geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Flyersfan1 on Sat, 12 January 2013, 22:37:17

Title: New keyboard recommendation
Post by: Flyersfan1 on Sat, 12 January 2013, 22:37:17: Hi All! I'm new to geekhack, this is such a great forum and I'm so bummed I didn't discover it sooner! I was looking for a little bit of help in picking out a new mechanical keyboard, I'm definately going for something with Cherry MX Blues and have a budget of around 65-80 dollars. The two keyboards that really caught my eye that were well within my budget are the Rosewill RK-9000 and the CM Storm QuickFire Rapid. I know both keyboards have gotten pretty high praise around these forums. I like the idea of having a more full size keyboard that the Rosewill model offers, but got a little worried reading numerous reviews on Amazon and NewEgg that the mini USB connector is somewhat prone to failing after a short while. I don't know too much about the CM model other than the fact that it's a little smaller and is perhaps more portable. They both look really solid as far as build quality and user experience are concerned so it's been kind of a tough decision to make. Any recommendations on which model I should go for would be most appreciated, this will be my first mechanical keyboard so I'm very excited to finally get to use one. Thanks so much for reading!
Title: Re: New keyboard recommendation
Post by: tp4tissue on Sat, 12 January 2013, 22:55:53: If you REALLY REALLY need a keypad, you can get a separate inexpensive mechanical keypad

I'd recommend the Quickfire Rapid TKL, and use autohotkey, you can easily replace the missing keypad..

Remember only the TKL Rapid and Trigger is made by Costar, the other one is made by iRocks..

http://www.amazon.com/ADESSO-AKP-220B-Adesso-Mechanical-Numeric/dp/B0038KN3YY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358052834&sr=8-1&keywords=keypad+mechanical
Title: Re: New keyboard recommendation
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 12 January 2013, 23:23:15: QFR - lots of Rosewills seem to have delicate USB connectors (although it has been reported as being fixed, nevertheless reports continue to come in of people having broken ones).
Title: Re: New keyboard recommendation
Post by: Preach on Sun, 13 January 2013, 00:22:41: I came from a laptop squishy nasty feeling membrane keyboard to a tower with mechanical keyboard. I bought the QFR rapid, just with browns because that switch met my needs most.

I can say after about a month or two of using the QFR that I will never look back.

Gaming on them is very nice. I play wow and have to press a lot of keys rapidly. I also type a lot. Overall the QFR has met every expectation and then some.

Little side note:
I watched a video of a razer keyboard being destroyed with a QFR used as a weapon. That was part of the reason I pulled the trigger on the QFR instead of another board.
Title: Re: New keyboard recommendation
Post by: KangarooZombies on Sun, 13 January 2013, 00:33:13: I'm gonna side with rowdy on this one. Quickfire Rapid is an EXCELLENT budget board with a wide variety of things you can do to it later on if you get more budget. Highly recommended.
Title: Re: New keyboard recommendation
Post by: Flyersfan1 on Sun, 13 January 2013, 10:50:41: Thank you so much for the recommendations guys! Just to clarify, the QFR is still made by Costar right?
Title: Re: New keyboard recommendation
Post by: KangarooZombies on Sun, 13 January 2013, 22:42:10: Yeah, i think so.
Title: Re: New keyboard recommendation
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 13 January 2013, 22:51:39: Quote from: KangarooZombies on Sun, 13 January 2013, 00:33:13
I'm gonna side with rowdy on this one. Quickfire Rapid is an EXCELLENT budget board with a wide variety of things you can do to it later on if you get more budget. Highly recommended.

explain? what are you "doing to it"
Title: Re: New keyboard recommendation
Post by: KangarooZombies on Sun, 13 January 2013, 22:54:02: (http://i.imgur.com/3hwNZ.jpg)
^.^
Title: Re: New keyboard recommendation
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 13 January 2013, 23:00:12: Quote from: KangarooZombies on Sun, 13 January 2013, 22:54:02
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/3hwNZ.jpg)

^.^

Oh.... gotcha, keycaps and painting. ;D
Title: Re: New keyboard recommendation
Post by: KangarooZombies on Sun, 13 January 2013, 23:04:11: How do you know that's all i changed? Seems rather presumptive.
Title: Re: New keyboard recommendation
Post by: Preach on Mon, 14 January 2013, 04:06:20: Quote from: KangarooZombies on Sun, 13 January 2013, 23:04:11
How do you know that's all i changed? Seems rather presumptive.

What else did you change? Cause I was actually looking at mods for the QFR. Whether it be cases like some other boards have, etc.
Title: Re: New keyboard recommendation
Post by: Magnusian on Mon, 14 January 2013, 04:08:59: I too really like my QFR, it's a great little piece of kit.
Title: Re: New keyboard recommendation
Post by: KangarooZombies on Mon, 14 January 2013, 04:20:46: Quote from: Preach on Mon, 14 January 2013, 04:06:20
Quote from: KangarooZombies on Sun, 13 January 2013, 23:04:11
How do you know that's all i changed? Seems rather presumptive.

What else did you change? Cause I was actually looking at mods for the QFR. Whether it be cases like some other boards have, etc.
I just changed a few of the switches out. Nothing special.
Title: Re: New keyboard recommendation
Post by: Mountain Man on Mon, 14 January 2013, 07:18:38: I can't say enough good things about WASD Keyboards. Can't go wrong with them.
Title: Re: New keyboard recommendation
Post by: Germiphene on Mon, 14 January 2013, 13:14:40: I would recommend not going with a Rosewill. My first mechanical was a rosewill with blues, and it lasted for about 3 months before a switch stopped working. Stupid me threw it out before harvesting the rest of the switches >:D.
Title: Re: New keyboard recommendation
Post by: tjcaustin on Mon, 14 January 2013, 13:17:10: If you're ok spending a little more money, buy the Quickfire TK and have the best of both worlds!
Title: Re: New keyboard recommendation
Post by: uJalled on Mon, 14 January 2013, 17:42:24: I would never buy a rosewill for a first board- if you want to know about rosewills, ask TotalChaos

Go with the CM QFR

Btw, you're a Flyers fan? I bet you're excited about the end of the lockout :)
Title: Re: New keyboard recommendation
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 14 January 2013, 18:20:26: Quote from: Germiphene on Mon, 14 January 2013, 13:14:40
I would recommend not going with a Rosewill. My first mechanical was a rosewill with blues, and it lasted for about 3 months before a switch stopped working. Stupid me threw it out before harvesting the rest of the switches >:D.

throwing it out was your first response? ;D

that's totally n00b :))
Title: Re: New keyboard recommendation
Post by: Flyersfan1 on Mon, 14 January 2013, 18:55:55: Quote from: uJalled on Mon, 14 January 2013, 17:42:24
I would never buy a rosewill for a first board- if you want to know about rosewills, ask TotalChaos

Go with the CM QFR

Btw, you're a Flyers fan? I bet you're excited about the end of the lockout :)

I'm a huge flyers fan! And yes, i'm totally psyched! I really can't thank you all enough for all help, ordered a QFR from NewEgg yesterday.