RPG Keys supplies a large, robust keypad with 58 uniformly sized keys, organized into four distinct control clusters. Kubota’s SpeedKeys, by contrast, has less surface area and arrays its 18 buttons in a single grouping, with even spacing between each key.

The keys on the SpeedKeys are 47% smaller than the RPG Keys, and feel somewhat akin to a compact laptop keyboard. The large RPG keys,

Small, black buttons with white, blue, and orange titles coat the surface of the Kubota SpeedKeys keypad

Large, blocky buttons on the RPG Keys are capped with a small plastic cover that are easily removed for labeling.

alternatively, carry the spree and clunk of a bulky PC keyboard, and are much better for helping the user navigate by feel.

Landmarks on the Kubota keyboard are two large and uniquely rectangular “option” keys, while the user’s feel of the RPG keyboard is discovered through the spacing left between groups of buttons.

Main key clutters on both keyboards are book-ended by “option” keys, engaging 2nd and 3rd functions for each non-option button. The placement of “option” buttons on both keyboards, along the bottom row of keys, makes it easy to access with your thumb or pinky, while also depressing an adjustment key.

Individual buttons on both the RPG Keys and Kubota SpeedKeys keyboards are all slightly concave on the surface and generally square in shape (with the exception of the two option buttons on the Kubota SpeedKeys unit). The top corners of each RPG Keys button are sharp, right angles, while the Kubota SpeedKeys sport softer, rounded edges. We don’t think this will make a significant impact (if any) in the usability of the Kubota SpeedKeys; however, it is another element of the RPG Keys design that helps delineate each button by touch.

Labeling (Keys)
RPG keys and Kubota SpeedKeys both allow users to assign up to three functions per button. Each of the RPG Keys are surrounded by a plastic encasing that can be easily removed to allow users to write over, or drop in a new label to denote any new functionality.

The SpeedKeys on the other hand, comes with four sheets of pre-labeled, individual buttons that can be snapped in or swapped out to match the software’s drag-and-drop workflow modifications.

Kubota SpeedKeys ascribes labels on the buttons directly, color-coding the title text atop of the black keys. This, again, is small detail in terms of actual usability, though the white, blue, and rust colored labels on the black keys make it more difficult to actually read the labels (like white text on a black computer screen) than the black lettering on colored buttons that coats the RPG keys.

The key labels themselves on the RPG keypad are colored based on the type of module or adjustments it’s grouped with. The title itself is in black on all keys except for the four option keys.

The sequence above shows the process of switching out buttons on the Kubota SpeedKeys.