Wayyyyyy back in the day, I was taught to type on IBM typewriters, something most kids these days couldn’t identify in a keyboard line-up (why would you want to identify it? No idea). When I transferred high schools and moved to Maryland, I learned to type on the Apple IIe. It was a remarkable transition from a typical electric typewriter that led me to love typing. I was just testing the waters with IBM, but I flat-out fell in love with typing when Apple arrived. Because of both keyboards, I can now type all day long on clickety-clackety keyboards, something I will always appreciate it. As time rolled on, keyboards have steadily become less clicky and quieter with smaller buttons to push for easier results. I don’t want quiet, I want confidence, which is what I get from the loud noisy monsters. Not having a mechanical keyboard in front of me is a tragedy of sorts, as it doesn’t make me feel like I’m being productive. I know, I know, it sounds silly, but a lot of people have been raised on such a keyboard effect and probably can relate to this description. I know a lot of people who will back this statement up.
Anyway, on top of the above mechanical style preference, I also prefer full-size keyboards with number pads on them. While the number pad is incredibly useful for obvious reasons, the main reason I prefer a full-size is for key spacing. Full-size keyboards generally bring a full-size amount of key space to them, which yields fewer typing mistakes. There is nothing quite as irritating as typing and hitting the wrong key repeatedly because one’s long fat fingers can’t account for the small space squeeze. That happens with smaller, sometimes half-sized keyboards, and it drives me bonkers. I was a huge Apple fan for years but hated (and I mean HATED) the new iMacs with small keyboards. In my opinion, they were cheap, and they were way too small to be efficient. Sometimes they were the only option I had when editing video in Final Cut Pro X and it drove me nuts.
Why all this information at the beginning? Well, ROCCAT just released its Vulcan II Mini keyboard, which is a small RGB keyboard (meaning without the number pad) compared to its other Vulcan brethren. It challenged everything I hate about small keyboards, but did it change my mind?
Well, let’s talk.
Key spacing
Let’s get the big one out of the way first, key spacing. As stated above, I hate smaller keyboards because of their key spacing. They always seem out of whack with the keys way too close together (millimeters count when you’re talking key punching accuracy). The Vulcan II Mini has renewed my faith in the smaller keyboard size. It has standard spacing and room to let the fingers fly. This is unlike any other small keyboard that I have met over the last 10 years. It doesn’t tighten my fingers, rather it provides some give for my fat, long meat sticks to play my words out like a piano. It also is quick and responsive to the touch, which I can absolutely dig. It feels well-built because of this, and I love it so much. People might think this is a ridiculous part of the review process of a keyboard, but if you’re a writer of any sort and you want to get the maximum number of words without making the maximum number of mistakes, then this Vulcan is for you.
Now, do I miss the number pad at all? Yes. The key spacing is nice, but having a fully functional keyboard is nice, especially when it comes to old-school gaming protocol (using the pad without needing the arrows). After 40 years of typing, I still do not like using the top row numbers for any reason other than when there isn’t a number pad. I have less patience with the top row of numbers, and I don’t think they are as reliable. I would prefer making different macros if I had to give up the number pad, which is the case here with the Vulcan II Mini.
Beyond the lack of a number pad, the positives heavily outweigh the negatives. One of the bigger reasons outside of key spacing that I love this keyboard is because of the portability. While I might be still scarred by the original Vulcan, which I broke keys off of on a long trip, and there was no way to get the keys replaced, the Vulcan II Mini fits nicely and easily into my backpack for work. It fits pretty much anywhere I want it to go. I love it for that, and I appreciate its portability.
What about that clickity-clack?
Mechanical to the max
IT. FEELS. SO. GOOD. While it certainly is loud and is probably disrupting my wife right now, who is trying to study for her next exam for her master’s degree, it feels the right amount loud for a mechanical keyboard. This is one of the biggest attractions for me when it comes to deciding which keyboard is right for me. I was born in the fire of mechanical keys, and I will die happily in the fire decades from now if I’m lucky. The Vulcan II Mini is the right amount of comfort for both ears and fingers. It makes me feel like I’m doing something important and gives me some false sense of confidence that I am a fast typer (used to pull 120wps back when I was younger, hitting 90 now). It’s a gratifying keyboard and the key spacing makes it even more gratifying for me. The keys push, they spring up, and they do what they’re supposed to do when you’re wanting to type at an efficient pace. It’s everything I thought it would be and more.
Amenities
Now, for a more modern gamer out there, there are amenities featured with this keyboard. The Vulcan II Mini works with the ROCCAT Swarm software, something previously mentioned in mice reviews here at Digitalchumps. The software allows you to set your keys the way you want them, change the color of your keyboard, and even change the pattern in which your keyboard moves and displays your colors. For example, the ripple effect, while not appropriate in video editing, is wonderful for this keyboard. Every key you strike can cause a color ripple effect. That’s a cool effect and can reinforce how fast of a typer you truly are when creating things like reviews.
The software also includes many customization options, such as colors you want to vibrantly display the keyboard in. This includes choosing colors that are personal to you, such as University of Maryland colors (red and yellow), University of Kentucky colors (blue and white), and/or unicorn colors (happy rainbow colors) that make your 8-year-old giggle. Having the ability to personalize your keyboard the way you want should be a huge hit for those Esports enthusiasts out there.
One of the bigger reasons to enjoy this keyboard and its flexible software is the macros that you can create from it. You can create different types of gameplay macros that you can set and save and bring up when you change games. For newer gamers out there, this isn’t a big deal. For up-and-coming gamers that require comfort and knowing where the keys are the most accessible on the keyboard, this is a great way to get into gameplay smoothly. It is an additional option that makes the Vulcan II Mini flexible in its design.
Anyway, let’s wrap this up.
Conclusion
The ROCCAT Vulcan II Mini is a beautiful keyboard that proves that smaller doesn’t have to mean you lose anything outside of the obvious keypad. Its perfect portability that has great key spacing and a comfortable and satisfying mechanical feel to the typing experience. Its customization options through the ROCCAT Swarm software give gamers the right amount of personal style and pizazz while also flexibility in their key configuration. It’s by far my most fav
