Author Topic: A little help on a mechanical keyboard... (Read 4921 times)

Aurlock · « **on:** Thu, 29 April 2010, 16:47:30 »

Alright, so I've decided that it is about time I throw away all my membrane keyboards and start to acquire some mechanical keyboards, problem is... I don't know which to get. That's where you come in geekhackers, I need some input.

A little background on what I do on my computer to help make your suggestions easier. I am going to be doing a fair amount of typing on it (programming and school work mainly, not that it matters) but I will also be doing a lot of gaming on it.

This is going to be my birthday present to myself, so price really doesn't matter, but keep it manageable please

Thanks in advance for all those that help me out.

Nonmouse · « **Reply #1 on:** Thu, 29 April 2010, 16:56:45 »

Well, a lot of gamers like the boards with Cherry black switches, because they're linear and fairly high force. However, this isn't so great for typing- a tactile or auditory (clicky) keyboard is better for typing on- conversely, not so great for gaming.

A compromise might be a tactile board- Cherry white (clear) switches or Cherry browns- the browns are lower force 45 vs 60 cN, IIRC, which might not be so great for gaming, especially if you like "jamming" the keys. ALPS also makes a tactile, non-clicky switch, usually with black keystems, though ALPS keystems come in a bewildering array of colors...

didjamatic · « **Reply #2 on:** Thu, 29 April 2010, 16:57:37 »

IMPORTANT: What noise levels are acceptable to you? That can make a big difference.

Aurlock · « **Reply #3 on:** Thu, 29 April 2010, 17:04:07 »

I game with headphones so noise isn't a problem.

didjamatic · « **Reply #4 on:** Thu, 29 April 2010, 18:15:16 »

99% of the people here would support you getting an IBM Model M as a first mechanical. You'll get one or more eventually anyway, and they are the standard by which all other mechanicals are measured. Be sure it's a Buckling Spring version, the Wiki that Ripster mentioned can help you with that, or post a link to something and people here can tell you if it's the right thing to get.

Then, if you want to venture into more boards, check the Wiki out here, the keyboard sounds thread, Elitekeyboards.com is a good vendor for modern Cherry and Topre boards, the Classifieds section of this site has some great boards in it most of the time.

Try a bunch and formulate your own opinion about what you like.

ricercar · « **Reply #5 on:** Thu, 29 April 2010, 19:10:37 »

I second ripster. Cherry MX are a better first mechanical than buckling springs, unless you're a dive-into-the-deep-end kind of person.

Note that you're likely to end up with both unless you're broke or easily satisfied.

bigpook · « **Reply #6 on:** Thu, 29 April 2010, 19:35:02 »

Maybe, but the cherry MX switches are kind of like just getting the taco.
The Model M is kind of like getting the Burrito Grande, with sour cream and guacamole. With chips and salsa on the side, oh yeah, don't forget the Corona, with a lime. On a beach, flying a kite.
Everyone needs to get a Burrito Grande, at least once.

Nonmouse · « **Reply #7 on:** Thu, 29 April 2010, 19:47:33 »

Quote from: bigpook;177428

Maybe, but the cherry MX switches are kind of like just getting the taco.
The Model M is kind of like getting the Burrito Grande, with sour cream and guacamole. With chips and salsa on the side, oh yeah, don't forget the Corona, with a lime. On a beach, flying a kite.
Everyone needs to get a Burrito Grande, at least once.

Enh, matter of taste. I think that Cherry browns are like the camerones al mojo de ajo, with a neat Patron Añejo to sip, on that scale.

Sex for your fingertips.

Wait. That sounds wrong... and sticky...

microsoft windows · « **Reply #8 on:** Thu, 29 April 2010, 19:53:05 »

A great mechanical keyboard to start with is an IBM Model M. They are by far the cheapest.

didjamatic · « **Reply #9 on:** Thu, 29 April 2010, 20:13:31 »

You'll end up owning both of them no matter where you start, so get whichever is a great deal. You can find plenty of good, clean Model M's for under $50 on ebay or in classifieds here, but it's harder to get a good layout Cherry MX board for that price, especially if you want clicky blues. The Addesso's about to come out could be a good Blue Cherry option at only $57 at ProVantage/Newegg types of stores. But if you want a really kick butt Cherry board that is well made, there are a couple of Filcos on ebay right now too, one brown, one blue. Or Elite has some limited edition ones in white.

You say you're treating yourself and price isn't important, but if you want to try a few switches it starts to add up. Just ask anyone here.

Aurlock · « **Reply #10 on:** Thu, 29 April 2010, 22:28:16 »

Alright so I think I'm going to dive right in and get a Model M, maybe not the greatest for gaming but I've always loved the classic look and sound of them. However, I would like a new Model M but I can't find any of them and the used ones I've seen on eBay and other sites are trashed and missing keys and such. So my question is, does a Unicomp keyboard even compare to a Model M, and if not, can anyone point me in the right direction to get my hands on a decent Model M?

kishy · « **Reply #11 on:** Thu, 29 April 2010, 22:30:28 »

Model M = lightly toasted regular bagel loaded with regular Philly.

I would never do something as unethical as advertise my own for-sale Model Ms...

