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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: garage_logician on Tue, 29 September 2015, 14:00:30

Title: Jailhouse Blues or Browns? Or?
Post by: garage_logician on Tue, 29 September 2015, 14:00:30
I want to get a mechanical keyboard for my office, which means it needs to be quiet.  I am looking at a keyboard on Massdrop and have a choice of blues or browns (no clears) in a tactile switch (either Cherry MX or Gaterons, leaning towards Gaterons).   I think I would really prefer the blue but am concerned they would be to loud for my office.   I have a switch tester and the browns seem just ok.  Kind of scratchy and very little tactile feedback.   

I could do the jailbreak mod and from what I understand it makes the switch as quiet as a brown but retains the solid tactile feel.  Seems perfect, the issue is that I am not sure what it would take to mod the existing switches on the board.  My question is this, can I mod the switches without having to remove them from the board?  The keyboard I am looking at is the KB87 (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/kb87-bluetooth-cnc-acrylic-mechanical-keyboard).  Does anyone know if the mod can be done in place?

If it cannot I will need to choose between the Cherry or Gateron browns.  I can't seem to find much feedback about the Gateron browns (or blues for that matter).  Do the Gateron browns have a more pronounced tactile feel or are the similar to the Cherry's?   By any chance are the Gateron blues quieter than the Cherry's?   Can they be jailhouse modded?

So many questions, I know.  It would be a lot easier if the clears were in the drop but they are not.  The must have feature for me is bluetooth which really limits my options.  I have caps, springs, lube, case, etc..  The only piece that is missing is the actual keyboard!   Any help or insight would be much appreciated.

Thanks
-gl

 
Title: Re: Jailhouse Blues or Browns? Or?
Post by: user 18 on Tue, 29 September 2015, 14:13:58
No, the switches need to be removed from the board in order to do a jailhouse mod.

Blues will likely be fine if you have a loud office, or an area where you can close your door. They have the added advantage of making you sound more productive :P  Some people find that the caps you use with blues can alter the sound slightly, although probably not enough to make a difference.

If you are concerned about noise, blues will likely be an issue, because of their high-pitched click. I have not personally tried gateron switches, but the general consensus is that the gateron browns are smoother than their cherry counterparts.

I'm not sure what you mean by you have "caps, springs, lube, case, etc." That sounds more like a list of parts for building a board than anything else. If you are planning to mod your board, swapping springs and lubing switches also require desoldering on that board. Depending on your case, changing the case may also require desoldering. If you really want clears, why not order a bunch of clears and swap the switch out at the same time you do some of those other mods?
Title: Re: Jailhouse Blues or Browns? Or?
Post by: digi on Tue, 29 September 2015, 14:37:05
Gonna save you money and time, buy a Topre Realforce if you have to be quiet...or even if you don't have to be quiet.

If you want to go the MX route, ergo-clears are the best, fact.

I accept Clacks as a form of payment for this information. :D
Title: Re: Jailhouse Blues or Browns? Or?
Post by: garage_logician on Tue, 29 September 2015, 23:36:32
Quote from: user 18 on Tue, 29 September 2015, 14:13:58
I'm not sure what you mean by you have "caps, springs, lube, case, etc." That sounds more like a list of parts for building a board than anything else. If you are planning to mod your board, swapping springs and lubing switches also require desoldering on that board. Depending on your case, changing the case may also require desoldering. If you really want clears, why not order a bunch of clears and swap the switch out at the same time you do some of those other mods?

I bought the springs and lube thinking I could do the mods in place.  If I have to remove the switches I would just put in new switches.    But, I would rather get something that I could use with out putting more time and money into it the project.   

I am leaning towards the Gateron Browns unless the Gateron blues are quieter than the Cherrys (but I don't think that is the case).

BTW, do you always have to enter verification just to post?  Does that go away at some point?
Title: Re: Jailhouse Blues or Browns? Or?
Post by: garage_logician on Tue, 29 September 2015, 23:38:10
Quote from: digi on Tue, 29 September 2015, 14:37:05
Gonna save you money and time, buy a Topre Realforce if you have to be quiet...or even if you don't have to be quiet.

If you want to go the MX route, ergo-clears are the best, fact.

I accept Clacks as a form of payment for this information. :D

I would, if I could find one with Bluetooth.  Is there such a beast?  Oh, and it has to be Mac friendly....
Title: Re: Jailhouse Blues or Browns? Or?
Post by: user 18 on Wed, 30 September 2015, 00:09:19
Quote from: njbair on Tue, 29 September 2015, 17:02:00
Got this awesome keychain from SpAmRaY:

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/4yB8Sox.jpg)


It's a 3D-printed switch holder keychain thing. The switch is a Gateron housing with a Cherry MX clear stem & spring, and the cap is a see-thru red and white doubleshot. Thanks, Spam!

Time to go on the hunt for my PIF victim...bwahaha!

Quote from: garage_logician on Tue, 29 September 2015, 23:38:10
Quote from: digi on Tue, 29 September 2015, 14:37:05
Gonna save you money and time, buy a Topre Realforce if you have to be quiet...or even if you don't have to be quiet.

If you want to go the MX route, ergo-clears are the best, fact.

I accept Clacks as a form of payment for this information. :D

I would, if I could find one with Bluetooth.  Is there such a beast?  Oh, and it has to be Mac friendly....

HHKB with Hasu's (?) bluetooth controller, if you're okay with a 60%.


Verification goes away after a few posts, not sure of the exact number offhand. No more than 10, IIRC.