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Lez talk mechanical keyboards

Guys I haven't jumped in because I need a wireless model :(.

I kind of wish we could get a Ducky Shine in a wireless model. That thing looks so damn cool.
 
Greetechs are pretty much just cheap Chinese Cherry MX knock-offs, right?

To my knowledge yes, but I had the Mac version with these keys and I hated the feel. I just don't understand why they put cheaper keys in the Mac version. The two keyboards are basically the same device with a few keycaps changed. Last time around they even sold the Mac specific keys standalone but they have stopped doing that too.
 
So I opted to pick up the Black Widow 2016 for my new set up and holy fuck is that thing loud. Seems even louder than the display one I was screwing around with in store.

Got my hands on the Corsair Strafe (Spl) and while I don't care for the raised keys option or the spacebar texture that thing is dead silent.

I sense a return exchange happening in my near future.
 
I did notice K70 RGB, but the reviews (mostly from 2014) mentioned a lot of problems with the software and firmware, which I found very off-putting. I'd like the keyboard to work properly by simply plugging in the cable. I see that there is now an updated revision. Has the software and firmware gotten any better? Can the backlight profiles be saved to on-board memory so I would not have to use the Corsair software all the time?

I don't know about how old firmwares worked, since my K70RGB updated at first plug in and never again. You can save 1 profile on onboard memory, but some advanced lighting stuff only works once Windows is fully loaded. Keyboard detects when PC is on bios and runs in compatibility mode, so I'm not sure if you really need drivers installed once you have your desired profile saved. I guess so.

Keyboard worked perfectly fine just plug in it without drivers. You only lose custom lighting (default is red with WASD in white) and macros functionality.

The only revison K70RGB had was a Corsair logo replacement. That is the one I have, with a more classic logo instead of that ugly gaming thing. Everything else is absolutely the same.

Original RGB logo:

k95-75_logo.jpg


Current logo:

bKRsn0C.jpg
 
I have a black widow ulimate and I wanted to
Know what mx cherry switches they are comparable too. I tried mx cherry reds and hated them .
 
Guys what's the latest Corsair mechanical keyboard? (Clicky keys)

I'm using the blackwidow chroma (looks like an older model tbh) and the plastic is just annoying the hell out of me as it stains and marks so fricken easy and the keys are starting to feel spongy for some odd reason.

I was also looking at the Razer Blackwidow 2016 as Razer have said it's made with a new coating
 
Guys what's the latest Corsair mechanical keyboard? (Clicky keys)

I'm using the blackwidow chroma (looks like an older model tbh) and the plastic is just annoying the hell out of me as it stains and marks so fricken easy and the keys are starting to feel spongy for some odd reason.

I was also looking at the Razer Blackwidow 2016 as Razer have said it's made with a new coating

If you don't want plastic buy the K70 with blue switches, otherwise wait for the Strafe with blue
 
If you don't want plastic buy the K70 with blue switches, otherwise wait for the Strafe with blue

A mate of mine was talking about those with the blue switches but I couldn't find one in the UK with RGB backlight and can only seem to find it with MX Red
 
So after basically two years with my Das keyboard, my only real complaint is that I could use a backlit keyboard. My living situation is such as I often have the lights off so as to not disturb people, but that makes it damn hard to use it when I'm not doing something like typing and my hands are always on the keyboard for touch typing. In a few years maybe it'll be worth the money to spring for such an option.

To my knowledge yes, but I had the Mac version with these keys and I hated the feel. I just don't understand why they put cheaper keys in the Mac version. The two keyboards are basically the same device with a few keycaps changed. Last time around they even sold the Mac specific keys standalone but they have stopped doing that too.

Yikes, is this a new change? I don't remember which model I have (the v2? Still on USB2) and the key switches definitely are Cherry.
 
A mate of mine was talking about those with the blue switches but I couldn't find one in the UK with RGB backlight and can only seem to find it with MX Red
Why not the brown switches then? They aren't "clickity clackity" like the blue but they still have the tactile feedback (although a bit less) and they're widely available.
 
Yikes, is this a new change? I don't remember which model I have (the v2? Still on USB2) and the key switches definitely are Cherry.

It's been the case for the model 4 Pro for Mac the whole time. I bought as soon as it came out and missed the switch change in my haste. I keep checking back to see if they came to their senses.
 
It's been the case for the model 4 Pro for Mac the whole time. I bought as soon as it came out and missed the switch change in my haste. I keep checking back to see if they came to their senses.

Oy. That's a shame considering aside from no backlight the newer ones are much nicer (especially going to a metal front versus the glossy and hence constantly-gross-looking plastic on my model.)