Aurlock · « **Reply #12 on:** Thu, 29 April 2010, 22:37:49 »

Wait what Kishy?

kishy · « **Reply #13 on:** Thu, 29 April 2010, 22:41:18 »

I've got a classified ad here with a couple decent condition ones.

Go PM if interested. Looks like a cable might be possible (current listing says I have no extras).

iMav · « **Reply #14 on:** Thu, 29 April 2010, 22:58:26 »

Why buy the taco or burito supreme when you can own Mexican food restaurant? Get a HHKB Pro 2.

Aurlock · « **Reply #15 on:** Thu, 29 April 2010, 23:01:07 »

I think I'm going to get a Model M and then a Filco with MX Browns, my next keyboard will be a HHKB, that way I have the whole gambit of mechanical keyboards

muchadoaboutnothing · « **Reply #16 on:** Thu, 29 April 2010, 23:05:43 »

Quote from: iMav;177452

Why buy the taco or burito supreme when you can own Mexican food restaurant? Get a HHKB Pro 2.

No numpad = Mexican Food Restaurant that only serves tacos.

I love trying to turn computer analogies into food analogies.

maxlugar · « **Reply #17 on:** Thu, 29 April 2010, 23:21:59 »

Quote from: Aurlock;177453

I think I'm going to get a Model M and then a Filco with MX Browns, my next keyboard will be a HHKB, that way I have the whole gambit of mechanical keyboards

If I were going to splurge on a keyboard as a b-day present for myself, it would have to be brand spankin' new!

My collection includes several NIB Model Ms. I also have a NIB full size Filco with Brown Cherry MX key switches...but it's PINK.

A very ugly, old-school board with outstanding key switches is the Chicony KB-5181. I have about a dozen of these sealed NIB. The 5181 is an excellent mechanical keyboard and is about as inexpensive as they get.

Check around on ebay and the geekhack classifieds. If you can't find what you're looking for, PM me.

ricercar · « **Reply #18 on:** Fri, 30 April 2010, 00:49:47 »

Quote from: kishy;177449

a cable might be possible (current listing says I have no extras).

Wait, kishy, no extras, and you're the one who said not to buy the laptop that's incomplete?

XiNAVRO · « **Reply #19 on:** Fri, 30 April 2010, 02:27:52 »

Model M = AK-47
Cherry MX = FN FAL

...Or should I've said M1911 and Glock?

Half-Saint · « **Reply #20 on:** Fri, 30 April 2010, 05:27:50 »

Quote from: maxlugar;177458

A very ugly, old-school board with outstanding key switches is the Chicony KB-5181. I have about a dozen of these sealed NIB. The 5181 is an excellent mechanical keyboard and is about as inexpensive as they get.

Did someone say "inexpensive"?

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m570.l1313&_nkw=Chicony+KB-5181&_sacat=See-All-Categories

bhtooefr · « **Reply #21 on:** Fri, 30 April 2010, 07:13:02 »

The Model M is a bit stiff for my tastes lately. The Unicomp boards are lower quality than a good Model M, but they seem to be less stiff to my fingers - my Model M is higher quality, and feels more solid, but I'd rather type on my EnduraPro 104.

MX blues wouldn't be a bad choice, either. The Scorpius M10 is scraping the bottom of the barrel for quality, true, but RMA until you get a good one, and for $50, once you DO get a good one, you've got a fairly good keyboard. Or, if there's still cheap G80-3000LSCRCs available, do that, they were $65 a while back, IIRC.

I do notice that I sometimes miss keystrokes on my M10, though. (As in, the switch clicks, but nothing's sent.)

keyb_gr · « **Reply #22 on:** Fri, 30 April 2010, 07:22:10 »

Seems like prices of these have gone up a bit, huh? In any case, KB-5181s/5182s were made with just about any switch imaginable back then (various ALPS, Futaba, Cherry MX blue, SMK/Monterey), even though the ones with the Montereys seem to dominate NIB samples. Not a big fan of the rather sharp-edged keycaps.

In any case it's hard to go wrong with a nice condition M (or for much the same in new, Unicomp Customizer or Space Saver). They're not everyone's cup of tea, sure, but on average they seem to be enjoyed far more than the poor old Dell AT-101W.

itlnstln · « **Reply #23 on:** Fri, 30 April 2010, 07:49:50 »

Quote from: muchadoaboutnothing;177454

No numpad = Mexican Food Restaurant that only serves tacos.

I love trying to turn computer analogies into food analogies.

Buy my Realforce numpad.

kriminal · « **Reply #24 on:** Fri, 30 April 2010, 08:03:08 »

Quote from: XiNAVRO;177477

Model M = AK-47
Cherry MX = FN FAL

...Or should I've said M1911 and Glock?

this

kishy · « **Reply #25 on:** Fri, 30 April 2010, 09:38:48 »

Quote from: ricercar;177471

Wait, kishy, no extras, and you're the one who said not to buy the laptop that's incomplete?

Who said I paid for the keyboards that I've obtained without cables?

Plus, IBM didn't supply cables with them (assuming use as FRUs).

News:

Author Topic: A little help on a mechanical keyboard... (Read 4921 times)