Picking a new switch for my next keyboard.

[KuhnTang]

So I keep going back and forth between my favorite switch.  One week it will be Browns, the next Blues.  I've tried Blacks and Reds.  I REALLY don't like the Blacks, they're way too stiff, and the Reds are OK.... I guess.  I just don't think linear switches are for me.  The point of this thread is that I'm looking to get a new keyboard, and when I do I want to try a new switch.  Is there anything between a Brown and Blue switch?  I've read of Greens, but don't think I'd like them since they're stiffer than the blues.  the only other ones that I've heard of are whites, clears or ergo clears.

Does anyone have any experience with these switches, or know of a switch that I didn't mention that may fit my criteria.  Also, if you have any keyboard suggestions to go along with the switches, that would be great too.  I really want a high quality keyboard and I'm not afraid to spend some $$$.   

[Hyde]

Time to try buckling spring 

Orrrrrrrr........ Matias Quiet Pro lol

[Polymer]

If you don't mind the noise from blues what is keeping you from getting them?

I like browns but that is because I don't want the added noise from the blues....I wouldn't mind a slightly more defined bump from the browns but to be honest, I think it is fine..I wouldn't them requiring slightly more force either...

[PointyFox]

If you think MX black is too hard to press, you have weak hands and therefor a weak handshake, causing people to question your character.  MX black will help you develop stronger hands and a more firm handshake; which will help people trust you more and make more money at your job. 

[rootwyrm]

Time to try buckling spring 

Orrrrrrrr........ Matias Quiet Pro lol

BITE. YOUR. TONGUE.
Matias Quiet Pro indeed... what does this look like, KEYBOARDS FOR GIRLYMEN?!
Buckling spring.

[jeroplane]

If you don't mind the noise from blues what is keeping you from getting them?

I like browns but that is because I don't want the added noise from the blues....I wouldn't mind a slightly more defined bump from the browns but to be honest, I think it is fine..I wouldn't them requiring slightly more force either...

Ergo Clears would suit you for sure. Probably suit the OP too.

[KuhnTang]

I looked into the quiet pro, however I forgot to mention that I'm looking for a TKL keyboard.  I just have no need for the num pad.

As for my handshake....... its fine.  However, you are correct, blacks feel to me like a workout for your hands.  Not something I'm looking for in a keyboard. 

Any more keyboard ideas?   

[Amarok]

I am kind of bouncing between two switches as well. Some days I love Blues, others Reds. I'd really like to find some clears so I can put the stems on my Poker and try ergo-clears.

[clakdale661]

I got my first Filco a few weeks ago in MX Blue switches. Think most people that were introducced to these keyboards try MX blue switches because they were available to try in stores like Frys or Best Buy from the Razer black Widow. It's also the cononical "mechanical" feel because of the clicking sound and feel of the switches.

I absolutely love my mx blues.

[Polymer]

If you don't mind the noise from blues what is keeping you from getting them?

I like browns but that is because I don't want the added noise from the blues....I wouldn't mind a slightly more defined bump from the browns but to be honest, I think it is fine..I wouldn't them requiring slightly more force either...

Ergo Clears would suit you for sure. Probably suit the OP too.

Yeah..I would probably want like a Super Ergo Clear but I'm waiting for someone to actually release it...

[CPTBadAss]

Maybe you should buy this sampler kit from WASD keyboards. You could play with the switches for a few days and really decide on which one you like.

I personally love blues. They have a nice audible click and I really like the clicky-ness. It makes writing/typing reports really fun. I felt that browns were a quieter version of blues and that the click wasn't as pronounced. And the keys were slightly lighter when pressed. They're not bad at all, I just really like blues right now. Maybe my next board will have browns.

And for me? Reds and blacks are bad and I probably won't get a board with them.

Every other color such as greens and clears, I haven't tried so hopefully someone else can give you an opinion on that.

