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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: AUAnonymous on Fri, 22 July 2011, 20:09:17

Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: AUAnonymous on Fri, 22 July 2011, 20:09:17
Hey everyone, I've been lurking around here for a bit and finally decided to make an account so I could get some advice.

I'm looking for my first mechanical keyboard that hopefully meets the following criteria:

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance :smile:
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: noodles256 on Fri, 22 July 2011, 20:32:46
get a logitech g110
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: AUAnonymous on Fri, 22 July 2011, 20:51:56
What, you mean like this one?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]21906[/ATTACH]
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: N8N on Fri, 22 July 2011, 20:54:15
What keyboard have you been using?  What do you like about it?  What don't you like about it?

I would suggest an eBay Cherry G80-8200 to try w/ browns or clears before spending real money on a keyboard but that may or may not be what you really want.

Do you like tactile feedback? (you say you don't want clicky so I will rule out blues.) How hard do you typically hit the keys?  All of these things factor into switch choice and even then you might not like the "official" recommendation...
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: noodles256 on Fri, 22 July 2011, 20:57:24
yea man, you dont even need a keyboard anymore. that g110 is perfect
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: AUAnonymous on Sat, 23 July 2011, 00:55:12
Quote from: N8N;385670
What keyboard have you been using?  What do you like about it?  What don't you like about it?

I would suggest an eBay Cherry G80-8200 to try w/ browns or clears before spending real money on a keyboard but that may or may not be what you really want.

Do you like tactile feedback? (you say you don't want clicky so I will rule out blues.) How hard do you typically hit the keys?  All of these things factor into switch choice and even then you might not like the "official" recommendation...

I've got a Logitech G110, and it's a sold keyboard. I'm just interested in trying out a mechanical keyboard. As far as I can tell, I don't hit the keys particularly hard and I'm assuming the a lot of the point of a mechanical keyboard is the tactile feedback. I had a look at the one you mentioned, and the cheapest one I saw was $100 O.o not exactly cheap... still I appreciate the effort.
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: noodles256 on Sat, 23 July 2011, 01:15:10
g110 is a mech keyboard in it's own regards.
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 23 July 2011, 01:15:51
Maybe a Dell AT101? It has Alps switch, but is often easy to find on ebay for under $45.
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: AUAnonymous on Sat, 23 July 2011, 01:58:11
Quote from: noodles256;385776
g110 is a mech keyboard in it's own regards.
If it is so great why isn't is one of your "current flavas"? I agree it is good, but I'm just looking for something different.

Quote from: lysol;385778
Maybe a Dell AT101? It has Alps switch, but is often easy to find on ebay for under $45.
I see your point, buying a cheap one to try out is probably a good idea, but the way I see things is that if I'm gonna spend money on a keyboard, it should be one that I won't need/want to replace if I do end up liking it. Conversely, I don't want to spend a ton of money just for a keyboard... Is there anything that's new (i.e. doesn't look like it's from the 80s) and not too expensive? I'm thinking something along the line of the Das Keyboard, but maybe a little cheaper.
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 23 July 2011, 02:12:54
Adesso Mechanical Pro or Cherry g80-3000 for around $75.
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: N8N on Sat, 23 July 2011, 03:30:26
look @ "rawko" on eBay, he has cherry POS boards for reasonable prices.  a lot of people here have bought them from him.  Or if you want to try browns I have a MX11800 and a G80-8200 that I think I will get rid of - I'm just not used to the browns.  I think rawko has G80-8200s with clears up now for $22 plus shipping and browns for the same or less.
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: AUAnonymous on Sat, 23 July 2011, 05:18:28
Quote from: lysol;385786
Adesso Mechanical Pro or Cherry g80-3000 for around $75.
Hmm... that Adesso looks promising, although I can't seem to find the Cherry readily available.
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: bcpk on Sat, 23 July 2011, 05:28:36
Steel Series 6gv2 is fairly cheap and uses MX Blacks.
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: TacticalCoder on Sat, 23 July 2011, 05:42:18
Quote from: bcpk;385819
Steel Series 6gv2 is fairly cheap and uses MX Blacks.


But the OP clearly specified "standard US layout".  Not that I like or disklike the 6gv2 or anything but simply: with its bigass ENTER key and the tiny right-shift and the weirdly located '\|' key, it apparently doesn't qualify for "standard US layout".  Which may or may not be an issue for the OP.
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: r4pture on Sat, 23 July 2011, 05:46:29
1+ for the Dell AT101W.  Amazing mechanical KB and you can get them for like 20-30 on eBay.  :)  Nothing fancy, just extremely solid and a pleasure to type on without being too drastically different.
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: noodles256 on Sat, 23 July 2011, 10:22:05
i wouldnt get a g110 because it sucks lol
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: AUAnonymous on Sat, 23 July 2011, 16:49:46
Quote from: noodles256;385894
i wouldnt get a g110 because it sucks lol
Thanks for the help... ಠ_ಠ
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 23 July 2011, 16:54:01
Where are you located? Finding Cherry g80-3--- series keyboards usually isn't hard.
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: palindrome on Sat, 23 July 2011, 18:03:18
How about the Noppoo Choc Pro (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?18638-Noppoo-Choc-Pro)?

You can get the black or brown switches since you do not want the click.  It seems to be in your price range as well.
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: AUAnonymous on Sat, 23 July 2011, 19:58:16
Quote from: lysol;385975
Where are you located? Finding Cherry g80-3--- series keyboards usually isn't hard.

