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Lez talk mechanical keyboards
- Thread starter Scuba Steve
- Start date
memecomplex
Member
Browns take less force to actuate than blues, 55cN vs 60cN, but reds beat them both at 45cN. It may be insignificant to some, but mechanically speaking, it takes less force to trigger the red switch than browns or blues, hence that makes reds the most efficient Cherry MX switch.
The hair trigger action does make it more unforgiving when typing or when you spazz out and spam the buttons in panic mode, but personally I like it because it forces me to be more aware of what my fingers are doing on the keyboard at any given time. Plus as a gamer who loves using arcade sticks, I just really like the feel and sound of the switches. I keep saying this, but it's like having a keyboard full of Sanwa buttons, something I think a lot of gamers can appreciate.
Highly subjective. I like them because it makes it easy for me to type on without bottoming out. Something I've never been able to do with blacks and blues.
It's all personal preference when it comes to type of MX switch.
Well I ordered a CM Storm Quckfire Rapid with the Red's and got them today from Amazon. But the back button doesn't work. So I'm returning them. Didn't really like the feel of the reds anyway. I currently use a Logitech G110 and the difference was huge. I think I may try the Browns. It's hard to tell when it's all subjective. Luckily Amazon has a great return policy.
Well I've been using my CM Quickfire Pro Red for over a week now. I do love mechanical keyboards. What a difference compared to the membrane.
Gaming is absolutely wonderful. The red switches are fantastic for gaming. I haven't mishit anything and it responds so well. From what I've read about Brown, either Red or Brown should be great for that purpose.
Typing is a little more challenging but it's not bad at all. It took a little getting used to but I'm a touch typer anyways and it was just a matter of typing a little lighter to avoid the accidental double tap.
The half backlight is great and sad all at the same time. I love the backlighting that is there and it's done well. I use it all the time. Didn't realize how much I'd miss the backlighting when it's gone. It's actually a little nice because of the half backlighting only going to number 5, I can find those item hotkeys a little quicker with a glance.
The branding is strong with this one but I hardly notice it. The only thing that even bothered me really was the replacement of the windows icons with CM icons. That's a little over the top.
The biggest challenge I had is the height of the keyboard. I'm used to keeping palms down while I game or type and I had to curve my fingers quite a bit to avoid hitting other keys on the sensitive red switches. So the solution was to get this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004D8PYE2/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Simple, awesome keyboard rest. The height is perfect and it's wide enough that my palms rest on it perfectly. The width is a LITTLE short for the keyboard - maybe 3/4 of an inch - but it's fine. Great purchase to go with the keyboard.
Overall, love my foray into mechanical keyboards. Won't go back for sure. If I ever get a new one the only change I'd make is full backlighting.
However, for $55, this is impossible to beat.
Gaming is absolutely wonderful. The red switches are fantastic for gaming. I haven't mishit anything and it responds so well. From what I've read about Brown, either Red or Brown should be great for that purpose.
Typing is a little more challenging but it's not bad at all. It took a little getting used to but I'm a touch typer anyways and it was just a matter of typing a little lighter to avoid the accidental double tap.
The half backlight is great and sad all at the same time. I love the backlighting that is there and it's done well. I use it all the time. Didn't realize how much I'd miss the backlighting when it's gone. It's actually a little nice because of the half backlighting only going to number 5, I can find those item hotkeys a little quicker with a glance.
The branding is strong with this one but I hardly notice it. The only thing that even bothered me really was the replacement of the windows icons with CM icons. That's a little over the top.
The biggest challenge I had is the height of the keyboard. I'm used to keeping palms down while I game or type and I had to curve my fingers quite a bit to avoid hitting other keys on the sensitive red switches. So the solution was to get this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004D8PYE2/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Simple, awesome keyboard rest. The height is perfect and it's wide enough that my palms rest on it perfectly. The width is a LITTLE short for the keyboard - maybe 3/4 of an inch - but it's fine. Great purchase to go with the keyboard.
Overall, love my foray into mechanical keyboards. Won't go back for sure. If I ever get a new one the only change I'd make is full backlighting.
However, for $55, this is impossible to beat.
