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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: AverageHybrid on Mon, 06 October 2014, 03:14:20
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This has probably been the third time I'm asking but I have taken time to think think about the keyboards so I have narrowed down to these keyboards
-Filco Majestouch 2 TKL
-KUL ES-87
-Ducky Shine 3 TKL with White LEDs
-Ducky Zero
I have already decided on the models to get but I still cannot decide on which switch to get, the browns or the reds? As most of you have already know, I currently have a Filco Majestouch Ninja Full sized with blue switches. They feel good to type on and are my favorite but I find it lacking when it come to gaming and the clicks tend to overwhelm my gameplay a little too much. So I have decided I wanted a silent switch for gaming. These keyboards costs around the same price in my area except for the Ducky Zero so price isn't really much of a matter here. One thing to note is that the Backlighting isn't that much of a want but I'm fond of white backlit(yes only white) keyboards, but it isn't a must for the keyboard and it is more like a bonus that comes with the keyboard.
I have already went to the store many times to try both the switches and they both feel good but I still cannot decide on which one to get. When I tried the Browns, they felt a little gritty but I kinda like that tactile feel of it. However, when I try the reds they feel like smoother browns but also feel mushy to some extent and I miss the tactile bump of the Browns. And then I go back to the Browns to try and the cycle continues and now its all stuck in my head and I'm all fed up now, so guys give me your opinions. What you would go for personally and what you would go for if you were me.
Edit: After reading certain threads I came to realise that clears are the way to go if you want silent tactile and browns just feel inferior so I'm quite leaning to the reds now as I also already have a tactile click keyboard already. Clears are also quite expensive here and I don't have any money for them.
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KUL ES-87 with Clears.... or KUL ES-87 with Reds....
Ducky is also a solid choice if you decide for Browns or Reds, but they don't come with Clears. Personally I don't like Costar stabilisers (for many reasons), so the Filco is out for me, but some others like them. If you don't like the bottom out feeling of the newer Cherry style stabilisers, clipping the tabs allows the switch to bottom out.
So my order of preference would be:
KUL > Ducky Shine TKL > Ducky Zero > Filco TKL
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I mentioned that in my area that I live in the KUL clears just costs too much to be justifiable. So what I'm left with are the Browns and the Reds. Not only do I need help choosing a board, I also need help deciding on the switches, I think my best bet right now would be the reds as most of the threads I read around here about browns are negative and red has some positive comments.
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Any of those keyboards will be fine.
Although personally I find reds way too light.
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I've felt the "grit" associated with the feeling of typing on browns only in a switch sampler. When actually typing with brown switches, however, I hardly notice the tactile bump, but it's enough so that I hardly bottom out when I type.
In regards to gaming, browns have as good a reputation in that area as reds do.
I don't know what threads you read that gave you the overall impression that browns aren't preferred; you'll find that every switch-type has mixed reviews--especially the most popular ones. Other peoples' opinions are great to have, but if you like the feeling of browns over reds, don't pick reds just because you noticed most people prefer them.
I went to my local Best Buy and found the reds lacking compared to the browns. If you really like the blues, I think the browns would be a good step for you. And if you find yourself bottoming-out using browns or blues, consider getting clears when the cost becomes justifiable. Unless you're all about bottoming-out.
There's a drop for the Leopold FC660M (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/leopold-fc660m) that you might want to consider. There's a clear switch option for the same price as the other switches, and even with shipping, it should cost about as much--if not less--than the ones you're considering now. I've only had the browns for a short time and I already know they're a tad too light for my current taste. It's not exactly a TKL, and it has no backlighting, but it's got your dedicated arrow keys.
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I personally changed from Blues to Reds and I'm really enjoying my Reds atm.
They feel so much lighter than blues which reduces fatigue when gaming for prolonged periods of time.
It is rather irritating to type on the Reds though due to the mis-presses on the surrounding keys.
Therefore, it really depends on what you are using the keyboard for.
Alternatively, you can have 2 keyboards, one for gaming and other for typing.
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I personally changed from Blues to Reds and I'm really enjoying my Reds atm.
They feel so much lighter than blues which reduces fatigue when gaming for prolonged periods of time.
It is rather irritating to type on the Reds though due to the mis-presses on the surrounding keys.
Therefore, it really depends on what you are using the keyboard for.
Alternatively, you can have 2 keyboards, one for gaming and other for typing.
This.
If you're gonna be collecting keyboards anyway, might as well.
