[IN] TVS-E BHARAT GOLD for 30$ a genuine cherry mx blue switch keyboard

[Vivekanand]

Guys just wanted to let you know there is cheap mechanical keyboard sporting cherry MX blue switches.

 

These keyboard are for those who want to experience a mechanical keyboard and couldn't bear to overspend it

 

• [blog=http://harishankar.org/reviews/products/tvse-bharat-gold-usb.html]TVS-e Bharat Gold USB Keyboard
• [blog=[blog='http://www.akshatblog.com/tvs-e-bharat-gold-usb-mechanical-keyboard-review]another one
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• http://www.amazon.in/Bharat-Gold-PS2-Wired-Keyboard/dp/B00A17MNHU    for 30 $

 

 

Probably the world's cheapest mechanical keyboard (costing around USD 30 at present exchange rates), TVS-e Bharat Gold is a Cherry MX Blue switch (the fact is not advertised on the website) 104-keys traditional keyboard. Indeed TVS-e is a brand that is popular in India, as a long-standing keyboard and peripherals manufacturer but is little known outside of our country. And the TVS-e Bharat Gold is the flagship keyboard of this company. The PS/2 variety of this keyboard is slightly cheaper and some people might prefer that version.

This keyboard looks traditional and feels solid. It is also much larger in size than the average membrane keyboard and a bit larger than some modern design mechanical keyboards. It feels solid in construction and is not of the smooth and shiny variety; rather, having a rough texture. The key-caps are well sculpted and feel fairly good while typing. After using a membrane keyboard, a mechanical keyboard is a true joy to use. Cherry MX Blue switches, in particular are both tactile and clicky, meaning that you get a nice, satisfying click noise when a key is actuated. There is no doubt that a mechanical keyboard is a real benefit for those who type long hours on the keyboard. Finger and wrist fatigue is noticeably reduced if not completely eliminated. This keyboard is meant for typists and programmers who require solid tactile feedback and a light, springy response. All in all this is a good, solid no-frills mechanical keyboard.

But having used it for a few months now, I have found a few keyswitches already not responding as well as when they were new. The original springiness and clickiness of the keyboard seems to be lost in some of the keys, in particular the comma and the F5 keys. Although not as clicky as before, it is still tactile, but a wee bit softer and stickier (which causes a few issues when typing quickly, either leading to a small delay in key return or causing duplicate presses occasionally). I am not sure what caused the issue, but removing and replacing the key-cap had no effect, so it is apparently an issue with the switch itself. I do keep the keyboard fairly clean and wipe the surface and the keys regularly with a soft tissue or earbud but I suspect that some grit or dust has settled internally in these keys. Another issue I found is that the printing on some of the key caps are also slightly fading already, but this is not such a big issue for somebody who touch types or at least types without needing to locate the keys visually.

Not having used any other mechanical keyboard up to now, overall, I have few complaints about this product barring the slight loss of springiness in a few keys. It's not a big deal, but it is noticeable and causes slight irritation when typing quickly and smoothly and you encounter these particular keys. The best part of this product is the price. It is a real bargain for mechanical keyboard fans in India, particularly because other mechanical keyboards are not really locally available, and shipping/taxes and the exchange rates make other mechanical keyboards quite a bit more expensive.

Not quite the perfect mechanical keyboard, perhaps, but it is good enough for regular rough use and the local warranty makes it preferable to purchasing keyboards from outside the country. I rate it 3.5/5, the loss of a few points being due to the stickiness issue with a couple of keys and the slight wearing off of some of the printed letters.

[Damikiller37]

Looks like a Cherry MX clone for the IBM Model M. Could be good especially at that price

[Enderman]

That amount of cherry MX switches costs more than $30 so the ones in this keyboard are either fake or the company is losing a shit ton of money by selling this product.

[Tedster]

That amount of cherry MX switches costs more than $30 so the ones in this keyboard are either fake or the company is losing a shit ton of money by selling this product.

I agree.

 

Also, I'm not sure the switches shown in the photos are even the right shade of blue to be trustworthy.

[Vivekanand]

I agree.

 

Also, I'm not sure the switches shown in the photos are even the right shade of blue to be trustworthy.

 But by searching in google on cherry mx blue switches results in images of  different keyboards having different shades of blue.So which one is the correct shade?

[Vivekanand]

And 30 $ cost is in India where the company belongs and sells. It will cost more for shipping outside India.

Please read the review given by users who purchase this product In Amazon. The link is provided in the post.

Please read the Review.

[APrettyCoolWalrus]

I should suggest this to my friend, sadly it's in India

[SpaceSquid]

I personally think that out of india, the monoprice one is a better deal as it has genuine cherry switches and the shipping cost of the TVS will be more than 20 dollars, the price difference between TVS and monoprice

[harishankar]

It is a genuine Cherry Blue keyboard. TVS Electronics has a tie up with ZF Inc. and they have a factory in Madurai, India to make this keyboard in India.

 

See link here:

http://www.zftvs.com/

 

I am the original author of the review linked above (harishankar.org).

 

In short, this is the real deal. Not fake cherry keys as suggested by some here. Although the build quality of the keyboard may not match other more expensive ones it is more than solid enough for normal use.

 

(TVS group are a respectable family of companies in India involved in different businesses)

 

Hope this helps. Indeed this keyboard is the cheapest cherry mx keyboard I could find.

[iHardware Shelden]

Wow that's actually a good looking keyboard

[Syntaxvgm]

Oooh I might order one I need to keep getting moar keyboards  

[Snickerzz]

Oooh I might order one I need to keep getting moar keyboards  

Buy one as a decoy for the cat to lay on