geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Row009 on Thu, 14 June 2018, 16:46:42
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So I was wondering what are some of the best Clicky-Tacktile switch based keyboards you can get at $100 or under?
The aim here is toward the Switches themselves, so it's basically mostly about the switches but prebuilt into a keyboard.
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Millions of people started out on IBM Model Ms
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My vote is for Rosewill: https://www.amazon.com/Rosewill-Mechanical-Keyboard-RK-9000V2-BR/dp/B00S5E4KH2/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1529035570&sr=8-5&keywords=rosewill&th=1
Costar built. Clicky Cherry MX Blue. Only downside is "OEM" profile ABS keycaps. But like you said, you want budget.
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kailh speed bronze
box white
box navy
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If you're able to handle a TKL Then I think a Leopold FC750R Or FC980M With MX Blues would be the best, though the price is fluctuating around $100 So I'll also list a board I would recommend for exactly $100 Right now on mechanicalkeyboards.com
https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=3485
A Ducky One 2 Skyline with MX Blues, sadly I can't seem to find any decent Gateron boards or other fancy stuff at that price range.
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kailh speed bronze
box white
box navy
These are the best new clicky switches out. Here are some boards with them.
https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=3526
https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=3582
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Millions of people started out on IBM Model Ms
Seconded.
Not only is it hard to find a better clicky switch, but any serious keyboard person should own at some point.
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focusing on switches, skcm white would be good if you could find a clean board with them. other
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So I was wondering what are some of the best Clicky-Tacktile switch based keyboards you can get at $100 or under?
The aim here is toward the Switches themselves, so it's basically mostly about the switches but prebuilt into a keyboard.
Oh, I don't know. Are you talking about getting a new keyboard or a vintage keyboard?
Maybe a new Unicomp Model M with a 1 year warranty to get into what a Model M is all about.
Or...
Find a used IBM Model M that preferably has a PS/2 or AT connector. If you get a terminal 101 or 102 key Model M, you can still swap the controller out with one from a PS/2 model. Preferably getting one with an SDL cable. But then again, you're talking another $40+ expense for the controller and cable.
It's clearly a choice of how far you want to go with a Model M. To begin with I would still suggest a Unicomp and go from there.
If you want to see what I am going about just look at my Imgur albums.
http://snowdog993.imgur.com
Good luck with whatever you decide.
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So I was wondering what are some of the best Clicky-Tacktile switch based keyboards you can get at $100 or under?
The aim here is toward the Switches themselves, so it's basically mostly about the switches but prebuilt into a keyboard.
Oh, I don't know. Are you talking about getting a new keyboard or a vintage keyboard?
Maybe a new Unicomp Model M with a 1 year warranty to get into what a Model M is all about.
Or...
Find a used IBM Model M that preferably has a PS/2 or AT connector. If you get a terminal 101 or 102 key Model M, you can still swap the controller out with one from a PS/2 model. Preferably getting one with an SDL cable. But then again, you're talking another $40+ expense for the controller and cable.
It's clearly a choice of how far you want to go with a Model M. To begin with I would still suggest a Unicomp and go from there.
If you want to see what I am going about just look at my Imgur albums.
http://snowdog993.imgur.com
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Thanks, I might go with a Kailh Box based keyboard (which will also give me compatibility with my current sets of keycaps). I think IBM's model M at 80 grams might be a bit heavy for what I like. I would love to try out SKCM Blue though, but I can not find one for a good price, I wounder why they don't manufacture that type of switch any more...
Lucky Chyrosran and his practically free recycling-centers keyboard finds ;)
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Matias makes a decent Alps clone. It's based on the simplified Alps design, not complicated Alps like the blues, but the clicky version really isn't bad. I'm less fond of their 'quiet click' (i.e., tactile...I don't know why they call it that) version. this (https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1325) can use them and though it doesn't quite fit your '$100 or under' budget it's not far away.
If you think you might like a more low-profile design then this (https://www.amazon.com/Mechanical-Keyboard-Extra-Thin-Switches-HV-KB390L/dp/B0722GG88M) is actually a really good keyboard for the price. It uses Kailh's low profile switches which have a click bar (in fact that's where Kailh first came up with the click bar idea).
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if you go for clicky, you should try Kailh box clicky serie