Question From A Newbie

[XHXBLB]

Hello everyone . I'm quite new here and to keyboards so my question might be sort of a "typical newbie question" , please bear with me

First of all , I want to ask , why should I change to mechanical instead of buying a new mice / other stuff
I mainly use my keyboard for general usage and playing DotA2. I still cannot really convince myself to goot a mechanical keyboard as it is not cheap but that's why I'm here

Next , what are your thoughts on used keyboards ? I really want something durable , so I want something high end like a Filco but I can't afford it , so I'm thinking of second hand keyboard .

[TheQsanity]

I am not a sales person but I can say you can buy a used keyboard and sell it if you don't like it. I am currently using a used keyboard that I have had for about a year.

It depends on what you need. If your mouse is worse than a stock oem mouse I would get the mouse first. If the keyboard is worse than an oem keyboard I would get that first.

Do you have your computer where the noise would be a disturbance? Any mechanical keyboard will make its share of loud noises. It comes down to what you want and what you need. Your keyboard probably works fine but you want a new keyboard.

If I were a more serious gamer I wouldn't care too much about the keyboard mouse and all but they computer itself and the internet connection. That is what really improves your gaming. The person with the best internet connection will beat the person with the best mouse.

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

If you are used to rubber dome keyboards, getting a mechanical one will be like a breath of fresh air.  Noisy air, perhaps, but fresh.

Almost any reasonable mech keyboard you get will last you for years - Filco, Leopold, Ducky, QFR, HHKB, Poker to name but a few.

In terms of quality, Filco is up near the top, but others like CM QFR and Ducky are not far behind.

Have you got a local computer store where you can go to try some?  Finding a switch you like will be the next quest.

And worst case scenario - if you really don't like it and haven't damaged it, you should be able to sell it here for nearly what you originally paid for it.

[XHXBLB]

I am not a sales person but I can say you can buy a used keyboard and sell it if you don't like it. I am currently using a used keyboard that I have had for about a year.

It depends on what you need. If your mouse is worse than a stock oem mouse I would get the mouse first. If the keyboard is worse than an oem keyboard I would get that first.

Do you have your computer where the noise would be a disturbance? Any mechanical keyboard will make its share of loud noises. It comes down to what you want and what you need. Your keyboard probably works fine but you want a new keyboard.

If I were a more serious gamer I wouldn't care too much about the keyboard mouse and all but they computer itself and the internet connection. That is what really improves your gaming. The person with the best internet connection will beat the person with the best mouse.

I'm actually pretty content with all my peripherals right now . Just that I've seen so many people with mechanical keyboard and I well get a little envy so i want a mechanical keyboard
Noise shouldn't be much of a concern , especially if it from a keyboard .
Well, a better internet connection would not be practical for me as Im on a budget and paying a couple months of faster connection worth would probably cost as much as a keyboard already.

[XHXBLB]

Welcome to Geekhack!

If you are used to rubber dome keyboards, getting a mechanical one will be like a breath of fresh air.  Noisy air, perhaps, but fresh.

Almost any reasonable mech keyboard you get will last you for years - Filco, Leopold, Ducky, QFR, HHKB, Poker to name but a few.

In terms of quality, Filco is up near the top, but others like CM QFR and Ducky are not far behind.

Have you got a local computer store where you can go to try some?  Finding a switch you like will be the next quest.

And worst case scenario - if you really don't like it and haven't damaged it, you should be able to sell it here for nearly what you originally paid for it.

I went to a local computer store a few months back and tried a few mechanical keyboards , though i wasn't serious back then , i've only typed a few words on it. I've tried blues and reds i think. Reds totally doesn't suit me as I like to feel/know what i'm pressing when I'm playing my game . Blues on the other hand were okay for me. I will probably settle for brown switch though if I ever purchase a mechanical keyboard.

[meiosis]

You can get a used Filco for $100 ish or less if you really want. I am an example of that as my first keyboard, used Keyboards really depend on who sold them, in my case it was a very nice guy who was very hygienic. Other than the possibility of being a germaphobe there is nothing really bad about buying used.

On the otherhand Ducky is great as the go to bargain board, although QFR is also cheaper, but hey why not go for quality as well for a little bit more.


But on to what you were asking, why go mechanical? Really there is no difference in gaming, I myself have ventured into the top .5% of LoL and SC2 with a Logitech G105 and a Macbook Pro laptop keyboard. But there are some benefits to going mechanical.

First:
Mechanical is somewhat modular, if something goes wrong, with reading you can go back and fix it, if a switch isn't functioning normally, you can fix it.
Very good feedback when pressing down a key, at least for me Browns provide minimal hand strain from long hours and Black Switches prevent double tapping.

Also, Mouse wise, honestly since DOTA2 does not require any mouse macro's and my roommate is a DOta2 Pro using one of those length of index finger wireless mice, I can't say that it really would be beneficial to upgrade mice. Although I believe the majority of players go with the Deathadder which sometimes goes for $30.

Dureable wise, go for a Ducky Pro . But if you save up go for a Filco, I have a Filco and I loveee it

[XHXBLB]

What do you guys think of the Corsair K65 ? It's so beautiful. The only thing is that it's using red switches . But I've never used a mechanical keyboard so I wouldn't know how the other switches feel anyway .. Or should i go with another similarly priced product, the CM storm quick fire stealth with red switches ?

[rowdy]

MX red is probably the least mechanical feeling switch if you are coming from rubber dome i.e. it is the mechanical switch closest to rubber domes.  You might get a "I don't see what all the fuss is about" just trying reds.  Blacks are much stiffer, and blues, browns and greens all have tactility, which makes a difference.

OTOH if you've tried a few other switches first, and then MX reds, you might come to like MX reds (as I have, he says, using a Model M).