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geekhack Community => New Members => Topic started by: malnwas on Fri, 29 August 2014, 13:13:59
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Hello everyone!
I am so happy to have found this forum! I am currently shopping for a mechanical keyboard since I'm bored with buying non-mechs and having all the letters on keycaps disappear within 90 or so days. While this doesn't bother me much, it drives my local tech insane as he doesn't know the keyboard. :)
I do put a lot of wear on a keyboard -- 10, 12, or more hours per day, 7 days/week/365. I discovered early on that mech. keyboards seem to have a different Enter key than I'm used to. I'm addicted to the backwards L Enter key.
I have found a couple of models that use this type Enter key, but I'm now stuck trying to shake out which Cherry MX switch would be best for me -- don't want keys that are too hard/stiff -- and the more reviews I read/watch on the differences still leaves me a bit confused.
Can anyone suggest a good mechanical keyboard (would love "my" Enter key but not mandatory I suppose) that won't make me take out a loan to purchase? :)
Appreciate any help you may offer me. If this should be in a different category, tell me that, too. I'm a serious newbie. :)
Thanks,
Tess
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The layout you are looking for that has your big ass enter key is called "ISO"
The keyboard that I would recommend would be a UK Model M if you want clicky switches.
Cherry boards also have doubleshot caps a lot of the time. Doubleshot caps are the most durable and the legends will last literally forever.
EDIT: It would also be a good idea to have this posted in the "Keyboards" sub forum. If this gets enough attention, then maybe a mod could move this for you.
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"Bigass" enter key:
[attachimg=1]
ISO enter key:
[attachimg=2]
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Welcome to Geekhack!
If you don't get many responses here, feel free to create a thread in the keyboards (http://geekhack.org/index.php?board=31.0) section.
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Hello Tess and welcome,
Other than a preference for ISO, what else are you looking for in a mechanical keyboard? Would you prefer a layout without the numberpad (tenkeyless), backlighting, clickly vs silent?
There are a ton of options out there and you'll no doubt enjoying exploring them!
For a light keyswitch, I'd say to first try MX Blue/Brown/Red as a decent starting point.
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I don't think it's ISO, it's the big-ass enter key, aka Amiga, maybe. That being my strong preference, if a perfect keyboard -- all other attributes -- I will somehow force myself to dealing with a smaller-*ss Enter key. ;D And what are gold switches? I do realize companies other than Cherry are trading in on whatever gimmicky name they can in order to compete, I guess. I take it gold switches are another company's version of switches?
I do require numeric keypad. No preference on backlighting -- and no preference on clicky or non-clicky. I work for myself at home, no one to disturb and if you understood what I listen to in order to do my job, clicky is an improvement over most of my jobs. I edit court transcripts and depositions -- lots of lawyers, lots of witnesses who'd rather be anywhere else on the planet than giving testimony. :))
I'm having difficulty finding my big *ss Enter key WITH brown or blue MX switches. Apparently, I'm not looking in the right places. Any suggestions on good keyboard sites?
Thanks so much for the reply!
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Be aware that as big-ass Enter key will severely limit your options for replacement keycaps.
If you can convert to a conventional ANSI layout, that would open up a whole new world of possibilities for you :D
No idea what gold switches are, but you can get gold springs to go into Cherry MX switches.
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I thought it was "BOLD" switches?
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I just wanted to stop by and thank everyone for all the great advice! I am now typing on a Ducky Zero with blue switches and I am thrilled! Why did I wait so long to discover mechanical keyboards!!!
Oh, for those of you who recommended I should wean myself from the big-ass Enter key -- done! I think it took me about 3.5 seconds to get over that phobia - my new Enter key works just fine. I can't imagine why I had such a hard time years back when I got my first non-big-ass Enter key. Must have been drinking. LOL
I really am grateful to all who replied and to this forum and its administrator(s) for providing such a great opportunity for me to educate myself! Who knows, I may be back looking for more information as time goes on. I can say this: I will never use a membrane keyboard again in this lifetime!
Again, thanks to all of you!! :thumb:
Tess
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Thanks for the update!
You'll have a much, much easier time finding replacement keycaps for a more conventionally sized Enter key ;) Once you get over the new keyboard thrill, that is :))