Praise for Cherry MX 3.0

[jcoffin1981]

My Cherry MX board has sat for two years when I abandoned it for the 60% form factor.  Although I don't go quite as crazy as some enthusiasts swapping stems, springs, sliders, etc., and I have only purchased boards from KBP, Vortex, and Leopold and gone as far as lubing the switches (which I regretted), after digging up this board to swap at work with a SH** Dell keyboard, I have to say this is my favorite board.  There is zero rattle or wobble from the larger keys and although the Leopold keycaps are similar to the Cherry profile, these are still superior.  Yes these are ABS plastic and not PBT, and the legends are not as high quality, but as far as utility I love this.  I won't switch it for my DD at home because of the 100% form factor, but I'm even thinking of replacing a few other "keebs" at work with used ones.  Everyone else hates 12 inch, 60% boards.

I am almost debating getting another one for home, but reaching for that mouse causes me all kinds of pain.  I do wish they made this board in a reduced size.  If they did I would gladly pay $80 for this rather than $140 for a fancier board.  Maybe someone else can benefit from this and purchase this before that Filco board, or if they don't like it hate me for recommending it.

[SpAmRaY]

You do realize the cherry mx 3.0 doesn't use cherry profile caps right?

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[dante]

YMMV: The MX 3.0 is known to have mini-usb hubs that fail and legs that break over time.

[jcoffin1981]

Well umm, no.  I thought that this was "the cherry profile."  They do seem shorter than what other manufacturer's call cherry profile.  Whatever it is a technicality, this is great.

[dante]

They are not Cherry profile they are Devlin L series: http://www.devlin.co.uk/products/components/keycaps.html

[jcoffin1981]

YMMV: The MX 3.0 is known to have mini-usb hubs that fail and legs that break over time.

The board has gotten very little use and yes I don't like a board to be stabilized on legs.  I wouln't know about the usb hub, but that's easy enough to fix should it fail.  I was simply commenting on the feel of typing.  I'm not an exalted elder but I do have a little experience.  I'm not saying that it has the best build quality as there are better.  Well it seems I'm going to be chastised for for voicing my opinion on a board that seems to be shunned.

It's interesting that Cherry outsources the production of key caps.  I would like to buy these for another board.

[dante]

I'm not shunning you but since you bring this board up those that may consider it deserve to know.

Some of us don't mind picking up a soldering iron but I suspect many who drop a $100 on a board expect at a minimum for it to be as reliable as a rubber dome.

[jcoffin1981]

Yes, yes, fair enough.  Appears "solid enough" for me.  I've never heard these things discussed or mentioned, but it seems they are common knowledge and it's good they are made known.  I don't move boards or switch them often anymore so the mini- usb problem is probably not a problem for me. 

I'm pretty sure this is also PCB mount and this is the only board I've ever used with this as plate mount seems to be status quo.  This may also contribute to the unique typing feel.

On principle it would make me feel lousy going back to my first mechanical after buying about 10 other boards.

[dante]

The MX 3.0 is plate mount.  It's predecessor the MX 2.0 was PCB mount.

[Lazylewis]

I had one of these and recently threw it in the bin. I don't remember where I bought it or why, but it felt like a plastic toy.

[jcoffin1981]

That's too bad.  You could have thrown it my way.  I would have purchase it from you.   

[Riverman]

I had an MX Board 3.0 for a while.  It was the first MX brown keyboard I owned, and I thought it was very solid and pleasant to type on, especially with the optional wrist rest.  The only reason I sold mine was because I wanted different keycaps, and the caps lock key on the 3.0 is completely non-standard.  It's hard enough to find a stepped caps lock key for a G80-3000 sometimes, let alone an MX Board 3.0.  Cherry makes some great stuff, but you don't hear about it too often on here unless it's old.  My current keyboard at work is a G80-3000 that I converted to brown switches.  I think it's a better keyboard to type on than my Filco, even with the slightly slippery POM keycaps.  I also have an MX Board 6.0, which is absolutely rock solid.  If only I didn't hate red switches so much. )

[jcoffin1981]

Somebody else shares my enthusiasm.  The MX 6.0 is handsome, but I don't know if their RealKey technology is mostly marketing hype or if it makes a discernable difference.  In wireless keyboards and mice I definitely see a delay, but with wired technology I perceive it as instantaneous.

[Hyde]

I had a MX 2.0 board and I quite like the keycap profile.  It's like best of both worlds.  It's short but still has nice travel.

Really wished the capslock was standard sizing then I would've put the keycaps on other keyboard.

Had to clip mod the stabilizer but afterwards it's pretty nice.  Only drawback with MX 2.0 is that it's PCB mounted and I think plate mounted (MX 3.0) would've feel sturdier.

