KBC poker 2 or race 2?

[paobit]

Hey guys since I'm waiting for my endgame keyboard in the mail, I'm trying to decide which keyboard to get as an appetizer?

Race 2 (white w/ green led) MX blue or Poker 2 (white and non led) MX brown?

I think I'm leaning more towards the browns (for gaming) but I like the look of the white race 2 with green led.

what would you guys get?

[paobit]

BTW I'm looking at mechanicalkeyboards.com for these boards. If anyone knows of a site where I can get a white poker 2 mx brown with white LED's within the us...That's be great! Only reason why I'm saying within the US because I want it ASAP.

[HardCelery]

BTW I'm looking at mechanicalkeyboards.com for these boards. If anyone knows of a site where I can get a white poker 2 mx brown with white LED's within the us...That's be great! Only reason why I'm saying within the US because I want it ASAP.

Mechanicalkeyboards.com is located in the US, Tennessee to be exact ships through fedex.

[paobit]

BTW I'm looking at mechanicalkeyboards.com for these boards. If anyone knows of a site where I can get a white poker 2 mx brown with white LED's within the us...That's be great! Only reason why I'm saying within the US because I want it ASAP.

Mechanicalkeyboards.com is located in the US, Tennessee to be exact ships through fedex.

Yes I know. Only reason I mentioned within the US is because the only LED backlit poker 2 I've seen available for order is through massdrop and don't really want to wait for that 2 month shipping, although non led poker 2 seem to be available from MKB and banggood

[exitfire401]

If you want to be able to switch out caps and customize a lot, poker 2. If not, then go for the Race 2 for the better layout and layer toggling. Either way, you're getting a great keyboard.

[Lastpilot]

If you want to be able to switch out caps and customize a lot, poker 2. If not, then go for the Race 2 for the better layout and layer toggling. Either way, you're getting a great keyboard.

Yep. Also Poker 2 for resale potential :]

[exitfire401]

If you want to be able to switch out caps and customize a lot, poker 2. If not, then go for the Race 2 for the better layout and layer toggling. Either way, you're getting a great keyboard.

Yep. Also Poker 2 for resale potential :]

Meh, I'm sure if I put my Race 2 up, it would be gone in a heartbeat 

[Lastpilot]

Well race has alternatives like keycool and noppoo, but I think poker is a classic choice because of how much you can do to it. You're right though it would sell fast either way.

[paobit]

If you want to be able to switch out caps and customize a lot, poker 2. If not, then go for the Race 2 for the better layout and layer toggling. Either way, you're getting a great keyboard.

Guess it's poker 2 lol..thanks again!

[Eibes]

I currently am using a HHKB and really want to try a Race. I love this keyboard but am really missing backlighting and dedicated arrow keys, two things the Race has that the Poker does not. Just my $0.02

[paobit]

How does the HHKB hold up against mashing and hard/quick presses in gaming? I was considering getting one but the price is killer...Especially mostly for gaming.

[exitfire401]

How does the HHKB hold up against mashing and hard/quick presses in gaming? I was considering getting one but the price is killer...Especially mostly for gaming.

It holds up just as well as any MX board. i use mine for gaming as often as i use my race.

[paobit]

I think my debit card needs a rest lol. I'll save the HHKB for the future

[exitfire401]

I think my debit card needs a rest lol. I'll save the HHKB for the future

I don't blame ya. My hhkb was my latest purchase...had to sell 2 boards before i could allow myself to buy it.

[Eibes]

It works extremely well for gaming, I think I like it more than my MX Brown board. This and the original Ducky Shine in MX Brown are the only mechanical boards I have tried. It does come with a steep price tag but it is certainly worth it to try if you havent experienced a Topre board and are interested in the smaller layout.

[paobit]

I already ordered a poker 2 mx reds  Maybe next time it'll be HHKB

[mz/x]

It looks like I have the similar dilemma. I really like the 75% size Race 2 as it has the arrows and F buttons (which I use very frequently). On the other hand, it little bit turns me off that unlike the Poker 2 the switches are PCB mounted. I would definitely prefer  a 75% Cherry Brown switch plate mounted keyboard.

This raises two questions:
1) I have not come across (or I missed it) a 75% plate mounted Cherry keyboard.
2) Is there a plate that can be added to the Race 2 as a mod? 

[paobit]

It looks like I have the similar dilemma. I really like the 75% size Race 2 as it has the arrows and F buttons (which I use very frequently). On the other hand, it little bit turns me off that unlike the Poker 2 the switches are PCB mounted. I would definitely prefer  a 75% Cherry Brown switch plate mounted keyboard.

This raises two questions:
1) I have not come across (or I missed it) a 75% plate mounted Cherry keyboard.
2) Is there a plate that can be added to the Race 2 as a mod?

I am by no means an expert/enthusiast but I'm sure others in this forum who are can chime in. But I'd say get the poker 2 since you do have those arrows/F buttons...just not dedicated. I'm more of the guy who likes aesthetics more than functionality and the poker 2 definitely, to me atleast, is better looking than the race 2

[mz/x]

I am not an expert as well :-) but I am very interested in these keyboards. Yes, I agree the Poker 2 is great and my only worry is that I got so accustomed to those arrows and F buttons (mostly F1 to F10) that it would be difficult to adjust to the Poker 2. The poker 2 has definitely a smaller footprint but it is only 1 row and an extra column of keys. Not too long ago I tried two mechanical ones; 1 was pcb mounted and the other was plate mounted. I felt the plate mounted more solid and it felt like it gave me the right feedback when I used it for typing. This is my worry with the Race 2 because it is pcb mounted.

