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Lez talk mechanical keyboards

I'm check that out. Any other options? Under $250 or $300?

You might be able to get an old Kinesis Advantage, or a used Ergodox (vanilla or Infinity) that someone is selling, but not new, no. $300 is sort of the sweet spot that the ergonomic mech keyboards target.

But holy jesus fuck I love my Ergodox and I actively have to stop myself from buying a second one.
 

runandgun251

Neo Member
My G15 finally kicked the bucket and I'm looking to finally upgrade to a mechanical keyboard. I was hoping to get a few recommendations for anything around $100-$130.
 
Hm... The Ergodox is out of my price range. I'm not the one paying, my company is. They're willing to go to $200ish price range. I'm not looking for a gaming friendly keyboard. I'm looking for a typing friendly keyboard. I've used ergonomic keyboards up to this point and I'm currently using a Microsoft Sculpt. I like it, but the keys are going bad just after a year or so of use.

Any typing heavy users here use a non-ergonomic keyboard? What's it like?

It looks like iKBC, Filco, Topre (Realforce?), and Cooler Masters are the preferred brands here.

Are topre's really the best for heavy typing uses?
 

Wallach

Member
Hm... The Ergodox is out of my price range. I'm not the one paying, my company is. They're willing to go to $200ish price range. I'm not looking for a gaming friendly keyboard. I'm looking for a typing friendly keyboard. I've used ergonomic keyboards up to this point and I'm currently using a Microsoft Sculpt. I like it, but the keys are going bad just after a year or so of use.

Any typing heavy users here use a non-ergonomic keyboard? What's it like?

It looks like iKBC, Filco, Topre (Realforce?), and Cooler Masters are the preferred brands here.

Are topre's really the best for heavy typing uses?

For heavy typing I definitely recommend going for a Topre switch. Model is going to depend on your work particulars and preferences; my main work driver is still a HHKBP2 or an FC660C, but I also like typing on the tenkeyless Realforces. If you're doing accounting work or other heavy numpad use stuff and are not fully proficient in numrow replacement then I think going with a full size Realforce is the best option.

I do love my purely mechanical switches but I don't think anything beats a Topre switch for this use case.
 

Tripon

Member
My G15 finally kicked the bucket and I'm looking to finally upgrade to a mechanical keyboard. I was hoping to get a few recommendations for anything around $100-$130.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...ywords=ikbc+keyboard&rh=i:aps,k:ikbc+keyboard

iKBC keyboards. Only issue is that there's no amazon prime, but it's usually the company itself just using Amazon as a store front.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...&rh=i:aps,k:Cooler+master+keyboard+masterkeys

Cooler Master Masterkeys, depending on what keys and size you want.

Are my current recommendations at your price range.
 
Hm... The Ergodox is out of my price range. I'm not the one paying, my company is. They're willing to go to $200ish price range. I'm not looking for a gaming friendly keyboard. I'm looking for a typing friendly keyboard. I've used ergonomic keyboards up to this point and I'm currently using a Microsoft Sculpt. I like it, but the keys are going bad just after a year or so of use.

Any typing heavy users here use a non-ergonomic keyboard? What's it like?

It looks like iKBC, Filco, Topre (Realforce?), and Cooler Masters are the preferred brands here.

Are topre's really the best for heavy typing uses?

If you're used to an ergonomic keyboard, I can't imagine going back to a regular keyboard being anything but horrible.

I'd at least get a split keyboard; they won't be as nice as the Ergodox but will likely take less time to get used to, while still getting your wrists apart from each other.

Quick search and I can find a few;
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L1IK7DO/?tag=neogaf0e-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019CUT6SA/?tag=neogaf0e-20

As you're in an office setting (I would imagine), I'd aim for Cherry Brown keys or their equivalent (As a few clones out there exist). Anything tactile is delicious for typing. I personally have Cherry Red in my Ergodox, which isn't tactile, but is quiet and is the most "considerate" for use in an office. If there's no one around to be bothered by the, go for Cherry Blue: Love the clack, and become the clack!
 
