Almost all mechanical keyboards today use one switch with one distinct character and feedback, unless you opt for the pricey variable electro-capacitive switches. Perhaps with this in mind, popular keyboard maker Ducky has released a unique, multi-switch mechanical keyboard called the Ducky One 711.
The advantage of electro-capacitive keys like the Topre switch is the variable actuation points, which when used in different parts of the keyboard can be effective in reducing typos and accidental clicks. Ducky is going one step further, introducing a keyboard with different switches in different sectors of the keyboard.
Essentially, the Ducky One 711 is a Ducky One keyboard with double-shot PBT keycaps…with a twist. The name “711” reveals the key specifications of the keyboard itself. The Ducky One 711 features seven coloured LEDs – blue, white, yellow, orange, pink, red, and green – in different “zones” (so they’re not RGB backlit).
On the other hand, the “11” indicates the number of different Cherry MX mechanical switches present on this keyboard, some of which we may not have even heard of: Red, Black, Blue, Brown, Clear, White, Green, Speed, Silent Red, Silent Black, and Tactile Grey.
These switches aren’t placed without thought. The areas of the keyboard which are used the most use switches with lighter actuation points, while others will have heavier switches (again, depending on the zones which Ducky has identified).
The Ducky One 711 is a limited-release product – only 1,999 units are manufactured and available globally. Unlike other limited-release keyboards, the Ducky One 711 is actually quite affordable: it retails for $139 where available.
In a Facebook post, Ducky Keyboards Malaysia has announced that ten of these 1,999 units will be available in Malaysia very soon. When asked to elaborate, a spokesperson mentioned that the keyboards will be available in early August, but final retail price is still being fixed. The spokesperson did not comment on how exactly these ten units will be sold.
In any case, this keyboard certainly looks like an interesting one for enthusiasts to collect – the Ducky One 711 is even more limited than the recent Year of the Rooster keyboard which it announced at Computex 2017.
