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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: HeX on Sun, 19 February 2012, 23:16:03

Title: New Keyboard
Post by: HeX on Sun, 19 February 2012, 23:16:03
Hi, im new here and was looking into getting a good mechanical keyboard. I've heard Das and IBM Model M's are good. Could you guys help me out? I'd like to get something customisable that i can work on from time to time. Cheers
Title: New Keyboard
Post by: flyball on Sun, 19 February 2012, 23:17:05
you want to work on a keyboard? like change the oil?
Title: New Keyboard
Post by: HeX on Sun, 19 February 2012, 23:18:01
Just customise it, such as changing keys covers, etc
Title: New Keyboard
Post by: hazeluff on Sun, 19 February 2012, 23:19:40
You want to get a board with Cherry MX switches. Most common keycaps can be found for that. The DAS is good, but I think everyone is complaining about scratchign that shine on it.

Whats your budget? What kind of feel do you want (tactile/linear)?
Title: New Keyboard
Post by: WhiteFireDragon on Sun, 19 February 2012, 23:20:06
Welcome go GeekHack. You should dig around first and look at all the pics/wiki. Your question is too general.
Title: New Keyboard
Post by: HeX on Sun, 19 February 2012, 23:22:48
Preferably a tactile board, my budget is $200 I would also like to game on it.
Title: New Keyboard
Post by: HeX on Sun, 19 February 2012, 23:23:21
Quote from: WhiteFireDragon;519312
Welcome go GeekHack. You should dig around first and look at all the pics/wiki. Your question is too general.

Ok, thatnks for the heads up. Ill be sure to look around on the wiki soon.
Title: New Keyboard
Post by: hazeluff on Sun, 19 February 2012, 23:25:02
Quote from: HeX;519316
Preferably a tactile board, my budget is $200 I would also like to game on it.

Yeah, you'll probably want brown/blue switches. I think the general population says brown for gaming and it's what I use. Blue is more clicky than brown. For $200 you can get pretty much anything.

If you like customizing keys, maybe you'd like WASD you can customize all the keys when you buy it.
Or get a Filco (just a solid keyboard, expensive).
Title: New Keyboard
Post by: Henry Allen Venture on Sun, 19 February 2012, 23:55:01
As hazelhuff said, with that budget it sounds like you want a Filco (from Aus PC Market) or WASD (from WASD, obviously) with MX Brown switches. If you want to customise, you can do that from the outset with WASD.
Title: New Keyboard
Post by: HeX on Mon, 20 February 2012, 00:36:25
Quote from: hazeluff;519323
Yeah, you'll probably want brown/blue switches. I think the general population says brown for gaming and it's what I use. Blue is more clicky than brown. For $200 you can get pretty much anything.

If you like customizing keys, maybe you'd like WASD you can customize all the keys when you buy it.
Or get a Filco (just a solid keyboard, expensive).

I've had a look at the WASD and really like the look of them, ive read that brown, blue and cherry have different sounds and feels. What are the main differences between them? The only mechanical keyboard ive got access to is my friends Razer blackwidow (that ive heard are terrible online)
Title: New Keyboard
Post by: Henry Allen Venture on Mon, 20 February 2012, 00:38:49
Quote from: HeX;519367
I've had a look at the WASD and really like the look of them, ive read that brown, blue and cherry have different sounds and feels. What are the main differences between them?

Its all in the wiki, man.
Title: New Keyboard
Post by: HeX on Mon, 20 February 2012, 00:39:26
Quote from: Henry Allen Venture;519368
Its all in the wiki, man.

Sorry, ill check it out now.
Title: New Keyboard
Post by: 59abbot on Mon, 20 February 2012, 10:48:19
Quote from: HeX;519316
Preferably a tactile board, my budget is $200 I would also like to game on it.

I'm using Saitek gaming keyboard (http://www.vuugo.com/en/keyboards/saitek-call-of-duty-modern-warfare-elite-pc-keyboard/cd64310000a1.aspx) which cost me $110 six months ago.  It is a very good tactile keyboard with backlit and specially designed for gamers.
Title: New Keyboard
Post by: preymonkie on Mon, 20 February 2012, 10:58:37
Quote from: 59abbot;519616
I'm using Saitek gaming keyboard (http://www.vuugo.com/en/keyboards/saitek-call-of-duty-modern-warfare-elite-pc-keyboard/cd64310000a1.aspx) which cost me $110 six months ago.  It is a very good tactile keyboard with backlit and specially designed for gamers.

don't do this. people will laugh at you when you show up to your local lan with that keyboard.

read up on what switch you want and if look what's cheapest to ship for you
Title: New Keyboard
Post by: hazeluff on Mon, 20 February 2012, 11:07:41
Quote from: HeX;519367
I've had a look at the WASD and really like the look of them, ive read that brown, blue and cherry have different sounds and feels. What are the main differences between them? The only mechanical keyboard ive got access to is my friends Razer blackwidow (that ive heard are terrible online)

Brown and Blue are very different.

Brown is a subtle but noticable bump when pressing down, It's fairly quiet and you can get it near silent with some O-rings (if you're looking for that).

Blue is this massive click, the feel is weird as once you pass the bump, the force needed to push it down drops significantly. Blue is very noisy, but the click is very pronounced.

BW in general isn't anything "good" imo. But it's price is very good. I really don't like the font they chose, it looks really bad.
Title: New Keyboard
Post by: Snarfangel on Mon, 20 February 2012, 11:08:12
Quote from: HeX;519369
Sorry, ill check it out now.

Whatever you do, no matter how much you are tempted or what all the cool kids say, DO NOT VOTE! That's how they suck you in.
Title: New Keyboard
Post by: jellowiggler on Mon, 20 February 2012, 13:12:09
Black widows are still better than 95% of the regular rubber dome keyboards out there.  Lots of people started with a bw or bwu, and love them. They are a middle quality mechanical with excellent distribution and marketing.  They have support available almost anywhere, which you can't say about some of our crazy imports.   I don't slag anyone for having one because they are way better than any 'normal' board.

If you have $200 to spend you can afford any cherry mx board you want.  To most of us that means getting a Filco. They are the tops in build quality. Amazon usa is the distributor in north America.

WASDkeyboards is top quality and has extensive customization options direct from the company. Very good.

If you want the ultimate old school tactile keyboard check out unicomp, makers of the tried and true IBM model M.  These are very high quality and will last forever. Mine is 19 years old and is still awesome.

Read the wikis and learn about whichever one you want. There are tons of options and keyboards, with many different designs.

At your price point only the Topres are out of range. Have fun. Welcome to GH.