Are there any good keyboards people can recommend that are silent, or as close to silent as possible? I don't even care if it's mechanical - I'm just looking for something that is silent, if such a thing exists. Main use is gaming, but also some office/productivity and video editing/rendering (although to be honest my keyboard doesn't matter much for the video editing/rendering purpose as I mainly seem to use my mouse).

Does it exist?
 

MoogleMan

Member
My G15 finally kicked the bucket and I'm looking to finally upgrade to a mechanical keyboard. I was hoping to get a few recommendations for anything around $100-$130.
Another vote for ikbc. My f108 rgb is still amazing. So much more satisfying to type on compared to my strafe rgb. Everything about it is amazing.
 

chaosblade

Unconfirmed Member
Are there any good keyboards people can recommend that are silent, or as close to silent as possible? I don't even care if it's mechanical - I'm just looking for something that is silent, if such a thing exists. Main use is gaming, but also some office/productivity and video editing/rendering (although to be honest my keyboard doesn't matter much for the video editing/rendering purpose as I mainly seem to use my mouse).

Does it exist?

My Logitech scissor switch keyboard was very quiet. Looks like it goes by K740 now.

My MX Clears are also quiet most of the time, when they aren't being bottomed out. Maybe a tad louder than the Logitech.
 
My Logitech scissor switch keyboard was very quiet. Looks like it goes by K740 now.

My MX Clears are also quiet most of the time, when they aren't being bottomed out. Maybe a tad louder than the Logitech.

I've heard you can add rubber o-rings to some keyboards to remove the bottoming-out sound, or at least reduce it significantly. Is that something that'd be viable for whatever board you're using that has the MX Clears? And I'll look into the K740, thanks!
 

chaosblade

Unconfirmed Member
O-rings and clips won't silence the sound but they do dampen it. I have clips and I wouldn't call my keyboard loud at all, aside from the backspace key for some reason.

Only clicky switches are inherently loud. Mainly blues and greens. If you type without bottoming out mechanical switches aren't very loud. Higher actuation force helps since it takes more effort to push the key all the way down, but if you are the type that can't help but to bottom out they can also be tiring to type on. Clears are a nice medium in that regard, not super heavy like grays but not light like browns. Blacks are somewhat similar for a linear switch, and far more common/cheaper.
 

Renekton

Member
Are there any good keyboards people can recommend that are silent, or as close to silent as possible? I don't even care if it's mechanical - I'm just looking for something that is silent, if such a thing exists. Main use is gaming, but also some office/productivity and video editing/rendering (although to be honest my keyboard doesn't matter much for the video editing/rendering purpose as I mainly seem to use my mouse).

Does it exist?
Any mechanical keyboard with MX Silent or Romer-G switch is pretty quiet.
 

chaosblade

Unconfirmed Member
Just look for rubberdome if u want SILENCE.

The rubber domes we have at work are louder than both my MX Clear keyboard and my old Logitech scissor switch keyboard (which is rubber domes, but still different), so I don't think this is accurate across the board.
 
Yeah, I'm looking at MX Silent boards now. Going to Microcenter this weekend to click a bunch of keyboards and try to find the absolute quietest.
 

MoogleMan

Member
The D key of my Black Widow Ultimate is starting to wig out on me. Does anyone recommend a comparable mechanical keyboard? I hear a lot of people aren't fans of Razer products so I'm open to whatever, but aside from this key issues I've enjoyed this keyboard. It's lasted for a while, at least.

Edit: It sounds like this is the way to go? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LYUZJI2/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Yep. :)
Been using mine for a few months now and it's the best mechanical I've owned. I'm really tempted to grab one in mx blues after my ducky one disappointment, but that can wait. Saving for a new ultrawide.
 

Koren

Member
You can definitely build an Ergodox for under 250 if you can solder.
You can *buy* a finished product (with an injection body) for less 250...

Unless I'm mistaken, Ergodox EZ is $240, or even $205 without keycaps. And it's a damn good version of Ergodox.

