Mechanical Keyboards...

Has anyone here actually used a Planck keyboard? It seems like a novelty or toy and not actually something someone would use. If you have one do you like it?

 

The lack of easy ability to remap keys on the Havit + iPad Pro has annoyed me into ordering the Rapoo MT500, also with low profile mechanical switches but with keyboard firmware-level remapping to put the CMD key in the right place for MacOS/iOS.

Will report back if the MT500 is any good.

 

Corsair also made some, if you don't mind the looks of it the software is pretty solid these days and all the glow-in-the-dork bling can be disabled.

They all have hardware-stored profile options, their idea being you can bring them to tournaments & lan parties and have your profiles, so you only really need to set them up once if that's how you roll, and then uninstall their software.

Not sure about iHipster functionality though.

 

I've played with the Planck at r/mk meetups, but don't own one myself. It's real enough. I don't think I could use a 40% to do work, but I do love ortholinears and I could see myself building one for home. The people who make it also make one with an extra row (called the preonic, I think) which might be more usable.

That said, it's the kind of thing you build because you want to put one together... I don't know who's buying them preassembled, but the amount of customization you can do is wild (especially with the hotswap version of the PCB).

 

I'll check that out. Looks like a really nice keyboard.

 

I'd love to try an ortholinear, but I'm afraid my fingers wouldn't like them after 40 years of typing on offset keyboards.

Excited to see what the Input Club Keystone brings to the table with its Hall-effect analog switches, but I'm waiting until they're out to buy at retail vs. the kickstarter price. I'm thinking I may like the beam spring switches they've developed, too.

 

@Syzygy - Not sure how much this would help my typing, but I can see a lot of MIDI applications for this

 

Yeah I'm pretty happy with my Whitefoxen, but I'd still like to try out a Topre and the Keystone to test the feel. I'd also like to try an Ortho, but don't really think I'd like it, so it's not worth money to try one.

About the only thing I'd change on the Whitefox is the key spacing; I'd like them closer together.

 

Quick review of the Rapoo MT500:

• Not the best evar feel. Vastly superior to any keyboard Apple has sold since they moved to chiclets and flat keycaps circa ~2007, but not as good as some of the better mechanical boards. Compared to the best mech boards, the Rapoo is mushier feeling. Less crisp; less precise feeling.
• Noticeably quieter than most mech boards I've used. Quieter than the Havit I was using before.
• Layout seems fine. I'm not enough of a connoisseur to really say much here.
• Critically for me: has a hardware-switchable Win/Mac layout that works, and has media keys that work (Havit required software remapping for both of those, and I don't have a Windows box to run their janky control software with).
• Overall quality vibe: better than you'd think for the price. Feels substantial. Doesn't want to move around on its own on the desk; has enough weight to stay put and feel really substantial, but it's more portable than a full board with a 10-key. Has a detatchable USB cable which to me is a must-have. Nothing beats having a minimal desk with a keyboard cable that feels like a folded up 120v extension cord because it's so huge and fat and bulky.

 

I have the following keyboard:

https://www.amazon.com/Das-Keyboard...rd&qid=1564018726&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&th=1

It works, it design is not "gamer" like. A simple MX Blue keyboard that will wake up my GF if I type on it for three minutes. However, I just need that feedback, it feels more national to me. I also pissed off my coworkers when I work from home and I'm on my conference call. When I type on it they are like "what the hell is that."

 

When I was in college a mechanical keyboard was a manual typewriter. What pain in the ass and the hands. Thankfully we have an ergonomic keyboard. Makes typing for long hours comfortable. We have a Microsoft model. Surprisingly good. Unfortunately my wife still got carpal tunnel, as most of her employers would never kick in for an ergonomic keyboard. Trust me, if you are in your 30’s and still using a standard keyboard you’ll regret in when you are older.

 

It's a big reason why I want to try Ergodox. I also want to do something crazy and learn dvorak

 

Ergonomics is a massive quality of life improvement if you type for a living. One of my software engineering internships hooked me up with a Kinesis Advantage II to use in the office when my manager noticed my wrist pain. This was my first exposure to mechanical keyboards & ergonomic keyboards, and after trying a few other ergonomic keyboards (mechanical and not) I found myself building an Ergodox.

