The Everest Max Keyboard: A Modular Marvel for Gamers and Typists Alike

The Everest Max keyboard from MOUNTAIN is designed to be the ultimate solution for typing and macro needs, boasting an all-aluminum design, full programmability, hot-swappable switches, and built-in keys with displays. This modular board takes cues from classic gaming keyboards like the Microsoft SideWinder X6 and is positioned as a premium alternative, available on eBay for around $80-$90 with worn-out membrane keys.

Upon unwrapping the Everest Max, you'll find it comes in a compartmentalized box that MOUNTAIN intends to reuse as a storage container to help reduce waste. Inside, you'll discover the Everest Core, the base tenkeyless keyboard without any accessories. Built from CNC-milled aluminum in either gunmetal gray or midnight black, the Everest Core features a distinctive two-level edge and a diffused RGB strip down the center. The total of five female USB-C ports on the board serve different purposes, with one embedded in the underside of the board handling data and power for both the board and its accessories.

The magnetic PU leather wrist rest is lightweight and comfortable, with almost no flex to the board deck itself. This attention to detail makes for a smooth typing experience, ideal for both gamers and typists who spend hours at their desks. As configured, the Everest Core doesn't have traditional LED indicators like Caps Lock and Num Lock, making way for these features to be added via the numpad and dock components.

The Everest Max comes with MOUNTAIN's own in-house Base Camp software, which handles configuring macros, RGB lighting, the control dial, and built-in display functionality. Every key on the board is reprogrammable, allowing users to create specific profiles for different setups, such as streaming profiles that integrate with OBS or gaming setups with custom macros.

Macros are easy to create using Base Camp's intuitive software, where users can record keypresses involved in a macro and add custom delays as needed. The display keys on the board also come with four options for speed and brightness of various effects, including changing direction when applicable. A nice touch is that when physically typing on the keyboard, a key press animation plays on the software.

In addition to its programmable features, the Everest Max also boasts dock functionality. The media buttons function similarly to what you'd expect from other keyboards, but are fully reprogrammable if desired. The dial clicks and can be heard for each setting change, with the screen used to configure keyboard parameters like macro profiles and RGB lighting to show time or system information.

The dock's display is noticeably more vibrant than that of the display keys and retains color fidelity much better when viewed off-axis. High contrast icons and backgrounds are recommended for optimal visibility from a normal typing position. LED indicators for Caps Lock, Num Lock, etc., are also included on the dock, providing an added layer of convenience.

MOUNTAIN also carries peripherals and accessories for the Everest series, including O-rings, lube, cables, additional riser feet that can be stacked up for a steeper incline, and more. For keyboard enthusiasts, there's even a video comparing different key switches in a blind test to determine which ones are actually liked best.

