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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Jixr on Mon, 12 August 2013, 09:19:35

Title: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: Jixr on Mon, 12 August 2013, 09:19:35
Alright so I ordered the new quickfire XT last week, and it comes in tomorrow.

I am going to use it at my office, and ordered in blues, but now i'm thinking I should have gone reds/browns due to the lower noise.
( no one has complained about my qfr in blue that i've been taking from home/work for the last week )

I work in an office with only one other person in a 10' radius of my desk, and she hasn't said a word ( though i've not asked if they bothered her )

I'm the kind of person who to an OCD level, loves having things the same at home as I do at work. I have the same 1440p monitors, attached to the same vesa arms, take my mouse to and from work ( I don't feel like buying another $120 mouse ) same OS, same background, blah blah blah. for the last week i've been taking my QFR to and from work, and would continue to do so but I really need a numb pad at work, and a keyboard does not fit in a pocket as easily as a mouse.

I've used reds before, great for gaming, terrible for typing, as I often was pressing keys in the wrong order or missing the switch. Browns I don't know if I would like. if they are any thing like blues, there is still a bit of space between the switch and the bump so I don't think it would help that much since I usually bottom out anyway.
I've tried o-rings on my blues, but it made them feel like poop.

Though I'm worried that if I get a different switch board for work, I'll want to get the same switch at home. ( though I've been thinking to mod my QFR 'wasd' keys to reds. )

Ideas on what I should do? I don't want to order the board and later people complain to me about the noise.

Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 12 August 2013, 09:21:21
If no one is complaining yet where is the problem?
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: Jixr on Mon, 12 August 2013, 09:49:27
i suppose its a bit of since i've not tried all the switches i feel like i'm missing out on my favorite.
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: ___q on Mon, 12 August 2013, 09:51:08
i suppose its a bit of since i've not tried all the switches i feel like i'm missing out on my favorite.

The only solution to this is to buy one keyboard with each type of switch.
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: CPTBadAss on Mon, 12 August 2013, 09:53:54
Could just join a tour and try out a bunch of switches at once.
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: Xenderwind on Mon, 12 August 2013, 09:54:15
If you're hanging out on these forums, then you probably won't stop at just one/two boards.  You will eventually want to try other switches and boards.  You can try to get into one of the switch tester boards to find what you like.  Could also buy from classifieds and sell the boards if you don't like them for a slight loss. 

Personally I think if I had someone near me at work with blues, I would probably want to punch them or break something.
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 12 August 2013, 16:57:53
While I am using reds at work, someone else is borrowing my Ducky with blues.

He sits about 2m away from me.

From time to time I can hear him typing.  Maybe it's me, but I find the clicking slightly hypnotic.
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: Moosecraft on Mon, 12 August 2013, 17:16:36
Every new switch I have tried I disliked for the first few hours, but to be honest after a while I enjoy them all for different reasons. Well maybe not clicky switches as I can't really stand the noise over time.
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: QueenXenon on Mon, 12 August 2013, 17:21:49
My boyfriend got a board with blues, and the clacking was so novel and satisfying initially.  And then all I could think was "holy balls I'd like to make a sentence without conjuring a plastic orchestra for once"

I think that sentiment would be especially true in an office (I intend to put browns in my work board)
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 12 August 2013, 17:23:29
I am restoring a couple of Model M keyboards - without a doubt the loudest switches I have ever used.

At the moment I am completing the keycap sets on them, then I would like to try to bring one in to work and see what people say :))
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: hu5h on Mon, 12 August 2013, 18:43:09
You could always add some o-rings on your keys.

http://www.amazon.com/008-Buna-N-O-Ring-Durometer-Round/dp/B0051XWXCE

I've found these things work fine on my blues, for dampening.  They still click, but don't have the loud bottoming out noise.  I didn't like the feel at first, but then they grew on me.  It is a fairly inexpensive solution(over getting a new keyboard).  You could just try a few keys at first just to see how they feel and sound to you, before committing doing the whole keyboard.
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: LONGZILLA on Mon, 12 August 2013, 19:16:59
Alright so I ordered the new quickfire XT last week, and it comes in tomorrow.

