Deck Francium Pro Keyboard (KBA-CBL87P-WHT-DPU-E1)

I own both the Deck Francium Pro and Deck Hassium Pro. My Hassium Pro (the 108 key) has MX Brown switches and the Francium Pro (87 key) has MX Blues. I love both keyboards more than any of my other keyboards. I need a keyboard that can record macro key combos on the fly. I work on a corporate computer that does not allow software to be installed. I may need to update 1400 records to a new department number in our asset management system. Instead of having to type "TAB, TAB, 12345, CTL+S, ENTER" 1400 times, I can quickly hit FN+PN, press the key I want to program, type "TAB, TAB, 12345, CTL+S, ENTER", hit PN and then turn on the macro profile. I can then just press the programmed key 1400 times and done. My boss is amazed at how quickly I finish my tasks!!If you are looking for a board with macros like this, then in my opinion the Deck Francium Pro and Hassium Pro are pretty much the only game in town. Yes, the Vortex Pok3r and Rac3 have programming layers, but if you want a regular TKL or Full... none of the other boards around have usable macro features. There are gaming boards that have macro keys but you have to install software to record your macros. I need a simple board with no software or 5 step, two handed process to access the macro recording and playback! I and do not want a keyboard that is the size of a surfboard and looks like a stealth bomber with wide angled edges and obnoxious lime green branding.The benefit with the Deck keyboards is that you can program with so little effort. There is no software or complicated method of accessing the recording layer. Also, the recorded macro has NO keypress delay recorded. So when pressing a programmed key it sends keystrokes instantly. If you need to add delay, that feature is available though, It is just not used by default. You can record up to 64 keystrokes and I believe (but not 100% positive) that things like CTL+S only count as one keystroke. I have made some seriously long macros and none have reached the edge of the 64 keystroke limit.I like that you can either turn on the macro layer with the "F11" key OR you can hold PN plus your programmed key for a one off... like a shift key for macros. I have my numpad (on the Hassium Pro only) programmed with dates and phrases that I key a lot so I can just hold PN and hit the key I need with my right hand. I have tried other boards and to get to the program layer you have to use two hands to switch to that layer then hit the programmed key. Those boards also ONLY record macros with keypress delay also recorded. That drives me batty. If I record a macro and I take my time so as to not make a mistake, the playback takes just as long as it took for me to key it. Yes I am saving moving my fingers but not ANY time at all. Ducky One has the ability to change that delay but that means after each keypress you then have to press the FN+ key required to get the .02 millisecond delay. A 15 key macro now required 30 kepresses to record. UGH. The Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro M has NO way to remove the delay when recording macros. You are stuck watching your macro play back at the same speed it took you when recording OR just try recording several times typing as fast as you can until you can do it with no mistakes.The Francium/Hassium Pro's do only have one programming layer though. So it really is best for recording combo keystroke macros. You could technically record just a few keys with a single keystroke if you wanted. Like if you wanted to make the programming layer into Dvorak or Colemak you could do that. You could also make the program layer just switch a few keys around like turn your Windows key into an Caps Lock, your Caps Lock into a Backspace and your Right Alt into Caps Lock.The other thing is the legends on the keycaps. They have received much scorn and the font is so odd... but I love the font. For me, it is the last thing on a keycap checklist. The keycaps very thick, double shot, shine through and made from PBT. So they feel and sound great. The double shot legends are made or a translucent white plastic, real white... not like a milky cloudy clear, bright white. So if you turn the LED's off they will look like regular double shot keycaps. The downside is if you replace just the alphas or just the modifiers, the new keycaps may shine MUCH brighter than the stock keycaps. This would only matter if you mix them. I replaced the alphas and actually have come to like the brighter alphas as it helps me visually orient in darker environments. I think the keycaps are so nice you do not have to replace them unless you are someone who just likes buying keycaps all the time.The case if plastic but still feels of excellent quality, The keyboard is not the heaviest I own, but is sturdy enough. Not being the heaviest may be a good thing if you are like me and take it back and forth to work often. Removing the case is very easy. there are no screws to remove. You use a credit card. Turn the keyboard over, slide the card along between the top and bottom until your reach a clip and gently use the card to pop the clip. Once all the clips are popped, the top will just lift off. The PCB is attached to the base with a screw. I used Krylon Fusion "Satin Almond" paint to make the case the same color as vintage keyboards and it worked out perfectly! First use very very fine sandpaper to gently rough up the surface... I used something in the 600 grit range. Then put a very light first coat, let it dry and repeat a few times until it is done. I also did very very light sanding between the first coats. After the final coat I just wiped the whole thing gently with a coffee filter. It is so beautiful. I added vintage looking keycaps to mine once I memorized all the extra functions of the keys.Oh, that is another thing that some people whine about on the Francium Pro... the ESC is also F12. FN+ESC = F12, it is no issue for me, I quickly became accustomed to that and rarely need F12 anyway. The F11 is by default the programming layer activation key, to get an F11 you have to press the FN+F11. Again, works fine for me so no bitching here.There is LED modes, I do not use them but they are typical and if you have used any LED keyboard before then you know what that looks like. There is only one color though, I have the blue LED on the Francium and the white LED on the Hassium.... There are no RGB version of the Deck keyboards as far as I am aware.The case has a slight angle, but there are also feet if you prefer more incline. Just one height option, feet or no feet.The cable is a nice braided cable and is permanently attached. The pro on that is there is no jack to break but if the cable does go bad you will need to open the case and resolder the cable.There are three cable channels. So you can tuck the cable to it exit the left, right or rear of the board. This will also help keep the cable from straining where it meets the board and add to it's life. I like not losing the cable so this is not an issue with me. It has a nice braided cover and the USB plug is nice and sturdyThe manual says there is a utility on the Deck website that allows you to transfer macros from one Deck board to another, I looked but did not find it. I would not use it but I was curious when I read it in the manual, so I looked. It may be there but I did not find it. I did flash both of my Deck keyboards to the latest firmware on the Deck site. I do not know the version numbers, but the one I had stock when purchased was several revisions behind the one on the Deck website. I also do not know what features it added / fixed as there is no easy to find CHANGELOG.Deck website has a Forum but it is a total mess. It is just packed to the gills with SPAM. Too bad, it would have been a decent forum. Their site does not even link to the forum any more, you can find it by searching deck Keyboard forum on google. It seems like it has been orphaned is left to rot.Hope that helps someone who needs a keyboard with a macro feature.

