INTRODUCTION

   What do you look for when out in the market searching for your next gaming keyboard? Durability both in terms of overall build quality and type of used switches? Features such as lighting systems, USB ports, macro keys, LCD/VFW screens and ergonomic designs? Well i guess for most gamers out there the obvious answer is all of the above or at least most so it definitely makes sense that lately most companies are focused in the design, development and manufacture of mechanical gaming keyboards with rich feature sets. However with the market currently overflowing with a very large number of both membrane and mechanical based keyboards it was really just a matter of time for some manufacturers to try and use the best of both worlds and Cougar is the very first at the finish line with their brand new 450k Hybrid Mechanical Gaming Keyboard.

   COUGAR products are designed by COUGAR GERMANY, a professional R&D engineering team and COUGAR is part of the “HEC/COMPUCASE” Group. The unique combination of the world-famous German skills of designing the best products worldwide and HEC/s power and long-time experience to produce the best high quality products created innovative masterpieces in PSU history. The PC upgrading and DIY market is changing rapidly and is growing more and more. Professional user are asking for more than only stable and silent PSU/s, they want efficient and energy saving products without compromises in quality. COUGAR GERMANY created such products! COUGAR GERMANY combines the features of innovation and evolution to create efficient, powerful and unique products like “COUGAR POWER”. The purpose of COUGAR GERMANY is the satisfaction of the customer, reaching it by creating most valuable, advanced products. COUGAR – YOUR POWER!

   To "create" the hybrid switches of the 450k hybrid mechanical keyboard COUGAR basically placed plastic yet quite durable mechanisms ontop of membranes in order to "mimic" the feeling you get with keyboards using Cherry MX (probably Black) mechanical switches. Another good thing with this design is that thanks to the materials used all switches are sealed thus effectively rendering the keyboard splash proof (don't submerge it into water however). And that's not all you're getting with the 450k since it also packs quite a few interesting features as well including programmable keys and macros, three onboard profiles indicated by three different backlight colors for the keys (red, green and yellow - there are also breathing and rotate effects available), 26 key anti-ghosting, 1000Hz polling rate (1ms response time) and multimedia keys (not dedicated ones). For an "entry-level" keyboard the 450k sure seems to offer much so let's see for ourselves just how good it is.