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[Astral/H3X]

What's a programmable keyboard with a split spacebar design? I wanna remap the left spacebar to ALT. The only one I see is the Z70 but it's dead on Massdrop. Microsoft's ergo keyboard has a split spacebar design but they're both the same space key and I don't think it's remappable.

I think it's going to be hard to find a split keyboard like that, unless you want to go for an Ergodox. But then, with the Ergodox, it's... a pretty high investment keyboard. Not only do you have to pay a lot for it, but then you have to wait for manufacturing, shipping, and then you have to assemble it, which also takes time.

EDIT: Though to be fair, I quite love my Ergodox, and I think it was well worth it.

 

[shpankey]

Loving the new razor mecha-mechanical board

 

[Tripon]

I think I'm falling into the trap of wanting to order a million different keyboards. I thought the fact that my mechanical keyboard will last for decades was supposed to save me money in the long run....

 

[NoblesseOblige]

I think I'm falling into the trap of wanting to order a million different keyboards. I thought the fact that my mechanical keyboard will last for decades was supposed to save me money in the long run....

Haha. No. Mechanical keyboards are a drug. You will buy dozens of keyboards, and different keycaps, then matching cables and cases to switch out, and also custom carrying bags/cases. Look at your bank account now and give it a kiss goodbye.

 

[Steiner84]

so im thinking about replacing my good old Logitech G11 and getting a mechanical keyboard.
Ive seen the razer black widow chroma for 165 €
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B00MVT7AYW/

is this a good keyboard for todays standards, and how easy is it to create profiles for games?

also theres a version with a metal frame. Would I want this, and why?

 

[Koren]

What's a programmable keyboard with a split spacebar design? I wanna remap the left spacebar to ALT.

I think it's going to be hard to find a split keyboard like that, unless you want to go for an Ergodox. But then, with the Ergodox, it's... a pretty high investment keyboard. Not only do you have to pay a lot for it, but then you have to wait for manufacturing, shipping, and then you have to assemble it, which also takes time.

EDIT: Though to be fair, I quite love my Ergodox, and I think it was well worth it.

I agree on the Ergodox if you're fine with a different layout and are not afraid of a ~$200 price point. I also think mine is a great keyboard (bonus, you can do exactly what you want with any key)

I'd suggest Ergodox EZ if you're fine with gaterons (most gateron colors available), ready-to-use, and feeling like a professional product. It's shipping apparently in two weeks

You can also consider Truly Ergonomic

Or µTron, although this one is both really expensive (~$400) and really hard to find (I've seen some in Tokyo, but I'm not sure I've ever found them online...)

It seems staggered, btw, but the staggering is symmetric, which makes a bit more sense.

With more classic layouts, you can look into
- Cougar 700K (normal keyboard with Cherry but split spacebar)
- Z70 (65% keyboard, but you'll need to find a drop)
- Clueboard (65% keyboard, the split spacebar is an option, again it'll be a drop)
- TheVan (40% keyboard, again may be hard to get)

There's probably others (well, you can always go Maltron ). Good hunt.


Edit : Damn, I missed the programmable part. Ergodox is fully programmable. Truly Ergonomic can be mapped as you wished. Clueboard and TheVan too I think. Not sure for Cougar and µTron, but in any case, you can often put a "programmable dongle" between the keyboard and the PC, and get everything you want, including controlling mouse with the keyboard.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=72052.0

This... thing... add tmk Firmware support to any keyboard, even 30 years old ones (there's different versions). tmk is a great firmware that allow pretty much anything. You may only loose some media keys on some keyboards and pointing devices, since they're not sending standardized informations, unless you're ready to code this part.

Haha. No. Mechanical keyboards are a drug. You will buy dozens of keyboards

Go ergonomic... That's a cure, since there is so few of them, you can't start collecting them

 

[Tripon]

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201104

I just bought a Rosewill RK-9300 BR with MX Brown switches because it's on sale for $69.99

 

[a harpy]

Just got some new PBT keycaps for my OG Meka G1. First time I've changed caps out. It really did make a huge difference. 6 years old and the keyboard feels brand new again. Probably wouldn't have done that if this thread didn't get me interested in it.