Still, the whole appeal of these keyboards is they last a good long time. I doubt I'll be upgrading any time soon.
 
https://youtu.be/fRjCeTLKoLo

So after basically two years with my Das keyboard, my only real complaint is that I could use a backlit keyboard. My living situation is such as I often have the lights off so as to not disturb people, but that makes it damn hard to use it when I'm not doing something like typing and my hands are always on the keyboard for touch typing. In a few years maybe it'll be worth the money to spring for such an option.

Still have mine for 5 years now. No letters on mine, so I don't see why you need a light. You should be able to type without looking at your keyboard at all.

I think my next keyboard will have Cherry MX Reds. That won't happen until 4-5 years later.
 
Oy. That's a shame considering aside from no backlight the newer ones are much nicer (especially going to a metal front versus the glossy and hence constantly-gross-looking plastic on my model.)

Still, the whole appeal of these keyboards is they last a good long time. I doubt I'll be upgrading any time soon.

Yup.. Oddly enough my ancient Das is still going strong mechanically, but the USB connectivity has gotten flaky. I sometimes have to plug/unplug the stupid thing a half dozen times to get it going again.
 
Nah I don't like the browns really

I'm kinda leaning towards the new Blackwidow 2016 just for the new coating on the keyboard (And I have a 15% off voucher bringin it fown to £85) but i'm not sure I can justify it since I have the blackwidow chroma

Yeah, just keep the Chroma at this point.
 
https://youtu.be/fRjCeTLKoLo



Still have mine for 5 years now. No letters on mine, so I don't see why you need a light. You should be able to type without looking at your keyboard at all.

I think my next keyboard will have Cherry MX Reds. That won't happen until 4-5 years later.

Straight typing is fine. But I'm also using that keyboard to game, to do my VFX work, and all sorts of other stuff where my hand position isn't going to be in the same spot.
 
So I *think* I'm ready to solder my switches in place.


I've got all blues with two greens for the two space bars. I've been faux typing on it for a couple minutes and I like the feel of it. I really enjoy the stiffness of the greens compared to the blues, I think my next board may use those.

Those grey ones on the left are exciting. They're lock switches that stay pressed down by themselves until pressed a second time. Its gonna be really great for the alt/function layers the plank features. Just thinking about configuring what functions I want layer and key to have is sorta nightmarish but also incredibly amazingly exciting. Its actually going to change quite a bit how I interface with my PC. I mean, even just stuff like the GAF markup... I can just have a key bound that inserts whatever I tell it. Passwords even too, though I doubt I'll actually do that.
 
Picked up a cheap Chinese mech board from Amazon. Not unhappy with it at all, even with the knockoff blue switches:

E8kbS6l.jpg


Types nicely and I dig the aluminum surface and floating keys. The backlighting is a nice bonus, but I could take or leave it.

Which switches come with that? You can tell the brand if you take off the keycap. Everyone prints their brand on there. What did that set you back as well? The board looks fine and the backlighting is a nice touch too
 
Which switches come with that? You can tell the brand if you take off the keycap. Everyone prints their brand on there. What did that set you back as well? The board looks fine and the backlighting is a nice touch too

Not sure - I pulled the caps and couldn't understand the markings - there's something there, but it's super faint and I couldn't make it legible with any combination of lighting. The switches have Cherry compatible stems and it types pretty well. Cost me $59 shipped from Amazon, and came with a hilarious Engrish mousepad:

YsTbllO.jpg
 
I've been looking at Ducky keyboards, could someone explain the difference between Ducky Zero, One and Shine? By price it seems like Shine is the most high end, but is it mostly because of the LEDs? At first I thought Zero wasnt backlit, but it looks like that was the most basic version

They're kinda hard to find online, but I saw Zero for 100, One for 120 and Shine for 165
 
I've been looking at Ducky keyboards, could someone explain the difference between Ducky Zero, One and Shine? By price it seems like Shine is the most high end, but is it mostly because of the LEDs? At first I thought Zero wasnt backlit, but it looks like that was the most basic version

They're kinda hard to find online, but I saw Zero for 100, One for 120 and Shine for 165

I have a Ducky Shine 5 and it's the priciest out of those 3 because it comes with RGB backlighting. Quality wise they're probably the same, you just pay more for the customizable LEDs.
 
I have a Ducky Shine 5 and it's the priciest out of those 3 because it comes with RGB backlighting. Quality wise they're probably the same, you just pay more for the customizable LEDs.

Cool, how do you like it.

