TKL options

[phinix]

Looking for a high quality TKL keyboard that could last me years.
It doesn't have to be available now, just overall we have/had so far, or its in IC/GB.
If old, I may try and buy it from someone.

Ideally to have hotswap option, RGB, pcb stabs, gasket mount - but not a must.

• RAMA U80
• Skog Re-boot
• Space80:APOLLO from Gray Studio (IC)
• KBD8X MKII from kbdfans
• NK87
• DROP CTRL high profile
• Mode Eighty
• ESNTL TKL

What else?

So far looks like Rama U80 is best choice fro those above.
I could have solder version too, but nowadays looks like gasket mount becomes very wanted option.

[10centNickle]

Mode Eighty

[geohammy]

I'd say get the KBD8X if you want something relatively cheap and available, or the RAMA U80 if you are willing to pay aftermarket prices.

[treeleaf64]

Frog tkl  Geonworks

[tp4tissue]

TKL not so gud for gamn'

Split boards are best for gamn'.

[Maledicted]

TKL not so gud for gamn'

Split boards are best for gamn'.

I have almost exclusively used full-sized boards for gaming. Seem to work fine for me. I could see where someone might want a TKL on a particularly cramped slide-out keyboard tray.

[tp4tissue]

split maximizes mouse freedom

[Maledicted]

split maximizes mouse freedom

Are you setting your DPI as low as it can possibly go and using the entirety of the desk?

[tp4tissue]

Are you setting your DPI as low as it can possibly go and using the entirety of the desk?

No, but there's not much desk to begin with. and you want that very ergonomic area in the center which can't be had with any other type of boards.

[phinix]

I like the idea of gasket mount.
Rama introduced their Mute sheet in U80 and it nicely silenced plate.

I would like to see more TKL with some kind of gasket mount.
Skog Re-boot looks amazing, but I missed it:(

I ordered that kbdfans kbd67Lite r2 keyboard, which sits on a gasket - I'll see how that works, but not going to be 100% happy with it, as its just 65% keeb:(

[blondie]

I just purchased the XD87 from kprepublic. Does that count, or is it a low-end keyboard? I've never heard of any of these other keyboards, and I tried to do some research before settling on this one. Here are some others that I had found along the way:

• Durgod K320
• GMMK Tenkeyless
• Leopold FC750R
• Mysterium

[Darthbaggins]

OP listed they wanted a Hotswap option and custom which knocks nearly all off your list.  the Mysterium is a good option, but then would recommend sourcing a case from Switch Couture as well for it. Also what about the EO-87 from Mekibo (TX Keyboards)
 

I just purchased the XD87 from kprepublic. Does that count, or is it a low-end keyboard? I've never heard of any of these other keyboards, and I tried to do some research before settling on this one. Here are some others that I had found along the way:

• Durgod K320
• GMMK Tenkeyless
• Leopold FC750R
• Mysterium

[phinix]

OP listed they wanted a Hotswap option and custom which knocks nearly all off your list.  the Mysterium is a good option, but then would recommend sourcing a case from Switch Couture as well for it. Also what about the EO-87 from Mekibo (TX Keyboards)
 

I just purchased the XD87 from kprepublic. Does that count, or is it a low-end keyboard? I've never heard of any of these other keyboards, and I tried to do some research before settling on this one. Here are some others that I had found along the way:

• Durgod K320
• GMMK Tenkeyless
• Leopold FC750R
• Mysterium

Yeah, that TX keeb looks interesting. Crystal version is sick!

Yeah, so look for rather higher end keyboard, hot swap and rgb would be nice. I guess I could use solder pcb as well, once I setablish which ones I like.
I could have two pcb+plate kits for one case - like Zealios v2 78 for tactile, one for linear ( I still am looking for heavy linear, as Tealios after years of use become too light for me).

[phinix]

Which ones are the high end TKL keyboards anyway? Would U80 be one of them?
What else?

[blondie]

Oh, sorry. I thought I read those features as optional. I have found that when you say "TKL," that seems to already greatly limit the selection, as opposed to a 60% or so.

OP listed they wanted a Hotswap option and custom which knocks nearly all off your list.  the Mysterium is a good option, but then would recommend sourcing a case from Switch Couture as well for it. Also what about the EO-87 from Mekibo (TX Keyboards)
 

I just purchased the XD87 from kprepublic. Does that count, or is it a low-end keyboard? I've never heard of any of these other keyboards, and I tried to do some research before settling on this one. Here are some others that I had found along the way:

• Durgod K320
• GMMK Tenkeyless
• Leopold FC750R
• Mysterium

Yeah, that TX keeb looks interesting. Crystal version is sick!

