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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Imoster on Mon, 17 June 2013, 05:16:03

Title: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: Imoster on Mon, 17 June 2013, 05:16:03: Hi,

I'm a complete noob when it comes to mechanical keyboard. I currently have a Black Widow Ultimate however i'm wanting to change.
Would there be any keyboard that would fit my requirements?
-White Key Caps (prefer PBT)
-TKL
-Cherry MX Brown
-Price Limit of around $150

Thankss in advance
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: Tym on Mon, 17 June 2013, 05:17:26: You'd have an easier time buying a keyboard then adding white caps, but QFR is a good board and will be in your price range, and you can look for keys on the classifieds and find them easily enough.
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: kenmai9 on Mon, 17 June 2013, 05:26:56: Leopold FC700R - MX Browns in Black
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=19569
Leopold FC700R - MX Browns in White
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=19568

Find more here: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=cherry+brown&x=-472&y=-82

You have a great selection in this aussie store!
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: Grim Fandango on Mon, 17 June 2013, 05:43:44: Do you want the case to be a different color , or would you not mind a completely white keyboard? And does it have to be white or is something a little beige looking also good?

There are not many brands that offer stock white PBT keycaps. Even fewer (if at all) with a case that is a different color. It might be easier buying the white PBT keycaps separately and not restricting your choice of keyboard this much just for the color of the keycaps.
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 17 June 2013, 05:44:37: Quote from: kenmai9 on Mon, 17 June 2013, 05:26:56
Leopold FC700R - MX Browns in Black
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=19569
Leopold FC700R - MX Browns in White
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=19568

Find more here: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=cherry+brown&x=-472&y=-82

You have a great selection in this aussie store!

This, assuming you are in Melbourne, Australia :)

Or, if not, perhaps this: http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/shop-mechanical-keyboard-by-br/keycool-87-mechanical-gaming-k/lid=34707230
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: Imoster on Mon, 17 June 2013, 06:18:29: Quote from: kenmai9 on Mon, 17 June 2013, 05:26:56
Leopold FC700R - MX Browns in Black
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=19569
Leopold FC700R - MX Browns in White
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=19568

Find more here: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=cherry+brown&x=-472&y=-82

You have a great selection in this aussie store!

Yes but i was also planning to order a modifier set as well and apparently Leopold is not compatible with this set. Yeah PCCG is great! but it doesn't have any TKL ducky :(
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 17 June 2013, 06:20:30: ergodox... dun dun dun......................................
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: Imoster on Mon, 17 June 2013, 06:25:55: This, assuming you are in Melbourne, Australia :)

Or, if not, perhaps this: http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/shop-mechanical-keyboard-by-br/keycool-87-mechanical-gaming-k/lid=34707230
[/quote]

Not sure why but i don't really like keycool 87. Probably because the brand is not as reputable, would there be any where it isn't side printed?
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: Luke on Mon, 17 June 2013, 07:08:23: Quote from: rowdy on Mon, 17 June 2013, 05:44:37
Quote from: kenmai9 on Mon, 17 June 2013, 05:26:56
Leopold FC700R - MX Browns in Black
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=19569
Leopold FC700R - MX Browns in White
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=19568

Find more here: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=cherry+brown&x=-472&y=-82

You have a great selection in this aussie store!

This, assuming you are in Melbourne, Australia :)

Or, if not, perhaps this: http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/shop-mechanical-keyboard-by-br/keycool-87-mechanical-gaming-k/lid=34707230

The Keycool with the MX Blues was my first mech. keyboard and for the price I thought it was brilliant, the legends on the keycaps aren't too nice in my honest opinion but that might just be me.

Quote from: tp4tissue on Mon, 17 June 2013, 06:20:30
ergodox... dun dun dun......................................

lol :P
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: kenmai9 on Mon, 17 June 2013, 13:38:13: Quote from: Imoster on Mon, 17 June 2013, 06:18:29
Quote from: kenmai9 on Mon, 17 June 2013, 05:26:56
Leopold FC700R - MX Browns in Black
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=19569
Leopold FC700R - MX Browns in White
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=19568

Find more here: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=cherry+brown&x=-472&y=-82

You have a great selection in this aussie store!