 

[Orayn]

I got my Realforce 87U 45g, the Topre hype is very real. 45g feels a lot lighter than I was expecting and I probably would have been fine with 55, but I'm getting used to it pretty quickly and the feel is downright luxurious.

Also, I'll be starting a new position soon where I no longer need function keys, so I can start looking into 60% builds to use at work. I'm thinking I might do something with MX Clears or Zealios. Dunno about keycaps or the specific layout I want, though.

 

[AsianOni]

I got my Realforce 87U 45g, the Topre hype is very real. 45g feels a lot lighter than I was expecting and I probably would have been fine with 55, but I'm getting used to it pretty quickly and the feel is downright luxurious.

Also, I'll be starting a new position soon where I no longer need function keys, so I can start looking into 60% builds to use at work. I'm thinking I might do something with MX Clears or Zealios. Dunno about keycaps or the specific layout I want, though.

Why not a Topre too ?

 

[sirap]

I got my Realforce 87U 45g, the Topre hype is very real. 45g feels a lot lighter than I was expecting and I probably would have been fine with 55, but I'm getting used to it pretty quickly and the feel is downright luxurious.

Also, I'll be starting a new position soon where I no longer need function keys, so I can start looking into 60% builds to use at work. I'm thinking I might do something with MX Clears or Zealios. Dunno about keycaps or the specific layout I want, though.

Zealios. You'll love them. I swear by Topre and 65g Purple Zealios

 

[Orayn]

Why not a Topre too ?

Variety is the spice of life, I guess. Also I've always liked Browns tried a friend's Code Keyboard with Clears, so I think I'll try a heavier tactile switch like that next.

 

[AsianOni]

Variety is the spice of life, I guess. Also I've always liked Browns tried a friend's Code Keyboard with Clears, so I think I'll try a heavier tactile switch like that next.

You're right, variety is good. But now I'm exclusively using my Topre board.

 

[Dandy Lyin]

My Logitech G710+(Cherry Brown) came in this week. So far, I like it, though I am still getting used to it. I could do without the G1-G6 keys(I'm pretty sure I will never use them) on the left side, and I hit Caps Lock by accident a lot instead of A. I had my last keyboard for 5-6 years or more, so I think I just need time to adjust to this one. One of the things I dislike is how heavy and inflexible the cord for it is. Makes it hard to move it around my desk.

 

[Ashhong]

My Logitech G710+(Cherry Brown) came in this week. So far, I like it, though I am still getting used to it. I could do without the G1-G6 keys(I'm pretty sure I will never use them) on the left side, and I hit Caps Lock by accident a lot instead of A. I had my last keyboard for 5-6 years or more, so I think I just need time to adjust to this one. One of the things I dislike is how heavy and inflexible the cord for it is. Makes it hard to move it around my desk.

Sounds like you should have gotten the G610 instead

 

[Water]

Sounds like you should have gotten the G610 instead

Or the G410. The notched Caps Lock key (also found on the G610) is bad, and the cord is cheap (not removable, no cable management, sticks out, has a reinforcement that effectively makes the board deeper) but otherwise I'm pretty happy with the G410. Would be overpriced at normal price, IMO, but I found it below half price. For gaming I think the Romer-G switches are better than Browns, Reds and definitely better than my variable weight Topre.

 

[Dandy Lyin]

I wanted the 610 originally, but the 710+ was about $50 less. I've already started to get used to it, thankfully. Only hit CapsLock once while typing this post.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Anyone buy keycaps off ebay? I'm thinking about ordering some side-printed PBT keycaps to change up the look of my keyboard, but am worried about quality control, and would like to know if you have recommended sellers. Is it even a good idea? Thanks.

 

[Oxn]

I wanted the 610 originally, but the 710+ was about $50 less. I've already started to get used to it, thankfully. Only hit CapsLock once while typing this post.

I have a cougar 700k, and also has those g keys on the side. It was annoying the first couple of weeks, now i dont even know they are there.