But definitely can see why you enjoyed the MX 3.0.

[Giorgio]

I had an MX Board 3.0 for a while.  It was the first MX brown keyboard I owned, and I thought it was very solid and pleasant to type on, especially with the optional wrist rest.  The only reason I sold mine was because I wanted different keycaps, and the caps lock key on the 3.0 is completely non-standard.  It's hard enough to find a stepped caps lock key for a G80-3000 sometimes, let alone an MX Board 3.0. 

+1

WTF cherry, what's wrong with you?

[Flowshi]

Anyone checked the Cherrysite lately?
 
They changed the MX3.0 a bit. Font seems to be different, new windows key, new item numbers and there are missing some models/versions (MX-black ISO layout for example). Maybe they changed other stuff too (capslock key, stabilizers).

There is also a new MX-5.0 Board, which looks kinda interesting, not my style (the font is super ugly), but I can see it fits in a modern office environment and it comes with double shots.

Edit: Abrasion-resistant double shot PBT keycaps (for US-international layout only) ... pretty cool

[Giorgio]

Anyone checked the Cherrysite lately?
 
They changed the MX3.0 a bit. Font seems to be different, new windows key, new item numbers and there are missing some models/versions (MX-black ISO layout for example). Maybe they changed other stuff too (capslock key, stabilizers).

There is also a new MX-5.0 Board, which looks kinda interesting, not my style (the font is super ugly), but I can see it fits in a modern office environment and it comes with double shots.

Edit: Abrasion-resistant double shot PBT keycaps (for US-international layout only) ... pretty cool

Those extra 4 keys above the numpad make the keyboard incompatible with any GMK set.

[Flowshi]

Those extra 4 keys above the numpad make the keyboard incompatible with any GMK set.

Well, the boards targeted audience isn't probably someone who wants to switch out caps, its more for the modern office environment, like I said, I can see it fit perfectly on my bosses desktop.

[Giorgio]

Those extra 4 keys above the numpad make the keyboard incompatible with any GMK set.

Well, the boards targeted audience isn't probably someone who wants to switch out caps, its more for the modern office environment, like I said, I can see it fit perfectly on my bosses desktop.

It's still incompatible.

[LoveYouFyi]

Wow... I had no idea Cherry made a keyboard.  How odd.  I've been scouring the earth for the best mech keyboard for me for years, buying and selling them off but have never come across this.. so funny.  Yeah, I won't be trying that board..

[Riverman]

They make plenty of keyboards, but they're not for everyone.  Each model is typically only available with a couple of different switch types, or sometimes even only one, and their build quality ranges from bottom of the barrel to something that puts Filco and all of the other big boys to shame, like theMX Board 6.0.

[Giorgio]

GMK and cherry, when designing their keyboards, clearly show their suicidal tendencies. It isn't humanly possible that they ignore how to design a good keyboard. They simply don't care.

[Riverman]

GMK and cherry, when designing their keyboards, clearly show their suicidal tendencies. It isn't humanly possible that they ignore how to design a good keyboard. They simply don't care.

So true!  If I could get an MX Board 6.0 with brown switches, I'd never look for another keyboard again (or at least not for a few months  ).  If they fixed the light bleed problem on the G80-3000's lock LEDs and centered the caps lock stem, I'd be perfectly happy with one of those, too.

[jcoffin1981]

I've moved my MX 3.0 to work, replacing a crap Dell board.  The unique Devlin keycaps probably add to the unique typing feel.  Yes it's not PBT, but I have also found that the heavier keycaps make the switches feel less responsive.

It may also be the PCB mount adds some cushion to bottoming out, which I kind of like to do with these switches.  For hardcore keyboard enthusiasts it may not be the best board, but of my 10 boards or so nothing feels like this, and I like it. 

[SamirD]

I purchased a board in CDW's closeout that had the Cherry ML switches.  For what I paid, it wasn't bad at all.  What surprised me was when I did a typing test that I was as fast on them as on an IBM M (which is effortless for me).  As I've used it more and more, my hands seem to like the ML switches, which generally are not considered an enthusiast switch.

[jcoffin1981]

I purchased a board in CDW's closeout that had the Cherry ML switches.  For what I paid, it wasn't bad at all.  What surprised me was when I did a typing test that I was as fast on them as on an IBM M (which is effortless for me).  As I've used it more and more, my hands seem to like the ML switches, which generally are not considered an enthusiast switch.

Looking at the Cherry ...4100.  Goes for 80 bucks, but finding a used one for 15 or 20 bucks would be a fine experiment.