INTRODUCTION

    After having used and reviewed a very large number of keyboards I concluded that TKL (tenkeyless) models weren't ideal for me, mainly because even though the numpad is not something I use a lot daily after using full sized keyboards for well over 3 decades not having it at all just feels awkward to me. Would the same however apply for a TKL keyboard on which you can add a numpad and an LCD displaypad to create something rather unique? This is the concept MOUNTAIN brought to the table with their EVEREST 60 Compact RGB Gaming Keyboard roughly 2 years ago and yes, I finally decided to take a closer look and see what it's all about.

    MOUNTAIN creates innovative, premium peripherals such as keyboards, keypads, and mice with sophisticated software solutions. With user-centric design at the heart of every product, MOUNTAIN aims for nothing less than enabling gamers and content creators to achieve peak performance. Our vision is for gamers and content creators to have what they need to excel through uncompromising innovation, pioneering design, supreme quality, and customization.

    As its name clearly reveals the EVEREST 60 is a 60% TKL gaming keyboard that sports a total of 64 keys of MOUNTAIN's very own tactile-55 or linear-45 mechanical switches. These switches are not only hot-swappable, but they also feature factory lubed (Glaze GPL 205) and clipped Cherry plate-mounted stabilizers for optimal operation (low noise). Other features of the EVEREST 60 include a sturdy aluminum plate, silicone and foam soundproofing, RGB lighting (per-key and LED-strip around the keyboard), 3 USB-C ports, left/right upgrade USB-C ports (for the numpad - same switch and RGB LED features apply to that as well), magnetic riser feet, N-Key rollover (NKRO) and onboard memory capable of storing up to 5 profiles. And then you have the displaypad which includes 12 color IPS LCD keys (104x104p resolution) for all of which you can assign jpg, png, bmp and gif (animated) pictures placed on an angled stand with a large anti-slip rubber base. Needless to say, you can assign macros, launch programs, run OS commands and much more from these display keys (compatible with 3rd party software such as Twitch, OBS Studio, Adobe Photoshop/Premier Pro/Illustrator and DaVinci Resolve). So, time to get acquainted with the EVEREST 60 and see what it's all about.