Stefan Mileschin

Mechanical keyboards come in all kinds of flavors these days. Just about every PC peripheral maker has one in its arsenal, and most offer multiple variants. Some are loaded with extras, while others offer a more basic approach. There are also numerous switch options, each one with noticeably different characteristics.

Despite this variety, most mechanical keyboards are slight variations on the same theme. The majority of them mirror the standard, 104-key U.S. layout that's been around since the early days of Windows. There's a numpad on the right and lettering on the tops of the keys. That's great, but it's also a little bit boring, which is why the Cooler Master QuickFire Stealth caught my eye. This compact contender ditches the numpad in favor of a tenkeyless design with space-saving and ergonomic benefits. It also trades traditional lettering for a uniquely stealthy approach.

http://techreport.com/review/26121/c...board-reviewed