Wishmas List 2019

It's that time of year again, it's cold (for some of us)... and with the time change it's darker sooner, so you know it's holiday time! Now that we've cleaned out the left overs from Thanks Given Day, it's time to buckle down and compile our Wishmas List for 2019! This isn't a ranked list.

Philips Momentum Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Although its missing the keyboard shortcuts for certain secondary key functions (i.e. calculator)... the Philips Momentum (SPK8614) is both durable, responsive, and ready for gaming. The dual volume/ambiglow RGB light switch seen below definitely comes in handy to either swap between the 19 preset effects or control your volume. Just hold the the knob down for a few seconds and it will switch modes.



You can between effects... but you're limited to the 19 presets (there is no application to customize the colors). If you want something a bit more customizable... I have another item on the Wishmas List (though it costs a little more). I don't personally need to look down at the keys, but for those new to PC gaming with keyboard and mouse... the directional keys are lit up in pink (i.e. WASD & Up/Down/Right/Left keys).

If that's not your speed, you can play tons of games on PC via a standard 1st party game controller. You'd be surprised how often i'm told that someone can't play on PC because they can't do Keyboard and Mouse. I play on PC primarily with an Xbox controller so... if you didn't know, now you do.

Anyway, playing FPS games with this keyboard has been a sweet experience... along with top down shooters and games like Pacman 256 + Battery Jam.

Overall, I've enjoyed this keyboard while gaming and everything else. It retails for $39.99 which can work for a budget if you're looking for a good keyboard for your new rig that you paid a child's fortune on.

Check out the full review here:
https://sdgtent.sdgtstudio.com/2019/09/philips-precision-keyboard-mouse.html

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Velocilinx: Artemis Pro Wired Gaming Mouse

I love this mouse! You get the metallic base and siding which make it look even more awesome, but... it doesn't just look good. It's easily the best mice I've ever used, it flows well with and without a mouse pad.

This mouse works great for gaming, and you can switch up the DPI (I was able to stop unwanted scrolling in games like SpellForce 3 by lowering the DPI) + the lighting of the mouse can be customized to your liking via the app (coordination!).

The Velocilinx: Artemis Pro Wired Gaming Mouse fits my hand nicely, the buttons are responsive and it doesn't feel flimsy or like it would crack if it hits the floor... you can use this thing as a paperweight (sooo... i'd probably check the floor first to make sure it's good).

I can't confirm or deny if this is really stuck in the wall, but the metallic part certainly can do that.

I've reviewed the mouse from both the Velocilinx Brennus and Boudica collections, and they're both on the Wishmas List because they're the exact same mouse (just different colors).

The mouse is $52.99, but the quality makes it worthwhile.

Check out the full review and why I gave it a 5 out of 5 cool points:
https://sdgtent.sdgtstudio.com/2019/10/velocilinx-brennus-premium-pc-gaming.html

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Velocilinx: Boudica Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

The Boudica Mechanical Gaming Keyboard makes the list because of its look, feel, and customizable options. Sure you have preset options for this keyboard with the push of one button... but you can also customize via the app to get really specific colors like those you see above (representing SDGT)!

Do you see the color strip just below the keys? That's something that also stood out to me... it gives an extra bit of eye catching cool for those of you using your gaming skills to pay the bills in an arena. Based on your team colors... all you have to do is open up the app and customize to your hearts content.

Oh yeah, if you prefer palm wrests for your keyboards... you're in luck (one's included). You have to screw it on in order to get it to fit the right way, but... that's a plus for those of you who like to game/work with your keyboard in your lap.

This image should give you a better idea of the color of this keyboard... which isn't the typical (same old). You get a silver and white combination, which also go well with the headphones seen in the full review at the link below. One thing they did miss out on is the opportunity to add more secondary buttons for shortcuts, that would've been nice for productivity but... other than that... this is a useful keyboard for both work and play (more so for gaming but its a keyboard so you can make it work). By the way FN + F3 opens the calculator!

This keyboard retails for $109.99, which is pricier than the standard keyboard and some of the others... but I've seen various prices of this keyboard if it truly tickles your fancy.

Velocilinx: Boudica Mechanical Gaming Keyboard... Reviewed! 