I am going to use it at my office, and ordered in blues, but now i'm thinking I should have gone reds/browns due to the lower noise.
( no one has complained about my qfr in blue that i've been taking from home/work for the last week )

Yeah, I've got the blues too, but not really buyers remorse given I've had my Filco MJ blues for awhile now, but the annoyance from all the *CLICKING* has slowly started to creep up on me (it's always annoyed the crap out of my GF and skypemates).

Been in love with the browns on my Kinesis at work for a few years now, and my new red Poker has just re-validated how much I'm ready to sell the Filco. Perhaps I'll give those o-rings a spin..
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: Jixr on Tue, 13 August 2013, 09:19:44
it comes in the mail today, I suppose I'll call up Newegg and see what their return policy is.

If i have to pay to ship it back and pay to ship the new one to me again i may just keep it.

I tried o rings, but I hated them on my board. I like the long key throw.
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: morpheus on Tue, 13 August 2013, 10:31:40
I had buyers remorse with Cherry Blue and Red. I just can't type with them at all. Browns or Topre for me, and maybe Matias Alps when and if I can get them.
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: Jixr on Tue, 13 August 2013, 12:19:07
I think i'll ask my co-worker if my blues are too loud. if she says yes, return it is, if no, i'll keep it.
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: fohat.digs on Tue, 13 August 2013, 13:36:15
I tried o rings, but I hated them on my board. I like the long key throw.

I like landing pads better than O-rings on blues only.

Otherwise I prefer O-rings on Cherries.

The jailhouse blues might be perfect for you because the click is mostly gone and the actuation point is higher - leaving more travel at the bottom.
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: Jixr on Tue, 13 August 2013, 13:46:07
I've read on jailhousing the blues ( basically turning them into ergo-clears ) but from my understanding, the technique of creating them has not been perfected. from the traveling jailhouse blue board people have said that some keys felt different than others and I know that would bother me.

My co-worker didn't have a problem with a board ( she joked that she knows when i'm working or not )

I guess the problem started since I double tap so often and fast that i began to notice you can let blues hover below the click and above the switch making them feel like reds, which i kinda like for this ( hated typing with them though )
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 13 August 2013, 17:37:02
You could at least try it at work - maybe no-one will mind!
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: Jixr on Tue, 13 August 2013, 17:52:07
You could at least try it at work - maybe no-one will mind!

I've been lugging my QFR back and fourth, I asked my closest co-worker, She said she noticed the sound, but she didn't find it 'annoying'

I think my biggest issue is that I'm now starting to discover the complaint with blues about double tapping. ( which is most of what I do at work )
I really notice sometimes due to the space between the blue click and switch I can double tap with only clicking once. which I find a bit annoying, but with Reds i like how they are nice and smooth but you really have to bottom out to know you switched the key.

I i'm completely 50/50 on it. I like it, but I can't help but think if reds might be better. ( browns don't appeal to me though )
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 13 August 2013, 18:23:39
I went from blues to reds, via blacks, although double-tapping was not a problem.

I am starting to miss blacks.

No complaints about noise- just trying different keyboards.
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 13 August 2013, 20:17:30
I went from reds to browns to blues to blacks ending up on clears with a liking for topre.
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: Photoelectric on Tue, 13 August 2013, 22:30:59
I beg to differ :)  I love my light Jailhouse Blues that are ridiculously quiet, and all the switches are uniform in feel with an o-ring stem mod.  Latest discussion / summary here:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45992

I've read on jailhousing the blues ( basically turning them into ergo-clears ) but from my understanding, the technique of creating them has not been perfected. from the traveling jailhouse blue board people have said that some keys felt different than others and I know that would bother me.