For heavy typing I definitely recommend going for a Topre switch. [...] I do love my purely mechanical switches but I don't think anything beats a Topre switch for this use case.
I think I would agree, but the problem is... you have to choose between a good/great layout with decent/good switches (and fully flashable), and bad layout with great switches (usually with limited customization).

It's a matter of priority... But if I have to pay 200+, I can't pass on layout and custom QMK.


Give me a Topre Ergodox (with slightly moved thumb clusters) and I buy it right now...

In the meantime, I'd like to do a custom Ergodox variant with Alps.
 
Yeah, I'm looking at MX Silent boards now. Going to Microcenter this weekend to click a bunch of keyboards and try to find the absolute quietest.

Decided to get either of the two Corsair Cherry Silent keyboards. There's a cheaper red LED one and a more expensive RGB one. Gonna just wait until I see either one go on a sale, then nab it. I see the RGB one drops from $150 to $100 a lot, and the red one drops from $100 to $80 sometimes, so just gotta wait it out.

Thanks for the advice y'all. And props to Microcenter for opening a boxed one for me so I could test the sound of the keys.
 

FHIZ

Member
Are there any key testers off amazon that have cherry speed switches on them? I've got blues right now, and after a few months I'm starting to find minor annoyances with things like not being able to press the delete key as quickly as I'd like. I like my Corsair K70 so my options seem to be red brown and speed, but because of the Corsair exclusivity thing I can't seem to find any testers that feature the speed switches.
 

Aerocrane

Member
Are there any key testers off amazon that have cherry speed switches on them? I've got blues right now, and after a few months I'm starting to find minor annoyances with things like not being able to press the delete key as quickly as I'd like. I like my Corsair K70 so my options seem to be red brown and speed, but because of the Corsair exclusivity thing I can't seem to find any testers that feature the speed switches.

Speed switches are not exclusive to Corsair keyboards anymore. they are available on keyboards from Ducky, Varmilo and Vortex.

I haven't ever seen a switch tester on Amazon that would have speed switches on it.
You could get a custom switch tester from NovelKeys: https://www.novelkeys.xyz/product-category/switchtesters/
 

Philxor

Member
I ordered a Corsair K95 on Amazon with Prime availability, took it over a week to ship. Still hadn't been delivered by Saturday night so I cancelled it only to find out via updates subsequently that it had been shipped from Germany! Popped an order on with Scan yesterday evening and will get it tomorrow- can't wait. Was using a Razer BW but this K95 is an absolute joy to use.
 

MoogleMan

Member
Are browns the most common one to get for gaming?

Anything will work for gaming; shop for switch by preference of feel, not "purpose". I prefer browns because they have a tactile "bump" when activated, like a controller button. Blues do the same but have a very satisfying "click".

Reds and blacks don't. I'd get a switch sampler; there's a cheap one on amazon with mx brown, blue, red and black for around $9.
 

Fugu

Member
I had the opportunity awhile ago to use a Topre keyboard and I'm thinking it's time to put my Model M into (semi-)retirement and pick one up. I'm in Canada and I'm not really looking at dropping $400 on a keyboard; with that in mind, I was wondering if anyone had any experience with the Type Heaven or, failing that, a Topre keyboard in general. As far as I can ascertain the only big difference between the Type Heaven and the Realforce (besides the ~$100 price difference) is the ABS plastic keycaps, which isn't really a big deal for me.

I will say that I really like the feel of the buckling spring but I sometimes feel that the high amount of force required is doing some permanent damage, as I've been using a Model M for around ten years now.

EDIT: For what it's worth, I have no interest in a tenkeyless keyboard.
 

Wallach

Member
I had the opportunity awhile ago to use a Topre keyboard and I'm thinking it's time to put my Model M into (semi-)retirement and pick one up. I'm in Canada and I'm not really looking at dropping $400 on a keyboard; with that in mind, I was wondering if anyone had any experience with the Type Heaven or, failing that, a Topre keyboard in general. As far as I can ascertain the only big difference between the Type Heaven and the Realforce (besides the ~$100 price difference) is the ABS plastic keycaps, which isn't really a big deal for me.

I will say that I really like the feel of the buckling spring but I sometimes feel that the high amount of force required is doing some permanent damage, as I've been using a Model M for around ten years now.

