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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Duhki on Wed, 11 May 2016, 21:07:02
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Damn, I really wish I'd found out about this place earlier - it's great!
I've recently been looking into a whole range of mechanical keyboards, as I don't have any knowledge of using one previously and I'd like a change from my membrane keyboard (so, I'm very inexpereienced; my apologies).
I'll be ordering a Cherry MX switch tester soon, so I'll be able to get a feel for my favourite switch (although I'm assuming it'll be brown), but I'm still stuck on which keyboard I should actually order? I've heard so many differing opinions...
I'm mainly looking at these brands: Leopold, Cooler Master, Das, WASD, Ducky, Filco, Deck
Are all these brands reknowned for producing quality products? I'm also mainly looking for a TKL board - any brand that you'd recommend over the others, or ones that I haven't listed?
Thanks! ;D
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I love my wasd v2. The stock caps aren't anything to write home about, but they do let you print whatever you want on them, which is neat. I currently have gmk Sky dolch on my wasd and it looks so good.
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I like WASD keyboards for a few reasons. The LEDs are in the case instead of under the keycaps, so when I change keycaps I don't lose my caps lock (& etc)led. (Most aftermarket keycap sets do not have a window in the caps lock, scroll lock, etc for the LED to shine through)
I like that the controller/dip switch allows you to change the caps-lock key to a control key. I don't mean swapping the left control & caps-lock, but instead just changing the caps-lock to control. WASD are the only keyboards I know which allow this. (Yes, that means you end up with three control keys - one at each bottom corner & one where the caps-lock used to be)
The build quality seems solid, but probably not any higher quality than the other brands on your list. Overall I like WASD keyboards for the build quality & the way the controller is programmed. Oh, and the LEDs in the case, not under the keyaps. This is really important to me - some folks don't care about it at all.
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I've been very happy with the Leopold with stock thick side print pbt caps.
I do have the full size version but they make it in tkl.
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Filco TKL, but no bling2
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I'll throw out an oddball...
Look up Qisan and Magicforce on Amazon, not only is it made in the same factory as Leopold, but uses standard caps (Leo uses an odd spacebar), it's very lightweight yet surdy, and available with almost any switch. Better yet, these are VERY inexpensive and very well made. If you find you dislike it, or want to step up*, you can resell it for most of what you paid for it.
LiquidEvilGaming and I both agree, it's one of the best starter keyboards and best deals you will find on a mechanical keyboard.
*Stepping up is relative. These are actually fantastic boards, and given equal switches, will hang with anything costing far more.
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Welcome to Geekhack!
Are you in Australia? Or Austria? Or another country starting with Aus?
If Australia, do you want to buy from an overseas store? If not, it cuts down the keyboards you have available considerably.
PCCaseGear and MechKB are the two best places to look.
I'd suggest a Ducky - I have three of them and they are all great! Plus Ducky has a good range of backlit and non-backlit keyboards, and most of the common MX switches.
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Here are my recommendations:
$70 - $90 = CM Storm QuickFire Rapid (really solid board)
$90 - $120 = Leopold FC750R (an extremely high quality board with the best stock keycaps in the market [1.5mm PBT])
$120 and above = Filco Majestouch 2 (The best of Cherry MX Boards)
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what purpose do you use this keyboard for and how much your budget?
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Go Topre and don't look back.
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Go Topre and don't look back.
Yeah I was thinking maybe the Novatouch TKL?
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Go Topre and don't look back.
Yeah I was thinking maybe the Novatouch TKL?
That's not Topre.
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Go Topre and don't look back.
Yeah I was thinking maybe the Novatouch TKL?
That's not Topre.
Oh it's not? Then I've been misinformed.
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Go to classified sub forum and check out wts for hhkb2 or RealForce. You can score a wonderful Topre for $190<
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Go Topre and don't look back.
Yeah I was thinking maybe the Novatouch TKL?
That's not Topre.
Oh it's not? Then I've been misinformed.
For the sake of correct information, the Novatouch is an "electro-capacitive" switch, that functions exactly the same as the Topre switch they are copied from. Topre is however a brand. It's kinda like calling Gateron switches Cherry switches (except Gateron are better than modern Cherry switches).
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Go Topre and don't look back.
Yeah I was thinking maybe the Novatouch TKL?
That's not Topre.
Why is it not Topre, I just saw the word "Topre" on the PCB of my Novatouch.
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Go Topre and don't look back.
Yeah I was thinking maybe the Novatouch TKL?
That's not Topre.
Oh it's not? Then I've been misinformed.
For the sake of correct information, the Novatouch is an "electro-capacitive" switch, that functions exactly the same as the Topre switch they are copied from. Topre is however a brand. It's kinda like calling Gateron switches Cherry switches (except Gateron are better than modern Cherry switches).