If you guys were choosing one, would you go with a Ducky, Filco or Das Keyboard?
 
Cool, how do you like it.

If you guys were choosing one, would you go with a Ducky, Filco or Das Keyboard?

I'd probably go with a Ducky or Filco. It really depends on what features are important to you in a keyboard. Filco's keyboards don't have LED backlighting.
 
Cool, how do you like it.

If you guys were choosing one, would you go with a Ducky, Filco or Das Keyboard?
It's my first mechanical keyboard so I don't have anything to compare it to.

I went with Ducky because of it's good reputation and the customizable backlighting. Back when I ordered it, the only comparable keyboards (to my knowledge) were the corsair rgb and the razer chroma. Corsair seems to have some quality issues (don't quote me on that) and apparently it doesn't have standardized key caps which means you'd have to buy corsair key caps in case you want to replace any of them.

The razer chroma also seems to have some quality issues and doesn't have cherry MX switches.

So far I have no complaints with the Ducky. It feels very sturdy, doesn't come with any "gamer" bells and whistles and feels great to type on (Cherry MX browns).
 
Picked up a cheap Chinese mech board from Amazon. Not unhappy with it at all, even with the knockoff blue switches:

Types nicely and I dig the aluminum surface and floating keys. The backlighting is a nice bonus, but I could take or leave it.
Nice, seems like a decent keyboard for the money and it does look nice for sure. There's a picture of the keys in the link if anyone fancies trying to guess the brand.

Very clear and bright buttons,you can enjoy yourself in the dark night without the lamp.
Also, i found that line in the description and, Well there it is. Was that the USP that sold the keyboard to you? ;)
 
I've got a malfunctioning switch in my Razer Blackwidow (Tournament edition, tenkeyless with no LEDs, so I don't think there should be any soldered elements inside) and I'm wondering if anybody knows whether or not it's safe to just take a pair of pliers and yank them out? Ideally I'd just replace this messed up key (left alt) with my windows key, but I dunno if I need to open the entire thing up to do something to the switches from the inside in order to remove them safely.

I guess if anybody knows a place I can buy single replacement switches (it uses the shitty, proprietary razer green switches) I'd probably get a couple just in case another one dies.
 
That is a whole ton of dosh for some topre but it seems like there is no easy way to get topre without shelling a ton of cash. How does the keyboard sound to you? I think thats one of my favorite thing about mech keyboards is just how the keys themselves sound

There's the Novatouch if you want Topre switches at a slightly cheaper price point. I have the same Realforce model that Smushroomed has, though, and I prefer the 55g switches to the 45g ones you'll find on the Novatouch.

I think on my first day with the Realforce I gushed to a friend how it sounded like "rain in the night" or something stupid. Maybe I wouldn't go that far now, but I still love it. I find the Topre switches' aural feedback just as satisfying as the Cherry switches I've tried, but the Topre is a lower-pitched, weightier sound that blends in a little better with its surroundings. I feel comfortable using it in an office setting, whereas I don't think I would use any Cherry switch while sitting in a cube (I bottom out too much, so even something like Browns wouldn't really help).
 
That is a whole ton of dosh for some topre but it seems like there is no easy way to get topre without shelling a ton of cash. How does the keyboard sound to you? I think thats one of my favorite thing about mech keyboards is just how the keys themselves sound

I'm coming from a razer blackwidow tournament TKL with cherry mx blues, and I like the sounds of the realforce much better.

I also bottom out, but the comfort level in using this realforce is leaps and bounds better than any cherry switch I've used. I can use less force to bottom out, it is simply a more comfortable keyboard. I'm not pressing down so hard, and my finger fatigue has gone away.

The sound is lower and less clacky/noisey in a pleasant way. I agree with perfect free, there is no way I would never bring a cherry keyboard to an office environment. But a topre would fit right in.

I read a comment on how the novatouch still isn't as good as a realforce topre keyboard, so I simply splurged for it.
 
Got my Ducky Shine 5 today and I think it worth every penny. Now I just need another for work. I also went with the black switches since they never felt heavy to me, and are a blast to game with.
 
Anyone have feedback on Corsair K70/Strafe?

I'm eyeing it, even though I don't like red LED (prefer blue LED + brown switches).
 
It took a while for me to decide if I even want a mechanical keyboard, but since picking up the Corsair K70, I can't imagine using anything else.

I tried to look for a mechanical keyboard locally and try the different switches before deciding which one to pick, but none were available. In the end I went with brown switches, and while they're louder than I thought they'd be, I love them!

Now I just gotta get used to the keys -I keep making typos left and right.
 
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