Buying my first mechanical keyboard, need your awesome advices.

[Skye]

Hello there,
so I finally mustered the courage to post here, since I need your awesome advices and ideas.
As you read in the title I finally decided to go mechanical after being on cheap keyboards my entire life. So lets get to the point, after trying all of the cherry MX switches i fell for the MX brown ones. I know they may not be the best and what not, but i really liked them and decided that I will start my 'mechanical life' with them.
But now i'm at a loss, I simply dont know which keyboard should I get. I'm looking to spend anywhere between 100$ and 150$ for it. It will be used mainly for gaming purposes. Backlight is not a must, but i wouldn't mind if it has it. And also i would really like it if it was with num lock. And that's basically it.
I would really like to hear your ideas what to buy. Also i'm from Europe so maybe if you know any sweet deals or sites where i could purchase, so the shipping doesnt cost too much that would be appreciated.

Anyway, thanks for all your help I really appreciate it.

Stay awesome!

Edit: forgot the main purpose for the keyboard. 

[heissler]

As this is all about personal preference, I would recommend you a Ducky or a Filco, if you are looking for fullsize  or TKL size. The QFR is also one of the cheaper TKL boards, and one of the most popular ones too. You can order Filcos directly through the keyboardco, Duckys are quite a lot harder to come by in Europe.

On a sidenote: If you want to try out the browns, I am looking to sell or trade my Leopold FC500r with browns, used for about 2 months and in like mint condition. I'm also from Europe/DE.

Best luck on your journey through the mechanical world!

[jameslr]

Filco Majestouch 2 either in full size or TKL variant. You can get them from http://keyboardco.co.uk via amazon or direct from their site. They're eligible for prime shipping if you're a prime member. I have the TKL with browns and it's a great board. Just to note the brown filco board is the "Tactile Action" one.

[CPTBadAss]

If you can go for a TKL sized board, I'd highly recommend a QFR as your beginner board. Great value for a good board.

[vun]

Do they even make QFRs with browns?
Anyways, if you like browns you could go for the Logitech G710 or the Filco MJ2 in browns.

[CPTBadAss]

I'm pretty sure they do but Browns are hard to find right now. Stupid Logitech...

[skuko]

i'd suggest starting big, go www.keyboardco.com and get a filco.

europe is a relative term, where exactly - this determines availability of stuff and shipping costs, etc.

for example, i'm in slovakia and it's a pain in the ass to get anything here for a decent price, except blackwidows LOL. i also can;t select switches, this country is a REALLY small market, nobody carries all switch types, etc. i could sell you my WASD V1 with browns, only used a coupe of times, i don't like them. it cost me 120$ + shipping from california hehe. you can pm me if interested for details, we can make a deal. or go keyboardco for a filco, you can't go wrong with them, they cost a fair bit more though.

[GeeGee]

Welcome to Geekhack!

Since you are located in Europe going with a filco seems to be your best bet. thekeyboardco.co.uk is where you should look.
Other than Filco, Ducky would be another good brand to try, but they are a little more difficult to come by.
For Filco you should go with the Majestouch 2, either Tenkeyless or not. For Ducky you could look at the new Shine 3.
The main difference between the two boards is build quality, which is slightly higher for the Filco boards. Ducky has backlighting though, so it's your choice what is more important to you.

GL with your future board.

[Quardah]

If you can go for a TKL sized board, I'd highly recommend a QFR as your beginner board. Great value for a good board.

Bro i think you missread our little new buddy's text; he stated "And also i would really like it if it was with num lock."

Therefore no TKL for our little friend!

IMO get either Filco/Leopold/QFR. Those are incredibly good brands which you will mostly pay in between 100$-150$. You might wanna look for Elitekeyboard on google for hot Leopold boards or keyboardco for some awesome Filco.

If i had to choose for a full size these days i would go with Leopold. My friend Marc has a full-size Otaku with Brown MX since 3 years and it's still pretty damn neat. Board isn't very heavy and it's slick-black with nothing except the name on top-right. It really does look professional so it fits any office without a problem.

Happy hunting!

