Mechanical keyboards: Do I start on this perilous path or avoid it at all costs?!

[Rob_B]

I have been using some old slimline oem keyboard for many, many years and just want something 'nice' I work from home, game a bit and not much can be worse than I have now.

I've seen for under £80 I could get a decent 2nd hand Keychron, do I do it?

[TeePee]

In a general sense, yes. You'll really enjoy a Keychron keyboard as a great way to begin your journey in to mechanical keyboards. The typing experience is a magical world for those who have never experienced such a thing. After 4-6 months of spending GBP80, you'll need about GBP300 for one of their excellent Q series boards. Then in a year or so, GBP1000 for a custom board. Budget accordingly.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I never spent more than £40 on a mechanical keyboard and they all had Cherry MX keys. You don't need to spend so much to get a good keyboard.

Before you go spending loads on a Keychron,actually go and try some mechanical keyboards first. Even try some with Chinese keys - they can be had for under £20.

Also,before you go and buy a keyboard,check what type of key type fits your style of typing. Cherry alone have loads of different feeling ones,as do other companies.

[Apex]

Had mechanical for some time now, and the one thing i can tell you is that there is a differance between a good and bad one.

I have two Keychrons in use now, This K10 Pro that replaced my Corsair K70 (my 2nd one) and a K8 Pro that is use with my works laptop; i got the k10 first and used it with my laptop but found i didn't need the numpad.

[Rob_B]

I do like the K8 Pro (and the K10 as I do sometimes use the numpad for work purposes), but for a first keyboard I was thinking more along the lines of £60 than £100, but maybe I should just get what I want. 2nd hand from eBay seem to be similar to new prices!

I found the Scan invoice for the keyboard I'm using daily, in June 2010 I bought this (UK version) for some reason and have been using it ever since https://www.amazon.co.uk/Genius-Slim...ct_top?ie=UTF8

I DESERVE an upgrade

[Percy1983]

My daily is a sumvision low profile thing I got for about £10 a long time ago (the keys light up blue).

To be honest it feels fine and I don't game on it, I never miss keys when typing etc. looking under the keys it is a membrane but the keys are well attached/solid in there movement.

I play with the idea of a mechanical keyboard occasionally as I am sure it would better but I feel it may be a pandoras box once opened I can't close again so I go back to the idea of I am happy with what I have and I will replace it when/if it stops workings.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I do like the K8 Pro (and the K10 as I do sometimes use the numpad for work purposes), but for a first keyboard I was thinking more along the lines of £60 than £100, but maybe I should just get what I want. 2nd hand from eBay seem to be similar to new prices!

I found the Scan invoice for the keyboard I'm using daily, in June 2010 I bought this (UK version) for some reason and have been using it ever since https://www.amazon.co.uk/Genius-Slim...ct_top?ie=UTF8

I DESERVE an upgrade

I bought one of these for £35 on clearance in 2019:
https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/...-review/all/1/

Built like a tank and still works fine.

[Rob_B]

Just ordered a Keychron V1 (ISO) for £60, would have liked wireless as an option but this gets me started and obviously if I win the lottery I can then become a keyboard nerd!

[Jonatron]

It's only a perilous path if you choose. Some people obsess over coffee, some over audio, some keyboards, etc. Personality I'm not too picky with keyboards, I just like them to work (trying to forget about the ducky keyboard)

[Rob_B]

Got my V1 and immediately wished I'd gone with a 96/100 as I miss the keypad and the spacing of a larger keyboard (but I did want the knob on the V1!) - oh well, 2nd keyboard already planned I guess! (K10?)

I'm wanting to try out some more switches, was going to go for Browns but I hear the tactile bump isn't very strong so I've seen the MX Ergo Clears which seem to be better, I'd also planned to try some with longer stems but my basket is filling up quickly with switches I may not even like.
Does anyone have good recommendations for non-clicky switches or have any spare odd ones I can buy off them to test out?

[TeePee]

Q5 Pro? 96Key with knob and sub-200GBP. I warned ya!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Got my V1 and immediately wished I'd gone with a 96/100 as I miss the keypad and the spacing of a larger keyboard (but I did want the knob on the V1!) - oh well, 2nd keyboard already planned I guess! (K10?)

I'm wanting to try out some more switches, was going to go for Browns but I hear the tactile bump isn't very strong so I've seen the MX Ergo Clears which seem to be better, I'd also planned to try some with longer stems but my basket is filling up quickly with switches I may not even like.
Does anyone have good recommendations for non-clicky switches or have any spare odd ones I can buy off them to test out?

This is why I told you to try the switches beforehand otherwise things start to get expensive!

[Rob_B]

Don't get me wrong I like the reds, to be fair I think the layout /spacing and loss of the numpad are bigger issues for me but if I can try some new switches for a few quid I'll pick some up so I have an idea of what I like.

[Rob_B]

I may have just purchased a K10 Pro...

Anyone want a V1?

[Apex]

Q5 Pro? 96Key with knob and sub-200GBP. I warned ya!

Slippy slope !

[Apex]

Got my V1 and immediately wished I'd gone with a 96/100 as I miss the keypad and the spacing of a larger keyboard (but I did want the knob on the V1!) - oh well, 2nd keyboard already planned I guess! (K10?)

I'm wanting to try out some more switches, was going to go for Browns but I hear the tactile bump isn't very strong so I've seen the MX Ergo Clears which seem to be better, I'd also planned to try some with longer stems but my basket is filling up quickly with switches I may not even like.
Does anyone have good recommendations for non-clicky switches or have any spare odd ones I can buy off them to test out?

Its personal but i have gone back to red type switches, i like the thunk but not the click that i got with the others (been though 5 different keyboards and 10 different sets of keys before i came back to reds)