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Lez talk mechanical keyboards

Sectorseven said:
A lot of the reviews talk about these 75% keyboards in the context of a travel keyboard, but how are they as a primary keyboard? I'm trying to comfortably fit both my keyboard and mouse on my keyboard tray and this may be the size most appropriate. I do a pretty even split between gaming and tying.
Click to expand...

I use this keyboard at work so I'm typing on it roughly 5-7 hours a day on it and I love the size.

I need arrow keys, but I don't need a number pad. It's perfect for me.

If you don't spend a lot of time on the 10-key side of a keyboard I'd say go for it.

The Drevo Gramr 84 is a cheap keyboard, so it might be worth it to see if you like the size. If you don't like the size you wouldn't lose out on much.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01K4GNLMS/?tag=neogaf0e-20
 
Many 75% layouts are functionally identical to TKL, just more compact. You could argue that it's actually better for stuff like MMOs where you actually use the function keys, since it places them closer.
 
Why is it taking so long for (gaming) wireless mechanical keyboards to appear? I know there are a couple of obscure / niche ones out there, but ... You'd think Logitech & co. would be all over it. They figured it out for mice with the G900, surely ... ?
 
Any recommendations for a decent wireless mechanical keyboard?

Found a few on amazon from brands I've never heard of, and don't know if any are of fair quality.
 
BigBadGiantHand said:
Any recommendations for a decent wireless mechanical keyboard?

Found a few on amazon from brands I've never heard of, and don't know if any are of fair quality.
Click to expand...

There is not much of a intersecting between wireless and mechanical keyboards, I'm afraid. The best option would be an Anne Pro, but the stabs are not very nice.
The Other option is to buy an HHKB and add in Hasu's BT controller.

Not a lot of options.

Sectorseven said:
A lot of the reviews talk about these 75% keyboards in the context of a travel keyboard, but how are they as a primary keyboard? I'm trying to comfortably fit both my keyboard and mouse on my keyboard tray and this may be the size most appropriate. I do a pretty even split between gaming and tying.
Click to expand...

I am currently writing this post on a kbd75, more or less the same layout as the other one. Really confortable, everything is a lot closer, so you end up saving a lot of horizontal space. Really recommend the 75% layout.
 
Does anyone know about the E-Element Z-88?

Not sure what makes the 2017 model better than the old one, but according to the specs it's slightly smaller than the Drevo 84 and the backlighting looks a little more precise, though that could just be the photos.
 
For the people who have tried them, what are your opinions on the MX Speeds? I've had a keyboard with them for a few days now and I'm not sure what I think about them yet. They definitely feel very different, and there is a bit of a learning curve, but after a few days I feel like i'm typing just as fast on these (typically in the 80 wpm range). Anyone using an MX speed keyboard as their daily driver?
 
What do you guys use for a wrist rest?
Some that come with keyboards seem a bit hard, plastic feel

Any thing like a soft rubber material?
 
Tripon said:
I put on a set of PBT keycaps on my work keyboard. It really helps the back lighting on my keyboard to shine.


Edit: previous stock keycaps had some really dumb gamer Font on it. These new white ones look normal. It's so much better.
Click to expand...
Where did you get those? Every other pbt backlit set I've seen has the secondary symbols below the main ones so they never get lit up.
 
Archpath1 said:
What do you guys use for a wrist rest?
Some that come with keyboards seem a bit hard, plastic feel

Any thing like a soft rubber material?
Click to expand...

I just bought a G.Skill Ripjaws KM780R for my office and it has a great wrist rest that is mostly a soft rubber with a little plastic around the edge.

All told, great keyboard. I have a Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Stealth at home attached to my gaming PC. I like it, but man, after a couple days with Cherry Blue switches, I'm kicking around swapping their location.

Though, I guess I spend more time at my desk at work than the desk at home, so maybe I should keep them exactly where they are.
 
Hard to decide which switch to go with. Got a sampler which doesn't really give you a feel for a whole keyboard, but at least gives an idea.

-Black is nice, red is too soft but black has enough resistance to feel better.
-Brown is alright, the tactile click makes it better than red but it's still a little weak. I'd probably want some o-rings with brown switches because I doubt I'd be able to not bottom out.
-Clear feels like a nice combination of the two, with a better tactile click. Probably my favorite but I don't think I'll find a decently priced keyboard with clears.

Feel like I'm stuck deciding between two very different switches with browns and blacks.
 
chaosblade said:
Hard to decide which switch to go with. Got a sampler which doesn't really give you a feel for a whole keyboard, but at least gives an idea.

