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Thread: Keyboard

  1. #1
    Pork & Beans Powerup Phage's Avatar
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    Keyboard

    HI All,

    I've killed another keyboard, have a few weeks to buy another. What are the recommendations ?
    Budget isn't so important, but I do need a separate number pad and I'd prefer it in white or silver.
    Society's to blame,
    Or possibly Atari.

  2. #2
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
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    Re: Keyboard

    Quote Originally Posted by Phage View Post
    HI All,

    I've killed another keyboard, have a few weeks to buy another. What are the recommendations ?
    Budget isn't so important, but I do need a separate number pad and I'd prefer it in white or silver.
    Try some - it's a very personal requirement.

    Personally I get on OK with Saitek membrane (normal) keyboards, but I've just ordered my first mechanical - going for the all-purpose MX Brown switches. One of my favourite keyboards was the BBC micro so I think I would like to go back to mechanical!

    I don't get on with Logitech membrane keyboards - they do, but I don't enjoy typing on them for too long. My wife on the otherhand likes these awful no-brand gaming keyboards that are very blingy but have (IMO) terrible key press feel.

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    Pork & Beans Powerup Phage's Avatar
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    Re: Keyboard

    I would, but I live in the Sticks...
    I might be able to get to Tottenham Court Rd from work... What are the differences between these Cherry switches ?
    Society's to blame,
    Or possibly Atari.

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    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
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    Re: Keyboard

    http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/mechanical-keyboard-guide

    The main one they are missing are the new MX Silents which are similar to brown but with more sound dampening properties.

    Or go through them at:
    https://deskthority.net/wiki/Category:Cherry_MX

    A good retailer will honour your evaluation period for online/phone orders.

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    Evil Monkey! MrJim's Avatar
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    Re: Keyboard

    Quote Originally Posted by Phage View Post
    I would, but I live in the Sticks...
    I might be able to get to Tottenham Court Rd from work... What are the differences between these Cherry switches ?
    There's a useful guide here:

    http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/mechani...ide#comparison

    Edit! - Dupe post!

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    Re: Keyboard

    'mechanical' is something of a blinkered term coined by a group of people to promote their favourite keyswitches and imply that others are inferior, rather than a sensible way of dividing up types of keyswitch. So don't get hung up on whether a keyboard uses a 'mechanical' switch or not. It's a shame that marketing departments have now picked up on it so we're probably stuck with it for a while.

    Silver and white are somewhat rare among higher end keyboards, they tend to be Black, Biege or 'Gaming' colours (green, orange etc.).

    Mattias do some nice keyboards but I think their white versions only come with mac labels. If you don't mind Biege Cherry's G80-3000 has been around a long time:
    http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/s...oard-beige.asp

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    Grumpy and VERY old :( g8ina's Avatar
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    Re: Keyboard

    My old Microsoft Internet Keyboard is still going after 15 years use, started life in Dec 2001 !!

    Full PN :

    RT9443 V:56TWUK
    Cheers, David



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    bored out of my tiny mind malfunction's Avatar
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    Re: Keyboard

    Totally ignoring half your requirements here but if you want a mechanical keyboard (cherry MX reds) without spending a fortune or getting something that looks like it was part of a set on a b movie:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cherry-MX-Bo...rch_detailpage

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  12. #9
    Spreadie
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    Re: Keyboard

    If you're going for a mechanical board, MX Brown switches (or approximate equivalents) are a good bet, especially if you are unable to get somewhere to try out or test a board - quite light with some tactile feedback and not too noisy like Blues or Greens.

    BTW, testing a type of key switch in store is of limited value - the only way to really get a feel for a switch type is to live with it for a while. Ideally borrow one from a friend or internet buddy, if possible. It's worthwhile, even if it costs you return postage and a few beer tokens.

    You will likely pay a premium for a decent quality white or silver board though - could be worthwhile looking on the Keyboard section on Massdrop - some nice boards come up on there quite often.

    [edit] When you say separate number pad, do you mean you want a full sized board with it's own distinct numpad section, or TKL board and a completely separate numpad board like a Goldtouch ?
    Last edited by Spreadie; 23-03-2016 at 01:46 PM.

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    Re: Keyboard

    Quote Originally Posted by malfunction View Post
    Totally ignoring half your requirements here but if you want a mechanical keyboard (cherry MX reds) without spending a fortune or getting something that looks like it was part of a set on a b movie:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cherry-MX-Bo...rch_detailpage
    I wouldn't go for linear switches, they're not very satisfying for many typists so you don't want to be paying those sorts of prices for them unless you know they suit you.

    Quote Originally Posted by g8ina View Post
    My old Microsoft Internet Keyboard is still going after 15 years use, started life in Dec 2001 !!
    I think you'd be surprised how worn out it felt if you could compare it to the same product when new. I've got one too and while it still functions fine, it does feel like the domes are knackered when compared to other keyboards.

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    Re: Keyboard

    It's not white or silver but I think it will be my next keyboard:

    http://www.daskeyboard.com/daskeyboard-4-professional/

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    Oh Crumbs.... Biscuit's Avatar
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    Re: Keyboard

    I have a keyboard with MX Browns (coolermaster Quickfire TK), one with MX Blacks(Cherry G80-11900) and one with Alps(Mathias Tactile Pro). Previously I have also owned a keyboard with blues (Q-Pad MK80) that was killed by a glass of wine

    My favorite for gaming are easily the browns due to the actuation bump. My favorite for typing are the alps, but its a really, really noisy switch. Blacks have a kinda stiff feel, they are nice to use but if you have a lot of typing to do then they can get a tiring for your fingers. Blues are also very noisy, but I really dont see the benefit of these over browns in real world use myself.

    As Kal said, its a very subjective topic, everyone will have a different experience so its hard to say what will work for you.

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    Re: Keyboard

    Quote Originally Posted by Biscuit View Post
    My favorite for typing are the alps, but its a really, really noisy switch.
    A lot of the clones are. The Strongman ones were notorious for it - although mine seem to have quietened down after a couple of years. The real thing were quieter, particularly the damped ones.

    Quote Originally Posted by Biscuit View Post
    Blacks have a kinda stiff feel, they are nice to use but if you have a lot of typing to do then they can get a tiring for your fingers.
    That may be the board. The one I had felt pretty fluid but it was just like typing on springs with no feedback at all to tell you when the keypress was registered. I never got the hang of it, nine times out of ten the key would hit the bottom of it's travel.

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    Re: Keyboard

    Qpad MK-85 or MK-90. Price is around 100 quid but totally worth it. MX red switches that are good for gaming and pleasant for typing and build quality is solid. LED lightning can be turned off if you don't like it.

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    Re: Keyboard

    Quote Originally Posted by EndlessWaves View Post
    That may be the board. The one I had felt pretty fluid but it was just like typing on springs with no feedback at all to tell you when the keypress was registered. I never got the hang of it, nine times out of ten the key would hit the bottom of it's travel.
    Its probably to do with the 60g actuation force tbf...

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