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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: NakedElephant on Sat, 24 May 2014, 21:58:04

Title: Looking for two keyboards.
Post by: NakedElephant on Sat, 24 May 2014, 21:58:04
Hey folks, I'm looking for two new keyboards.

One for work and one for home.
I've gone around a few best buys and demo'd the keyboards. Not quite sure what to get.
I prefer Razer or something American. Needs to be long lasting.
The office keyboard will need to be on the conservative side though, none of those graphics designs, however.


Title: Re: Looking for two keyboards.
Post by: Pacifist on Sat, 24 May 2014, 22:00:49
pretty much all mech keyboards will last a long time

tbh razer will break earlier than most other mechs.

I recommend filco, those usually last the longest for stock keyboards. Want more quality? Get a korean custom with a metal case

want american and lasts for a lifetime? IBM model F's
Title: Re: Looking for two keyboards.
Post by: Dubsgalore on Sat, 24 May 2014, 23:39:22
I prefer Razer or something American. Needs to be long lasting.

If you want long lasting, American might be the last thing you want :))

look for something german ;D
Title: Re: Looking for two keyboards.
Post by: nubbinator on Sat, 24 May 2014, 23:40:40
Budget?  Clicky, linear, tactile?  Alps, Cherry, Topre?  Layout?  Size?  We need some info dude.
Title: Re: Looking for two keyboards.
Post by: Photekq on Sat, 24 May 2014, 23:43:02
I prefer Razer or something American. Needs to be long lasting.
IBM Model M, IBM Model F, Unicomp.
Title: Re: Looking for two keyboards.
Post by: Defect on Sat, 24 May 2014, 23:47:14
I prefer Razer or something American. Needs to be long lasting.
IBM Model M, IBM Model F, Unicomp.
+1 love my unicomp
Title: Re: Looking for two keyboards.
Post by: jonathanyu on Sun, 25 May 2014, 00:00:33
I prefer Razer or something American. Needs to be long lasting.
IBM Model M, IBM Model F, Unicomp.
+1 you can use them forever
Title: Re: Looking for two keyboards.
Post by: katushkin on Sun, 25 May 2014, 00:13:55
WASD might be good for you if you want to go American. I've had no issues with mine in the last few months.

But yeah, maybe look to Europe, and potentially Keycool out to the east.
Title: Re: Looking for two keyboards.
Post by: Pacifist on Sun, 25 May 2014, 00:15:12
WASD might be good for you if you want to go American. I've had no issues with mine in the last few months.

But yeah, maybe look to Europe, and potentially Keycool out to the east.

isn't wasd made by costar in taiwan?
Title: Re: Looking for two keyboards.
Post by: katushkin on Sun, 25 May 2014, 00:17:45
Errrrr....

I don't know. I just know they ship everything out of the US, and I just assumed it was all down to them.
Title: Re: Looking for two keyboards.
Post by: Pacifist on Sun, 25 May 2014, 00:18:54
Errrrr....

I don't know. I just know they ship everything out of the US, and I just assumed it was all down to them.
I think the caps are uv printed in america but the caps and boards are made overseas
Title: Re: Looking for two keyboards.
Post by: Oobly on Mon, 26 May 2014, 02:28:29
Hey folks, I'm looking for two new keyboards.

One for work and one for home.
I've gone around a few best buys and demo'd the keyboards. Not quite sure what to get.
I prefer Razer or something American. Needs to be long lasting.
The office keyboard will need to be on the conservative side though, none of those graphics designs, however.

Do you use the number pad often? If not I recommend a Filco TKL (TenKeyLess, they don't have the numpad), for both home and office, since it takes less space than a full size board and promotes better ergonomics by allowing the mouse to be closer to the normal area of the keyboard. If you need the numpad, then the full size Filco boards will do the job. For your home board a Ducky Shine 3 is also a good option if you like LED backlighting. They also come in full sized and TKL.

How do you like the switches to feel? Do you like to have some tactile feedback when typing? Do you prefer the keys to click when actuating? How strong do you want the resistance to be when pressing?

There are 3 main types of Cherry MX switches and 2 main resistance strengths:

Linear - no tactile feedback when the switch actuates, just a smooth movement from top to bottom, with the switch activating halfway down.
Tactile - the switches have a bump on the stem which can be felt as more initial resistance with a sudden reduction at the switch actuation point.
Clicky - there is a bump similar to tactile switches, but the reduction in force is more pronounced and they make a high-pitched "click" when actuating. They need to be almost completely released to reset the "clicker", so the actuation and release points are different (hysteresis).

MX Reds are linear and soft, Blacks are linear and hard.
MX Browns are tactile and soft, Clears are tactile and hard with a more prominent bump which starts earlier in the press.
MX Blues are clicky and soft, Greens are clicky and hard, Whites are clicky and hard with a softer click sound.

Some say the feeling of typing on the clicky switches is best, since the click gives you good aural feedback of when the switch actuates and the sudden drop in resistance gives good tactile feedback at the same time.

Favourite switch type is a very personal thing, though.

I like Browns and Clears (especially Clears with aftermarket 62g springs since they're softer than the stock ones, but retain the nice large tactile bump of the Clear stem) since I like having tactile feedback, but don't like the clicky sound of Blues and Greens. I also don't like the hysteresis of the clicky switches, particularly for gaming, but it's not really noticable for just typing.

Good luck with your keyboard purchasing.
Title: Re: Looking for two keyboards.
Post by: typo on Mon, 26 May 2014, 03:53:25
why the razer? it's not usa and it is low quality imo. get a unicomp or an old deck that was made in Kenosha. or any tg3 is still made there. all three are good usa quality. or get an old model m. it says something they still work after 30 years. I feel the same way about usa. however Europe and japan are fine too. topre or  hhkb is very good.
Title: Re: Looking for two keyboards.
Post by: allocerveau on Mon, 26 May 2014, 09:11:04
Oobly summed it up pretty well, but you can also look into 60%, they're great for saving space at work. For instance, the Leopold 660M is sold atm on Massdrop.
Title: Re: Looking for two keyboards.
Post by: Defect on Mon, 26 May 2014, 10:50:18
Oobly summed it up pretty well, but you can also look into 60%, they're great for saving space at work. For instance, the Leopold 660M is sold atm on Massdrop.

Leopold is Korean.
Title: Re: Looking for two keyboards.
Post by: 0100010 on Mon, 26 May 2014, 13:19:32
I prefer Razer or something American. Needs to be long lasting.
IBM Model M, IBM Model F, Unicomp.

Another vote for buckling springs.
Title: Re: Looking for two keyboards.
Post by: paicrai on Tue, 27 May 2014, 16:55:43
what was that thing you said about america
(http://media.tumblr.com/3a7c21cb07bfaf797432de6d1d9beae0/tumblr_inline_n5q5ssbRLk1qet7um.gif)
i recommend a noppoo or keycool btw