Lighting
The colour of the backlight provided in the design of the keyboard.
In general, the
backlight performs two functions: practical (makes the keys more visible in low light) and aesthetic (gives the keyboard a beautiful appearance). However, it cannot be said that
non-backlit keyboards will be unusable in the dark, the light from the monitor will still illuminate the buttons. The simplest version of the backlight is one-colour. In this case, specific colours can be different: for example,
white is well suited for general-purpose keyboards (work or home), but other shades can be found in gaming or design models, for example,
red,
green,
blue,
purple or
orange. If two or three colours are indicated for the keyboard, this may mean either the ability to switch between these colours, or that this model comes in several versions that differ in the shade of the backlight; these nuances should be clarified separately.
The most advanced options are
multi-colour and
RGB backlighting. Multi-colour systems are called systems in which more than three colour options are provided, sometimes with intermediate shades. And RGB-backlight all
...ows you to choose almost any shade at the request of the user; in addition, the possibility of synchronization (see "Illumination with effects") is found mainly in such systems, although single-colour keyboards can also be equipped with other effects.Braided cable
The presence of a braid in the design of a regular keyboard cable.
Braided wire is more durable and reliable than unbraided cable: it is more difficult to damage, it resists sharp bends better. On the other hand, this feature affects the overall cost of the keyboard, and the mentioned advantages do not affect the main functionality of the model. So choosing
a keyboard with a braid makes sense only if you are worried about the reliability of the wire, or if you plan to use it in adverse conditions, with frequent squeezing and bending.
Waterproof
Protecting the keyboard from spilling liquid on it. Most
waterproof keyboards do not have a full-fledged sealed case and are designed to remain operational in the event of accidental contact with a relatively small amount of liquid (up to 200 mL) — for example, in the classic case of spilling coffee on the keyboard.
Metal structure
Keyboards whose body or certain elements are made of metal. This can be either the entire body or its parts - for example, a metal plate as a base for keys. Note that when it comes to the metal construction of the keyboard, the latter option is more common.
Compared to plastic—the most common keyboard case material—metal is much stronger, more durable, and more durable. It has a significant weight, but in this case it can also be written down as advantages — massiveness contributes to stability and reduces the likelihood that the keyboard will "fidget" under the fingers. In addition,
metal cases look stylish and solid. On the other hand, they are noticeably more expensive than plastic ones, and the advantages mentioned are not so much practical as psychological. Therefore, this feature is found mainly in advanced
gaming models (see "By Direction"), for which a solid appearance is no less important than functionality.