 

[AsianOni]

Anyone buy keycaps off ebay? I'm thinking about ordering some side-printed PBT keycaps to change up the look of my keyboard, but am worried about quality control, and would like to know if you have recommended sellers. Is it even a good idea? Thanks.

I don't buy much from eBay anymore but I can (and many others probably) recommend Widebasket, who is based in South Korea. So it's mostly Leopold products. Not the cheapest but their PBT keysets are of very good quality. I don't know if there are any side-printed keysets at the moment, but you can always send the seller a message and he'll try to get what you want. He is serious and ships fast. I bought my FC660C there.

 

[sixteen-bit]

I don't buy much from eBay anymore but I can (and many others probably) recommend Widebasket, who is based in South Korea. So it's mostly Leopold products. Not the cheapest but their PBT keysets are of very good quality. I don't know if there are any side-printed keysets at the moment, but you can always send the seller a message and he'll try to get what you want. He is serious and ships fast. I bought my FC660C there.

Awesome. Thanks!

 

[Ashhong]

Logitech has the best support what the hell.

One of my keys wasn't responding well on my keyboard, I contacted them and they instantly sent me out a new G610. No return needed. My old one is still functional for the most part. I now have a keyboard for work, awesome.

 

[Tripon]

The Rosewill I ordered came at the end of the day. So I set it up at my work station and made sure it worked, then left home for the day. So excited for it.

 

[Mikeside]

Logitech has the best support what the hell.

One of my keys wasn't responding well on my keyboard, I contacted them and they instantly sent me out a new G610. No return needed. My old one is still functional for the most part. I now have a keyboard for work, awesome.

I remember when I was about 19 and I got back from a party, stumbled past my computer and broke the USB wireless dongle. I called Logitech and told them exactly what happened, hoping they'd sell me a replacement dongle so I didn't have to buy a whole new mouse and keyboard set. They replaced for free even though I told them I drunkenly broke it.

Top customer service

 

[Deleted member 102362]

Logitech has the best support what the hell.

One of my keys wasn't responding well on my keyboard, I contacted them and they instantly sent me out a new G610. No return needed. My old one is still functional for the most part. I now have a keyboard for work, awesome.

Yeah, it's great! I was having issues with my G502's scrolling wheel, so they sent me a new mouse, and they didn't even need the old one back. I went from a Proteus Core to a Proteus Spectrum - now I can change the color of my G, lol.

 

[Darkwater]

Just got a Cooler Master Masterkeys Pro L with white LEDs. It's a very nice keyboard and the white lights are a happy medium between flashy and discrete. The Brown switches I got are nice as well. The only thing is, though, all the longer keys (i.e. each one that's long enough to require stabilizers), make a rattling sound. I think it's the stabilizer bar that's banging against the backplate or the pcb or something. The keys with stabilizers are clearly louder than the other ones because of this and the sound is quite ugly to boot.

Here's a video that displays the same problem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEov1kYowPs

Is this par for the course for Cooler Master mechs with Cherry Stabilizers or did I happen to just receive a bad one? I fear it's the former.

Additionally, this is how I would like the spacebar and other long keys to sound (spoiler: the same as all the other damn keys).

https://youtu.be/2S5zJbryGfM?t=45s

I'm really bummed out about this.

 

[laxu]

Just got a Cooler Master Masterkeys Pro L with white LEDs. It's a very nice keyboard and the white lights are a happy medium between flashy and discrete. The Brown switches I got are nice as well. The only thing is, though, all the longer keys (i.e. each one that's long enough to require stabilizers), make a rattling sound. I think it's the stabilizer bar that's banging against the backplate or the pcb or something. The keys with stabilizers are clearly louder than the other ones because of this and the sound is quite ugly to boot.

Here's a video that displays the same problem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEov1kYowPs

Is this par for the course for Cooler Master mechs with Cherry Stabilizers or did I happen to just receive a bad one? I fear it's the former.

Additionally, this is how I would like the spacebar and other long keys to sound (spoiler: the same as all the other damn keys).

https://youtu.be/2S5zJbryGfM?t=45s

I'm really bummed out about this.

