I was looking for a smaller mechanical keyboard that would fit in my backpack. This keyboard is more compact than a full-sized one (104 keys) because it has fewer keys, like "end" and "pause break" keys. Although the compact number pad and arrow keys are arranged differently, I adjusted to it rapidly. It's not as challenging as I had anticipated. I enjoy the feel of the slightly textured keys and the distinct feel of the blue switches when typing. The keyboard also seems robust. I am also pleased with the slightly retro color scheme and simple design. A small drawback is the visibility of the letters on the keys. There is some light bleed in low light (see pic). In bright light, the contrast is better with the backlight off, but it could still be clearer. You can switch between back-light modes by using "Fn + Ins".