I've been typing on cherry blue's (various, but my favorite is my filco tenkeyless) for ~7-8 years now. However, I'll be traveling a bit for work b/c of a new job and would like something that's a bit smaller more portable (thinner, mostly), hopefully with a hard-shell case or similar available.
Background: I got carpel tunnel ~10 years ago and went on a keyboard binge shortly after (see my forum registration date
), and settled on cherry browns and blues. I haven't really paid attention to the keyboard scene for ~5 years, mostly since I'm happy with blues, but also because they are much more readily available now (Rosewill has decent/acceptable cherry boards these days, not to mention the gamer-targeted boards). I tried and do not like the topres (hhkb, full sized topre's, etc), heavier keys like buckling springs or alps whites, or linear key switches like the Cherry blacks (though I hear reds are okay).
One thing that hasn't changed is that i can't type on a laptop for long (unless it's an old-school thinkpad-like scissor keyboards. chicklets, especially those with large spacing between the keys, instantly hurt my hand).
My ideal keyboard would be either a very small cherry blue switch board, or a close approximate. Cherry browns would be okay. Being quieter and/or wireless would be a bonus. My budget is on the mid/high-end. If I can find something under $200 I'd be happy, around $100 I'd be ecstatic (esp since I'd buy multiple). "full width", meaning around 11.25" from left to right edge of the main keys is also a high priority. I know I can't have both 4mm key travel and a thin board, but as much key travel would be nice too.
With that said, questions:
- Does my 'ideal' keyboard exist?
- What are the options for the smaller form factor cherry blues today? Meaning those without a numpad/arrow keys/function keys/etc, but otherwise with full sized key caps and normal cherry blue switch?
- Are there any that are thinner? All cherry keyboards i've seen are around 1.5 inches at it's tallest point, but as I said I haven't looked at recent keyboards.
- Are there any alternate switches I should be looking at? Ie, those with similar actuation and 'clickyness' of blues.
EDIT: I just looked through the sticky and found the keychatter website, I will look through that as well...
EDIT 2: I think question #1 and #2 are mostly answered by the keychatter buyer's guide, but I'd like input on 3&4 still.
