Pros: -excellent keys (mechanical)

-chord is great, accidently almost sliced it opening the package, would have cut any other chord had it not been braided.

-easy use for a first timer mechanical keyboard. Very easy to program macros and straightforward

Cons: -color cannot be changed

-Firmware is an issue. see other comments for a full description.
During firmware update, it freezes. Upon restart the keyboard will still be blinking for the firmware update and not work. What I needed to do was uninstall the keyboard and mouse drivers, and reinstall. It then worked fine and has ever since. The mouse I have is logitek so there might be some incompatibility issues

Pros: Mechanical keys
Minimalist top design (easy clean beneath)
Lighting
Programmability / macro / modes
Aluminum main structure
Wrist wrest (ha ha) but removable if desired
I like the 'aggressive' angular stealth styling, definitely a matter of personal taste however.
Nice weighty braided cable should be easy to route behind the desk cleanly.
Significantly cheaper typically than the RGB offerings
Pretty packaging, but let's face it that's hardly the reason to buy a product is it?

Cons: Software setup is atrocious at first, as others have mentioned
Backlighting is single color, and intensity stepping is a little bit obvious (could use smoother gradients) on 'breathing' modes
Could use some more programmability in lighting selection overall
Would almost prefer non-unified cables or at least detachable pigtails so I don't have dangling audio and USB passthrus if I don't intend to ever plug those into the keyboard

Other Thoughts: Others have stated that the software installation can brick this thing, and I thought I'd done it myself. I plugged in both a 700K (this keyboard) and 700M (their equivalent mouse) at the same time and booted up. While both worked right off of boot and were recognized, the keyboard lighting even worked and the 'screensaver' idle mode kicked in if you didn't hit a key within a couple minutes. But the fun started when I went to install their UIX software and it leaps immediately into the auto-firmware-update procedure...it's a separate download and install for each product, not one 'suite' with 2 drivers. I ran the mouse first...the mouse came out the other end fine. But on the keyboard it locked at 'updating firmware' with 0% progress for an hour or more. They say don't unplug or restart or turn off computer but at that point...what the heck is going to change, really? Your software needs a 'cancel' or 'try again' feature. So of course I rebooted.

On reboot the keyboard had a rapidly flashing numlock indicator light and nothing else. Wouldn't respond to anything. Out came the old backup PS2 keyboard and another reboot. Eventually I was able to uninstall the 700K software (mouse still fine btw), delete everything out of device manager but the generic MS keyboard driver, reboot, plug it in, get it recognized by USB (still nonfunctional with only the numlock "1" indicator lighting), and run the UIX 700K software installer again. Poof - back to life as it should have been the first time.

So one egg off for the "oh <beep> have I really bricked something as dumb as a dang *keyboard*???" moment. But otherwise like it rather a lot. The "cylon style" idle screensaver (style 3 I think it is?) is my favorite, and right now for the main mode I just use the breathing uniform light. Haven't programmed any selective backlit game modes yet as awaiting a new computer build. Will be interesting to see how this 700K and the 700M react to being switched with a 2-up 4-down USB3 switchbox once I have 2 computers in place (don't want to go KVM since the monitor rez won't be supported by most of em).

Pros: Great keyboard, in windows. great for typing and the macro software works well.

Cons: no linux compatibility. Many companies don't support linux, and that's absolutely OK; generally their keyboards still function as basic keyboards, you just can't use the macro software. This keyboard however locks up completely when you touch a function/macro key, including the wrong side of the space bar, the multimedia keys, even the lighting key. It will not respond to any more input until you unplug it and plug it back in.
It has the same problem in BIOS/UEFI

There was a minor problem when i tried to use this keyboard to play Grand Theft Auto 5 while not in n-key mode. It seemed to only respond to one key at a time ever. just open up the macro software and change the settings to n key mode and it should be fine.

Other Thoughts: I would absolutely keep this keyboard if id didn't lock up. This keyboard is great if you only use windows and never intend to play around in your BIOS/UEFI.

Pros: Heavy duty construction, Solid feeling keys. takes me back to the old 386 and 486 IBM keyboard days. I have mulled over alot of mechanical keyboards. And I wanted 3 things. Mechanical keys of course, Back-lit, and quality construction. Most are all Plastic. and feel very cheap other than the cherry mx switches they use. I wanted RGB setting for the back-lighting. But I threw in the towel and decided on this keyboard cause of the quality in the craftsmanship. I can always mod them once the warranty runs out.

Cons: Wish it was RGB. not a real con.

Other Thoughts: Body is rock solid. doesn't slide around like most keyboards on my desk. not because it's heavy, But because of the the rubber feet and pads. Lots of settings to play with make it very versatile. 3 different screensaver functions as the call them for the keyboard. One looks like a equalizer scale moving. other to either scan across the keyboard vertically or horizontally. Key profiles can be set to illuminate only the keys you need. As well and changing what the key does altogether. So you can remap almost every key on this Keyboard. Ads well as Repeat rate keys, Basically rapid fire I guess you could call it. Comes with a thick braided mesh cord and gold plated connectors. Media keys a a bonus as well. and a USB pass-thru ports as well.

Pros: USB port worked, looks NICE, loved the backlights are GORGEOUS.

