Vortex ViBe Mechanical Keyboard Review

Quite a bit late, but today we check out the Vortex ViBE which is an interesting keyboard with a 60% + numpad layout, and the sleek SA profile keycaps.
Keep in mind that this was an engineering sample.
Written review : bit.ly/2v3boEj
As usual, all keyboards are already opened and tested for a period of time, and then repacked for the unboxing.
Official website : www.taekeyboards.com/
Google+ : plus.google.com/+TaeKeyboards/
Facebook : / taekeyboards
Instagram : / taekeyboards
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[@Chokkan]

Looks like the packaging you get for whisky. I really like the look they've got going on for this keyboard.

[@Mark-ck9yf]

Yey!! You're back!!

[@daffodyl_n]

I love this thing. I'm a numpad guy, but I'm also a 60% kinda guy. This is nearly perfect for me. Gonna have to grab this guy.

[@groberti]

I can't help myself but hate how the numpad offsets the whole keyboard :/ Are you a number cruncher? I don't mean it as an insult :D I'm a programmer btw

[@YaBoiCrim]

Yo I'm going to tell you a story about myself I'm a guy guy guy What about you?

[@solitude_guard8756]

@@YaBoiCrim so, you're gay?

[@joshuanorris5860]

@@groberti i agree i think this is a dumb keyboard lol

[@rikv1]

Amazing quality, as always! I really enjoy watching your videos, they are very satisfying for some reason. Keep up the good work!

[@Kraeter]

I really enjoy your videos. I ordered an ajazz ak33 yesterday. Your videos are very high quality and very in depth, testing every important aspect of keyboards. Thank you!

[@sadfrog911]

+1

[@TRazor176]

As someone who bought an AK33 about 6 months ago, I can tell you that it's a great board. It does take some getting used to, especially the right shift key. The keycaps for the 0.75 keys are hard to come by, so careful when ordering full keycap sets. The RGB customization software from the Ajax website is solid. The typing sounds are so perfect, just the right amount of clack. Overall, its a fantastic budget board and I'm happy with it.

[@SimpleSumm3r]

I wouldn't recommend it tho due to the fact that mine and my friend's had faulty led lights after a week of use. Maybe it's just the particular batch of keyboards that have this problem.

[@_hawawa4930]

I was hoping you would make this revew! Thanks man!

[@JoeGaz]

Nice review bro! :) always so in depth.

[@TaeKeyboards]

Thanks Juj

[@greyareaRK1]

I love the layout, and as someone who occasionally needs a numpad. Usually I have mixed feeling about exposed switches. I agree about the printing: I'd like to see a combination of top and front printing, or even discreet lighting, like old-style Shift-Lock buttons.

[@ReysFight]

Great stuff as always!

[@RhinoFeed]

Nice job on this review!

[@TaeKeyboards]

Thanks mate!

[@SensorDelay]

Great review. I'm going to hold-off buying one for now, i'd want one with lighting.

[@joaovitordossantos9949]

Looks awesome

[@kroniical3830]

He lives!

[@jeremyhorvatin9899]

He lives! Was getting worried there 😅

[@asyrafbaskara5529]

Finally u Upload Video again :D

[@SicSemperBeats]

Those keycaps need to be made available separate. Pbt SA is sweet. Hopefully in a better color took

[@thetman0068]

I wish more companies would embrace layouts like this or the Cooler Master you referenced. I don't know of anyone who still uses the Windows nav keys, with the exception of delete. Interestingly, the stock rubber dome keyboard that came with my HP desktop has a design like the coolermaster, and I love it. I just wish there were more options for this layout in mechanical switches.

[@johnchung6900]

I did not know about the arrow keys. Looks like a good replacement for Poker

[@SheWanna69MeDoe]

i love the look it's aesthetic

[@Michael-pg7rv]

I love this keyboard mainly for the layout. I have desoldered and modded this thing multiple times over the past few years. Looking to build a case for it this year and do some DIY gasket mounting.

