Considering purchasing a mini keyboard

[iBro]

Hello all. I come to you in a state of inner turmoil once again! I have a new type of keyboard in my sights, a mini keyboard, but I'm having trouble narrowing down the choices. In this post I have two major questions. What switches should I get, red or black? And what mini keyboard should I purchase, the kbc poker, or the noppo mini?

Whenever I make decisions in my life, even if I'm leaning towards a specific option, I like to explore all options possible. Even if I don't choose one of the other possible options, it reafirms my choice for the original option that I had in mind. So in this post I will tell you what I'm leaning towards and why, and then I would like to hear your opinions so that I can explore the other possibilities before coming to a conclusion.

To give a little background and why I am looking to purchase a mini keyboard: I am extremely happy with my Unicomp keyboard and will most likely use it whenever I am at home, but I am looking for mini keyboard to carry around with my future laptop, since I will be attending University in the Fall. Because this keyboard will be used in public places, I need a quiet switch. And because I hate brown switches, it leaves only linear switches. I may also use this keyboard for some limited FPS game play at my house if I am unhappy with my Unicomp's performance in this category. So now that you know the background, here are my thoughts so far.

First,

Red switches or black switches?

I am leaning toward black switches, and here is why. I having been typing on my new Unicomp keyboard and I absolutely love it. I love the weight and the springyness of the keys and how I don't feel like I'm pulverizing the board when I type fast and bottom out.

But I have heard many good things about red switches, especially with O-ring mods, so please share your opinions about red switches if you can.

Secondly,

KBC Poker or Noppoo Mini?

I am leaning towards the KBC Poker. I like the Poker more at this time because I think that it looks better than the noppoo mini. I don't like how the noppoo mini's keys have the ugly pink side legends on them. And for some reason I really like how the Poker's keys seem to sit higher up off the board. I know this is most likely due to the case not covering up the keys as much as in the Noppoo mini, but still I think it makes the Poker look significantly better.

Now would be a good time to mention that I most likely won't be able to purchase a Poker with red switches because I haven't seen any on ebay in a while. So if the answer to my red vs black switch debate turns about to be red, then I will most likely have to get the Noppo mini anyway, which wouldn't be the end of the world.

If you have any opinions on the KBC Poker or the Noppoo Mini, or why I should choose the Mini instead of the Poker, please share them with me.

I appreciate those of you who read this post, and I would appreciate any comments related to the subjects discussed in this thread.

[trax]

Poker mx Black

[nhwhaup]

I can't really speak to compare to blacks or the Noppoo but I'll give my opinion on the KBC Poker with reds.  

My favorite key switches are reds and topres.  I prefer a light weight switch, with a soft touch and fairly quiet sound.  The red switches are very light and I have had no problems getting used to typing with a light touch where my fingers seem to float over the keys.  On the Poker even when I do bottom out, I really like the sound of the bottoming out on the PCB board.  It has a nice plastic clicky sound - not too high pitched but just right.  The Poker itself is very light weight and feels like a toy rather than a real keyboard.  I kind of like that as well.  The only thing that I don't like about the Poker is that it doesn't have dedicated arrow keys.  I thought I would get used to that but it really bugs me.  Mostly I use the Poker when I'm traveling and have it hooked to my iPad.  That way the arrow keys aren't so much of an issue - just point with my finger to move to the right place.  

Couple of other things to think about - I don't believe the Noppoo works with Mac products and the Poker does.  Also, with the Poker you need to be very careful with the cord.  I left my plugged in on a business trip and ruined the board.  The connection bent where it hooked inside the board and it was unfixable.  I liked the Poker so well that I bought another to replace the broken one.  

Hope that information helps.

[IvanIvanovich]

I suggest you buy a Poker mx black. Pcb mount means it's dead easy (led need desolder only if change one of those 7) to swap to lighter springs and make your own 'ghetto reds'. The Poker keycaps are taller, not just an illusion. Choc has keycap profile more similar to Cherry's.
Poker is my favorite. I liked it so much I have 2, a red and a blue. Red is my favorite, but I like very light switch. If you like a heavier switch it probably isn't for you. Didn't you hate browns, or was that someone else?

[trax]

white noppoo looks good tbh, but only if your into white.

Id say poker
Better layout imo
Looks better imo
Build quality wont be worse
backlit

[mechanisch]

I am a Choc mini owner and I love the board, but it does have its flaws.  I have just put a review up if you wish to check it out.  I am also a fan of both Red and Black switches.  But I do not own or have used a Poker.

I do think the Poker looks like a nice board, but for me personally I need Function and Arrow keys.  So I'll probably never get one.  I might pick up a RACE at some point though if they become more generally available.

I bought WASD's 40a O-rings and tried them out, but personally I didn't like them.  They will help quiet the board down, though, and as for feel, its just a preference so you might like it.