EDIT: For what it's worth, I have no interest in a tenkeyless keyboard.

I have a lot of experience with Topre keyboards, but not Type Heaven. I will say that overall I feel like keycaps have a fairly noticeable impact on general typing satisfaction, especially in the long run as ABS wears pretty quickly. And the RealForce line has some of the best stock keycaps in the keyboard world in my opinion. Decently thick, great texture and dye-subliminated so you can never actually wear even a tiny bit of the key labels away. On most keyboards I would look at getting aftermarket keycaps but I never have done that on any of my Topre keyboards because most of them are just worse than what ships on a RealForce.
 

Fugu

Member
I have a lot of experience with Topre keyboards, but not Type Heaven. I will say that overall I feel like keycaps have a fairly noticeable impact on general typing satisfaction, especially in the long run as ABS wears pretty quickly. And the RealForce line has some of the best stock keycaps in the keyboard world in my opinion. Decently thick, great texture and dye-subliminated so you can never actually wear even a tiny bit of the key labels away. On most keyboards I would look at getting aftermarket keycaps but I never have done that on any of my Topre keyboards because most of them are just worse than what ships on a RealForce.
I honestly don't think I'm going to be convinced on spending the extra cost to avoid ABS. I don't live in a major city center and the only non-Type Heaven I can get for <$300 is the HHKB and the layout is not at all permissive to what I use a computer for.

I am more concerned about the value of the switch itself.
 

Tripon

Member

Wallach

Member
I honestly don't think I'm going to be convinced on spending the extra cost to avoid ABS. I don't live in a major city center and the only non-Type Heaven I can get for <$300 is the HHKB and the layout is not at all permissive to what I use a computer for.

I am more concerned about the value of the switch itself.

Well, I mean I can tell you that the Topre switches themselves in that keyboard are going to be just as nice, but the rest of the construction in general is not going to be up to the same standard, not just the keycaps.

Where are you? I feel like Topre is a widely enough distributed keyboard that you should be able to get what you're after online somewhere.
 

Fugu

Member
Well, I mean I can tell you that the Topre switches themselves in that keyboard are going to be just as nice, but the rest of the construction in general is not going to be up to the same standard, not just the keycaps.

Where are you? I feel like Topre is a widely enough distributed keyboard that you should be able to get what you're after online somewhere.
Yeah, I guess I am generally not too concerned about issues secondary to the switches themselves so I might just buy it anyway.

I currently live in Fredericton, which is a large town roughly in the middle of nowhere in Canada. I can get anything that's available in Canada, but I haven't been able to find a Realforce 104 for less than $325 with shipping.
 

Wallach

Member
Yeah, I guess I am generally not too concerned about issues secondary to the switches themselves so I might just buy it anyway.

I currently live in Fredericton, which is a large town roughly in the middle of nowhere in Canada. I can get anything that's available in Canada, but I haven't been able to find a Realforce 104 for less than $325 with shipping.

Hm, have you contacted or checked out elitekeyboards.com? I know they ship up to Canada. Their RealForce 104s are $235 before shipping, and I don't think their S&H should be that high on just one keyboard (according to their FAQ their highest cost to Canada by weight is $60). Looks like the only 104 they have in stock right now is the white model though.
 

Fugu

Member
Hm, have you contacted or checked out elitekeyboards.com? I know they ship up to Canada. Their RealForce 104s are $235 before shipping, and I don't think their S&H should be that high on just one keyboard (according to their FAQ their highest cost to Canada by weight is $60). Looks like the only 104 they have in stock right now is the white model though.
I have looked at elitekeyboards; 235 US is about 300 Canadian. I'm not huge on the white and since the cost is not small I figure I might as well get what I want.

The only model that they have an ETA on restocking is the high profile keycaps one, which is certainly a nice looking keyboard but the cost of that approaches $400.

For comparison, I can get the Type Heaven for $225 CAD including shipping, and if I don't like the keycaps I don't see why I couldn't later replace them.
 

