geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Athadeus on Sat, 09 July 2011, 19:30:35
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Hello Geekhack community. I am looking for help in finding a keyboard with very similar key size and spacing to a Microsoft Internet Keyboard. The keys on the one I have are starting to get sticky, and I need another one for a new desktop I built recently. The availability and hence price of that old model is not good now.
I tried a Microsoft Sidewinder X4, and while the keys are all shaped and positioned similarly, it feels like it is all shrunk. I play Starcraft 2 in high masters, and that X4 is killing my apm and causing a big distraction when my hand gets off position.
I have not searched at all to see if someone has already recommended a similar replacement because I am presently short on time. I like media keys on top but everything else is secondary to my familiarity with the board. I guess price is not an issue, though availability is and I would like to be able to order it from somewhere and have it delivered to MN by Friday. If you can please help me with a link to another thread, suggestions, or a chart of some type that would be great. Thank you very very much!
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Looks like a standard US-ANSI layout to me, so that part is easy. Sounds like you want standard height keys, since the X4 didn't do it for you. You could buy a Keytronic rubber dome keyboard from Newegg for cheap, better than a lot of other rubber dome keyboards (not counting Topre, which I'm sure you don't know about yet).
If your budget is higher, you could get into a few mechanical keyboards (which this forum specializes in). Steelseries 6G/V2 and 7G are readily available from Newegg, you can get a Das Keyboard from Metadot (for a discount too if you say you're a student), there's also the Razer Black Widow from Newegg/Frys/etc. There's many others out there, but not too many fit into your time limit.
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Have you looked at any of the Steel Series boards? I think some of them come with media keys and I've heard good things about them generally.
http://steelseries.com/us/products/keyboards
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I actually tried this Orange KBC2408SB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823233002&cm_re=orange_keyboard-_-23-233-002-_-Product) first, and I am able to play better on it than on the X4. The keys aren't quite full height, but definitely between the X4 and Internet Keyboard.
You know, I thought the 6Gv2 wasn't available on Newegg, but it seems that there are two listed. NewEgg Steelseries 6Gv2 search (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=steelseries+keyboard+6gv2&x=0&y=0). Is the one that is in stock the same as the other? I don't care if it's an unboxed OEM one. I will probably try that next.
I thought geekhack specialized in all keyboards? What other keyboards might be good if time and merchant is not an issue?
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You may want to look at the Filcos with brown switches. You can get them from the Keyboard Company on Amazon. The Steelseries boards use Cherry MX black switches, which are non-tactile linear switches. You may find those unsatisfying to use for playing an RTS, but for FPS, they are apparently preferred.
There's the Zowie Celeritas, the Ducky keyboards with browns, leopolds if they ever come back in stock. You may also enjoy the Topre RealForce, but that is quite expensive (about $265). You can get it from EliteKeyboards though, if you're interested in it. It is a good introduction to quality keyboards, but I would recommend getting the uniform model for gaming.
There is the Deck Frost/Ice Tactile models, which use Cherry clears, which are a heavier version of the browns (basically -- let's not get hung up on particulars at the moment), as well as the Das.
You can also get Cherry G80 with brown switches: http://cgi.ebay.com/WH-Black-Cherry-G80-Mechanical-Gaming-keyboard-3-Switch-/300575765501?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item45fbb633fd. Qtan is a member here, and has some good deals. It usually takes about a week to post things to and from China, but if you're willing to pay for it, it's likely he would be willing to ship it via a faster method. Just make sure to tell him what color and what switch.
I can't think of any others at the moment. I would recommend brown if you like light, clear if you prefer heavier. Blues are quite loud and high pitched, and some people complain about double tapping on them, though I think that's really weird, personally.
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crazy idea, but u could just go to the next computer store and try some out. they should have all the rubberdome u want and some mechanical aswell
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If price isn't an issue, go for this board (http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/keyboards-mice/9836/).
Not really... You could always just go for a Qsenn/Samsung DT-35. I believe a lot of the pros who don't use mechanical boards use those. It's just a standard type board.
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There's not a lot of computer stores near where I live and commute. OfficeMax, Walmart, BestBuy, maybe Staples are the only places that sell keyboards around here. I don't know if Microcenter has mechanical keyboards, but I would be halfway there when I get back from my trip Thursday. Honestly I could live with this sub $10 Orange keyboard if the backspace key was normal width :( Most rubber dome are non tactile right? I don't feel like I need a tactile response, and I would appreciate not listening to cherry blues if the youtube samples are really accurate.
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This is why I listed mostly brown switch keyboards. If tactility isn't an issue, qtan also has the Cherry G80 with reds, which are nice and light linear switches.
Edit: Microcenter, at least the one on the north side of Cincinnati, does have some mechanicals. The Fry's in Indy does as well.
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There is also the Adesso Mechanical Pro (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/696851-REG/Adesso_MKB_135B_Full_Size_Mechanical_Gaming.html). I haven't tried it but it looks to be comparable to the Steelseries at nearly half the price. Also the bargain priced iOne (http://www.amazon.com/Black-Mechanical-Keyboard-PS2-USB/dp/B000ZD1L14/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_3).
edit: I guess these are both blue mx. The sound is not that loud though, just a plasticy click.
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It isn't so much the volume, as the pitch. For me, at least, the high pitch of the blues is just awful. It *feels* louder than my buckling springs, though it is not, in absolute terms. My ear is just more sensitive in that range. So is a phone, for what that's worth. A blue will be much more audible to a microphone than a BS would be, so consider that as well.