Other than the Ergodox, the best ergonomic keyboards I've used are the goldtouch split keyboards. I do still own one-- its thin, lightweight, and folds up for easy travel. But my main workhorse for the last 5 years has certainly been the Ergodox, which I've carried all over the country (pelican case to preserve my shoddy soldering job). On top of being a great looking keyboard with a lot of support for keycaps, etc. it's a fantastic programmers' board. We probably use more of the 'pinky keys' and chord more stupid modifier combos than most. Breaking most of those out to the thumb cluster does a lot for me and my cubital tunnel. And being able to flash your own layout whenever you want to adjust is incredibly powerful-- I tend to tweak mine every few months when I have to pick up new software and find myself stretching & suffering over keyboard shortcuts.

Which is to say, build an Ergodox. Nobody I know who has doesn't love it. Except the people who go increasingly hardcore...

 

Chords? What's that? I can't find that in the Vim docs.

Also ed is the one true editor, don't @ me.

 

I found a keycap set that appeals to my interest in electronics

 

I don't see the allure of the Planck, but I've got big hands that have no trouble reaching the number row, and I'm a software engineer so need intuitive access to []{}_+-= etc. so I went with the Preonic as @supertransformingdhruv mentioned and love it. Also built up a keeb.io Nyquist which is the same, only split in half.

I previously shied away from the Ergodox because I've made a boss layout for my Preonic/Nyquist and couldn't think of anything more I could do with the thumb keys, that I heard were somewhat unnatural and difficult to reach... until someone told me she used one as a dedicated "undo" button and I kicked myself, lol.

If you're looking at alternative layouts, look no further than Colemak. It's even more efficient than Dvorak (was designed with computed statistical models that Dvorak didn't have access to) and is WAY easier to learn for someone coming from QWERTY.

Obligatory TTIWWP:

Current work setup feat. one half of Nyquist. This uses Zeal Aqua Zilents tactile and Roselio linear switches and is in my own SLA 3D printed case design. Have yet to settle on a design for the tenting bolts tho:



Preonic now relegated to home/travel. Stock Massdrop acrylic case - for now - w/ Zealio tactile and Tealio linear switches, DSA Scientific keycaps, and some risers to lift it off my laptop keyboard that are handy everywhere so I just left on:

 

I've read the thread and on the hunt for a cheap entry level mechanical to replace an aging $15 membrane logitech.

Anyone with personal recs on any current models that may fit the following criteria?

10 keyless, red or multi thru key lighting. Probably Blue or brown type switches , clones ok if vendor is decent. Wired is fine.

$50 or less is budget.

Hoping someone can chime in but I am reading all of the "best" lists and other random reviews.

 

I have an E-Elements full size with RGB and Outemu Brown switches that has replaced my Logitech G610 with Cherry Browns. Only slightly behind in build quality and with some PBT caps from Aliexpress, I actually enjoy the typing experience better. They have a tenkeyless version with blue or red switches for under $40 right now on Amazon. One of the reasons I got it is that it has socketed switches so you could order other compatible switches and easily swap them.

 

Thanks for the tip. Just got back from "buy more", could only get my hands on a few keyboards but I think all had linear red type or in case of Razor opto mech. I did like the size of a fps hyperx but it had Kalih silver.

I think my best bet is to just grab something like the E-elements or Red Dragon and send it back if not totally happy.

 

I love this keyboard. It is extremely thin, keys have less travel but still the mechanical clicky feel. Link below.

If a coworker had not shown me his, I wouldn't have even considered it. It's not a Razer, Corsair, Logitech, etc so it would have been totally off my radar. I've had it for over a year now, and it's still clicking along like when it was new.

Mechanical Keyboard HAVIT RGB Backlit Wired Gaming Keyboard Extra-Thin & Light, Kailh Latest Low Profile Blue Switches, 104 Keys N-Key Rollover HV-KB3 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074QM6F7X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_voFbKckHOjypb