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[Scuba Steve]

Mechanical Switches ~credit to bhlaab/claviertekky

Chery MX Blue (very loud; tactile feedback; 50 g actuation):
The #1 recommendation for typing, but really loud and has minor problems detecting quick double-taps (making them not always perfect for games)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201040

Cherry MX Black (loud; no tactile feedback; 60 g actuation):
Quiet(er), has no trouble with double-taps, but a lot of people find that the keys require a little bit too much force to press and you won't feel any tactile feedback (which some consider a major selling point of mechanical keyboards). These are considered "for gaming" but can also make typing uncomfortable.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201045

Cherry MX Brown

A middle ground between Blue and Black with both strengths and weaknesses. You can't double tap as easily as Black, but it's not as much of a problem as with Blue. There's a tactile sensation with typing, but it doesn't pop quite as much as Blue does. Not as loud as blue, but louder than Black.

Cherry MX Red (like black switches with only 45 g actuation)
Similar to Black switches, except much "lighter" and requiring less force. This can either be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. Reds are very rare and tend to be more expensive.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201044

Cherry MX Clear
Like browns, but "stiffer" and more tactile, making them skewed slightly more towards Blue than Black. The level of force required is comparable to a typical rubber dome keyboard. Very rare.

Cherry MX Green (medium stiff, tactile, clicky )
These switches are considered a more stiff, heavier version of the Cherry MX Blues. More releases coming forth will be using the MX Greens.

http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=199

Resources ~credit to fart

OK, now for static resources, the best at the moment is probably the OCN mechanical keyboard wiki:
http://www.overclock.net/t/491752/me...keyboard-guide

GEEKHACK: http://www.geekhack.org/ is THE english-language resource for mechanical keyboards (we also have some excellent wikis, but we're having technical difficulties with them at the moment). You are strongly invited to come join us and geek out about keyboards, gaming, and other geeky stuff. We also have many active design and small-scale manufacturing efforts, as well as an excellent and very active classifieds board (COI note: I moderate this board).

DESKTHORITY: http://www.deskthority.com/ is excellent for local commerce and european language conversation if you're across the pond to the east.

OTD.kr, KBDMANIA.com: Korean-only; the world's foremost keyboard experts.

KBTALKING.cn, others: Chinese-only; the world's other foremost keyboard experts.

 

[-KRS-]

Filco Majestouch are very good keyboards. Expensive but very good. It's definitely worth it though. Really good build quality so they'll last for a long time. They come with different cherry switches depending on what you want.

 

[Duality]

SteelSeries 6GV2 is great. It has a matte finish.

 

[spootime]

Typing this on a Das professional. If you don't mind a bit of noise its the best keyboard out there imo.

 

[Orayn]

Check out semi-custom keyboards from WASD as well. They're aggressively priced, let you choose the color and lettering style of your keycaps, and have every main type of switch available.

EDIT: WASD has every switch mentioned in the post below with the exception of clear.

 

[bhlaab]

The biggest thing you have to look for is the type of switches.

Chery MX Blue - The #1 recommendation for typing, but really loud and has minor problems detecting quick double-taps (making them not always perfect for games)

Cherry MX Black - Quiet(er), has no trouble with double-taps, but a lot of people find that the keys require a little bit too much force to press and you won't feel any tactile feedback (which some consider a major selling point of mechanical keyboards). These are considered "for gaming" but can also make typing uncomfortable.

Cherry MX Brown - A middle ground between Blue and Black with both strengths and weaknesses. You can't double tap as easily as Black, but it's not as much of a problem as with Blue. There's a tactile sensation with typing, but it doesn't pop quite as much as Blue does. Not as loud as blue, but louder than Black.

Cherry MX Red - Similar to Black switches, except much "lighter" and requiring less force. This can either be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. Reds are very rare and tend to be more expensive.

Cherry MX Clear - Like browns, but "stiffer" and more tactile, making them skewed slightly more towards Blue than Black. The level of force required is comparable to a typical rubber dome keyboard. Very rare.

 

[DCharlie]

Filco Majestouch

have the Filco Majestouch 2 Ninja with Brown switches - worth every penny.

 

[Ryn]

http://www.tankguys.com/mechnical-keyboards.html

The ducky keyboards are pretty nice. I currently have this one http://www.tankguys.com/mechnical-keyboards/ducky-keyboard-mx-overclock-net-edition-blue-abs-1.html . Seems that they dropped the price since I last got it ($80 now). Blue switches are pretty loud switches, but I love the sound and typing with it.

 

[Naka]

SteelSeries 6GV2 is great. It has a matte finish.

I had this for a week and returned it. The shortened right shift key was so annoying and it drove me insane. The keys felt great though. I ordered a WASD Keyboard last Friday and can't wait for it to show up! I got Cherry MX Browns in mine. It seems to be a good mix for typing and gaming from what I've read...

