The Modular Keyboard - Mountain Everest Max & Keypad Review

[@WatchMysh]

Ooh, a recent review of the mountain. I got the max with brown switches for supercheap at like 99 bucks. Waiting for delivery now. Lol ... I always have my numpad on the left. Guess some duct tape will hold it in place. Awesome review as always! Thanks! :) Hope they will continue to gradually fix their software.

[@cyantox]

Hey, what's your opinion of the keyboard now after about 2 months? I can currently get one for 80€

[@WatchMysh]

@cyantox Hey. I'd say mostly good. The base has some resonance, but not too bad. The magnets on the numpad are indeed quite weak but I don't have any problems so far with it. I only disconnected it once on accident. The software must have received some updates since the first reviews, since for me it only crashed once and that's it. It's a nice keyboard. Maybe not 279€ good, but 99 and 80 without any doubts. I've ordered some keychron switches and will replace the cherries soon. All in all I'm quite happy with it. Build quality is like a solid 7.5/10 I'd say.

[@TeaShirt211088]

hey dude. I dont find anything about it. can you use the free usb ports to charge things or even better to connect things to the pc?

[@cyantox]

@@TeaShirt211088 The One USB-A Port on the Back can Charge slow and connect Things to the PC, the other USB-C Ports all around the device can only charge devices but also very Slow (I think it's max. 5W).

[@WatchMysh]

@@cyantox I connected my everest button box via the usb port. So I think other stuff should work as well.

[@martinwew]

Its always interesting to see how people have a different take on a product. For me the main reason I got this keyboard was for the ability to mount the numpad on the side. And I would buy the keyboard again in a heartbeat for that feature alone. Never had issues with it randomly falling of, but could see how that would be an issue with for others. The software is a mixed bag and this is pretty spot on how it's felt to use the last 2 years. One thing I that is excellent though is that it is not required. You could just set it up as you like it, and the delete the software from your pc and the keyboard would just work the way you set it up. Having to log into the synaps app alone drove me away from ever having a razer product ever again. The mx switches is not great, but honestly with hotswap I think it is ok. People with opinions on key switches will just install what they like, or rotate through switches like I have. Currently running pegasus switches and could not love them more.

[@WatchMysh]

Hey :) Are there frequent updates of the software or are they kinda abandoning it? Hope not because I just bought a max plus displaypad and hope to replace my Steam Deck with it / declutter my desktop.

[@journaldelor626]

@@WatchMysh Dernière mise a jour en date du 06/09/2024 Version: V1.9.3 Release date: 6-September-2024 New features: • Implemented Hotkey switch key binding for Everest Max • Implemented Multi-Action key binding for Everest Max • It’s now possible to edit FN layer key bindings on Everest 60 Improvements: • Fixed an issue that would cause DisplayPad not to wake up properly alongside the PC • Fixed an issue causing DisplayPad to get stuck when creating a folder, adding an icon, and not naming the folder • Fixed an issue where the custom image on DisplayPad would reset after changing an icon folder name • Fixed an issue causing Base Camp not to launch if the Windows language was set to Arabic • Improved Media Dock and Numpad detection on Everest Max • Several minor bugs squashed Known issues: • Profiles and macros may get deleted during the update process. Please export your profiles and macros first, then update Base Camp, and re-import your profiles and macros to avoid losing them • In-app update from V1.0.26 or older may not work. Please export your profiles, uninstall Base Camp, install the latest version manually and re-import your profile

[@NicksStuff]

@@WatchMysh People seem to say the Stream Deck is *vastly* superior software-wise. Don't get rid of it just now...

[@WatchMysh]

@@NicksStuff Yes, it is! I just configured the displaypad. For my requirements it's perfectly fine, but the Streamdeck plugin store alone is worth getting one. So if someone's into more complex stuff it's a better fit. For basic stuff (macros, audio device switch, record and stop record) the displaypad is fine and I think the hardware is better.

