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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: goblix on Fri, 22 March 2013, 13:39:39

Title: Mechanical Keyboard suggestions
Post by: goblix on Fri, 22 March 2013, 13:39:39

Hello all,

I'm in the market for a Mechanical Keyboard, seeing as this will be my first mainstream mech keyboard I will need some suggestions / tips on what to look for and what is good on the market.
Some features I'm looking for are:
- Backlight LEDs (multi-color switch would be awesome but not necessary)
- Customizable key caps,
- Full QWERTY with num pad
- Price Range ($100 - $200)

In the end I may want to get some translucent key caps of which the backlight will be very beneficial in. Either way any suggestions or tips would be great.

Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard suggestions
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 22 March 2013, 13:54:27

if you "must" have backlit, there's only DUCKY, which is the "reliable" and "easily procurable" backlit keyboard..

Every other brand is rubbish...

the Coolermaster Trigger is also "ok" but it just takes a great deal of extra room for no reason..


If you'd be ok with "non-backlit"  then Filco is a good choice, or a modern UNICOMP buckling spring.

STAY AWAY from QuickFire Rapid for now the "Tenkeyless".. too many reports on its drop in quality... there might've been much good press upon it's release.. but it has surely fallen from grace...

Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard suggestions
Post by: goblix on Fri, 22 March 2013, 14:21:58

Cool thanks for the Reply, I'm leaning towards the Ducky Shine 2 as my keyboard of choice,

Quick additional question to those who wish to reply, when looking into translucent key caps is it more beneficial to go with a traditional white backlight or is it more beneficial to go for a strong color choice.
Anyone have examples of a example of translucent key caps with a backlit LED ?

Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard suggestions
Post by: Skull_Angel on Fri, 22 March 2013, 16:27:07

Quote from: goblix on Fri, 22 March 2013, 14:21:58

Cool thanks for the Reply, I'm leaning towards the Ducky Shine 2 as my keyboard of choice,

Quick additional question to those who wish to reply, when looking into translucent key caps is it more beneficial to go with a traditional white backlight or is it more beneficial to go for a strong color choice.
Anyone have examples of a example of translucent key caps with a backlit LED ?

I'd go with white backlighting and use alcohol based dyes to change the colors personally, but that's my preference. On the argument of "beneficial" backlighting, red/amber are probably best for your eyes.

Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard suggestions
Post by: Chase5delta on Fri, 22 March 2013, 17:39:18

Go for a Ducky Shine 2, great quality, all the switches, many different LED colors, and just plain awesome.

Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard suggestions
Post by: deazncy on Fri, 22 March 2013, 20:03:28

Max Keyboards really has some great kb's. Fully customizable, check them out: maxkeyboards.com