Product: Tecware Phantom 104 RGB Keyboard - Outemu Brown Switches9 Month Update:----------------------------Once I set the colors in the software I have never touched it.I tried third party typewriter style key caps but had to replace with the original key caps. All my typing keys are the original key caps.This keyboard has been on most of 24 hours a day for last 8 months and no dimming in brightness or color of key switches.Today there has been a weird issue where the space key stuck on but before I could pull the switch it went back to normal. I do not know if this is a warning of future issue, if I can find my collection of replacement switches I may replace it or not will see.My experience is same as first day I got the replacement keyboard except for glitch mentioned above. I need the ten key buttons so glad I got the 104 keys, for me the non ten key version would of been a major mistake. Still recommend the keyboard.2 Week Update:----------------------------After almost 2 weeks of use I am liking it more. Typing is smooth. I do like the slight resistance to the Brown switches.Just became aware that there is no light that tells you if the Scroll Lock is on or not. I did not even notice this until now. You have to look at the bottom of the text editor to see if it is. Some editors do not have this notification. If you have a second keyboard that has a scroll lock or Insert indicator light, this maybe only way to know and is way I became aware my Scroll Lock button was on.I have purchased and returned a 3rd Party Type Writer Style Key Caps for this keyboard, preferring the stock key caps for typing experience. Updating, changing Key Caps is pretty straight forward and easy to do with the included key cap puller on the bottom of the keyboard.You can really do some heavy pressing and pulling to put on or remove key caps without damaging the key switches. I am impressed.-----------------Day 4 Update: I received the replacement keyboard. Two things I have noticed I did not in the initial review.1: There is no time out of the lights, they stay on all the time and do not turn off after 10 minutes or whatever default some keyboards have. I LOVE THIS!2: Others have mentioned and I can confirm with the 1st keyboard I received. There can be a double sending of keys. You press a letter and two or more appear in your document. This is a defect, I do not know if it is the switch, I did not try replacing the key switch because it was happening on a dozen or so keys with the first keyboard I received. The new one I do not notice this occurring.It may develop over time in your keyboard, seems to be "common" with this particular keyboard. I do not know if polling rate speed has any impact, I did notice with 1000 speed that I had more typing errors because accidental keystrokes got registered where at lower rates 250Hz or 125Hz I did not notice this happening.---------------------------------------------------------------Original Review: Day 1-------------------My first impressions:---------------------------- The box seal looked like it had been reapplied badly. There was no quick start manual included but it did had the two tools for taking out the switches and keycaps. Four spare switches were also included. The size of the keyboard and keys are smaller than my previous keyboards. I kind of like the size but the smaller keycaps make me concerned for 3rd party keycaps, if they will fit this keyboard correctly such as the larger keys, space-bar, enter, shift... the capslock and back button are much smaller than on my previous keyboards and the space bar looks so tiny compared to what I am used to. I downloaded and installed the software from their website that you use to create custom color options.There are three profiles that contain 6 custom color options each that you can use to make your own color pallets for the keyboard. There are 4 presets to choose from on each profile but these can also be overwritten with your own color choices. Only solid color options from what I can see though. This gives you, 18 total custom color settings with an additional 12 presets you can overwrite if you choose. All the colors get written to the keyboard so there is if you switch computers they go with the keyboard and not the software. The only issue I have is I can not see anyway to choose between the custom options you setup in the software via the Fn RGB hotkeys. The keyboard that I received the 3 key has a permanent red tint to the LED. I am RMAing the keyboard for this issue and a random double key with some of the keys. Before you call it good and done with your keyboard, check it out first and see if there are any issues that come up. Change the colors of the keys to different colors, different brightnesses, turn them off, turn them on. Check the keycaps and operation of each switch. I found at least two issues within 20 minutes of setting up the keyboard. These are defects in this individual keyboard I received.Mechanical VS Membrane:-------------------------------- This is the first mechanical keyboard I have owned. Every keyboard I have used to this point as daily drivers have been membrane based keyboards. Membrane keyboards are much quieter and smoother on the keystroke, there is a cushion and constant resistance to each keystroke. The down and the up. This mechanical keyboard the first thing I noticed was that the constant resistance was not there. I did not even know there was resistance until comparing my old keyboard I replaced with this one. This one the key moves more 'freely' if you will. There is definitely a louder 'clacking' you do not get with membrane keyboards. The key itself sounds not hollow though an empty kind of feel and sound, there is no reverb it just sounds open. Membrane keyboards the keys have constant contact to the membrane that cushion and hold the keys where you do NOT get that with mechanical keyboards and not this one for sure. It is Mechanical so... I can feel the spring