Thanks for the recommendation, but I've been looking on my own a bit something else caught my eye.
How are the Noppoo Choc Minis? Size is pretty important to me.
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Lez talk mechanical keyboards
- Thread starter Scuba Steve
- Start date
Thanks for the recommendation, but I've been looking on my own a bit something else caught my eye.
How are the Noppoo Choc Minis? Size is pretty important to me.
I actually have a Choc Mini somewhere that I bought to try the layout (and because it came with nice PBT keycaps).
It's not a bad 'board, but the layout didn't wind up working for me. It's a little too cramped for my taste, to where I think I'd actually like a few of the functions that have keys to have been moved to a Fn layer instead. Pretty solid construction, though some folks think it is a little ugly. Has a unique aspect in that it will allow n-key rollover even over USB, but it does this via clever use of virtual keyboard assignment which means it will not function with a Mac (unless they've figured out a way around this since I got mine a few years ago).
Thank you, that's very helpful.
Apparently, it works on Macs if you use a usb male to ps2 female, and a usb female to ps2 male. Convoluted, but there.
This probably means that you can't use the virtual keyboard stuff, but honestly I don't need that too much. I guess I'll be getting the Choc Mini then.
If you can get the version that has the PBT keycaps, I highly recommend doing so.
Well, I've been doing research like mad. Decided to order my first ever mechanical... corsair K70. I will report back!
I thought about going with something that had browns, mostly for the noise... but then I considered the current keyboard I have (logitech G11) is already noisy as fuck so it shouldn't be a big problem. my biggest concern is rather i'll accidentally be pressing keys while resting my fingers on the keyboard... guess we'll find out.
I thought about going with something that had browns, mostly for the noise... but then I considered the current keyboard I have (logitech G11) is already noisy as fuck so it shouldn't be a big problem. my biggest concern is rather i'll accidentally be pressing keys while resting my fingers on the keyboard... guess we'll find out.
So close to pulling the trigger on Steelseries 6gv2 Red switches @ $60, but thankfully stopped myself because of the keyboard layout. No Windows key, ? and \ are interchanged, right shift smaller etc.
In case that doesn't bother anyone: http://shop.steelseries.com/us/keyboards.html
Now I'm in the market for a K70 (default keyboard layout, media control, wrist rest), so hope to see some more positive impressions.
In case that doesn't bother anyone: http://shop.steelseries.com/us/keyboards.html
Now I'm in the market for a K70 (default keyboard layout, media control, wrist rest), so hope to see some more positive impressions.
Jon_Danger
Member
I got a CM Storm Quickfire Pro
It is awesome. I am never going back to non-mechanical switches.
(It is Cherry MX Brown, fyi)
It is awesome. I am never going back to non-mechanical switches.
(It is Cherry MX Brown, fyi)
I recently ordered a CM Quickfire Pro TK with brown switches too.
I hope it arrives next week, Amazon said they'd dispatch it today.
I've tried numerous Dell, Logitech and Microsoft keyboards, and I hope the difference is close to abysmal.
I haven't typed on a mechanical keyboard since I was a kid, I think, and my dad bought our first computer, an IBM PS2, so I can't really compare between mechanical and membrane just yet.
But I actually find the last membrane, desktop keyboards I have typed on to be very bad. Keys are hard to press because the cheap plastic feels like it's stuck (Logitechs are guilty of that). The Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000 keyboard I have is so big I can't really type comfortably on it.
I don't know if laptop keyboards have membranes or what do they have, but I'm much more comfortable with them than with all the desktop keyboards I have tried in the last few years.
Will also report back once I've tried it!
Do you want to sell that?
michaelius
Banned
I got this Zalman keyboard for my gaming desktop yesterday.
So far i'm suprised how relatively quiet it is since you don't have to bottom out the keys for it to register pressing.
Also it's great how small it actually is - finally end of wasting space on desk.
Warning: if someone want to use it for writting it has very bad placing of insert/delete block of keys.
Feels good for <40 euro i payed for it.
Well... first impressions on the K70... it is a TAD bit louder than my Logitech G11 but I don't think it's a major. I love the sound 
Just don't want to disturb my roomate.