Yes but i was also planning to order a modifier set as well and apparently Leopold is not compatible with this set. Yeah PCCG is great! but it doesn't have any TKL ducky :(
Only the space bar is incompatible. But some people are able to fix them by removing the stems and re gluing them.
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 17 June 2013, 15:18:18: Quote from: Imoster on Mon, 17 June 2013, 06:25:55
This, assuming you are in Melbourne, Australia :)

Or, if not, perhaps this: http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/shop-mechanical-keyboard-by-br/keycool-87-mechanical-gaming-k/lid=34707230

Not sure why but i don't really like keycool 87. Probably because the brand is not as reputable, would there be any where it isn't side printed?
[/quote]

Oops, linked the wrong one heh.

http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/shop-mechanical-keyboard-by-sw/key-cool-87-gaming-cherry-mx-s/lid=26561692

Have a read of the reviews: http://geekhack.org/index.php?board=139.0

I am more than satisfied with mine.

And yeah,m it is a shame that PCCG does not have any TKL Duckys - I would have bought MX red with blue backlighting in a second. I think they are just waiting for Shine 3 to come out which, according to their ETA, is in about a week. Maybe more stock then.
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: Wohmfg on Mon, 17 June 2013, 18:01:29: I have the same requirements as you, except I don't care what colour it is.

Qtan doesn't have brown switches in any of the keyboards I want for my price range (HPE 87, Keycool 87) and he says he won't have browns in for a few months.

:(
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 17 June 2013, 18:09:26: ^ Welcome to Geekhack!

Yes, there does seem to be a lack of available keyboard with MX browns, due to the lack of MX brown switches at the moment.
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: Wohmfg on Mon, 17 June 2013, 18:21:39: Thanks for the welcome!

I was so sold on the brown switches, and I think those Keycool 87s look awesome! Very basic but I like them with the coloured keycaps.
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 17 June 2013, 18:28:42: You can put coloured keycaps on almost any keyboard, but it is nice if they are supplied from the go.
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: Wohmfg on Mon, 17 June 2013, 18:32:47: Yeah exactly, I am on a budget, and it seems with mechanical keyboards being so niche, I would have to spend a little bit of money getting keycaps. So to see them come with simple coloured keycaps that I love is awesome. Makes it even more of a shame that I can't find anything similar with brown switches.

I can get a CM QFR for about the same price and with brown switches from amazon.co.uk, but it is an ugly keyboard imo, and I've read about a few issues with them that have put me off.
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 17 June 2013, 18:40:12: I am typing this on a QFR (with MX blacks and Filco yellow keycaps). I love it :)

There have been some problems with a few batches, but overall people seem satisfied, and QFR is one of the more highly recommended keyboards around here.

A lot of people don't like the font on the keycaps though, and the excessive branding, although later revisions significantly cut down on the branding.
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: Imoster on Mon, 17 June 2013, 21:15:49: Quote from: rowdy on Mon, 17 June 2013, 15:18:18
Quote from: Imoster on Mon, 17 June 2013, 06:25:55
This, assuming you are in Melbourne, Australia :)

Or, if not, perhaps this: http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/shop-mechanical-keyboard-by-br/keycool-87-mechanical-gaming-k/lid=34707230

Not sure why but i don't really like keycool 87. Probably because the brand is not as reputable, would there be any where it isn't side printed?

Oops, linked the wrong one heh.

http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/shop-mechanical-keyboard-by-sw/key-cool-87-gaming-cherry-mx-s/lid=26561692

Have a read of the reviews: http://geekhack.org/index.php?board=139.0

I am more than satisfied with mine.