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Puro Sound Labs: PuroGamer Headphones + PuroQuiet Headphones

These headphones are just a pure win. They're a quality build (especially for kids), have deceptively good sound... but they also don't require you to crank them up for an enjoyable listening experience (the quality sound surprised me but my daughter seems to appreciate it them also).

The quality audio allows for her to better identify sounds as she continues to learn about new things.

These make the Wishmas list for 2019 because... sound induced hearing loss is a real thing and as a dad I don't want my little girl affected in a negative way for simply wanting to use some headphones. I'm not ragging on other brands (I love headphones), but the guess work is taken out with these headphones so that kids, adults and the teens in between have audio at safe decibels.

The PuroGamer Headphones are playable on PC, console, and mobile... for those of you seeking gaming headphones for your kids. The PuroQuiet Headphones are playable on whatever pairs with bluetooth. At this time the PuroGamer Headphones are available for $49.99 and the PuroQuiet Headphones are $69.99 which are an absolute steal.

Check out the full reviews at the links below:

PuroGamer Headphones - https://sdgtent.sdgtstudio.com/2019/11/puro-sound-labs-purogamer-headphones.html

PuroQuiet Headphones - https://sdgtent.sdgtstudio.com/2019/03/puro-sound-labs-sweet-puroquiet.html

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Don't have a cow... but this year we're adding the Nintendo Switch to the Wishmas List, because there are plenty of games available for those looking to game on the go. It has it's exclusives, but it's also a good all around secondary gaming option... especially for those of you who travel all the time. I know professionals that travel more than I'd be willing to... but traveling doesn't have to be boring and some of you are on planes, trains, and automobiles for hours on end.

No need to give up on gaming all together because... you don't have the time to game on a home console or PC. Adapt to the situation and get a Nintendo Switch if your phone doesn't cut it.

You have the option between the standard $299 and the $199.96 lite version. We collectively agree that the $299 version is better for those who want to play all games... including those that require motion controls + you can play on TV, but if you don't give a crap about that... go with the lite.

The lite version gives you the option of gaming in the standard way + you save $100 to basically get a few games for your new purchase. If you want to play Joycon related games... you will have to buy them separately.

Nintendo Switch Bundles are available too... so get the hook up!

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External Storage (no specific brand)

One thing we have to add to this year's Wishmas List is external storage. We don't have one brand to recommend over another, but for those of you that game on PC... or just require a lot of storage to do what you need/enjoy, it doesn't hurt to keep files (pics, video, etc) somewhere that doesn't require it to use up PC storage.

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NewAir Beverage Refrigerator
A beverage fridge is a bit of a splurge... but it's one for those things that really comes in handy, no running in and out of the office to grab beverages when you have a place to keep them cool. This is something that everyone can appreciate, even if its not a practical buy for everyone. Great for an office, game room, movie room, pool area, bar, etc. I love it and this particular one is the NewAir Beverage Refrigerator, it holds 90 cans (NINETY CANS!). It retails for $192.80... which is on the low end for these types of refrigerators.

There are definitely other options, including standard mini fridges for less... but this has worked well thus far.

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1More Stylish True Wireless In-Ear Headphones

The 1More Stylish True Wireless In-Ear Headphones are comfortable, sound great, and are competitively priced. Comfort/Tolerance level and sound quality top the list when it comes to headphones... for me, and these headphones get the job done well.

I've been able to wear these headphones and completely forget that they're in my ears (once the right sized ear tips are on). There are four colors to choose from and they include a cradle so that you can charge on the go.

 

They retail for $99.99 but you may be able to find them on sale (I've seen some). I've enjoyed music, movies, games + ASMR with these things (I go to sleep with them on at times). I haven't reviewed a lot of wireless headphones, but when it comes to bluetooth headphones in general... these have earned my respect.

By the way... these headphones were tuned by Grammy winning sound engineer, Luca Bignardi. 

Check out the full review here: https://sdgtent.sdgtstudio.com/2019/07/1more-stylish-true-wireless-in-ear.html

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Last but not least, I can't forget about the GAMES!

If you're getting your hands on a new PC or even a console this holiday season, don't forget about the games. Good games don't have to be expensive, and neither does useful software. Check out the various digital bundles available here (a percentage of your purchase goes to charity) + Check out some of our recent game reviews! 

