If you’ve been around PC gaming long enough you recognize the Func brand from their award winning mousepads which all but defined the industry. Func is back again and this time they aim to bring that functional styling to an entire range of gaming peripherals. Today we take a look at the KB-460 mechanical gaming keyboard which aims to be the perfect blend of gaming performance and functionality. Will this fresh look serve Func well or are they destined to be a one hit wonder? We'll find out.
Product Name: Func KB-460 Gaming Keyboard
Review Sample provided by: Func
Review by: Debo
Pictures by: Debo
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Specifications |
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Model |
FUNC-KB-460-US |
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Keyswitch |
Cherry MX Red linear switches |
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Backlighting |
Individual backlit keys, 5 brightness levels |
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Onboard Memory |
128 kb |
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Key Rollover |
Full n-key rollover |
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Interface |
USB 2.0 |
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Macro Keys |
10 user assigned keys w/ 5 custom profiles |
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Expansion Ports |
2x USB passthrough ports |
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Dimensions |
17.6 x 5.87 x 1.5in |
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Warranty |
1 Year |
Packaging
The front of the box is minimalistic and to the point. Basically all we get here is the Func logo, product name and a small sneak peek at our keyboard though we do get to see the red backlighting in action. It’s not as flashy as other product packaging but in this case it seems less is more.
The rear is a bit more informative, as you would expect. Here we get a full view of the keyboard as well as bullet pointed features and the full specifications. From the full view it’s easy to notice the lack of any extra, fixed macro keys or any extra flair similar to the Quickfire XT. This leaves the keyboard with a smaller, portable size which is just perfect for most gamers.
Finally we get to flip open the lid and check out all the goodies inside. Included with the KB-460 is the user’s guide, palm rest, the clips that fix the palm rest to the actual keyboard and a slip of paper with Func’s web address and email for support, product registration and software updates. Some may scoff at a simple piece of paper when most companies include a driver CD but I actually enjoy this way better. Optical drives are becoming a dying breed in most enthusiast systems and rarely are the drivers included on a packaged CD up to date by the time the product ends up in your hands. Welcome to the digital age everyone.
Lastly we finally get our first look at the actual keyboard. You can see that the connection is permanent in the KB-460 which, as we found out with the MEKA G-Unit, isn’t always a bad thing. The included cord is 1.8m long and cloth braided in black and orange to fit the motif.
Pictures and Features
Taking a more in depth look at the 460, we find the design pretty basic except for a few things. On the bottom row of keys next to the right Alt we find a Function (Fn) key. Using this key in conjunction with F1-F6 function as media keys typically found on most keyboards but also given their own keys, increasing the overall size. Function in conjunction with F7-F11 switches to the five different customizable user profiles on the fly and Fn+F12 enables Func Mode. This is a profile that automatically disables the Windows and menu keys and is perfect for gaming.
The usual light indicators for Num lock and Caps lock appear just above the number pad but the third light, usually reserved for scroll lock, tells you the status of the Func mode feature. Just above this is where the USB passthrough ports are located. You’ll notice that despite this dual port passthrough the KB-460 only has a single, gold-plated USB connector which means that unlike some other models, the 460 will actually grant you extra ports rather than just moving existing ones from the rear of your system.
The underside is where we find flip up stands on the top of the 460 for sloped orientation and long grip pads on the bottom for a stable, no slip footing.
The Palm rest, uniquely, is attached and held in place by a pair of plastic clips. These clips aren’t necessarily hard to install but this method doesn’t seem like a particularly solid method of connection. Still, it does off a 45o range of motion which usually breaks most of these palm rests in other units.
The backlighting is achieved by individually backlit keys which have four levels of brightness as well as a pulsing pattern. The lighting effects are controlled by pressing the Fn key and either the 8 or 2 keys on the number pad to scroll through the options.
Performance
The Cherry MX Red switches have become the standard for most gaming mechanical keyboards on the market today and it comes to no surprise that Func chose to use them on the 460. The tactile response in conjunction with the pressure required for each key press is a feel most gamers have become accustomed to. This assures that the actual keyboard part of the KB-460 preforms admirably whether you are typing and email, mashing away at macros or wearing out your WASD keys.
The KB-460 comes out of the box as a plug-and-play device requiring no extra software to use but to get the most out of the device a simple program is available from the Func website. This program allows you to record and save up to 10 macros per profile and assign these macros to any key on the device. With up to 5 of these profile that can equate to 50 macros at your disposal or individual macros for certain games. It’s up for you to decide and is entirely customizable. This software also allows you to backup and restore your profiles.
The KB-460 has an almost satin finish to it which feels odd at first but soon becomes second nature. I’d also like to add that this finish is also easy to clean should it come into unfortunate contact with particularly sticky carbonated beverages and that is always nice for some of us.
The only glaring issue we ran into was the clips that secure the palm rest to the keyboard. As previously mentioned, these are made out of plastic and sure enough, during use one of them snapped. This led to unneeded strain on the second clip and while that one held up, with the failure of the first one the breaking of the second one seems all but inevitable over time. This is the only problem we encountered with the entire unit.
Overall and Final Verdict
The tagline of the front of the box reads “Functionality. Perfected.” Func attempted a fully functional mechanical gaming keyboard without the need of added gimmicks and extra fluff and for the most part they succeeded. The smaller size relates to a lighter, more portable keyboard and while not quite as small as the Quickfire the KB-460 is much better than your usual gaming fare in these departments. The no frills design also comes through as a practical solution for those of us that use our keyboards as more than just a gaming peripheral.
The palm rest clips are certainly a chink in the armor but I still like the base idea Func went for in the design. Rarely is the palm rest attached in such a way that it allows any decent range of movement without breaking. With a stronger material, these clips would be great but the nature of plastic lacks the durability needed here.
When the harshest thing you can say about a keyboard is regarding the palm rest attachment you know you have a good device. Func’s attention to detail and functional deign translate well to many more things than just mouse pads and this shows throughout the KB-460. The keyboard is simple and basic without sacrificing the features most gamers look for in a gaming mechanical these days. The added software is simple to use and functions how you need it to, when you need it to. Overall the KB-460 deserve its place among the top gaming keyboards on the market.
