« previous next »
Pages:  [1]     Go Down

Author Topic: New user - need some direction out of a choice of 3 keyboards  (Read 2468 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline pac-man

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 6
    • http://pchristou.com/
New user - need some direction out of a choice of 3 keyboards
« on: Sun, 03 July 2011, 04:15:02 »
Good Morning (UK time) Geekhack users,

I've been lurking this forum for about a week now and after doing research decided I'd like a mech keyboard. :-)

So, a bit of history -

I've been aware of mechanical keyboards for only a couple of months having first set my eyes upon both the Steelseries 6gv2/7G and the Razer BlackWidow.

I was extremely close to buying the 6gv2 but couldn't bring myself to do so due to a major gripe. This was basically that the Windows key wasn't in its usual place (I tend to use it for shortcuts).

On top of this, I then stumbled across 'tenkeyless' keyboards. A tenkeyless keyboard is exactly what I need because my desk is relatively small. On top of that, in all my years of computing I *never* use the numberpad as I'm just so use to keying in numbers using the row beneath the function keys.

I can't recall how I got hold of my current keyboard but I'm currently using a A4 Tech Anti-RSI board

It's a decent KB but is full-size and I've always seen it as more a 'backup' keyboard. I use to also own a Razer Tarantula but sold it on as it was too large and its glossy finish didn't particularly appeal to me.

Now onto the actual topic! I've whittled the choice of keyboards I want down to 3 which meet the following requirements.

    Required: Tenkeyless
    Required: Brown switch (though I'm not sure what exactly the difference is with red?)
    Required: Ideal for gaming and some typing
    Required: UK layout
    Nice-to-have: Easily replaceable custom keys

Choices, all prices include shipping:
    Noppoo Choc Mini MX Brown - £81
    KBC Poker 40% Mechanical Gaming keyboard MX Brown - £70
    Filco 87 Mechanical Gaming keyboard MX BROWN - £108 though this is from the KBCO and they're not in stock until next month

My reasoning for the brown switch requirement is I'm not fond of having a clicky sound so this cancels out the blue switches. Also, I think I'd prefer a key that's easier to depress so for me, brown > black.

I would appreciate advice or any user experiences with the aforementioned keyboards. I'm also open to new suggestions.

Sorry for the long post, I just wanted to get all the info out there!

P
« Last Edit: Sun, 03 July 2011, 04:47:17 by pac-man »
Logged

Offline Tony

  • Posts: 1189
New user - need some direction out of a choice of 3 keyboards
« Reply #1 on: Sun, 03 July 2011, 04:31:01 »
Please list the price of each keyboard (included shipping cost)
« Last Edit: Sun, 03 July 2011, 05:27:25 by Tony »
Logged
Keyboard: Filco MJ1 104 brown, Filco MJ2 87 brown, Compaq MX11800, Noppoo Choc Brown/Blue/Red, IBM Model M 1996, CMStorm Quickfire Rapid Black
Layout: Colemak experience, speed of 67wpm

Offline Ascaii

  • Posts: 415
  • Location: Berlin, Germany
New user - need some direction out of a choice of 3 keyboards
« Reply #2 on: Sun, 03 July 2011, 04:43:30 »
alright...as for the switches the difference is the actuation...there are linear switches and tactile switches. A linear switch requires an increasing, linear amount of force the entire way of the keystroke, while a tactile switch has a built in "bump" that you feel when the key actuates.
Browns are a tactile switch that give you feedback when the key is pushed, while blacks or reds are linear and give you no feedback.
« Last Edit: Sun, 03 July 2011, 08:12:22 by Ascaii »
Logged
"Mechanical keyboards are like pokemon:
you start with one, and then you wanna catch em all."

Offline hargon

  • Posts: 32
New user - need some direction out of a choice of 3 keyboards
« Reply #3 on: Sun, 03 July 2011, 04:54:02 »

As The digramm tells us: linear means it gets harder to press the key the more way it travels. There is a linear connection between force and travel distance. But besides that, Ascaii is perfectly corryct of course ;)
Logged

Offline peda

  • Posts: 206
New user - need some direction out of a choice of 3 keyboards
« Reply #4 on: Sun, 03 July 2011, 05:10:28 »
Quote from: pac-man;372338
Choices, all prices include shipping:
    Noppoo Choc Mini MX Brown - £81
    KBC Poker 40% Mechanical Gaming keyboard MX Brown - £70
    Filco 87 Mechanical Gaming keyboard MX BROWN - £108 though this is from the KBCO and they're not in stock until next month

from this list i would recommend either the Nopoo or the Filco because of the layout.

