Keydous NJ98-CP Pro review (Kailh x Keydous magnetic switches)

Skip to 7:34 for a typing demonstration.
Get it here: mechkeys.com/products/keydous...
Today we're doing a follow-up of the previous Keydous keyboard; the NJ98-CP Pro, with magnetic instead of contact-based switches! Hope you like the video! :)
Edit: the spare keycaps arrived the day after I published this video xD .
Intro by Kyle Carter
Outro by Facundo Cabanne
My keyboard reviews: bit.ly/1TbOtft
My switch teardowns: bit.ly/2C1QGHz
My TOP X videos: bit.ly/2FmpZfd
My XL typing demos: bit.ly/2OoAW3w
My tutorials and featurettes: bit.ly/2OrkLUh
My unboxing videos: bit.ly/2TSrr0m
I'm Thomas and I do videos and reviews on mechanical keyboards ranging from the most sickening modern RGB gaming keyboards to vintage hardware relics, or sometimes keycaps or keyswitches ranging from Cherry MX to Alps SKCM to IBM buckling springs and anything in between.
Follow me on Twitter for updates on my keyboard videos! / chyrosran22
The practice sentence was: "Hello my name is Thomas and I'm typing on a Keydous NJ98-CP Pro right now. I fucking hate these keycaps, especially as they're wrong, but it's pretty good otherwise!"

[@g0ggy]

5:30 I keep referencing this video with my friends all the time and you bringing it up randomly felt unreal. I was dying

[@Chyrosran22]

Haha I've had that goddamn Calypso in my fridge for months but I couldn't find an opportunity to use it and then it hit me with this board suddenly xD . Watched that original video somewhere in the three figures, kills me every time xD .

[@SeraphimKnight]

I was not expecting the calypso paradise punch lemonade but I welcome it.

[@GlareStringth]

I love how after so many years u’re still doing keyboard reviews so much valueble info in your channel ty for archiving everything!❤

[@Chyrosran22]

Thanks :D .

[@Sazoji]

the software is probably using an electron interface, like discord. basically installing another version of chrome to edit a keyboard.

[@Slime_Head]

Electron is both a blessing and a curse. It makes it easy to port web apps or develop desktop apps for web devs, but god is it bloated...

[@Aeduo]

Consider the memory usage it must take and imagine if it was much of the bigger brand keyboard programming apps that will disable all the functionality when you close them.

[@TIB1243S]

I just ordered a GM87, a hall effect TKL that only costs 60usd right now. Cheers to bringing HE to the mainstream market!

[@nknguyen2877]

wait WHAT? send me link, that sounds dubious as hell

[@Chyrosran22]

If I helped make HE only a little bit more mainstream, I'll be a happy person ^^ .

[@etyrnus]

@@Chyrosran22 you helped me find DrunkDeer and Wooting, and now Keydous!

[@prokopf-9332]

Same@@nknguyen2877 cant find anything on google

[@BringMayFlowers]

@@Chyrosran22 I mean, you made me aware of them and want one.

[@inukaitokuda9196]

6:20 the first time he converts something successfully to imperial units?

[@jasondoe2596]

No, it's the first time he fails to convert properly.

[@wkgmathguy218]

By now I have several Hall Effect boards, and I have to say most of them are excellent, very nice review Tom, have a great day.

[@andrewcatubig9239]

Any recommendation with HE keebs? This NJ CP one seems a good option for me with numpad for work, and at the same time I can try hybrid magnetic switches.

[@wkgmathguy218]

@@andrewcatubig9239 Of the ones I have, I'd have to say I enjoy the steelseries apex pro the most, though all of them, wooting, etc are pretty close together on the yummy scale.

[@jp-ul3iv]

I have one of those on the way, glad to find this video

[@Atilolzz]

I agree, this silly hybrid is the worst of both worlds: still rather long (just 4cm shorter than full kb) and keys are harder to find and use. I personally like fullsize and TKL, and would actually love a good navless kb like some Steelseries ones.

[@bobclarke5913]

Yeah, smushed keyboards make me feel like I'm wearing mittens as I search around to find the section borders.

[@Brunnen_Gee]

Ha, I didn't even notice the double 6's until you mentioned it. The J and K I picked up, the double homing bump on the J's stood out like a sore thumb. I saw it and did a "Hwat?"

