Brown vs blue switches

[bavman]

A couple months ago I got my first mechanical keyboard, a blackwidows. A little less than a month later I was able to get a 6gv2 for $70 so i returned the blackwidow since I play a lot of fps games. While the black switches are nicer for gaming, I really miss typing on the blue switches. So my question is are the browns good for typing like the blues are? If someone has tried both and could tell me what they think about them that would be awesome. I'm thinking of either a) selling the 6gv2 for a brown keyboard, or b) just rebuying a cheap decent board with blues for school work (typing papers and that kind of stuff).

Also, if you think A is the better option could you suggest a sub-100 brown board? I seems most sub-100 boards are blues. I also prefer full keyboard, no 10keyless.

Thanks for all the help!

[Crazy9000]

I would just get a cheap board with blues. With the browns, I think you'll still end up missing the blues, and they may not be quite as good for gaming as the blacks... although switching keyboards is pretty annoying. I tried using a blue for typing and a black for gaming before, and ended up just keeping the black on the desk and rarely bothering to switch back to the blue.

[False_Dmitry_II]

Buy a cheap model m instead.

[Tony]

It's a matter of preference. I have typed on browns and blues and I prefer browns. I have to type lighter, with less force consciously to truly appreciate browns but my fingers like browns and they are less tired when typing for a long time.

For cheap browns I suggest DAS browns (quiet DAS), Noppoo browns, PLU87 browns,  or Compaq MX 11800s.

[The Solutor]

So my question is are the browns good for typing like the blues are?

No they aren't, definitely.

If you want tactility, silence and reduced hysteresis you should consider the Ergo Clears.

[False_Dmitry_II]

He's trying to look for a medium board that is good for gaming and typing. Thing is, he has a cherry blacks that he likes for gaming. At that point I see no sense in getting rid of something that he likes for something else. Hence, why I said to get a cheap model m. One of the cheapest boards there is and is also noted for being good for typing (by some to be its only use, and I disagree with that). Just need to pay attention to auctions or buy one of the bolt-modded ones in the classifieds section.

[bavman]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I think I might try a model m since tthey seem to go for pretty decent prices on ebay. I have heard good things aabout them for general use.

[Endosymbiosis]

So this thread seems to have finished, and since I hate making new threads with the same title, please don't be offended if I steal this one to ask my own question.

I'm in the market for my first mechanical keyboard, as I recently had a run-in with my friend's blackwidow. The blues feel amazing .....
unfortunately I am living with a room mate this year, and he has objected to me bringing something  so noisy to the apartment.

I've been looking at the Das Professional Silent, but haven't had any personal contact with brown switches before.

My question is this: is there anywhere I can go to test brown switches? Or, if brown switches don't have the same tactile feel that blues do, are there any other alternatives?

Thank you in advance for any and all opinions!

Edit: I saw mention of ergo clears further up, but I yet to read any reviews of keyboards with these switches, and am having a hard time finding retailers.

[Tony]

If you feel so good with blue switches in Black Widow, I suggest you change your room mate to a less sensitive one. Do not change your preference of switches, it sticks to you.

[The Solutor]

Edit: I saw mention of ergo clears further up, but I yet to read any reviews of keyboards with these switches, and am having a hard time finding retailers.

 
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:17248

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:15658


http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?17357-U9BL-Beige-edition-(clear-switches-brown-springs)

[Endosymbiosis]

Haha, I did try to entice him into buying a black widow with me, since they are on sale right now.
I'd say my main problem is that the only mechanical keyboard I've ever had the opportunity to use was blue, and I can't think of any standard retailers that carry multiple types for me to test out.

From browsing around other threads (something I should have done before posting, in retrospect) it seems that the most common answer involving the comparison of blues and browns is that preference varies from person to person. Some say the browns have no tactile bump, while others seem to think they hardly differ.

Edit: At this point I'm just wishing I could try them all out.

[~Blood~]

you can always solder yor numkeys with different switches, just as arrow keys, just with WASD I would be careful, however that is only used in FPS games and I hav eplayed FPS games with 2kro cherry blues.

blue was the most fun for typing for me, personally. But I think that is widely spread.

I even know people who use blacks for starcraft2, its not that big of a deal.

[False_Dmitry_II]

I think I prefer space invaders to blues. But good luck getting some. There may still be some in the classifieds, but they won't fix your noise problem. If you have your own bedroom, why can't you just close the door and use it anyway?