Zalman Announces Five New Gaming Keyboards

btarunr · Sep 26, 2012, 10:47 AM

Zalman entered the gaming keyboards market with a bang, by announcing no less than five new models of all shapes and sizes. These include the 94-key compact mechanical ZM-K500, ZM-K400G, ZM-K350M, and the all-purpose ZM-K300M and ZM-K200M (pictured below in that order). The five are designed with highly durable switches that can withstand up to 2 billion key presses. Measuring 352 x 169 x 36 mm (WxDxH), and weighing 850g, the ZM-K500 is priced at 5,480 JPY (US $70.5).

The ZM-K400G is the other red-illuminated keyboard in the series, and is decked with macro keys along its top edge, and a total key-count of 119. It measures 463 x 191 x 30 mm, weighing 700 g, and is priced at 2,980 JPY (US $38.35). Moving on, the ZM-K350M, ZM-K300M, and ZM-K200M are entry-level models with Windows shortcut keys that can be reprogrammed to serve as macros. The three are priced at 1,180 JPY (US $15.8), 850 JPY ($10.5), and 780 ($10) JPY, respectively.

Source: Hermitage Akihabara

Vancha · Sep 26, 2012, 11:07 AM

If it ends up being good, I'd love an ISO version of the K500. The K200M looks good as well.

3870x2 · Sep 26, 2012, 12:14 PM

Are those prices correct?
$15.80, $10.5, $10?

rpsgc · Sep 26, 2012, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3870x2

Are those prices correct?
$15.80, $10.5, $10?

I highly doubt that!

Must be missing a 0 at the end.

james888 · Sep 26, 2012, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3870x2

Are those prices correct?
$15.80, $10.5, $10?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpsgc

I highly doubt that!

Must be missing a 0 at the end.

Nope. It ranges from $70 on the far left to $10 on the for right.

The two on the leftward edge the only mechanical keyboards out of the bunch? I am not sure if it is saying only those two or all of them.
What kind of mechanical keys...?

Edit: I had to follow the source link, and read some Japanese store page... but I could only confirm that the most expensive one had mechanical switches.

Vancha · Sep 26, 2012, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james888

Nope. It ranges from $70 on the far left to $10 on the for right.

The two on the leftward edge the only mechanical keyboards out of the bunch? I am not sure if it is saying only those two or all of them.
What kind of mechanical keys...?

Edit: I had to follow the source link, and read some Japanese store page... but I could only confirm that the most expensive one had mechanical switches.
https://www.ask-corp.jp/products/ima...zm-k500_06.jpg

I very much doubt the K400G has any mechanical switches at $38.35

Hilux SSRG · Sep 26, 2012, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james888

Edit: I had to follow the source link, and read some Japanese store page... but I could only confirm that the most expensive one had mechanical switches.

Those are Kailh? switches, not Cherry MX. Not sure if Kailh switches are quality but the price seems fair.

St.Alia-Of-The-Knife · Sep 26, 2012, 08:05 PM

i have the exact same one as the third one but of a different brand
Zalman doing imitations now?

Binge · Sep 26, 2012, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by St.Alia-Of-The-Knife

i have the exact same one as the third one but of a different brand
Zalman doing imitations now?

Rebrand of OEM it seems. Those switches worry me.

Rowsol · Sep 26, 2012, 08:36 PM

I really like the k500. If those top right 2 keys were play/pause and calculator it would be perfect.

St.Alia-Of-The-Knife · Sep 26, 2012, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Binge

Rebrand of OEM it seems. Those switches worry me.

I bought mine in china for about 20$, and its backlit unlike zalman's

eidairaman1 · Sep 26, 2012, 09:26 PM

I personally would still prefer a PS/2 Keyboard and Mouse

james888 · Sep 26, 2012, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hilux SSRG

Those are Kailh? switches, not Cherry MX. Not sure if Kailh switches are quality but the price seems fair.

I have no idea. I just found the pic while searching for more information. When I google Kailh switches I don't get anything promising.

