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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Boozebeard on Fri, 26 November 2010, 09:04:54

Title: Does my perfect keyboard exist?
Post by: Boozebeard on Fri, 26 November 2010, 09:04:54: Been wanting a mechanical for a while now but what I really want is the following:

Full n-key rollover
Cherry browns (could compromise on blues)
backlit keys
UK layout

If I want UK layout and full n-key then Filco seems my best bet

But they don't have any backlighting.

For backlit mechanical there seems to be xarmor and and blackwidow but niether of them have browns or UK layouts and the blackwidow doesn't have nkey.

Do I have any other options? I know xarmor are probably gonna release a browns version but how long will that be and do you think they will ever produce other keyboard layouts.
Title: Does my perfect keyboard exist?
Post by: Senor_Cartmenez on Fri, 26 November 2010, 09:24:00: short answer: no :(

Waiting for x-armor to come out with a brown AND UK layout version could take a while but it should be out sometime next year possibly.

Razer is not really an option. Deck comes to mind but seeing a different country layout from those good folks is highly unlikely, as well as another switch type or in fact any form of "otherness" in terms of product innovation/new products...

You will probably have to compromise.. I had to, too. Drop the backlit and options increase rapidly.
Title: Does my perfect keyboard exist?
Post by: db_Iodine on Fri, 26 November 2010, 09:38:14: You can always make up for the backlighting by installing some small LED's to light the top of your keyboard if you think you need backlighting so badly. I think you would get adjusted to not having a backlit keyboard after a short period of time anyway.

Personally I have to admit I've never really understood the appeal of a backlit keyboard. Even tho I used to own a G15 Rev1 for a few years, I never had the backlights turned on.
Title: Does my perfect keyboard exist?
Post by: lowpoly on Fri, 26 November 2010, 15:26:47: Quote from: Boozebeard;252527
backlighting

Unlabeled keys > backlighting.

Learn to touch type.
Title: Does my perfect keyboard exist?
Post by: Keymonger on Fri, 26 November 2010, 16:17:52: Quote from: lowpoly;252664
Unlabeled keys > backlighting.

Learn to touch type.

My man.
Title: Does my perfect keyboard exist?
Post by: Boozebeard on Fri, 26 November 2010, 21:39:55: I suppose backlighting isn't that important. I can kinda touch type. Its just that some times i kinda lose my finger placement or i need to access an obscure character and i find my self squinting to try and find it in the dark

I think I'll treat my self to a filco for christmas. do you think blank keys would force me to learn to touch type better or just be frustrating?
Title: Does my perfect keyboard exist?
Post by: Kairxa on Fri, 26 November 2010, 21:56:55: Quote from: Boozebeard;252817
I suppose backlighting isn't that important. I can kinda touch type. Its just that some times i kinda lose my finger placement or i need to access an obscure character and i find my self squinting to try and find it in the dark

I think I'll treat my self to a filco for christmas. do you think blank keys would force me to learn to touch type better or just be frustrating?

If you are already able to type without actually look into your board, then blank keys won't be any problem. But for me, blank keys are for aesthetic only, not for learning anything.

By the way, you know that F and J button have nubs, right? You can use that to locate where your fingers are.
Title: Does my perfect keyboard exist?
Post by: nanu on Fri, 26 November 2010, 23:07:00: Keycap labels or the lack thereof are irrelevant for learning how to touch-type.
Think about the people who learn how to type in another layout.
You could always peek at an image of a keyboard layout if you're initially lost.
Title: Does my perfect keyboard exist?
Post by: Nadger on Fri, 26 November 2010, 23:12:18: You could also use different colored keycaps...red etc and put them on wsad or f and j to easily find home even in the dark, as they will stand out. Even your monitor is solid black
Title: Does my perfect keyboard exist?
Post by: db_Iodine on Sat, 27 November 2010, 03:35:36: You really need to know your keyboard layout inside out before you can be as efficient with blank keycaps as you are with labeled keycaps.

A blank keyboard does look kinda cool, but I'd also recommend getting the blank keys separately.
Title: Does my perfect keyboard exist?
Post by: Boozebeard on Sat, 27 November 2010, 21:19:25: Quote from: Kairxa;252826
By the way, you know that F and J button have nubs, right? You can use that to locate where your fingers are.

Yeah I know but I'm used to just glancing at the keyboard which Is usually quicker unless it's too dark too see it. It's mostly using symbols that I need to look down at the keyboard for.

I think I'll just get a brown filco tenkeyless (I never use the numberpad) If the keyboard company ever get them in stock that is D:

It's going to be used mostly for gaming but also a bit of programming and word documents.
Title: Does my perfect keyboard exist?
Post by: arc2 on Sat, 27 November 2010, 23:23:41: Quote from: ripster;253206
Filco Browns are always a safe choice for general purpose gaming/typing/coding.

Safe is nice, but as an owner of an mx11800 with browns I "feel the need" for a filco blue, am I wrong ?
Title: Does my perfect keyboard exist?
Post by: arc2 on Sat, 27 November 2010, 23:53:56: Quote from: ripster;253219
No, Cherry Blues is like wanting to run across Felicia Day in the library and checking her out. A bit riskier but worth it.
Show Image
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3363/3592379385_a4f63d6b1d_o.jpg)

OK then. On that note I have just bought a filco blue thank you.
Title: Does my perfect keyboard exist?
Post by: TGM on Sun, 28 November 2010, 00:39:35: I have a filco blue with blank keycaps.

Very happy I chose the blues over the browns, you'll probably love them.

And the blank key caps have only been an issue for some special characters, apart from that it's forcing me to touch-type properly and the transition has actually been much easier than I thought it would be.
Title: Does my perfect keyboard exist?
Post by: Boozebeard on Sun, 28 November 2010, 04:21:54: I know it's subjective but I thought that in general the switch spectrum was this:

gaming < blacks - browns - blues > typing
Title: Does my perfect keyboard exist?
Post by: theferenc on Sun, 28 November 2010, 08:30:01: I prefer gaming < topre = BS > typing, personally.

There's just something amazing about the Topre keys, and the BS is just a joy to type on. Sometimes you need silence, sometimes you need sound. It's all in what you want that day.

And really, it's all about the layout. Just make sure you don't get something with a wacky layout that you will have problems with while gaming.
Title: Does my perfect keyboard exist?
Post by: arc2 on Thu, 02 December 2010, 16:26:39: Well my filco blue arrived yesterday, I am absolutely loving it, gaming too it's fantastic.

To be honest I was worried it would be too loud for me but I like the noise, it's definitely not a problem.

One happy camper here.