[@521ret.8]

I love this keyboard and the customization. I have had zero issues with the numpad or software

[@Zyanide09]

I have owned this keyboard for a few years. The only wear/tear mine has is where i rest my pinkie on the left side, which is now slightly lighter than the rest of the keyboard. I have changed the switches to their own speed switches, which are great, and some PBT keycaps. The software aint great, and its not quite silent when it comes to rattle and spacebar. I use the dial to show CPU usage. I tried controlling the RGB effects through SignalRGB, and the software totally freaked out and reset EVERYTHING on my keyboard. It is also worth mentioning, the numpad only works with the Mountain Everest cable. I wanted to have the numpad further away, but i couldnt get any other cable to work. I could get angled adapters to work though. The RGB lights are a bit dim and some stabilizers rattle a bit, but other than that, its a great keyboard, and it will probably last almost forever.

[@janwendtland8504]

Damn, wanted to get a longer cable for the numpad. Do you have any clue, why 3rd party cables don't work?

[@MrMackievelli]

The company is called Mountain, the keyboard is called Everest.

[@tinygriffy]

Thanks for the review ! Not to brag, but I built my own keyboard a couple years ago (PCB.. parts.. assemblage.. programming with QMK (which runs bug free since then) ). Quite rewarding to create such a tool for yourself. Really nice project, can only suggest to anyone with some basic knowledge in electronics to give it a try !

[@Mintor94]

How powerful is QMK really, can you e.g create custom actions/shortcuts? I have a QMK/VIA capable keyboard and there are some custom mappings possible by default, like switching between BT devices, showing battery level by highlighting 1-0 keys, opening some apps on Windows like default browser, mail and calculator apps. I know that different QMK capable keyboards by default have different set of such actions. Can they all be redefined via QMK to latter be accesible by VIA?

[@tinygriffy]

@@Mintor94 I am sorry, i cannot answer your question, since I don't use all the features of QMK. I know QMK has an online configuration tool and on the fly firmware update functionality.. I am pretty sure what you seek will be in there, it is quite widely used keyboard firmware after all.. you should check out their wiki / website. It is quite well documented.

[@tinygriffy]

@@Mintor94 You mean vial ? .. just check out the QMK wiki. There a many howto's on YT also.

[@tinygriffy]

@@Mintor94 YT keeps deleting my comment, dunno which word triggers it this time.. Do you mean vial ? just search for qmk.. they have quite good documentation ;) xcuse my brevity :D

[@MikeBob2023]

Thank you. 👍🏼 *If* Mountain Everest chooses to implement your (well-reasoned) fixes and improvements in a v2 of the Max - _including_ providing a more durable finish on the wrist rest/s (and I agree that there should be a rest for the number pad also), *then* I would consider purchasing one for myself. Otherwise, no way. 🚫 Please let us know if you hear from them regarding these issues. 🙏🏼 Thanks again.

[@constantinlindenbauer9967]

i Agree - got so hyped when i saw this - but i would send it back after i see you can't mount the display-pad on the side usb-c and the M-Keys on the top usb-c XDXD never heard of mountain before - so thanks for the review - the seem to be very innovativ and not too expansive

[@kyosefgofa]

I got given this one. Really good until the leather palmrest started peeling after 2 years (I live in Philippines so it might be the humidity). Too bad now I prefer the sound of custom keyboards and the Everest sounds to thin.

[@Sarajiel]

It might be worth noting that the "Mountain" brand is a sister brand to both "Xilence" and "be quiet!" which are all owned by Listan GmbH, the German answer to Corsair. 🤪 Personally, I looked into that keyboard a while ago, because of the Numpad being attachable on the left side, since I often work with Wacom tablets. However, as Mr. STS pointed out, it's a quite horrible solution overall for this keyboard.

[@MrMoonsilver]

Great video as always. Thank you! My favorite review channel. Is the software usable on linux?

[@tinygriffy]

I guess not.. nothing in the AUR and only a windows zip for dl on their WS. You can try with wine though ;)

[@XanatosDavid]

Are this usb-c ports actual USB-C ports or did thay just re use the connector for somethign own and incomatible?

[@janwendtland8504]

It's proprietary.

[@yohvh]

Got one for 50 bucks. Must be good

[@Mintor94]

Why did they want to go with Cherry MX switches so badly? It's not 2014 anymore, the patent expired and since then lots of far better switches appeared. MX Browns are especially terrible, no tactility whatsoever, they are linear but with a scratch.

[@Zyanide09]

You can order it with their own brand of switches, which i believe is made by Kailh.

[@Azzazel_]

They only send to a limited number of countries, so meh, not for me

[@ExplosiveTowel88]

this is the everest mount UHH SORRY