KBP V60 vs Poker II

[cruzin]

On my "future purchases" list, I plan on getting an HHKB Pro 2 and an Ergodox. And then I'm torn between the KBP V60 and the Poker II. Which of the two would you recommend, and why?

I don't really have any preferences in a 60% other than it needs to be intuitive to use and be Mac compatible.

EDIT: Added Mac compatibility preference.

[Aidenknives]

On my "future purchases" list, I plan on getting an HHKB Pro 2 and an Ergodox. And then I'm torn between the KBP V60 and the Poker II. Which of the two would you recommend, and why?

I don't really have any preferences in a 60% other than it needs to be intuitive to use.

Consider the new and upcoming Ducky Mini.... That's what I decided on for gaming. Poker II with browns for typing  Also I am sure the KBP V60 is a solid board so you really can't go wrong good sir.

[cruzin]

On my "future purchases" list, I plan on getting an HHKB Pro 2 and an Ergodox. And then I'm torn between the KBP V60 and the Poker II. Which of the two would you recommend, and why?

I don't really have any preferences in a 60% other than it needs to be intuitive to use.

Consider the new and upcoming Ducky Mini.... That's what I decided on for gaming. Poker II with browns for typing  Also I am sure the KBP V60 is a solid board so you really can't go wrong good sir.

I hadn't heard of the Ducky Mini. I like the look of it, and it looks to be fairly customizable. I couldn't tell if it was Mac compatible though.

[Aidenknives]

On my "future purchases" list, I plan on getting an HHKB Pro 2 and an Ergodox. And then I'm torn between the KBP V60 and the Poker II. Which of the two would you recommend, and why?

I don't really have any preferences in a 60% other than it needs to be intuitive to use.

Consider the new and upcoming Ducky Mini.... That's what I decided on for gaming. Poker II with browns for typing  Also I am sure the KBP V60 is a solid board so you really can't go wrong good sir.

I hadn't heard of the Ducky Mini. I like the look of it, and it looks to be fairly customizable. I couldn't tell if it was Mac compatible though.

Can't help you there not a mac user!

[Crazyhendrix]

For the poker ii, there is no mac 'mode' that I know of. However, you can soft remap the keys under your system preferences. So, in a way I guess the poker ii is compatible with a mac.

[Aidenknives]

On my "future purchases" list, I plan on getting an HHKB Pro 2 and an Ergodox. And then I'm torn between the KBP V60 and the Poker II. Which of the two would you recommend, and why?

I don't really have any preferences in a 60% other than it needs to be intuitive to use.

Consider the new and upcoming Ducky Mini.... That's what I decided on for gaming. Poker II with browns for typing  Also I am sure the KBP V60 is a solid board so you really can't go wrong good sir.

I hadn't heard of the Ducky Mini. I like the look of it, and it looks to be fairly customizable. I couldn't tell if it was Mac compatible though.

Pretty sure the KBP V60 has a dip switch that enables mac mode..

[nathairtras]

Pretty sure the KBP V60 has a dip switch that enables mac mode..

Yep, it does.

Struggling with the same decision myself - V60 or Poker II.  I'm quite torn, as the Poker II seems to be more customizable (presently) both physically and in software - the V60 doesn't (AFAIK) have the same level of programmability, and it "kind of" works in Poker II cases depending on the dip switch hole on the case.  If the case sits too close to the PCB where switches 5 and 6 are on the V60, it may not sit flush with the case.

On the other hand, the V60 has a lot more switch options.  I can get greens and be happy (though my coworkers may not be) or I could get whites and possibly be happy, etc, etc.  Or I can get a Poker II and either mod it myself or get someone else to, and have much the same effect, but with a higher price and a longer wait.  MechanicalKeyboards has V60s with greens in stock right now.

So to answer the original question (not with experience but with my own thoughts in the same struggle!) it depends on a few key points:

1) Your desire to solder and modify your board.  (If strong at all, then I'd suggest a Poker II)
2) Switch type (If anything exotic, and answer to 1 is no, and you do not want to wait / pay someone else to do it, V60)
3) Interest in case swap (Could change long-term if people make V60 and Poker II compatible cases, with a larger dip switch hole)
4) Interest in programmability (could change long-term if KBParadise were to allow custom firmware, but AFAIK lacks the programmable layer of the Poker II)
5) Do you care about LED position - it is top on Poker II (if any) and bottom on V60

I'm about to buy a V60, and just accept that I may also buy a Poker II or a custom 60% later after the V60 proves insufficient, but I'm still really torn.  Also very curious about the tactile gray switches, would love similar force to a Green without the noise, and I'm not sold on the MX Whites quite yet...  Nervous about people saying that they aren't entirely consistent in feel.