AsianOni

Member
I have looked at elitekeyboards; 235 US is about 300 Canadian. I'm not huge on the white and since the cost is not small I figure I might as well get what I want.

The only model that they have an ETA on restocking is the high profile keycaps one, which is certainly a nice looking keyboard but the cost of that approaches $400.

For comparison, I can get the Type Heaven for $225 CAD including shipping, and if I don't like the keycaps I don't see why I couldn't later replace them.

Because the keycaps are not easily found (and cost over $120 when in stock).
EDIT: unless you buy their new Type Heaven RGB
 

Fugu

Member
Because the keycaps are not easily found (and cost over $120 when in stock).
EDIT: unless you buy their new Type Heaven RGB
Paying $225 now and then $120 later is essentially buying the Realforce in two installments and it assumes that I'm going to want to replace the keycaps, which I consider doubtful given my own previous experience with ABS keycaps.

I should rephrase my question, I think: I am mostly curious as to whether people believe making the jump to Topre, in general, is worth it. I'm less concerned about the quality of the TH in particular. I have a Model M right now, I'm experiencing some degree of discomfort/fatigue with the large amount of typing I have to do, and I consider the MX family of switches to be a significant enough downgrade from buckling spring that I'm not really considering them. I've done about an hour or so of typing on (45g) Topre in my life and I was floored by how comfortable it was, but my experience is so limited that I don't know if they're really worth the price.
 

Wallach

Member
Paying $225 now and then $120 later is essentially buying the Realforce in two installments and it assumes that I'm going to want to replace the keycaps, which I consider doubtful given my own previous experience with ABS keycaps.

I should rephrase my question, I think: I am mostly curious as to whether people believe making the jump to Topre, in general, is worth it. I'm less concerned about the quality of the TH in particular. I have a Model M right now, I'm experiencing some degree of discomfort/fatigue with the large amount of typing I have to do, and I consider the MX family of switches to be a significant enough downgrade from buckling spring that I'm not really considering them. I've done about an hour or so of typing on (45g) Topre in my life and I was floored by how comfortable it was, but my experience is so limited that I don't know if they're really worth the price.

Well, as far as the switch itself, I can tell you it has been my daily driver for many years specifically because of the comfort and feel of the switch for heavy typing and general keyboard workload. There really is not a Cherry mechanical switch that I think compares in that regard, and I definitely think that is an area where the older buckling spring type switches suffer.

Like I mentioned, I do feel a bit that the entire construction of the keyboard matters; the feel of a keystroke isn't just the switch but also the keycap, the backplate, and general rigidity of the entire unit. My actual main drivers for the past few years have been the HHKBP2, the FC660C and the 87U, and they all feel a fair bit different from each other due to the construction of the rest of the unit. The HHKBP2 is a full plastic construction and the end of travel is pretty different in feedback compared to the 87U since it has a super rigid construction and a metal plate against the key landing. Again though I should mention I have never owned one of their Type Heaven models, and every other Topre keyboard I have owned has been among the most solid construction I've used, so it would not surprise me if that model is also very solid.

All that aside, I think about any configuration of a Topre switch is going to be ideal compared to most mechanical switches if your main goal is typing and workload comfort. Topre switch keyboards have been my main drivers for so long pretty much exactly for that reason, and it definitely has not been for lack of experience with other switch types. Ever since I got my first one, I've almost always wound up putting one back on my desk by the time the next work week gets going.
 

Fugu

Member
Well, as far as the switch itself, I can tell you it has been my daily driver for many years specifically because of the comfort and feel of the switch for heavy typing and general keyboard workload. There really is not a Cherry mechanical switch that I think compares in that regard, and I definitely think that is an area where the older buckling spring type switches suffer.

Like I mentioned, I do feel a bit that the entire construction of the keyboard matters; the feel of a keystroke isn't just the switch but also the keycap, the backplate, and general rigidity of the entire unit. My actual main drivers for the past few years have been the HHKBP2, the FC660C and the 87U, and they all feel a fair bit different from each other due to the construction of the rest of the unit. The HHKBP2 is a full plastic construction and the end of travel is pretty different in feedback compared to the 87U since it has a super rigid construction and a metal plate against the key landing. Again though I should mention I have never owned one of their Type Heaven models, and every other Topre keyboard I have owned has been among the most solid construction I've used, so it would not surprise me if that model is also very solid.

