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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: mks on Fri, 08 January 2010, 01:56:22

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: mks on Fri, 08 January 2010, 01:56:22

Hello everyone,

as you may have noticed i'm new to this forum, but since i think this is the right forum to ask something like this i want to start with a poll.

What is the best (subjective opinions allowed) switch, that's still in production (so no complicated alps) and what score (0-10) would you give?

Multiple answers are allowed. I'm very curious about the results :)

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: spolia optima on Fri, 08 January 2010, 04:09:35

Welcome welcome!

we have had a few switch (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=7438) polls (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=5851), people are always changing their minds so it doesn't matter anyway.

At the risk of being unpopular, i'll add that the buckling spring is the best keyswitch being produced today. I know it's a controversial stance, but it's my most heartfelt conviction.

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: ricercar on Fri, 08 January 2010, 04:14:24

Cherry Corporation brown. Light touch, tactile and audio feedback, inexpensive.

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: timw4mail on Fri, 08 January 2010, 07:50:14

Still being produced? Hmm...that's difficult. I'm torn between Cherry MX blue and brown.

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 08 January 2010, 08:22:39

Buckling Springs or Topres, depending on how quiet you need to be.

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: itlnstln on Fri, 08 January 2010, 08:37:29

Smoothest switch: Buckling Spring (Unicomp still makes Model Ms)
 
Best combination of smoothness, tactility and lightness: Cherry blue or brown (and, probably Topre, but I haven't personally used one, yet).

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 08 January 2010, 08:40:35

Topre blows the Cherry out of the water in terms of smoothness. The tactility is just right for them as well.

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: bigpook on Fri, 08 January 2010, 09:26:29

I think the Topre is the smoothest switch going, but the BS is right behind it. I think I like the BS best for the tactile feel that it has. While the Topre is very nice, the BS feels like I am sitting down with a porterhouse steak. The topre is more like a filet mignon.
Sometimes, you really want to have a porterhouse steak  : )

But thats for smoothness only, bring on the cherries and the ALPS for all sorts of other fun : )

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: itlnstln on Fri, 08 January 2010, 09:51:13

Quote from: bigpook;149144

I think the Topre is the smoothest switch going, but the BS is right behind it. I think I like the BS best for the tactile feel that it has. While the Topre is very nice, the BS feels like I am sitting down with a porterhouse steak. The topre is more like a filet mignon.
Sometimes, you really want to have a porterhouse steak : )
 
But thats for smoothness only, bring on the cherries and the ALPS for all sorts of other fun : )

The porterhouse is the best of both worlds: the filet and a NY strip all in one.  The T-bone is for the kids.  Ribeye steaks are one of the best kept secrets, though.

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: itlnstln on Fri, 08 January 2010, 10:41:42

Don't worry.  He's not the only one.

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: itlnstln on Fri, 08 January 2010, 12:01:11

Damn, I guess I make up the .1%.  Actually, I'm just not leet.

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: msiegel on Fri, 08 January 2010, 12:21:25

Quote from: ripster;149161

I just noticed my picture juxtaposition was not appropriate.  That lego dude is doing something inappropriate with a National Monument.

good thing there aren't any psychologists spying here...

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: meltie on Fri, 08 January 2010, 13:38:54

Actually, even though I think Cherry blues are the best switch out there, Buckling Spring is the mother of all switches and therefore clearly the best switch in the world.

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: HaaTa on Fri, 08 January 2010, 21:05:06

Keyswitch + Food = Fun!

BS - Porterhouse
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Grilledporterhouse.jpg)

Cherry MX Black - Angel Food Cake
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/AngelFoodCake.jpg)

Cherry MX Blue - Cashews
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/Cashews_1314.jpg/800px-Cashews_1314.jpg)

Cherry MX Brown - Sausage
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Reunion_sausages_dsc07796.jpg/800px-Reunion_sausages_dsc07796.jpg)

Cherry MX Red - Kani (Crab)
(http://www.phlook.com/PoolPics/1/411773573Thumbnail.JPG)

Cherry MY - Tako (Octopus)
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vN8jpnu2yKY/SKKtA2NtOmI/AAAAAAAAAlo/kUXxixQRBvI/s1600/FD080813.jpg)

Fukka - Walnuts
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Walnut03.jpg/800px-Walnut03.jpg)

Topre - Maguro (Tuna)
(http://www.catalinaop.com/v/vspfiles/photos/Sushi_Fish_1A1-4.jpg)

Damn making myself hungry.

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Fri, 08 January 2010, 21:10:57

that tuna is really makin my stomach pound. =P

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: msiegel on Fri, 08 January 2010, 21:15:04

Quote from: HaaTa;149377

Keyswitch + Food = Fun!

ha!
accurate :D

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: bigpook on Fri, 08 January 2010, 21:34:08

: ) the unicomp mini. something that has yet to arrive, and it looks like those guys have been waiting awhile. apropos.

I like the topre as sushi...

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: rdjack21 on Fri, 08 January 2010, 21:34:51

Quote from: kishy;149385

I couldn't help but lol at the concept of the most expensive keyboard owned by a geekhack member* being compared to TicTacs.

*unless anyone owns the OLED keyboard

I'm not so sure about that when first saw it I thought that it just looked right even though I have not typed on one. The way webwit describes it TicTacs fits clean, simple and powerful at the same time.

