Ma' first mechanical keyboard

[Narcix]

Heya
after using for years the cheapest and ****tiest keyboard on Earth, i decided to buy a mechanical one (i spend many hours a day on the PC). I play league of legends and cs 1.6 for 1-2 hrs each day, while i spend the rest of the time typing (chats, comments, forums, ecc). I am looking for a mechanical keyboard that can suit my needs, with black(quickfire rapid) or red switches(quickifre pro), since they are the only ones i can find here in italy...i would go for reds, that from what i read are considered te best ones, but the problem is that i make many typing mistakes, and with blacks' higher resistance i'd press onlt the keys that i actually want to press.... any red/black user that can gimme some wise advice 'round here?
thanks in advance
p.s. soz for bad grammar, i'm from italy

[fateswarm]

Something tells me this thread will result in red.

[Lunartuna]

I make just as many mistakes typing on blacks than I do reds.

[ping111]

Seeing how you play WASD-based FPS's, but also make a lot of typing errors, using Blacks would make sense.  However, your fingers and wrists will get very tired from the weight.  However, if you really want the best of both worlds for FPS gaming and typing, go for a Cherry MX White or Green.  They're stiff enough for your typing, but not too stiff (or annoyingly loud) for your gaming.

[Narcix]

Seeing how you play WASD-based FPS's, but also make a lot of typing errors, using Blacks would make sense.  However, your fingers and wrists will get very tired from the weight.  However, if you really want the best of both worlds for FPS gaming and typing, go for a Cherry MX White or Green.  They're stiff enough for your typing, but not too stiff (or annoyingly loud) for your gaming.

after using blacks for some weeks, would i get used to the high resistance (no more tired hands after using 'em)

[TwistedMentat]

after using blacks for some weeks, would i get used to the high resistance (no more tired hands after using 'em)

After using a keyboard with MX Black switches for a few weeks, it's likely that your fingers would become stronger and may not get as tired.  In my personal experience, I found MX Greens (80g actuation force) to be too stiff for FPS gaming, so I bought a keyboard with MX Clear switches (55g actuation force).  The difference looks small on paper, but in reality, they are much more comfortable and I don't get tired as quickly.  MX Black switches actuate with 60g of force, which isn't much more than Clears, and is equal to or less than the actuation force of the average rubber dome keyboard.  Considering that -- as well as their popularity among gamers -- I would predict that you'd be just fine with MX Blacks.

If you are willing to wait a bit for a set of "Test Switches" to make their way to your location, try signing up for a Try Before You Buy European mailing list.  Reading people's reviews of the switches can also be helpful.  Ultimately, it's a matter of personal preference -- you just have to try each switch type to determine which one is best for you.  The switch you prefer today may not be the same switch you prefer a year from now.

[PointyFox]

I tried black and reds.  Blacks had enough resistance to stop me from pushing keys I didn't want to.  Reds didn't. Blacks felt nice because they had some resistance. Reds felt floppy and weak.  I've never gotten tired holding down black switches while gaming.

[Narcix]

Bought the quickfire pro with reds for 85€
Wutcha think?

[knotra]

might want to check out keyboardco.com

im pretty sure they ship to italy and they have keyboards that are a lot better than the quickfire pro/rapid in my opinion

[MOZ]

Bought the quickfire pro with reds for 85€
Wutcha think?

Pro? Oh no!

[shifted]

I just got blacks for a couple reasons. 

First my typing style.  I bottom out my keys and only use my pointer and middle fingers to type (yeah terrible technique) so my weaker fingers like the pinky I never use.  The weaker brown switch would probably go unnoticed with my typing style and the blues are too loud.  Fatigue has not been an issue at all.  I had read that you can make a lot of mistakes with reds.  I have also seen accounts of people who use reds that they cannot even rest their fingers on the keys without registering keystrokes.  I didn't want that.  I suppose if you have good typing technique the blacks might be a little stiff on your ring and pinky fingers.

Second, I purchased a WASD sampler kit (http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/wasd-sampler-kit.html) to get a feel of the different switches and the tactile feel of the browns and blues seem like they would get really annoying in fps games where you are pressing wasd a lot and not necessarily bottoming those keys out really hard.  Feeling that tactile bump halfway down seems like it would annoy the heck out of me in a game like that.  So, that left red and black switches and reds I ruled out for the above reason.

