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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Rorgash on Sun, 17 August 2014, 13:34:36

Title: Greetings, Looking to buy a new keyboard and i have some questions
Post by: Rorgash on Sun, 17 August 2014, 13:34:36

a slight introduction

I go by Rorgash, im a PC gamer and i am a slightly income lacking noob hardware enthusiast, trying to learn with every upgrade i want to make, which brings me to why i am here.

I am in need of a new keyboard, currently i have a Coolermaster Quickfire TK blues and after some Pepsi some of the keys aren't really working well anymore :P, so i went looking for a new keyboard.

I went on this journey for a dream keyboard by first making a list of features as follows:

Small
Mechanical with blue or red Cherry switches
Has to have F1 to F12 buttons and if possible arrow keys but not important

After looking really  hard i found that none are sold in my country of Sweden, atleast none sold in the light of day that really fits me as none are smaller than the CM storm keyboards or the ducky mini but that one doesn't have the F keys and they all have arrow keys on the side making them bigger.

So i decided to head into the unknown, the dangerous the AMAZON!!!!! Here i started to find some stranger keyboards, and after running into some nice natives in Linus Tech Tips who directed me to a village at Mechanical Keyboards.com i found one that interests me a LOT, The Mysterious Vortex KBT Race 2, now i know that this "thing" doesn't exist back home and it even seems that it doesn't exist in the Amazon(uk).

After wandering around and finding more information about the Race 2 i ran across a strange man from Linus Tech Tips that directed me here to your dark and ominous gathering, and now here i am sitting by your campfire asking the very important questions of life.

Is the Vortex KBT Race 2 good?
Is there something better with these features?
Does anyone know where i can buy it? I found some on Ebay, but tips for other places are welcome :)

Title: Re: Greetings, Looking to buy a new keyboard and i have some questions
Post by: dorkvader on Sun, 17 August 2014, 14:05:36

First of all: Welcome to geekhack!

Some of us are very focused on modding and DIY. I recommend you get your TK repaired: usually it only involves replacing a few switches. But it's also a great excuse to buy more keyboards!

Sounds like a 75% or TKL is your ideal size.

Here's a picutre of a 75%
(http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/images/products/large_120_RACE.jpg)

Here's a picture of a TKL:
(http://fusionmods.net/tims/hardware/quickfire/1.jpg)

Now they are harder to get in sweden; Ducky might be your best bet, as the ducky nordic community is quite large. Sadly they are still opening their site I guess http://www.ducky-nordic.com/

You can get a Ducky shine II TKL backlit keyboard (also can get non-backlit version) in nordic layout. Not perfect but pretty good:
http://deskthority.net/vendors-f52/ducky-nordic-keyboards-keycaps-projects-and-misc-stuff-t4718.html

If you want a 75% like the race or race 2 you will likely have to import it.

If you are OK with ANSI layout, getting a KB imported is pretty easy. For example, here's the webpage of Qtan, a member here:
http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/

He has race2 http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/shop-mechanical-keyboard-by-br/black-kbt-race-2-blue-led-mech/lid=32963803
Also consider the FC600M http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/shop-mechanical-keyboard-by-sw/leopold-fc660m-mechanical-keyb/lid=35722930
(http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/35122654/aview/ZS-H-660M-1.jpg)

Both are pretty cheap, and shipping to Europe won't be that much (I hope).

Title: Re: Greetings, Looking to buy a new keyboard and i have some questions
Post by: Rorgash on Sun, 17 August 2014, 14:15:23

Thanks :)

and yea i think a 75% is what i want, and wow, the ones i found to buy on ebay was from qtan so im pretty sure then that he has a new costumer :)

he says something about asking him about other keyboards and that he can bring them in so i will look at his site you linked and see if he can bring in a Race 2 with cherry blue and green LEDs which would be perfect for me :D

Thanks a lot for the help :)

Title: Re: Greetings, Looking to buy a new keyboard and i have some questions
Post by: henz on Sun, 17 August 2014, 15:46:28

sweden calling in, i ended up ordering from WASD, great support and the possibility so select switches was a the selling point for me(can create funny looking keycaps also).
Was using ducky before. after that i decided i dont like backlit. It Feels like you are paying alot for light when you go with ducky.

I think i would recommend a filco board if you want to spend, QFR otherwise

Title: Re: Greetings, Looking to buy a new keyboard and i have some questions
Post by: Grim Fandango on Sun, 17 August 2014, 15:52:51

Quote from: henz on Sun, 17 August 2014, 15:46:28

sweden calling in, i ended up ordering from WASD, great support and the possibility so select switches was a the selling point for me(can create funny looking keycaps also).
Was using ducky before. after that i decided i dont like backlit. It Feels like you are paying alot for light when you go with ducky.