[@Aeduo]

I just figured it was some weird feature modern keyboard folks were in to and i had just never seen before. :p

[@richardhunter9779]

Chyro, have you considered reviewing the 8BitDo Retro Keyboard? Should be up your alley - large plastic chassis, thick PBT keycaps, clickbar switches, onboard macros, footswitch, etc. I own one and it is the best sounding keyboard currently in mass production, in my opinion.

[@Chyrosran22]

I have seen it before and I can't remember now if I requested one or not and if so what happened. I would like to review one actually, it looks and sounds very cool.

[@jens468]

damn this sounds nice for a stock board

[@user-kp1js6cb2s]

this should be a new norm as you can buy good-sounding stock keyboards beginning from 40 dollars

[@jammies701]

Nice vid mate

[@jssmith0225]

He gave an actual imperial measurement I might just faint!

[@danmar007]

I've been around long enough to know I would like to try your Zenith keyboard. :)

[@Chyrosran22]

It's an amazing piece of kit, it just keeps soldiering on xD .

[@jp-ul3iv]

If there’s anyway that you could find a way to test the input delay for this keyboard, that would be some very useful information. So many of the hall effect keyboards right now are having issues with that.

[@darklorddylan1316]

Hey Thomas, I recently picked up a Focus FK 2001. I took it apart, cleaned it up, and I’m loving it so far. The only small issue is that it only came with one of the dust cover mounts and no dust cover. Any advice on where to find them? I’ve tried a basic google search and a bit of digging on deskthority forms and the like and it seems my only option is to buy another keyboard from EBay with the parts I’m looking for at a hilariously high price and in terrible condition.

[@Chyrosran22]

Yes, I'd say that is accurate. Maybe design and 3D print one?

[@wau-l9]

that calypso stuff tastes terrible actually. I mistakenly bought a few bottles with different flavors and one just tasted of HCl but the other tasted like if you mixed processed plastic cheese with said HCl somehow. it was supposed to be pineapple lemonade or something

[@_monti142]

lol

[@Chyrosran22]

This one tastes like half a dozen fruit esters in a saturated solution of sugar in water. It really is fookin minging.

[@owlstead]

How is the bottoming out? I have a Wooting One opto-mech and it bottoms out so hard that I stopped typing on it. Which makes it useless because I'm not going to switch keyboards just for the odd game I'm playing.

[@Chyrosran22]

It's on the harsh side IMO. But I think that's a function of how you type in this case.

[@prokopf-9332]

@@Chyrosran22 I think "gaming" hall effect keyboards see it as a feature to be harsh on bottom out. The lest flex they have the more precise are the travel setting for actuation.

[@lucidmoses]

Your new ending was surprising. :p

[@Laundry_Hamper]

Are those weird OEM "Razer" switches with individual stabs the be-all-and-end-all for off-centre keypressing fans?

[@NebulonRanger]

Wooting Two is pretty good at this too, even if there's a tiny bit of stab rattle on the space bar Source: I own one

[@XanthinZarda]

I was wondering why the bumps were doubled, and that's a double dumbass reason for sure. Not sure if anything will replace my Unicomp anytime soon, though.

[@prokopf-9332]

I didnt think it was possible or atleast not realistic to have a pcb that supports both switch types this fast. I guess maybe its still buggy or not refined softwarewise, but to have a pcb that accepts the technically better HE switches, or just the MX style for maximum variety of switch feel is really good. I have a zoom75 and orderer the HE pcb module, its the next best thing. Keep the expensive case but swap the pcb if i want to use HE effect.

[@Etem92]

Gateron released a new clicky switch that uses a smaller click-leaf mechanism, it's called the Gateron Melodic. I would like to hear your opinions on it but only if you want to of course.

[@Chyrosran22]

Already got a bunch of them in :D . They'll feature in a review in the future :) .

[@imacatman]

Can you remap keys? I just use Home and End all the time and want them to be next to each other.

[@bobclarke5913]

Fourth and proud of it. Why the double homerow pips on the right?

[@NebulonRanger]

Explained at 5:33

[@bobclarke5913]

@@NebulonRanger The hazards of commenting early!