By the way... check out The Video Game Awards 2019 

(Live December 12, 2019) 5:30PM Pacific & 8:30PM Eastern

Brought to you by the... Baby Fu Clothing Co!

Velocilinx: Brennus Premium PC Gaming Peripheral Line Up... Reviewed!

It's safe to say that I was surprised when this package arrived because Velocilinx... dropped the entire Brennus Line Up on us for review and the products left me quite impressed. Let's go ahead and dive into the specifics after an unboxing... shall we?

The inspiration behind the black and gunmetal in The Brennus Collection actually derived from the historical legend of the Gallic King Brennus. Brennus was a warrior that invaded and defeated the Romans, so I thought that I'd tuck this bit of information in the review to give you an idea of where the name came from. Now apply that to this collection... in terms of gaming, and... it fits.

The Velocilinx: Brennus - Artemis Pro Wired Gaming Mouse

First up in the Brennus Line Up... is the Velocilinx Artemis Pro Gaming Mouse. I've utilized some pretty cool mice before, but this tops the list of cool thus far (I love using this thing).

I like the way this mouse looks with the metal base and siding, not to mention how it also feels. It feels great, it doesn't just look the part... I really like how this mouse feels for both standard office work and especially gaming. I've been able to use the gaming mouse on a desktop with & without a mouse pad.

The top of the mouse has a rubber textured slip + sweat-resistant coating (in matte black)... which allows for some good dexterity. As you know... dexterity goes a long way when it comes to precision gaming.

The sides are cool (literally)... thanks to the metal and... the mouse slides smoothly with the wide feet. On top, you get the usual right and left mouse buttons, scroll wheel, and a DPI button. On the left side of the mouse, you get forward and back buttons... which come in handy as long as you aren't hitting them by mistake (while writing an email or something in a browser). Also, I can't overlook the sturdy 1.5M braided fiber cable... because you need a little something extra for those potential snags.

You get a high-precision optical engine in the Velocilinx: Brennus - Artemis Pro Gaming Mouse along with a frame rate up to 3600 fps, and an A3325 chipset.

You may be wondering what DPI means. DPI is short for "Dots Per Inch", and according to Battle.net... it's a measurement of mouse sensitivity. If the DPI of the mouse is high the further the cursor will go... which a lower DPI does the opposite. Duh of the day: You'll have to move the mouse itself further in order to get the cursor to move further with a lower DPI.

The color on the mouse wheel changes based on the selected DPI... so that you know exactly what you're working with. This mouse has six DPI options.

Red 1000 DPI - Blue 2000 DPI - Green 3000 DPI - Aqua 5000 DPI - Neon Green 7000 DPI - Purple 10,000 DPI... I've gotten the most use out of the 3000 DPI setting... because it flows well without zipping too fast around the screen. If I need the speed it'll be there.

Other features include your ability to customize the buttons via the VX Mouse app... which includes being able to switch up the mouse lighting, and even a Macro Editor.

You get multiple options with the RGB lighting. Of course, you get the DPI Setting's colors... but you also get the lighting section in the app to decide the effects like LED OFF, Steady, Breathing, Colorful Breathing, and Neon.

In those individual settings, you can select from the number of seconds you want the colors to remain before they change or options like in Steady, where you decide the brightness... and the color you want from the color picker. So you get plenty of color options based on if and when you want to switch things up. Based on the design... and how bright you set the color to be, you will also see it shine more or less on your hand and desk.

This is the Colorful Breathing setting.

You also get the Mouse Parameters that you can customize... such as Mouse Sensitivity (1 - 20), Scrolling Speed (1 - 10)... including the ability to scroll one page, and Double-Click Speed (900 - 200).

The USB Polling Rate(Hz) ranges from 125Hz to 1000Hz... so based on the way you want this mouse to work for you, there are plenty of options for gaming... and otherwise.

Last but not least in the app... you get the Macro Editor seen here. Macros allow you to do things like... create rapid-fire buttons and other key shortcuts after setting them up in the lists.

