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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: prpnightmare on Wed, 01 June 2011, 22:30:55

Title: So I need a new keyboard...
Post by: prpnightmare on Wed, 01 June 2011, 22:30:55
Now, my Das Professional Silent is great, but I finally caught hell from my sister and dad for giving my mom an IBM Model M:) So, I was thinking of giving up the Silent and getting another keyboard as the Model M would not sit well for gaming and my light-ish typing style with a little more resistance than the Browns (I make more errors than I'd like because of it. The comfort is great though). The only Poker on ebay had Reds, and I'm not really sure if I'd like that, and don't want to spend $100 just to try it out. The obvious choice is another Das, but variety is the spice of life, so if there are any suggestions, I'd like to hear them.
Title: So I need a new keyboard...
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Wed, 01 June 2011, 23:42:49
if you want a poker theres always taobao. there seems to be some sources that have brown switches in stock.
Title: So I need a new keyboard...
Post by: daerid on Wed, 01 June 2011, 23:57:35
You are saying that Brown's are too light? Well, you could always try clears. Or blacks.
Title: So I need a new keyboard...
Post by: Ascaii on Thu, 02 June 2011, 03:10:27
I'd recommend clears, you will want some tactility for typing. The blacks can be nice but do take some time geting used to.
Title: So I need a new keyboard...
Post by: mbc on Thu, 02 June 2011, 03:15:03
Why don't you simply get a model M when it seems to fit you? It would be much cheeper then buying a new cherry mx kb.
Edit: or are you looking for something in between browns and buckling spring?
Title: So I need a new keyboard...
Post by: prpnightmare on Thu, 02 June 2011, 11:52:19
Yeah, something a little in between, with that oh-so-nice tactile bump but without the heaviness of buckling springs.
Title: So I need a new keyboard...
Post by: daerid on Thu, 02 June 2011, 11:55:29
Clears are probably your best bet.
Title: So I need a new keyboard...
Post by: prpnightmare on Thu, 02 June 2011, 12:17:50
I can't seem to find a keyboard with Clears though, any suggestions? That's why I mentioned Blues, they seem to be much more popular.
Title: So I need a new keyboard...
Post by: noodles256 on Thu, 02 June 2011, 12:18:18
deck keyboards
Title: So I need a new keyboard...
Post by: sordna on Thu, 02 June 2011, 12:27:41
Get blues... that's an easier switch to find, which seems to fit the sort of touch you want. You can install soft-landing pads to reduce the noise.
Title: So I need a new keyboard...
Post by: daerid on Thu, 02 June 2011, 13:05:45
Quote from: sordna;354715
Get blues... that's an easier switch to find, which seems to fit the sort of touch you want. You can install soft-landing pads to reduce the noise.

They're still crazy loud.
Title: So I need a new keyboard...
Post by: sordna on Thu, 02 June 2011, 13:31:54
C'mon, dampened blues are quieter than buckling springs, no?
Title: So I need a new keyboard...
Post by: theferenc on Thu, 02 June 2011, 14:26:45
But still much higher pitched, so the perceived loudness is actually quite a bit higher. I convinced one of the HCI people here to do a user study on this. Blues are consistently rated as the loudest mechanical switch, even though they are actually quieter than buckling springs.

It's just how our ears work, I suppose. I've heard claims it has to do with children having higher pitched voices, but I don't know how true that is.
Title: So I need a new keyboard...
Post by: daerid on Thu, 02 June 2011, 22:29:59
I've always worked it out to be due to the fact that higher frequency sounds actually have a higher quantity of vibrations per section.

For example: 30db @ 1KHz has 10 x the number of vibrations as 30db @ 100Hz. Thus, higher frequency sounds are perceived as louder.

Idunno, makes sense to me.
Title: So I need a new keyboard...
Post by: aggiejy on Thu, 02 June 2011, 23:31:56
prpnightmare: I was in just about the same boat as you.  I had the Das Pro Silent and liked it.  I recently got the Leopold tenkeyless (because I wanted more mouse room) with blues and I really like it.  Though, I wouldn't say it's lighter at all... feels close to the same I guess.  However, I like the audible click once you pass the threshold as it helps me not to bottom out at much or as hard.  That said, I do enjoy going back and typing on the browns from time to time... variety is nice to have!