Depending on the games you play, you will need the F-keys and as the Poker doesnt have dedicated keys for that, it might be a problem. Another thing is that i read that some gamers have a problem with the esc-key location. (again depending if it is a problem for you and the games you play)

Nevertheless, I am sure you will be happy with either one of the noppoo or filco.
Logged

Offline REVENGE

  • Posts: 568
New user - need some direction out of a choice of 3 keyboards
« Reply #5 on: Sun, 03 July 2011, 05:19:52 »
I'm convinced that the Poker is an ideal second board. You would be better off with a full size or tenkeyless as your primary. Also, since you didn't state NKRO as a requirement, you should check if the PLU-ML87 is available in the UK for less money than the Filco.
Logged
◕ ‿ ◕

Offline Lester

  • Posts: 210
New user - need some direction out of a choice of 3 keyboards
« Reply #6 on: Sun, 03 July 2011, 05:25:31 »
Why no ducky 1087? :)
Logged

Offline Tony

  • Posts: 1189
New user - need some direction out of a choice of 3 keyboards
« Reply #7 on: Sun, 03 July 2011, 05:31:43 »
Either Noppoo or Filco. Noppoo is portable and cheaper, Filco is better, bigger and more expensive.

I would go for Filco. Every geekhacker will buy a Filco someday, so buy it right away save you time.
Logged
Keyboard: Filco MJ1 104 brown, Filco MJ2 87 brown, Compaq MX11800, Noppoo Choc Brown/Blue/Red, IBM Model M 1996, CMStorm Quickfire Rapid Black
Layout: Colemak experience, speed of 67wpm

Offline pac-man

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 6
    • http://pchristou.com/
New user - need some direction out of a choice of 3 keyboards
« Reply #8 on: Sun, 03 July 2011, 05:36:41 »
Thank you for all the replies.

@ascaii/hargon: Thank you for the explanation surrounding linear vs tactile switches. My mind is even more set on going for the browns now - I hope "pinging" is not a major problem?
@peda: Thank you, you're right, I will be using the F-keys in games. That cancels out the Poker
@REVENGE: I've heard that the PLU can only handle 2NKRO? I tend to play FPS' and would often be pressing > 2 keys at the same time. Still, thanks for the suggestion :-)
@Lester: I haven't been able to find a Ducky board let alone the 1087? :-)
Logged

Offline pac-man

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 6
    • http://pchristou.com/
New user - need some direction out of a choice of 3 keyboards
« Reply #9 on: Sun, 03 July 2011, 05:38:49 »
I do prefer the layout of the filco over the Noppoo because the up/down/left/right arrow keys are a bit more spaced out... Apart from the KBCO does anyone know where I can get one else I'll have to wait until some come back in stock.
Logged

Offline peda

  • Posts: 206
New user - need some direction out of a choice of 3 keyboards
« Reply #10 on: Sun, 03 July 2011, 06:08:46 »
you could join in on qtan5370 s group buy.

i think the deadline for orders is tomorrow. here the link to the prices: http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?19091-My-First-Group-Buy-for-U.S-only-collecting-advise-interest

he also would have ducky keyboards if you are interested in them (as lester suggested).
Logged

Offline The Solutor

  • Posts: 2262
New user - need some direction out of a choice of 3 keyboards
« Reply #11 on: Sun, 03 July 2011, 07:00:10 »
Take a look to Filco mini



http://www.diatec.co.jp/products/det.php?prod_c=395

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=it&sl=zh-CN&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fitem.taobao.com%2Fitem.htm%3Fid%3D7431926867
Is compact but still have the numpad.

Has the ISO enter and the latin/japaneese layout, that is not an huge departure from the UK one, and is not hugely expensive. It's a brown board.
Logged
The problem with quotes on the Internet is you never know if they are true  (Abraham Lincoln)

Offline HaiiYaa

  • Posts: 244
New user - need some direction out of a choice of 3 keyboards
« Reply #12 on: Sun, 03 July 2011, 07:22:07 »
Looks like the tt esports meka layout
Logged

Offline Lester

  • Posts: 210
New user - need some direction out of a choice of 3 keyboards
« Reply #13 on: Sun, 03 July 2011, 07:43:31 »
Quote from: pac-man;372353
@Lester: I haven't been able to find a Ducky board let alone the 1087? :-)

http://global.pchome.com.tw/?mod=item&func=exhibit&IT_NO=DCAH0X-A50247059&SR_NO=DCAH0X&ROWNO=15&tm=u
87$ incl shipping to EU -> ordered one myself a few days ago.
(87$ = 54 pounds)
Logged

Offline The Solutor

  • Posts: 2262
New user - need some direction out of a choice of 3 keyboards
« Reply #14 on: Sun, 03 July 2011, 07:47:38 »
Quote from: HaiiYaa;372372
Looks like the tt esports meka layout


Yes there's also an irocks with more ore less the same layout.

Btw the filco was released in 2006...
Logged
The problem with quotes on the Internet is you never know if they are true  (Abraham Lincoln)

Offline arc2

  • Posts: 99
New user - need some direction out of a choice of 3 keyboards
« Reply #15 on: Sun, 03 July 2011, 09:42:31 »
Do you need the ISO style layout in particular the ISO enter key, if so make sure you factor that into your plan.
Logged
Pages:  [1]     Go Up
« previous next »