Comparison Genius Scorpion K10 vs A4Tech KV-300H

The length of the cable that the keyboard is equipped with for wired connection (see "Connection type").

When choosing this parameter, you should first of all take into account the distance from the device to the connection port: a cable that is too short may simply not reach the connector, and a cable that is too long may get confused at hand and create inconvenience. As for specific values, the reference length is 1.8 m. However, there are cables both shorter and longer.

— Game. Keyboards designed for use in computer games. Outwardly, they are distinguished by a characteristic design, often quite original and aggressive; some key keys, such as WASD, may be highlighted in colour. In addition, the design may provide various special equipment — additional programmable keys, headphone and microphone jacks, a screen with the ability to display in-game chat, etc. Some of these models are created for specific popular games. Keypads are a separate type of gaming keyboards (see "Format").

— Ergonomic. Ergonomic keyboards are distinguished by a specific layout aimed at making long-term work on them as comfortable as possible. The keys of such keyboards may not be located straight, but in an arc, have a rhombic shape, the alphabetic part of the keyboard itself can be divided into two parts located at an angle to each other, etc. Such design solutions provide a more natural position of the hands during work, which helps to reduce fatigue.

— For tablets. Keyboards specially designed for use with Tablet PCs. They can have special mounts and act as a docking station — with such a keyboard, the tablet practically turns into a netbook, up to the ability to fold the entire structure in the manner of a regular laptop (for ease of transportation and protection of the display from damage). Some models are ini...tially optimized for certain tablets. Because the size of modern tablets rarely exceeds 10", then the keyboards for them are made compact (see "Format").

— Keyboard case. Models that combine the functions of a protective case and a keyboard for entering texts or commands in one bottle. As a rule, keyboard cases are produced for certain tablet models, thereby expanding the functionality of tablet computers. When closed, such accessories tightly fit the tablet body and protect it from damage during transportation. According to the connection methods, keyboard cases can use a Bluetooth connection, proprietary connectors or USB.

— For TV. Keyboards designed for use with Smart TVs. These TVs can connect to the Internet and use various network services, and many of them allow you to install additional applications. Both may require a full keyboard — for example, with its help it is convenient to enter text in Skype, search for content by name, or play some games. Common features of "TV" keyboards are, firstly, a compact format (see below), secondly, wireless connection (in most cases; see "Type of connection"), thirdly, the presence of additional buttons and other controls to operate individual TV functions. When choosing such a model, it is worth clarifying its compatibility with a particular TV.

— Flexible. Keyboards made of elastic materials and having a flexible body — most often in the form of a rubber "mat" with protrusion keys. Such models are extremely easy to transport: a flexible design makes it easy to squeeze the keyboard between other things, bend it, or even roll it up. Another advantage is that the “board” can be easily made moisture resistant (although this is not necessary in this case). At the same time, in terms of the “response” of the keys, a flexible keyboard can differ markedly from more traditional ones, and it may take some getting used to working on it. And in terms of format (see below), such models are most often compact.

The distance that the key travels when pressed — from the initial position to touching the contacts and sending the "command". Indicated as high or low. Keyboards with low key travel(3 mm or less) are considered to be more comfortable for fast input (such as fast typing). However, the best option largely depends on the habits and preferences of a particular user.

— Classic type. Keyboard with keys of the usual square and rectangular shape, with a small distance between them. Such keys usually expand downwards so that the gaps between them are as small as possible.

— Island type. Also known as "soaring" or chiclet. This is a keyboard in which each key is installed in a separate hole at a small distance from the others. Island models are more convenient than classical ones in that they are less likely to accidentally press the adjacent key. On the other hand, they are more difficult to clean: debris that has clogged into the gap between the key and the “board” itself is quite difficult to clean out, while contamination can create problems in operation.

On the practical side, the choice of a particular type of keys depends primarily on the personal preferences of the user.

— Membrane. The name of this type is due to the fact that the contacts under each key are made in the form of two membranes — conductive disks on a flexible film. The return of the keys to their original position after pressing is ensured by the elasticity of the membranes. This design is characterized by low cost and low noise level; in addition, such keyboards are quite resistant to liquid spills (although this is still not recommended). Of the shortcomings, it is worth noting the relatively low durability — 3-4 times lower than that of mechanical ones. In addition, as the keys of this type wear out, the force required to press decreases, they begin to “fall through” under the fingers (“fatigue effect”).