Koroviev
Member
At first I was a little disappointed with the lack of full back lighting, but then I realized that I don't need any back lighting at all
At first I was a little disappointed with the lack of full back lighting, but then I realized that I don't need any back lighting at all
The backlighting it does have is just done so well that I wish it had more. On the bright side, I often have trouble finding the 5 and 6 number key without looking while gaming, the fact that it's only lit to the 5 actually helps me haha.
And I like it.BriareosGAF
Member
I've been using a SteelSeries 6GV2-Red for a year or so now. That thing is amazingly tough, because I pound the fuck out of it when I'm playing (dying) in Dark Souls. My previous Das Keyboard Pro could not stand the beating that I dished out to it when playing Dragon Age 2, so that had to go.
Koroviev
Member
Really nice .gif overview of the switches.
Awesome! Add this to the PC thread.
For Canadians, there is another sale on Rosewill Cherry Brown keyboards:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201051
I think there is something for newegg.com too.
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201051
I think there is something for newegg.com too.
mere_immortal
Member
Been using my Red Quickfire TK for nearly 2 weeks now, love it.
Where did you get it for $55? I might just get it instead of a more expensive one since it does seem to have everything I'm looking for the most part.
Newegg had it on sale for $75 with a $15 rebate. Amazon price matched that the next day and had a rebate for $20.
Unfortunately it wasn't $55 out the door but I'll have my rebate eventually
Welp, I spilled coffee on my K60 today, but fortunately I cleaned and dried it and it's working again. It's unfortunate that the entire surface is solid, but then there's a big gap underneath the space bar, where liquid was able to get down onto the PCB. At least it survived and I'm not out $100 
Piercedveil
Member
I am considering this standard keyboard from WASD. Anyone have one that can give me some impressions on it? I'd probably go with the cherry mx brown switches since I've used those before and I like the feel. Is it worth the money for this keyboard?
It's good. Not sure if it will be worth it for you but as my first mechanical keyboard it was a definite step up and I don't plan on replacing it for a long time. Wish I was using it these days, stuck on this laptop
Often thought about plugging it in...but I use it on my bed hah. Still want to as after you're used to it (so light), it's so lovely typing with. I got mine a while back but I'm pretty sure I got brown too and and those o-rings fitted as well.
Truespeed
Member
Ugh, I just bought a Steelseries 6Gv2 Red switch to go along with the 6gv2 black switch. It was only $69 and I couldn't pass it up. I've lost track of how many mechanical keyboards I have, but this is my first Red. I think I now have 2 blacks, 2 browns, 1 Blue, 1 Red and 1 IBM.
this one?
https://www.pcfactory.cl/producto/13038-Teclado.Gamer.QuickFire.Rapid.Spanish
cost 80 us O.O
cant find the other one
TouchMyBox
Member
But how does one enter numbers on this madness?
Quickfire Pro is the version with the 10-key pad if you have to have it. I have the pro myself. I like my 10-key pad.
Dr Stabbingworth
Member
I've been using a WASD V1 cherry mx brown for the last few months and it is by far the best keyboard I've ever owned.
TouchMyBox
Member
You're going to immediately regret your purchase due to how loud the keys are...
And then you'll get used to it and fall in love.
lol I've messed with them before so I have an idea of what to expect. I'm sure not I'm not 100% ready though
Canis lupus
Member
What switches are considered the best?
Torpe.
Rickenslacker
Banned
It's largely preferential. Brown seems to be the general choice because it has low actuation force, a subtle tactile bump, and is (comparatively) quiet, but it's really up to what you want out of one. Reds are similar to brown and also popular, but with an even lower actuation force and linear switch. Blacks are linear like reds, but with the highest actuation force of the bunch. Blues are similar to browns, but louder and with a more pronounced tactile click.
Astral/H3X
Member
Reds = light Blacks, Browns = light Blues, that's how I think of it.
Anyway, SUPER OBSCURE QUESTION HERE: Does anyone know of a tenkeyless, Japanese layout cherry blue keyboard? Obviously not one that has like 5 inches of weird shaping off to the sides, but it's really annoying that I can't find this. It's like tenkeyless and Japanese don't go together, but maybe I'm looking in the wrong places.
Quote the post if you're answering so I can see it and such.