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: rdjack21 on Fri, 08 January 2010, 21:36:53

Quote from: webwit;149386

Unicomp Mini

Show Image

(http://www.ocmwborgloon.be/library/32/afbeeldingen/feestmaaltijd1_seniorenweek.jpg)

LOL perfect image for the Unicomp Mini like use they look like they have been waiting for quite a while but they are ready to dig in as soon as it gets here.

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Fri, 08 January 2010, 21:43:31

I like that sushi chick. where can I have a meal like that?!

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: Chao on Fri, 08 January 2010, 22:48:19

Kyoto.

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: HaaTa on Fri, 08 January 2010, 23:15:53

I'll have to call up my surgeon friend if I want to eat sushi like that.
I don't make enough money to go to a restaurant that serves sushi on people.

Hostess bars cost enough as it is.

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: maxlugar on Sat, 09 January 2010, 00:46:42

Quote from: mks;149062

Hello everyone,

as you may have noticed i'm new to this forum, but since i think this is the right forum to ask something like this i want to start with a poll.

What is the best (subjective opinions allowed) switch, that's still in production (so no complicated alps) and what score (0-10) would you give?

Multiple answers are allowed. I'm very curious about the results :)

Cherry MX Blues are clicky and fun.  I have several Cherry Blue boards, the Filcos are the best.

Cherry MX Browns are better than I thought they would be.  Not as fun as Blues, but still quite nice to type on.

However, the best modern key switch, hands down, is the Topre.  It feels exactly like a a good rubber dome keyboard initially, but after hours of typing, I am overcome by the "good feeling of oneness with cup rubber" that is evident by the subtle precision design features of the hybrid switch design and exceptional build quality.  

Topre keyboards are expensive, but if you type a lot, the Topre key switch is the best currently in production.

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: InSanCen on Sat, 09 January 2010, 01:14:30

Currently in production?

Buckling springs of course... And I'll annoy people by throwing the much maligned Cherry blacks in there as my 2nd favourite, but I pound on a keyboard. Everything I have tried so far I bottom out on, unless I really focus on not doing it.

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: microsoft windows on Sat, 09 January 2010, 10:43:20

Buckling springs.

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: keyb_gr on Sat, 09 January 2010, 11:59:53

Quote from: InSanCen;149415

Currently in production?

Buckling springs of course... And I'll annoy people by throwing the much maligned Cherry blacks in there as my 2nd favourite, but I pound on a keyboard. Everything I have tried so far I bottom out on, unless I really focus on not doing it.

While I don't bottom them out that much, blacks do get a little tiring on the long run... even clears do a bit, which I guess is due to the fairly broad and high-up tactile bump. BS has a good amount of pre-travel, so you can gain some speed.

BS, Cherry blues and Siemens rubber domes are all plenty OK by my standards. Clears and MLs are quite good as well.

I'll also nominate the incredible Cherry MY, for that ultimate dead octopus feel.... just kidding. Maybe I should try lubing the sliders on a whole board, the friction is as distracting as the force curve itself.

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: Mental Hobbit on Sat, 09 January 2010, 12:36:03

Quote from: keyb_gr;149494

I'll also nominate the incredible Cherry MY, for that ultimate dead octopus feel.... just kidding.

Got myself a mixed bag of Cherries the other day for the good-as-new G80/blue I'm currently typing on, which also contained a G81. I was under the impression this was Cherry's best rubber dome, so I was shocked when I pressed a few keys on that thing.

This is by far the worst board I've ever put a finger on. The key feel isn't just bad, it's outright disgusting. Pressing a key sends shivers down my spine. My immediate thought was "feels like chewing on slugs", but dead octopus fits very well too. ;)

It's beyond me how Cherry manages to sell that thing at $40.

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 09 January 2010, 12:41:17

It's not really a rubber dome board, it's a sort of half mechanical, half membrane contraption.

Linear switches tend to be more reliable than the equivalent tactile switch at the same price point, so the G81 would be intended as a POS board as opposed to a typist's.

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: keyb_gr on Sat, 09 January 2010, 15:18:19

Ironically, G81s are mostly killed by spills or wear of the traces at the controller board contact points (for G80-3000s with new-style case). Spills in particular seem to be problematic - unsurprisingly, with no rubber dome sheet to protect the membranes. Wearing them out in a conventional manner is just about impossible, same as for MX blacks (both are rated at 50 million actuations).

I'm typing this on my freshly lubed G81-3004HAD btw. As anticipated, the reduced friction and added viscosity do help the typing feel and make the board yet quieter (can't do much about a rattly space bar stabilizer though). I seem to have less missed keys now, too. Stay tuned for a (short) mod writeup...

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: Mental Hobbit on Sat, 09 January 2010, 17:48:57

So... sliding onto a dead octopus feels better than squeezing a dead octopus?
Guess I'll mod my G81 too. Just need to dig up my axe.

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 09 January 2010, 17:53:43

Given the similarity of the underlying mechanism, I wonder how the G81 stacks up against the infamous DEC LK-201.

Title: Switch Poll
Post by: mks on Sat, 09 January 2010, 17:56:29

Quote from: HaaTa;149377

Cherry MX Blue - Cashews

Fukka - Walnuts

So MX Blue and fukka are both nuts. How would you rate fukka? They seem not to be as popular as mx blue.

So a new dream keyboard should have buckling springs or mx blues i guess...