Setup & Installation
The keyboard is plug and play compatible, so setup was super easy. It has a 2MB internal memory that allows you to have pre-set macros and functions, something that pro gamers will no doubt love as you cannot use software during tournaments. Software installation is straight forward and can be downloaded from the Roccat website, allowing you full customisation and recording of macros, shortcuts and of the Shift [+] keys.
Performance
If there is one thing to be said about mechanical switches, it is that they’re almost always an absolute joy to type on and the Ryos doesn’t disappoint in this respect. Cherry MX Red switches are often a popular choice for games as they’re one of the fastest switches around. I love red switches, but they feel different in the Ryos MK Pro and this can most likely be attributed to the fact that the key caps don’t bottom out on the chassis (this is a good thing) and that the keyboard is well made, the end result is that the keys feel smoother to type on than usual and they even feel like the have a better return than normal MX Red keys. The high quality key caps may have something to do with it too, all I know is that this is the best MX Red equipped keyboard I’ve ever used.
Gaming performance is absolutely flawless, having the dedicated M keys for your most important commands while gaming is very handy, but having a keys LED backlight on a timer to display your cool downs in games like League of Legends is even better, if somewhat non-essential. The keyboard doesn’t let you down and the fast keys allow for rapid double taps, the key spacing is enough that you don’t fumble the wrong keys, but not so much that your fingers feel tired at the end of a long session.
Work is a joy too and having the thumbster keys are great for extensive Photoshop work, setting a few profiles on the M keys allows me to use the thumbster keys for various cut and paste tools, zoom functions and more, all of which help me speed up my productivity. Naturally the typing is a big benefit to those who need to spend a lot of time at the keyboard and if you’re coming from a membrane keyboard you’ll notice a huge difference and reduced hand strain at the end of the day.
The lack of dedicated media keys is a little disappointing given that the Isku FX has them, but you can access them via the Fn + F keys. Not the most practical solution while gaming, but certainly better than not having them at all.
A very nice keyboard. I have the slightly cheaper MK Glow with Cherry Blacks and you’re right, they do feel slightly different to the other Cherry Blacks I’ve used but I quickly got used to them and actually prefer them.
I found this keyboard to be a bit of a fingerprint magnet but that hasn’t stopped me retiring my old favourite, the CM Storm Trigger on my personal rig and letting Roccat’s latest and (2nd) greatest Ryos find a new home..