Price wise... you can get this pro wired gaming mouse for $52.99. After using this peripheral... the price is sweet because it's not just a gaming mouse (in name)... it actually helped me step things up by being a really dope mouse (mainly dexterity + the smoothness of movement). It doesn't give you the skills to game (clearly)... but it helps you wield what you have... better! Easily a 5 out of 5!

Comfort 5

Usability 5

Features 5

Price 5

5 out of 5 Cool Points

The Velocilinx: Brennus - Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Second up is the Velocilinix: Brennus - Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard... and I think I unconsciously placed this product next because it's the second mechanical keyboard I've reviewed.

I immediately noticed the weight of this keyboard, it's nothing to be messed with, and it just feels like quality. Even if it's hard to be... quiet with a mechanical keyboard, I've thoroughly enjoyed using them thus far. I appreciate the aluminum finish as the base below the keys... because it reflects the led light show well, and it just looks clean.

Comfort-wise... the Velocilinx: Brennus - Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard works and gets the job done, can't say it really has anything that jumps out to me making it more or less comfortable than the other mechanical keyboard I've used... but it does differ in the feature department.

A thing that jumped out to me are all the dual-purpose keys + other features. All you need to use is your trusty FN key in combination with these keys (some seen below)... in order to access the secondary function of that key and boost your usability.

Some of the secondary key functions include:

Calculator (for the business professionals, students, and bill payers in the room)

Home (accessible through your designated web browser)

Media Keys: Play, Stop, Back, Forward

Volume Up, Volume Down

"This PC" Folder Key

Power Button... and more!

Now the "more" is really cool... because you can use your FN key to access the other keys in order to light up the key layouts of popular games that are compatible with keyboard. Like CF, COD, LoL, Race (which is short for racing games)... and other customizable options.

Accessing other colors can be done with a combination of keys like FN + M1 or M2, and if you still get confused by all that... no problem, just open the VX Keyboard App.

(Scroll up to see the Macro Editor UI + the available color picker option)

In the App you get 3 different profiles, a Macro Editor, and the Lighting options for you to select for your profile (not to mention the speed for the PRISM Lighting technology).

These different lighting options include:

Rainbow Row

Slow Wave

Shadow Color

Sine_wave

Solid COLORS

Rainbow Breathing

Fading Color Morph

Rainbow Row Splash (which is very cool)

Lighting Dance

Color Slide

Starburst Splash

Twinkling Stars

Frozen Stars

LED OFF

Game Mode... which are the key lighting options mentioned above.

You also get WIN key lockout for gaming and... fast uploading Flash memory EEPROM (short for electrically erasable programmable read-only memory).

According to PC MAG's encyclopedia, the EEPROM is a rewritable storage chip that holds content without the need for power. You may ask yourself why you'd need cutting-edge fast uploading Flash memory in a keyboard... but the first thing that comes to mind is the Macro & Key Lists. This would be most beneficial (in my opinion) for those of you in and out of eSports tournaments. You don't have the time... and you probably don't have the patience to continue setting the same things up again, so having your settings ready is a plus.

I used the keyboard to play... Slime Rancher, and got reactions that were quicker on the draw than ordinary membrane keyboards. It didn't make me run faster or anything like that... but it's quicker on the draw, which may not seem like a big deal... unless you're more of a core gamer and eAthlete. I really noticed that reaction time while playing Battery Jam... even if I don't really like playing that particular game with Keyboard & Mouse. My dodging, smashing, and other moves happened as soon as the keys were hit (or the delay was so small I didn't detect it or have to adapt to it).

Price-wise... the keyboard comes in at $109.99, which fits when comparing it to the price of some other mechanical keyboards... but I did find more secondary key options on this keyboard than others I've seen (which some are $40 or more than the Brennus). So I can't really argue with the price... although it would increase the impulsiveness to buy at $99.99, which isn't far off.

Overall, the Velocilinx: Brennus Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is a nice reactive keyboard... with a solid price. I would recommend this for gamers, students, and business professionals based on the secondary keys. One thing I would like to see in an update... are exclusive volume controls on this keyboard so that you don't have to utilize secondary buttons (those are more primary for me), other than that it gets the job done without the need to set up shortcuts on your own. I definitely salute the on-board options to switch up the PRISM Lighting patterns... and especially the VX Keyboard app that allows you to customize things as well if you just aren't getting the hang of what combination of keys do what... to get the desired effect.