As far as your switch choice, like I said i enjoy both the lighter and heavier linear switches.  And I can both game and type well on both of them.  It's really gonna be just personal preference; have you tried them both?  Only thing I will add is my Filco MX Black board ends up being quieter than the Reds.  Not sure if this is true for everybody, but it is for me.

[iBro]

I suggest you buy a Poker mx black. Pcb mount means it's dead easy (led need desolder only if change one of those 7) to swap to lighter springs and make your own 'ghetto reds'. The Poker keycaps are taller, not just an illusion. Choc has keycap profile more similar to Cherry's.
Poker is my favorite. I liked it so much I have 2, a red and a blue. Red is my favorite, but I like very light switch. If you like a heavier switch it probably isn't for you. Didn't you hate browns, or was that someone else?

Yes I don't like brown switches, in fact just sold my keyboard with brown switches. But I didn't hate it for the lightness per say, I mostly didn't like them because of the weak tactility that they gave, which made the keys feel kind of wrong, or broken in some way.

But then I typed on blues for a few days and I like them much better. And now I own a Unicomp and I love it. This is why I'm leaning towards blacks, because the stiffness of the Unicomp doesn't really bother me at all, in fact I enjoy it.

[iBro]

I am a Choc mini owner and I love the board, but it does have its flaws.  I have just put a review up if you wish to check it out.  I am also a fan of both Red and Black switches.  But I do not own or have used a Poker.

I do think the Poker looks like a nice board, but for me personally I need Function and Arrow keys.  So I'll probably never get one.  I might pick up a RACE at some point though if they become more generally available.

I bought WASD's 40a O-rings and tried them out, but personally I didn't like them.  They will help quiet the board down, though, and as for feel, its just a preference so you might like it.

As far as your switch choice, like I said i enjoy both the lighter and heavier linear switches.  And I can both game and type well on both of them.  It's really gonna be just personal preference; have you tried them both?  Only thing I will add is my Filco MX Black board ends up being quieter than the Reds.  Not sure if this is true for everybody, but it is for me.

I have not tried both. But I have tried browns blues and buckling spring. So far buckling spring is my favorite, followed by blues. That is why I was leaning towards black switches, because I seem to favor heavy switches since I consider myself a fairly heavy typist.

[iBro]

Poker mx Black

Thanks for the input.

[iBro]

I can't really speak to compare to blacks or the Noppoo but I'll give my opinion on the KBC Poker with reds.  

My favorite key switches are reds and topres.  I prefer a light weight switch, with a soft touch and fairly quiet sound.  The red switches are very light and I have had no problems getting used to typing with a light touch where my fingers seem to float over the keys.  On the Poker even when I do bottom out, I really like the sound of the bottoming out on the PCB board.  It has a nice plastic clicky sound - not too high pitched but just right.  The Poker itself is very light weight and feels like a toy rather than a real keyboard.  I kind of like that as well.  The only thing that I don't like about the Poker is that it doesn't have dedicated arrow keys.  I thought I would get used to that but it really bugs me.  Mostly I use the Poker when I'm traveling and have it hooked to my iPad.  That way the arrow keys aren't so much of an issue - just point with my finger to move to the right place.  

Couple of other things to think about - I don't believe the Noppoo works with Mac products and the Poker does.  Also, with the Poker you need to be very careful with the cord.  I left my plugged in on a business trip and ruined the board.  The connection bent where it hooked inside the board and it was unfixable.  I liked the Poker so well that I bought another to replace the broken one.  

Hope that information helps.

Well I don't use any Mac products so the Noppoo wouldn't be an issue there. But thank you very much for your input and helping me towards a decision. And if I end up buying the Poker, I will be extra careful with the cord lol.

[flyball]

Hello all. I come to you in a state of inner turmoil once again! I have a new type of keyboard in my sights, a mini keyboard, but I'm having trouble narrowing down the choices. In this post I have two major questions. What switches should I get, red or black? And what mini keyboard should I purchase, the kbc poker, or the noppo mini?

Whenever I make decisions in my life, even if I'm leaning towards a specific option, I like to explore all options possible. Even if I don't choose one of the other possible options, it reafirms my choice for the original option that I had in mind. So in this post I will tell you what I'm leaning towards and why, and then I would like to hear your opinions so that I can explore the other possibilities before coming to a conclusion.

To give a little background and why I am looking to purchase a mini keyboard: I am extremely happy with my Unicomp keyboard and will most likely use it whenever I am at home, but I am looking for mini keyboard to carry around with my future laptop, since I will be attending University in the Fall. Because this keyboard will be used in public places, I need a quiet switch. And because I hate brown switches, it leaves only linear switches. I may also use this keyboard for some limited FPS game play at my house if I am unhappy with my Unicomp's performance in this category. So now that you know the background, here are my thoughts so far.

First,

Red switches or black switches?