What a joke, you're basically saying its a clone, and you're wrong.
It uses Topre stem, Topre domes,Topre PCB,Topre Plates.
Plus Topre Screws holding the plate and PCB together.
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honestly I'd get a topre/clone or an alps clone over mx. or unicomp if you dont mind noise and want a modern model m
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Go Topre and don't look back.
Yeah I was thinking maybe the Novatouch TKL?
That's not Topre.
Oh it's not? Then I've been misinformed.
For the sake of correct information, the Novatouch is an "electro-capacitive" switch, that functions exactly the same as the Topre switch they are copied from. Topre is however a brand. It's kinda like calling Gateron switches Cherry switches (except Gateron are better than modern Cherry switches).
What a joke, you're basically saying its a clone, and you're wrong.
It uses Topre stem, Topre domes,Topre PCB,Topre Plates.
Plus Topre Screws holding the plate and PCB together.
gonna agree, the keys are topre with a modified slider, feels the same as my hhkb(keypress) even.
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Get the HHKB Pro 2.
Paging the topre squad boys. Let's mess this thread up. i hate myself
Really though, I was in your situation trying to figure out which MX switch to get. Ended up going with the HHKB because of the layout and was pleasantly surprised by topre. If none of the MX switches feel right to you, try out other options. Nothing worse than dropping $100+ on a board you actually don't really like.
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Damn, I really wish I'd found out about this place earlier - it's great!
I've recently been looking into a whole range of mechanical keyboards, as I don't have any knowledge of using one previously and I'd like a change from my membrane keyboard (so, I'm very inexpereienced; my apologies).
I'll be ordering a Cherry MX switch tester soon, so I'll be able to get a feel for my favourite switch (although I'm assuming it'll be brown), but I'm still stuck on which keyboard I should actually order? I've heard so many differing opinions...
I'm mainly looking at these brands: Leopold, Cooler Master, Das, WASD, Ducky, Filco, Deck
Are all these brands reknowned for producing quality products? I'm also mainly looking for a TKL board - any brand that you'd recommend over the others, or ones that I haven't listed?
Thanks! ;D
What size? Did you necessarily need the numeric cluster? Did you need the dedicated function row and/or arrows and such? My first MK was... well, a razer- then a logitech. But my first real MK was a Pok3r. I got it once I realized that I never use the other keys, especially since I stopped using the brief layout.
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cm storm quickfire rapid is a solid choice
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A lot of posts here are suggesting a "best keyboard" rather than a "first keyboard."
As another newbie who's tried a lot of keyboards and read about a lot more, here are my simple impressions:
For your first keyboard, the idea is to get a taste of what everybody's talking about. So start with a major brand of keyboard with one of the 4 most popular Cherry switches. You can always try other switches (buckling spring, Alps, Topre, etc.) later on, but you don't want to start out with something unusual.
For a regular Tenkeyless keyboard, you probably won't notice any difference in quality between the major brands. You might as well just make the choice on personal taste-- look at the web sites for each company and see which seems to fit your personality.
For example, I prefer WASD because I like their high-quality no-frills approach.
Nobody should be pushing a HHKB on newbies. It's like saying your first manual-shift car should be a Lotus Super Seven.
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hhkb.
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Cooler Master QFR would probably be a good choice for a first keyboard as the price is low and it's offered in a variety of switch types. If you're willing to spend a little more, the KUL ES-87 is a great TKL with lots of options like case color options, a variety of switch types, and DIP switches, just plan on getting another keyset because the stock keys are meh.
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Go Topre and don't look back.
Yeah I was thinking maybe the Novatouch TKL?
That's not Topre.
Oh it's not? Then I've been misinformed.
For the sake of correct information, the Novatouch is an "electro-capacitive" switch, that functions exactly the same as the Topre switch they are copied from. Topre is however a brand. It's kinda like calling Gateron switches Cherry switches (except Gateron are better than modern Cherry switches).
The NovaTouch switches are made by Topre, though.
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I'll throw out an oddball...
Look up Qisan and Magicforce on Amazon, not only is it made in the same factory as Leopold, but uses standard caps (Leo uses an odd spacebar), it's very lightweight yet surdy, and available with almost any switch. Better yet, these are VERY inexpensive and very well made. If you find you dislike it, or want to step up*, you can resell it for most of what you paid for it.
LiquidEvilGaming and I both agree, it's one of the best starter keyboards and best deals you will find on a mechanical keyboard.
*Stepping up is relative. These are actually fantastic boards, and given equal switches, will hang with anything costing far more.
Agreed. I got one just on the offchance because of the size, and it's really good for the price. Browns are higher in price for some reason, but it's not a purchase that I regret.