Comfort 5

Usability 5

Features 5

Price 4

4.75 out of 5 Cool Points

The Velocilinx: Brennus - 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset

Last but not least... is the Velocilinx: Brennus 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset.

Looks can be deceiving... and I say that to say I thought these headphones were a lot heavier than they appear. They're quite light, the memory foam earpads are soft and fit around my ears nicely... versus pressing against them, I like that.

The headphones have a metal headband with a leather-like band beneath it that rests on your head housing wire ropes used with the inner tension controls (this helps them fit without the need to adjust). They remained comfy around my ears even after an hour or so of gameplay, and some of you know how sensitive my ears can be... so that's a good thing. One of the things that tops my list when shopping for headphones is... comfort, which rivals sound quality for me... because if I can't wear them it doesn't matter how good they sound. On that note... these headphones check out.

Anyway, the Brennus gaming headset comes in silver & black, just like the mechanical gaming keyboard and mouse from the same collection. It has a clean look and has pretty good sound for the price (which I will get to shortly), but one thing that's different with the headphones compared to the other products... is the VX Audio app.



It's expected to be different because you're dealing with audio instead of buttons on a keyboard and mouse, but I'm talking about the LED Light options (there aren't any). You don't have access to LED lighting controls other than the on & off switch found on the headset's controls. The app doesn't let you customize anything in that regard... and based on my experience with the other products in the Brennus lineup, I double-checked just to make sure. That was a little disappointing, but (I'm totally guessing) that decision was probably made for the sake of the price... while trying to provide quality 

sound in a nice package. It would've been worth paying a little more to customize the lighting.

The Velocilinx Brennus 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset gives you:

20Hz-20KHz (the standard range of human hearing)

50mm neodymium drivers

21 Impedance

-42DB+3DB sensitive omnidirectional mic

The headset has 7.1 virtual surround sound vs true 7.1 surround sound.

Virtual surround sound utilizes the processing techniques to simulate surround sound versus multiple speakers in the headphones (i.e. Center/Side/Front/Rear/Subwoofer). The techniques vary by company... so you may get a different experience from one to the next.

The Velocilinx Gaming Headset... does "virtual" surround sound good. I can tell the difference... but they made virtual surround sound a solid experience with this headset. Going back to the software... you're able to set up individual profiles to tweak your sound for individual games and one thing I did notice is the difference between not having EQ & 3D on vs off (so hit those buttons because it enhances the audio for sure).

Outside of the audio, there were no complaints while live streaming gameplay using the mic.

Price-wise... I can't argue with the price, this is a nice headset and a true 7.1 would run a lot more than $69.99 (I was surprised at the price of other headphones with 71. virtual). There are other headphone options out there with virtual surround that cost more... based on the name brand and their proprietary audio software (some aren't even brands that I'm aware of). The bass and mids with this headset sounded the best for me, and I enjoyed using the headset while playing COD:MW 2019.

Overall, I got a surround sound-like experience that I knew was virtual surround... and was fine with. I might not care for the lack of LED lighting options for the headset (I just think that would've been a nice addition to maintain the theme of the line up), but overall... its a nice headset that sounds good for the price.

Comfort 4

Sound 4

Features 3

Price 5

4 out of 5 Cool Points

Overall, I think this is a solid PC Gaming Line Up... that I feel comfortable giving two thumbs up.

Pricewise, I've already spoken about the individual prices of each product... but I think they should consider selling the lineup also as a bundle that boosts the incentive for gamers to purchase the entire lineup.  If you have a Brennus PC Gaming Bundle for $199.99... that would work. I know it isn't exactly music to a company's ears to take a $30 cut, but... the bundle would be great for gamers and Velocilinx. 

Support us below!

Philips Momentum Keyboard + Mouse... Reviewed!

Philips introduces two new precision computer peripherals to the PC gaming world... and sent them our way for the purpose of reviewing them for you. So let's go ahead and jump in... starting with the unboxing!

The packaging is standard for keyboard and mouse products at this price point, but regardless of no extra oohs and ahhs... the packages are informative and kept the tech safe during shipment.