The build quality is unlike anything I've ever experienced on a keyboard... incredibly high-end and beautiful. My initial concern about accidental key-presses was very much unfounded. I can rest them on the home keys fine.
plugged it in, all media keys etc. worked perfectly with no drivers required
Still getting used to the new feeling of the keys. I can tell I'm going to be very spoiled. Now for the real test... can this keyboard last me 4 or 5 years? Because for the price it better!
If I had to make a complaint... and it's really minor (more of something I just need to adjust to), the stop/back/pause/forward media keys could be placed a little higher so i don't brush my fingers against the numlock/slash/*/- keys when accessing them.
Just don't want to disturb my roomate.The build quality is unlike anything I've ever experienced on a keyboard... incredibly high-end and beautiful. My initial concern about accidental key-presses was very much unfounded. I can rest them on the home keys fine.
plugged it in, all media keys etc. worked perfectly with no drivers required
Still getting used to the new feeling of the keys. I can tell I'm going to be very spoiled. Now for the real test... can this keyboard last me 4 or 5 years? Because for the price it better!
If I had to make a complaint... and it's really minor (more of something I just need to adjust to), the stop/back/pause/forward media keys could be placed a little higher so i don't brush my fingers against the numlock/slash/*/- keys when accessing them.
Well... first impressions on the K70... it is a TAD bit louder than my Logitech G11 but I don't think it's a major. I love the sound
The build quality is unlike anything I've ever experienced on a keyboard... incredibly high-end and beautiful. My initial concern about accidental key-presses was very much unfounded. I can rest them on the home keys fine.
plugged it in, all media keys etc. worked perfectly with no drivers required
Still getting used to the new feeling of the keys. I can tell I'm going to be very spoiled. Now for the real test... can this keyboard last me 4 or 5 years? Because for the price it better!
Just got a K70 myself. I love it. As for the longevity, mechanical boards are good for like 50 million keystrokes compared to the typical membrane that's rated for 10 million. I can definitely see it lasting 4-5... hell maybe even 10.
Thanks. That's fantastic! I'm still curious how much of a difference brown keys would be from these reds. I've seen videos but I need to test it in person.
Oh, I also noticed the space key is textured... differently from the other keys. It feels AMAZING. Like something the interior of a racecar would have
JonnyKtyler
Member
I thought I'd chime in on this thread with my experience. I have a Das keyboard with browns, and a Ducky 'year of the rabbit' with blues, and I used to have a razer blackwidow and a corsair K70. For whatever reason, I'm a huge fan of blues, browns are ok, and I hate red. The ducky is definitely my favorite mechanical keyboard I've used, it's very nice looking and feels amazing to type on. I use the Das at work and it's ok, but I feel like I make a lot more typos than I do on the Ducky. Probably just because I have to switch between them.
Let me know if you have any questions about the boards I've used.
Let me know if you have any questions about the boards I've used.
I did give great consideration to the ducky shine 2. if I decide to get a second keyboard for any reason, it's the top of my list right now. I guess i'm still in a sort of "legacy" mode in my brain where I want that keypad on there. And the seperate media keys. But I can live without both if I had to. But for now, I would greatly recommend the K70 if you think you can live with cherry mx reds... they are definitely louder than i'm used to. As for the feel, I dig it.
Nice, hope you enjoy the CM.
Coincidentally I use that same Dell here at work... it's actually the best keyboard I've found here by far. We had dozens of utterly terrible slim profile MS keyboards and equally awful Dell multimedia keyboards and they drove me nuts, luckily we found some of the bulkier Dells kicking around, I think they either came with the servers or maybe the older E6xxx laptops.
A few of us at work tried to sneak an order for some mechanical keyboards through but finance basically chuckled and said good try. ;(
Roland1979
Junior Member
Koroviev
Member
My last boss somehow got mechs approved. It was awesome.
I don't think so, but should I come across it sometime and change my mind I'll send you a PM. Maybe if I decide to pick up one of the Leopolds with Topre switches.
My CM Quickfire Stealth arrived yesterday and I was able to use it for a couple of hours.
Its a joy to type on. It feels solid and exudes confidence on each and every key press. It makes that slim Dell keyboard feel like a child's toy. Literally.
I do miss the keypad though. I didn't realize how much I used that because, since the switch, I kept finding myself hitting phantom keys!
These are brown switches and they seem fine to me. Haven't tried the rest of the rainbow but I think I'll be sticking with these for a long while.
Thanks Mech-keyboard GAF!
