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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: mr626 on Mon, 29 October 2012, 07:16:22

Title: What should I buy for my next mechanical
Post by: mr626 on Mon, 29 October 2012, 07:16:22

Hello all,

So, its been a while since I posted. I guess that means I'm happy with my boards for the moment! Enjoying using buckling spring at work and at home.
However, I am a little bored with the cherry brown board that I use for gaming (Choc Mini White). I'll be honest- I miss cherry blues!

So, what board to get? Here's what I'd like:

-PBT keycaps (or POM I guess). I don't like shine- no ABS for me!
-Standard ANSI layout
-Would prefer TKL, but I have the room for full-sized (doesn't matter too much either way)
-Spend around $150US delivered to Australia

I'm thinking my main options would be a Leopold FC700R, or something like a CM Quickfire with a separate PBT keycap set.

Any other possibilities?

Title: Re: What should I buy for my next mechanical
Post by: SmallFry on Mon, 29 October 2012, 07:23:36

Sounds like you hit it on the head. I think that the Choc keyboards have POM keys IIRC, at least some of them do. I'd go for a CM QFR, myself as I think we have a programmable controller eventually (don't have an ETA) coming down the pipes.

Title: Re: What should I buy for my next mechanical
Post by: MissMurd3r84 on Mon, 29 October 2012, 07:48:40

The Leopold is $120 with PBT caps and shipping is like $13ish or something depending on where in Aus you are (From PCCG)
I like the board, myself.

Title: Re: What should I buy for my next mechanical
Post by: Vintage on Mon, 29 October 2012, 11:44:45

Not to get off topic.... but is the Leopold FC700R not sold in the US? For $120+shipping it's a pretty good deal.

Any chance EliteKeyboards will eventually get them?

Title: Re: What should I buy for my next mechanical
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 29 October 2012, 16:33:41

Typical shipping cost for a keyboard from US to Australia is around $50 to $70, so that would put most US-based retailers off the radar according to the budget.

PCCG is probably the best Aussie mech keyboard retalier atm, then there is AusPCMarket, and also CPL (CPL has CM QFR blacks for $82 - the cheapest I have seen if you can pickup, otherwise add about $15 to $20 for shippnig within Australia).

Title: Re: What should I buy for my next mechanical
Post by: mr626 on Mon, 29 October 2012, 16:44:37

Thanks for the replies.

My minor issues with the Leopold are: non-standard space bar (why does Leopold continue to do this?) and the colouring of the media function markings (not a fan of the bright blue).

If I was to get the CM QFR, what would be the cheapest (but still good) PBT keycap set I could get?

Title: Re: What should I buy for my next mechanical
Post by: mr626 on Mon, 29 October 2012, 17:15:49

Actually, I think this could be a winner?

http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/shop-mechanical-keyboard-by-sw/kbt-oni-87keys-mechanical-keyb/lid=32980982

Title: Re: What should I buy for my next mechanical
Post by: mr626 on Wed, 31 October 2012, 19:54:06

Ending up going with the FC700R after all. IRL the blue markings on the keys don't look as bad as they do in some photos. I still don't like that the Leopold spacebars are weird, but then again I can't see myself ever replacing the spacebar so I guess it doesn't matter.

Title: Re: What should I buy for my next mechanical
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 31 October 2012, 20:01:52

I was tempted by the white Leopold - it looks cleaner.

But ordered a Filco, and ended up getting the CM QFR.

Go figure ;)