-Black is nice, red is too soft but black has enough resistance to feel better.
-Brown is alright, the tactile click makes it better than red but it's still a little weak. I'd probably want some o-rings with brown switches because I doubt I'd be able to not bottom out.
-Clear feels like a nice combination of the two, with a better tactile click. Probably my favorite but I don't think I'll find a decently priced keyboard with clears.

Feel like I'm stuck deciding between two very different switches with browns and blacks.
Click to expand...


Ganss 87-key and Vortex G104 are probably the cheapest MX Clear keyboards for sale, but the Ganss tenkeyless with Clear switches is only available on Aliexpress and Vortex G104 seems to be sold only in Europe.
 
I went on a massdrop spending spree. I went and picked up some Rainbow PBT keycaps with front side printing, the cooler master keyswitch tester, and a New Poker II by IKBC which is a 60% keyboard. It'll be my first non full size keyboard, and I'm excited that I can carry it with my bookbag so I can type on the go.
 
Aerocrane said:
Ganss 87-key and Vortex G104 are probably the cheapest MX Clear keyboards for sale, but the Ganss tenkeyless with Clear switches is only available on Aliexpress and Vortex G104 seems to be sold only in Europe.
Click to expand...

The Ganss seems like it might be okay. I associate AliExpress with cheap Chinese stuff but found some decent impressions of that one. Seems like the keycaps suck but it's solid other than that. If they are all standard I could probably get that and some nice keycaps off massdrop and have a nice but basic MX Clear keyboard at a good price.
 
I'm a few weeks away from moving into my new place, I'll finally have my PC in a dedicated office room. I've always stayed away from Blue switches or any potentially obnoxious boards, but not anymore!! You know you're a keyboard geek when one of things you're looking forward to most when moving is getting a new keyboard :)
 
chaosblade said:
The Ganss seems like it might be okay. I associate AliExpress with cheap Chinese stuff but found some decent impressions of that one. Seems like the keycaps suck but it's solid other than that. If they are all standard I could probably get that and some nice keycaps off massdrop and have a nice but basic MX Clear keyboard at a good price.
Click to expand...

From what I've read the Ganss keyboard is pretty alright. It has standard layout, so swapping keysets should be fine. It does have Costar-style stabilizers though, which makes changing stabilized keycaps a bit more of a hassle. That really shouldn't be an issue unless you have a lot of keycap sets and like to swap them.

Another thing of note is that Cherry MX Clear switches fit tighter on the keycaps, so you should be careful when removing keycaps so you don't pull the stem off the switch.

For swapping stabilized caps, check this guide from ripster: http://imgur.com/a/nsEDr/
 
Aerocrane said:
From what I've read the Ganss keyboard is pretty alright. It has standard layout, so swapping keysets should be fine. It does have Costar-style stabilizers though, which makes changing stabilized keycaps a bit more of a hassle. That really shouldn't be an issue unless you have a lot of keycap sets and like to swap them.

Another thing of note is that Cherry MX Clear switches fit tighter on the keycaps, so you should be careful when removing keycaps so you don't pull the stem off the switch.

For swapping stabilized caps, check this guide from ripster: http://imgur.com/a/nsEDr/
Click to expand...

Getting close to pulling the trigger on this. What should I keep an eye out for in terms of keycaps? Mostly thinking compatibility, I don't know anything about stabilizers and I've seen profile mentioned, but I don't know how that impacts compatibility (seems like it's the height of the keycaps?)

Doubt I'll spend very much (keycaps are apparently way more expensive than I thought) so I probably won't get something particularly nice, just better than the $5 keyboard tier ones that are on the Ganss.


Any reason these wouldn't work? From my understanding since it's doubleshot I shouldn't have to worry about the letters fading off.
https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=2502

PBT would probably be nicer but also cost a lot more, especially for sets that don't come in gaudy colors or blank.

https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1335
Those look nice and are PBT but laser etched along with the review with legends wearing off quickly isn't very promising. For almost twice as much I'd hope they would last a while.
 
Are there are recommendations for mechanical keyboards that are suitable for an office environment and aren't labeled as "Gaming Keyboards"?
 
HarkenSlash said:
Are there are recommendations for mechanical keyboards that are suitable for an office environment and aren't labeled as "Gaming Keyboards"?
Click to expand...

Ergodox, cherry red. (Or Gateron IDGAF)

Infinity or EZ, your choice.

Comfiest keyboard, amazing for long days, fukken hate using anything else now.
 