 

[Dog Problems]

have the Filco Majestouch 2 Ninja with Brown switches - worth every penny.

Yep. It's what I use and I love it.

 

[clav]

Newegg has a nice selection under the name Rosewill.

Cherry blues (very loud; tactile feedback; 50 g actuation; best for typing): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201040

Cherry browns (somewhat loud; no tactile feedback; 45 g actuation; some gamers prefer this keyboard for RTS): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201042

Cherry reds (like black switches with only 45 g actuation): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201044

Cherry blacks (loud; no tactile feedback; 60 g actuation; some gamers prefer this keyboard for FPS and RTS; wears out fingers): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201045

Information from: http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Cherry+Corporation+Switch+Wiki

-------------------

Bottomline:

If you don't know what to purchase, go with the Cherry blues.

 

[Dice]

Are there any with a laptop-style keys? It's asking a bit much, I know, but I'm so used to my Wireless HP Keyboard aside from the semi-frequent outages it decides to have. That really sucks when I'm playing games, so a trusty mechanical keyboard would be nice. I'm just so used to the flat keys, even if they could be improved with some microswitch action.

 

[Orayn]

Unfortunately, the Filco line is no longer available in North America because their contract with Elite Keyboards ended. EK is now selling mechanicals from a new OEM called Leopold, which are very, very similar to the Filcos.

Newegg has a nice selection under the name Rosewill.

Interesting note: These are basically factory 2nd Filcos, and are from the same manufacturer. Great deal, too.

Are there any with a laptop-style keys? It's asking a bit much, I know, but I'm so used to my Wireless HP Keyboard aside from the semi-frequent outages it decides to have. That really sucks when I'm playing games, so a trust mechanical keyboard would be nice. I'm just so used to the flat keys, even if they could be improved with some microswitch action.

One of Logitech's lit keyboards has scissor switches, as do Apple's current aluminum ones. That said, normal keys are much better for your hands and wrists.

 

[Wallach]

Unfortunately, the Filco line is no longer available in North America because their contract with Elite Keyboards ended. EK is now selling mechanicals from a new OEM called Leopold, which are very, very similar to the Filcos.

You can get Filcos through Amazon via The Keyboard Co. They are fulfilled by Amazon as well.

 

[VALIS]

I bought a Razer Black Widow Ultimate about 5 months ago and love it. Loud, sturdy Cherry MX Blue keys and five levels of backlighting, which is pretty useful since I'm often in the dark.

 

[Orayn]

You can get Filcos through Amazon via The Keyboard Co. They are fulfilled by Amazon as well.

Really? Good to hear. Too bad it seems like the prices jumped by about $20. :\

 

[Draft]

I bought a Razer Black Widow around 6 months ago, and it is the bomb. Typing is so much more pleasurable. The clickety clack sound. The gentle push back as you strike each key. Each keystroke is a tangible experience. I will never go back to the mushy membrane keyboard.

 

[mkenyon]

OCN's mechanical keyboard guide. That has everything you could ever want to know. People will chime in with a model here, model there, but you're going to be fine as long as it has Cherry switches (color choice is entirely subjective) and a PS/2 connection for full NKRO.

I have blues for my work computer, home computer where I do work from home, and a 10 keyless red for gaming.

Elite Keyboards has an amazing selection of keyboards to choose from.

Some of my favorites:

Leopold 10 keyless:

Razer Blackwidow (least expensive cherry blue keyboard available, and I like the macros for all sorts of business related stuff)

Happy Hacking Professional (would be my gaming keyboard if I wasn't spending so much money on computer parts}

If you like the "Gamer" look to your boards, Cooler Master has a pretty great product in the Quick Fire Rapid (cherry blues) and Quick Fire Rapid Red (cherry reds)

 

[Dice]

Oh my.

Listening to a Das Pro on this youtube video is borderline ASMR-triggering.

 

[LuchaShaq]

I love mechanical but it makes gaming/writing while my gf is asleep a giant pain in the ass

 

[Orayn]

Oh my.

Listening to a Das Pro on this youtube video is borderline ASMR-triggering.

Now imagine that EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU TYPE OR PLAY VIDEO GAMES.

I love mechanical but it makes gaming/writing while my gf is asleep a giant pain in the ass

Consider something with Cherry MX Brown/Clear, or tactile non-clicky ALPS clones? With one of those, the only noise is from the keys bottoming out, which can be prevented if you train yourself to lift your fingers as soon as the key actuates.

 

[clav]

If you're thinking of buying from Das Keyboard, they do offer student discount coupons if you send in your student ID.

