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Lez talk mechanical keyboards

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I think numpad-less keyboards are the sexiest thing in the world and I'd get that board right now if they'd offer a QWERTZ layout.
 
update for my fellow mech-lovers: people at work complained too much about my das keyboard (silenced model even) so I had to stop using it and switch to some awful membraney dell crap.

gutted.
 
update for my fellow mech-lovers: people at work complained too much about my das keyboard (silenced model even) so I had to stop using it and switch to some awful membraney dell crap.

gutted.

Those HHKBP S models are pretty quiet, man.

and expensive as fuck
 
The fuck is wrong with your co-workers? Nobody ever complained when I was using the black widow, and I assume that's louder than the silent das keyboard. My boss always said it's nice that you can hear when someone's working :)

To throw in my two cents: I use a black widow at work and a DAS keyboard at home. I like the DAS keyboard more than the razer. I think the keys in don't need as much force to press than the razer. And it it looks awesome without any labels on it.
 
Here are my keyboards:

IBM Model M: Clicky
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Razer Black Widow: Cherry Blue
4379677561390941344_product_picture.jpg


Leopold TenKeyless: Cherry Brown
fc200r_full1000_th620x400.jpg


Meka G1: Cherry Black:
tt-esports-meka-g1-front.jpg


Steelcase 6GV2:
keyboard.jpg
 
Well, I wasn't expecting to buy one today, but I couldn't resist. Instead of worrying about the Das Keyboard mfg source, I decided to pick up the Leopold Tactile Touch (brown) keyboard. Now to fight the urge to look into keyboard caps lol.
 
update for my fellow mech-lovers: people at work complained too much about my das keyboard (silenced model even) so I had to stop using it and switch to some awful membraney dell crap.

gutted.

Your only choice is a Topre keyboard. Or you could buy dampening rings for your mechanical keyboard...but they make the keyboard feel kind of crappy.
 
Why don't you just rearrange the keycaps? Wouldn't take all that much effort.

Z won't actually fit where Y does; the keycaps are stepped so they're angled differently due to them being on different rows.

Of course, you can easily get a set of replacement keycaps in any configuration and change your layout in software.
 
Picked up a Noppoo Choc Mini recently, the difference from using a Razer BlackWidow is insane.

<3 Cherry MX Red's.
 
I had a Topre Realforce 87U 45G, sold it and got a Filco Majestouch-2 Tenkeyless with Cherry MX Red switches. I love it. It feels much better than the Topre and at half the price. I have been using it for the past four months.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0081FAFYC/?tag=neogaf0e-20

I love how easy it is to press the keys. I tried the O ring mod to cut down on some of the clack, but it felt awful. I immediately removed the O rings. Still, it's not too loud. It's a bit quieter than the Topre.
 
Didn't care for the Topre, eh? I really want to try one to see how they are...

I had the Topre for about six months. It's not a bad keyboard, just overpriced in my opinion. The 45 gram feels very similar to Cherry MX Red. However, the cherry MX Red just feels smoother to me and less clackier. I'd love to try the silent Topres. They're even more expensive. :)
 
Z won't actually fit where Y does; the keycaps are stepped so they're angled differently due to them being on different rows.

Of course, you can easily get a set of replacement keycaps in any configuration and change your layout in software.

Well it's not just Y/Z but more stuff like placements for punctuation marks being completely different. For example I don't think there is a ß sign on a QWERTY.
Believe me, I tried a QWERTY keyboard and it didn't work out.
 
update for my fellow mech-lovers: people at work complained too much about my das keyboard (silenced model even) so I had to stop using it and switch to some awful membraney dell crap.

gutted.

The board I use at work is brown switches with the heavy dampeners sold at WASD, and I haven't gotten any complaints yet. So maybe try some dampeners.
 
The fuck is wrong with your co-workers? Nobody ever complained when I was using the black widow, and I assume that's louder than the silent das keyboard. My boss always said it's nice that you can hear when someone's working :)

To throw in my two cents: I use a black widow at work and a DAS keyboard at home. I like the DAS keyboard more than the razer. I think the keys in don't need as much force to press than the razer. And it it looks awesome without any labels on it.
Really? I felt the BW easier to press than the DAS and a bit quieter, if not slightly higher pitched (Both Blues).
 