For those interested in exploring further, the article invites readers to check out MOUNTAIN's sponsored video featuring the Everest Max keyboard, where the features and functionality of this modular marvel are showcased in detail.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- The Everest Max keyboard from MOUNTAIN,the sponsor of this video,aims to be the ultimate solutionfor your typing and macro needs.It features an all aluminumdesign, full programmability,hot-swappable switches, andbuilt-in keys with displays,kind of like an Elgato Stream Deckor that famous Optimusconcept keyboard from 2005.Really for gamers though,the more apt comparisonis the classic Microsoft SideWinder X6,and given that those are still goingfor anywhere from 80 to 90Canadian dollars on eBay,and that's with worn out membrane keys,there is clearly still demandfor this type of modular board.So why don't we take a closer look at it?(upbeat music)The Everest Max comesinto compartmentalized boxthat MOUNTAIN intends for you to reuseas a useful storage containerto help reduce waste.Inside it, you will find the Everest Core,and this is the base tenkeyless keyboardwithout any of the accessories.It's built from CNC-milled aluminumin either gunmetal gray or midnight black,and has this kind of two-level edgethat combined with the diffusedRGB strip down the centergives it a very distinctive look.It's got a total of fivefemale USB-C ports on it,each of which serves a different purpose.The one embedded in theunderside of the boardhandles data and powerfor both the board and its accessorieswith these handy channels that allow youto cable manage yourdesk however you see fit.And the other four are forthe modular accessories.Now, a recurring theme in thereviews on MOUNTAIN's web shopis that they found an excellent balancebetween build quality and heft.And honestly speaking, I agree.The magnetic PU leather wrist restis lightweight and comfortable,and there's almost no flexto the board deck itself.Yet it's not so heavy thatit could double as a weapon.I mean, I think you couldconceivably carry the Everest corearound in your backpack at schoolwithout ruining your spine.The branding is subtle, sojust a small logo top center,and then another logo on the Escape key.And while the key switchesis included with our boardare not my personal favorite,Cherry MX Silent Reds,you can order it configuredwith a variety of other Cherry switchesor opt for the core bare bonesand install whatever you want.MOUNTAIN includes this handykey cap and key switch puller.Let's take a look at how it works.If you wanna pull off a key cap,you just kind of popthis on and whoop, hello.There you go. Pull it off alittle something like that.And if you decide, youknow what, hey, MX speed,not really my thing.You pop this on here. Oi,there's your key switch.Hot-swappable.We don't even have to powerdown, ladies and gentlemen.Hmm, just make sure I'mputting this on the right way.Rah and rah.Cherry MX Browns might be acontroversial choice these days,but whatever, take this, haters.(crew laughing)Look, I like what I'm used to, all right?And since we're up this close,this is a perfect chanceto get a close look at finishing toucheslike the individuallyRGB backlit ABS key capsand the machining marks on the plate.Now, many manufacturerswould remove these marksbefore painting or anodizing,but personally I absolutely love the look.It's also a good opportunityto show the care and attentionthat goes into each board.The stabilizers, whichare found on larger keyslike Shift and Enter, are hand lubed,and they have additional foampadding for noise dampeningand the spacebar stabilizer is clippedto all but eliminate reverb or chatter.If you've ever performedthis modification yourself,you'll know that it can be time-consumingand a bit of a pain in the butt.The board either lies flat on the desk,or it can be elevated with theincluded magnetic riser feet,which brings us perfectlyinto the juicy stuff.The detachable numpadclips onto either sidewith a type C USB portand magnetic guidesthat make it super easyto both pull off and to install.One really nice touch isthis slider on the underside,which not only moves theconnector from left to right,but also locks in the center,if you wanna just chuck it in your bagand protect the plug whileyou're transporting it,or if you wanna use an extension cableto position the number padsomewhere else on your desk.On that note,MOUNTAIN warns against usingstandard USB-C extension cablesfor this kind of functionalityand does not supportplugging the number padinto your computer stand alone.The good news is that theyonly charge eight US dollarsfor their own compatible USB extension,so they're not holding you hostagewith an extremely high priced accessory.And I guess it kind of makes sensethat the interface herewould be proprietarybecause the hardware todrive the built-in displaysis probably in the core keyboardrather than in the numpad itself.So let's take a closer look at those.MOUNTAIN has developed theirown in-house Base Camp softwarethat handles configuring macros,RGB lighting, the control dial,and, of course, built the functionalityand the icons on the display keys.Every key on the board is reprogrammable.So if you wanna add specificprofiles for different setups,like maybe a streamingprofile that you use with OBS,including the ability to changescenes, insert transitions,start or stop streaming, et cetera,a gaming setup thatmight have a few macros,or an office set upthat lets you execute commonprograms or functions.That is totally up to you.Macros are easy to create.You simply record the keypresses involved and that's it.Or if you need any custom delays,then you just add them like this.Now, I'm just going to changethe icon on this display key.One moment.Change our image to this. Done.And it should type it,right? Oh, now it does.Oh, I didn't put enterin. Okay, bad macro.But the point is, look howquickly I can check outour new and improved spoutlids on our water bottles.These are just $5if you've ever bought awater bottle on lttstore.com.Now, in terms of RGB,you've got four optionsfor speed and brightnessof the various effects,as well as changingdirection when applicable.A nice little touchis that when you physicallytype on the keyboard,a key press animation playson the software as well.And it supports Razer Chroma RGB.Up next is the dock.The media buttons functionabout like you'd expect,though, of course, likethe rest of the keyboard,they are fully reprogrammableif you want them to do something else.And the dial clicks, can hearthat, for each setting change.and the screen can be used toconfigure keyboard parameterslike macro profiles and RGB lightingto show the time or displaysystem information like CPU,memory, and network usage.And you can even get it to show APMif you're a MOBA or osu! nerd.And yes, you can changethe color of the menusand the screensaver image.Compared to the display keys,the display on the dialis noticeably more vibrantand retains color fidelity muchbetter when viewed off axis.I would strongly recommendhigh contrast iconsand backgrounds for the display keysbecause they're quite a bit easier to seefrom a normal typing position.Also included on the dock areLED indicators for Caps Lock,Num Lock, et cetera.And this is notable becausein its Everest Core form,the keyboard doesn't actually havethis functionality at all.So as configured withthe numpad and the dock,ours is an Everest Max.And for you keyboard nerds by the way,it sounds a little something like this.(keyboard clicking)Thank you again, MOUNTAIN,for sponsoring this videoand sending over some of theseboards to show to you guys.They also carry peripheralsand accessories for the Everest series,like O-rings, lube, cables,additional riser feetthat you can stack upif you prefer a steeperincline, and stuff like that.If you guys enjoyed this video,maybe check out our keyboardkey switch comparison,where we took a whole bunchof different key switchesfor a test driveand decided which ones in a blind testwe actually liked best.\n"