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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: udgags on Wed, 21 March 2012, 10:29:06

Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: udgags on Wed, 21 March 2012, 10:29:06
So I spilled water on my keyboard (Logitech G15) yesterday morning so I spent yesterday looking up keyboards. I stumbled on this awesome forum and have been reading posts, wiki's, etc. now for a few hours. The amount of options, variations and companies is staggering. I never knew keyboards were this "complicated" but find it pretty cool (engineer in RL).

Here is what I've come up with so far from searching on here...



So my question(s) would be how do my conclusions look on my list? Is there something (brand, switch, etc.) I'm missing that I should do more research on? whats your recommendation?

Thanks!
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: thegunner100 on Wed, 21 March 2012, 10:46:18
Welcome to GH!
Someone who reads the wiki before posting?! no wai.

So ripster, now you're a benevolent monk?
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: FerretBuster on Wed, 21 March 2012, 11:48:32
Browns are not a middle ground... I wish people would stop saying that :(
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: sth on Wed, 21 March 2012, 11:52:12
Consider a Leopold. I couldn't be happier with mine. If you think the MX Blues will be too noisy, you're probably right. They are not quiet by any means, but learning how to type without bottoming out helps quite a lot.
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: tp4tissue on Wed, 21 March 2012, 11:56:15
Quote from: sth;552553
Consider a Leopold. I couldn't be happier with mine. If you think the MX Blues will be too noisy, you're probably right. They are not quiet by any means, but learning how to type without bottoming out helps quite a lot.

bottoming out influencing speed is a myth... It doesn't make sense to train your fingers to STOP in the middle of a keypress.
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: sth on Wed, 21 March 2012, 11:56:46
Quote from: tp4tissue;552560
bottoming out influencing speed is a myth... It doesn't make sense to train your fingers to STOP in the middle of a keypress.
lolwut I'm talking about volume.
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: tp4tissue on Wed, 21 March 2012, 11:56:55
Quote from: FerretBuster;552545
Browns are not a middle ground... I wish people would stop saying that :(

There is no middle ground. MX-Blue is the best switch...
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: udgags on Wed, 21 March 2012, 11:59:41
I don't think blues would bother me with their noise but my fiance has her laptop in the same room and i don't want it to be an issue.

What do you consider browns? I know most people say its just personal preference on the different switches so do you like browns?

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: udgags on Wed, 21 March 2012, 12:03:47
Quote from: tp4tissue;552563
There is no middle ground. MX-Blue is the best switch...

Why do you say blue is best? Trying to learn.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: sth on Wed, 21 March 2012, 12:07:43
Quote from: udgags;552574
Why do you say blue is best? Trying to learn.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

Because he likes them. Honestly you might as well just pick one at random because 2 months from now you're going to buy another board anyway.
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: FerretBuster on Wed, 21 March 2012, 12:10:51
Here is what I've learnt. If you think that something may be a problem, you're best option is to go for the board that doesn't have the potential problem. So if you think the sound may be a problem, don't get blues. Unless you can find a way to try out some switches at a local shop or something.
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: tp4tissue on Wed, 21 March 2012, 12:11:21
Quote from: udgags;552566
I don't think blues would bother me with their noise but my fiance has her laptop in the same room and i don't want it to be an issue.

What do you consider browns? I know most people say its just personal preference on the different switches so do you like browns?

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

Well, with all the money you'll be spending on your keyboards, you won't be able to afford marriage,, so you might as well try them all out.. Although, I have confidence you'll end up with blue.
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: stingrae on Wed, 21 March 2012, 14:15:15
Get an mx brown if you type, get a tenkeyless if you don't do data entry. mx brown are a great safe choice.

In my opinion mx red is probably nicer for WoW but overall it's a hyped switch and mx browns I think are much nicer across the board. Reds are probably the most overhyped switch although I can see how they would be liked and do like mine occasionally.

CM storm from pchome if you want a brown tenkeyless with media keys. Filco is a good option otherwise.
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: filphil on Wed, 21 March 2012, 14:31:54
If possible go used.  I don't exactly see many places for keyboards to get damaged, especially from a geekhacker.
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: whiskerBox on Wed, 21 March 2012, 14:36:25
The best advice I can give you is too spend as much money as possible on your board. Otherwise you will just end up upgrading in a month, so many people (myself included) do this and waste so much money buying and selling over and over until they get what they really want. So if you see something you really like and your nervous because it is expensive just sac up and buy it.
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: whiskerBox on Wed, 21 March 2012, 14:40:47
Oh and don't buy a cheap board and a bunch of crazy keys to make up for it. Buy a nice board and nice keys (PBT or doubleshot, etc.) and you will be much happier in the run. Quality boards that feel great and last a long time cost $$$. Don't try and polish a turd.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]45195[/ATTACH]
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: Logun on Wed, 21 March 2012, 16:33:48
If you do find the Red or blue switches too loud you can mod them with an O ring fairly easily.
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: tp4tissue on Wed, 21 March 2012, 17:05:34
Quote from: Logun;552824
If you do find the Red or blue switches too loud you can mod them with an O ring fairly easily.

