Product Review HPE 87 (TKL Mechanical Keyboard Alt To Blackwidow TE, Filco, PLU, CM Quickfire)
Posted by James on October 22, 2012 · 25 Comments
A hands on user review of the HPE87. (Clone similar to PLU or Filco) This is a TKL (Ten Key Less) keyboard layout giving you extra space where the numberpad used to be. The keyboard is fully mechanical with Cherry MX switches. You can choose from MX Red, MX Black, MX Blue, and MX Brown switches. The switches are plate mounted witch makes the keyboard heavy and very robust. Build quality in and out is very high, no signs of a cheap product or any design flaws. Its a nice matte finish so it does not attract fingerprints. The Keycaps are standard ABS plastic and laser etched, this is standard for keyboards unless you pay a premium for PBT keys or other labeling methods. Since the keys are standard size & layout you CAN replace the keycaps with custom ones should you desire. How to get one? Easy you can order from here and they ship world wide! www.vendio.com This is a trusted store and where the very one I am reviewing came from, the owner of this shop is well known in the keyboard community at sites like GeekHack. I can very easily recommend this product as an alternative to any of the more well known brands, if you want to enter into the mechanical keyboard market without making a huge investment upfront this will be a safe way to do so. Hope you enjoyed the review, if you have any questions feel free to ask. PS Thumbs up to say thanks and subscribe if you want more content/reviews!
What do you think of Ducky keyboards. The HPE looks cool but I need backlighting because I’m in college and have roomates that go to bed earlier than me. If you? have any experience with ducky keyboards, do you think they have as good of build quiality as HPEs and Das keyboards
I was told a backlight version? of this keyboard is to be released. I have the KBC Race (have not reviewed it yet) and its a reduced size keyboard w/ backlight. I have not used this in my lap but it should be fine.
How’s the feel of it? I have my keyboard on my lap and it’s extremely uncomfortable without a wrist rest…
Also I’ve heard of a? similar keyboard like the Keycool 87 or something, it’s about $20 more with a backlight, maybe that’s worth a look?
I have the Das, so you know its a fair review. (2 Das? actually)
Great reviewer, new sub for you? 😀
I saw this and thought “Lol china, lets see what youtube has to say”, you seem to be the only reviewer and I’m happy with what I’m hearing, definitely will be looking into this, really want mechanical, really can’t afford brands like Das.
More? product reviews please
6:19 for the sounds.?
Which switch do? you prefer for gaming red or black? Some people say black are too stiff and some say red are too light.
Great review! Do you know if these are the same Costar OEM as filco and CM quickfire? You should put O-rings on those. And I don’t see? you on geekhack much anymore haha.
Anyways, subbed!
I can’t wait to buy this keyboard. Dammit? money !
When I am at work and do the most typing (data entry) I use the MX Blue because I never look at the keyboard I look at all the data and the tactile feel and click pretty much tell me if i made a mistake or not.
I do type just as fast or faster on the MX Reds and they are my favorite overall, but I feel like for typing only as my goal I would go with blue still. Keep in mind they click and stuff so people around you will hear it.?
Awesome man ! I just found this keyboard on ebay and wanted to see a review of it, and you posted it three days ago ! Keep them coming, liked and subscribed :).
I’m definitely going to buy this one next month because? of the price and your good review.
Also, this will be my first mechanical keyboard, so I’d like to know from you, what are the best switches for typing fast ? I’m a programmer, and I type 100 WPM ( same as you ), but I tend to have like 94% accuracy.
Thanks !
You can pull the keycaps and move them around easily on any mechanical keyboard however it wont change the height so much just the angle of the keys. I dont see much height difference in these keys and when I use alternative layouts like Colemak I just dont look at the keys (I even have a blank keyboard) but? if you needed you can get a custom label set of keys for that layout and put them on. Geekhack forum is the place to go for that stuff.
Can the keys on this keyboard be easily re-arranged, and? are they all the same height? I prefer the Dvorak Keyboard layout rather than Qwerty so I need to be able to move the keys around. Thanks!
No it does not have hardware macros but you can use? software to do them like AHK that offers 100x more capability than the hardware macro’s of the Blackwidow, and you can use them no matter what computer your on or hardware you use since its software based and not locked to your keyboard. One of the features I like about this keyboard is the extra space, the BW is EVEN LARGER than full size keyboards due to extra keys, did not like it at all personally (and thats aside from bad build quality)
I’m looking? at getting a Black Widow Ultimate.
Does this keyboard have macros?
Alright ill? try this thank u Vicious/4K
Sub to them? and setup email notices, I also tend to always tweet first too, so following me on twitter should work well. Borderlands is a scheduled thing though so its always 12AM EST on Friday.
Yep I know it will be on 4K games but I could never figure out how to tell when someone I’m subscribed? to on Twitch.tv us live streaming.
Yeah dont forget Borderlands 2 is going on 4KGames not ViciousComputers and also it will be a live? stream on Twitch so you can talk to us live.
haha!?
Next review is a DAC/Speaker? lol.
Just an embossed? logo of the keyboard. Next product review I will toss a few HQ pictures in with the video to better show things.
logo??
Oh man, I? forgot I was still subscribed to keyboard OCD club… *[UNsubscribes]*