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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: gimpster on Thu, 12 May 2011, 18:27:50
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I've been lurking here for a bit, reading the wiki and several reviews and finally decided to post because I haven't been able to find what I'm looking for. I've owned 2 Das Keyboards in the past and loved them, but I'm looking for something more compact. What I can't seem to find is this exact set of features:
- Compact (tenkeyless)
- Cherry MX Blue switches (I will also accept Cherry MX Brown switches, if needed)
- Backlit keys
All of the keyboards I have found come in combinations of either 1&2 or 2&3, but I haven't found anything that has all of these features yet. Can anyone help?
For any zealots wishing to play the bonus round, even though this will mostly be used on Windows machines, I'll buy a beer for anyone that can find one that matches these criteria and is also compatible with Mac in addition to Windows. :thumb:
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Damn. Well that was a short-lived dream. :) Thanks for the quick reply. Guess I'll go figure out which one I want to "settle" on.
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The closest think is the deck 82/Tg3 BL82
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Get a Mionix. Looks hawt!
Looks average, but lacks 2 of the 3 requirements.
Zibal 60 for the OP is something like a quantum physics book as a suggested reading to Paris Hilton
Is not compact and has blacks switches.
An xarmor U9BL is not compact or a BL82 black switches, are both lacking just 1 point. On bl 82 the switches are easy to swap, so should be the preferred choiche
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Don't get an Xarmor! The LEDs stop working after a while.
Stop spreading urban legends.
Leds are leds and may stop working as any other electronic component.
On an Xarmor as on a deck legend, as on a Mionix.
http://www.overclock.net/12639765-post4.html
I've got a Deck Legend Frost and I don't regret my decision to pick one up in the slightest. Not to scare you, but after about two weeks around half the LED's on my board stopped working.
The only reason for the lack of broken mionix is.. the lack of working mionix.
You should avoid to use other users as your guinea pigs.
Do you like mionix ?
OK, buy one of them, keep it for a while, and then suggest it, if it's worth.
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compact, backlit, Mechanical MX Black (not blue)
Deck Ice 82 (http://www.deckkeyboards.com/product_info.php?products_id=30)
Not pretty but robust.
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Razer? They get a bad rap, but they meet two of the three requirements :/
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i exchanged about a half dozen emails with mionix when that board was announced. regarding other possible boards in the future before i found my dream board the kbc poker.
mionix may do a tenkeyless or compact later if this board sells well and there is enough market demand. they also may sell their keycaps separate if there is enough demand for our modding pleasures. so start pestering them.
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mionix may do a tenkeyless or compact later if this board sells well and there is enough market demand. they also may sell their keycaps separate if there is enough demand for our modding pleasures. so start pestering them.
All sounds cool.
If they go the quality route, I'd love to Mionixize my Decks with Zibal keys.
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Decks are nice because they supposedly have "industrial" leds. I suspect it's a bit like Gold USB connectors but I don't see many LED failures on the Deck like I do on the Xarmor.
I don't recall any complaints about their leds back in the days I used to hang around their forum.
My oldest is a bit over 5 years and still as bright as the 2.5 years.
If they really use "Industrial" quality leds then they are easily good for >200 000 hours. That's about 23 years of non stop retro illumination :angel:
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OP, you are really limiting your choices by asking for backlit.
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pretty good deal on tg3 here (http://cgi.ebay.com/TG3-Data911-Backlit-Touchpad-Cherry-Mechanical-Keyboard-/170632786717?_trksid=p4340.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D10%26pmod%3D170622319270%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D9112679778102279413)... $25. cherry blacks aren't that bad. i'm tempted myself...
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pretty good deal on tg3... $25. cherry blacks aren't that bad. i'm tempted myself...
Great find!
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I failed to mention this in my original post, but I ranked the criteria in order of importance. Bottom line, for the right keyboard I would be willing to live without backlighting, but I'd really rather not. I tend to work in a lot of low-light situations and my laptops that don't have backlit keyboards are much more frustrating to use than the ones that do, even though I'm a touch typist. I've really grown to love the feature, plus it just looks cool. :)
I'm still putting together a list to choose from but the BL82/Ice keyboards are looking pretty nice. Good layout for the keys and the more I think about it, if I have to mod the keyboard to get all the features I want anyway, it would probably be easier to mod the keyboard with different keys than trying to mod it by adding LEDs that were never there.
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Well, after much deliberation, I decided to pick up a Leopold Tenkeyless "brown" and a Filco Majestouch-2 Tenkeyless "blue" so I can figure out which keys I like better. I'll probably end up offloading the other one here later. :)
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Bienvenue.
In reply to OP, I can't help, SOS.
Every keyboard I have purchased has either this or that not to my liking. My One is not perfect but it's the closest thing to my personal requirements. I have now stopped purchasing or modding anymore keyboards. Maybe if Unicomp manufactures a Tenkeyless SpaceSaver, then I'll stop stopping keyboard purchases.
I wish you much success on your quest in finding your "Perfect" keyboard, I surmise you'll also purchase more through discontent.
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Well, after much deliberation, I decided to pick up a Leopold Tenkeyless "brown" and a Filco Majestouch-2 Tenkeyless "blue" so I can figure out which keys I like better. I'll probably end up offloading the other one here later. :)
Excellent choice. To solve your low light work conditions, you can always get one of these
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_74GYDJEU1kA/SkDpj27hOAI/AAAAAAAAN4s/hbgUpELtAzc/s1600/usb-flex-neck-light-2.jpg)
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i solved my lighting problem by learning to touch type :-)
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i solved my lighting problem by learning to touch type :-)
Are you able to reach all Fn keys that way and do you know without looking all the ALT keys?
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Are you able to reach all Fn keys that way and do you know without looking all the ALT keys?
Exactly. :) I've been a touch-typist for over 15 years, but there are some key combos that I use frequently that are greatly aided by looking at the keyboard. Especially true when your hands aren't already on the home row.
@BucklingSpring, that USB light is pretty schweet, I've seen lots of those type of devices, but never one that looked so good. Do you happen to have a link?
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Exactly. :) I've been a touch-typist for over 15 years, but there are some key combos that I use frequently that are greatly aided by looking at the keyboard. Especially true when your hands aren't already on the home row.
@BucklingSpring, that USB light is pretty schweet, I've seen lots of those type of devices, but never one that looked so good. Do you happen to have a link?
LoL I'm in the same boat. The fact that we are not black belt 7th dan degree Otaku Ninja's like gilgam doesn't mean we can't touch type.
Sorry I can't find the place anymore...
BUT if you ebay search "90 usb angle" you can use the connector to convert most of the easily findable usb lights like the cool angled one on the picture above.
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I couldn't resist and ordered up a Deck 82 Ice as well...let the testing begin!! Oh and a side note, DAMN those elves at Deck are fast. 26 minutes from the time I placed my order, I had a tracking number in my email...wow! :rockon:
Also, TinEye to the rescue on the USB light. This seems to be the source. Only available in black, now, though.
$10 - http://www.lightwedge.com/Shop/USB/Flex-Neck-Laptop-Light