— Mechanical. In this design, springs are used to return the key to its original position after being pressed. Mechanical keyboards are considered more advanced than membrane keyboards: they are more reliable and durable, almost do not lose properties as they wear out, and give a clear tactile feedback. The overall noise level is often higher than that of membrane ones, however, many attribute a characteristic click with each press to the advantages of such models; in addition, completely silent mechanical switches are also available. But of the unequivocal disadvantages, one can name the high cost and sensitivity to spilling liquid (although a mechanical keyboard can also be made waterproof)....r>
— Optical-mechanical. A variation of the mechanical keyboards described above, in which each key is equipped not with a traditional pair of contacts, but with an optical switch in the form of a sensor that receives an infrared beam; when you press the key, this beam is blocked, which serves as a signal for operation. One of the key advantages of such switches is a very high response speed (fractions of a millisecond); this moment is not critical for domestic use, but it can be fundamental for gamers-enthusiasts and e-sportsmen. In addition, the absence of electrical contacts that are prone to wear and oxidize has a positive effect on durability. And although initially the “optics” are more complicated than classic systems with contacts, however, in gaming keyboards, optical-mechanical switches are often even cheaper than pure “mechanics”. And the fact that this option is relatively rare is primarily due to the fact that optical technology appeared not so long ago and is only gaining popularity.

— Membrane + mechanical. A layout in which most of the keys have a membrane design, and some, the most "responsible" ones, are mechanical. About the features of both options, see above, and a similar combination of them is found mainly in gaming keyboards. In this case, the "mechanics" are usually used on the traditional combination of WASD plus on the surrounding keys Q, E, R and F.

— Mechanical-membrane. A hybrid design that combines elements of mechanical and membrane keyboards (see above for more on both). In this case, these features are combined in each individual key. Usually, under each button in such keyboards there is a membrane, however, inside this membrane is not just a pair of contacts, but a mechanical spring system. Thus, this design combines the advantages of both options. At the same time, mechanical-membrane systems are very expensive. Therefore, their main scope is high-end gaming keyboards, and even among such devices this option is quite rare.

— Scissor. A slightly modified version of membrane keyboards (see the relevant paragraph), in which the flexible membrane on each key is supplemented by a two-piece mechanism fastened together in the form of scissors. One of the main features of scissor keyboards is the low key travel (noticeably lower than that of membrane keyboards). Also, this design is less demanding on accuracy, it allows you to achieve a clear pressing regardless of where the finger hit — in the centre or on the edge of the key. The service life of the "scissors" is large; they are more difficult to clean, however, they become dirty much more slowly than "membranes". Among the disadvantages of this option, a slightly increased noise level during operation can be noted — due to the clicking of scissor mechanisms.

The presence on the keyboard of the Fn key(short for function). It belongs to modifiers, similar to Shift or Ctrl: by itself it does not perform any action, but when pressed simultaneously with another key, it changes its original purpose. Fn is often found in compact keyboards (see "Format"), but can also be set in full-sized ones. The features it provides include quickly changing the screen brightness or sound volume directly from the keyboard, using the centre keys as a Numpad, launching individual applications, and so on. Specific features of using the Fn key depend on the keyboard model.

The colour of the Cyrillic letters printed on the keyboard.

This colour is usually chosen so that the letters are clearly visible. This point does not affect the functionality of the keyboard, and the choice in this case depends mainly on personal preferences. However, there is also a practical point: for inexperienced users who have not mastered touch typing, it is desirable that the letters stand out as much as possible against the background of the keys.

Transparent letters are a separate case — they are used in keyboards equipped with a backlight (see below), due to which such characters, when the backlight is on, are visible even in the dark.

Volume control methodprovided in the keyboard (if such a possibility is provided at all).

— Through Fn. Adjustment using the Fn key (see above): increasing and decreasing the volume is carried out by simultaneously pressing Fn and one of the main keys of the keyboard (usually from the F1 — F12 row), The main advantage of this control is that it allows you not to overload the keyboard with additional controls — this, in turn, has a positive effect on the dimensions and cost. The disadvantage is the need to simultaneously press two keys, which is not always convenient.

— Additional keys. Control with additional keys specially designed for working with volume. A very convenient and practical option: additional keys are usually clearly labeled, while they take up less space and are cheaper than a wheel or a touch slider (see below).

— Wheel. Control by means of a mechanical wheel, the rotation of which up and down or left and right provides a change in volume. A fairly user-friendly option — visual, intuitive and accessible even blindly. At the same time, the wheel can take up quite a lot of space, and it significantly affects the cost of the keyboard.

— Touch slider. Management using a touch surface, the movement of a finger in one direction or another. The sensor takes up minimal space, looks neat...and generally fits well with the overall design of the keyboard, but it is not cheap. Therefore, this option is extremely rare, mainly in high-end gaming or multimedia keyboards.

The presence in the keyboard of a special game mode.

This function is found exclusively in models of the corresponding specialization (see "Intended use"). Enabling Game Mode disables some of the keys and keyboard shortcuts used by the system, such as the Windows Start menu button and the context menu button. Thanks to this, you do not have to worry that an accidental key press will call a system function and interrupt the game.

In many models, you can customize a specific set of keys that are deactivated in the game mode.