Sharkoon Purewriter Low Profile Keyboard Rote Schalter

**Review of the keyboard**This is the German layout version of the keyboard, which has a very strange layout compared to UK or US, doesn't really matter if you can touch type as it will be recognised as a UK keyboard when plugged into a computer with UK english as the language setting.The keyboard is well made, very similar construction to the Magicforce keyboards with a top aluminium plate and plastic bottom, with a floating key design.The function layer is very weird on the TKL version, there's no media keys on the function layer which is a big turn-off for me. Instead there's 5 places to save lighting settings and even a function to change the direction of some of the effects? Seems stupid to me to have functions for lighting to such a high degree and not have a single media function on the keyboard. The keyboard lighting functions are fine, nothing out of the ordinary for keyboards with backlighting I have tried recently (snake mode, reactive, wave, etc.)One of the things I noticed was the loud hum I got when I plugged it into some sources with the backlight on. It seemed to occur when it was plugged into either of my powered USB hubs, but not on other devices. Just keep this in mind, not sure if it's to do with the keyboard of the USB hubs, but it happened on two and not with my other backlit keyboards.The keyboard has a removable micro USB port, it's fine but I found that it didn't work for all the cables I plugged in. The ones it come with are nice though, you get a longer and shorter one. Wish it had some cable routing options, but that's not that big of a deal.**Review of the Kaihl low profile switches**I have had one of the small Cherry boards with Cherry ML switches in it for years and I never use it as it has the worst key binding for off centre key presses. I really liked the idea and wanted to give these Kaihl switches a shot, so I grabbed one of these cheap from Amazon Warehouse Deals.The switches improve on the ML switches immensely, they don't bind at the edges and they are very smooth and have surprisingly deep bass-y tone to them.As expected from low profile switches, the travel is very short. It is remarkable how much difference this makes to typing feel, they honestly feel more fatiguing for my fingers as I end up hitting the bottom with a hard stop. Maybe an all plastic keyboard would give the switches a bit more flex and make them a bit more comfortable for me, or perhaps a higher actuation force may also help.The stabilisers are great though, no rattle and a smooth action without any need for lubrication. But you can't change the orientation of the spacebar as the stabilisers only work in one direction.Also worth bearing in mind that you can't change the keycaps on this keyboard with Cherry MX keycaps. ML keycaps don't fit though. Also would have been nice to have doubleshot keycaps at this price.**Conclusion**Good for the money if you really want the switches, otherwise there's a lot of mechanical keyboards to chose from in this price range. The biggest advantage is the unique key-switches, but otherwise it's a pretty run of the mill budget mechanical.

I made the mistake of not realizing this was a German layout keyboard, but I have decided to keep it as it is so lovely to type on.Seriously, its so smooth and delicious. The plastic almost feels like velvet, and its so nice to touch. I got the one with Red switches, so its linear with no bump or click. Very very nice.The back lighting goes from subtle just through the lettering, to very bright and surrounding the keys.I'm very happy with this.