Anyway, SUPER OBSCURE QUESTION HERE: Does anyone know of a tenkeyless, Japanese layout cherry blue keyboard? Obviously not one that has like 5 inches of weird shaping off to the sides, but it's really annoying that I can't find this. It's like tenkeyless and Japanese don't go together, but maybe I'm looking in the wrong places.
Quote the post if you're answering so I can see it and such.
Canis lupus
Member
Thanks for the info, I have the K60 from Corsair wich has the red ones. I love it, but not all keys are mechanical.
Rickenslacker
Banned
Right, I meant more in regards to actuation force when I called them similar. The linear and tactile bump definitely make them stand apart.
Koroviev
Member
What's the appeal of tenkeyless? Simply that it's a smaller form factor?
That and some people just don't use the keypad.
It's worth the extra space for me, using the keypad is much faster if you deal with numbers often
Piercedveil
Member
So I've been looking at WASD keyboards a bit more. Anyone have a fully custom one from them? I designed one I think looks really awesome. ~$155 is holding me back though
Yep, allows a much more comfortable posture when gaming as well as increased mouse space.
Your arms are closer together, and for me at least, it feels like I have better control over my mouse.
Just got my Rosewill RK-9000i. This thing is beautiful, I love it. I'm ok with the loudness (Cherry MX Blues) but this space bar is much louder than the others. I think it's because it's plastic slamming against plastic. I'll probably adjust to type more softly.
The Lamonster
Member
I just want to pop in and say that after several months of using a Max Keyboard Nighthawk X8 (browns), typing on that sucker is sublime. I feel that brown is the perfect medium for typing as well as gaming. My fingers just float across the keyboard and I'm able to type with much less effort and much more grace. When I'm playing keyboard intensive games like World of Warcraft or StarCraft II, the subtle tactile bump is just what I need.
When I come to work and type on my standard DELL membrane keyboard, it feels like I'm shoving my fingers into thick mud with every key press. It's a chore.
When I come to work and type on my standard DELL membrane keyboard, it feels like I'm shoving my fingers into thick mud with every key press. It's a chore.
Felix Lighter
Member
I'm considering this keyboard:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009FTWKYG/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Anyone have any experience with it?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009FTWKYG/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Anyone have any experience with it?
I've been busting my butt at work for a while now, and thanks to paying down debt and saving for a down payment on a place to live, I haven't really treated myself to much in a long while. I came into a small bit of unexpected money, so I'm letting myself splurge a little on a keyboard in the hopes that it'll improve the longer hours at the office.
As such, this purchase is geared to typing (read: programming), not gaming.
First off, I'll take any suggestions, but I have done some poking around here, and around other sites. I bounce from review to review, but I always end up circling back around the more expensive Topre stuff. I hear nothing but sterling reviews about how comfortable they are to type on, and how they're a bit quieter than MX Browns, which will probably help minimize any complaints from coworkers.
Of course, the problem is price. From what I've seen I can choose between either the Realforce models, or the minimalist Happy Hacker. Both over $250.
So, am I going to be wasting my money by going for the extra-expensive Realforce 104U or Happy Hacking Keyboard Pro 2? Any personal experiences/opinions with these models?
As such, this purchase is geared to typing (read: programming), not gaming.
First off, I'll take any suggestions, but I have done some poking around here, and around other sites. I bounce from review to review, but I always end up circling back around the more expensive Topre stuff. I hear nothing but sterling reviews about how comfortable they are to type on, and how they're a bit quieter than MX Browns, which will probably help minimize any complaints from coworkers.
Of course, the problem is price. From what I've seen I can choose between either the Realforce models, or the minimalist Happy Hacker. Both over $250.
So, am I going to be wasting my money by going for the extra-expensive Realforce 104U or Happy Hacking Keyboard Pro 2? Any personal experiences/opinions with these models?
I'm about to buy my first mechanical keyboard (because I'm getting sick and tired of sore finger tips on this lousy flat-key wireless piece of crap) and I keep going back and forth between the blue and brown switches. I'll probably only buy one keyboard, so this decision is bothering me - but without being able to test them I guess I have no idea which one is better for me - or if it even matters.
MisterNoisy
Member
If it's solely for typing, I'd say get a Model M or Unicomp Customizer/Spacesaver. The buckling springs have no equal for just typing, IMO. Something with Cherry Blues would be my second pick.