Its a joy to type on. It feels solid and exudes confidence on each and every key press. It makes that slim Dell keyboard feel like a child's toy. Literally.
I do miss the keypad though. I didn't realize how much I used that because, since the switch, I kept finding myself hitting phantom keys!
These are brown switches and they seem fine to me. Haven't tried the rest of the rainbow but I think I'll be sticking with these for a long while.
Thanks Mech-keyboard GAF!
elliptical
Member
There is the office show at Olympia in October. The Keyboard Company will have a stand there so they tell me.
Koroviev
Member
I would really miss the num pad at work, but I much prefer the tenkeyless form factor from a comfort standpoint.
fatgamecat
Member
Red switches are amazing if you're a light typist and can handle the lack of keypress resistance.
SuperEpicGuy
Banned
What do you guys think about rosewill rk-900I vs quickfire tk (both blue). Backlight vs full keyboard. I type 85% and game 15% of the time.
I tried out the red and black cherries but there was barely any difference between those and the membrane keyboards. Yes, it was a bit better but the lack of the tactile feed made it seem pretty bland in comparison to brown/blue. Maybe there's something I am missing?
Blasphemy. Reds are god-tier for gaming, IMO.
My first was a Razer BlackWidow (blues). A proper shock after using a Logitech UltraX for something like six years, felt like utter shit. After getting used to it it was just great.
Now i'm using a cheapo with red switches (Qpad MK-50), little rubber stoppers attached to the caps. Blues feel amazing when i try them at times, but these are OK too.
I feel i'd like to have my hands a bit closer to each other when gaming, so i will buy a mini-size without the arrow keys part and the numpad when something is available in my country and i'm pretty sure it'll be with reds. Haven't tried browns in a keyboard, but got a sampler pack of switches and they didn't feel convincing, haven't had good impressions from acquitances either.
Now i'm using a cheapo with red switches (Qpad MK-50), little rubber stoppers attached to the caps. Blues feel amazing when i try them at times, but these are OK too.
I feel i'd like to have my hands a bit closer to each other when gaming, so i will buy a mini-size without the arrow keys part and the numpad when something is available in my country and i'm pretty sure it'll be with reds. Haven't tried browns in a keyboard, but got a sampler pack of switches and they didn't feel convincing, haven't had good impressions from acquitances either.
Roland1979
Junior Member
Logitech is a great brand for gaming mice, they practically invented it. The MX518 is one of their most famous models, mine served almost ten years.
Then I found out the G400 uses the same body but with a improved sensor. The G400 is getting replaced with the G400s (same sensor i believe), so you can find it really cheap.
The G400s is about Euro 60,- here and the G400 is 30,-. A fantastic deal. I should've bought 2 of them, maybe I'll order another. For fps games go with optical over laser.
I prefer a Steelseries Qck Heavy mouse pad, but any cloth mouse pad works great for optical.
I used to use a Logitech mouse that was very similar to that but called something different years ago and it was the most comfortable and best mouse I ever used. I don't like the dented metal look, but I really do miss how perfect that mouse was. If it's still the same i'll gladly go with the G400.
Edit: looked it up, IT WAS THE MX518! Just without the dented look. Seriously the best mouse I ever used!
On the topic of gaming mice, I purchased a Logitech G700s in the same order as the keyboard I discussed in this thread. I really love it, I hope I can make use of the extra buttons it has. I love the concept of having extra buttons on your mouse as opposed to extra keyboard buttons (like the logitech G-series keyboards). It seems more intuitive and probably faster. Even if I end up not getting much use out of them, its a pretty outstanding mouse aside from that.
I'll do you one better, Roland... I had the logitech MX500 (510?) back in the day... their top gaming model before the MX518. It served me well.
I'll do you one better, Roland... I had the logitech MX500 (510?) back in the day... their top gaming model before the MX518. It served me well.
Roland1979
Junior Member
It's as close as you can get. If 800dpi is good for you (i always used this on the MX518) i would not install the drivers, if you're not careful they mess up something like turning on acceleration. I too did not like the dented look but has served me well until the end of last year. I personally like the looks of the G400 over the G400s as well, but it's not really important to me. I like a minimalistic approach in most things. Just go dive deep until you find a absolute bottom price including shipping at a reliable store.
