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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: snupple on Wed, 11 April 2012, 02:51:26
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Gday, I want two mechanical keyboards, so that I have the same keyboard at work and at home.
Narrowed it down to the Unicomp Classic or the Leopold FC500R.
I prefer the Unicomp as its bigger and heavier, but I am concerned about the noise it may make, I'd hate to get two and be told at work that the keyboard is too loud and take it home!
Any comments would be useful
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Just get a Leopold FC500 brown or red
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If you have the money why not try topre?
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I have not tried the unicomp classic, but Leopold boards are really nice :) and blues are my favorite switch. Blues are loud as well... so just keep that in mind. But, it depends on your work place, if the people you work with are cool I wouldn't worry about it. All mechanical keyboards make a sound that is louder than the standard rubber dome... if you are really worried about sound people put up sound samples of keyboards here.
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A friend of mine has a Das with blue cherries. It's sound might be a bit quieter, but is higher-pitched and IMO less pleasant :)
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If you are working in close proximity to other people. Then it's almost certain that buckling springs and blues will be out of the question.
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You could probly pick up a cheapish model M for under $50. Test the water with that if it is too loud when you bring another board in they will think it is an alright comprimise.
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You could probly pick up a cheapish model M for under $50. Test the water with that if it is too loud when you bring another board in they will think it is an alright comprimise.
Of course, older ones are likely to be somewhat louder, due to rivets, and general wear from age.
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A rubber pad under the buckling spring keyboard, along with the floss mod, really cuts down on the sound volume, and takes it to a lower register.
The blues may or may not be as "loud" in the absolute decibel sense, but the sharper, higher-pitched sound is almost always considered more "annoying"
Pads or o-rings reduce the sound ever so slightly, but don't expect much relief that way.
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If you want a clicky tactile keyboard just get the Unicomp.
If you want a clicky tactile keyboard that is relatively easy to customize (read: keycaps) get a Leopold.
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@OP:
If you're planning to use the same keyboard at work, I'd recommend the Leopold. The Unicomp is quite a bit louder.
And welcome to Geekhack!
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If you want a clicky tactile keyboard just get the Unicomp.
If you want a clicky tactile keyboard that is relatively easy to customize (read: keycaps) get a Leopold.
I would actually say that the Unicomp is probably easier (and cheaper) to customize than the Leopold. The new Unicomp website makes it really easy to order an assortment of keys.
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Narrowed it down to the Unicomp Classic or the Leopold FC500R.
Both fine keyboards, but with the FC500R you get four choices of switch (blue, brown, black and red) and none of those is like buckling spring. Not even MX blue: even though it's tactile & clicky -- and so is buckling spring -- the key weight and general feel are very different. Some people love blues to death; others love buckling spring and hate cherries.
So you're asking about two very different alternatives, and asking us to tell you which you would prefer. Given that it's such a personal thing I think there are limits to the quality of advice we can give, but here goes...
If you like a keyboard with a very firm, tactile feeling, go for the Unicomp first. You may love it or hate it, but it's not expensive and at least you've experienced the awesome phenomenon that is buckling spring.
If you prefer a keyboard with a medium to light feel, consider the Leopold with blues or browns. Lots of people say they like browns best. Reds are good too: superb for gaming, and very comfortable for typing if you like a light feel and you've got the patience to get used to them (touch typing on reds accurately isn't easy).
but I am concerned about the noise it may make,
The noise issue will be just as bad with MX blue, perhaps worse. It makes a higher pitched, crispier clicking noise which some people find more irritating than buckling spring.
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i'm in a cube farm. my neighbors noticed the sound of buckling springs at first, but after about a week, they completely tuned it out.
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You will get both keyboards in the future, so don't worry about the choice of the first keyboard. You will buy the other in no time anyway.
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You will get both keyboards in the future, so don't worry about the choice of the first keyboard. You will buy the other in no time anyway.
This. LOL
3 months looking at third already -__-
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