My co-worker didn't have a problem with a board ( she joked that she knows when i'm working or not )

I guess the problem started since I double tap so often and fast that i began to notice you can let blues hover below the click and above the switch making them feel like reds, which i kinda like for this ( hated typing with them though )
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: LONGZILLA on Tue, 13 August 2013, 22:57:01
I beg to differ :)  I love my light Jailhouse Blues that are ridiculously quiet, and all the switches are uniform in feel with an o-ring stem mod.  Latest discussion / summary here:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45992
Woah, that seems like an interesting project. Found some videos of other jailhouse blues in action, do you happen to have one Photoelectric?
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: Photoelectric on Tue, 13 August 2013, 23:11:50
You mean typing on a keyboard or?  I linked my video in Khaangaaroo's Tour thread for his board, but I can make a new one for mine, as it's sufficiently different.
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: BliTzKiN on Wed, 14 August 2013, 01:02:51
I think if you like blues you would somewhat like browns as well. Maybe not as tactile? But I would say that the sound level wont be a problem for office or school.
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: zoolzoo on Wed, 14 August 2013, 05:25:57
Honestly I think all MX boards are relatively loud unless you are touch typing or using orings/pads. I would stick with your board unless she complains, blues are my favorite MX switch.
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: Photoelectric on Wed, 14 August 2013, 05:43:43
Blacks + o-rings are very quiet, especially when not bottoming out.  Quieter than many rubber domes.
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: Jixr on Wed, 14 August 2013, 14:25:14
finally made a desision, returning the XT in blues and gonna pick up a xt and qfr in reds from a member here, that way I can have the same boards at home as I do at work.
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: TimIsABat on Wed, 14 August 2013, 21:16:43
I know you made your decision, but honestly you will be missing your blues at some point. Keyswitches end up becoming like shoes...
Right now I am typing on reds with very little problems...but I like ergoclears...then I want to type on a good RD, then I want to switch back to my reds....I will probably be the same when my Model M comes in.

You preferences and desires for a certain feel will change constantly like with other things in life.
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: Jixr on Thu, 15 August 2013, 13:32:39
well, i'll have 3 boards now, 1 QFR in blue, 1 QFR stealth in reds, and 1 XT in reds.

So I'm undecided if I'll keep one around or sell/trade it off.
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 15 August 2013, 13:34:24
well, i'll have 3 boards now, 1 QFR in blue, 1 QFR stealth in reds, and 1 XT in reds.

So I'm undecided if I'll keep one around or sell/trade it off.

So which are you liking the most?
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: Jixr on Thu, 15 August 2013, 14:25:53
Well, i dont have my new ones in yet, but its a 50/50 really.

I love the clicky blues, but the doubble click issue is throwing me off, and the noise is too much for an office. ( love it at home though )

I love the smoothness of the reds, but when I had a red board before, I occasionally made typos from either not acuating the switch or hitting switches before I meant to. but they are amazing for gaming, and dub and trip clicking ( which I do alot of at work ) and since i'll be using one of the reds at work I won't sound like a machine gun while writing an email.  ( i'm an autocad draftsman, and have all my commands hotkeyed to a WASD gamer style layout, press a key once for one command, double tap is a diff command, etc )

I'm not sure if I would like browns since most people say they feel like dirty reds, Clears sound really good, but are not easy or cheap to find.

I'll probably swap the covers of the QFR's as i like the dark grey over the black.

Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 15 August 2013, 16:56:29
well, i'll have 3 boards now, 1 QFR in blue, 1 QFR stealth in reds, and 1 XT in reds.

So I'm undecided if I'll keep one around or sell/trade it off.

Make sure you keep at least one to display your custom key caps.
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: Jixr on Thu, 15 August 2013, 18:55:04
thats what my F1-13 are for.
Title: Re: buyers remorse? (key switch question )
Post by: Jixr on Fri, 16 August 2013, 11:13:56
Though i think its funny that i never noticed the double tapping with blues issue while gaming, only when working in Autocad lol