Roland1979
Junior Member
Oh wow, old school mouse. The one you have now looks perfect for MMO's and RTS games. Dunno about shooters, probably works as well. And extra buttons can absolutely help. I always bind grenades and knife to the 2 side buttons. Now you can knife on reflex and switch to grenades really fast. Your throwing grenades in situations where you otherwise didn't because of that extra second. 510 Was the foundation of all that success, of the start of the MX518.
Roland1979
Junior Member
The Making of a Gaming Mouse: Inside Logitech's Labs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwrkXSO4788
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwrkXSO4788
DrForester
Kills Photobucket
Returned a Razer "Blackwiddow"
My first mechanical Keyboard, but I found the Cherry blue just too loud, and after having a Locitech G510, I didn't realize how much I loved the scroll volume wheel on a keyboard. For anyone who doesn't care about the volume scroll or blue noise, it was a nice keyboard. Nice weight, nice feel, just not for me.
Picked up a G710+ and after a few minutes, I already love it. Cherry brown is much nicer. Still get that tactile feel, but the noise isn't as loud
Only negatives are the lack of custom colors, which I became used to on the 510, though I think I'd be happy with anything but white that this has (I picked up the Blackwidow mostly because dark green is what I like), but I think I can live with it.
My first mechanical Keyboard, but I found the Cherry blue just too loud, and after having a Locitech G510, I didn't realize how much I loved the scroll volume wheel on a keyboard. For anyone who doesn't care about the volume scroll or blue noise, it was a nice keyboard. Nice weight, nice feel, just not for me.
Picked up a G710+ and after a few minutes, I already love it. Cherry brown is much nicer. Still get that tactile feel, but the noise isn't as loud
Only negatives are the lack of custom colors, which I became used to on the 510, though I think I'd be happy with anything but white that this has (I picked up the Blackwidow mostly because dark green is what I like), but I think I can live with it.
memecomplex
Member
Bought a HHKB Pro 2 blank while I was in Tokyo, best keyboard/switch I've ever tried. Can't go back to Cherry MXs anymore. Less wobble, 45g actuation with a damping effect due to the rubber dome so it's comfy as hell and sounds divine. Never looking back! Thock thock thock!
DrForester
Kills Photobucket
Feel the bit of an idiot for not finding that out in my research about these. Still with my G710 was any color but white, but the rest is good enough for me to deal with it.
Returned a Razer "Blackwiddow"
My first mechanical Keyboard, but I found the Cherry blue just too loud, and after having a Locitech G510, I didn't realize how much I loved the scroll volume wheel on a keyboard. For anyone who doesn't care about the volume scroll or blue noise, it was a nice keyboard. Nice weight, nice feel, just not for me.
Picked up a G710+ and after a few minutes, I already love it. Cherry brown is much nicer. Still get that tactile feel, but the noise isn't as loud
Only negatives are the lack of custom colors, which I became used to on the 510, though I think I'd be happy with anything but white that this has (I picked up the Blackwidow mostly because dark green is what I like), but I think I can live with it.
Those extra F columns do my head in, I gave away a black widow because of that thing.
I use a black widow at work, it took me ages to adjust to the F column. Even after more than 2 years I still sometimes hit an F key instead of shift or ctrl.
Koroviev
Member
ThoseDeafMutes
Member
Why is it so hard to get this shit in Australia? All three keyboards I had my eyes on are now sold out with no ETA or no-longer listed on my site of choice, and there's fucking zip on ebay. Where do the rest of you go to get this stuff?
I was after Ducky Zero cherry brown, Das professional cherry brown or some Leopold boards maybe.
I was after Ducky Zero cherry brown, Das professional cherry brown or some Leopold boards maybe.
Koroviev
Member
I've bought two CM boards from Fry's and another (Leopold with browns) from Elite Keyboards. Next board is probably coming from a reputable seller on Ebay.
Last boss ordered the Das Ultimate with blues from Amazon.
There's a few places. I want to do something silly like put an "Oh Shit" button on the ESC key or something. Eventually I'm probably going to totally replace the keycaps on this keyboard anyway, I can order a complete custom set from WASD.
Schrade
Member
They fuck me up with my hand positioning for the Control key and the escape key
I've had it for a few months now and it still screws me up.I love the feel of the keys tactile-wise but the keys also have sharp edges/corners. That doesn't feel quite right.