You can add a bit of tape at the end of the stabilizer wire. It's also possible CM uses shitty stabilizers on the keyboard because I hated how the Cherry knockoff sliders that came with a kit sounded. It was hard to tell the difference between real Cherry stabs visually but I understand that the knockoffs are essentially looser with a much less tight fit to the metal bar so they rattle around.

 

[laxu]

What's a programmable keyboard with a split spacebar design? I wanna remap the left spacebar to ALT.

You could wait a few months and get an Ultimate Hacking Keyboard if it is not delayed yet again. Non-standard layout so hard to find keycaps for the right side modifiers though if you don't like the standard options.

Another alternative that is already available is the Mistel Barocco, which is essentially a split Vortex Pok3r with all the drawbacks of its programming method. Instead of software programming you essentially hit specific keys to enter programming mode and then hit what key to change and what it should do. It is less intuitive and powerful but for most people works fine. What you are trying to do should be possible with it.

There's also Banana Split in the works but it is only a PCB for DIY types and does not split physically but has a split spacebar.

 

[Darkwater]

You can add a bit of tape at the end of the stabilizer wire. It's also possible CM uses shitty stabilizers on the keyboard because I hated how the Cherry knockoff sliders that came with a kit sounded. It was hard to tell the difference between real Cherry stabs visually but I understand that the knockoffs are essentially looser with a much less tight fit to the metal bar so they rattle around.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'the end of the stabilizer wire'. The bar/wire underneath connects to the underside of a sort of faux-switch that connects to the key just like a normal switch does. So I don't think that applies to me? Not sure.

Here's a pic.

The bar disappears under the white backplate.

Ignore the apple juice splatter. Just trying to keep the doctor away.

 

[Saiyan-Rox]

Long story short I have a Razer Store voucher of £135 to use due to the RMA of my Blackwidow X rusting (And now I see the Keyboard has went up in price...nice thanks Brexit)

Anyway I find myself at a bind on what keyboard to get now? I kinda want to try the Ornata for the super bright LED's and the cool floating key effect but at the same time I really like mechanical keyboards and at this monent am using a really cheap membrane keyboard to hold me over which i'm not a huge fan of but that might be just cause i'm missing the auible clicking noise i've gotten used to.

On the other hand I could spend a little more and get the Blackwidow V2 but Im not a huge fan of the design and I could always pay a little more and get a new blackwidow X with a new warranty and hope it doesn't rust.


Any thoughts? Of course I'm limited to Razer keyboards due to the voucher.

 

[Chiramii]

Long story short I have a Razer Store voucher of £135 to use due to the RMA of my Blackwidow X rusting (And now I see the Keyboard has went up in price...nice thanks Brexit)

Anyway I find myself at a bind on what keyboard to get now? I kinda want to try the Ornata for the super bright LED's and the cool floating key effect but at the same time I really like mechanical keyboards and at this monent am using a really cheap membrane keyboard to hold me over which i'm not a huge fan of but that might be just cause i'm missing the auible clicking noise i've gotten used to.

On the other hand I could spend a little more and get the Blackwidow V2 but Im not a huge fan of the design and I could always pay a little more and get a new blackwidow X with a new warranty and hope it doesn't rust.


Any thoughts? Of course I'm limited to Razer keyboards due to the voucher.

If both mechanical switches and great backlighting is important to you, which it seems like it is, the answer is pretty easy. Blackwidow Chroma V2. Never used it myself, but what could go wrong with a full sized mechanical keyboard with RGB backlighting. It's got a nice wrist rest too, which is always a plus.

Edit: Scratch that... Didn't know the price was so steep.

 

[laxu]

I'm not sure what you mean by 'the end of the stabilizer wire'. The bar/wire underneath connects to the underside of a sort of faux-switch that connects to the key just like a normal switch does. So I don't think that applies to me? Not sure.

