Final Words and Conclusion

Final Thoughts - MSI GK80

May as well be blunt, I really liked the Vigour keyboard. I was fully expecting good build quality and solid lighting. What I wasn't expecting was actually liking the experience of typing on the keyboard. I have used Cherry Red equipped keyboards before, and strongly disliked the 'mushy' feel that I think Reds tend to give the user. However, MSI has evidently happened upon a formula where each keystroke (Cherry Red regardless) feels solid, and you know full well you are using a mechanical keyboard. I think part of it may well be the fairly shallow profile of each key, allowing the user to more easily bottom out the key if needed. Whilst this may well go against the school of using Reds as 'quiet' mechanical keys, the reality is that most of us will be using a keyboard like this in the comfort of our own homes, where noise isn't an issue. I'll candidly admit to being shouted at by an angry other half when I woke her up at 6:30am on a Saturday with my over-enthusiastic typing. The fact remains, however, that MSI has built a very functional keyboard here, aimed at the enthusiast gamer. It is certainly not a typists keyboard, but it is a happy chance that a typist like myself happens to enjoy using the board for an extended period of time. I didn't even especially miss my Topre Realforce for the week I trialed this product at work. The added bonuses are the build quality, very sturdy feet, excellent lighting (and I mean truly excellent, among the best I have seen), and extensive customization offered by MSI's Gaming Centre software. Once that is tidied and started up a little bit, I'll be a very happy man. I have seen some review sites claim and complain that the keyboard is too cluttered for their tastes. This is a fair criticism, for sure, and the keyboard is very busy. However, it is not a negative for me as it was never once an issue. Any misstypes I did were purely down to me and not down to the board's layout. I would imagine this issue will heavily weigh on what board you are used to, as well as hand size and finger dexterity.

Are there negatives? Of course, but there always are. I think it is very pricey, and wish it came with switches other than MX Reds. The media keys are in an odd position (though this I will forgive)... and actually, that really is it. The keyboard feels premium and the added wrist rest and keycaps only increase my fondness for this product. If my desk at home weren't so small, it would likely replace my TKL Coolermaster Masterkeys Pro M, only because I really need a numpad, not because the CM board is a bad product. Far from it. Mouse or not, I have zero issues recommending this keyboard to anybody looking for a flashy, high end, nice to type on, and premium product. Sure, you will pay for it, but I also have no doubt that this board will last a very, very long time.

MSI GH70 - Final Thoughts

I think you might be able to tell that my experience with the GH70 was less glowing, but that doesn't mean I cannot appreciate that this mouse will not have a target market. It just isn't me. Are you looking for a very sturdy, accurate, wireless mouse with a good amount of gamer flair? Do you shy away from FPS games? Are you a content creator first, then a gamer? Or even vice versa? If your answer is yes to one or some of the above, then the GH70 is definitely worth a look. Performance wise, FPS games were the only area in which I well know I couldn't live with this device day to day, and that is a fact. If they were not a factor, then I would be only too happy to give the GH70 a spin for longer than I have done already. Some might argue that I would 'get used to the weight.' That is fair, but I find that people tend to get used to something relatively quickly, especially something as everyday and commonplace in usage as a mouse. During my time with the GH70, I never once got used to the weight. It is a shame, but that is the reality of individual needs. Continuing on, there are other wireless mice also targeting gamers/content creators, e.g. Corsair's Dark Sabre. I am looking for a replacement for my regular 'on the go' mouse, but I don't feel as though the GH70 will be it. I'll also take a moment to re-mention the software here. This is a tricky one, as whilst the software is certainly part of the overall package, it doesn't actually affect how either the mouse or keyboard performs. The mouse's settings within the Gaming Centre work perfectly well, and stored DPI preferences/poll rates were remembered without a flaw. The issue is the RGB, and how that ties into Mystic Light. Someone looking for an easy to pair and use mouse and keyboard combo might be tempted, but I would remind them cautiously of the problems I had in both using and understanding the two suites together. They 'work,' but it is far from ideal or perfect. So, can I recommend the GH70? From a performance standpoint, if you are not playing fast twitch games, yes, absolutely. It's a pleasure to use in slower scenarios where deliberate and precise tracking is a must. For the aforementioned scenario, however, I cannot recommend it. Overall though, recommended.

Conclusion

My conclusion here will be very short, as I feel as though I have said everything I need to. I recommend the keyboard, hands down, without a second's further thought. I liked my time with it a great deal. I also recommend the mouse if you are sticking to within the use cases I have tried to outline unless you happen to be The Hulk, for whom slinging around a 180g mouse on the regular wouldn't be a problem. The software needs to be tidied up, without a doubt. Even the Gaming Centre needs a major UI overhaul to bring into 2018, and whereas Mystic Light is in 2018 in terms of UI, the usability of it (and the way the two apps seem to clash) is an issue for sure. This is one of those tricky reviews where I find myself genuinely liking one product in all assets, and - despite personal reservations - can easily see a solid use case for the other. There is an overarching problem that may or may not affect a buyer, depending on their needs, and that is the software. So whilst I do give a big thumbs up to the GK80 keyboard, and a caveat-laden thumbs up to the GH70 mouse, my software reservations prevent this being a much more positive review. Overall, go buy the GK80. I think it's an excellent product and that anybody using one will not be at all disappointed. I have my concerns about the GH70, but that is also why there is such an expansive and exhaustive mouse market. If you don't feel as though you will like a product, try something else. It's a lot more subjective than, say, a CPU review. I am also fully aware that there is likely a review somewhere on the web that is heavily praising the GH70 for its heft and suitability for more slow-paced gamers and content creators, or aka. The exact reverse of my issues with the product.

ATH +++

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