SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 - How Much Do You Love Keyboards?

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  • I Love Keyboards So Much, I'm Willing To Sell My Soul To Buy One
  • I Love Keyboards, But I'll Wait Till The Price Drops Before I Buy One
  • Keyboards Are A Necessity For Me, I'll Buy Any Budget One I Can Find
  • Keyboards Are Lame, I Use A TouchScreen, My Fingers Need Exercise Anyways
  • I Don't Use Computers, I Do Computations On An Abacus
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Konnichi-Wa to all the amazing people's here! :grin:

I may need to have my head examined. Why is that you ask? Despite the fact I tend to be a late adopter, when it comes to technology, I broke my rule this time around. So what did StarTreker buy this time?

Well, lets just say, I bought the latest and greatest of keyboard technologies, only just released last September of 2024, the SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3! :heart_eyes:

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Isn't it glorious or what? How much would you be willing to pay for top of the line technology like this? If your a gamer, and or production artist, you just might! How much would you be willing to spend, to accelerate your Zorin OS computer lifestyle?

Unlike my current Corsair K95, that absolutely requires you to use Windows only software to configure it, or use the open source CKB available to Linux to configure it, the SteelSeries is hardware configurable, directly on the keyboard itself. :wink:

This keyboard is fairly sleek, for being a full 104 keyboard size. Its smaller and sleeker then my K95. Not only that, unlike my K95 that weighs a whopping 5 pounds, the Apex Pro Gen 3, weighs only 3 pounds. Which should make using on my lap, less fatiguing indeed.

You can visit the link provided, to learn all the juicy details, and to decide for yourself. I made my decision to sell my soul to buy this keyboard, because I want to solve the issues I have been having with my K95, and to increase my production and gaming productivity.

Some might want to know whats going on in my head, I'll tell you. Some folks will spend that much money on their girlfriend, in 2 or 3 dinner dates. I tell you I don't need a girlfriend, I just need the Lord of keyboards. Because at the end of the day, my money is being spent wisely, and the experience will last longer. :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

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I've unfortunately got a lot of custom keyboards I've built over the years lol. I've had a few from big names, but the customs that I make are unfortunately much better and cost a LOT more, so i've restricted myself considerably since I got stuck in that rabbit hole lol.

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I'm actually using the TKL version of that keyboard right now. At some point I need to find a way to control the RGB on it so I can turn it off, but by default it's the least offensive of any "light up everything" device I've ever owned. Instead of constant pulsing or other stuff, it's a nice, slow gradient from top to bottom. I might even keep the gradient, though I'd rather fix it between points on the spectrum I prefer than have it fade back and forth. I miss my numpad, but after years of fighting with full sized keyboards due to my desk's lap tray being too small (I will never buy anything but tables for my computers after this), I needed to save a few inches.

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I had one time a SteelSeries Board and a Headset but the Software was cr... not working. So, I couldn't set it up. That was really disappointing. It wasn't such a High class Board, yes. But that the Software didn't even start properly ... I sent it back.

Now I use a Sharkoon Skiller SGK50 S4 with Akko Fairy Silent Switches and Glorious Arctic White Keycaps. But I will see if I can find a TKL Board because I miss the extra Arrow und Function Keys.

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For work I use a Niz EC keyboard. It's extremely quiet, due to how the switches work, and the weight is only at 35g, which makes it ideal in order to type all day long emails and documents. Personally I know some people like super heavy switches, but for an all day long thing, the lighter the better for me.

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HAHA, I like the way you say, unfortunately, its a great way to describe the fact you are so deep into the keyboard life, you make your own. You remind me of Pluth from LMG.

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I've actually looked at those TKL variations, but without a numpad, they won't work for my workflow. Having said that, I completely understand how not everyone is going to have the workspace, for a full sized keyboard. I personally use a keyboard on my lap, cause I do my computing from my couch. I know, I'm a real couch potato. lol

Just out of curiosity, did you know that Steelseries makes an even smaller keyboard then that? Yeah, the latest craze over the past couple of years, I discovered through Pluth, is mini keyboards. I guess some folks have multiple keyboards plugged into their computer, and so they use one for streaming, and the other for gaming IDK.

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Unfortunately, those mini keyboards are so small, there is going to be no adjustability on the hardware level, so everything is going to have to be done in software for those.

