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LETTERS
WE TACKLE TOUGH READER QUESTIONS ON...94 MAXIMU MPC JUN 2022
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Tackling TKLs
I feel that you missed a
few important items in
your review of the MSI
Vigor GK50 Low Profile
TKL in the March 2022
issue. Now, I’m no expert,
but I’m sure adherence
to functional consistency
and standardization are
paramount to a keyboard’s
success and usability.
I am versed enough to
have experienced proper
QWERTY keyboards
(even TKLs), where the
individual key’s functions
are arranged vertically,
so the normal function is
the bottom character, and
the shifted key function is
the upper one. This allows
for easy comprehension of
functional operation.
Lately, I’ve seen many
keyboards (including the
TKL I’m typing on now)
where the key characters
are arranged horizontally
and the functional
operation is left to right
(the left character is
default and the right is the
shifted one).
It’s no big deal if the
entire keyboard chooses
one or the other, as long asit is consistent throughout.
However, the MSI not only
switches from the former
to the latter for portions of
the board but looking at the
number keys, reverses the
normal left to right shift
standard, to a right with
left shift function per key.
What a dog’s breakfast!
Secondly, there is the
standardization aspect.
From the image in your
review, the keys are laid out
in some form of adulterated
QWERTY, with the Tilda and
pipe key combined, and the
left shift cut down to make
room for the backslash
combo (normally found on
the right side of the board).
Had I not noticed these
issues in the keyboard
image in your review, I
would have agreed withthe 7 verdict or thought it
even higher. But since you
missed these issues, which
to me are deal-breakers,
I feel this keyboard should
have deserved a lower
rating. Still love your
mag though, keep up the
good work! –M. MaserEDITOR-IN-CHIEF, GUY
COCKER, RESPONDS: Sam’s
review of the MSI keyboard
led to me compiling a list
of the best TKL keyboards
for the following issue
(April 2022), and I asked
Sam if I could borrow the
MSI to compare to other
keyboards in the roundup.
Sam was kind enough
to let me keep it, as I
found typing on a low-
profile board more
comfortable than standardfull-size keycaps.
Perhaps it’s being used
to laptop keyboards, or not
having to lift my fingers
as high , but whatever it
is, I’m more accurate and
productive on a low-profile
board. I’m a total convert
and would probably have
scored it an 8 if I were
reviewing it personally.
That was until I read
your letter, however, and
noticed what a nightmare
it is from a consistency
standpoint! Because I’m so
used to using keyboards
and knowing mentally
what each key’s default
and alternative function is,
I admit I hadn’t properly
examined it from a design
perspective.
However, I agree that
consistency should have
been applied and that the
result here will probably
drive a lot of people crazy!
In terms of your issue
with the general layout of
the board though, I have no
complaints as it’s the same
as many other boards I’ve
used, although there could
of course be territorial
differences (I note you
write from Canada).
Keeping a Low Profile
Unclear Windows
RAM Raider
Desktops vs. Laptops
Logitech's Pro TKL Gaming Keyboard is a great all-rounder.