 

[mik83kuu]

Loving my Steelkeys 6G (not v2)

It doesn't have any clicky (tactile?) feeling to it and it can throw people off a little. First using it I kinda felt like I was pressing an analog button for a digital feedback. Like if moving in a FPS I felt like the keypress should have had an inpact on the running speed, but since it was a simple on/off signal (like every keyboard out there) it felt a little surreal and disappointing.

After I got used to it (a week tops) I felt like I could type better and in WoW I could spam spells better on a Mage or Shaman.

I would personally guarantee you'll love it when you get to use one for more than a few minutes.

 

[Dog Problems]

Happy Hacking Professional (would be my gaming keyboard if I wasn't spending so much money on computer parts}]

One day I will have one of these.

 

[Dice]

One of Logitech's lit keyboards has scissor switches, as do Apple's current aluminum ones. That said, normal keys are much better for your hands and wrists.

Is that why I have bad wrists? Hmmmm...

 

[Wallach]

One day I will have one of these.

They're nice. I don't like the layout quite as much as the Poker, and Topre switches aren't for everyone. Best keycaps in the world, though.

 

[Buddha Beam]

This... this isn't a thread about sexy lesbians using keyboards

 

[LuchaShaq]

Now imagine that EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU TYPE OR PLAY VIDEO GAMES.



Consider something with Cherry MX Brown/Clear, or tactile non-clicky ALPS clones? With one of those, the only noise is from the keys bottoming out, which can be prevented if you train yourself to lift your fingers as soon as the key actuates.

I've tried, but unfortunately even on apple or laptop style keys I type like I'm trying to shove my fingers through someone's eye socket. I can only type non-loudly if I'm typing less than a sentence in about a minute haha.

 

[jim-jam bongs]

Am I the only person who thought that this was a place for lesbians to discuss mechanical keyboards?

This... this isn't a thread about sexy lesbians using keyboards

THANK YOU

 

[ghst]

i've got a noppoo choc mini with browns:

i love the mini 84 form factor and have always wanted a row of function keys that sit directly along the top of the number keys. i'm a sucker for grid layouts.

Are there any with a laptop-style keys? It's asking a bit much, I know, but I'm so used to my Wireless HP Keyboard aside from the semi-frequent outages it decides to have. That really sucks when I'm playing games, so a trusty mechanical keyboard would be nice. I'm just so used to the flat keys, even if they could be improved with some microswitch action.

i use a cherry mechanical keyboard and the logitech illuminated (scissor switch) daily. it's probably the only "traditional" board that can hold a candle to a decent mechanical, and makes typing on the standard apple board (which i use seem to use far more than i have any wish to) feel like tapping on a month old piece of meat. while it's hard to not recommend making the jump to a mech, if you really want to stay with short throw scissor switches, it's absolutely the rolls royce.

i wouldn't go near a membrane again, though.

 

[zoku88]

So my beloved Saitek Eclipse II has served me well the past 5 years...up until I spilled a bottle of water on it =/

I'm looking at a mechanical keyboard for my next purchase, what are the recommendations these days? Seems a lot of people like DAS. I've also checked out WASD's site for custom keyboards.

Is it worth spending $120+ on mechanical keyboards? I'm looking at the Das Professional right now, any other recommendations?

I got the Das (accidentally, the one without key printings, lol)

Feels good, man.

EDIT: Funny, I also came from the Satiek Ecliple II

 

[Lambtron]

How much different does a mechanical keyboard with switches feel than a buckling spring keyboard? I've never liked typing on a keyboard as much as I did my Model M.

 

[Wallach]

i've got a noppoo choc mini with browns:

i love the mini 84 form factor and have always wanted a row of function keys that sit directly along the top of the number keys. i'm a sucker for grid layouts.

They have a white version of this now that looks nice, but lacks the nice POM keycaps. I think they switched to ABS. If they had a white version that still had POM keycaps I might add one to the collection.

 

[Dice]

I like the idea of compact keyboards but I would never get one because the keypad section is very important for Descent.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

Let me ask this here since the topic is up, are there any lower profile mechanical keyboards? I would like one for work. I like the apple keyboard I use on my PC now.

If not, what low profile keyboards do you recommend?

 

[Orayn]

How much different does a mechanical keyboard with switches feel than a buckling spring keyboard? I've never liked typing on a keyboard as much as I did my Model M.

Buckling springs are just a particularly noisy, high-force type of mechanical switch. Cherry MX Blues are basically a baby version of them.

Let me ask this here since the topic is up, are there any lower profile mechanical keyboards? I would like one for work. I like the apple keyboard I use on my PC now.

If not, what low profile keyboards do you recommend?

There really aren't. The switches uses in mechanical keyboards have around a centimeter of travel, so they have to be taller than the super-short scissor switches used in laptops and Apple's current desktop keyboards.

I recommend looking into Das Keyboards, Leopold, and WASD. If you want to save some money, Razer's Blackwidow is one of the cheapest mechanical keyboards you can find.

