Martin T 06/02/2023
A very different keyboard to a Filco Majestouch -- I have a full-size and TKL both with Silent Red switches, to which I'm comparing the Varmilo.
Varmilo's keys feel much nicer to the touch -- they're PBT but quite a smooth surface to them, and I don't think the legends are going to wear off the way they do on the Filco.
Varmilo TKLs are built on a lower-profile platform than their full-size keyboards - the entire key sits proud of the base with a little gap. Different but nothing wrong with that.
Build quality is superb, it's a heavy little beast. Not as quiet as the Filco but they are different switches. Apart from the space bar being quite a noticeable Thock, it's a pleasant sound.
I'm not sure there is a lot of point to the backlighting -- it only really shines through the function keys and only the front surface of them at that. It's also hard to see the Caps Lock and Scroll Lock LEDs as they're very small and hidden by Insert Home Page Up.
It's nice to have the multimedia keys, and they're more sensibly laid out than Filco who for some reason put Volume Up to the left of Volume Down. If I were being very picky I'd say it would be nice to have Reverse, PlayPause and Forward on their own group of 4 F keys, having Forward on the same group as Mute, Volume Down and Volume Up seems a little silly.
There are also two very odd little while circles at the bottom of the board, underneath ControlWin and FunctionControl. No idea what they're for but they don't get in the way.
I think I am regretting not buying a full-size Varmilo when Keyboard Co had them in stock some time back (none of the current range of arty designs do anything for me!) so I hope there will be more of those to come.