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Oh yea I forgot to mention that I'm also all about bottoming out and do not plan to "hover type"
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Oh yea I forgot to mention that I'm also all about bottoming out and do not plan to "hover type"
Have you considered a stiffer switch? Blacks, for example?
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Have you considered a stiffer switch? Blacks, for example?
I have tried them a bit and they actually feel mushy because of the linear property. Also I mentioned that I am all about bottoming out and I feel weird typing without bottoming out and I think the blacks won't do anything buy cause extra fatigue.
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Have you considered a stiffer switch? Blacks, for example?
I have tried them a bit and they actually feel mushy because of the linear property. Also I mentioned that I am all about bottoming out and I feel weird typing without bottoming out and I think the blacks won't do anything buy cause extra fatigue.
I'm personally not satisfied with the feeling reds give when I bottom-out. I don't suppose there's anywhere around for you to try either switch on a full board, is there? That's really the best way for you to decide.
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Have you considered a stiffer switch? Blacks, for example?
I have tried them a bit and they actually feel mushy because of the linear property. Also I mentioned that I am all about bottoming out and I feel weird typing without bottoming out and I think the blacks won't do anything buy cause extra fatigue.
Reds are linear too :p
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Just went to the shop and got a Ducky Shine 3 TKL White LEDs with Red switches because the shop was clearing out their shine 3 TKLs and were selling them for USD $100 which is just a steal at that pricing and just beats my thoughts of getting a Filco. They don't actually feel as bad as I thought they would be for typing, the cherry mx stabilizers are okay too with the red switches. Most people mentioned that reds are bad for typing and I agree to that, but using it to type right now it actually isn't as bad and I like how the switch feels linear until it bottoms out making a clack sound. Now if I need linear switches I can use my shine 3 and if I ever need the tactile feedback I will use my filco with blue switches. Another problem I far I might run into is when the keycaps wear out and I cannot find backlight compatiable keycaps...
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Just went to the shop and got a Ducky Shine 3 TKL White LEDs with Red switches and they don't actually feel as bad as I thought they would be for typing. Most people mentioned that reds are bad for typing and I agree to that, but using it to type right now it actually isn't as bad and I like how the switch feels linear until it bottoms out making a clack sound. Now if I need linear switches I can use my shine 3 and if I ever need the tactile feedback I will use my filco with blue switches. Another problem I far I might run into is when the keycaps wear out and I cannot find backlight compatiable keycaps...
Congrats on your second board.
There was a drop last week for Vortex Backlit Doubleshot PBT Keycaps (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/vortex-backlit-doubleshot-pbt-keycaps?s=pbt%20back) if you're looking for PBT.
If the ABS keycaps on your shine wear out, backlit ABS aren't as hard to find.
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They actually don't really feel as bad. The only thing that is still letting me having the thought that I should have gone with the browns is the tactile feedback. For those who have used browns, is the tactile feedback of the brown really that noticeable to an extent that it will improve your typing? Of course the tactile bump is noticeable when you press an individual switch down slowly with your finger. But how does it actually feel in real world use for typing and for gaming?
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I'll take the filco as I like the looks of it LOL
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They actually don't really feel as bad. The only thing that is still letting me having the thought that I should have gone with the browns is the tactile feedback. For those who have used browns, is the tactile feedback of the brown really that noticeable to an extent that it will improve your typing? Of course the tactile bump is noticeable when you press an individual switch down slowly with your finger. But how does it actually feel in real world use for typing and for gaming?
My local Best Buy had a G710+ with browns and a K70 with reds that let me compare the two pretty easily. The tactile feedback is pretty apparent, whether you bottom out or use extremely light touch-typing. It's not as obvious as a click, but it's enough to know that you've hit the actuation point, which is crucial for typing and still very helpful in games.
To me the difference was clear, so I stayed away from reds. I use a V60 with browns and I'm very happy with my choice.
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KUL ES-87 with Clears.... or KUL ES-87 with Reds....
Ducky is also a solid choice if you decide for Browns or Reds, but they don't come with Clears. Personally I don't like Costar stabilisers (for many reasons), so the Filco is out for me, but some others like them. If you don't like the bottom out feeling of the newer Cherry style stabilisers, clipping the tabs allows the switch to bottom out.
So my order of preference would be:
KUL > Ducky Shine TKL > Ducky Zero > Filco TKL
This.
I've recently done a Review on the KUL ES-87 /w Reds and maybe that will interest you, maybe not, but what Oobly said is right on the money, from my perspective the KUL is the best TKL board out there at the moment.
GLWYP