[cytoSiN]

If you think MX black is too hard to press, you have weak hands and therefor a weak handshake, causing people to question your character.  MX black will help you develop stronger hands and a more firm handshake; which will help people trust you more and make more money at your job.

/agree

In fact, I agree so hard that I recommend super blacks.

[daerid]

Would those be the Spinal Tap switches?

[cytoSiN]

Would those be the Spinal Tap switches?

Unfrotunately, no.  They actually exist.  http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_MX_Super_Black

[daerid]

150cN?!? Who would subject themselves to such tomfoolery?

[iri]

150cN?!? Who would subject themselves to such tomfoolery?

maybe sixty? his fingers are steel anyways.
OT: what do colors of keyboards in users' signatures mean here?

[alaricljs]

Depends on the user, for me it's the switch color... Likely to be the same for daerid for the Cherry switches, no idea on the topres.

[Magnusian]

You could just make life easier and better by ignoring the rainbow of cherry and going with a big black plate, slightly translucent white hammers, and a long, narrow, steel spring.

[cytoSiN]

150cN?!? Who would subject themselves to such tomfoolery?

I don't think they were ever used for a full set.  Just for Function and Layer keys on old Cherry boards...keys that were intentionally hard to press.

[cytoSiN]

The Insert key is my least favorite key on a keyboard and would be the perfect spot for a Super Black.

Indeed.  That's pretty much what Cherry used them for back in the day -- keys you never want to press by accident.  I don't think they're made anymore though.

[Smeagol_RP]

Hey man, sorry for posting in your thread 

Does anybody know where can I get MX black springs?

[TotalChaos]

I tried the 150cN Super Blacks at the Chicago gathering.  As a lover of Black switches it was just too much.

On the other hand, I got to try Grays and they were not bad at all!

The Insert key is my least favorite key on a keyboard and would be the perfect spot for a Super Black.

  Hey that is a great point!  Ever since I got my Rosewill I have somehow deactivated insert mode several times.  It really freaks me out to suddenly be in overstrike mode.  Something  I have not done in years.  I have no idea how it happened.  If I somehow accidentally pressed the key then that could be solved by installing a Super Black switch there or even just a Blue Switch.

[cytoSiN]

Hey man, sorry for posting in your thread 

Does anybody know where can I get MX black springs?

http://deskthority.net/marketplace-f11/cherry-mx-taking-pre-orders-t2760.html

EDIT:  Wait, you said spring, didn't you.  If you want whole switches, see above.  If not, ignore.

[cytoSiN]

I tried the 150cN Super Blacks at the Chicago gathering.  As a lover of Black switches it was just too much.

On the other hand, I got to try Grays and they were not bad at all!

The Insert key is my least favorite key on a keyboard and would be the perfect spot for a Super Black.

  Hey that is a great point!  Ever since I got my Rosewill I have somehow deactivated insert mode several times.  It really freaks me out to suddenly be in overstrike mode.  Something  I have not done in years.  I have no idea how it happened.  If I somehow accidentally pressed the key then that could be solved by installing a Super Black switch there or even just a Blue Switch.

Or you could just turn it off in word.  The steps are different in every version of word (of course), but for word 2010:

1. Cick the Office button
2. Click on Word Options
3. Click on Advanced
4. Uncheck "Use the Insert key to control overtype mode"
5. Uncheck "Use overtype mode"
6. Click "OK"
7. Profit (by not having to buy a superblack switch)

[Smeagol_RP]

Hey man, sorry for posting in your thread 

Does anybody know where can I get MX black springs?

http://deskthority.net/marketplace-f11/cherry-mx-taking-pre-orders-t2760.html

EDIT:  Wait, you said spring, didn't you.  If you want whole switches, see above.  If not, ignore.

Yep I mean just the springs. But thanks for the link, good prices. 

