Mechanical Keyboards...

Previously, before I went all audio-feely, I was into keyboards.......I mean really heads-over-heels into keyboards. I presently have about 20 or so keyboards (from a peak of about 30 keyboards) from Ducky/KUL/Filco/Keycool/Leopold/KBP/CoolerMaster Cherry MX keyboards as well as a couple of CM Novatouch, a couple of HHKB2's, Leopold and Topre capacitive keyboards. Yep, a real headcase I was! Fave switch types are 55G Topre, followed by Cherry MX Clear/Green/Black.

 

I ordered a Dell PC in the late 90's with a Dell AT101W Mechanicsl keyboard, not really knowing what a mechanical keyboard was. I've never looked back.

The AT101W still works great, though I've moved to a Das Keyboard these days. The Cherry MX blue's are way easier to type on and so satisfying. I can't stand "mushy" keys.

I've been keeping an eye out for my next board, though even with all the options out there, no one makes the low key, high quality, board I'm looking for yet.

 

If you like the MX Blue, then you really should find a IBM Model M (Buckling Spring switches) and try it yourself. For me it's the Blue on steroids, everything just feels better imo, though the caps are not compatible with Cherry stems.

 

I've finally stepped off the mechanical keyboard deepend. I went and ordered a White Fox from Massdrop.

Ever since I ordered my 66 Key Topre Leopold I've loved both the form factor of the keyboard in addition to the topre switches. They were perfect for typing on. But recently I've gotten back into gaming and found that the topre switches aren't the best for playing FPSs so I switched back to the full sized Leopold with Browns that I have.

But ever since then I've been wanting a smaller keyboard with Browns. Was looking at a KUL, or even the Browns version of my 66 key Leopold, or even the CM QFR, which is supposed to be really good.

But yesterday I ended up on Massdrop and damn is the white fox a slick looking keyboard, it's solid aluminum construction and the high end white pbt keys put me over the edge. I also really like that there's no "edge" around the board, so you can see under the keycaps, though several other boards do that as well.

 

Wouldn't a tkl form factor be more suitable for gaming? So many games/emulators make use of the function row extensively

 

Looking to get my first mechanical keyboard. Pretty sure Cherry Browns are what I am looking for. I got a Logitech G502 mouse recently and love it and was thinking about the G610 keyboard since I am a tool who likes things to match. Any yays or nays? AS much as I like matchy matchy, I want a good keyboard for a good value. Looking at under $100 and would like illuminated keys if possible.

 

I have a Das Keyboard for mac and while it is a great keyboard the MX Blues are just entirely too loud for home. After watching a comparison video from WASD I think the Browns would be a much better fit, or Blacks (haven't heard clears yet). I haven't installed o-rings but just the whole noise profile with Browns seems better, especially with o-rings. I like Blue the sound well enough but not for my uses.
Does anyone want to buy mine? Or trade keyboards?
Also, any big difference in feeling from Blues to Browns?

 

Quite big. The difference in sound is due to the difference in actuation force, and in my opinion how distinct it is when you cross that 'actuation point'.
i.e. for Brown you more smoothly cross the 'click', for Blue you definitely know when the key clicks.

 

I have a collection of keyboards ranging from Cherry MX (Blue, Green Clear, Brown, Black, White) to Topre (45G and 55G) and one BS (Lexmark Model M circa 1993). Browns do have a slight tactile 'bump' when they're depressed, this 'bump' isn't as sharp as those on the Blues and feel lighter than Blues, and after years of usage, I sorta dislike Browns. They simply feel 'mushy'! Clear is a 'heavier' Brown with a sharper tactile 'bump' (perhaps similar to Blues) but like the Browns, there's no 'click'. Greens are like a heavier version of the Blues. I gave up on Reds because it was too light and I find myself making all sort of typos, Blacks being a heavier Red (linear) do actually feel good to me. Of all the keyboard switch types I've tried, the best in feel are the BS on my Model M and the Topre 55G on my RealForce keyboard.

 

I have had a Logitech G610 with Brown Cherry switches for the last several years and have started to wear off the tops of a couple keys. I like everything about it other than a non-standard bottom row that prevents me from buying any third party keycap sets. Rather than pay Logitech $30 for a replacement set, I was thinking about getting a new keyboard (this time with a standard layout). What search terms should I use to make sure I have a standard layout? Also, any recommendations for something in the $75-100 range? I am not a huge fan of gamer aesthetic (hence why I like the G610), but would like backlighting.

 

Seems like the main issue is the 5.75u length spacebar. Go with a 6u or 6.25u spacebar layout and you should have no problem with keycaps.

 

I'm not sure about the term for a non-proprietary keycap set, but the vast majority of mech keyboards should be able to take replacement caps. It's mainly some of the bigger brands that do this dumb custom sizing- Corsair being the other one (at least as of a couple of years back).

 

I forgot about this thread.

At the moment, I'm using a Kira board with SA Pulse.

I rotate with MT3 Matt3o /dev/tty and SA Carbon.
Over the last year, I've found that I prefer taller profiles so sold off GMK Laser and GMK Yuri.
Currently have SA Danger Zone and MT3 Godspeed on order.
Hopefully SA 1976 will drop sometime this year.

 

I never got myself into buying really expensive models but i have had 7 mechanicals at home and i have currently 3 and 2 that i use the most, which were actually the cheapest ones. The one i use the most is actually the only non-cherry one, with Gatheron Browns (i love their smooth, subtle, mini-bump and lack of click) the other is Cherry Red. Weirdly enough both were from KS:


The Drevo BladeMaster TE

Wooting One

 

Using Velocifire TKL01 with Outemu brown switches. Got it for only $30. Been using for a while now no complaints

 

Have a MK night typist with silent red cherry for office use. Not perfect, but pretty good. Mostly for typing, not bad.

Use a Topre Realforce with 45g keys at home. Feels really nice when I type and with general use. Not as good for games IMO, especially with any games that involve pushing any one button very fast repeatedly, but I don't play that many games. Not sure if I'd buy this again for $210 though... or even the MK night typist above for $115.

Tried a few different keyboards and switches before picking/settling on these 2. I could try to characterize why I chose these 2 against their Force vs Displacement (and reset) graphs, but even that isn't that clear to me or that perfect of a method for measurement... Was also disappointed that I didn't find anything with 3/4 rise keys, switches I like, and full 100% keyboard... if anyone knows of any, please feel free share.

 

Leopold has its FC980C / FC980M in Topre / Cherry MX, respectively. Dunno about the rise, but it's an interesting layout that squeezes 100% keys in a smaller form factor.
No backlighting though, I think.

 

Sounds suspiciously like... keyboard mid-fi purgatory

 

I have the FC980M with cherry MX silent reds. They don't have any backlighting but the layout is great, it's only 1 column (bout 2/3 of an inch) more than the old tenkeyless FC750R I had and gave away while having the full numpad, so that's a space savings of approx 3 columns.

 

I've been eyeing one for a while now. I like the look and layout, but I'm having trouble understanding: why does it cost so much? Is it mainly the keycap production?