[Skye]

Hey guys me again!
Wanted to say thank you for all your helpful advices I really didn't expect so many helpful advices and some of you even offering me deals on your keyboards, extremly thankful for that!
 I have made my decision and i listened to all you advices and it will indeed be a Filco. I just ordered Filco Ninja Majestouch-2, Tenkeyless. I'm aware that it's missing the numpad, but all of the regular sized UK layout keyboards with browns aren't in stock till mid september and i really don't want to wait that long and besides, I evaluated my situation and I really dont use numpad that much and if a situation will ever arise that i will need it, then i always have some old keyboards laying around and i will just use those.
 Of course I also had to order the yellow WASD and a red escape keycaps, just because you can, i love the ability to customize your caps!
And thank you for  advising me on buying it at keyboardco. i found a sweet deal, where they deliver in 1-2 days to my country. I really couldn't believe it and that only made me place my order faster (i usually have to pay almost half of my order just for the delivery and always have to wait at least 14 days, must love it..  )

Thanks again guys!

[rowdy]

Congratulations on your decision - let us know what you think of the board one you have received it.

You might find you prefer TKL - the mouse is closer and it is thus more ergonomic.  Plus you can get a separate numpad if you really need one.

[eth0s]

As this is all about personal preference, I would recommend you a Ducky or a Filco, if you are looking for fullsize  or TKL size. The QFR is also one of the cheaper TKL boards, and one of the most popular ones too. You can order Filcos directly through the keyboardco, Duckys are quite a lot harder to come by in Europe.

On a sidenote: If you want to try out the browns, I am looking to sell or trade my Leopold FC500r with browns, used for about 2 months and in like mint condition. I'm also from Europe/DE.

Best luck on your journey through the mechanical world!

Personally, I woulda bought this guy's ^ FC550R.  But you can't go wrong with a Filco.

[mv_LaiN]

If you can go for a TKL sized board, I'd highly recommend a QFR as your beginner board. Great value for a good board.

THIS

[gunbuster363]

just a reminder , brown is better for typing. You might not like the tactile feeling when you are playing game. You bottle out anyway so why not go with a black?

by the way, Filco is famous around here in Hong Kong too. Good choice.

[Tony]

1. CM QFR or QFPro for a reasonable, good p/p board. Good for 1st keyboard.

2. Leopold or Ducky for middle. Especially Ducky if you need led.

2. Filco for superior typing feel and price.

[heissler]

just a reminder , brown is better for typing. You might not like the tactile feeling when you are playing game. You bottle out anyway so why not go with a black?

by the way, Filco is famous around here in Hong Kong too. Good choice.

Gaah, there is no better or best for anything, it's all down to personal experience man.

[PadawanGeek]

just a reminder , brown is better for typing. You might not like the tactile feeling when you are playing game. You bottle out anyway so why not go with a black?

by the way, Filco is famous around here in Hong Kong too. Good choice.

Agree with the choice the OP has made, but don't agree with Browns being best for typing, some would say Blue, others Red or Black, even Green and Clears, it boils down to personal preference. Personally, I prefer Black to other switches (haven't really tried Clear yet) for both typing and gaming.

[Quardah]

just a reminder , brown is better for typing. You might not like the tactile feeling when you are playing game. You bottle out anyway so why not go with a black?

by the way, Filco is famous around here in Hong Kong too. Good choice.

Agree with the choice the OP has made, but don't agree with Browns being best for typing, some would say Blue, others Red or Black, even Green and Clears, it boils down to personal preference. Personally, I prefer Black to other switches (haven't really tried Clear yet) for both typing and gaming.

It's always a personnal choice, but tendencies has a word in this. Most people would agree that Browns are the standard for typing, altought it ain't mandatory the best for everyone.

I personally really enjoy blacks for gaming as you really feel the force against your fingers while playing, but i'd say when i code my Brown Poker II is waaaay better. I hit better WPM with browns, about 10-15% more efficiency (from average 60 to about 70ish on good runs). I like blacks as stationaries, but when my hand moves arround the board i'm more of a touch-typist and blacks just turns me down.

It's personnal preference, yeah, but only personnal preference? No.

[RabRhee]

Do they even make QFRs with browns?
Anyways, if you like browns you could go for the Logitech G710 or the Filco MJ2 in browns.

If anyone wants a QFR with browns and is in/can order via the UK, Scan.co.uk seems to keep QFR browns in stock, £11 more than they charge for QFR black. Most other UK mail order places only stock the QFR black.