My first mechanical keyboard (Das vs K60)

[Acid]

I've been researching for a while and narrowed the keyboards I'm considering down to the Corsair Vengeance K60 and the Das Keyboard Model S Ultimate Silent.

It will be my first mechanical keyboard and I will mainly be using it for typing, but also some FPS gaming. I really have no idea how brown and red switches will affect my typing experience, as everything I've found out about the red switches on the internet seems to be highly subjective. I do bottom out on my current rubber dome keyboard (Logitech G15), but not hardcore style button smashing like some of my friends do. I really don't know if I should prefer the browns over the reds, and I think that's my main concern I'd like some input on.

Also I made a comparison image of the keyboards along with some facts about them to try to help me decide between them, but it still seems impossible. I mean, it has to be good for typing, not useless for FPS games, and also good looking. I really like the looks of the K60 but I'm worried the red switches are not for me because of their lack of tactile feedback. Here is the image I made, I think it can help you understand my thoughts about the keyboards..



I hope it's alright for me to present this problem to you even though it's my first post on this forum. I wouldn't ask if it wasn't because I've already spent 2 weeks trying to figure it out myself. Thanks in advance for any help!

[Quarzac]

You can't not bottom out on a rubber dome. In your situation, it sounds like the browns would be better for you. You get a touch of tactile feedback, and apparently they're good for both gaming and typing. The additional advantage to the Das is that there's a student discount, so you can get the browns for $108 shipped. Really, I would start with whichever's cheaper, and if you don't like it, resell it on here and move on to the next. They both sound like decent fits for you, so I would advise picking one and seeing how it treats you.

[Acid]

You can't not bottom out on a rubber dome. In your situation, it sounds like the browns would be better for you. You get a touch of tactile feedback, and apparently they're good for both gaming and typing. The additional advantage to the Das is that there's a student discount, so you can get the browns for $108 shipped. Really, I would start with whichever's cheaper, and if you don't like it, resell it on here and move on to the next. They both sound like decent fits for you, so I would advise picking one and seeing how it treats you.

I live in Denmark so I won't get the benefit of the student discount as I have to buy it from a German reseller. I already told myself though that the price is not important between the two, as the K60 is only about $17 cheaper than the Das. When the K60 is released I'll be able to buy it from a Danish store, which will of course make the return process easier if I don't like it. I'm still torn between red vs brown switches as some people on this board seem to prefer the reds over the browns even for typing, and some say the browns are hardly tactile compared to blues or clears. Actually most people who've posted their opinion on red and brown switches seem to prefer red switches...? And then there's still the fact that I prefer the looks of the K60, and for the price difference between it and the Das I could probably buy a labelless set of keys to make an Otaku K60. I'm also still unsure on how the rubber dome keys on the K60 will affect the overall experience of the K60. You have a fully mechanical keyboard, how would you feel if you were told that Esc through Pause/Break and Ins through Page Down were no longer mechanical on your keyboard? Would it make a difference at all taking in mind that those keys are hardly ever used?

[Saberfang]

We are on the same boat here. I want to go for a mechanical keyboard from a G15 and I loved the Corsair design before I discovered that it's not fully mechanical but have some rubber dome keys (esc, macro key on k90, all the F button till pause and even del and the others close to it).

[Acid]

We are on the same boat here. I want to go for a mechanical keyboard from a G15 and I loved the Corsair design before I discovered that it's not fully mechanical but have some rubber dome keys (esc, macro key on k90, all the F button till pause and even del and the others close to it).

I was also disappointed at first, but then again those keys aren't really used for typing. They are more like operational keys you use once in a while. I think I only use escape in menus in games. F4 I use in the combination of Alt+F4. F11 I use to make my browser full screen a couple times a year. Print screen I use a couple times a month. Home and end I use regularly while browsing, but not in a way where it matters if they're mechanical. The rest I don't use at all, apart from delete which I think is the only key I'd miss as I use it frequently while typing, and a lot of the time I use it I'll be tapping it quickly. And if the red switches on all the other keys compared to browns makes up for delete being mechanical I think it might be worth it anyway. The question is still if red switches are worth it compared to brown switches.