HarkenSlash said:
Are there are recommendations for mechanical keyboards that are suitable for an office environment and aren't labeled as "Gaming Keyboards"?
Click to expand...

Part of it is just an aesthetic thing, and there are plenty of mechs with understated looks and no flashy LEDs or XTREME GAMER FONTS or what have you. Das Keyboard was one of the first popular mechanicals of the modern era and it was marketed more toward enthusiasts and office people moreso than the standard gamer stuff.

In terms of noise, it's a little more complicated. I'd stay away from anything clicky (Cherry/Gateron Blues) as a start, but beyond there it kind of depends on your typing style. Anything can be quiet if you don't bottom out the keys, but if you do, you'll want to look into some O-rings/silencers.
 
chaosblade said:
Getting close to pulling the trigger on this. What should I keep an eye out for in terms of keycaps? Mostly thinking compatibility, I don't know anything about stabilizers and I've seen profile mentioned, but I don't know how that impacts compatibility (seems like it's the height of the keycaps?)

Doubt I'll spend very much (keycaps are apparently way more expensive than I thought) so I probably won't get something particularly nice, just better than the $5 keyboard tier ones that are on the Ganss.


Any reason these wouldn't work? From my understanding since it's doubleshot I shouldn't have to worry about the letters fading off.
https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=2502

PBT would probably be nicer but also cost a lot more, especially for sets that don't come in gaudy colors or blank.

https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1335
Those look nice and are PBT but laser etched along with the review with legends wearing off quickly isn't very promising. For almost twice as much I'd hope they would last a while.
Click to expand...
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/133-key-pbt-cherry-keycap-set

Massdrop has a PBT in Cherry profile for $35 after shipping and taxes. In either black and reds, or all white.

MoogleMan said:
Where did you get those? Every other pbt backlit set I've seen has the secondary symbols below the main ones so they never get lit up.
Click to expand...

I got it through massdrop.

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/33240

The drop is inactive right now, but I think you can buy it on mechanicalkeyboards.com, you'll pay a dollar or two more than what the massdrop price was, but then you don't have to wait a month or so just to receive the keycaps. It'll be $40 plus tax, I think.

https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1330

https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1329
 
So I've had this Corsair K70 with mx reds and red LED for like 2.5 years. Been thinking about an upgrade or something different, but I don't really see anything worth spending the cash on.

Not feeling the Romer G's, and the G610 seems like a downgrade from what I have.

Don't really care about RGB, although my current red LED board clashes with my blue led PC build.

Corsair has 20% off refurbs ending today, K65 RGB is $89 and K70 LUX with blue LED is $79. Not really sure its worth spending money though since my current K70 still feels great.

Anything I should consider?
 
Anyone got info on price per/Build Quality budget boards these days?
I know back in the day the Quickfire XT was amazing but no idea about now.

Been interested in this board. $25, Gateron Red Switches.
https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=114&cp_id=11401&cs_id=1140102&p_id=13787&seq=1&format=2
137871.jpg
Click to expand...

I know it's 25 bucks but Gateron switches are apparently solid, and it seems like the only thing people dislike about the board is a stiff spacebar.
 
xezuru said:
Anyone got info on price per/Build Quality budget boards these days?
I know back in the day the Quickfire XT was amazing but no idea about now.

Been interested in this board. $25, Gateron Red Switches.
https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=114&cp_id=11401&cs_id=1140102&p_id=13787&seq=1&format=2


I know it's 25 bucks but Gateron switches are apparently solid, and it seems like the only thing people dislike about the board is a stiff spacebar.
Click to expand...

I have a couple of monoprice keyboards. I'm not sure the budget keyboards are Gaterons though. The other budget keyboard (mutlicolor) were Kailh switches when I bought it a couple of months ago.

Monoprice is also selling their top of the line mechanical keyboard on sale for $70+, I use the cherry MX Blue version for my work place right now.

MX Browns

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=12515

MX Blues

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=12519

The one thing you want to do if you buy any of the keyboards though is try to find some new keycaps, the current Monoprice keyboard suffer from ugly gamer font keycaps.
 
Winterblink said:
They're only making 2017 of them globally. *cry*
Click to expand...

That's how they Ducky does their "Year of the x" series, each edition is limited to whatever number the year is. Year of the Monkey only had 2,016 total, etc.

I'm still madly in love with my Realforce, so I'm not looking for a replacement, but this thing looks very cool.
 
En Ex said:
That's how they Ducky does their "Year of the x" series, each edition is limited to whatever number the year is. Year of the Monkey only had 2,016 total, etc.

