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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: weeninja on Mon, 04 August 2014, 02:46:03
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Disclaimer: I've looked at a ton of threads about this exact thing before, but since the layout and switch types of the boards have changed over the past years, I'd like to see what the current opinion is.
So I'm looking to buy a 75% blue switch board. Massdrop offers a Noppoo 84 for ~$95 incl shipping (not guaranteed a spot, as the spots to commit will probably be full by the time I get an answer here) https://www.massdrop.com/buy/noppoo-choc-mini (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/noppoo-choc-mini).
On the other hand, mechanicalkeyboards.com has a white PBT Keycool 84 for ~$96 (http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=387 (http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=387)).
I've researched both boards and from what I saw, the KC has better build quality but has kailh switches, while the noppoo has cheaper build quality but has cherry switches. Which to buy? Thanks in advance.
p.s. - I don't care about switching out keycaps. Unless they're broken or something.
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Choc Mini has thicker POM keycaps that are essentially Cherry profile. That's a killer feature IMO. It has some nice additional features, such as Ctrl/CapsLock swap in firmware.
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Do not EVER go with the Keycool.
NO NO NO NO
It's not MX Blue switches : it's some Blue Kaihua Kailh Switches. Totally different things.
The Noppoo choc is a much better choice but consider you will not be able to change the whole set; 5x spacebars are super rare. But that you don't give a sh1t so it's all good.
I personally wouldn't get any of those two boards, just because of the weirdo layouts. But if you like it, it's still a nice board it's a good deal for less than a hundred. Filco, WASD and KBC offers some nice space savers as well you might want to check (60% and 75%).
Hope that helps you.
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Some places still sell the Keycool 84 II which has genuine Cherry switches, but the Noppoo still has better keycaps.
The only problem with the Noppoo is that the spacebar is a non-standard size, so if you do ever want to change the keycaps you have to keep using the original spacebar.
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Why would you do that though? Thick POM is already perfect.
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Why would you do that though? Thick POM is already perfect.
Well.... I said "if".
I agree about thick POM being awesome.
It's also a great layout for gaming.
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Yes, KCs are being sold with Kalih switches now. Yes they are notoriously poor. However, I believe CPT Badass has received a KC with the Brown Kalih switches and is in the process of reviewing it, so I wouldn't take such a strong stance against them just yet.
And the keycaps on the KCs are good IMO.
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perfect > good ^_^
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perfect is boring though.
good is more exciting!
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I went with the Noppoo (wireless) myself.. I love POM...
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perfect is boring though.
good is more exciting!
The adventures of using Razer keyboards?
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perfect is boring though.
good is more exciting!
The adventures of using Razer keyboards?
Indeed.
Just like an episode of CSI.
It could be planned obsolesce, could be mechanical failure, could be your spouse and hell it might even be the damn butler!