[TotalChaos]

  Hey that is a great point!  Ever since I got my Rosewill I have somehow deactivated insert mode several times.  It really freaks me out to suddenly be in overstrike mode.  Something  I have not done in years.  I have no idea how it happened.  If I somehow accidentally pressed the key then that could be solved by installing a Super Black switch there or even just a Blue Switch.[/quote]

Or you could just turn it off in word.  The steps are different in every version of word (of course), but for word 2010:

1. Cick the Office button
2. Click on Word Options
3. Click on Advanced
4. Uncheck "Use the Insert key to control overtype mode"
5. Uncheck "Use overtype mode"
6. Click "OK"
7. Profit (by not having to buy a superblack switch)

Its funny for that to be an "advanced" option.  )

Thanx for the help but I almost never use Word.  Word bogs my computer down.  I use Wordpad to keep little lists of different things I have going on.  I know I should use a real editor but sometimes I'm lazy.  At least Wordpad works better than Notepad

[cytoSiN]

Thanx for the help but I almost never use Word.  Word bogs my computer down.  I use Wordpad to keep little lists of different things I have going on.  I know I should use a real editor but sometimes I'm lazy.  At least Wordpad works better than Notepad

You could always disable the insert key in the registry.  Make a couple of scripts to disable/enable it so you can turn it off when you're word processing, and turn it back on again after in case you need it in other applications?

[precarious]

What is really going to melt your brain is how one type of switch can feel and sound very different over a number of different keyboard brands.

1000000% true, absolutely hated blues in a new Rosewill I purchased (and immediately returned), but I absolutely love them in my Dolch keyboard from a PAC60.

[KuhnTang]

What is really going to melt your brain is how one type of switch can feel and sound very different over a number of different keyboard brands.

1000000% true, absolutely hated blues in a new Rosewill I purchased (and immediately returned), but I absolutely love them in my Dolch keyboard from a PAC60.

I've experienced this as well.  I love the blues on my Ducky, but hate them on the QFR.  Good Point!

[Hyde]

Time to try buckling spring 

Orrrrrrrr........ Matias Quiet Pro lol

BITE. YOUR. TONGUE.
Matias Quiet Pro indeed... what does this look like, KEYBOARDS FOR GIRLYMEN?!
Buckling spring.

LOL fine then Matias Tactile Pro... ?  Though I think OP says he want tenkeyless so both Matias and Buckling Spring is out of the question.

What is really going to melt your brain is how one type of switch can feel and sound very different over a number of different keyboard brands.

1000000% true, absolutely hated blues in a new Rosewill I purchased (and immediately returned), but I absolutely love them in my Dolch keyboard from a PAC60.

I've experienced this as well.  I love the blues on my Ducky, but hate them on the QFR.  Good Point!

For me I like MX Brown on Das Keyboard (Costar) and somehow MX Brown on Filco didn't do much for me 

[TotalChaos]

Thanx for the help but I almost never use Word.  Word bogs my computer down.  I use Wordpad to keep little lists of different things I have going on.  I know I should use a real editor but sometimes I'm lazy.  At least Wordpad works better than Notepad

You could always disable the insert key in the registry.  Make a couple of scripts to disable/enable it so you can turn it off when you're word processing, and turn it back on again after in case you need it in other applications?

I hired WhiteFireDragon Industrial Keyboard Enterprises Unlimited to install a blue switch for the Insert key.  That way if I somehow accidentally press the insert key I will feel a radically different key and hear the silly click. 

I think most of my weird insert problems were caused by the fact that the connector was shorting out.  After some weeks my Rosewill was generating all sorts of wild keycodes that I never pressed.  Like the keyboard would sent out an ALTDOWN keycode (even though I never touched ALT) and then never send out an ALTUP keycode.  It did it with CTRL too.  My whole computer kept going totally berzerk and I didn't know what was going on for a while.  It also did it with the shift key to but that was more obvious.  Once I "repiared" my lame Rosewill keyboard all mysterious problems vanished.