Taming the Cougar 600K Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Introduction and Specifications
Don't beat yourself up if you're not familiar with the Cougar brand. It's a German company that's been in the game since 2007, though its presence in the United States is largely overshadowed by companies like Razer and Logitech, two of the bigger dogs in the gaming peripherals scene. But like Roccat, another device maker headquartered in Germany, Cougar is making an effort to establish a higher level of brand recognition on our home turf by releasing competitive gaming gear that blend form and function.
The product we're looking at here is Cougar's 600K Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. It's a subdued version of Cougar's flagship 700K intended for people who want the look and feel of the higher end plank, but not necessarily all the features (or price) that it comes with.
"We knew that there were people who simply weren't interested in the plethora of functions offered by high end keyboards, but at the same time didn't want to settle for a lower end one. For all those people, who just want a pure, high quality mechanical keyboard in a durable and elegant design, we created the Cougar 600K," said Lio Huang, Marketing Dept. III Director, Cougar.
The product we're looking at here is Cougar's 600K Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. It's a subdued version of Cougar's flagship 700K intended for people who want the look and feel of the higher end plank, but not necessarily all the features (or price) that it comes with.
"We knew that there were people who simply weren't interested in the plethora of functions offered by high end keyboards, but at the same time didn't want to settle for a lower end one. For all those people, who just want a pure, high quality mechanical keyboard in a durable and elegant design, we created the Cougar 600K," said Lio Huang, Marketing Dept. III Director, Cougar.
By stripping away specific amenities, the 600K doesn't require any special software or custom drivers -- just plug in the gold-plated USB connector, let Windows detect the keyboard, and off you go. Of course, that's putting a positive spin on functionality that's been expunged from the equation, like dedicated macro keys, but for those who want additional bells and whistles, there's the 700K.
To Cougar's credit, it didn't simply take an ordinary keyboard and add a bit of "Look at me!" styling to justify the "gaming" descriptor. Despite the lack of custom drivers and software, there are a few gaming elements here that we'll cover in detail, such as LED backlit WASD and arrow keys. This is also a mechanical plank that's available in four different Cherry MX flavors (yes, we've tasted them, and no, they'd don't taste like their colors) -- Blue, Black, Red, and Brown.
To Cougar's credit, it didn't simply take an ordinary keyboard and add a bit of "Look at me!" styling to justify the "gaming" descriptor. Despite the lack of custom drivers and software, there are a few gaming elements here that we'll cover in detail, such as LED backlit WASD and arrow keys. This is also a mechanical plank that's available in four different Cherry MX flavors (yes, we've tasted them, and no, they'd don't taste like their colors) -- Blue, Black, Red, and Brown.
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| Key Switch: |
Cherry MX Blue mechanical |
| Processor: | 32-bit ARM Cortex-M10 |
| N-Key Rollover: | Yes (USB mode support) |
| Game Type: | FPS / MMORPG / MOBA / RTS |
| Polling Rate: | 1000Hz / 1ms |
| Repeat Rate: | 1X / 2X / 4X /8X |
| Material: | Aluminum / Plastic |
| Palm Rest: | Yes |
| USB Pass-Through | Yes |
| Interface | Golden-plated USB plug |
| Cable Length: | 1.8m braided |
| Dimension: | 230 (L) x 467 (W) x 40 (H) millimeters 9.06 (L) x 18.38 (W) x 1.57 (H) inches |
| Weight: | 1.1kg / 2.4lbs |
| Warranty: | 1-year warranty |
| Price: | $130 to $140 (street) - Find It At Amazon |
Our model uses Cherry MX Blue switches. They're the "clicky" type that dispense audible (some would say obnoxious) and tactile feedback, the latter of which means you can feel the distinct point at which a keystroke is registered. In theory, mechanical keys should make you a faster, more efficient typist, but truth be told, I like them simply for the feel and sound -- I can't say whether or not I'm punching keys an order of nanoseconds faster (nor do I care, really), but I can easily tell the difference between mechanical key switches and squishy membrane keyboards.
For a primer on other types of key switches, check out our recent five-way mechanical gaming keyboard roundup. I'd also suggest reading our evaluation of the Das Keyboard 4 Pro, which is another Cherry MX Blue keyboard that's comparable in feel to Cougar's 600K. They're not required reading, though both will give you points of reference.
Ready to move on? Let's get clicking!
For a primer on other types of key switches, check out our recent five-way mechanical gaming keyboard roundup. I'd also suggest reading our evaluation of the Das Keyboard 4 Pro, which is another Cherry MX Blue keyboard that's comparable in feel to Cougar's 600K. They're not required reading, though both will give you points of reference.
Ready to move on? Let's get clicking!