Those HHKBP S models are pretty quiet, man.

and expensive as fuck

maybe I can get the people who bitched to my boss about the noise to chip in and buy me one?

The fuck is wrong with your co-workers? Nobody ever complained when I was using the black widow, and I assume that's louder than the silent das keyboard. My boss always said it's nice that you can hear when someone's working :)

yeah, I know right? apart from anything else, everyone has headphones on like 90% of the work day anyway. for the record, and my boss won't confirm or deny this, but the person I'm sure was the major complainer is a guy who has issues with me for other reasons so I don't even know if it actually was that loud or not.

Your only choice is a Topre keyboard. Or you could buy dampening rings for your mechanical keyboard...but they make the keyboard feel kind of crappy.

The board I use at work is brown switches with the heavy dampeners sold at WASD, and I haven't gotten any complaints yet. So maybe try some dampeners.

gentlemen, you have my sincerest thanks.
 
I've had this for a few months now and I'm just as in love with it now as I was when I first got it.

Pros:

+Feels very comfortable when typing
+Removes left windows key
+Well-built; very solid, would be hard to damage.
+Minimalistic: nice cut trim without excess keys or any fancy visual effects to keep it small and convenient

Cons:

+Coming from the G15 keyboard, I soft of miss the LCD screen
+No back-lit keys. While I don't think they're necessary, I do think that black-lit keys can look very cool though.

http://steelseries.com/products/keyboards/steelseries-6gv2

 

I have one of these. Used it for a few weeks but it just wasn't for me. Felt really cramped and I didn't realise how much I'd miss the numpad until it was gone. I'm trying to sell it if anyone wants one lol


I switched to the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate and its been amazing. I ended up buying a second one for the office (Non-Ultimate version, no glowy keys at work lol).
 
Cons:

+Coming from the G15 keyboard, I soft of miss the LCD screen


I felt the same way when I switched from my G15 to my Razer Blackwidow Elite. Do yourself a favor and grab a Logitech G13. It uses the same screen and software as the G15, but is MUCH smaller, so you can keep it on your desk and still use your regular keyboard.

Heres my desk for example. I have my Blackwidow and mouse on the keyboard tray, and I keep the G13 just above, in front of my speaker volume knob. Get that small screen back!

CHn5q.jpg
 
My current lusted after keyboards:

Ducky Year of The Dragon is pretty sweet too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvhMYH_n_oU

The reason I stick with tenkeyless/compact keyboards is that it gives me so much more room for my mouse, and brings my hands in closer together. Can't stand giant keyboards with macro keys for this reason. I play with super low sens, so I need every bit of that 3'.


I do keep a fullsized board in the drawer for when I need to swap it out for working from home. Having just a straight USB cord makes it totally painless too since I keep all my cords ziptied.
 
I've had this for a few months now and I'm just as in love with it now as I was when I first got it.

Pros:

+Feels very comfortable when typing
+Removes left windows key
+Well-built; very solid, would be hard to damage.
+Minimalistic: nice cut trim without excess keys or any fancy visual effects to keep it small and convenient

Cons:

+Coming from the G15 keyboard, I soft of miss the LCD screen
+No back-lit keys. While I don't think they're necessary, I do think that black-lit keys can look very cool though.

http://steelseries.com/products/keyboards/steelseries-6gv2

I tried one of these, but the deal breaker for me was the shorter shift key on the right. Other than that it's a great keyboard! I ended up getting a custom WASD keyboard instead.
 
I have a Corsair K90 and love it! I make the occasional typo here and then but I'm gradually getting used to it.
 
My current lusted after keyboards:


Ducky Year of The Dragon is pretty sweet too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvhMYH_n_oU

The reason I stick with tenkeyless/compact keyboards is that it gives me so much more room for my mouse, and brings my hands in closer together. Can't stand giant keyboards with macro keys for this reason. I play with super low sens, so I need every bit of that 3'.



