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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Ediv on Fri, 17 April 2020, 09:36:20

Title: New enthusiast needs help
Post by: Ediv on Fri, 17 April 2020, 09:36:20
Hi guys! I'm looking for my first mech keyboard, budget around 2-300€. I am from Italy and I know this is not the perfect time for US shipping towards us, for that reason I am not in a hurry at all.
I like the 65% form factor, possibly with regular sized switches all across the keyboard so that if I want to upgrade the keycaps in the future i don't have to go crazy finding a compatible set. I am not afraid of soldering the board myself since I am quite used to electronics soldering (I heard that hotswappable pcb are not the best about long term reliability).
I am completely new in this world so any advice will be helpful! Thank you in advance guys!
Title: Re: New enthusiast needs help
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 17 April 2020, 12:04:04
Outbound international postage from the US is always very expensive, the Covid-19 pandemic will not change that.
Title: Re: New enthusiast needs help
Post by: Ediv on Fri, 17 April 2020, 15:08:41
Yep, unfortunately that is a fact.
Has someone any suggestion about a good starting keyboard (or DIY kit) for that budget?
Thanks for your answers ^^
Title: Re: New enthusiast needs help
Post by: Maledicted on Fri, 17 April 2020, 15:11:58
I have never done the LEGO keyboard thing before, so I would barely know where to start. I ordered parts, but that's going to end up being a GK64 layout, so I'll be frankensteining some cap sets. I wish I could help.
Title: Re: New enthusiast needs help
Post by: Leslieann on Fri, 17 April 2020, 20:05:33
Hi guys! I'm looking for my first mech keyboard, budget around 2-300€. I am from Italy and I know this is not the perfect time for US shipping towards us, for that reason I am not in a hurry at all.
I like the 65% form factor, possibly with regular sized switches all across the keyboard so that if I want to upgrade the keycaps in the future i don't have to go crazy finding a compatible set. I am not afraid of soldering the board myself since I am quite used to electronics soldering (I heard that hotswappable pcb are not the best about long term reliability).
I am completely new in this world so any advice will be helpful! Thank you in advance guys!
Look the other direction, China, most of ours come from there anyhow.

Check YMDK, KBDfans and Krepublic.
Title: Re: New enthusiast needs help
Post by: el_murdoque on Sat, 18 April 2020, 18:00:17
Do you already know which switches you want in that keyboard?
I'd give a few a try before committing serious time, effort and money into a custom build.
Title: Re: New enthusiast needs help
Post by: Rob27shred on Sat, 18 April 2020, 18:38:54
Hi guys! I'm looking for my first mech keyboard, budget around 2-300€. I am from Italy and I know this is not the perfect time for US shipping towards us, for that reason I am not in a hurry at all.
I like the 65% form factor, possibly with regular sized switches all across the keyboard so that if I want to upgrade the keycaps in the future i don't have to go crazy finding a compatible set. I am not afraid of soldering the board myself since I am quite used to electronics soldering (I heard that hotswappable pcb are not the best about long term reliability).
I am completely new in this world so any advice will be helpful! Thank you in advance guys!
Look the other direction, China, most of ours come from there anyhow.

Check YMDK, KBDfans and Krepublic.

Leslieann is right, https://kbdfans.com/ (https://kbdfans.com/), https://kprepublic.com/ (https://kprepublic.com/), & https://www.amazon.com/stores/YMDK/node/17919265011 (https://www.amazon.com/stores/YMDK/node/17919265011) are all great places to get affordable MKB kits that are of decent quality.
Title: Re: New enthusiast needs help
Post by: Ediv on Sun, 19 April 2020, 08:11:49
Thanks for your answers guys! I'd go for tactiles, around 50g. I have tried cherry browns on a friend's kb and it felt really good. Maybe because I haven't tried anything else ^^. Have you guys alternatives for maybe a tactile on the "less bumpy" side?
Title: Re: New enthusiast needs help
Post by: el_murdoque on Sun, 19 April 2020, 08:14:45
I doubt there is a tactile switch less bumpy than the MX brown. I mean, when they are worn in a bit they feel like scratchy reds. And I am literally typing this now on Cherry mx browns.
Title: Re: New enthusiast needs help
Post by: Ediv on Sun, 19 April 2020, 08:19:41
I'll go for browns then ^^ when the moment comes you'll be updated with some pics guys. TY!!