geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: grapefruit on Fri, 11 July 2025, 00:19:50
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I've been using a Hexgears Impulse with Box whites for several years and really like these switches. Am looking for a new keyboard, though, as this one's gotten quite old.
Also liked when I tested them:
-Box Jades
-I think I recall using a real Model F many years ago and enjoying it.
I really have DISliked Cherry Brown MX and Cherry Blue MX in the past.
Topre when I tried it was good, but I wasn't in love.
Am looking for a TKL or else full-size keyboard... just for typing, not for gaming. For a mac, if it makes any difference.
I don't care about hot swap or anything else.
Should I consider the beamspring or Model F keyboards from -- Modelfkeyboards.com?
Or what else are my best bets? I'd like nice build quality, but I'm happy to go with something inexpensive if it feels good.
Any recs?
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If you like the whites, you might want to take a look at the light blues for the switches. They are about halfway between a white and a Jade, with a slightly heavier clickbar but not as heavy a spring.
My personal choice for a Full-size type board has been Pylon's Boston for the last four year. I have two, one for home with the light blues and one at work with Hako True switches. They are ok for a tactile, but the light blues are my definite favorite, but maybe a bit loud for an open office setup. The only downside to the boston is going to be finding a suitable set of keycaps for the extra top row.
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Should I consider the beamspring or Model F keyboards from -- Modelfkeyboards.com?
I love my Classic F104 - though you should go into one knowing full well that it's a boutique product and the potential downsides that come with it. It's definitely not something that's totally plug and play or got big-brand levels of QC consistency. I had a fair share of issues with mine ranging from broken/damaged components due to shoddy packaging, convoluted setup process, and binding barrels. It has been nearly a year though. Ellipse has been made aware of the issues from myself and other users - he at least said the packaging was going to be addressed - so YMMV at this point. I've mostly been able to iron them out myself, but you're paying an awful lot for something that might be less than perfect out of the box.
That said, I still prefer it over my Model F AT for daily use. Even though it's not as smooth, the key weighting is quite a bit lighter than the AT and the ANSI layout plus Vial config is way easier to live with. Also the cast aluminum Model M-style casing is just gorgeous. Throw the solenoid in there for a bit of extra noisy fun and it's a properly endgame worthy board, IMO. You can get it with Mac keys too.