Here's a better look at the side of the mouse. This mouse dwarfs my primary mouse a bit, but what I like about this one is that my hand fits well. If I want to rest my palm on my mouse pad... I still have that option, but this is big enough for a nice full-handed grab.

The texture on the sides of the mouse works well... and I appreciate it not being that thick rubber-like material that some mice have that breaks down over time. I've had a few of those... along with a gamepad or two... and once they break down... they become an unusable mess.

As you see here... you have 3 shoes (foot pads) on the bottom of the mouse... and they're wide, covering good portions of the bottom, and work pretty well for maneuvering the mouse while gaming, working... or whatever. 

Tip: I advise using the cords Velcro tie around something in a high enough area to give you slack. The slack helps deliver the best movement because that tug can certainly affect it.

What I will probably do is use some ceramic glide feet to place on this mouse because I like how smooth they help the mouse move... plus there is nothing wrong with having an edge on the competition. In its current state, it moves a lot better than my mouse (out of the box).

The Philips Momentum mouse (model: SPK9413) features:

- Optical mouse sensor

- 5 programmable button

- Between 1200 to 6400 DPI

-  Up to 6000FPS

- Forward & Back thumb buttons

- Dynamic RGB ambiglow lighting: I know you can switch between colors on the mouse, but... I still don't know how to switch the colors without switching the DPI or turning on the rapid mouse click. 

One thing I would like to see in the future is actually software where you can swap the colors and program the buttons. This would allow you to switch things up without a need to memorize any button presses to switch settings.

There is a 4-level cycle switch; Roller DPI indicator; 1200DPI (green) - 2400DPI (purple) - 3200DPI (blue) - 6400DPI (red)... but I haven't been able to use any other DPI setting smoothly beyond the 1200DPI (green).

The reason why I'm able to is... whenever I switch to the other DPI levels, the mouse arrow scrolls down. If you click it once, it scrolls down a little (i.e. it would click the email below the one you wanted to click). So... if you're experiencing that problem, go back to the green asap by clicking the back button.

Clicking the forward button will also switch colors, but will cause double/rapid clicking with the left mouse button. This works for rapid shooting in FPS games... but for anything outside of gaming, it might drive you crazy. So green is the color that literally means you're good to go for normal function.

I played about 2+ hours of Slime Rancher with this mouse... and it felt good as far as holding and handling the mouse. The downside is that I don't know how to switch things up, the user manual doesn't explain it... so it's really important that they work out the functions of this mouse so that they can easily be switched.

Price-wise... the Philips Momentum Wired Gaming Mouse retails for $14.99, which is a pretty good price tag. It would be even better if I knew how to switch up the settings... but I will mess around with it a bit more to see what results I'm able to come up with. Computer hopping... here I come!

That said... here's how I rate it:

Comfort 5

Usability 3

Features 2

Price 5

3.75 out of 5 Cool Points

I can't lie, I have enjoyed reviewing this keyboard.

According to Philips, "The Philips line of keyboards and mice offer a wide array of feature sets with intended use ranging from basic office to computer gaming, with an emphasis on offering performance at an affordable price." While I can agree with this to an extent, there are a few things to be desired in this keyboard... which can be offered in a revised version.

Our audience definitely consists of gamers, that's the primary reason our platform is accessed... but gaming isn't the only thing the vast majority of our audience does. We have students who use PC peripherals like these for schoolwork, the average person who may use their PC for emails, web surfing, bills, and business professionals in a variety of fields tuning in.

So... when the time comes for a revised version, it should definitely include a... calculator key for easy access. If I were to replace my current keyboard with this mechanical keyboard, I would certainly miss that button the most. My current keyboard also has an email button and a home key. There are more buttons... but luckily the Philips Wired mechanical gaming keyboard (SPK8614/00) also has those buttons... which are the play/pause, skip, and back buttons.

One plus that I really like is the volume knob (with the mute button in the middle) that allows you to quickly turn up... or down.

(Sexy!)

This knob is Dual-mode switchable (hold for at least 2 seconds to switch modes).

When in Office mode, it's unlit... allowing you to adjust the volume.

When the switch is in Gaming mode (it's lit), you're able to adjust the lighting effect and luminance between 19 Preset "Ambiglow" breathing effects.

