Impulse purchase with a happy ending!

## Keys ##
My first action in a new keyboard is pry the Scroll Lock key. I need this key while the KVM switch, but leaves the configure themselves, so roles is the candidate for this test. The keys are made of plastic and quite high, the exact opposite of modern notebook style. Exactly what I wanted! Among the key is a pin, which is as long as again with two sturdy plastic clamps that hold the key in the housing. I could not simply pull the keys with two fingers, but had to use a small flat lever. Down in the housing is then to see the rubber nub that operates the sensor field. So it is not a mechanical keyboard. The key tops can be moved horizontally minimal, I would say below the threshold at which you normally read in reviews, the keys would rumwackeln. I find this very pleasant, more pleasant than rigid keys.

The pressure point of the keys is pleasant (whatever that means in precise). I would settle him around the level of a Cherry keyboard with high keys. Whatever that may mean now (I have no words to describe it): The change from flat notebook keys to such, clearly defined buttons with real mechanical stroke may be more difficult than the reverse exchange.

The sound of the keyboard is very pleasant (for me) and getting used to for people who are accustomed to the flat things. It is definitely too loud for a quiet office environment, you can clearly hear each time you press a clunk. I would like to have exactly, but that not everyone likes.

The space bar does not shake, not wedged and respond, no matter where they abut.

## Anti-ghosting, 6-key rollover ##
/ * I will not explain here what the does and why you need it!
[...]
The problem of restricted keys which you can press at one time, was one reason why I have chosen for this model. Had the VIRTUIS already on the market, I would have probably taken the (10-key rollover), but here it does. One can of the main keys four at once press (for example, ASDF and then press CTRL + Shift + Space + Alt. These can be from the keypad ten key press at a time. Even the quick-brown-fox-Test survives the device properly . In fact, all the buttons go down to 4 and 7, if you keep both Shift keys. The complete coverage you get closer, the farther reduces the USB sample rate.

Short: Ghosting is wide enough to handle, to be able to play about Mortal Kombat with the keyboard. Whoever makes something. Evil People.

## Lights and Visibility ##
For owners of Logitech Illuminated or comparable lighting this keyboard is disappointing. The light is at the highest level, perhaps half as bright as the Illuminated. By day you can see them even the color impression of the three different colors left on the keys. Only the glowing Parthica lettering that indicates the upper-center of the keyboard via color code the eye selected profile is strong, clear and distinct. If you look at an angle to the keyboard (so something like 90% of the time in which you are the keyboard just in front of him while typing) acts, the upper piece of illuminated signs faded a little.

Here there is also the biggest drawback of the device: The special characters are represented as small on the keys that you despite the backlight must look very closely (if with a magnifying glass) in order to 'different from * to. The label should have been more clearly avoiding, because the light is ans I start enough as you can see to the decoration stripes. For me, that enough, I would buy a keyboard without imprint, for me, the lighting is pure mood element.

The decorative elements do not interfere and high aesthetics. The decorative lights on the armrest is not often seen, as you, well, the arm has it. You can work with it but even so, without one feels illuminated unnecessarily (especially in gamer circles it happens that one is the evening go with mouse and joystick and the keyboard has standing just in front of him.

There is no hotkey to turn off the light or dim, but very well what to change color. This must be done through the Windows software.

## Layout ##
The layout is, except for the macro keys on the left, standards compliant as compliant hardly goes. All keys are where they are traditionally expected of EinfgEntf / PosEnde / Page Up Page Down-block together and 2x3 buttons horizontally, just above findert one block printing roller break. F1 is on the 2, F11 and F12 directly through Backspace, Return is one and a half wide and two key high, the right shift key is a half key wide. All keys as
The multimedia keys are, in contrast to the otherwise classic design flat, Trapeziod and off, distributed left and right at the top. These buttons are illuminated and have a noticeable pressure point.

The macro keys are located at the very left. That one looks good in the pictures. They are labeled with gray and M1 to M5. At the top of the button to change the profile (which sees the German keyboard is different than on the Amazon images of US-layout).

There is no right Windows key, instead there is a Fn key on the special functions of the keyboard, which are all located on the F-keys. F1-F3 will change the color of light, F4 starts and stops the macro recorder, with F5-F8 to set the latency of a keystroke (weird for non-gamblers). Finally, can be switched off with the Fn + F12 key Windows. Mir is still never happened, but many gamblers remove the Windows keys of their keyboards, because playing in the game provided minimized and the Start menu. This hotkey is the most elegant solution that what I saw.

Caution: Those who have never had a gamer keyboard, could suffer a displacement effect. I always put my hand on the keyboard and my little finger examined leftmost below the outermost button, so I now had more than once unconsciously fingers on Caps + Q + S + M4 / M5 instead of WASD + Shift + Ctrl. By this, however, you get used to after a while.

