My new keyboard arrived today. I had been using another keyboard that incorporated Cherry MX Blue keys but because of the feel and the usage of inferior components, I did not really like that keyboard. It was backlit, which was nice... but it did not satisfy. I replaced it with a Matias Quiet Pro mini keyboard which I liked, but I took it into work to use there.
This keyboard is very nice.
This keyboard is a little wider than my other two, having only lopped off the keypad section of the keyboard. In my cramped workspace this does not leave much room for my mouse, but it leaves enough. I am tempted to switch my mouse to my left hand, except it is designed for right-handed people, with thumb buttons. I still may do that.
I will start by saying about the only thing this keyboard could benefit from is backlighting. But that is a feature some people like, others do not. Adding backlighting also increases the potential for some sort of failure. So I understand the simplicity of this keyboard in that regard. The key caps themselves are nicely shaped and your fingers magically find their way into them as you type.
Pressing the keys is akin to slicing into a delicious piece of chocolate cake. Or firm butter with a warm knife...
Either way, key presses provide enough resistance and feedback (halfway through their is a soft "bump" to let you know you are activating the key) that allows a typist to feel comfortable to type without bottoming out all of the time. With this particular keyboard, being made of some heavy materials, the bottoming out sound is not harsh and rather deep. Both aural and tactile feedback is a wonderful experience. Really, I cannot explain how nice this keyboard feels. I would heartily recommend it.
My previous keyboards in order:
Matias Tactile Pro 2
Happy Hacker Keyboard Pro 2
Matias mini pro quiet
And now this, KUL ES-87 (Cherry MX Brown keys)
The HHKB was probably the nicest, and most expensive keyboard I've owned. The Topre switches are very nice. But I would say this rivals the HHKB and, according to the manufacturer, this is much more solidly constructed (which I believe as my HHKB connector broke in just over a year).
The KUL is close to 1/3 the price of the HHKB and the actuation, while perhaps a little more harsh when bottoming out, are very similar in feel to the topre switches (in regards to force and bump).
Anyway, I recommend this keyboard.
