Help find one for me, please?

[Ryun]

Hi guys, I'm a long time lurker and have loved the content on these forums. Thanks for all the wonderful information. Sorry for another "Help me find a keyboard." thread but spending so much on a keyboard without guidance seems foolish.

I should start off by saying that I have used and owned a couple of mechanical keyboards but I haven't found the perfect one for me. I've used a IBM Model M, a rebranded Unicomp, and I'm currently typing on an ABS M1.

Here's my predicament: I LOVED the feel and sound of the IBM Model M. That being said, it looks a bit dated -- okay, very dated -- and that's my biggest gripe with the keyboard. On the other hand, I love the look of my ABS M1, but I find that I bottom out my keys frequently and it becomes a little uncomfortable to type for long periods of time. It's not intolerable, but the Model M is a league of its own. Further, I'd love a mechanical keyboard that has multimedia keys that can control the volume.

In that vein, I think the Ducky 9004 or the Ducky 9008 are my best bets. I'm not too fond of the "non-bubble" windows key, but I can probably just swap it out with one that does (or I may just become accustomed to it).

Anyway, here's what I would like in a keyboard:

• Cherry MX Blue Switches
• A keyboard that looks similar to my ABS M1 (i.e. same layout, same white-lettering on black keys)
• Two-key wide backspace
• No upside-down-L-shaped enter key
• Preferably blue LEDs
• NKRO
• Volume keys
• No gloss
• American layout (I'm from the US)

I think that's it? I'll update this if I figure out something else. I know that seems picky and I'm pretty sure I'm not going to find the perfect keyboard but something that feels like the M1 and the Model M had a baby. :) I was looking at the tenkeyless boards as well, and I'm open to them. I certainly wouldn't mind learning to depend on the number row and saving more space on my desk.

I'm not looking to buy right away, but I would like to plan ahead. So any upcoming mech keyboard releases (if there are any) would be good to know as well.

Oh, a couple other things: Should I be worried about costar ghosting issues? Or the relative flexibility of the Ducky keyboard (I really like the weight that the Model M and M1 have)? Or any other weird things I don't know about?

Thank you very much for helping a newbie out.

[RiGS]

Welcome to Geekhack!

Go for the new ducky. quack

[keyboardlover]

Don't listen to RiGS. He's apparently trying real hard to be the new resident troll.

Have you looked at elitekeyboards.com? The upcoming Leopolds are the hot thing right now. Or have you looked at the Filcos on amazon.com? Both of those are better than Duckys.

[RiGS]

Itlnstln likes his new ducky. He wants media keys. The new tiger G2 ducky is very hawt.
It has dual layered fr4 pcb, excellent soldering, pbt keys, detachable USB cable and full nkro over USB.
The case seems to be solid as well.
I don't see why would be the leopold a better choice for him.

[Armando Penblade]

The Filco Majestouch line matches everything you want except media keys, but I put together a handy AutoHotkey script that handles that well enough without a lot of trouble. On the other hand, it's massively more expensive than a comparable Ducky or Leopold.

A lot of people are being very hard on the Ducky brand around here, and likely, every aspect of its build quality isn't quite what you might get from another brand, but in general, it's feature rich, copies nice boards like the Filco, and even has quasi-western distribution through OCN. If you can hold out for a Leopold (especiallly the fullsize boards) and won't miss the media keys, get that. If you can't hold out and want guaranteed quality and can't lose the media keys, get the Filco.

And if you want it cheap and with media keys and maybe reliability issues down the road (but also maybe not), get the Ducky. No shame in that unless you're ripster

[pitashen]

RK 9000
no volume control but meet sthe rest

[keyboardlover]

Volume control/media keys seems to be the real deciding factor here. I guess you have to decide if it's a dealbreaker or not.

[BababooeyHTJ]

I just wanted to point out the to me at least browns feel more like buckling springs than blues do. Blues have a very different feel than any switch that I have tried. You do like the Model M. Have you considered a Unicomp Spacesaver? I personally think that it's a good looking board. Maybe it's because the keys remind me of a stripper.

[keyboardlover]

Maybe it's because the keys remind me of a stripper.

Whoah...they do??

[BababooeyHTJ]

I like my strippers with a few imperfections like c-section scars and lots of glitter. See ripster knows.

[keyboardlover]

I like my strippers with a few imperfections like c-section scars and lots of glitter. See ripster knows.

LOL, me too. Best line from the movie Mystery Team:

Stripper: "It's a C-section scar. $20 and I'll let you come on it."

Charlie: "I'll give you $5 if you tell me what that means."

[heedpantsnow]

Good gosh this has derailed... :-D

All I can say is that I have a Filco and love it; I also have a Noppoo Choc Mini that I also love, but in a different way.  I use them for different things but enjoy them both.

Hey, can't do that with women!

[Corland]

if you like buckling springs (like the M), you might just want to get a board that has buckling springs (like the unicomps, who own ibm's old designs).

If you want multimedia controls, you could use something like keytweak to remap some lesser used keys if you wanted to.

