Recommendations for a new gaming keyboard?

[megarat]

Hey all, I'm believe the time is finally right for me to invest in a new gaming keyboard.  If you can recommend any makes/models to me, I would really appreciate it.

Here are my (ideal) requirements, in approximate order of importance:

-- Small form factor; this means at least tenkeyless; I'm currently using a HHKB Lite 2 because of its size, in spite of its other shortcomings

-- Backlit; I play in the dark; this feature is my primary incentive to get a new 'board

-- No HHKB-esque "function key"-reduced layout; while lovely in real life, during gaming, rapidly getting some of the top-row function keys isn't tenable

-- Reasonable switches for gaming

-- Built-in hub; I'm thinking that a built-in hub might not be concordant (power-wise) with backlit keys, but if such a thing exists I want to know about it

My leading candidate is the Deck 82.  Alas, it doesn't have a built-in hub, but I can live with that if I have to.  If you can recommend anything else that meets a chunk of the above requirements, I would love it hear about it.

Thanks!

[timw4mail]

I don't know of any other backlit mechanical-switch keyboards, period, so I can't think of a better choice. I haven't checked, but can't you order their smaller boards with the white switches?

EDIT:
Only the full-size Deck apparently can come with White cherry switches...

[Korbin]

Base on your requirements the Deck 82 is probably your ONLY option. As far as I know Deck is the only option if you want a backlit mechanical switch option.

I have the Deck 82 myself and can't say that I like it that much due to the fact that it sits on an aluminum plate. I didn't really care for the sound of it when the keys bottomed out. Plus it uses the black switches which aren't terrible for gaming but I think the browns are more comfortable for gaming if you have to keep the keys depressed for seconds at a time, but that's ONLY my opininon.

[IBI]

-- Reasonable switches for gaming

This is personal preference, what sort of keyboard do you like for gaming? Personally I've noticed no difference in gaming with different switches, but as you've specified the point I guess you have some sort of preference?

What about the Sidewinder X6? Backlit, Tenkeyless (well, it has a numpad but I believe it's optional) and pretty nice looking. There's also the I-rocks 6820.

Alternatively, many of the gaming keypads like the N52 and Saitek cyborg commader are backlit which may be an option if you don't need the full keyboard.

[megarat]

This is personal preference, what sort of keyboard do you like for gaming? Personally I've noticed no difference in gaming with different switches, but as you've specified the point I guess you have some sort of preference?

Very true.  What I meant by this was "key action doesn't empirically suck", or "won't leave my hands cramped into a claw of pain".

What about the Sidewinder X6? Backlit, Tenkeyless (well, it has a numpad but I believe it's optional) and pretty nice looking. There's also the I-rocks 6820.

Alternatively, many of the gaming keypads like the N52 and Saitek cyborg commader are backlit which may be an option if you don't need the full keyboard.

These are some great recommendations, thanks.  Including Ripster's mention of the Logitech G13.  Looking at some reviews on Amazon, it appears that the backlit N52 has some issues, but some of the other units look quite promising (specifically the I-rocks, Saitek and Logitech).

[chimera15]

yeahyeah, n52te can't be beat, those things should come standard with every computer.
Then you can use a normal mechanical keyboard, or a cheap backlit one.

[timw4mail]

Wait, there are other backlit mechanical keyboards, or have we leaft the realm of mechanical for those other recommendations?

[Rajagra]

Wait, there are other backlit mechanical keyboards, or have we leaft the realm of mechanical for those other recommendations?

I don't think the N52te is mechanical, but the feel of the main 14 switches is very tactile. They resist movement until a certain force is applied, then they collapse and bottom out.

Backlighting is good but irrelevant - anyone can "touch-type" on a N52te, the layout is a dream. (3 more buttons on the left would be nice, but nothing is perfect.)

[Manyak]

I ordered an N52te once, and one of the keys was messed up. Even when it bottomed out it wouldn't register, you had to really push it HARD to use it. And the RMA unit had the same problem but on different key.

But you know, you could mod any keyboard to be backlit and have a USB hub and everything. Especially cherry ones, they have a spot right on each switch that you can stick an LED on.

It would take a lot of work and it'll be pretty expensive to order a custom keyset if you take it that far, but it's doable.