I'm still madly in love with my Realforce, so I'm not looking for a replacement, but this thing looks very cool.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I love my Ducky One TKL RGB. Fucking mechanical keyboards man... no matter what I have I always think it will never hurt to buy another.
 
Tripon said:
I got it through massdrop.

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/33240

The drop is inactive right now, but I think you can buy it on mechanicalkeyboards.com, you'll pay a dollar or two more than what the massdrop price was, but then you don't have to wait a month or so just to receive the keycaps. It'll be $40 plus tax, I think.

https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1330

https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1329
Click to expand...

Awesome thanks. :-)
Ordering a set in black now.
 
Welp as much as I like the keyboards themselves, I think this will be my last Ducky keyboard.

Second one to die in a row.

I'm now in the market for a new Mechanical Keyboard. Anyone have a suggestions for a good quality well built mechanical keyboard? I've only ever used Brown Switches but like them, not sure if i should try reds or not since I'm pretty content with brown.
 
Trojita said:
Welp as much as I like the keyboards themselves, I think this will be my last Ducky keyboard.

Second one to die in a row.

I'm now in the market for a new Mechanical Keyboard. Anyone have a suggestions for a good quality well built mechanical keyboard? I've only ever used Brown Switches but like them, not sure if i should try reds or not since I'm pretty content with brown.
Click to expand...

What's your budget?

Here's a Rosewill one with Blue LEDs, comes in Blue and Browns. About $80.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NAMDRFM/?tag=neogaf0e-20

If you want to save some money, I'd try a Chinese clone company like Kailh or Gateron. My favorite of them are Gateron's, which I'm typing on one right now.

You can get a used one by Amazon warehouse for $50.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DXVUD6S/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Monoprice is also having a sale on their mechanical Keyboard (Probably to clear out stock)

https://www.monoprice.com/search/index?keyword=mechanical+Keyboard

The Select series are gaterons, I think, you can buy in reds and blue. Warning, they have ISO layout, so the enter key is that big blocky key.

You can also get their top of the line Mechanical Keyboard for $70+ right now, which comes in Cherry MX Brown and Blues, which is my current work keyboard. The best thing for that keyboard is that it comes with 2 USB passthrough, a mic, and headphone jack. And it's the cheapest RGB keyboard I seen on the market by far. Although the software included is buggy at best and did not want to work with my PC. Also, you'll want to replace the keycaps on the D20 Mechanical Keyboard because it's that ugly gamer font. Hate that shit.
 
If you don't need backlighting, consider buying a Leopold keyboard. They have very good build quality and the keycaps are also thick pbt caps which is great.
 
Trojita said:
Welp as much as I like the keyboards themselves, I think this will be my last Ducky keyboard.

Second one to die in a row.

I'm now in the market for a new Mechanical Keyboard. Anyone have a suggestions for a good quality well built mechanical keyboard? I've only ever used Brown Switches but like them, not sure if i should try reds or not since I'm pretty content with brown.
Click to expand...

Don't go for reds. They are IMO the worst MX switch. Browns feel ok, Zealios and Topre are better so if you don't mind the price, I would look into getting something like the Leopold FC660C. Compact, Topre switches and can be modded to be fully programmable as well as compatible with MX keycaps.
 
laxu said:
Don't go for reds. They are IMO the worst MX switch. Browns feel ok, Zealios and Topre are better so if you don't mind the price, I would look into getting something like the Leopold FC660C. Compact, Topre switches and can be modded to be fully programmable as well as compatible with MX keycaps.
Click to expand...
I wish they would be able to offer soldable Topre...

I like them, but I just can't imagine myself buying a staggered keyboard. I'll take layout over anything if I spend >100€ on a keyboard.

I like the clickiness of the blues, but I'm more and more annoyed with the low activation point of MX switches.
 
Tripon said:
I got my Cherry PBT set and put it on my Nixeus board with Gateron blues.
Click to expand...

Is that the one from Massdrop? If so how is it? A lot of the comments were negative, so I'm hoping they are alright. And hopefully they aren't a pain with costar stabilizers.
 
chaosblade said:
Is that the one from Massdrop? If so how is it? A lot of the comments were negative, so I'm hoping they are alright. And hopefully they aren't a pain with costar stabilizers.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's from Massdrop. The keycaps feel alright. Most of the issues I read is that the legends were already fading away, but I haven't seen that issue yet on the keycaps. I got the gray keycaps.

The Nixeus pro doesn't use any sort of wire stabilizers, so I can't tell you about that part.
 
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