon as you plug it in and turn on your computer (if it’s not already on), you’ll be greeted by a very cool light show. The LEDs do a little dance before entering the default LED backlight mode: constant illumination.

Now you can type as usual. It’s mostly a standard keyboard, although there isn’t a numpad (aka numeric keyboard). If you use this a lot, like I do, you’ll definitely miss it. Luckily, you can always purchase a separate numpad to attach to your computer if you really do want/need it.

The FN key is probably the most important key on this keyboard. Not only does it allow you to access the different LED modes, which we’ll get into below, but it’s also used to access the different media navigation options on each function key.

You’ll find the media actions on the functions keys:

  • File ManagerSearchCalculatorMusic/Media PlayerPrevious/BackForward/SkipPlay/PauseStopMuteVolume DownVolume UpLock Keyboard

It’s All About the LEDs

With the nine LED backlit modes, you can choose the one that best suits your preference. Maybe you want the LED to do “the wave,” you only want keys to illuminate as you press them, or you want them to slowly fade in and out. They can do all of that and more. By pressing the FN key + INS, you can cycle through the nine modes as needed and stop on the one you like the best.

The eight LED pattern zones are perfect for gaming since they only light up specific keys that are often used when playing certain games. You can access them by pressing the FN key + the numbers 1-8. For example, in the first pattern zone (FN + 1), only the Esc, W, A, S, D, and arrow keys are illuminated. Each FN + number combination has a different set of illuminated keys.

The programmable profiles come in handy if you’re playing a game that uses other keys or if you like to customize the keys used for a game. They allow you to save a custom set of illuminated keys. You can access these profiles by pressing FN + 9 or FN + 0.

Another great thing about the LEDs is that you can change their brightness level by press the “FN + arrow up/arrow down” keys. There are only two levels of brightness, though: high and low. You can also turn the LEDs off by pressing the “FN + down arrow” a third time (after low setting). So you’re not stuck with them on all the time if you want them off during the daytime or something.

Final Thoughts

After using this mechanical keyboard daily for a couple weeks now, I must say I’ve really been enjoying it. I’m not much of a PC gamer, but I do a lot of work late at night and in a low-lit area, so the illuminated keys really come in handy.

I’ve thoroughly tested this keyboard on my husband’s Windows desktop and my own Ubuntu desktop; it has worked perfectly on both. Actually I’m actually really surprised by how compatible this is with Ubuntu.

I had another gaming computer that I was using (because I wanted the LED keys) and I had to put a command into Terminal any time I restarted just to get the LEDs to work. Plus, only half of the keys would work with the scroll lock on (the key used to turn the LED on/off), and it was very frustrating.

This keyboard works effortlessly and without the need for any Terminal commands or tweaking – even all of the LED modes and media keys work properly. This is just something you can’t find with every keyboard or even computer accessory, for that matter. So thankfully, compatibility isn’t an issue when it comes to this keyboard.

Charnita has been a Freelance Writer & Professional Blogger since 2008. As an early adopter she loves trying out new apps and services. As a Windows, Mac, Linux and iOS user, she has a great love for bleeding edge technology. You can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn.

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