That's a Cherry plate mount stabilizer. The design is basically the same as the Cherry PCB mount stabilizer but just connects on top of the plate and that might make it easier to remove. The wire goes to a small hole in the stabilizer. The rattle is usually caused by the moving part of the plastic stabilizer having a larger hole than the wire diameter so it can move around a bit. So adding some clear tape on the end of the wire helps fill that gap while still allowing the stabilizer to move smoothly along the wire when it goes up and down as you press the key.

You will probably have to remove the keyboard from the case to do this and disassembling anything but the spacebar might be difficult. The difficulty comes from getting the wire back in once removed. On one of my keyboards I've had to desolder switcher around the one with stabilizers to be able to put the wire back in, but this was with PCB mount stabilizers. It was hugely annoying.

If it looks like there is no lube in the stabilizers where the wire bends and clips into the immobile part of the stabilizer then you could try adding some there as that could help quiet it down. Check for example http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index....be-silicone-lubricating-grease-with-ptfe.html

 

[Darkwater]

That's a Cherry plate mount stabilizer. The design is basically the same as the Cherry PCB mount stabilizer but just connects on top of the plate and that might make it easier to remove. The wire goes to a small hole in the stabilizer. The rattle is usually caused by the moving part of the plastic stabilizer having a larger hole than the wire diameter so it can move around a bit. So adding some clear tape on the end of the wire helps fill that gap while still allowing the stabilizer to move smoothly along the wire when it goes up and down as you press the key.

You will probably have to remove the keyboard from the case to do this and disassembling anything but the spacebar might be difficult. The difficulty comes from getting the wire back in once removed. On one of my keyboards I've had to desolder switcher around the one with stabilizers to be able to put the wire back in, but this was with PCB mount stabilizers. It was hugely annoying.

If it looks like there is no lube in the stabilizers where the wire bends and clips into the immobile part of the stabilizer then you could try adding some there as that could help quiet it down. Check for example http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index....be-silicone-lubricating-grease-with-ptfe.html

While I appreciate your help a lot, I'm very disappointed that a 100 euro keyboard probably requires disassembly and servicing to bring it into a basic, proper, ready-to-use state.

I think I prefer to make use of the returns term that the board is still under, rather than take it apart.

 

[laxu]

While I appreciate your help a lot, I'm very disappointed that a 100 euro keyboard probably requires disassembly and servicing to bring it into a basic, proper, ready-to-use state.

I think I prefer to make use of the returns term that the board is still under, rather than take it apart.

Yeah that's probably for the best. That said, 100 is still at the low end for a good mechanical keyboard. A huge number of the "gaming" keyboards sold by various vendors concentrate more on fancy bling like RGB LEDs etc at the expense of quality construction and keycaps. While they are unlikely to break, you can expect a creaking plastic case with possible issues like yours.

 

[Darkwater]

Yeah that's probably for the best. That said, 100 is still at the low end for a good mechanical keyboard. A huge number of the "gaming" keyboards sold by various vendors concentrate more on fancy bling like RGB LEDs etc at the expense of quality construction and keycaps. While they are unlikely to break, you can expect a creaking plastic case with possible issues like yours.

So if I said I was looking for a no-frills mechanical keyboard with Brown switches, what would you recommend? I have my eyes on a Ducky Zero DK2108 and this video confirms (at 0:45) that it's possible to get one of these and not have the spacebar rattle. Would you agree that this is a good choice?

 

[Saiyan-Rox]

If both mechanical switches and great backlighting is important to you, which it seems like it is, the answer is pretty easy. Blackwidow Chroma V2. Never used it myself, but what could go wrong with a full sized mechanical keyboard with RGB backlighting. It's got a nice wrist rest too, which is always a plus.

Edit: Scratch that... Didn't know the price was so steep.

Yeah it's another £35 quid for it which isn't bad I guess but then again it's gonna cost £15 more for another Blackwidow X.

 

[Aerocrane]

So if I said I was looking for a no-frills mechanical keyboard with Brown switches, what would you recommend? I have my eyes on a Ducky Zero DK2108 and this video confirms (at 0:45) that it's possible to get one of these and not have the spacebar rattle. Would you agree that this is a good choice?

