In months past, we’ve covered Cougar’s continued foray into the gaming-oriented keyboard market, one example being the mechanical 600k. Cougar now seems to be targeting the more budget-minded gamers with their most recent release, the 200k.
Cougar’s 200k is an attempt a budget oriented, scissor-switch keyboard with a primary focus of gaming. The use of scissor switches – very similar to rubber dome switches – is understandable, as mechanical switches alone would undoubtedly raise the cost of the 200k. Cougar states that the arrow keys, WASD cluster, and a few other keys used in gaming (such as the spacebar) are “19 anti-ghosting keys.” So simply put, keys used commonly for gaming (number keys, f, r, and t excluded) feature n-key rollover, while the rest of the keyboard has… something else. Presumably that changes depending on which keys are being pressed.
Cougar also includes 7 backlight colors, all with adjustable brightness and a breathing effect since, after all, the 200k is a gaming keyboard. Lighting is adjustable via function keys at the top of the keyboard, which also allow for media control for volume and pausing. Cougar also allows the repeat rate to be set to 1x or 2x, which is useful, if limited.
With the 200k selling for $30 at Newegg, it looks to be a decent non-mechanical keyboard for gamers on a budget, and is already available.
- Michael "The Bear" Kerns.