Here's an example... which also includes the mouse.

Going back to the lack of office-related shortcuts... I don't think this is a bad keyboard for office work, it has a great feel and I've adapted, but I (personally) wouldn't also market it as an office keyboard. It's a good dual-purpose keyboard, but... the pluses that boost productivity are what will appeal to the office workers in the room.

That said... you can create a shortcut key to open your calculator, and i'll show you how:

Hit your Windows key >

Type in "Calculator" >

Right-click Calculator >

Select Properties >

(In the Shortcut key) Press these keys: Ctrl + Shift + C >

Hit Apply >

(If a permission box pops up) Click Continue >

(If a secondary box pops up) Confirm that >

Now... try it out! A calculator should appear, and you don't have to worry about the lack of the calculator shortcut key!

The click of the keys in this mechanical keyboard... is satisfying, and one thing I love is how open the spaces are between the keys. It may not seem like much until you want to get some crap from in between the keys of your keyboard. The openness makes it easier to blast with a can of air... allowing for an easier clean... plus this keyboard comes with a key remover. You can actually remove and replace them with ease.

It has been a pleasure writing up this review using this keyboard. I was able to type just fine using my primary keyboard, but... it wasn't as satisfying. The keys on this Philips keyboard have a slight dip in the middle of each key that allows me to get a full press without hitting another key by mistake. I can't say there wouldn't be a slip-up, but I've noticed that the space between the individual keys... it makes it harder (for me) to do so.

Simply checking out the body of this Philips keyboard...  I noticed that it doesn't feel flimsy + has some weight to it... and (even if I won't attempt it) it feels like it could take a drop or two in the event of an unintentional snag & drop. Though I have never ever had an accident that has resulted in a cord being ruined on my keyboards... the threaded cord adds an extra layer of security.

Oh yeah, I appreciate the addition of the magnetic palm rest... because it can easily get placed on, but it can easily be placed to the side. I've seen others in this price point with a built-in palm rest... but I've never been ready to commit to the built-ins. I remember how gruesome some of them looked back in the day... so that might have something to do with it too.

The underbelly of this keyboard has ridges... but it's nothing that would prevent it from sliding (a rubber strip going across the middle of the underbelly would be great for those who like to work or game with their keyboard in their lap). For grip... you have two rubber shoes near the front of the keyboard's underbelly... while the back grips are more so plastic feet with some serious ridges.

The Philips Wired mechanical gaming keyboard has a switch under every key... which records the keystrokes. The standard keyboards use a rubber dome w/ a membrane that's used to record the keystrokes.

According to KnowTechie.com... the mechanical keyboards last longer because they're certified to be durable and are resistant to a crapload of typing. They also mention that collapsed rubber domes and the sticky keys break down and become less functional.

I have experience with keys no longer functioning... and pressing keys extra hard in order to get them to work sometimes. I've even resorted to copying and pasting letters at one point in my life because a key or 3 wouldn't work. So if this information holds true, a mechanical keyboard is the best route to go... and will ultimately save money in the long run.

Even if a mechanical keyboard costs a little more than some of the standard keyboards... you save money if you don't have to purchase standard keyboards and their non-mechanical replacements.

That leads us to the price of this keyboard. The Philips Momentum Wired mechanical gaming keyboard (SPK8614) comes in at $39.99. I'm loving the price... which is actually the middle of the road.


Gaming-wise... I've played both Pacman 256 + Slime Rancher with this keyboard and mouse. The movement in Slime Rancher was cool... I didn't notice much of a change in movement in that game (outside of the mouse). Playing Pacman 256 with this keyboard... I noticed the difference immediately. Maybe it's because the keystrokes fire off quicker... but it's definitely better than my standard keyboard which is a tad slower on the draw.

Overall, the Philips Momentum Wired mechanical gaming mouse (SPK8614) is a great keyboard. It's missing a few buttons that would make office workers feel more welcome... but overall it's a nice quality keyboard with a good price tag. The keyboard just reacts... I don't have to apply pressure to keys because once the switch is triggered it fires off.


Overall... I rate this keyboard:

Comfort 5

Usability 5

Features 4

Price 5

4.75 out of 5 Cool Points

          

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