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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: nullptr on Fri, 26 July 2013, 17:45:24

Title: Looking at a few TKLs
Post by: nullptr on Fri, 26 July 2013, 17:45:24: Having been infected by the TKL bug, I want to add one of them to my small family of mechanical keyboards. I am a big fan of clicky keys, so I've narrowed down my search parameters to blues and ended up with this list so far:

Filco Ninja Majestouch-2 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0060J3X2C/blancmedia-20) - Seems like a safe choice, and like the keycaps.
KBT Poker II PBT (http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=458) - Will be hard to get used to, but I love the compact size (I may take the kb travelling).
WASD V2 (http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/wasd-v2-87-key-custom-mechanical-keyboard-preorder.html) - I own the V1 and am happy with it, so it may be worth buying another WASD.

I am unable to decide, all of them have properties I like, so I could use some external opinions or even other options.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Looking at a few TKLs
Post by: Xenderwind on Fri, 26 July 2013, 17:48:55: Poker is a 60%, not a tkl. If you want a tkl then a QFR or filco is a safe choice, very easy to get replacement keycaps. Depending on how much you want to spend there's also custom keyboard options.
Title: Re: Looking at a few TKLs
Post by: nullptr on Fri, 26 July 2013, 18:04:00: Quote from: Xenderwind on Fri, 26 July 2013, 17:48:55
Poker is a 60%, not a tkl. If you want a tkl then a QFR or filco is a safe choice, very easy to get replacement keycaps. Depending on how much you want to spend there's also custom keyboard options.

Thanks for the info, I think with this one I'm going up to about $200. I wasn't aware that that type of keyboard wasn't considered a TKL, but it's a keyboard type I am considering. I got my wife a CM Storm Trigger a while back and am not fond of it myself, so I don't think the QFR or another CM is going to be it.
Title: Re: Looking at a few TKLs
Post by: Photekq on Fri, 26 July 2013, 18:04:59: I think WASD V2 would be a good choice. It seems like they've done a really good job on it.
Title: Re: Looking at a few TKLs
Post by: nubbinator on Fri, 26 July 2013, 18:29:34: Quote from: Photekq on Fri, 26 July 2013, 18:04:59
I think WASD V2 would be a good choice. It seems like they've done a really good job on it.

But is it $150 good? Considering that you can get a tenkeyless Ducky or Keycool keyboard in the $100-125 range, I'm not sure it is.
Title: Re: Looking at a few TKLs
Post by: rowdy on Fri, 26 July 2013, 19:24:44: QFR is usually a safe choice.

Also consider KeyCool - I have one with reds (other switches usually available), comes with PBT keycaps, very nice.

Have a look in the Reviews (http://geekhack.org/index.php?board=139.0) section for some reviews of various keyboards to give you additional information.
Title: Re: Looking at a few TKLs
Post by: muad on Sat, 27 July 2013, 15:16:09: If you already have a set of keycaps you can just the WASD v2 barebones keyboard for around $100.

http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/wasd-v2-87-key-barebones-mechanical-keyboard.html (http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/wasd-v2-87-key-barebones-mechanical-keyboard.html)
Title: Re: Looking at a few TKLs
Post by: nullptr on Sat, 27 July 2013, 16:08:33: I actually went ahead and pulled the trigger on the Poker II. I wanted to try something different, and if it doesn't work out, I can always get the WASD or the Filco.
Title: Re: Looking at a few TKLs
Post by: geekTH on Sat, 27 July 2013, 19:12:54: Quote from: nubbinator on Fri, 26 July 2013, 18:29:34
Quote from: Photekq on Fri, 26 July 2013, 18:04:59
I think WASD V2 would be a good choice. It seems like they've done a really good job on it.

But is it $150 good? Considering that you can get a tenkeyless Ducky or Keycool keyboard in the $100-125 range, I'm not sure it is.
TKL keycool will not cost $100 to $150, less than $100.....
Title: Re: Looking at a few TKLs
Post by: Grim Fandango on Sat, 27 July 2013, 19:31:43: Cooler master Quickfire Rapid is pretty good bang for buck.

I have the Filco MJ2 Tenkeyless and am very happy with it.

You are better of first deciding whether you want to go TKL or 60% though. It will narrow your search and make things easier.
Title: Re: Looking at a few TKLs
Post by: Thimplum on Sat, 27 July 2013, 20:06:35: MJ2
Title: Re: Looking at a few TKLs
Post by: Thimplum on Sat, 27 July 2013, 20:07:17: MJ2 is very well reputed. It seems a safe choice.
Title: Re: Looking at a few TKLs
Post by: Sifo on Sat, 27 July 2013, 21:43:38: Filco gets a vote, having owned two