Keyboard suggestions?

None_At_All

So Christmas is coming up and I'd like to get a new keyboard that's actually good. I've tried a friend's mechanical keyboard and it was really nice to type in.

Anyhow, I'm looking for suggestions. I'd like to know the name of the keyboard, the price, and the pros and cons.

Thanks for the help ^^ I'd like to keep it under $100.

tftp

First your going to know what type of switches you would like

https://wiki.installgentoo.com/index.php/Mechanical_keyboards

^ is a pretty good guide

You more common switches are Cherry MX Blues, Reds, and Browns

Blues - Loud and heavy
Red - Light and Quiet
Browns - Something inbetween

I have blue switches and a buckling spring because I like the clacks

Also your going to want to look into what % you want

Here is a comparison between 60 and 100
https://rhino.im/u/0021/IMG_1302.JPG[/img]

Most of your $100 +/- 15 boards are "LE HAXOR GAMIN KEYBOARDS" but there are a multitude of decent ones.

My first mechanical keyboard was the CM Quickfire Storm Blues
http://www.custompcreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/cm-storm-quickfire-tk-custom-pc-review-16.jpg[/img]

pros:

Cheap
Anti twist cable
low profile
metal back board
media/function keys

cons:
keycaps a little cheap
one of my LEDs failed after 6-7 months
Build quality could be nicer (I am satisfied with it but some may be picky)

based on preference:
Number toggles between the arrow keys and the number pad

low profile
Blue LEDS that have multiple settings
Blue switches

If you want something less flashy look at this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201083

it's even on sale because of Black Friday.

Currently typing on a Unicomp Spacesaver M :^)

seel

What I currently have. People tend to get elitist with their switches, but personally that is completely up to the person using the keyboard. I like blues, and they're wonderful. That keyboard also has Brown, Green and Red variants. Cherry MX Switches, all, excluding Green, are under $100.

None_At_All

tftp wrote:
First your going to know what type of switches you would like

https://wiki.installgentoo.com/index.php/Mechanical_keyboards

^ is a pretty good guide

You more common switches are Cherry MX Blues, Reds, and Browns

Blues - Loud and heavy
Red - Light and Quiet
Browns - Something inbetween

I have blue switches and a buckling spring because I like the clacks

Also your going to want to look into what % you want

Here is a comparison between 60 and 100
https://rhino.im/u/0021/IMG_1302.JPG[/img]

Most of your $100 +/- 15 boards are "LE HAXOR GAMIN KEYBOARDS" but there are a multitude of decent ones.

My first mechanical keyboard was the CM Quickfire Storm Blues
http://www.custompcreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/cm-storm-quickfire-tk-custom-pc-review-16.jpg[/img]

pros:

Cheap
Anti twist cable
low profile
metal back board
media/function keys

cons:
keycaps a little cheap
one of my LEDs failed after 6-7 months
Build quality could be nicer (I am satisfied with it but some may be picky)

based on preference:
Number toggles between the arrow keys and the number pad

low profile
Blue LEDS that have multiple settings
Blue switches

If you want something less flashy look at this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201083

it's even on sale because of Black Friday.

Currently typing on a Unicomp Spacesaver M :^)

Thanks! (and also thanks @Lokorfi)

That last keyboard is the winning for now.

EDIT: Thanks @[deleted] and @CompaisMyWaifu.
I think I'll go for the ROCCAT one if the other one is no longer on sale

Vosaiu

tftp wrote:
My first mechanical keyboard was the CM Quickfire Storm Blues

This was my first as well, used it for over a year before I got a different one. It's cheap and dependable, so I think this would be your best bet.

None_At_All

Alright, I think I'll get the CM Quickfire one if Rosewill goes out of sale, then.

NekoWeeb

I use the Razer Blackwidow stealth tournament edition.
I dont want to switch to anything else

Ashley

protip do NOT get a Das. Their quality has been slipping recently.

