geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Inception on Wed, 29 April 2015, 00:18:13
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My question is obvious and I don't think I need to restate it... But I will anyways. I am planning on buying a CM Storm QuickFire Rapid with Cherry MX Blue switches from B&H for $85 - My question is, at this point is the keyboard really worth so much? It seems the price has gone up from what it was originally 2 years ago ($69 from what I have seen, honestly I've never owned a mechanical keyboard before and this will be my first). If you wonder why I don't just get the Rapid-I it is simply because I find backlighting blatantly annoying, I simply dislike it... So my question is now... To buy or not to buy?
Edit: My apologies, I have seemed to have placed this in the wrong forum, I'd like to ask that it please be moved to the correct forum "keyboards". My apologies once again as I didn't realize that forum existed before I had posted this here.
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Very nice keyboard - simple, reliable, compatible with most key sets.
I have a QFR with MX blacks, and a QFS with MX greens (QFS basically a QFR with front-printed keycaps).
At one stage it was the most highly recommended keyboard around (but has since been supplanted by the likes of Poker, CODE and KUL).
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How long do they normally last? I'm new to mechanical keyboards and lifespan is really what I've been concerned about lately. Also, is there anything I should know before purchasing one?
P.S. I am either going to buy this one or the Das Keyboard Model S... I don't need the new model 4.
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I've had mine for more than 2 years, although granted I have not been using it exclusively all that time. Not a single fault with it.
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How do you think it'd fare being used about 8-9 hours a day @100+wpm? Also should I get it or the Das Model S?
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I really don't know.
And for that matter how would any keyboard go being used that much.
At least the QFR is less expensive than most keyboards :)
The stock keycaps would wear through pretty quickly though, so you'd want to replace them with some decent PBT ones - hence the comment about QFR being a standard layout.
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Could you recommend me some keycaps to replace the stock with? I won't be doing this right away but I'd like to know ahead of time.
Edit: Would this discussion be more fit for the "keycaps" forum?
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Depends how much you want to spend, and what quality keycaps you want.
Given how much you anticipate using the keyboard, PBT is probably favoured over ABS - ABS will shine quite readily. Although maybe you like shiny keycaps? :p
Vortex PBT are quite cheap, but acceptable quality. Ducky make some nice PBT sets, but they are a bit more expensive and sometimes difficult to get hold of.
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Would these (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/vortex-pbt-keycaps)work? (Though I know the numpad parts would go to waste :P)
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Those will be fine :)
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I've decided to just go all out and say "Screw it." and I just bought a Classic Black Unicomp keyboard... It'll be here soon. It's gonna be a hell of a ride getting used to this thing.
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Yay for buckling spring! (Typed on one of my SSKs.)
Can't go wrong :D
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Yup, my friend recommended it to me as soon as I brought up the fact that I was looking to buy a mechanical keyboard... He just told me "Don't ask questions, Google around, and just buy it." So I did just that, he's been reliable with things like this in the past so I'm trusting him here!
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Once you get the Unicomp, you might find yourself wondering what one of the original IBM Model M keyboards was like.
Then you will hear about the Model F ;)
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Ahhh I see... I sorta kinda look forward to that? :)) Also, do you think I made the right decision getting the Classic and not the Ultra Classic? I was unsure of what the difference really was.
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They're pretty good. Had a controller problem with one though. Replacement boards are available on the forums. They were $54 new including shipping for a bit, so I think $85 is high.
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They're pretty good. Had a controller problem with one though. Replacement boards are available on the forums. They were $54 new including shipping for a bit, so I think $85 is high.
Might want to read back on what this conversation has really become... I think my question about the QuickFire Rapid has already been answered.
Also edit: Excuse me, I made a mistake, I didn't buy the Classic I bought the Ultra Classic.
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Whoops. Went with a BS. :P
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Whoops. Went with a BS. :P
LoL - Good boy!
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I've decided to just go all out and say "Screw it." and I just bought a Classic Black Unicomp keyboard... It'll be here soon. It's gonna be a hell of a ride getting used to this thing.
Did you Massdrop this?
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Did you Massdrop this?
Massdrop? Oh, sorry, no. I bought it through Unicomp's website.
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Have a QFS. It's pretty good quality for what it is. I recommend buying used from the classifieds for around $50-60, but honestly would not be upset paying $80 for another one.
Except I have two, and many many many many other keyboards.
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Wouldn't really say it is because of the keycaps, for a little more you can get a poker 2/3 but its your money not mine.
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The Unicomp keyboard arrived today (Yesterday night actually)... In extremely bad condition. I am not placing the blame on Unicomp on this one. The guy who delivers stuff around here speeds and is reckless with his driving. I am genuinely PO'd at this guy now, I've returned the product. I honestly think it would be a good product if it weren't for this damn delivery guy. :( I returned the product and I am going out today to a place out of town to buy myself a CM Storm QuickFire Rapid (I saw them just the other day for about $75 in Cherry MX Browns)
Edit: I will be filing a complaint about this delivery guy, I should have done so last month when he delivered my boogie board broken in half.
Also... Did I mention how amazing CoolerMaster's support is?
I asked the question because I realized they were out of stock in alot of places...
(http://i.imgur.com/JbVS1FT.png)
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CM support has generally been good, from all reports.
And Carter and Rajiv were very active here once upon a time, although I don't recall hearing from either of them for some time.
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A follow up:
It's been a few days now and I have not yet bought a new keyboard (I came into the local store I had seen all of the CM Storm QuickFire Rapids with MX Browns and I attempted to purchase one, upon trying they told me that earlier that week somebody had come in and put every one of them on layaway and that they weren't supposed to still be on the shelf... Just my luck.), I have filed a complaint about the delivery man to my local UPS service... I'm not sure what is happening as they won't give me any information, but all I know is that there is a lady delivering the packages from UPS in my area now. I think that I am going to try my luck with another Unicomp, the Unicomp Ultra Classic White USB version... I have a few questions however: Having never felt an actual IBM Model M before, will the keyboard feel cheap in terms of the plastic like many say it does "compared to the Model M"? Is it true that the steel backplate is gone in Unicomps? (I have heard that it is completely gone and I have also heard that they are using a lower quality, cheaper, and thinner backplate now, so I am not sure what to believe really)
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Not having tried a Unicomp, I can only offer conjecture until someone with real experience can chime in.
The plastic is a bit thinner, but not such as you'd notice it in daily usage.
The plate I also understand is thinner. Really old IBM Model M had thick plates, later IBM Model M had slightly thinner plates.
Something I do have experience, albeit limited, of is keycaps. Unicomp are occasionally creative with their legend positioning and consistency, in contradistinction to IBM legends that were 100% spot on every time.
But really for most purposes a Unicomp should be fine.
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Great, I actually had considered an original Model M a while ago, however I realized that it wouldn't fit in my desk's tray as the rubber dome I have barely does besides my mouse pad...