[@alphax3913]

did yours come with the aluminum plate or brass plate?

[@Chyrosran22]

I'm not sure to be honest. It's painted and the box doesn't say which one it is.

[@thephlophers]

holy hell. swing and a miss on those keycaps. I would really appreciate a nice front-printed *and* backlit *and* doubleshot set, but that font is unforgiveable.

[@minhquanvu2944]

If you put enough foam in the board, they're just gonna sound the same

[@BlissBee]

Exactly

[@gorkskoal9315]

lol seemingly every clone of hipyotech that wants "thoc" .I had a keyboard that was proper loud that I got used many years ago. I haven't had a nice loud "kerklack" keyboard since. the others, like you say, sound exactly the same. like wtf people.

[@Slime_Head]

Is it me or the sound is unusually low in the video?

[@skynikkidj]

well, again, no iso layout i hope, they add that, otherwise, i have to get used to it, because, i love the concept of this keyboard and it's affordable!

[@johnliu7893]

I have been looking for a *low profile* full size KB with very good clicky switches. This is for a portable workstation rig. So far I have only tried Gateron low-profile “blue” switches in a Keychron, and the click is barely there. In my opinion. My daily driver is a 1986 Model M. Anyone suggest a good KB/switch for me to try?

[@richardhunter9779]

Some people like NuPhy for low-profile boards. That being said, it will NEVER sound or feel as nice as something thick and plasticy.

[@CAMSLAYER13]

You'll be disappointed with them all if you are used to a model M. That thing is the clickiest most tactile keyboard you can get and low profile keys will be compromised compared to normal mx keys. Though you should try the kailh low profile tactiles, they generally have good tactiles.

[@pokepokepoke64]

Hey chyros! I think I have one of the last blue alps boards that you haven’t reviewed yet. I have the dolch colored blue alps board in my closet. There’s a sound test on my channel

[@Chyrosran22]

Oh man, and here I am reviewing all this dead-sounding modern shit, I miss doing vintage reviews sometimes xD . Great board, beautiful find!

[@pokepokepoke64]

​@@Chyrosran22 Yeah, it was sick even for a ebay find a few years ago. I miss those old reviews. I like some of the new stuff, especially when it comes to some of the cool foamless high end customs, but all other modern boards bore me to all hell. even the contactless ones I really do not like the sound of and I am not a gamer really so I have no reason to buy them. I just really miss those old reviews man but I know that theres only so many interesting boards to review and buying them is a nightmare.

[@Chyrosran22]

@@pokepokepoke64 I haven't bought a keyboard in years, the channel is run entirely on donations. There's still loads of cool vintage stuff out there to review but yeah, actually getting it is a pain xD .

[@DirtyGingy]

Hey Chyros, a switch I recently picked up hat you might find interesting is gateron's new melodic clicky switches. It uses a rather unique version of a click leaf

[@Chyrosran22]

Ah yes, I got a bunch of them in recently! They'll be in a video coming up :) .

[@anasevi9456]

Agree; should have been a 108 key. If someone needs a numpad on their keyboard; they clearly do enough real work on it that routine keys like insert, end or PrtSC are too tedious hidden behind an FN key. More so just to save a few centimetres.

[@Arae_1]

every time I see software for keyboards, I always compare it to wootility. Nothing has been better than wootility for me yet

[@darealrulezbreaker9493]

Okay this Board sounds and looks really good, all the necessary Funktions are in the software. These key legends are awful tho.. So a custom keycap set is absolutely necessary.

[@Chyrosran22]

They do other keycap sets which are far nicer. Their samurai set I think it's called is really quite pretty and well-made, even though it's technically also cheap to buy. This one is just awful though.

[@evilofalfa]

I want more custom keyboard explore this design pcb

[@5ll3x]

Thock thock thock

[@CaveyMoth]

5:33 What is this? GMK? Duplicate keycaps?!

[@ArtyI]

6:19 Who are you and what have you done with Thomas? He would NEVER accurately convert to imperial

[@esra_erimez]

225th?

[@theyellowpanduh]

5:27

[@_monti142]

hi :)

[@2smoker311]

First?

[@jeremyccc]

Second

[@dans.8198]

98 keys? Sure the "Pro" does not stand for Pro-grammers.