You'd usually associate Plugable with functional USB and Thunderbolt accessories, but the company is trying its luck with some new mechanical keyboards. The PC gaming market is fairly competitive, especially when it comes to mechanical keyboards, but Plugable has opted for Outemu switches and has made sure to get all the basics right to entice PC gamers to its own line of peripherals.
The two new keyboards are the same product, just in two versions. One has the full 104 keys, while a second more compact option is available should you not require a number pad on the side. The same switches are used, which are the Outemu Red. These are great for a fast-action response with low actuation points. As well as solid switches, the company opted for an all-metal build with adjustable white LEDs, full N-Key rollover, anti-ghosting and double-shot ABS shine through keycaps.
The red switches are much quieter than the more common blue switch keyboards and you don't have such pronounced feedback. This isn't the best option for every gamer since not all PC owners enjoy using the same switch, but the red Outemus are a solid option. The full N-Key rollover and anti-ghosting are taken for granted by most gamers these days, but they are handy for allowing multiple key presses to be registered simultaneously — you'll be able to create all the macros you require.
The best part is the LED, sticking with just a single color for simplicity. The keyboard itself looks less obnoxious than other "gamer" keyboards and the white LED lighting helps. The new Plugable Performance keyboard can be purchased right now for $59.95 and $54.95 for the compact option.