THE_EGG · Sep 27, 2012, 02:59 PM

Dayum the k500 looks tasty, however it looks like the 'C' and the 'R' key got hit with the ugly stick somehow :/

For most people I don't think they will mind who makes the switches, as long as they are mechanical and at these prices, they should sell like hot-cakes.

Sep 26, 2012, 10:47 AM	#1
btarunr Editor & Senior Moderator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hyderabad, India Posts: 14,981 (7.31/day) Thanks: 788 Thanked 12,895 Times in 5,647 Posts System Specs	Zalman Announces Five New Gaming Keyboards Zalman entered the gaming keyboards market with a bang, by announcing no less than five new models of all shapes and sizes. These include the 94-key compact mechanical ZM-K500, ZM-K400G, ZM-K350M, and the all-purpose ZM-K300M and ZM-K200M (pictured below in that order). The five are designed with highly durable switches that can withstand up to 2 billion key presses. Measuring 352 x 169 x 36 mm (WxDxH), and weighing 850g, the ZM-K500 is priced at 5,480 JPY (US $70.5). The ZM-K400G is the other red-illuminated keyboard in the series, and is decked with macro keys along its top edge, and a total key-count of 119. It measures 463 x 191 x 30 mm, weighing 700 g, and is priced at 2,980 JPY (US $38.35). Moving on, the ZM-K350M, ZM-K300M, and ZM-K200M are entry-level models with Windows shortcut keys that can be reprogrammed to serve as macros. The three are priced at 1,180 JPY (US $15.8), 850 JPY ($10.5), and 780 ($10) JPY, respectively. Source: Hermitage Akihabara

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Sep 26, 2012, 12:14 PM	#3
3870x2 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Joplin, Mo Posts: 4,540 (2.38/day) Thanks: 175 Thanked 691 Times in 557 Posts System Specs	Are those prices correct? $15.80, $10.5, $10? __________________ A+, N+, S+, MCSE. Heatware STEAM ID Name: furi0nst0rmrage (0s are zeros) M O D E R N\|\|W A R F A R E \|\| 2 \|\| CLUBHOUSE // TEAM “The amount exaltation of the processor cores can brings amazing floating” -sparkle

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Sep 26, 2012, 11:07 AM	#2
Vancha Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 328 (0.31/day) Thanks: 16 Thanked 60 Times in 48 Posts	If it ends up being good, I'd love an ISO version of the K500. The K200M looks good as well.

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Sep 26, 2012, 08:05 PM	#8
St.Alia-Of-The-Knife Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 191 (0.24/day) Thanks: 25 Thanked 32 Times in 20 Posts System Specs	i have the exact same one as the third one but of a different brand Zalman doing imitations now? __________________

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Sep 26, 2012, 08:36 PM	#10
Rowsol Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: US Maryland Posts: 431 (0.55/day) Thanks: 194 Thanked 60 Times in 44 Posts System Specs	I really like the k500. If those top right 2 keys were play/pause and calculator it would be perfect.

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eidairaman1 Eligible for custom title Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: HTX Posts: 10,076 (4.69/day) Thanks: 1,359 Thanked 1,159 Times in 1,035 Posts System Specs	I personally would still prefer a PS/2 Keyboard and Mouse __________________ Athlon XP USERS with COD 4 FIX http://www.techsupportforum.com/foru...ls-202011.html http://www.howorks.com/2011/02/24/ho...-memory-limit/ “Sometimes my level of fail is unprecedented.” -TheMailMan78 “This is what the force of a thousand suns looks like.” -3870x2

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Sep 27, 2012, 02:59 PM	#14
THE_EGG Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Gold Coast, Australia Posts: 765 (1.47/day) Thanks: 270 Thanked 180 Times in 116 Posts System Specs	Dayum the k500 looks tasty, however it looks like the 'C' and the 'R' key got hit with the ugly stick somehow :/ For most people I don't think they will mind who makes the switches, as long as they are mechanical and at these prices, they should sell like hot-cakes. __________________ <3 Citroen DS3

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