Looking for a new keyboard

[Spooned]

Hi everyone, I'm on the lookout for a new mechanical keyboard for both work and gaming. I normally like to do a bit of research before buying something but unfortunatly I'm short on spare time so I'm hoping I could get some recommendations from here.

Here's what I am looking for:

• A full 105 key keyboard with a UK layout.
• Something that is suitable to take (in a bag) to and from work on daily basis.
• Quiet keystrokes (not much louder than standard keyboards)
• Preferably back-lit.
• Preferably ergonomic.
• Reasonable price - I wouldn't want to spend anything over £170 unless I can clearly see the premium benefits.

Any feedback and recommandations are much appreciated

[noodles256]

wlcm 2 gh.

i think the only silent backlit board is xarmor and they died.

GL on quest

[Spooned]

Thanks for the fast reply

In that case scratch "silent". Anything that isn't much audible over a standard keyboard will do.

[daerid]

How important is ergonomic (I assume you mean split)? That will severely limit your options. You're probably best off with some Cherry browns.

[noodles256]

backlighting is the biggest problem, once you get past that you will have much more options

[Spooned]

Ergonomic and backlighting are just options and are not deal breakers

By ergonomic I ment just about anything that makes typing more comfortable, even if it's just a slight curve.

[amy822]

Hmm, I can't find a keyboard that meets all your requirements, but I'm gonna recommed one anyway.
It's a USB keyboard which is very suitable to take in a bag. And it isn't much audible over a standard keyboard will do. : D
No back-lit though.
Anyway, you can check it here: http://www.pickegg.com/wholesale/digiboy-133-vip-flexible-usb-keyboard-white.html?welcome=57903

[Superfluous Parentheses]

if you scratch back-lit, 160 pounds will get you a Topre full-size board (ex VAT, but if you use it for work, you might be able to get the VAT back). It's model WE21B0 for UK layout at keyboardco.com - possibly one of the best keyboards in existence.

As far as I'm concerned these are the best "ergonomic" keys available and they're also some of the quietest.

[Spooned]

I was liking the Topre before it said the outer keys require more pressure than the inner keys. I'm actually left-handed and when I play games I use my left hand for the mouse and the right hand for the arrow keys + number pad so I don't think that keyboard would work for me.

[foliolio]

I was liking the Topre before it said the outer keys require more pressure than the inner keys. I'm actually left-handed and when I play games I use my left hand for the mouse and the right hand for the arrow keys + number pad so I don't think that keyboard would work for me.

Why not? Those keys are all 45g so it would actually work perfectly for your gaming purposes (as 45g is widely considered the gaming-optimal weight of Topre keys).

[Superfluous Parentheses]

Why not? Those keys are all 45g so it would actually work perfectly for your gaming purposes (as 45g is widely considered the gaming-optimal weight of Topre keys).

Just to clarify (because I got a bit confused myself reading that): the weight distribution of keys on that Topre board relates to the main cluster (i.e. the main alphanumeric section), which should be good for left and right-handed users in the same way. In other words, letter/top-numeric keys that you typically use your pinky or ring finger for require less force than the ones where you use your index fingers. This should be more or less ideal no matter if you're left or right handed, provided you use a roughly standardized typing style with the index fingers near the middle of the main cluster and your ring/pinkies for the edges.

Topre also has some boards with unified weights if you really want that, but those are probably impossible to find in a UK layout. The HHKB Pro 2 (non-Japanese layout) boards also use homogenous keys, but those probably suck for gaming, given that they don't have a dedicated cursor cluster.

[foliolio]

Just to clarify (because I got a bit confused myself reading that): the weight distribution of keys on that Topre board relates to the main cluster (i.e. the main alphanumeric section), which should be good for left and right-handed users in the same way. In other words, letter/top-numeric keys that you typically use your pinky or ring finger for require less force than the ones where you use your index fingers. This should be more or less ideal no matter if you're left or right handed, provided you use a roughly standardized typing style with the index fingers near the middle of the main cluster and your ring/pinkies for the edges.

However, that wasn't the point at all. Spooned says he uses arrows & numpad for gaming --> arrows & numpad are all equal weight 45g --> optimal for gaming (as opposed to right-handed, wasd-cluster using gamers who might find the 30/35g keys Q & A weird).

[Spooned]

Why not? Those keys are all 45g so it would actually work perfectly for your gaming purposes (as 45g is widely considered the gaming-optimal weight of Topre keys).

 
Oh ok I didn't know the exact forces, I just read that the least used Topre keys (that would probably include the arrows and the numpad) require more force than the most commonly used keys so I thought it would feel akward to go from typing to gaming (or typing while gaming ).

[Superfluous Parentheses]

However, that wasn't the point at all. Spooned says he uses arrows & numpad for gaming --> arrows & numpad are all equal weight 45g --> optimal for gaming (as opposed to right-handed, wasd-cluster using gamers who might find the 30/35g keys Q & A weird).

Yeah sure, but I read it that he thinks the numpad/arrow cluster has some weird weighting going on, though in reality the variable weighting only applies to the main alphanumeric cluster. I think we're  both on the same page here, I just wanted to clear some possible confusion.

Oh ok I didn't know the exact forces, I just read that the least used Topre keys (that would probably include the arrows and the numpad) require more force than the most commonly used keys so I thought it would feel akward to go from typing to gaming (or typing while gaming ).

Most of the keys on the variable weight boards are 45g. Some (the pinky/ring finger region) are 40 or 35g, but only on the main cluster. The rest is 45 g except for escape (55 g) and possibly the space bar. See http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Topre+Realforce+Reference+-+all+things+topre

[The Solutor]

Hi everyone, I'm on the lookout for a new mechanical keyboard for both work and gaming. I normally like to do a bit of research before buying something but unfortunatly I'm short on spare time so I'm hoping I could get some recommendations from here.

Here's what I am looking for:

• A full 105 key keyboard with a UK layout.
• Something that is suitable to take (in a bag) to and from work on daily basis.
• Quiet keystrokes (not much louder than standard keyboards)
• Preferably back-lit.
• Preferably ergonomic.
• Reasonable price - I wouldn't want to spend anything over £170 unless I can clearly see the premium benefits.

Any feedback and recommandations are much appreciated

 
Theres no keyboard that fit your needs.

Razer BW ultimate is (currently) the only backlit mech keyboard available with ISO layout but not UK.

Is not light, nor portable, nor quiet.

Xarmor U9BL-s has not the iso layout, is reasonably quiet (for a mech keyboard)

Mionix Z60 will be available soon and with ISO UK layout, but is still not portable, nor light, nor ergonomic.

Probably your best bet is the "logitech illuminated", is not a microswitch keyboard, but is one of the best scissor switches available, is light, is baclit, is reasonably priced and available in most of the european variants. UK included.