Cons: Only works long enough to log into windows, then nothing worked at all (except the built in USB port and backlights). Installation software was not included so i had to download that off the website and that didn't even work (extracted files then sat @ 0% and never did anything else for over 10min+ EVERYTIME). Tried uninstalling and reinstalling, disconnecting and reconnecting and even other operating systems (linux). Nothing worked. Then I'm charged an EXTRA $15 TO RETURN SOMETHING THAT NEVER WORKED TO BEGIN WITH? THANKS ALOT COUGAR! THIS WILL EASILY BE MY LAST PURCHASE FROM YOU! I'M DONE WITH YOU GUYS! You can have your crummy keyboard back i don't need it. GGWP you cost me an extra $15 bucks and didn't even care hope it was worth.

Other Thoughts: This was a HUGE LET DOWN. Simply because the 700M gaming mouse IS AWESOME! Such a let down. I also had a 1000W PSU and was planning on later buying one of their cases but not after this. Customer support tried to help but couldn't and having to pay for a problem that i didn't cause rubs me the wrong way.

Running:
Win 7 Home Premium
8 GB Corsair RAM
Core i7 3770
OCZ SSD 128GB
NVIDIA Geforce GTX 760 (TOTALLY WORTH BTW)
ASROCK Z77oc

Tested in League of Legends Custom Game
Could not skill up anything through the keyboard (CTRL shortcuts)
Could not use any spells once skilled up with mouse (had to click everything)
Could not even alt tab out or end the game had to wait for the time out just to quit and begin diagnostics.

Pros: One of the best gaming keyboards I have used. Purchased with the Cougar 700m gaming mouse and I couldn't be happier with this combo. So many options to go through but the 700k has really taken my FPS gaming to another level. The ergonomics and cherry red switches are just perfect for me.

Cons: Key leds cannot be changed from orange.

Pros: Nice weight
Smooth MX cherry red keys
Very nice wrist wrest with the fps add on
Thick cable
Very cool led backlights
UIX is very good with keyboard and mouse
Perfect for my competitive CS:GO games

Cons: The firmwire can be tricky it needs to be explained better. So ill explain that in the other thoughts for you. =)

Other Thoughts: All in all this keyboard is perfect! the way everything is layed out not to many keys but just the right amount. I give it a 9/10 but 4.5/5 here so I just rounded to 5 because of the Firmwire update you use on your mouse or keyboard with the UIX system if you have a precious keyboard or mouse program installed and you are trying to Update your device it will freeze around 80% and stop and reset to 0% and freeze at 80% and continue the cycle over and over and the only way to get out is to remove you device. Well when you do that and plug your device in it is stuck with a blinking light like the firmwire update is still going and it will not work unless you go to your control panel then connected devices, and under the undefined tab you will see your device if it is the 700k or 700m right click on it and troubleshoot it it will tell you it needs updated run that update and then you will be able to do the firmwire update again and thiss time it will work.

Remember this is only if you have another company's mouse or keyboard softwear blocking your UIX fiemwire update.

So I recommend to skip all this you just remember to uninstall (Logitech or razors) software before trying to do the UXI firmwire update. This happened to me with both the 700K and 700M. I hope this helps someone if you are having trouble. CHEERS!

Pros: Light show is awesome. Well built and really looks nice. Keys are nice and snappy. The hand rest is awesome and removable. Programing is easy and straight forward. Plenty of macro buttons. USB, Mic, and headphone connectors on back of keyboard are very convenient.

Cons: Wish It had a option to change color of lights.

Other Thoughts: I bought this as a package deal with mouse. They complement each other well! So far I like this keyboard a lot! Plenty of programing options and the keyboard feels and looks great! I'm a hard core gamer. Works great so far for that purpose. So far I'm very happy as I was skeptical because this is new on the market.

Pros: I'll start by saying that I am thoroughly pleased with this keyboard and that it performs to my expectations. The lighting features are nice and the keyboard has nice solid-build feeling to it. The keystrokes are smooth and the keys are firm. The Macro keys are a dream come true. However, I left off one egg because of the firmware glitch I ran into. Here was my situation: Windows 7 Home Premium - I had the Cougar 700M mouse plugged into the keyboard via the USB pass-through port and when I began to install the UIX software, it froze on the firmware update portion. I let it sit for two hours, knowing that I could potentially "brick" this keyboard. Short story long, I had no choice in the end, but to unplug the keyboard and start over. The keyboard was now dead. However, after restarting my PC and plugging in the Mouse to it's own dedicated USB port on the PC, I was able to correct the issue and the UIX firmware update went through on the keyboard successfully. So, if you are having issues with the UIX software not installing correctly, make sure there are no peripherals hooked to the keyboard, restart the PC, and try again.

Cons: None besides some buggy software, which should be easy enough to fix.

Other Thoughts: Quality product. Highly recommend. I would be cautious with installing the UIX software. I don't know how widespread the problem is as of now.

Pros: it was cool when it worked

Cons: It worked right out of the box as a keyboard. I downloaded the driver from cougars web page and installed it. When I ran it the software took over my computer and forced a firmware update. Computer sat locked up for over an hour trying to update the firmware that was forced by cougar. all the leds went out and now have a dead keyboard.

Other Thoughts: wanted this to blow away my power supply company keyboard that all the leds are burning out on, and now I have two junk keyboards.