[False_Dmitry_II]

All I can say is: holy crap, someone here other than me has seen Mystery Team.

[keyboardlover]

Hehe...I was a Derrick fan before Donald Glover was on Community. Their videos are hilarious. I liked Mystery Team a lot overall but I thought it could have been edited a LOT better. Some of the scenes seemed kinda pointless.

[keyb_gr]

Here's my predicament: I LOVED the feel and sound of the IBM Model M. That being said, it looks a bit dated -- okay, very dated -- and that's my biggest gripe with the keyboard.

Unicomp Space Saver? Same internals as the 104/105-key Customizer, different case. There aren't too many other boards out there today with curvature extending right up to the F keys.

On the other hand, I love the look of my ABS M1, but I find that I bottom out my keys frequently and it becomes a little uncomfortable to type for long periods of time.

Typical for many ALPS switches in general and simplifieds / copies in particular.

I find MX blues to be the equal of BS, if different (most of all, a lot lighter). Boards with plate-mounted ones will have a more solid feel, PCB-mounted ones are a good bit more service-friendly in return.

What's so appealing about short-lived fashion trends like blue LEDs or domed Win keys will remain a mystery to me though. I'll also point out that inverse lettering is best chosen by those who rarely need it.

[Ryun]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I was thinking more about getting a tenkeyless keyboard. Does such a keyboard exist with MX Blue switches, and volume keys?

I haven't tried using a key binding to change the sound, but I have heard of programs that would help with that. I suppose I could use it if I really couldn't find a quality kb I liked with volume control. But this is the last keyboard I'd like to buy for a long time and I'd like it to have that functionality (unless I have to make some major concessions).

If you can't hold out and want guaranteed quality and can't lose the media keys, get the Filco.

So there is a Filco with media keys? I'm not familiar with the model you're referring to.

Also, what makes the Ducky so low quality relative to the other mech keyboards? Is it of lower quality say then my ABS M1? I mean, it's gotta be better than membrane keyboards. Does the G2 fix this in anyway?

On a side note, I'm a big fan of Derrick comedy and have seen Mystery Team as well. I didn't like it as much as their old skits, but there were still a few good laughs. :biggrin:

Thanks again.

[keyboardlover]

On a side note, I'm a big fan of Derrick comedy and have seen Mystery Team as well. I didn't like it as much as their old skits, but there were still a few good laughs. :biggrin:

Cool! I agree...their skits are better. I thought Mystery Team could've been great if it'd been edited better. Some scenes were hilarious but some were pointless.

[Armando Penblade]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I was thinking more about getting a tenkeyless keyboard. Does such a keyboard exist with MX Blue switches, and volume keys?

I haven't tried using a key binding to change the sound, but I have heard of programs that would help with that. I suppose I could use it if I really couldn't find a quality kb I liked with volume control. But this is the last keyboard I'd like to buy for a long time and I'd like it to have that functionality (unless I have to make some major concessions).



So there is a Filco with media keys? I'm not familiar with the model you're referring to.

Also, what makes the Ducky so low quality relative to the other mech keyboards? Is it of lower quality say then my ABS M1? I mean, it's gotta be better than membrane keyboards. Does the G2 fix this in anyway?

On a side note, I'm a big fan of Derrick comedy and have seen Mystery Team as well. I didn't like it as much as their old skits, but there were still a few good laughs. :biggrin:

Thanks again.

I think I mixed up my negatives in the post you quoted. The Filcos don't have media keys, sorry if I seemed to suggest otherwise.

Anyways, the Ducky isn't terrible quality, but it's one of those things where, if you're paying $100+ for something, you want a brand you can really trust, and some people don't trust the Ducky (esp. the removable USB cord) to hang together properly. I don't think they've been around long enough for people to get a real feel for it yet. I do know that the 1xxx versions are their entry-level boards, while the G2s are second-gen (whodda thunk?!) that supposedly correct some quality issues. . . maybe. It's all Chinese to me (literally; all the text is Chinese!).

But when it comes to high-quality, lowish price mechanicals with media keys your options are always pretty limited. Seems most mechanical keyboard lovers prefer ugly--ummm, sorry, useful-looking--keyboards to pretty ones

[Ryun]

Cool! I agree...their skits are better. I thought Mystery Team could've been great if it'd been edited better. Some scenes were hilarious but some were pointless.

That's exactly how I felt as well. Although it's hard to top such memorable classics such as "Bro Rape" and "Self-Defense" .

But when it comes to high-quality, lowish price mechanicals with media keys your options are always pretty limited. Seems most mechanical keyboard lovers prefer ugly--ummm, sorry, useful-looking--keyboards to pretty ones

Yeah, I imagine I'm not like most mechanical keyboard buyers. I would probably use a Model M at my desk at work (if it weren't so noisy) but at home I like my setup to be pretty. I guess I'm just compensating by being vain in my desk's look rather than my own personal appearance, haha.

In that case I'll probably start saving for a Ducky then.