Do you want a backlit keyboard? If you don't need backlight, consider Leopold. Their keyboards are available in Europe through Candy Keys and mykeyboard.eu. Their keyboards are only available in US layout at the moment, but they are in the process of producing versions in German and UK layouts.

 

[Darkwater]

Do you want a backlit keyboard? If you don't need backlight, consider Leopold. Their keyboards are available in Europe through Candy Keys and mykeyboard.eu. Their keyboards are only available in US layout at the moment, but they are in the process of producing versions in German and UK layouts.

Backlighting is not essential to me. I like the white LEDs, but if a proper, non-rattling KB doesn't have it, I'll still take it. I'll look into them, thanks!

 

[Tripon]

So I'm really liking the Rosewill RK-9300 BR I bought last week. Although looking at slickdeals, I seemed to have missed out on a deal on various Rosewill keyboards that were going for $30-40 over the holiday season. Oh well, guess I got something to look forward too this holiday season!

 

[iavi]

Just got the Daskeyboard Pro 4 with blue switches

This thing is perfect. The giant volume knob on the left with its clicks as you turn melts that tactile feedback junky in me

 

[Tripon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2deB4vA-nAI

Somebody uploaded a promotional video for the company Kailh which makes the most popular off brand cherry switches that are in mechanical keyboards.

It's... an interesting video.

 

[leroidys]

Silent Topre Realforce 104U up on massdrop

 

[Smokey]

Are wireless mechanical keyboards a thing?

 

[mkenyon]

Are wireless mechanical keyboards a thing?

Yep, lots of Bluetooth ones out there.

 

[Orayn]

Still mulling over keycap choices for a potential GH60 build. Anyone have any recommendations in terms of profile? DSA seems to be really popular on r/mk. In terms of material I'd kind of like PBT, but I'm open to suggestions.

Yep, lots of Bluetooth ones out there.

Are wireless mechanical keyboards a thing?

This one just went up on Massdrop, even.

 

[Deleted member 22576]

Well, looking like one of my next projects will be completing the Leopold FC6600m I committed to last year. I purchased an aluminum case that ended up being a little more orange-gold rather than rose-gold. I think I've gathered a solution though. I'm gonna add an interference pink dry pigment to some MSA varnish and see if I can create a pink sheen over the gold sheen. Haven't experimented yet but I'm quite confident in the result.

I still need to get the PCB, and am not sure about caps etc.. but the case has been sittin for a year and its time to make it right.

Been researching vacuum chambers (which are only ~190$ on Amazon) in the background, but thats probably a year or so away on my schedule. I'm going to try using runnier more jigglier airdry silicon for cap molds first. Fun thing to think about.

I need to reprogram my plank now that I've gone and updated my computer and stuff. But it seems like such a big task that I really am quite nervous about it. I understand the software part of it, its super easy. But really sitting down and trying to figure out what it is you even need your keyboard to do is a monumental undertaking that escapes my somewhat nonlinear thought. Where do the passwords go, where do you put the ' or the / its very difficult and I find myself constantly wanting to make adjustments.

Still mulling over keycap choices for a potential GH60 build. Anyone have any recommendations in terms of profile? DSA seems to be really popular on r/mk. In terms of material I'd kind of like PBT, but I'm open to suggestions.

I think its sort of a question of feel, I like the look of modern key profiles which are sort of rounded like a burrito or a halfpipe, but the vintage looking ones are more like a bowl with a litttle lip on the bottom. I bet that has more tactile feel but it looks dorky.

 

[Smokey]

Yep, lots of Bluetooth ones out there.

Any particular model you recommend? Using a K65 atm btw. Really like Cherry Red switches.

 

[Deleted member 22576]

Any particular model you recommend? Using a K65 atm btw. Really like Cherry Red switches.

I think you can even install a BT module in a non BT keyboard with minimal fuss.

 

[Tripon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Rv8HyhjPNc
Ducky Pocket Mechanical Calculator + Numpad - Review & Unboxing

I so want this....

 

[sixteen-bit]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Rv8HyhjPNc
Ducky Pocket Mechanical Calculator + Numpad - Review & Unboxing

I so want this....

Came to post the same review. That's so cool, lol