[babyhands]

BIAS INCOMING: If you spend a lot of time typing try and get something other than black or red. You know what, if you use your keyboard at all, just use something other than black or red. The linear switches just don't feel good to type on in my opinion, or game on. go to keyboardco.com and buy a filco with browns or blues. Some people like linear switches, but wow, I really can't understand it.

UNBIASED THOUGH SLIGHTLY BIASED OPINION: I have owned reds and my friend has blacks, so I have used both a decent amount. I like reds more because I like a lighter switch. If you think you want a slightly heavier switch, get the black.

[Moomoo]

Finger curls is a discipline for the menliest of mens.

[Narcix]

After a weekish of reds i must say that i dont like them that much.......
and the partial backlightning is meh
do yo uthink that it'd be a good idea to refund the pro and get the tk with browns instead?
i'd love to get a filco but it'd cost me 150€....and i cant afford that

[rowdy]

I've had blues for a while, trying to recreate a typing experience from olden times.

Then I got MX blacks.

Now I have a KeyCool with MX reds, and actually I am quite liking it.

The point is that different switches appeal to different people, and no-one can really tell you what type of switch you like.

If you don't like reds, the thing to do is work out what you don't like about them.

If they are too soft, perhaps try blacks.

If they are too quiet, perhaps try blues.

[Narcix]

are browns much better than reds for typing?
cos i'm considering to resell the qf pro, get some more money, and get a filco or a wasd custom with browns......

[gnubag]

it is all personal preference to be honest.

I have a brown and red switches and like them both equally since nothing can touch ergo-clears in my opinion.

[PointyFox]

are browns much better than reds for typing?
cos i'm considering to resell the qf pro, get some more money, and get a filco or a wasd custom with browns......

Most people agree that at high typing speed, you won't be able to feel the bump in the browns and they'll be like reds.  I can't concentrate on the bumps when playing games, because games often require you to hold keys down.  Then you need to consciously press some keys down further than others, and let some rise more than others.   So I just bottom out the keys.  What I'm doing works since I always win every game ;P
MX black has a good resistance for me since I can press them and ~40% of the time I get them between their activation and bottom out points.

[babyhands]

I have owned both reds and browns...and I don't know what people are saying about not being able to tell the difference. For me the difference is huge, I hate reds and browns are my favorite switch. You can take opinions from people who have or havent tried both, but I am telling you I have owned both and there is a big difference. Yes you can tell there is a tactile bump on browns. It may not be extremely pronounced like ergo clears, but it is definitely there

[PointyFox]

are browns much better than reds for typing?
cos i'm considering to resell the qf pro, get some more money, and get a filco or a wasd custom with browns......

Most people agree that at high typing speed, you won't be able to feel the bump in the browns and they'll be like reds.  I can't concentrate on the bumps when playing games, because games often require you to hold keys down.  Then you need to consciously press some keys down further than others, and let some rise more than others.   So I just bottom out the keys.  What I'm doing works since I always win every game ;P
MX black has a good resistance for me since I can press them and ~40% of the time I get them between their activation and bottom out points.

I have owned both reds and browns...and I don't know what people are saying about not being able to tell the difference. For me the difference is huge, I hate reds and browns are my favorite switch. You can take opinions from people who have or havent tried both, but I am telling you I have owned both and there is a big difference. Yes you can tell there is a tactile bump on browns. It may not be extremely pronounced like ergo clears, but it is definitely there

It is definitely there, but is very hard to feel when typing quickly.

[Narcix]

i think i'll refund the qucifkire pro, get some more money, and buy the tenkeyless filco plus keycap puller and some custom keycaps.....a bit expensive though....is it really worth to spend that much on a keyboard?

[Andrew3000]

..is it really worth to spend that much on a keyboard?

In fact, your hands, peace of mind and comfort are worth even more. So it essentially boils down to whether you can afford it.

[PointyFox]

i think i'll refund the qucifkire pro, get some more money, and buy the tenkeyless filco plus keycap puller and some custom keycaps.....a bit expensive though....is it really worth to spend that much on a keyboard?

You need to figure out WHY you don't like reds first, then think of what would be your ideal switch. For example, if they feel too nonsubstantial, brown will feel the same way.

[Narcix]

i think i'll refund the qucifkire pro, get some more money, and buy the tenkeyless filco plus keycap puller and some custom keycaps.....a bit expensive though....is it really worth to spend that much on a keyboard?

You need to figure out WHY you don't like reds first, then think of what would be your ideal switch. For example, if they feel too nonsubstantial, brown will feel the same way.

nvm ill stick with the pro