Thermaltake MEKA Mechanical Keyboard Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging & Bundle3. Thermaltake MEKA Mechanical Keyboard4. Keyboard Performance5. Closing Thoughts6. View All Pages

Thermaltake have had great success with their range of TT eSPORTS gaming keyboards, with the MEKA G1 earning many awards worldwide. It is a tasty product on paper, incorporating a beautiful finish with fast response time, USB 2.0 inputs and high grade mechanical keys.

Today we are looking at the MEKA ‘Non G' keyboard which is a streamlined, lower cost version without the wrist support and some of the secondary functionality. It does however feature the mechanical switches, USB ports and a numerical keyboard section.

Keyboard features:

• Up to 1000hz polling rate. 8x quicker than regular gaming keyboard. Never lag for action gaming.
• Cherry Black switch. The switch preferred by most gamers and has a life expectancy for up to 50 million key strokes.
• USB Hubs. Provide gamers the convenience of quick USB device installation.
• Braided cable to prevent tangle wire and provide extra flexibility.
• Gold plated USB connectors: Prove reliable data or signal transmission.
• Smart cable management to protect keyboard from damage of improper force.
• Gold plated USB connectors. Provide reliable data or signal transmission

The MEKA keyboard is supplied in a very attractive black and red coloured box with a high resolution photograph on the left of the box, with key details underneath the image and the name offset to the right.

The box folds out, presenting the user with an overview of the keyboard, just before using it.

Inside the box, is a small pull out package which contains a user manual and warranty pamphlet. There is no driver or software disc supplied, as it is not needed.

The MEKA is not a full sized board however they have cleverly reshaped the layout to accommodate a num-pad within the main section. The arrow keys are forced over into the main typing area.

Observant readers will already have noticed that Thermaltake have omitted the Windows key from the layout, which seems like a strange choice to us. We can appreciate that it can accidentally cause problems when gaming, but turning it off via software or using an optional locking mechanism seems like a better move.

We also aren't sure about the layout in this area. I like the double width return key, however it is virtually impossible to get access to the home, page up and end keys without moving hands away from the arrow key area.

The back of the keyboard is kept very simple, as the cable emerges from the centre area and can be locked in place within the plastic middle section. The cable is fully braided and high quality, which earns it a bonus point. There are two USB ports on the rear.

The angled raisers are well made and feel as if they could take some abuse over the years.

The USB plug is well made, and gold plated, with the Tt logo embossed into the plastic.

The keyboard is built around a curved chassis with a red plastic accent on either side to improve the appearance.

The keyboard has several keys which light up, when depressed. Scroll Lock, Num Lock and Caps lock are all easily noticed when activated. They actually are a bit too bright for our tastes and slightly distracting when enabled.

This keyboard is not supplied with a software or driver disc. Thermaltake have instead opted for pure ‘plug and play' operation.

The main talking point is obviously the use of quality Cherry MX Black switches which are said to be one of the gamers favourite switch designs. I have been using the original DAS Professional Keyboard now for years with its Cherry MX Blue stem switch design and when I moved to the MEKA for this test it actually felt rather spongy to me.

The Cherry MX Black switches on the MEKA keyboard have a very unusual feel, only giving tactile feedback when they reach the very bottom of the length of travel. The unusual keyboard layout also meant that I found this keyboard rather difficult for typing and a massive step backwards from either my Cherry MX3000 or DAS Professional Keyboard.

I found it less than ideal for serious typing duties and my speed dropped by around 20 wpm to 100 wpm, even after several days of practice and adapting to the layout. The glowing caps lock light also annoyed me slightly when enabled, as it was distracting. I don't look at the keyboard when typing and my peripheral vision noticed the red light. Sadly, a complete lack of software support means there is no way to disable it, unless you damage the LED light, or use tape to cover it.

To be fair, for general typing duties it is acceptable, however the unusual omission of the Windows key proved troublesome a couple of times when I needed it, having to rely instead on ALT-TAB.

When used within a gaming environment, the keyboard is much better, however initially I found myself not pressing some of the keys hard enough due to the actuation force required. A few hours later I felt quite comfortable using it within Dragon Age 2, Left4Dead 2 and Home Front. I am not a hard core gamer but my friend, who games online regularly found it quite comfortable to use. Again he questioned the choice of removing the Windows Key completely.

My colleague Henry made a good point when he was reviewing the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate in June. I agree with this views that for someone new to using a mechanical keyboard, it can take a week or so to adapt.

In regards to build quality, there are no concerns to be raised. The MEKA is well made, heavy enough and seems to be able to withstand some abuse. I deliberately dropped it from a height of around 5 feet onto a hard carpeted surface and while one of the keys dislodged, it wasn't damaged and could be replaced easy enough. If you buy one however I don't recommend you do it, that's why we are here.

Sadly, the lettering  will start to wear off over time as they aren't laser etched into the keys themselves. That said, the same problem has occurred with my DAS Professional Keyboard as several of the letters are already partially worn away.

The Thermaltake MEKA keyboard is well built. The inclusion of Cherry MX Black Switches give it a much improved feel when directly compared with a membrane board.

The compact design will appeal to people who have limited space on their desk. The inclusion of two USB ports and adjustable height feet will prove popular with gamers.

As a pure typing keyboard there are too many flaws for us to recommend it. The keyboard layout is unintuitive, it is missing a Windows Key and the keyboard functionality is very linear and non tactile, until the end of each key press. I wouldn't be happy using this is a general all round keyboard and would replace it immediately with either the Cherry MX3000 or DAS Professional Keyboard. For the gaming audience however it is a well built, durable compact design, easily portable to lan parties.

UK pricing is around £80.

• small physical size will suit desks with limited space.
• adjustable height.
• tough design.
• Cherry MX Black switches will last a long time.
• Two USB ports.

Cons:

• Not ideal for typing.
• key layout could be improved.
• missing windows key.
• no way to disable lighted keys.

Kitguru says: a well made keyboard which will appeal to gamers who don't want a full sized board to lug around.

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