Question 1

Do you need to install any software or is this keyboard plug and play?

Accepted Answer

As of late 2022, the software has been REMOVED from their website, and in fact any MENTION of this keyboard is missing.  It likely is discontinued and no longer supported.  I have reached out to their support team directly through the Red Dragon Zone website.  Without the optional software, you'll be limited to the built-in lighting functions, and only writing macros for the keyboard ON the keyboard itself, which means no high F keys (F13-24) which are invaluable for Discord, streaming, Photoshop, and a lot of other creative software that is macro-heavy unless you can actually type out the key combinations on the board itself.  OH and per another reviewers notes, the Windows key combinations are difficult to program because the Windows key IS one of the macro control keys for the board BUT CANNOT be mapped to anything else itself.

Question 2

Does the keyboad stay one color or does it have mulitple colors at the same time?  Is the only way to have the lights on to have the scroll lock on?

Accepted Answer

First, I don't own the product. My information comes from the website and videos of people reviewing the keyboard.There is actual a manual you can see online which you are given with the product. There are 5 different lighting modes including a rainbow sweep. It does not have a mode to stay on one color the entire time. In order to have your keyboard show one static color constantly you must customize it by pressing the 'LR' button, manually set each key to one color by pressing each key till you hit desired color, then press the buttons 'L1' 'L2' or 'L3', then hit the 'LR' button one more time. This will save the light setting under the L key you pressed (L1, L2, or L3). To have that light setting displayed on your keyboard, you must press the window lock key and then press the key you saved the light setting under (example: L1). The scroll lock key will not affect the lights being on or off.****Update: Having purchased the keyboard, I can confirm there is no 'static color' mode. Each different lighting mode either has colors transitioning (1 full color moving to another full color) or a rainbow sweep (multiple colors at the same time. The lights stay on when the keyboard is plugged in. If you are wanting 1 color (example:red) to be for all the keys on the board, you will have to customize your keyboard and have the windows lock key on meaning you can't use the windows key.

Question 3

Does it have a wave effect like the razer blackwidow chroma?(idk if that's what the keyboard is called)

Accepted Answer

It has quite a lot of different effects yes. Though if we're being honest it can't get as advanced as Chroma studio in Synapse 3. The optional software for the keyboard has a list of about 13-15 preset effects. You can also change the color of each key individually. However, it's not as in depth as chroma studio where you can program all sorts of different effects, what sequence they happen in etc etc. Or download pre made effects made by other users like you can on Razers site. Also, I'm not sure if this is what you were referring to, but this keyboard does not have integration with any games. For example, some games like say Doom Eternal or Elder Scrolls Online will take control of the lighting of a Razer Chroma keyboard / mouse or sometimes other devices as well to interact with the game. Like in ESO when your ultimate is charged the R key will change colors, or Doom Eternal the keyboards lighting will change depending on certain conditions (low health, power re charged etc).

This is still a fantastic keyboard, not even just for the money. I have used Redragon products before and have always been impressed with their quality. They feel like solid, well made products, and the software is completely optional. You can do everything without it  (even change color of every key separately) but the optional software is VERY lightweight (just a few megabytes), simple but works just like it should for making it easier to setup custom lighting of each key, or cycle the pre programmed effects, make and save macros etc. You can then export all of this as a file so that if you do a clean install of Windows you can easily restore your settings.

Question 4

Has anyone had trouble with usb 3 port compatibility and/or that in combination with windows 10?

Accepted Answer

First off.. this is a USB '2' pass thru not USB '3'  pass thru. I have had usb3 work but not promise.

Brand	Redragon
Product Dimensions	48 x 52 x 8 cm; 900 g
Item model number	K550
Manufacturer	Redragon
Series	k550
Color	White Purple
Number of USB 2.0 Ports	1
Power Source	Battery Powered
Hardware Platform	PC
Operating System	Limited Mac OS keyboard support., Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista, Windows XP
Number of Batteries	1
Are Batteries Included	No
Item Weight	900 g

RedragonYama K550 RGB LED Mechanical Gaming Keyboard,131 Key, Programmable Macro Keys, Wrist Rest, Volume control

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