Computex 2017 - Day 3

Sharkoon

Sharkoon isn't a company we've looked at much, especially in recent years, but we came away from our meeting impressed – if it's able to hit the various price points quoted to us in the coming months, it could well have some great products on its hands.


First up is the PureWriter keyboard. Targetting professionals more than gamers, the PureWriter users low-profile, Kailh mechanical switches. It needs no software, and the USB cable is detachable – you get two in the box, one short and one long. You can also connect it directly to your Android phone or tablet as an input device. There are five programmable profiles for the onboard blue LEDs with a variety of effects available. Sharkoon is looking to retail these at 99 Euros for the full-size one and 75 Euros for the tenkeyless one.


On the gaming side, we have two keyboards that continue the Skiller Mech series after the SGK1. Predictably, these are the tenkeyless SGK2 and the full-size SGK3. Both are built using Kailh mechanical switches, with Blue, Red, and Brown varieties all set to be available options. They sport a raised keycap design and a metal faceplate, and the LEDs behind the keycaps on the smaller SGK2 are white while the SGK3 gets the RGB treatment. The SGK2 has dedicated macro keys to the left, and these were excluded from the SGK3 to prevent it getting too wide. Both keyboards are designed to be used completely on-the-fly, and custom functions like macro recording and lighting control can be managed using the Skiller (FN) button in combination with other keys. That said, the SGK3 can be used with software for fine-tuning or if you prefer this style of control; it's just not a necessity. None of these features are ground-breaking, but the real highlight is the pricing. Sharkoon is aiming for prices of just 49 Euros (SGK2) and 69 Euros (SGK3) when the keyboards launch in September.


Continuing the theme of low-price peripherals is the SharkForce Pro mouse, which will also launch in September. It will come in five different colours – red, orange, green, white, and black – with underside LEDs to match (blue LEDs for the black mouse). The PixArt PWM 3307 optical sensor has four locked DPI steps from 400 DPI to 3,200 DPI, and the mouse has a soft-touch rubber coating and Omron switches. No software is needed. The SharkForce Pro is set to retail for just 19 Euros.


Sharkoon also had a couple of new cases on show. First up was the AM5, and this will come either as a sound-proofed Silent version or a normal version with an acrylic side panel. Inside, we see a familiar, modern design that splits the case into two chambers with a PSU cover. It's about two months away from the market, and in terms of pricing Sharkoon is looking at 59 Euros for the standard version and 69 Euros for the Silent one.


Stepping up a little, we get the AI7000, which again has a September ETA. It too will have a Silent edition, but the other version will use tempered glass instead of acrylic for the side panel. Both are set to cost 79 Euros.