I am leaning toward black switches, and here is why. I having been typing on my new Unicomp keyboard and I absolutely love it. I love the weight and the springyness of the keys and how I don't feel like I'm pulverizing the board when I type fast and bottom out.

But I have heard many good things about red switches, especially with O-ring mods, so please share your opinions about red switches if you can.

Secondly,

KBC Poker or Noppoo Mini?

I am leaning towards the KBC Poker. I like the Poker more at this time because I think that it looks better than the noppoo mini. I don't like how the noppoo mini's keys have the ugly pink side legends on them. And for some reason I really like how the Poker's keys seem to sit higher up off the board. I know this is most likely due to the case not covering up the keys as much as in the Noppoo mini, but still I think it makes the Poker look significantly better.

Now would be a good time to mention that I most likely won't be able to purchase a Poker with red switches because I haven't seen any on ebay in a while. So if the answer to my red vs black switch debate turns about to be red, then I will most likely have to get the Noppo mini anyway, which wouldn't be the end of the world.

If you have any opinions on the KBC Poker or the Noppoo Mini, or why I should choose the Mini instead of the Poker, please share them with me.

I appreciate those of you who read this post, and I would appreciate any comments related to the subjects discussed in this thread.

look at the different fn layers and see what you think about not having a dedicated row for the f keys.

[iBro]

look at the different fn layers and see what you think about not having a dedicated row for the f keys.

I have checked out the layouts. The lack of a dedicated row for the F keys probably won't bother me. I very rarely use the F keys.

[trax]

Wait for the new leopold with clears.

[slueth]

Nah, I recommend the Noppoo.  Much better.

[TheProfosist]

Ill build you a dox then you can have everything to your exact specifications.

[iBro]

Wait for the new leopold with clears.

Hmm the Leopold TKL never really struck me as a very portable keyboard. And also I have heard bad things about clear switches. Which is why I'm pretty much either going buckling spring / blues or linear switches. And since this keyboard will be used in public, I will be purchasing a board with linear switches, most likely black switches.

[iBro]

Ill build you a dox then you can have everything to your exact specifications.

I am interested in what a DOX is exactly lol. If you get back to me then I will definitely look into it. But be swift my friend, the KBC poker with mx black switches that I am eying at the moment only has 1 day of bidding left on ebay.

[iBro]

Nah, I recommend the Noppoo.  Much better.

 Could you please elaborate on why you think the Noppoo is much better?

[slueth]

It has dedicated arrow keys, and the pom keycaps are really nice.  Or if you go with the Pbt one that is also good.  The layout is really good once you get used to it.  The poker is also not plate mounted(could be a con or pro).

[NorrisB]

Poker mx Black

cherry black = puke

[TheProfosist]

I am interested in what a DOX is exactly lol. If you get back to me then I will definitely look into it. But be swift my friend, the KBC poker with mx black switches that I am eying at the moment only has 1 day of bidding left on ebay.

Well check out these links we have expanded the original idea quite a bit. http://tinyurl.com/68m94xg http://tinyurl.com/7hnlnne

[iBro]

Well check out these links we have expanded the original idea quite a bit. http://tinyurl.com/68m94xg http://tinyurl.com/7hnlnne

Hmm them look interesting, although there is no way that I could build one of those myself.

I also don't really like how the keys and switches are basically exposed and not surrounded by a case. Although this might be a really cool keyboard to have at home, I feel that it may be to fragile to be portable.

[TheProfosist]

Hmm them look interesting, although there is no way that I could build one of those myself.

I also don't really like how the keys and switches are basically exposed and not surrounded by a case. Although this might be a really cool keyboard to have at home, I feel that it may be to fragile to be portable.

Well you i did start a assembly service for them so that is no longer a roadblock. Also we decided to use a poker case for it actually so like i said we have developed the original idea alot here is layout currently it will be updated with a change soon to mimic my Phantom layout even more

[iBro]

Well you i did start a assembly service for them so that is no longer a roadblock. Also we decided to use a poker case for it actually so like i said we have developed the original idea alot here is layout currently it will be updated with a change soon to mimic my Phantom layout even more

Show Image

Do you have a place where I can see finished products, prices, and other things of that nature?

I really like the idea of having a custom keyboard, it makes me feel extremely hipster. But all I have seen of this keyboard, is the layout. Although the layout does look nice and compact, the layout isn't my number one priority. I know this may sound weird to you, but the only thing I will really use this keyboard for is basically note taking, typing reports, and maybe some FPS games.

Because of this I'm really more interested in things like looks, portability, build quality, and key caps.

Like I said if you could link something will current up-to-date options and information then I would gladly look into promptly.

[iBro]

I purchased a KBC Poker with Black switches if anyone was loosing sleep over which keyboard I chose. :lol:

[mechanisch]

Well, I can't say I was losing sleep, no... but I was curious what you were going to choose. Let us know how you like it.