The following are my opinions.

MX blue = not for living with people, clicks are nice though.
MX red = very light with no tactile response; too light, very easy to make mistakes while typing
MX brown = like an MX red with a piece of sand stuck in it
MX black = heavy reds
MX green = heavy blues (I've heard they're louder too)
MX clear = heavy browns (with a much nicer bump)
If you want to test them all for yourself, many places (like WASDKeyboards and Max Keyboard) sell switch testers.

Those are all the main switches. The brands I would recommend are Ducky, Filco, and whoever makes the poker keyboards. I trust these brands because of the quality of their products, as well as their use of genuine Cherry switches. Many keyboards nowadays will use Chinese knockoff switches. The problem is that we don't know about the durability of these. Cherry switches are QC tested for 50 million actuations, while the Chinese ones have no QC at all. We just don't really know yet.

TL;DR: read the switch thing above, get a Ducky, Filco, or Pok3r with your chosen switches.
Also I'm a fucking nerd.

tftp

NekoWeeb wrote:
I use the Razer Blackwidow stealth tournament edition.
I dont want to switch to anything else

switch to anything else
hahahahahaha good one

tftp

nerd wrote:
protip do NOT get a Das. Their quality has been slipping recently.

The following are my opinions.

MX blue = not for living with people, clicks are nice though.
MX red = very light with no tactile response; too light, very easy to make mistakes while typing
MX brown = like an MX red with a piece of sand stuck in it
MX black = heavy reds
MX green = heavy blues (I've heard they're louder too)
MX clear = heavy browns (with a much nicer bump)
If you want to test them all for yourself, many places (like WASDKeyboards and Max Keyboard) sell switch testers.

Those are all the main switches. The brands I would recommend are Ducky, Filco, and whoever makes the poker keyboards. I trust these brands because of the quality of their products, as well as their use of genuine Cherry switches. Many keyboards nowadays will use Chinese knockoff switches. The problem is that we don't know about the durability of these. Cherry switches are QC tested for 50 million actuations, while the Chinese ones have no QC at all. We just don't really know yet.

TL;DR: read the switch thing above, get a Ducky, Filco, or Pok3r with your chosen switches.
Also I'm a fucking nerd.

he is looking for sub $100 boards

Ashley

tftp wrote:
he is looking for sub $100 boards

I found a Ducky in Microcenter for $50.
You can also easily find them for sub-$100 at Geekhack or /r/mechmarket

losi

The G.Skill Ripjaws KM780 keyboard is a pretty kickass keyboard. The KM780 has Cherry MX Brown switches.

Non-rgb version ($90): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=23-828-003
Full rgb version ($130: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823828001

speedlolita

I use both an IBM Model M (1391406 - 1987) and a Filco Majestouch 2 "Click Action" (MX Blue) myself! Prefer the Model M though, nothing beats buckling springs.

Utsutsu

I plan on getting the K70 somewhere next month, with brown switches.
Also RGB, cuz u can never not have RGB.

Spyro

http://www.razerzone.com/store/razer-deathstalker

Great keyboard!

mayunaise

31222
http://www.razerzone.com/store/razer-deathstalker

Great keyboard!

$70 for a razor branded chicklet keyboard
No.

xGreedo

31209
I plan on getting the K70 somewhere next month, with brown switches.
Also RGB, cuz u can never not have RGB.

I got one with red switches. The dumb RGB lighting is just too much fun.

COUPLED

my go to keyboard for gaming.
should be for everyone

speedlolita

I think it is interesting to see how there are so many "Model M" revisions! Mine is a 1987 model so the original design (as I recall) and I use it via PS/2 - as you rightly should. Absolutely love it.

Spyro

Rii wrote:
31222
http://www.razerzone.com/store/razer-deathstalker

Great keyboard!

$70 for a razor branded chicklet keyboard
No.

Chiclet keys are dank as fuck mayn. ;-;