Hello there Ponce! Thats the problem with software made for Windows, to control a piece of hardware, they tend to not work on Linux. But I've heard funny stories, where even software made for Windows, sometimes doesn't work so good either.

I never heard of the Sharkoon Skiller SGK50, so I looked it up.

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Hey, thats one of those mini keyboards I was just talking about. Oddly enough, that does appear to have the bare minimum of keys you would need, without taking up a lot of space. This is for folks who don't need the full 104 keys for their workflow. Also, it has an interest look to it, with the white & black keys.

I could see that particular style being nice for in the office use. Someone might even ask where they can get that keyboard. I do appreciate me some tactile key switches. But the reason I wanted to get the analog hall effect key switches, is because they will provide me greater control in games.

And I agree, while a numpad can increase workflow, arrow and function keys are an absolute must. The Steelseries TKL keyboards are cheaper, you won't have to pay as much for those, especially if you are buying last gen.

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Is the light controllable? I bought quite a decent keyboard which i've never used as it was just too big and clunky on my desk, and made too much noise. i think its a Corsair, but its box is now buried. I do like a minimalist approach (but do require a keyboard - think I'd struggle with the abacus option above). But I would like something with a gentle glow, and it has to be steady not pulsing. Other than that, you and @StarTreker have sold me!

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The lights are HIGHLY configurable from a Windows application. By default, hooked up to Linux, they are steady, but VERY slowly fade, changing the gradient visible on the keys. It's slow enough to be hard to notice if you're staring at it, but if you look down periodically, they're definitely different. I don't actually find it distracting.

THAT SAID, there is a load/save profile option available in the hardware controls. It may be possible to configure the keyboard how you like in Windows, save that in hardware, connect to a Linux machine or boot in Linux, and then load that profile. I'll try to test that on my last remaining Windows device in the next few days for you. Other than profiles, the only lighting control available via hardware is brightness. You can, however, adjust actuation from the hardware itself, which lets you configure whether the keys need a light touch or a full press to activate, with surprisingly fine control. The default is 0.8 which triggers pretty easily, and the range is 0.1 to 4.0.

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To be fair, I didn't have to do much to sell you, because the keyboard pretty much sell's itself, a sexy bit of kit that is! :heart_eyes:

From the info I have gleamed over the website, I believe that @Locklear93 is correct. Much of it is supposed to be configurable via the hardware level. What is not, would require the software.

Having said that, I was able to configure my Corsair K95 keyboard via the CKB software for Linux. And I did read a post on Reddit I think it was, where somebody said you can control the Steelseries keyboard lighting via MSI Mystic Light believe it or not. It would be a cool thing to test.

And since Locklear already has a Steelseries keyboard right now, he should be the first one to test that. And if you do test that, please let us know your findings.

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Maybe i am just old, but why all those led stuff added in components, keyboards, mouses and so on….i really don’t get it :joy:. GPU with led installed in a good case, why ? It’s not that i always look at the case to look at the led lights when i game :joy:.

Just give me stuff that works.

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I personally don't keep my corsair keyboard in full on rainbow, thats just the keyboards default light scheme. To answer the question, why would somebody need their keyboard to light up, how else will you see your keyboard in the dark? Once you begin using a keyboard that lights up, and your not having to find the keys, you will have really seen the light.

Now, desktop computer lighting started with cold cathode lighting, which pre-dated the RGB scene. That began, because people felt it was sad, that you couldn't see the sexy internals of your desktop computer. A couple cold cathodes, a glass window, wala, now you have something cool to look at.

The RGB scene started after the 2000's, thats when things changed from simple lighting that let you see inside your computer case, to, lets turn my computer into a multi-color light disco, to show people how cool you are. lol

Now, do we need all these lighting effects that animate a bunch of stuff? No, absolutely not. But I do appreciate the lighting so I can see my keys in low light, that I do need, and I appreciate. With my Corsair K95 keyboard, I changed most of the keys to BLUE, and the special function keys to green. But they are set to static, not animating.

An regards to age, brother, were all getting old, and were certainly not getting younger. Just the way it is lol. What bothers me more, why do modern day washing machines and dryers, have to play an Beatoven tune when the load is finished? Everytime I hear that in video's, drives me nuts lol. And smart fridges that spy on what you have in your fridge, that has 0-security, and gets hacked?