[Saberfang]

I alredy saw a shop near to me who is going to sell the k90 so I'll check it anyway. I know it's not a big deal about those keys but still it dissapoint me a lot because I had high expectation for this keyboard and now I feel Corsair let down. The only way to choose the switch you like is to try them but it's not easy to find a store who sells a lot of them. If I'm lucky I can try red, black and blue but still no brown and it's a shame.

[Quarzac]

I personally would not like it much at all if this board was not fully mechanical, as the amount of force needed to depress most rubber domes is greater than the blues, and I would notice the difference, as I use esc and the f-keys fairly often. On top of that, I  have gotten decent at not bottoming out, and having to do so to use those keys would likely make things difficult for me. I'll be getting a board with browns next week, so if you're not planning on ordering until later, I can give you my opinion on those as well.

[Acid]

As much as I like reading opinions I must admit I've spent the last week doing just that and it gets tiresome. I think what I'm looking for is a meta-opinion, and what I mean by that is I want someone to tell me why one would think reds are better for typing and why one would think browns are better for typing, having tried both. Surely there must be some objective way to tell whether reds or browns are more suited for a specific person who is gonna use them mainly for typing?

The thing is I have no way to try out the keyboards I'm considering as no store in Denmark sells them (yet, for the K60). I've not even tried a mechanical keyboard before and I think the only ones available for me to try out are the Razer BlackWidow and the Steelseries G7, respectively using blue and black switches which are switches I've already ruled out.

[Quarzac]

Well, all I've got left to offer is that apparently typing on reds is like typing on a cloud of boobs. So if you like boobs, you should like reds.

[pitashen]

they are both good for typing. As matter of fact, any switch is good for typing as long as you can get used to it. No one's explanation will ever really answer a question that can only be answered by trying them out urself.

My rule of thumb tho, is that if you can't try the actual thing brown switch is one of the safest bet u can get.

That being said, i would go for K60 for the sake of the awesome and better quality look.

[Acid]

I actually think the delete key being rubber dome might be a deal breaker for me. I think I'll be getting the Das and if I get the chance at some point to try out the K60 and I like it better I will put up the Das for sale.

The German reseller don't ship until Tuesday so I have one day to change my mind before I place my order.

[noodles256]

slick jpeg

[pitashen]

I actually think the delete key being rubber dome might be a deal breaker for me.

ya... i take my words back...

go for filco instead!

[dorkvader]

I don't know hard hard it is to get in your country, but I really like my WASD in browns for typing, and gaming both.

I do want to try red's though.

[Acid]

ya... i take my words back...

go for filco instead!

Hehe.. Well, I don't really like the oldschool look of the Filco boards, and if I had to buy a set of labelless key caps for it it would get pretty expensive.

I don't know hard hard it is to get in your country, but I really like my WASD in browns for typing, and gaming both.

I do want to try red's though.

I think WASD keyboards are pretty cool but they don't sell 105-key keyboards until December, and with import taxes it gets very expensive.

I think Das is the best alternative to Filco and WASD for me.

[Acid]

Just ordered the Das

[Saberfang]

Good Then let us know you first thoughts about it after you get your hands on your new Das

[Acid]

Will do

[AndSchwa]

Well, all I've got left to offer is that apparently typing on reds is like typing on a cloud of boobs. So if you like boobs, you should like reds.

That sold me, 100%. I was going through this same debate: Das Keyboard or Corsair Vengeance K60. It seemed as though I would prefer the Cherry MX Browns from my research, but I had no real idea, and no way to test either. I read this though, and bought the K60 (with the Cherry MX Reds) immediately. The magical powers of boobs.

Thank you