I guess I have to start looking around and try to find a 75% sized that is plate mounted (make it worse I like the brown Cherry) 

The other option is which I do not think it is possible to add the plate to the Race 2. Oh why oh why isn't a Race 2 that is plate mounted. :-(
 

[Lain1911]

I chose Poker 2.

[paobit]

I am not an expert as well :-) but I am very interested in these keyboards. Yes, I agree the Poker 2 is great and my only worry is that I got so accustomed to those arrows and F buttons (mostly F1 to F10) that it would be difficult to adjust to the Poker 2. The poker 2 has definitely a smaller footprint but it is only 1 row and an extra column of keys. Not too long ago I tried two mechanical ones; 1 was pcb mounted and the other was plate mounted. I felt the plate mounted more solid and it felt like it gave me the right feedback when I used it for typing. This is my worry with the Race 2 because it is pcb mounted.

I guess I have to start looking around and try to find a 75% sized that is plate mounted (make it worse I like the brown Cherry) 

The other option is which I do not think it is possible to add the plate to the Race 2. Oh why oh why isn't a Race 2 that is plate mounted. :-(

In case you don't find what you're looking and come back to the race 2/poker 2...someone here said and I quote "Either way, you're getting a great keyboard."

[mz/x]

Yep. I agree the poker 2 is definitely a good keyboard.

Does anyone know whether a Race 2 can be modified to plate mounting? (I guess that makes not much sense)

Does anyone know when a Race 3 will become "reality" and whether it will have the plate mounted keys?

Is there any other 75% sized keyboard with plate mounted design (+ brown Cherry)?
Many thanks,

[mz/x]

Dear All,

I would like to ask you experts for help. I am after a 75% sized plate mounted cherry switch (brown) keyboard that has the same layout as the Race 2 but I cannot seem to find one.

Does anyone know whether a Race 2 can be modified to plate mounting? (I guess that makes not much sense)

Does anyone know when a Race 3 will become "reality" and whether it will have the plate mounted keys?

Is there any other 75% sized keyboard with plate mounted design (+ brown Cherry)?
Many thanks,

[Oobly]

Dear All,

I would like to ask you experts for help. I am after a 75% sized plate mounted cherry switch (brown) keyboard that has the same layout as the Race 2 but I cannot seem to find one.

Does anyone know whether a Race 2 can be modified to plate mounting? (I guess that makes not much sense)

Does anyone know when a Race 3 will become "reality" and whether it will have the plate mounted keys?

Is there any other 75% sized keyboard with plate mounted design (+ brown Cherry)?
Many thanks,

If you can find an older Keycool 84 with MX Browns (the new ones have Kailh switches), those had plates and similar 75% layout. Actually a bit better since you can fit aftermarket keycaps by playing around a bit with kits. The Race 2 has oversize Esc and Del which are impossible to replace due to no sets having those size keys for the top row.

[Zero-Expectations]

I had the same dilemma, I ended up going with the Poker 2. The options for customization seem to be much greater. The perk I liked with the Race was the arrow keys, but as the Poker was for work, I didn't think it would matter much. I ended up going with Blues, but to each their own! Good luck choosing! Look on the bright side, you narrowed down to two!

[mz/x]

I had the same dilemma, I ended up going with the Poker 2. The options for customization seem to be much greater. The perk I liked with the Race was the arrow keys, but as the Poker was for work, I didn't think it would matter much. I ended up going with Blues, but to each their own! Good luck choosing! Look on the bright side, you narrowed down to two!

Thanks for sharing your experience. Sorry I was away for a while. How do you find your effective keyboard use without the arrow keys? I use them a lot.

[mz/x]

If you can find an older Keycool 84 with MX Browns (the new ones have Kailh switches), those had plates and similar 75% layout. Actually a bit better since you can fit aftermarket keycaps by playing around a bit with kits. The Race 2 has oversize Esc and Del which are impossible to replace due to no sets having those size keys for the top row.

So basically, at this moment nobody makes 75% MX Browns plate mounted. Thus, my option is to look for an older Keycool 84. Hmmm, I am sure there would be a market segment for those. I must admit I am really addicted to my arrow keys.  )

[Oobly]

There's the Noppoo Choc Mini. POM caps, plate mounted, MX Browns, 75%. Problem with that one is the size of the spacebar (5.5x).

[mz/x]

There's the Noppoo Choc Mini. POM caps, plate mounted, MX Browns, 75%. Problem with that one is the size of the spacebar (5.5x).

That could be an option but I saw a video on YouTube that freaked me out bit about the quality of it. The guy who tested showed the keys and everything was flexing. I am not sure I can post the link over here.

[Zero-Expectations]

I had the same dilemma, I ended up going with the Poker 2. The options for customization seem to be much greater. The perk I liked with the Race was the arrow keys, but as the Poker was for work, I didn't think it would matter much. I ended up going with Blues, but to each their own! Good luck choosing! Look on the bright side, you narrowed down to two!

Thanks for sharing your experience. Sorry I was away for a while. How do you find your effective keyboard use without the arrow keys? I use them a lot.

Ah Like wise...  I use my mouse a lot more than I did before, but I am getting used to pressing FN + WASD. It is rather awkward to use FN + Left Shift + WASD to highlight though. I'v never been one to use Right Shift much...