[@Gotallofthem1]

Why isn't the lighting available on the retail version? This makes 0 sense that they would have it on the engineering sample and then remove it for retail, I mean WHY?

[@daltonsymington9837]

Got the Pok3r to free up space on my desk and the only thing I have missed having from a full size is the 10key (setting fn on caps makes the ijkl arrows perfect for me, but my fingers have never liked the number row). Did not realize the Vibe was an option or I'd have foot the extra $40 for it. AAAND IT'S GOT DOUBLE ZERO?!?!?!? **chef kiss** Yes, please!

[@YayaTia_II]

looks like I need to get my cousin one of these keyboards but if it had plain static backlighting that would be great too just for night sessions nothing else.

[@ThatFreikugel]

beautiful keyboard

[@lamstechgaming1899]

La combinación de color es simplemente sublime 😌

[@Louiesarge1]

to get the best of both worlds you can have uniform keycaps with a curved backplates like the ibm model f and m series

[@armandsutjianto9238]

I'm currently using the Vortex ViBE with cherry mx blues and i''ve gotta say i'm really impressed with the build quality of this keyboard. The aluminium body feels robust and solid and i love the typing experience on this keyboard. It comes with sa profile pbt keycaps and it feels amazing typing with this type of keycap. I really recommend this keyboard.

[@fantasticola]

Armand Sutjianto Have you managed to reprogram the numpad layer?

[@intoitreviews]

I really want one just like this with RGB lighting. How did you get your engineering sample, or how can I get one just like it?

[@sankettonde8351]

great video! I'm looking for a separate numpad to match my epomaker gk68xs. can you please suggest one that will match the case?

[@Gotallofthem1]

Are there any other keys that have this same setup like the Vortex Vibe?

[@JFomo]

Dammit almost perfect for me. I do need the numpad but also the arrow keys as well.

[@ascari100]

What lens has been used during the shot at 1.12. Reminds me of the laowa macro lens

[@SonofThrainOfficial]

Great review! What is the wooden case on the 60% you used for the size comparison? It looks great. Is it something you would recommend?

[@TaeKeyboards]

That will be the next video. It's a custom build, featuring a wooden 60% case from Banggood.

[@skhprdny]

where were they going? i can't find their instagram anymore

[@chauyang7159]

The revival?!

[@dreamersdeal7680]

I want the RGB model now

[@avxrevo]

What I’ve always thought is why not the letter keys and then number pad instead of the arrows and control keys found in tkl layouts

[@kecknj]

Its also a bit like the NYM96 / ymdk96 / lightsaver / kira minus an entire horizontal row

[@shalomi187]

beautiful work. it also has an additional feature: it tells you when to cut your nails.

[@SicSemperBeats]

Sweet. You should review a kbdfans Tina-c kit

[@TaeKeyboards]

Perhaps one day :)

[@elytora7747]

If this had the numpad on the left it would be great

[@noados]

잘봤어요~

[@al.per.606]

I really need simultaneous number pad and arrow key functionality. Is it possible to program the F1-F4 keys (or some other keys) as arrow keys while also having the numlock activated to I can have full use of the number pad?

[@Viettzz]

What is the best PBT Double shot keycaps out there? Like brand? GMK? Vortex? any infos would be appreciated

[@ROGUESPIRIT_]

If they make it with numpad on the left ill buy one.

[@TaeKeyboards]

That would have been an even greater keyboard for sure!

[@WilliamRader]

This has a left numpad: www.primekb.com/products/bundle-save

[@placeholder3863]

Damn Ultimate space saver while retaining all functionality of a full sized board and positives of a numpad on the left Genius

[@placeholder3863]

William Rader but no nav cluster ?

[@Supertimegamingify]

@@placeholder3863 has anyone ever used that since 1995?

[@christophermizia8685]

damn i wish I could get the rbg version

[@sadeymn]

Hey tae, what are those pink and grey digital camo keypcaps called? I want them so bad!!