though, the resistance level to it. The keycap is essentially sitting on top of the spring. I was playing with a couple keys, moving them between my fingers and feel and watch the movement wobble. This is due to sitting on a spring. There is some movement on every keyboard but membranes do not usually wobble this much. You NEVER feel it or notice it during typing though. It kind of allows the keys to move with your finger to an extent as it makes contact, keeping the key centered on your finger. It's a desirable thing. You have that with all keyboards though, I just actually noticed it with this one as I was tinkering.Pros:--------------------1: Color options and the ability to highlight individual keys with any color, with or without the software.2: They say Brown and Red switches are quieter than the blues and other types. I listened to many sound samples between the brown and the red switches before buying and I could not hear any difference between them. In person compared to my membrane keyboard(s) this thing is sooo loud. But it is part of the experience of Mechanical keyboards and an additional feedback to how will you type. You can hear the rythm or not of it. I guess this is a PRO because you can hear if your typing sucks.3: No additional media keys, just the ones you need and use. If you do not use the number pad then go for the TKL, ten keyless, 87 key model. As a programmer it is useful to have the number pad for calculations and if you do your own taxes for example it is a headache using the keys above the letters when all you are doing is entering numbers, numbers and more numbers. There are also some online forms that require the use of the actual numpad and if you do not have one, you are out of luck. Banks, government, captcha's etc... can require numpad input.Cons:-------------1: Colors do not neccesarily show up as intended on the keyboard as they appear in the software.2: The indicatior lights for the capslock and numlock are so bright. This is the only keyboard I have ever used or owned where the num key on the numpad default is going to be OFF. See the photo's I attached to this review.3: I really do not like the lines cutting through portions of some of the keycap letters. I took off some of the keycaps to look at them and there is a black non-translucent line on the bottom of some of the keycaps so that light can not get through at that location. I guess it is a feature to these keycaps, but others do this too so I guess it is a trend. See the photo's attached to this review. They wanted to make the fonts different but to my eye it is ugly and distracting. They did this on purpose it is not a design flaw, see the photos.4: The software, I like the color options and amount of customizable settings. I don't like the default windows color pallete though. The Macros are absolutely usesless in my opinion. All they do is record key presses and play them back via a single key press. It is better to use a key remap tool that allows you to dynamically call features, functions, tools within any given application of your chosing AND allow for storing chunks of text to paste wherever you want. Would make for a very useful programming tool that way. As is, the Macro feature is useless and waste of time except for very basic key combinations. There are several free software that allow you to do what I describe above and much more, there are also paid applications as well.Options: HidMacro or LuaMacro - Open Source AutoHotKey - Free AutoIT - FreeThe last two are scripting languages that allow you to create your own macro tools if you are inclined.5: This is a PRO or a CON depending on you. The keyboard is not wireless or bluetooth, the cable is non-detachable. I like wired keyboards but I use both.6: The capslock key has that stupid down arrow. Use WORDS like.. CAPS or CapsLock. I did not even know the down arrow was the symbol for caps lock... is it?I am not a gamer so I do not care about polling speed of the keyboard. I have noticed if I set the polling speed to 1000, more typing mistakes occur.On the keyboard I received initially the 3 key has a defective LED that gives off a red tint. Several of the keys I have been noticing, randomly double sends characters. Polling speed related or switch, keyboard contact board?Moving from membrane to mechanical keyboard isn't really much of a difference when it comes to the function of the keyboard itself. You just notice how the keys respond or don't compared to non-mechanical and they "Feel" and sound different. That's basically it. UNLESS...Unless you are a programmer or game developer where having accurate input is important. Where each key press must be registered, you can only 100% get that with a mechanical keyboard. Each switch is isolated to a specific key and ALWAYS registers, unless defective. Membrane keyboards are not designed in this way and keypresses may miss, get stuck or trigger surrounding keys.Recommendation:----------------------------------This is too new for me to give any advice on whether you should buy it or not. At the time the 104 key was $5 cheaper than the TKL, ten keyless, no numpad, 87 key model. I went with this, 104, it was cheaper.I need keys that light up so I can see them in the dark or dim lit room. I did not know I needed individual keys that can be mapped to any color I want. As a programmer this is crazy useful and if I can map my development apps hotkeys to color coordinate my keyboard... very useful.Remember those game and software cut out over lays for keyboards? Who needs those now...One last thing when it comes to the Brown switch, coming from a membrane keyboard. The brown is louder, has what I consider free travel with an additional feedback half way down the key press that lets you know you pressed the key. If you are not a rough typist, that little feedback saves you having to go all the way to the bottom of the keyboard on each key stroke. Less wear and tear and easier on your hands.