So, look at it this way, RGB lighting, is just a miner thing, we have much bigger problems in tech today, like heading face first into AI, full force, no slowing or stopping down, repercussions be dammed. I am more worried about Skynet being born out of our species stupidity.

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I agree completely. In Storm's thread about buying a new PC, I applauded his choice of a plain black case instead of RGB everything. I hate it. The RGB on this keyboard is fine because it doesn't pulse or distract me, and the colors are fairly muted by default, but I would have chosen a non-RGB of this model if they'd had it. I think I mentioned above that I have a mini-keyboard that's just obnoxious and I turn its lights off every time.

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I don't game on GNU/Linux much but I promised I would not unpack the Advantage multimedia keyboard, mouse, and headset until I have tidied up my study.

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Features:

  • 1x Insignia Pro Headset
  • 1x Hunter Elite Headset
  • 1x Ruiner Pro Mouse
  • 1x Scout Sx Mouse Mat

Cost? £16.99

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Good to see you SWARF!

That set you have is nice looking, especially that mouse, really stands out. I am amazed you were able to get it for only 16 bucks. There was a time when you couldn't get all that, unless you spent 50 bucks minimum.

Let me know how you like them, once you've had a chance to use them. :blush:

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I wouldn't call me old and I don't like the LED Stuff, too. It looks for me like ... in german there exists the Word ''Rummelbude''. That fits exactly to that.

@NeilW , @Locklear93 and @StarTreker:

There is a Way for RGB Setup for Linux called OpenRGB:

It ios maybe not compatible with all Devices. But they offer Lists to check that:
Stable Version List:

Experimental Version List:

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Thank you all for the info.
@Ponce-De-Leon I'm generally with you that I don't like garish, but a nice gentle glow that helps me see the keyboard better, I would appreciate that.

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Mmm I'm somewhat in between "keyboards are a necessity" and "I love keyboards". On one hand, it pains me to have to spend such an enormous amount of money for them. But on the other hand, I hate having a giant keyboard taking all the desktop space, especially when I have all the number keys in a nice row in front of me already; why do I need to take a plane all the way to the South Pole to punch some numbers in?

At one point I decided to buy a TKL to give it a try. All things considered, I'm very pleased. But even the cheapest I could find was already too expensive for what I thought I was prepared to pay for. At least my shoulders and back are not burning after a few hours long session!

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This illustrates how different workflow creates a huge divide in preferences - and how we feel about them.
To me, the tenkey is essential, without which I would be left looking in entirely the wrong direction trying to peck at the number row like a hungry bird.
The numpad or tenkey on the right side puts those keys exactly in easy reach. It feels very natural to punch in a PIN or numerical string on, whereas the top row is awkward, reach up and across your other hand just to get at the number row. It's like ringing a dinger across the biscuits and into the gravy.
At the dinner table I mean, not on a keyboard.

These stark differences show clearly why trying to set one standard and eliminate diversity is exceptionally counter-productive.
(and why we moved over to GnuLinux in the first place).

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Yep. I'm on a TKL only because of limited space. I don't just want the numpad back (and by god will have it back, whenever I replace this desk), I want one with a tab key on it like the old IBM dumb terminal I used in the 90s. It makes data entry flow so much more nicely.

I took a look at openRGB. The support list seemed to include the Apex and Apex TKL for direct control, but when I fired it up, it couldn't find the keyboard or my Logitech G600 mouse. After following the instructions to add something to rules in /usr/lib/udev/, it found RGB on my motherboard and RAM (why, God, do DIMMs need LEDs?!), but not the keyboard or mouse.

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Every LED backlit keyboard I have had* controls the color, pulse or steady throb, etc, with certain key presses. I use OpenRGB to turn off the case lights. I never needed to use it for peripherals.
Have you checked the documentation that came with your keyboard?
On my current one - as an example, the FN+ up or down arrow brightens the keybacklight or turns it off/on. FN+pgup or pgdn cycles through colors.
Same thing with two different mice - the top middle button ot top two middle buttons (depending on the mouse) cycle through the options.

*(Which I have gone through like four by now, because I kept buying cheap. I finally bought a more costly one by - worth it. I suspect my current board will last me a very long time)

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