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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Ranma13 on Wed, 10 October 2012, 15:24:47
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Hey guys, it's been a while since I've been on Geekhack. I was fairly active on the forums about a year ago, when I picked up a Topre Realforce 87U and a Filco Majestouch Brown Otaku, which I've been using ever since and have been pretty happy with.
Since then though, it looks like more companies have been coming out with keyboards. Although I'm still enjoying the Realforce 87U and Filco Brown, I wanted to get an update on which keyboards are currently the most popular. Can you guys provide a list of which keyboards have been popular on Geekhack as of late? Thanks!
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Pretty much same as it ever was: Filcos rule the Cherry roost, although Coolermaster is making a surprising showing. Das Keyboard sold out and is no longer made by Costar, Topre's are still the elitist's choice, although I'm seeing less fervor over the HHKBs. Truly Ergonomic makes a great board but a terrible business, apparently. Oh, and Filco Cherry Red boards are no longer the keyboard equivalent of the Loch Ness monster or Bigfoot.
Yes, a lot of companies are getting into mechanical (mainly Cherry-based) keyboards, but most of the time these are just companies who are trying to cash in on a bandwagon, and the QC for the boards is sub-par. Corsair's boards may use Cherry Red, but they pussed out and made a lot of keys still use a rubber dome. Razer is.. well... Razer. Logitech's getting into the game, although their offering isn't released yet, and looks to be made by iOne (a big no-no). Thermaltake's Meka G1 is a solid quality MB Black board, and WASD Keyboards is now the go-to company for custom keycap designs and colors on a solid Costar platform.
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This. I'd add that some cheap Chinese alternatives/clones have appeared from Keycool and HPE. There're also some new keyboards by KBT/Vortex.
Cheap, yes, but the build quality (LEDs aside) seems very decent so far.
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Since I'm still not able to post on classifieds and this thread seems like a reasonable place to ask..
What keyboard would you recommend for a starter?
I have been considering CMX browns or blues, since they seem to be fairly priced, have a good availability and are popular.
After 'tasting' a dusty Model M I felt the need to get a mechanical kb, but I have no experience with the modern ones, at all.
An important thing is shipping. I live in Brazil, so most of the places I find are either not shipping to Brazil, too expensive or dubious.
I'm looking into several different sources but it seems like nobody wants to handle international shipping or charges double for the work.
Any suggestions and/or good souls wanting to get rid of a decent quality board for a fair price and that could send it here?
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Ducky, especially the Shine (and Shine 2) and YoTD, seem to be fairly well regarded.
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Since I'm still not able to post on classifieds and this thread seems like a reasonable place to ask..
What keyboard would you recommend for a starter?
I have been considering CMX browns or blues, since they seem to be fairly priced, have a good availability and are popular.
After 'tasting' a dusty Model M I felt the need to get a mechanical kb, but I have no experience with the modern ones, at all.
An important thing is shipping. I live in Brazil, so most of the places I find are either not shipping to Brazil, too expensive or dubious.
I'm looking into several different sources but it seems like nobody wants to handle international shipping or charges double for the work.
Any suggestions and/or good souls wanting to get rid of a decent quality board for a fair price and that could send it here?
The CMStorm Quickfire Rapid is awesome, the only reason I'm selling mine is I want backlit.
If you want smaller, the race (75%) and pure (60%) are good boards as well.
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Mine is awesome!
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Bought the Quickfire rapid, after reading about it in here.
Had the 6Gv2 before, but this board is indeed superior to it, in any thinkable way.
only problem is that they keys seems to wear out fast (or at least get stained)
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I'm a clean freak so have not had that problem.
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Well - my personal preference is Topre. Not because I'm some elitist, I just love the feel of this switch. In my opinion, it's the perfect feel, sound and reliability out of the keyboards I've tried. I also have a das keyboard still going strong - but I gave it to my wife :).
It looks like Das Keyboards now have media keys, wish they did when I bought one ;(. In any case, if I bought a new cherry keyboard I'd probably go with one of the CM versions. That's purely hypothetical though, since I'll never get rid of my Realforce.
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I'm completely converted to the Realforce. I've tried going back to Cherry and buckling spring switches, and I always come back to my Topres. There's definitely something there that's more than just hype.
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Any build difference between boards like Realforce vs. HHKB? (Besides size obviously)
I'm interested in trying out topre...but the price tag is a bit intimidating o.o
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I'm curious about this too.
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Good summaries up there. I will add that the PLUM 89 has an interesting new layout, and the KBT One/Oni arae supposed to be the new hotness. Every time I look around Taobao I'm amazed at how many random Chinese mechanical keyboard brands there are.
Re: Topre
Both Realforce and HHKB are very high quality. Can't go wrong with either.
While I'm on the subject, am I the only one that wonders why they would take the layout of the Apple Lisa keyboard and elevate that as the pinnacle of layout design?