I do keep a fullsized board in the drawer for when I need to swap it out for working from home. Having just a straight USB cord makes it totally painless too since I keep all my cords ziptied.


I also like my mouse as close as possible to WASD but I can't live without a numpad so I bought a wireless logitech numpad for $20 and taught myself to use it with my left hand

jbhC06YSdQOX6S.JPG


Best of both worlds! (keyboard is a Leopold FC700R)
 
For those looking to purchase a mechanical keyboard, the logitech G710+ is coming in December :

logitech_G710+.jpg

Here are my keyboards:

Razer Black Widow: Cherry Blue
4379677561390941344_product_picture.jpg

Looks like the Logitech G710 is going to have the same issue I've had in the past with Razer keyboards, and the Corsair K90 - that left row of keys makes it so that I keep hitting the macro button on the bottom left, instead of the CTRL key in the heat of gameplay. It also messes up my touch typing, when I'm unconciously looking for the CTRL key by seeking the bottom left. I had the Razer keyboard for a year, expecting I would get used to it - I sorta did, but I never stopped hitting those keys on the left accidentally). It wasn't until I switched to a 'regular' mech keyboard without those extra keys that I realized how much of an annoyance I had just solved. Just a heads up to those who have never used a keyboard with macro keys on the left, and are touch typists and tend to play fps / tps games that require the CTRL key.
 
Bluetooth KB suggestions guys? I don't need anything really expensive or fancy. Just a keyboard that's wireless and has a number pad.
 
What language are you speaking?

NKRO is the ability to send all signals on the keyboard simultaneously. It's not as simple as you'd think, though some USB 'boards have NKRO nowadays. I am not sure what that has to do with mechanicals specifically, though.
 
Anyone got the Qpad MK-85? Very pricey but the reviews say good things.
Just get a Ducky Shine II.

Linky for backlit mech keyboards.

Linky for awesome tenkeyless/compact backlit mech keyboards.

If I didn't already have too many boards, I'd buy that Vortex PURE in a heartbeat.
NKRO is the ability to send all signals on the keyboard simultaneously. It's not as simple as you'd think, though some USB 'boards have NKRO nowadays. I am not sure what that has to do with mechanicals specifically, though.
USB can't do NKRO, it can do something like 5 or 6 though, which is all you really need. Even still, it doesn't work as an interrupt signal as it's not tied directly into your BUS.
 
My current lusted after keyboards:


Ducky Year of The Dragon is pretty sweet too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvhMYH_n_oU

The reason I stick with tenkeyless/compact keyboards is that it gives me so much more room for my mouse, and brings my hands in closer together. Can't stand giant keyboards with macro keys for this reason. I play with super low sens, so I need every bit of that 3'.



I do keep a fullsized board in the drawer for when I need to swap it out for working from home. Having just a straight USB cord makes it totally painless too since I keep all my cords ziptied.

oh my those look amazing. I got myself a Das Silent about half a year ago. Those keyboards mos likely got popular for pro-gamers but I'd like to have one of that compact design.
 
USB can't do NKRO, it can do something like 5 or 6 though, which is all you really need. Even still, it doesn't work as an interrupt signal as it's not tied directly into your BUS.

USB is capable of NKRO and there have been NKRO 'boards that do it on the market for a while, as well as many older 'boards that had much higher KRO (both through controller and matrices improvements). There are multiple ways to achieve this, including OS manipulation as Noppoo and QPAD (like the QPAD MK-85 diamount just mentioned) have done before. Some of those methods only work on Windows. Either way, it is a limitation that can be handled. Generally it is not worked around because it is easier to throw a PS/2 adapter in the box and let the user deal with any issues that come from using PS/2. So long as they keep putting PS/2 ports on motherboards, anyway.

This isn't really a mechanical issue though, just a general keyboard one.
 
I've a Qpad mx-80 with cherry browns (can get any colour by buying from qpad directly). Had it for a few months now, definitely an improvement over the membranes. Seperate media keys would have been nice, but their Fn key + F1-F6 does the job. Wish the backlight had a memory, have to turn it on every time I turn the pc on.
 
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