 

[wonzo]

i'm currently using a leopold fc500r with cherry blues and it is the shit. i used to use a tenkeyless version but the lack of a numpad was starting to get to me so i bought one of these. makes typing with anything else feel really weird now.

 

[ghst]

I like the idea of compact keyboards but I would never get one because the keypad section is very important for Descent.

you can always buy a separate usb keypad. i came to the 84 form factor revelation sometime after i got a sidewinder x6 (with detachable keypad) and realized i never actually had a desire to reattach it. all additional functions are available through modifier keys on the choc mini, too.

Let me ask this here since the topic is up, are there any lower profile mechanical keyboards? I would like one for work. I like the apple keyboard I use on my PC now.

If not, what low profile keyboards do you recommend?

see my last post.

it's worth pointing out that mech keyboards are currently in the transitional phase between boutique specialist products and mass market gaming standard. with thermaltake, corsair and coolermaster jumping on the bandwagon, i can't imagine any gaming keyboards being released in a eighteen months that aren't mechanical. as it stands, it already seems bizarre for logitech to still be sitting on the sidelines, maybe they're attempting to come up with their own proprietary micro-switch?

 

[Davidion]

i've got a noppoo choc mini with browns:

i love the mini 84 form factor and have always wanted a row of function keys that sit directly along the top of the number keys. i'm a sucker for grid layouts.

i use a cherry mechanical keyboard and the logitech illuminated (scissor switch) daily. it's probably the only "traditional" board that can hold a candle to a decent mechanical, and makes typing on the standard apple board (which i use seem to use far more than i have any wish to) feel like tapping on a month old piece of meat. while it's hard to not recommend making the jump to a mech, if you really want to stay with short throw scissor switches, it's absolutely the rolls royce.

i wouldn't go near a membrane again, though.

Did you get yours from intelligent pro on ebay? He seems to have Noppoo reds and I might jump on it.

 

[vireland]

Been lusting for this for quite a while - watching its development progress. In two days, they will finally be taking orders.:

http://www.trulyergonomic.com/

With all the typing I do, I need an ergonomic, but I really miss the mechanical. The ergo mechanicals I've found are ugly, huge, or impractical. This one looks like it might be just right. Here's hoping...

 

[Salacious Crumb]

I've got a 104 key Filco Majestouch with brown switches. I've had it now for about 18 months and it still looks and feels brand new. Never going back to membrane.

I love that there's been a bit of a mechanical keyboard boom since I bought mine. I had to get my Filco from some Taiwanese site, now though every local online retailer seems to have a great selection of mechanical keyboards.

 

[Wallach]

Been lusting for this for quite a while - watching its development progress. In two days, they will finally be taking orders.:

http://www.trulyergonomic.com/

With all the typing I do, I need an ergonomic, but I really miss the mechanical. The ergo mechanicals I've found are ugly, huge, or impractical. This one looks like it might be just right. Here's hoping...

I am on the list for one of these but I don't know if I'm going to grab one. Really on the fence with this thing; will probably wait until first GH reviews start coming in.

 

[Correctomundo]

Came for the lesbians, stayed for the hypnotizing keyspring gifs.

 

[Chanser]

Own a Razer Black Widow Ultimate too. The QPAD keyboards look nice.

http://www.corporate.qpad.se/modules/news/index.php?storytopic=11

 

[vireland]

I am on the list for one of these but I don't know if I'm going to grab one. Really on the fence with this thing; will probably wait until first GH reviews start coming in.

Getting it with the AMEX for that reason. If it doesn't work out and there's any problem returning, AMEX reimburses me.

 

[Feep]

How timely! I just bought and received my very first mechanical keyboard, a DAS Professional, just two days ago.

I absolutely ADORE it. The clicky-clack sounds make me feel so goddamn PRODUCTIVE. The feel of the keys and quality of the build are fantastic.

I do kind of miss being wireless, and the front corners are a little sharp for my wrists...I'm probably going to buy a wrist pad...but all-in-all, a thumbs-up must-buy from me.

 

[Zimbardo]

i own a Razer Blackwidow as well.

i like it quite a bit.

 

[JoeMartin]

www.pckeyboard.com

Unicomp is the only company that manufactures buckling spring switches anymore, and I love the hell out of my board. And having used all available mechanic switches out there I definitely prefer my unicomp board.

 

[jim-jam bongs]

Came for the lesbians, stayed for the hypnotizing keyspring gifs.

Keyboard porn threads are actually awesome for this and other reasons. They usually get derailed by someone coming in and explaining that everyone in the thread is a moron for not being satisfied with the no-name that came with their PC though.

 

[Revengeance]

LOVE my Das Pro. Kinda expensive, but definitely worth it.