The K381 has a chiclet key design, the keys are flat squares that are separated from each other by some space. As you can see on the closeup below, Arctic Cooling took the liberty of replacing the traditional Windows key with its own logo.
On the next photo you can see the Function keys, each one has a second functionality that can be accessed by pressing the F key right next to the F12 key.
The right corner of the keyboard features the volume control buttons and to the left of these buttons you'll find the three status LEDs. The left LED has an orange color and lights up when the Function key is active, while the Caps Lock and Num Lock LEDs right next to it have a green color. The traditional Scroll Lock LED is missing but I don't think most people will miss it. One nuisance though is that the standby key is placed right next to the volume controls, this is not ideal as it's too easy to hit the wrong button. Nothing worse than being kicked out off a game because you accidentally pressed the standby button on your keyboard!
Testing:
It takes some time to get used to the K381 because of its condensed key layout which results in a shorter than usual key travel time. It's very compact and light weight, making it ideal to stash in your laptop bag in case you need a keyboard with a numeric pad. Comfort-wise the K381 doesn't bring anything special to the table, the keys are rather noisy and if you plan to use it all day long it may not be comfortable enough.
Conclusion:
The strong points of the Arctic Cooling K381 are its compact size and light weight, these factors make it an ideal companion for a HTPC or a SFF PC that's tucked away in a small corner. The K381 can easily be hidden from view and should fit into most laptop bags. It's comfortable enough to occasionally use it for a couple of hours a day but if you plan on using it all-day long I suggest buying a larger, more ergonomic keyboard. The Arctic K381 provides really good value though, the official MSRP is 17.45EUR ($24.95) but it can be found for as little as 9.51EUR. The low price makes it a great impulse buy if you need a tiny keyboard for a secondary PC.
The Good Stuff
Very compact
Thin profile
Stylish, minimalistic design
Great for people who only desire the bare essentials
Very cheap
The Bad Stuff
Not comfortable enough for all-day use
I give the Arctic Cooling K381 keyboard a 8/10.
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