All that aside, I think about any configuration of a Topre switch is going to be ideal compared to most mechanical switches if your main goal is typing and workload comfort. Topre switch keyboards have been my main drivers for so long pretty much exactly for that reason, and it definitely has not been for lack of experience with other switch types. Ever since I got my first one, I've almost always wound up putting one back on my desk by the time the next work week gets going.
Thanks. This is helpful.

It is so much easier to find a tenkeyless Topre keyboard that I wish I could stomach losing the numpad, but I can't (and buying an extra numpad instantly nullifies any cost benefit). Similarly, I want to get into the HHKB but I simply see zero value in the layout for my purposes and drawbacks that are too significant to justify the price tag. It is a gorgeous keyboard, however, and my experience typing on one was good.

I find buckling springs very comfortable to type on to be honest and when I bought my most recent Model M I consciously chose it over the Realforce (I was in Japan at that time and it would've been very easy for me to get one). It is only because after many years of using them that I have started having some wrist pain that I am considering switching. I would just as easily keep using Model Ms forever if my health weren't a concern.

The other keyboard I am considering is the Leopold FC980C, which looks to be substantively similar to the 660C with the addition of a numpad. It is priced a little cheaper than the Realforce but I can actually find it, which is a big asset when one wants to purchase something. What's your impression of the 660C?
 

Wallach

Member
Thanks. This is helpful.

It is so much easier to find a tenkeyless Topre keyboard that I wish I could stomach losing the numpad, but I can't (and buying an extra numpad instantly nullifies any cost benefit). Similarly, I want to get into the HHKB but I simply see zero value in the layout for my purposes and drawbacks that are too significant to justify the price tag. It is a gorgeous keyboard, however, and my experience typing on one was good.

I find buckling springs very comfortable to type on to be honest and when I bought my most recent Model M I consciously chose it over the Realforce (I was in Japan at that time and it would've been very easy for me to get one). It is only because after many years of using them that I have started having some wrist pain that I am considering switching. I would just as easily keep using Model Ms forever if my health weren't a concern.

The other keyboard I am considering is the Leopold FC980C, which looks to be substantively similar to the 660C with the addition of a numpad. It is priced a little cheaper than the Realforce but I can actually find it, which is a big asset when one wants to purchase something. What's your impression of the 660C?

I actually really like my FC660C and it's probably the keyboard that I'd put on my desk in general aside from my HHKBP2. Nice PBT keycaps (though not quite as nice as HHKBP2 or Realforce keycaps) and really solid construction. For me the main difference between the two keyboards really is just the arrow cluster versus the more ideal backspace location. After spending time on the HHKBP2 layout I think it just has played out that I slightly prefer the backspace comfort over the physical arrow cluster.

Didn't know that Leopold even made the FC980C to be honest, but taking a look at it, it certainly looks nice. The only thing that looks slightly strange to me is their choice to compress the right side of the main island and the 0 key of the numpad to shorten the overall keyboard length (which also appears to result in a slight downshift of the arrow cluster). I wonder how much of an adjustment that will be to a heavy numpad user with the standard size 0. Maybe it's me being dumb but I can't even really tell which 6 keys they cut from this layout, but I assume the layout adjustment is due to that. Aside from that quirk though, if it is as high quality as the FC660C it'll be a world class keyboard. If I had to choose between that and the Type Heaven I'd absolutely go for the Leopold.

Edit - Oh I see it now, this is a Cherry 1800 layout. This is actually really nice, it should only be like an inch longer than your standard TKL layout while keeping the entire numpad... I might buy one of these for the collection, dang. When did this come out?
 

AsianOni

Member
I use an FC600C daily too over my numerous other (Cherry MX) keyboards.
There's simply no Cherry MX switch (stock) that can compare to Topre in my opinion.

You can find them easily on eBay with the seller "widebasket".
 
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