I think i would recommend a filco board if you want to spend, QFR otherwise

A great advantage of getting a Filco vs WASD is that even though Filco have a higher retail price, you might end up paying the same. The Filco you can order from the keyboard company (UK) while the WASD you have to import from USA, which means a possibility of huge custom charges in most EU countries. QFR is perhaps the best bang for buck. If you are interested in smaller keyboards with a dedicated function row, in general you should be looking at 75% keyboards, like the Noppoo choc mini or the Matias Pro mini.

Title: Re: Greetings, Looking to buy a new keyboard and i have some questions
Post by: wes1099 on Sun, 17 August 2014, 15:55:34

Just for future reference, there are guides for keyboard cleaning and maintenance at the /r/mechanicalkeyboards wiki page on reddit.

Title: Re: Greetings, Looking to buy a new keyboard and i have some questions
Post by: Oobly on Mon, 18 August 2014, 01:04:39

IMO, the best 75% is the Keycool 84. The older one with genuine MX switches, the latest version has copies (Kailh). The Race2 is PCB mount and has oversized Esc and Del keys which means you can't put aftermarket keycap sets on. The Keycool is plate mount and although you'll have to mix and match a bit with kits, you can fit aftermarket caps on since there are no weird size keycaps.

Then again, I wouldn't get a 75%. I don't use F1 to F12 so often and when I do, I don't mind pressing Fn+number row keys to get them. I actually find it easier since it's less of a stretch, so I use a 60% (KBT Pure).

If I needed F keys I would get a TKL, specifically the KUL ES-87.

Title: Re: Greetings, Looking to buy a new keyboard and i have some questions
Post by: Rorgash on Mon, 18 August 2014, 01:21:59

Thanks to everyone for all the info, learning about many brands and models that i didnt know about before, i have no ordered the Race 2 from Qtan, seeing as it fits my needs and i wont be modifying it(most likely, tho some new caps might come later) and it has what i need.

Again thank you all for your help and time :)

Title: Re: Greetings, Looking to buy a new keyboard and i have some questions
Post by: henz on Mon, 18 August 2014, 04:20:52

Quote from: Rorgash on Mon, 18 August 2014, 01:21:59

Thanks to everyone for all the info, learning about many brands and models that i didnt know about before, i have no ordered the Race 2 from Qtan, seeing as it fits my needs and i wont be modifying it(most likely, tho some new caps might come later) and it has what i need.

Again thank you all for your help and time :)

where you able to get an ISO board? Or dont you mind US ANSI?

Title: Re: Greetings, Looking to buy a new keyboard and i have some questions
Post by: Rorgash on Mon, 18 August 2014, 12:25:54

Quote from: henz on Mon, 18 August 2014, 04:20:52

Quote from: Rorgash on Mon, 18 August 2014, 01:21:59

Thanks to everyone for all the info, learning about many brands and models that i didnt know about before, i have no ordered the Race 2 from Qtan, seeing as it fits my needs and i wont be modifying it(most likely, tho some new caps might come later) and it has what i need.

Again thank you all for your help and time :)

where you able to get an ISO board? Or dont you mind US ANSI?

think its ANSI, but i dont really mind as typing isnt super important and i have used a US keyboard before without issues after a day or two

Title: Re: Greetings, Looking to buy a new keyboard and i have some questions
Post by: Quardah on Mon, 18 August 2014, 14:34:15

Quote from: dorkvader on Sun, 17 August 2014, 14:05:36

First of all: Welcome to geekhack!

Some of us are very focused on modding and DIY. I recommend you get your TK repaired: usually it only involves replacing a few switches. But it's also a great excuse to buy more keyboards!

Sounds like a 75% or TKL is your ideal size.

Here's a picutre of a 75%

Show Image

(http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/images/products/large_120_RACE.jpg)

Here's a picture of a TKL:

Show Image

(http://fusionmods.net/tims/hardware/quickfire/1.jpg)

Now they are harder to get in sweden; Ducky might be your best bet, as the ducky nordic community is quite large. Sadly they are still opening their site I guess http://www.ducky-nordic.com/

You can get a Ducky shine II TKL backlit keyboard (also can get non-backlit version) in nordic layout. Not perfect but pretty good:
http://deskthority.net/vendors-f52/ducky-nordic-keyboards-keycaps-projects-and-misc-stuff-t4718.html

If you want a 75% like the race or race 2 you will likely have to import it.

If you are OK with ANSI layout, getting a KB imported is pretty easy. For example, here's the webpage of Qtan, a member here:
http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/

He has race2 http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/shop-mechanical-keyboard-by-br/black-kbt-race-2-blue-led-mech/lid=32963803
Also consider the FC600M http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/shop-mechanical-keyboard-by-sw/leopold-fc660m-mechanical-keyb/lid=35722930

Show Image

(http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/35122654/aview/ZS-H-660M-1.jpg)

Both are pretty cheap, and shipping to Europe won't be that much (I hope).

/thread

Dat Dorkvador always sums up real classy real quick no big deal.

Also welcome to GH homie hope you enjoy your readings in here