Rosewill RK-9000BRI - Mechanical Keyboard with Cherry MX Brown Switches

Pros: Small form-factor but full-sized keys. The Cherry MX brown switches are quite nice, you get a reasonably full travel stroke that makes about halfway down. They are not a super-stiff switch and are noticeably lighter to type on than my old model m. They have a subtle tactile feedback at the make point, with a very subdued audible click. This is not a keyboard to disturb others. The keyboard's weight is good and it stays where you put it.

Cons: For me, the only real con is I wish that the function keys sat a bit higher, closer to their position on the model m layout.

Other reviewers have found the mini-USB plug a bit flimsy; I don't. It's a small connector but fits snugly and well.

Overall Review: Mechanical keyboards are wonderful. I have used the IBM model m buckling-spring keyboards for years--they are the gold standard, but I find that they tire me out a bit more now than they used to, so switches with a lighter actuation force are very welcome to me. I have another mechanical keyboard that uses Cherry "MY" switches--the Cherry "MX" switches on this keyboard take noticeably less force but also have a bit shorter throw.

Pros: The keyboard looks great, feels great and appears to be of high quality. The USB connector that many other people seemed to have a problems with didn't give me any issues at all.

Cons: In less than a year, the switches on this keyboard have warn out. I thought mechanical switches were supposed to last longer than dome switches. Not the case, at least with this keyboard. Several of the switches on the 'Q', 'W', 'E', 'A', 'S', 'D' and 'Z' keys have completely warn out where they no longer pop back up after a key press.

Overall Review: I'm not sure whether to blame Rosewill for the horrible quality of this keyboard since it seems to be the Cherry Brown switches that have failed, but in any case -the relatively expensive keyboard is now useless. I would not recommend this product to anyone. I thought I would spring the higher price for a mechanical keyboard, thinking that it would last longer, justifying the price, though that clearly wasn't the case. I'm not sure if I would buy another keyboard with Cherry switches.