HAVIT Mechanical Gaming Keyboard with RGB Illumination (QWERTZ, German Layout), Interchangeable Buttons (Blue Switches), Anti-Ghosting, 105 Buttons with USB Cable (KB378L-DE, Black+Silver)

Bought this for a song on Amazon Warehouse :) Me and keyboards have a long, love/hate relationship. For one thing, I am a touch-typist and the print on most tend to wear quite quickly - so I thought perhaps, spend more money = a better, more robust, long-lasting product.You'd think so, but it hasn't been my experience - I've tried all sorts from a £5-ish Tesco Value keyboard (bought simply out of curiosity - very "noisy" and it wasn't a mechanical! and the ink on the keys smudged quickly - as expected!) to pricier "Gaming" keyboards.My first illuminated keyboard was the Saitek Eclipse II - the key legends started to deteriorate after a year. Then I found a Logitech G11 illuminated Gaming Keyboard for around £20 (!) in Staples bargain bin - which lasted 6-7 years and was still going strong, except one or two media keys gave up the ghost. The "etched" keys on the keyboard were still perfect, so I passed it on to a friend.On to a Sumvision LED 3 Colour Backlit keyboard, bought on a whim from Amazon for just over £10, and the keys started showing wear after WEEKS (left a disgruntled review https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R2D5KBANL8MN9L/ref=cm_cr_dp_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00FQLKW06&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=340831031&store=computers#wasThisHelpful ). Then the connection became erratic (randomly resetting itself and turning the LEDs off for a few seconds at a time), so I filed it in the bin, not good for a few months' use!Luckily, another bargain bin saved the day and I rescued a Logitech G510s illuminated keyboard from Currys, nearly two years ago. Reassured by my old G11 still looking pristine after the best part of 7 years, I looked forward to this taking me into the 2020s. I'm not sure if Logitech's QC has went down the pan, but after 18 months, this now too had keys starting to smudge/wear away, *sigh*. Logitech now inform me it's actually covered by their Warranty and they'll replace it!!So...onto this one. I've always wanted a mechanical keyboard. This Havit HV-KB378L-DE (German layout) appeared on Warehouse the other day for a tiny price. Yes, it's German so it's QWERTZ (but with the provided key-puller I can reposition the Y and Z keys). My touch-typing is good enough to know where more obscure keys are, so it's not a problem.The tactile feel of the Outemu Blues (the switches used on this 'board) are very clacky but good to type on - not that I have extensive experience - the noise could annoy those in the same room, though.The keyboard apparently isn't "genuine" RGB as it only has 8 colours and 5 brightness levels (my G510s let me choose any colour on the software's colour wheel), but I'm pleased with it, and use the rainbow "wave" LED effect. It has an in-built memory so remembers the last illuminated setting you had it on, so you don't have to reset it when booting up, like some cheap keyboards force you to.You can turn off the blue LEDs at the top (personally I find them annoying) with FN+PAUSE (some reviews imply you can't), also, you can turn off keyboard illumination completely if you prefer.I almost cancelled the order when I saw the wrist rest is attached to the unit (personally I hate them and throw them away) but it's only 3" at its widest point and doesn't take over my desk, so I can live with it. It actually feels pretty comfortable and not obtrusive.The Havit seems sturdy, doesn't slip, and I have fingers and toes crossed it doesn't fall at the final hurdle - longevity.How I wish keyboard manufacturers could guarantee keys are resistant to wear, smudging, whether they are etched or not - it would save me (and no doubt others) a lot of hassle, and money!It can't just be me, can it?!Edit 29th August (4.5 months of daily use, more or less): Unfortunately the "N" key is the first one to smudge, so far, the bane of my life with keyboards :(

The wrist rest is the only thing I can complain about, besides the fact that this keyboard is quite loud (almost as loud as a typewriter), so don't expect the mellow clanks you get from more expensive mechanical keyboards. The backlight is great, and the keys are very responsive and satisfying to use; as advertised, anti-ghosting works perfectly well. I have had it for over a year and there are no signs of wear, so would recommend to everyone who lives alone/with very tolerant people who won't mind the loudness of this keyboard.