I'm in the US.
Quote from: palindrome;385997
How about the Noppoo Choc Pro (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?18638-Noppoo-Choc-Pro)?

You can get the black or brown switches since you do not want the click.  It seems to be in your price range as well.

That's looks pretty good too, I'll have to look into it a bit more.
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 23 July 2011, 20:11:08
Seems the price has gone up on g80-3000. Most places are at around $85 now.
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: AUAnonymous on Sun, 24 July 2011, 14:13:31
Quote from: lysol;386036
Seems the price has gone up on g80-3000. Most places are at around $85 now.

Yeah it seems a bit expensive for what it is
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: Arcanius on Sun, 24 July 2011, 14:19:01
Try a ducky off of PChome?
http://global.pchome.com.tw/?mod=item&func=exhibit&IT_NO=DCAH0X-A53592969&c=A10&tm=u
About $90 shipped.
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: AUAnonymous on Sun, 24 July 2011, 20:54:05
Quote from: Arcanius;386293
Try a ducky off of PChome?
http://global.pchome.com.tw/?mod=item&func=exhibit&IT_NO=DCAH0X-A53592969&c=A10&tm=u
About $90 shipped.
Thanks for the tip, however I'm a bit reluctant to buy something off of a Taiwanese-only website.

Out of all of the keyboards I've looked at so far, the best looking so far are the Das Professional S Silent (hopefully with the student discount) and the Noppoo Choc Pro (or maybe mini) w/Brown switches. I'd probably lean towards the Noppoo more if it weren't incompatible with Macs. I don't have a Mac myself, but I do use them occasionally and there's a possibility of getting one in the future, so I don't want limit myself if I don't have to.
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: Bry on Sun, 24 July 2011, 21:08:59
Quote from: r4pture;385826
1+ for the Dell AT101W.  Amazing mechanical KB and you can get them for like 20-30 on eBay.  :)  Nothing fancy, just extremely solid and a pleasure to type on without being too drastically different.

 

+1 for opeth!!


And why do you keep suggesting a g110... trololol?
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: N8N on Sun, 24 July 2011, 21:41:53
If you want to try an AT101W I actually am flogging one in the classifieds now and I thought I saw another one for sale... what I don't like about it compared to other options is the high tactile/click point.  I much prefer the middle-of-travel tactile point of the Cherry switches.  (NB: I have only tried clears and browns so far.  Don't know anyone with a board with blues, and I didn't buy one because clicking drives my cow orkers nuts apparently.)
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: AUAnonymous on Sun, 24 July 2011, 22:21:45
I'm looking for something a bit more modern and nicer looking than the AT101(W). Functionality is important to me, but looks and condition do play an admittedly large role as well, so I don't think a board from the 90s (two decades ago O.o) is the right thing for me.
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: George7 on Tue, 26 July 2011, 16:11:32
I can personally vouch for the Cherry G80-3000. Mine has blues, which are clicky, but you can get it with other non clicky switches too. It's not a bad looking keyboard either. It's a very classic design.
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: panda on Tue, 26 July 2011, 16:26:01
I'm getting the noppoo choc pro as my first keybaord next week. It's on it's way from China with my family =). Here's (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:20275) a nice review of it.
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: palindrome on Tue, 26 July 2011, 16:32:15
Quote from: panda;387683
I'm getting the noppoo choc pro as my first keybaord next week. It's on it's way from China with my family =).

 
Congrats!  You're lucky you have family that can bring you back a keyboard.  I'm looking at this board for my work.
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: AUAnonymous on Tue, 26 July 2011, 21:59:43
Just bought this (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?20206-Noppoo-Choc-Mini-(MX-Black)), it should be on its way soon. It doesn't have to far to ship, so hopefully I'll have it in a few days :D
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: panda on Tue, 26 July 2011, 22:09:04
Quote from: ripster;387692
Where did they buy it from?  Taobao?

 
If you're asking about the noppoo, yup! 430 cny shipped to shanghai.
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: palindrome on Tue, 26 July 2011, 22:14:37
Quote from: AUAnonymous;387866
Just bought this (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?20206-Noppoo-Choc-Mini-(MX-Black)), it should be on its way soon.

You got the mini?  I thought you wanted a full keyboard.  Congrats!
 
Quote from: panda;387873
If you're asking about the noppoo, yup! 430 cny shipped to shanghai.

That is a SICK price for the Pro.  Jealous.  Your parents should do a group buy!  :D
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: panda on Tue, 26 July 2011, 22:23:12
Quote
That is a SICK price for the Pro. Jealous. Your parents should do a group buy! :D
Haha. It's coming back in luggage =X. But I've considered this because I have family who make trips to China very often. Just curious though, what would customs say if they found a luggage full of new keyboards. You think they'd buy "for personal use?"
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: palindrome on Tue, 26 July 2011, 22:26:36
Quote from: panda;387882
Haha. It's coming back in luggage =X. But I've considered this because I have family who make trips to China very often. Just curious though, what would customs say if they found a luggage full of new keyboards. You think they'd buy "for personal use?"

Ha!  I'd imagine it'd depend on how many they found.  I would guess 5 or less would be ok for "family gifting".  Anything more may draw suspicion.
Title: Starter Keyboard
Post by: AUAnonymous on Tue, 26 July 2011, 23:24:40
Quote from: palindrome;387877
You got the mini?  I thought you wanted a full keyboard.  Congrats!

Haha yeah I changed my mind for the right amount of money (or lack thereof). Also, I've already got a full sized board, albeit a non-mechanical one, so I thought I'd change things up a bit.