[file_id]

I currently have a poker II and have a v60 incoming this week in brown. The v60 has media keys which I like for switching itunes tracks while gaming, but the pgup and pgdown functions I feel aren't in an ideal spot for the v60. There is a post on reddit's /r/mechanicalkeyboards where ripster compares the stems of blue switches to the white switches. The stems, springs, and housing are all the same except for the stem color. I think the conclusion was that mx whites are Lubed blue switches so you might just go that route.

[nathairtras]

I think the conclusion was that mx whites are Lubed blue switches so you might just go that route.

With Greens being Blues with a different stem color, with stiffer springs, right?  All the spec sheets I have seen indicate that the MX White has the same actuation force as the MX Green, just "quiet," possibly due to the globs of lubrication.  Also potentially why the quality is mixed.  Big glob, maybe no sound.  Tiny glob, might as well be a MX Green?

If there were a Poker II with Greens, the choice would be easy.  I don't really care about backlighting, just the switch and the form factor.

[Puddsy]

there is no lube in MX whites

they're just horrible too

[nathairtras]

Huh, not sure why I was thinking lubed, may even have been your post somewhere else about lubed blues feeling similar to whites.

It must just be the second half of the switch.   Easier to make a consistent "sharp" click as opposed to a "soft" one.  Images available here:

https://imgur.com/a/wuToY

[PadawanGeek]

Got a call from the local distributer ofVortex keyboards, the KBP V60 MX White I'd pre-ordered had arrived, and while I was at the shop, I caught sight of the MX Green V60. Was torn between the two, couldn't make up my mind....so, I did the logical thing:

All lit up, MX White below and MX Green on top...

[nathairtras]

Got a call from the local distributer ofVortex keyboards, the KBP V60 MX White I'd pre-ordered had arrived, and while I was at the shop, I caught sight of the MX Green V60.

How are you liking the function layer?  Do the whites have the frequently discussed consistency issues?

[PadawanGeek]

Got a call from the local distributer ofVortex keyboards, the KBP V60 MX White I'd pre-ordered had arrived, and while I was at the shop, I caught sight of the MX Green V60.

How are you liking the function layer?  Do the whites have the frequently discussed consistency issues?

Not too bad, I'm adjusting to it......that's the problem with having so many keyboards, one has to learn to use the Fn layer keys, forget them, and relearn them again when one uses the board again.....going somewhat schizo . And yes, the White do have this inconsistency, sometimes you hear a subtle click, sometimes you don't. I don't mind as long as the switches are stiff.

[cruzin]

Pretty sure the KBP V60 has a dip switch that enables mac mode..

Yep, it does.

Struggling with the same decision myself - V60 or Poker II.  I'm quite torn, as the Poker II seems to be more customizable (presently) both physically and in software - the V60 doesn't (AFAIK) have the same level of programmability, and it "kind of" works in Poker II cases depending on the dip switch hole on the case.  If the case sits too close to the PCB where switches 5 and 6 are on the V60, it may not sit flush with the case.

On the other hand, the V60 has a lot more switch options.  I can get greens and be happy (though my coworkers may not be) or I could get whites and possibly be happy, etc, etc.  Or I can get a Poker II and either mod it myself or get someone else to, and have much the same effect, but with a higher price and a longer wait.  MechanicalKeyboards has V60s with greens in stock right now.

So to answer the original question (not with experience but with my own thoughts in the same struggle!) it depends on a few key points:

1) Your desire to solder and modify your board.  (If strong at all, then I'd suggest a Poker II)
2) Switch type (If anything exotic, and answer to 1 is no, and you do not want to wait / pay someone else to do it, V60)
3) Interest in case swap (Could change long-term if people make V60 and Poker II compatible cases, with a larger dip switch hole)
4) Interest in programmability (could change long-term if KBParadise were to allow custom firmware, but AFAIK lacks the programmable layer of the Poker II)
5) Do you care about LED position - it is top on Poker II (if any) and bottom on V60

I'm about to buy a V60, and just accept that I may also buy a Poker II or a custom 60% later after the V60 proves insufficient, but I'm still really torn.  Also very curious about the tactile gray switches, would love similar force to a Green without the noise, and I'm not sold on the MX Whites quite yet...  Nervous about people saying that they aren't entirely consistent in feel.

Jumping back on this. What do you think of your V60? Did you also end up getting a Poker?

I currently have a poker II and have a v60 incoming this week in brown. The v60 has media keys which I like for switching itunes tracks while gaming, but the pgup and pgdown functions I feel aren't in an ideal spot for the v60. There is a post on reddit's /r/mechanicalkeyboards where ripster compares the stems of blue switches to the white switches. The stems, springs, and housing are all the same except for the stem color. I think the conclusion was that mx whites are Lubed blue switches so you might just go that route.

Now that you've had a chance to play around with both, what is your opinion on one vs the other?