O-ring mod reduces travel, and takes getting used to, about 3 days to get back your Maximum WPM..
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: tp4tissue on Wed, 21 March 2012, 17:07:28
Quote from: whiskerBox;552735
The best advice I can give you is too spend as much money as possible on your board. Otherwise you will just end up upgrading in a month, so many people (myself included) do this and waste so much money buying and selling over and over until they get what they really want. So if you see something you really like and your nervous because it is expensive just sac up and buy it.

THat's the solution to pretty much everything isn't it?? Throw money at it... He may as well get a HHKB silent, or a special edition topre,, although I'm not a huge fan of the bezel on the topre,, there's just too much of it
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: filphil on Wed, 21 March 2012, 17:07:36
3 days is not a lot of time.
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: tp4tissue on Wed, 21 March 2012, 17:11:21
Quote from: filphil;552854
3 days is not a lot of time.

Just giving you the heads up, so you don't get discouraged if you do the mod,, because reflex loop takes a long "time" to build,, and the OLD reflex loop is almost completely resistent to extinction. It is also the case that your old reflexes will block and reduce your rate of learning of NEW reflexes, because the new reflex in part requires inhibiting the OLD one.
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: udgags on Wed, 21 March 2012, 22:35:39
I just purchased

104-key WASD V1-Cherry MX (red) with 40A o-rings. I plan to get some PBT keycaps once they are in stock at WASD or overclock.
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: c0rbin on Wed, 21 March 2012, 23:27:57
Excellent choice... WASD is the best full size Cherry MX keyboard on the market.
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: whiskerBox on Wed, 21 March 2012, 23:34:47
Congrats:llama:
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 22 March 2012, 03:13:44
Quote from: c0rbin;553160
Excellent choice... WASD is the best full size Cherry MX keyboard on the market.

Full size is inconvenient because one cannot put it in the center of the table without moving the mouse too far to the right.

Best combo is tkl + a separate numpad
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: FerretBuster on Thu, 22 March 2012, 03:19:51
I have tried a tkl, and to be honest the 7cm odd you save isn't really that big of a deal...
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 22 March 2012, 09:55:42
Quote from: FerretBuster;553359
I have tried a tkl, and to be honest the 7cm odd you save isn't really that big of a deal...

i can tell you musn't type very much.... It's not a big deal if you're only typing in short bursts,, but when you gotta churn out long posts on several forums all over the interwebz,,,, one really does need to center their keyboard,, Otherwise one's right arm will be overstreched leftwards

But yea,, it's not undoable,, but tkl is mo4r comfortable for sure.
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 22 March 2012, 09:57:09
Quote from: filphil;552732
If possible go used.  I don't exactly see many places for keyboards to get damaged, especially from a geekhacker.


This is a function of how much of other people's semen you're willing to put up with.
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: FerretBuster on Thu, 22 March 2012, 10:50:20
Quote from: tp4tissue;553527
This is a function of how much of other people's semen you're willing to put up with.
Are you inferring I bought a keyboard not for typing on? Of course I type, I am in college. I write essays and all manner of write ups with this thing. And I also program for relatively long periods of time...
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: udgags on Thu, 22 March 2012, 14:52:27
Quote from: tp4tissue;553353
Full size is inconvenient because one cannot put it in the center of the table without moving the mouse too far to the right.

Best combo is tkl + a separate numpad


This would differ on each person and how wide they are....

Full length is 17.4"
TKL length is 14"
My shoulder width is 23.5", dead center would be 11.75".

Both keyboards are still inside my shoulder width (probably because of my body structure being wide). My mouse is pretty much exactly where my arm sits on the table naturally.
Title: Buying my first mechanical keyboard
Post by: biszarerabbit on Fri, 23 March 2012, 05:47:05
Yeah I recently got a cm quickfire and haven't really noticed a difference going from a full sized keyboard to TKL. I would say the biggest advantage of going TKL over full sized is that you have more desk real estate for whatever you want. That being said, I personally love the TKL layout.