Anybody has opinions on Mx Blue vs Mx Green

[Lycoth]

Hi friends,

I'm looking at getting a new Ducky Shine 3. Currently have a Shine 2 with Browns and Blue backlighting. Soon (tm) we are getting the MX Green Shine 3's in the UK, and I was originally planning to grab one of these. My only downside is that the Mx Green boards will have Blue backlighting also and I kind of wanted to get something slightly different as then i'd have 2 boards that look identical.

I've used blacks which I didn't enjoy simply because they are linear and I wanted something Tactile. Blues were perfectly fine, and I really enjoyed them. Browns are okay but. They feel somewhat too light / not tactile enough which is why I want to get a blue / green.

But all in all I can't decide if I should get the Mx Green with Blue backlighting or get an Mx Blue with a different colour of backlighting.

Can anybody who has tried both give an opinion please on Mx Green general use. Not sure if it's worth waiting the extra for or if I should just grab a blue. Being in the UK it's pretty much impossible for me to try Greens.

[SpAmRaY]

Green is just a heavier blue.

[CPTBadAss]

I use Blues on my work daily driver and Greens on my current daily driver. Greens are heavier Blues in my opinion. I really like them, hence being my daily drivers at home. If youre ok with heavier switches, get Greens. If not, Blues are just fine

[rowdy]

As the others have said, greens are just heavier blues.

I have both.  I started with blues, and (with a few other detours) went through reds to blacks.

I found reds far too light after using blacks for a while.

Now I find blues far too light after using greens for a while.

I am torn between blacks and greens - sometimes I prefer the clicky greens, sometimes I prefer the smooth and silent blacks.

I also like Topre and BS, so don't pay that much attention to me

[Lycoth]

I should have been a little more specific, sorry about that.

I know Green is a Heavier Blue, but do you think it's worth missing out on the looks for (as I don't really want 2 identical keyboards) or do you think having not tried Greens, it's not something I should really worry too much about and just grab the blues.

Should there be any worry about fatigue when using it or is it not really heavy enough for that?

Thanks guys.

Note: Well thanks Rowdy, after reading your reply you just made it even more difficult to decide... 

Edit: Am I right in saying that Browns have a very similar actuation force to Blues?

[JimByr]

Browns - 45g (55g peak force) - tactile
Blues - 50g (60g peak force) - tactile and clicky

[rowdy]

)

I have fairly strong fingers, and have not experienced any fatigue with either greens or blacks (or BS, for that matter).

Many people do, however, report aching wrists and fingers when using blacks or greens, and although some of these could be due to posture, there are probably a few that are the result of the stiffer springs in these switches.

Personally my first modern PC-compatible mechanical keyboard was a Ducky Shine with MX blues and red LEDs.  My second was a Ducky Shine with MX blues and green LEDs.  My third Ducky Shine (on order atm) has yellow LEDs and MX black switches.

So I would probably go for the same switch that you already like, and different LED colour.  With the disclaimer that your curiosity about different switches will grow until you are compelled to purchase another keyboard anyway.

As a thought: presumably you are purchasing these new.  You could get a new Shine with different LEDs, and then bide your time and pickup a relatively inexpensive used keyboard with greens.  If you don't like the greens, you won't have lost much.

[Lycoth]

Thanks guys.

That's a pretty good idea Rowdy with regards to the second hand greens. The main reason I wanted to get the Ducky Shine 3 with Greens was because it seems pretty rare as they will be a limited quantity, but if they are blue backlit i'd want to mod them anyways which would be a big waste if I don't like them.

Edit: How do you guys feel about Switch testing kits? Is it worth investing in a Cheap one. http://www.qwerkeys.co.uk/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=75&product_id=180

Or will the single key not really allow me to get a proper feel for the switch?

[spremino]

)

I have fairly strong fingers, and have not experienced any fatigue with either greens or blacks (or BS, for that matter).

Many people do, however, report aching wrists and fingers when using blacks or greens, and although some of these could be due to posture, there are probably a few that are the result of the stiffer springs in these switches.

I suspect that it depends on your typing technique. I type like I have watched experienced typists type on typewriters, with my fingers curled and by accompanying fingers with the weight of the whole hand, thus stiffer switches don't bother me. I actually prefer them.

OTOH, from what I've seen, most people tap keys with their fingers almost extended, thus employing more effort because of lever action. These people should avoid stiff switches, or change their typing technique.

[rowdy]

Thanks guys.

That's a pretty good idea Rowdy with regards to the second hand greens. The main reason I wanted to get the Ducky Shine 3 with Greens was because it seems pretty rare as they will be a limited quantity, but if they are blue backlit i'd want to mod them anyways which would be a big waste if I don't like them.

Edit: How do you guys feel about Switch testing kits? Is it worth investing in a Cheap one. http://www.qwerkeys.co.uk/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=75&product_id=180

Or will the single key not really allow me to get a proper feel for the switch?

There are only a few of those switch testers left - if you want one grab it now!

If nothing else they make a good display board for custom keycaps

It will give you a vague idea what a switch feels like, but nothing compares to a keyboard full of the switch and doing proper typing on it for 15 minutes.

[metalliqaz]

IMHO Greens are much to  heavy and should only be used on space bars.

