« previous next »
Pages:  [1]     Go Down

Author Topic: In the need of advices for my first mechanical keyboard  (Read 6818 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Zet

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 304
In the need of advices for my first mechanical keyboard
« on: Fri, 04 March 2011, 20:34:20 »
Greetings Geekhack community,

Let me introduce myself a bit, in the first place so I can later on ask you for an advice.
I'm a student living in South America, I study system engineering(software developing), and I speak spanish.

My aunt that lives in Miami Florida, wants to give me a present, and I asked her for a mechanical keyboard. Since I got to know them a little better, I really got into them, and started to browse for guides, and eventually got here, of course! heh...

So right now, I do a lot of writing on my computer, and I program. Also, I play Starcraft 2, which requires a lot of tapping. So after the research I did, I found that mainly the three options I have is mx cherry brown, black and blue, in that order.

I liked the brown ones because I've read that its balanced for gaming and also for writing/typing, I don't know if its exaggerated that blacks are not that good for writing, but its clear they are the best for gaming, and the blue ones are the most common ones, and I like the sound of the clicking, but I've heard complains of people saying they are not that good for tapping and the click sound can bother others around you. Since I live with other people, I might want to place the blue ones as my last option.

So the real advice I want here is, I'm after a 105-key layout (not necessarily  Spanish layout), MX Cherry brown keyboard that its being sold on the USA, or, if you guys know how hard is to make the following:

Get a 104-key MX Cherry brown keyboard and remap the keys so, lets say 9+alt gr does "<" and 0+alt gr does ">", since the missing key between the layouts, on the Spanish layout that I'm used to, its a key that goes between the left shift and the "z" key, that on the Spanish layout does "<" and ">" with shift. The rest of the differences on the keys its not a problem, and I'm used to it. I have no problem writing without looking to the keyboard, so getting the Das Keyboard Model S Ultimate Silent was my best option, and I mailed them, asking if a 105-key layout of this model was sold on the USA, and they mention a reseller on Germany that ships to USA, but then the price of the shipping was more than the keyboard itself ;(

So, I would really really appreciate some help or ideas on how to solve this.

Kind regards,

M. Esteban Zenteno, from Bolivia
Logged

Offline rustybarnacle

  • Posts: 122
In the need of advices for my first mechanical keyboard
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 04 March 2011, 20:45:51 »
I lived in Bolivia for 2 years!  Sos colla o camba?  But moving on:

There are any number of reasonable software solutions to the 104 into a 105 key layout issue.  If you're using windows, either keytweak or autohotkey can get you where you're going.

As for keyboards, I have a Das, and they're fine.  I bought a Das S for my dad, and it seems like a solid board - the biggest issue is that the shiny case will get fingerprints all over it.

Filco seems to be, by and large, a beloved brand around here.  Tough to get tho.  but you can get one here

http://www.amazon.com/Majestouch-Tactile-Action-Metallic-Keyboard/dp/B004EAHE9M/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1299293032&sr=8-5

elitekeyboards.com is also getting in some leopolds which are very similar, but they do not have the 104key boards yet, and no exact date as to when either.
Logged

Offline keyboardlover

  • Posts: 4022
  • Hey Paul Walker, Click It or Ticket!
    • http://www.keyboardlover.com
In the need of advices for my first mechanical keyboard
« Reply #2 on: Fri, 04 March 2011, 20:46:49 »
Welcome to GeekHack! Hope you have good luck in your quest =)
Logged

Offline pitashen

  • Posts: 1200
In the need of advices for my first mechanical keyboard
« Reply #3 on: Fri, 04 March 2011, 21:40:14 »
Brown switch is a good start, and then you can find your way to different switch choice base on the one you got.
Logged
\\\\ DSI Mac Modular Keyboard (Brown) w/ Leo  Blank Keycaps //
\\\\ Leopold 87keys Keyboard (Brown) w/ Black CherryCorp + SP DoubleShots //
\\\\ Filco Majestouch 2 NINJA (Black) w/ White CherryCorp + SP DoublsShots //

Offline Watson

  • Posts: 5
In the need of advices for my first mechanical keyboard
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 05 March 2011, 08:34:26 »
I find that keyboards with brown switches are expensive. Steelseries (black) or Razer (blue) products are widely distributed and available cheaply to get the taste of mechanical keyboards.
Logged

Offline Engine

  • Posts: 250
In the need of advices for my first mechanical keyboard
« Reply #5 on: Sat, 05 March 2011, 09:35:09 »
I love the clack and bump, so I'm looking at blues, as I'm really into my Unicomp.  I'm choosing the BLue for my intro to Cherry and going w/the sub $100 price tag for that purpose.  I'm thinking of the Leopold for that reason.
Logged
In order of purchase:
Unicomp Space Saver(Black) - Topre Realforce 103U-UW -   Topre Realforce 103UB - Leopold Tenkeyless MX Blue - Leopold Tenkeyless MX Brown - Filco Majestouch 2 MX Blue - Filco Majestouch 2 MX Brown