## Macros ##
Macros are stored directly on the keyboard and not the drivers, as is the case with some other manufacturers. To accommodate you press the Record button (Fn + F4), then one of the macro keys on the left side, followed by any combination of keys (except the Macro buttons and the profile change button). It is not only stored the sequence, but also the pressure of time, and the breaks between each stop. If you want to delete a macro, you just take on an empty run is then only a short break. How long can the macros, I have not found the manual was there little revealing.

The configuration tool allows the macro then edit later and also lay on one of the multimedia keys. Runs the tool tray of the driver, it automatically saves any macros, so you should you accidentally overwrite one, it can recover easily.

## Processing ##
The keyboard is made throughout of matt plastic. It wobbles so far nothing, only a minimal lower resistance can be felt where the light slots in the palm rest are. The cable is very well placed, textile wrapped, fixed up with a rubber sleeve, ending in a long, sturdy USB connector, which is equipped with gold contacts. Shortly before the plug is a small weight.

The four rubber feet are a hit! I have the keyboard on my coffee table (with wheels) placed and easily pushed the keyboard against the table. The rubber feet are so durable that I was able to move the table! The feet are to fold out, plastic and nothing special.

## KVM ##
Attached is all about a KVM switch from Aten. Both is. After the first power of both computers the keyboard wanted to react first at all. Windows does have claims to install new drivers, the keyboard did not work then yet. I had the keyboard emulation of the switches off so it went, but it did not bother, since when connecting to the KVM change the keyboard (as opposed to its predecessor) can be used without delay. Consequently, the keyboard does not work in emulation mode. Whether this is now on the switch or at the keyboard, I can not judge.

## Linux ##
Use Xorg 1.14.4 with evdev 2.8.2 (it is X-ABI_XINPUT_VERSION result = 20) under archlinux. All keys give in xev a code back, most media buttons are actually connected directly to the correct commands, down to mute, volume + and volume, the return unusual code. I loaded a test basis, the current Ubuntu live, there the codes are already known, so it can be assumed that the next X update these keys do not have to be assigned manually. Also playing and recording the macro works perfectly, just as the changing profiles. Lack frontend it is not I was able to edit the profiles, but I will still test whether the Windows tool in Wine or even Mono runs. Furthermore, all the profile information that you have created with the Windows tool to work. Apparently the ²Profile are not stored in the driver settings, but in the keyboard.

## Windows ##
All keys on the keyboard function without driver installation already, no arguing. The shortcut for shutting down the Windows key (Fn + F12) works well right away. For the basic functions you do not need the driver per se, sampling, macros, and the like can also be set without the interface. If you want more change the layout, you need the small tool that is included in the driver package.

The drivers on the CD are still up to date and do not differ from the drivers on the website. That does not surprise me further, the series does not seem to be too long in the market. It contained 32 and 64bit drivers, but the utility does not have a 64bit version. The installation of the control software suggests relatively gently to book with 18,1MiB. At system startup two programs are loaded as the user, once a Monitor.exe (3108KiB), which provides a tray icon and a osd.exe (840KiB), which I have seen of the OSD here anything yet. Both can shoot as needed, and start. Double Clicking the tray icon, the setting software starts (Options.EXE with 11200KiB), which also can be started from the Applications folder, regardless of the tray icon.

## Configuration Tool ##
The included management tool works similarly to the programs of other keyboard manufacturers. A positive feature is that Darun is to find any advertising and frills: Everything looks after control is also one. You can actually each key neubelegen, you can manage and edit recorded macros via the keyboard. (Called "Breathing") The brightness of the lighting, and the Pulsiermodus can also adjust, just like the USB polling rate. I am not yet able to establish a meaningful connection between the USB polling rate and the hotkey for "Key Response time", the hot keys to change the value is not in the Setup.

Profiles can be exported and imported and stored directly on the keyboard, so that profiles are maintained even when moving to another computer or another operating system. Exports to a profile, you do not get a GKP file that is kept in clear ini format firstly, on the other, macros and light settings in plain text but binary (ie represented in hexadecimal) are.

If that search engine do not like, which can be composed his own rooms. The layout of the tool are as collection of images and .ini files. But you should have no illusions, the .ini files do not read like well-documented scripts, but more like something you hiding today as Hardcode somewhere.

## Conclusion ##
I wanted to pull off almost a star, for lighting and the button labeled, but there is so much to report above average, I would like to give one star more than possible. Poetic justice, or whatever you call it ...

I can recommend the Parthica anyone who wants to have a good keyboard for typing and gaming, but, like me, has no desire to spend more than 50, only then but in the driver hell to land (yes, Roccat, I gugg to you !) or to have utilities that are as great as so many a whole operating system (hey, Logitech! That's it with us. Get your stuff off. The cat I'll keep ...).