[@TaeKeyboards]

They were a hydrodip experiment I did with a friend

[@samdeur]

Dont like the sound and feel of low profile cases had the same problem with the k-type

[@mtsi21]

I had never seen this keyboard with RGB and for some reason it really changed the feel of it for me. Do you know if Vortex has any plans to release an RGB version? I assume buying one and changing out the housings on the switches would be more trouble than it's worth.

[@TaeKeyboards]

Not that I know of. It's quite odd. Vortex releases these 'engineering samples' with RGB lighting. And looking at my Vortex Race 3, it has the spots for SMD RGB LEDs. So I wanna try and chuck some in there and see if it works.

[@maxfactor4209]

What about the F keys.. I m using them very often. Also I hate not having light for caps lock

[@skuko1980]

i don't like SA, but with some GMK set on there, this would be pretty nice!

[@J-manoo7]

Do you think I would have a problem putting matrix keycaps on this board ?

[@0name933]

Can you build a keyboard with the XD96 pcb please?

[@TaeKeyboards]

Hopefully one day!

[@matthewhan]

Where can i buy this!!?!! it appears to be sold out every where :( i really want it though...

[@jdreams7928]

Sorry dude, you missed it on massdrop a few days ago

[@didian12]

is any option for usb type C conectivuity?

[@jimitav]

It's been a while since this review, but I still have to say that this video helped me buy the keyboard. Typing on this now. I would like to ask: does anybody have a suggestion on a sleeve/case for carrying this? Standard TKL sleeves/pouches don't fit it well.

[@Thezombiekiller06]

Prison pocket

[@jimitav]

TheZombieKiller06 Is that where you keep it?

[@Thezombiekiller06]

@@jimitav of course

[@Ashenic]

1:39 anyone else see the spacebar a bit off?

[@squidwardstesticles5914]

5:56 anyone else notice that little bug crawling around?

[@dendiwahyu3455]

Anyone know where to buy this boi rn ?

[@LastSecBloomer]

MX Browns...ugh. That scratching...

[@abdomination]

Damn why don't they have the lights on retail

[@MiiaFoxx]

Wait... You have a Miami Nights keyset?! D:

[@TaeKeyboards]

Yeh I love the colourway. It's for a future project :)

[@cyrenarkade]

But... what is the 00 key?

[@oliverrowe8648]

That's cool shame there will be no lighting....

[@swagoverride]

360p?

[@omysan]

Does anyone know where to get that style of keycaps but with see through letters.

[@0name933]

If it's doubleshot you mean then no because it's only available in oem or sometimes cherrry profile.

[@omysan]

Danilo de Klerk it's not the profile that i'm looking for it's the font on the keycaps that i like

[@0name933]

You can try and find the Ikbc G104 keycaps. They're doubleshot and have the kinda same font.

[@omysan]

0Name yeah, had a look at them ,they're nice , but the font is not central to the key ,my search continues

[@lmWombo]

i love my vibe but i hate how the switches are only cherry :(

[@GopherManlet]

Ah the ASMR: 8:47

[@Crokto]

lol its like an f77 layout

[@Thezombiekiller06]

YES! I've always wanted a gaming keyboard with a numpad! All of my keybinds are on the numpad! Why don't they just make an external USB numpad for gamers? #gamerproblems

[@turkeyphant]

Is there a keyboard like this layout but with a numpad?

[@BlackZenon]

**adds to card** I HATE YOU!!!!! D': I just bought a Pok3r...

[@AnubisGSD]

2 years later it's still pointless. Why not 40% with numpad? With top numpad row packed in 4th column instead of double +, double enter and double 00.

[@michaelb9940]

Whats the appeal with these keys?

[@idkthetime]

almost a year late but ok.

[@sandipdolai3612]

first

[@joshuanorris5860]

Oh. The numpad is connected. Lol!!! Whyyyyy would someone want this keyboard lol there is no reason to hack the F keys off. I thought the numpad was going to be movable lol RIPPPP

[@BruceBainsford]

I think you should be more enthusiastic and incorporate more energy in your script and editing.

[@umbra9705]

What? This makes no sense?