[Lycoth]

OTOH, from what I've seen, most people tap keys with their fingers almost extended, thus employing more effort because of lever action. These people should avoid stiff switches, or change their typing technique.

This is actually really good advice. I am one of these people that types with my fingers somewhat extended so I think I will probably take your advice and go for Blues.

There are only a few of those switch testers left - if you want one grab it now!

If nothing else they make a good display board for custom keycaps

It will give you a vague idea what a switch feels like, but nothing compares to a keyboard full of the switch and doing proper typing on it for 15 minutes.

Also good advice, This way I won't regret getting it even if it's not amazingly useful as I have a set of Diablo Keycaps that I can show off on there!

Thanks guys. Cherry Mx Blues it is, with Green Backlighting. And White keycaps on the TKL portion of the board off of my Shine 2!

[Lycoth]

Hi guys,

Just wanted to thank you all for your advice. I got my Switch Tester today, and as spremino mentioned with regards to typing style, I tried the Greens with my fingers extended (The same as I would pressing the F Row) and it requires a little too much effort to push down. Also got to try Mx Whites which I didn't really enjoy, so i'm glad I didn't get the Yellow Ducky with the Whites as that was also something I was thinking about trying.

So all in all, another great purchase for me, Ducky Shine III, Mx Blues, Green Backlighting to arrive on monday!

Thank you all. Have a good Christmas / Hanukkah / Hogmanay / New Year / anything else you celebrate!

[dante]

MX Greens:

[CPTBadAss]

Also got to try Mx Whites which I didn't really enjoy, so i'm glad I didn't get the Yellow Ducky with the Whites

FWIW, I don't think any Ducky board has MX Whites. They were probably Clears. There's a weird translation with Ducky keyboards and Chinese where White switches = MX Clears, and Milk switches = MX Whites. Clears feel different from Whites and if you got the QWERKeys tester, you wouldn't have tried Clears.

[dante]

I blame Cherry.  They should have made the Clear switches transparent.

[Lycoth]

Also got to try Mx Whites which I didn't really enjoy, so i'm glad I didn't get the Yellow Ducky with the Whites

FWIW, I don't think any Ducky board has MX Whites. They were probably Clears. There's a weird translation with Ducky keyboards and Chinese where White switches = MX Clears, and Milk switches = MX Whites. Clears feel different from Whites and if you got the QWERKeys tester, you wouldn't have tried Clears.

They were indeed Whites. It was announced on the Ducky UK Facebook page as Mx Milk. Only on the Yellow Full Size I believe.

Edit: https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1412416_266902083457291_1136257692_o.jpg

[CPTBadAss]

They were indeed Whites. It was announced on the Ducky UK Facebook page as Mx Milk. Only on the Yellow Full Size I believe.

Edit: https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1412416_266902083457291_1136257692_o.jpg

Thats cool! Thanks for letting me know!

[Lycoth]

They were indeed Whites. It was announced on the Ducky UK Facebook page as Mx Milk. Only on the Yellow Full Size I believe.

Edit: https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1412416_266902083457291_1136257692_o.jpg

Thats cool! Thanks for letting me know!

Not a problem! Makes a change me telling you something as it's usually the other way around when I ask something on here! 

[Linkbane]

I should have been a little more specific, sorry about that.

I know Green is a Heavier Blue, but do you think it's worth missing out on the looks for (as I don't really want 2 identical keyboards) or do you think having not tried Greens, it's not something I should really worry too much about and just grab the blues.

Should there be any worry about fatigue when using it or is it not really heavy enough for that?

Thanks guys.

Note: Well thanks Rowdy, after reading your reply you just made it even more difficult to decide... 

Edit: Am I right in saying that Browns have a very similar actuation force to Blues?

In my opinion if you like Blues, you won't really like Greens. It's difficult to type on them if you use your fingers for anything else, as they are very tiring. I ended up selling my Greens to rowdy, as I like light switches. Honestly, it's very painful getting something you want (like a Shine III) and being unable to use it because you don't like the switches. I'd say just go wih the Blues.

[divito]

As others have said, Greens are just heavier Blues. Greens are satisfying, but not for long periods, and not for type-intensive sessions.

For general purpose computing they're fine, and I play SC2 with them, but depending on your fingers, or if you type a lot, you'd be better served with Blues.

[rowdy]

I should have been a little more specific, sorry about that.

I know Green is a Heavier Blue, but do you think it's worth missing out on the looks for (as I don't really want 2 identical keyboards) or do you think having not tried Greens, it's not something I should really worry too much about and just grab the blues.

Should there be any worry about fatigue when using it or is it not really heavy enough for that?

Thanks guys.

Note: Well thanks Rowdy, after reading your reply you just made it even more difficult to decide... 

Edit: Am I right in saying that Browns have a very similar actuation force to Blues?

In my opinion if you like Blues, you won't really like Greens. It's difficult to type on them if you use your fingers for anything else, as they are very tiring. I ended up selling my Greens to rowdy, as I like light switches. Honestly, it's very painful getting something you want (like a Shine III) and being unable to use it because you don't like the switches. I'd say just go wih the Blues.

I love the greens - thank you Linkbane

I also like blacks, and BS, which should tell you something about my fingers