Review on HUO JI E-Yooso Z-88 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard: Brown Switches, Programmable RGB Backlit, 104 Keys, Hot Swappable - Silver and White by James Gibson

This minimalist design mechanical keyboard has most of the features I was looking for. In fact, this is a white and silver clone of Reddragon K556. At such a low price, it's hard to ask for more. If it had standard pinout switches, that would be exactly what I wanted. Unless you change the included blue switches, consider this keyboard a 5 star keyboard for the price. Things not included but also not expected given the price: detachable cable, braided cable, more backlight flexibility (8 fixed colors). compared to higher-end color offerings), USB pass-through port/mouse dongle hub. Pros: 8-color backlight with multiple backlight modes and the ability to assign colors to specific keys, MX-compatible switches (a big improvement over the ALPS-compatible switches that came with the E-Element Z-77), CIY switches for Flexibility (also a minus - see below), build quality seems solid, surface-mount LEDs. Cons: This manufacturer still uses Gaote Outemo switches (this keyboard comes with blue ones) with non-standard pinouts. This means that you can only replace Gaote Outemo switches with that specific pinout and not with other aftermarket switches that you may want to use (such as Verified). This seems like a pretty silly choice for a keyboard marketed as "Change It Yourself" / highly customizable. I'm glad they at least switched to MX compatible stems to allow for a much wider range of aftermarket keycaps, but adopting a standard PCB pin pattern to allow for standard aftermarket switches from different manufacturers would be fantastic . Also, the included metal tool for pulling the CIY switches must have been designed by a sadist (or, more likely, not designed at all). It has pretty sharp edges and after pressing 208 switches (104 brown from the donor keyboard and 104 blue from this keyboard) my fingers were bruised and blistered. I hope there will be a more ergonomic version of this tool in the future. I replaced a set of brown Gaote Outemo switches from a Redragon K556 because I prefer brown to blue. I also replaced a set of secondary keycaps because I don't really like the font on the supplied keycaps. I personally confirmed that the keyboards come with a non-standard pin layout. Outemo Gaote Switches: E-Element Z-77 (Blue Switches with ALPS Stem) (E Element Mechanical Eagle Z-77 RGB Programmable Mechanical Gaming Keyboard 104 Keys No-Collision Blue DIY Switches Wrist Rest ((White )) Redragon K556 : (brown switch with cherry stem) (Redragon K556 RGB Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard with LED Backlight, Aluminum Base, 104 Standard Keys) E-Element X-2000: (this keyboard, blue switch with cherry stem) So far I've only found blue versions of Gaote Outemo switches (both ALPS and Cherry Stems) available for purchase here at Revain in packs of 10 for $9 each (GAOTE OUTEMU blue replacement switches for mechanical keyboards , Shape [+] (10 pcs)).If you want a different type of switch you will need to find a dispenser keyboard that has it.You may want to just buy a blue switch dispenser keyboard as it is cheaper than buying 10 packs .photo legends: 1) E-Element X-20000 as received 2) Side view as received 3) Detail showing the back of the removed blue Gaote-Outemo switch and corresponding pinholes in the circuit board 4) Replaced the brown Gaote-Outemo switch first (courtesy Permission of victim Redragon K556) in place5) Keyboard with non-original keycaps (silver translucent - https://www.massdrop.com/buy/34313) and brown switches installed6) Workstation looks sleek and ready to go