1 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:14,160 For the ultimate no compromises compact gaming PC, look no further than the 2 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:18,080 Obsidian Series 250D from Corsair. Click now to learn more. All right, so the 3 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:23,359 last time we talked about Thermaltch's TTE Sports Poseidon line. We were 4 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:27,279 marveling at how inexpensive the Poseidon was compared to competing 5 00:00:25,279 --> 00:00:31,199 backlit mechanical keyboards. Now they're back with the Poseidon Z, a 6 00:00:29,599 --> 00:00:35,520 keyboard that is functionally pretty much the same thing, but comes in at $10 7 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:40,879 cheaper. So, what did they do to reduce the price even further, making it one of 8 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:47,559 the least expensive full-size mechanical backlit keyboards on the market? One 9 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:50,399 word, kale. No, not cabbage. Key 10 00:00:47,559 --> 00:00:54,879 switches. Our first Poseidon, this one right here, used Cherry MX blue switches 11 00:00:53,199 --> 00:01:01,359 manufactured in Germany. Well, our Poseidon Z uses blue switches, whoops, 12 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:06,320 that are manufactured in China by a company called Kale that happens to use 13 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:10,479 the same color-based naming scheme and also have a very similar internal design 14 00:01:08,479 --> 00:01:14,640 to their switches because Cher's patent on their switch design has expired. All 15 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:19,200 right, so then what is the difference? Well, functionally, not much. The two 16 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:23,840 keyboards are basically the same thing. It's got a fairly plain jane design with 17 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:27,600 no real alterations to a standard 104 key layout. There's a gaming mode button 18 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:31,520 at the top right that disables the Windows key and some media control keys 19 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:37,280 that can be accessed with a function modifier that you'll find at the bottom 20 00:01:32,960 --> 00:01:40,159 right. It also features uh 6 to 8 key N 21 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:44,000 key rollover, which I understand what they're saying. It's 6 to 8 key rollover 22 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:47,759 depending on which keys you're pressing, but that isn't N key rollover. Hopefully 23 00:01:46,399 --> 00:01:51,439 they can get that fixed on their site soon and hopefully one of these days I'll get through a review of a 24 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:54,640 Thermaltch product without finding errors or typos on their boxer website. 25 00:01:53,360 --> 00:02:00,000 But anyway, there's cable management down here so the cable can come out the right, the left. They've also got nice 26 00:01:57,759 --> 00:02:04,640 high quality rubber grips on the bottom, even on the fold out uh elevator piece 27 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:10,080 that allows you to incline the keyboard. The whole bottom of it is grippy and 28 00:02:06,719 --> 00:02:12,400 thumbs up for that. But let's get into 29 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:16,080 what is the difference. Why is it cheaper? Well, because manufacturing in 30 00:02:14,640 --> 00:02:19,200 China is cheaper for all kinds of reasons. Cheaper labor and lower costs 31 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:22,160 associated with transporting the switches to the factories where the 32 00:02:20,959 --> 00:02:26,720 completed keyboards will actually be assembled, just to name a couple. What 33 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:31,120 you trade though, in my experience, is looser manufacturing tolerances. I've 34 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:36,560 used a couple of Kale Blue switch keyboards so far, and this one is 35 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:40,720 noticeably heavier than any Cherry MX Blue or even other Kale Blue keyboard 36 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:45,200 that I've used before. closer to Cherry MX greens than to Cherry MX Blues just 37 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:47,760 from typing on them. And that's the difference. I mean, look at this. You 38 00:02:46,319 --> 00:02:53,680 can probably even hear the difference. Cherry MX blue, kale 39 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:57,200 blue. Well, trust me, there you can hear the difference even if you can't pick it 40 00:02:54,800 --> 00:03:01,920 up on the mic. One Cherry MX keyboard to another, there will be variance as well, 41 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:05,440 but with a newer, less proven manufacturer, the potential for us to 42 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:10,640 discover significant differences from batch to batch is definitely still 43 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:14,159 there. Okay, then Lionus, is it okay for Thermaltch to do this? Doesn't it feel 44 00:03:12,239 --> 00:03:17,680 deceptive? And you know what? No, I don't think so. Honestly, I'm pretty 45 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:21,200 okay with the way Thermaltch is doing it. They're not calling the switches 46 00:03:19,599 --> 00:03:26,480 something that they're not. They're just calling them TTE Sports certified 47 00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:30,319 mechanical blue switches. All things that they are. And more importantly, 48 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:34,879 they're passing at least some of the savings on to the customer in the form 49 00:03:32,159 --> 00:03:38,959 of a lower price and a longer five-year warranty period. This contrasts with 50 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:42,959 Razer's approach where they also discontinued all their Cherry MX based 51 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:46,560 keyboards, but then charged exactly the same amount for the newer models with 52 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:49,519 Chinese switches. Something that they may feel justified in doing since 53 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:53,120 they're now rating their switches at 60 million keystrokes versus 50 million 54 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:57,760 keystrokes, but I would have liked to see a token discount or a longer 55 00:03:55,120 --> 00:04:02,560 warranty to go along with the longer rating on the switches or something at 56 00:03:59,799 --> 00:04:06,799 least. So, there you have it. This video ended up being more about Kale than 57 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:12,000 about the Poseidon Z. But that really is the main story here. Anyway, thank you 58 00:04:10,159 --> 00:04:15,200 for watching, guys. Like this video if you liked it, dislike it if you disliked 59 00:04:13,599 --> 00:04:19,280 it, share it if you thought it was fantastic and other people need to see 60 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:22,479 it and all the good things and all that. Uh, don't forget there is a support link 61 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:27,919 in the video description. You can buy t-shirts. You can give us a monthly contribution. You can um I'm sure there 62 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:32,720 are other things you can do. Ah, yes, you can change your bookmarks to sites like Amazon to one that includes our 63 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:36,639 affiliate code. So, we get a kickback whenever you buy panty hose or whatever 64 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:40,240 it is that you need. And I think that pretty much wraps it up. Thank you for 65 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:43,040 watching. And as always, don't forget to subscribe to Linus Tech Tips for more 66 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:55,510 unboxings, reviews, and other computer videos.