Yeah, so look for rather higher end keyboard, hot swap and rgb would be nice. I guess I could use solder pcb as well, once I setablish which ones I like.
I could have two pcb+plate kits for one case - like Zealios v2 78 for tactile, one for linear ( I still am looking for heavy linear, as Tealios after years of use become too light for me).

[Ranger_Trivette]

TKL not so gud for gamn'

Split boards are best for gamn'.

why are so good?
they need the same space.
do you remove half board while gaming?

[Maledicted]

TKL not so gud for gamn'

Split boards are best for gamn'.

why are so good?
they need the same space.
do you remove half board while gaming?

I like to imagine that tp4 is some kind of amorphous space alien whose biology and methodology are both beyond human understanding.

[HungerMechanic]

I have experience with the KBD8X MKII. It's a good board, linears and tactiles can sound thocky, depending on plate.

One of the advantages of the KBD8X MKII these days are the aftermarket offerings for it. I have an aftermarket plate on mine, 2 more plates from a different manufacturer, and there's another place offering them now.

It's fairly robust, I hear of people soldering and desoldering theirs dozens of times, although I would never try that. It's a stable build that benefits from good stabilizers. Although you could create a pretty overly flexy typing experience if you opted to use half-plates, especially polycarb.

Mine has a polycarb full plate, a high-quality one. It's great for tactiles. I hear the stock KBDFans polycarb plate is pretty mediocre.

The polycarb casing option is extremely amenable to letting light out of the case. It can be set to extreme levels of brightness, if desired.

There are now aftermarket PCBs that are compatible with the KBD8X MKII, so it should be possible to mod these boards for a while going forwards.

Anyway, I can recommend it for people that like building and modding. Only downside, for me, is the lack of adjustable feet.

I also have an XD87, which I am typing on right now. I am put-off by the wrong-facing switch orientation. It's not an issue for me right now, as I had always planned to use the board with OEM-profile keycaps. And I'm using ART BOX switches, which are supposed to be ambidirectional. But I think that the switches feel 'tight' and more constrained in this board, like they're being compressed. Makes these Browns feel more tactile than I expected.

The spacebar sounds decent, I am using C3 V2 stabilizers here, and they work great with ABS.

But this is overall a very, very entry-level board, with fewer of the features that higher-end boards [like the KBD8X MKK] have. I'm not sure if it has QMK [mine is stock ANSI, so I never tried]. The plate seems to be a heavy chunk of iron or something. Alum, I guess. Wrong-facing switches. Don't get me wrong, it works fine and is fine for like the $60 it cost, but that's the tier that it's in.

[phinix]

Interesting, thanks for your response.

I was thinking of 8X, but initially solder pcb put me off.
Now I saw someone did GB for hotswap pcb for this keeb, so it could be a solution for me.
If someone could also add per-key rgb, it would be awesome:)

[treeleaf64]

Are you setting your DPI as low as it can possibly go and using the entirety of the desk?

No, but there's not much desk to begin with. and you want that very ergonomic area in the center which can't be had with any other type of boards.

lol the only annoying part about using split keyboards is when they don't have the normal functionality of a normal tkl  Like having layers to Shift or numbers That annoys me for gaming

[tp4tissue]

lol the only annoying part about using split keyboards is when they don't have the normal functionality of a normal tkl  Like having layers to Shift or numbers That annoys me for gaming

There are alot of split boards that have those features,

[treeleaf64]

lol the only annoying part about using split keyboards is when they don't have the normal functionality of a normal tkl  Like having layers to Shift or numbers That annoys me for gaming

There are alot of split boards that have those features,

Yes Mr Space alien typer. Yes

[tp4tissue]

lol the only annoying part about using split keyboards is when they don't have the normal functionality of a normal tkl  Like having layers to Shift or numbers That annoys me for gaming

There are alot of split boards that have those features,

Yes Mr Space alien typer. Yes

[Maledicted]

Here you see the physiological enigma that is tp4 in his natural environment. Observe how his mouth is hinged open much further than any human being reasonably could, while maintaining an overall shape that is almost square.

His limbs have no visible digits and and his entire body has almost no definition or identifiable bone structure whatsoever, and yet he types away on his tented split keyboards with such speed that he wears through cap sets weekly.

Unless he can be tracked and observed for serious study for a period of time, the mysteries of his ergonomic proclivities may never become known.

[tp4tissue]

Unless he can be tracked and observed for serious study for a period of time, the mysteries of his ergonomic proclivities may never become known.