Let me preface this review by saying... I have tried a ton of mechanical keyboards. Admittedly, I am very picky and have had a hard time finding the keyboard that is right for me. I game more than I type but I do value a nice, solid typing experience. Needless to say, choosing the right keyboard and switch combo has been difficult. I have tried almost everything with the exception of Filco (CM Storm, Pok3R, Leopold, KUL, etc) and I have to say, in my opinion, this keyboard is above and beyond any other one on the market.I believe choosing the right keyboard comes down to a few fundamental questions, those being, 1) Full size vs TKL vs 60% 2) backlit vs not 3) keycap material If you start by answering these 3 questions you have drastically reduced the amount of keyboards to look at and refine your choices. Then comes the most difficult question of all... switch type. This is highly subjective and debate is really futile. It's like politics or religion. I have made the preceding statements because it will allow me to express why I chose this keyboard.First of all, I love TKL keyboards. More space on the desk, more space for the mouse, and i NEVER use the number keys.Backlit vs not backlit: not as important to me but the backlights on this keyboard are pretty nice lookingKeycap material: I don't know about you, I may be alone here, but I am personally pretty tired of spending $150+ dollars on a keyboard only to take it out of the box and find that the keycaps feel like something you would expect to find on a fisher price toy keyboard that you bought for your 4 year old nephew that you don't really like and think is kind of annoying. Also, it really sucks when you are gaming and eating mounds of cheetos but you forget your wet nap. After a few short, tense online multiplayer matches, you notice that the lettering on your keycaps has slowly turned a subtle, yet pleasant hue of cheeto orange only to slowly fade into oblivion never to be seen again. I hate that. New, pristine white to cheeto to gone within a week. Whats the deal with cheap keycaps?This keyboard has the single best selection of keycaps I have felt and they COME WITH THE KEYBOARD. They do not come as a separate 50-65$ expense that you have to wait like 6 months for because no one has them in stock. These keycaps are amazing. Show me another company that has double shot, backlit, PBT keycaps on the keyboard out of the box. I'm waiting....The board itself is super sturdy, no flex what so ever. The board looks pretty classy in my opinion as well. Very subtle, no obnoxious branding. The keys are plate mounted as well. This in combination with the incredible keycaps makes for probably the best typing experience I have had in my quest for the perfect keyboard.I am so surprised that there is not more talk about this keyboard in the mechanical keyboard community. One thing I keep reading on the forums, which is actually pretty ridiculous, is that people are not trying this keyboard because of the font. Has anyone making these statements actually seen the font in person? I know, I know... its subjective, everyone has their own taste but come on. Its not that bad. In my opinion, I would take any font on keycaps that are this high quality over these other cheap 1mm thick, fade-inevitable, ABS garbage caps that all these other companies are using. Really though, the font isn't that bad... its certainly not bad enough, at least to me, that I would want to spend another $60 plus to get actual keycaps that are worth typing on.The one thing that may be a negative for some people is that because the keycaps are PBT double shot, the backlighting does not project across the entire key with 100% uniformity. I don't care about that, however, but I thought it was worth mentioning so no one claims that I am being misleading when I say this keyboard is flawless, and awesome.That about wraps it up folks... I seriously doubt anyone actually read this whole review.

Very nice professional keyboard 10x better than my old Ducky Shine. Back lighting is more than adequate, Keys are a dream, Fonts will take a little time to get used too but not in a bad way, Not as tactile as I thought it would be but not bad either, I would buy this again altho with the build quality I suspect it will outlast me. Reminds of the old IBM tactile keyboards very heavy duty and its own weight keeps it from sliding on the desk. Also there has been an upgrade to the feet. The fold down legs in the back are now with a thick rubber pad on the bottom on them, older ones just had the plastic leg and that was it. It was a complaint of others I had read....Obviously this company listens to their clients and made this small but handy improvement, sticks to the desk like glue, very nice, mine has the Cherry MX blue, and they are not as clicky sounding at all. The tops of each key has a slight texture to it and the edges are nice and crisp but not sharp, easy for the novice like me with 2 fingers to tap away accurately, This board is not Cheap, it is worth what you pay for it and then some, It weighs 3lbs.........Bout time!!!