And yeah,m it is a shame that PCCG does not have any TKL Duckys - I would have bought MX red with blue backlighting in a second. I think they are just waiting for Shine 3 to come out which, according to their ETA, is in about a week. Maybe more stock then.
[/quote]

Was actually extremely interested however there are none in stock for brown switches :(
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: Imoster on Tue, 18 June 2013, 00:01:36: Are there any places which sells ducky shine 2 or ducky g2 pro tkl with whitecaps?
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: domoaligato on Tue, 18 June 2013, 00:08:35: Quote from: Imoster on Tue, 18 June 2013, 00:01:36
Are there any places which sells ducky shine 2 or ducky g2 pro tkl with whitecaps?

http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/search.php?keyword=&switch_id=ALL&size=ALL&man=1&key_plastic=ALL&interface=ALL&cord_length=ALL&usb_kro=ALL&ps2_kro=ALL&x=62&y=10&in_stock=on

this link will get you the ones in stock with browns
http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/search.php?keyword=&switch_id=2&size=ALL&man=1&key_plastic=ALL&interface=ALL&cord_length=ALL&usb_kro=ALL&ps2_kro=ALL&x=82&y=15&in_stock=on
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: Imoster on Tue, 18 June 2013, 03:25:58: Sorry for a hard question , but do you know how much the aluminium ducky shine 3 would cost? otherwise i'll just go keycool 87 once they stock
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: domoaligato on Tue, 18 June 2013, 04:10:17: I do not want to stray you from your original requirements but I must ask why you have to have a tenkeyless keyboard?

Here is why I am asking...
I joined this forum last may. I hung out quite a while before I finally signed up.
I first bought a Coolermaster CMstorm Quickfire Rapid because it was cheaper then a Filco. (I am typing on the qfr now w/ mx reds)
then I bought a few KBT Race 75%'s (sold them to get the geekhack 60)
Now I am waiting for the gh60 groupbuy to complete so I can sell the QFR.

If I had taken the leap in the beginning and just bought a poker I would have saved a lot of time and money.
If I was not getting the gh60 I would be buying a poker 2 for $93.99

(http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/35122654/aview/POKER2-1.jpg)

It is programmable and portable (I transport my keyboard to work and back everyday because I do not trust my coworkers to not steal my keyboard from my desk at night.)

If you change your mind about layout/size here is a link to the poker 2
http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/shop-mechanical-keyboard-by-br/kbc-poker-2-61keys-mechanical-/lid=35050923

This thread has lots of info on the poker 2 including led modifications and much more.
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=43487.0
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: Imoster on Tue, 18 June 2013, 07:01:26: Quote from: domoaligato on Tue, 18 June 2013, 04:10:17
I do not want to stray you from your original requirements but I must ask why you have to have a tenkeyless keyboard?

Here is why I am asking...
I joined this forum last may. I hung out quite a while before I finally signed up.
I first bought a Coolermaster CMstorm Quickfire Rapid because it was cheaper then a Filco. (I am typing on the qfr now w/ mx reds)
then I bought a few KBT Race 75%'s (sold them to get the geekhack 60)
Now I am waiting for the gh60 groupbuy to complete so I can sell the QFR.

If I had taken the leap in the beginning and just bought a poker I would have saved a lot of time and money.
If I was not getting the gh60 I would be buying a poker 2 for $93.99

Show Image
(http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/35122654/aview/POKER2-1.jpg)

It is programmable and portable (I transport my keyboard to work and back everyday because I do not trust my coworkers to not steal my keyboard from my desk at night.)

If you change your mind about layout/size here is a link to the poker 2
http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/shop-mechanical-keyboard-by-br/kbc-poker-2-61keys-mechanical-/lid=35050923

This thread has lots of info on the poker 2 including led modifications and much more.
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=43487.0

Thats definitely a good looking keyboard but the reason i want TKL is because i want to add in custom keycaps and i was planning to buy a modifier set and if i buy a TKL the board would look perfect. Definitely looks good and im seriously considering it if Ducky shine 3 doesn't come out within the next few months or so
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: Imoster on Tue, 18 June 2013, 07:15:39: How much would an aliminium casing mechanical keyboard for 61 or 87 keys cost?
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: domoaligato on Wed, 19 June 2013, 01:09:50: Poker 2 uses the standard ansi layout. That is why they are so popular on here.
No weird sizes.
Title: Re: Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation
Post by: domoaligato on Wed, 19 June 2013, 01:18:37: Quote from: Imoster on Tue, 18 June 2013, 07:15:39
How much would an aliminium casing mechanical keyboard for 61 or 87 keys cost?

There are a few group buys going on for 60% (poker) and tkl/tenkeyless cases. Please have a look in that section