Offline Engine

  • Posts: 250
In the need of advices for my first mechanical keyboard
« Reply #6 on: Sat, 05 March 2011, 09:47:18 »
If I want to introduce my wife to mechanical kbs, should I start w/Browns?
She's accustomed to rubberdome and likes her MS BUisness kb for home, though she's not necessarily against "clack".  I had her try my Unicomp but she felt the keys were too stiff and may tire her hands, though she only tried it briefly.
How much difference is there betwwen Blue and Brown springs? In clack and bump, general feedback and anything else you can think of?
Logged
In order of purchase:
Unicomp Space Saver(Black) - Topre Realforce 103U-UW -   Topre Realforce 103UB - Leopold Tenkeyless MX Blue - Leopold Tenkeyless MX Brown - Filco Majestouch 2 MX Blue - Filco Majestouch 2 MX Brown

Offline theferenc

  • Posts: 1327
In the need of advices for my first mechanical keyboard
« Reply #7 on: Sat, 05 March 2011, 09:49:20 »
Get her a Realforce. She'll be happy. Just don't tell her the price.
Logged
HHKB Pro 2 -- Custom UNIX layout Unicomp Customizer 101 -- IBM Model M 1391401 (modded to UNIX layout) -- IBM 1397000 (also UNIX layout) -- SSK in UNIX layout -- Model F 122 key in UNIX layout (Soarer USB "native")
 
CST L-TracX trackball -- Kensington Expert Mouse trackball

Offline Engine

  • Posts: 250
In the need of advices for my first mechanical keyboard
« Reply #8 on: Sat, 05 March 2011, 10:10:35 »
I've been wanting to mention that that cat looks mischeviouis and FUN!  I bet he/she is a barrel of laughs.  Looks like he/she is thinking about which way to go about pouncing on you...lol.  I grew up w/cats/dogs.  Never dull in the house.  Ok, I got that out of the way.
Yeah, I'd like to try the topre but $$$.  I mean, I'm sure she'd like it.  I feel better knowing if she'd love it.  I do like the look of it for sure and know she would to.  I just may surprize her.  We'll see.
In the meantime, can you or anyone just let me know what the difference is between blue and brown?  is it much?
Logged
In order of purchase:
Unicomp Space Saver(Black) - Topre Realforce 103U-UW -   Topre Realforce 103UB - Leopold Tenkeyless MX Blue - Leopold Tenkeyless MX Brown - Filco Majestouch 2 MX Blue - Filco Majestouch 2 MX Brown

Offline theferenc

  • Posts: 1327
In the need of advices for my first mechanical keyboard
« Reply #9 on: Sat, 05 March 2011, 10:31:30 »
I'm not the person to ask about cherry switches, as I don't like them. I can tell you that browns are quieter, and much less tactile feeling than blues, while the blues are quite...loud.

Many people have claimed the blues feel louder than buckling springs. I think this is due to the much higher pitch the blue switches have when they click.

Oh, and he definitely pounced about 3 seconds after that picture was taken. And given his size (over 20 pounds, just slightly chubby), that is not something you can just ignore. He's a good cat though, most of the time.
Logged
HHKB Pro 2 -- Custom UNIX layout Unicomp Customizer 101 -- IBM Model M 1391401 (modded to UNIX layout) -- IBM 1397000 (also UNIX layout) -- SSK in UNIX layout -- Model F 122 key in UNIX layout (Soarer USB "native")
 
CST L-TracX trackball -- Kensington Expert Mouse trackball

Offline Engine

  • Posts: 250
In the need of advices for my first mechanical keyboard
« Reply #10 on: Sat, 05 March 2011, 10:40:39 »
Now that looks GOOD!
Logged
In order of purchase:
Unicomp Space Saver(Black) - Topre Realforce 103U-UW -   Topre Realforce 103UB - Leopold Tenkeyless MX Blue - Leopold Tenkeyless MX Brown - Filco Majestouch 2 MX Blue - Filco Majestouch 2 MX Brown

Offline Engine

  • Posts: 250
In the need of advices for my first mechanical keyboard
« Reply #11 on: Sat, 05 March 2011, 11:13:33 »
Hey, what happened to the drink?  By the way, was that a lime and tequila or vodka?
Logged
In order of purchase:
Unicomp Space Saver(Black) - Topre Realforce 103U-UW -   Topre Realforce 103UB - Leopold Tenkeyless MX Blue - Leopold Tenkeyless MX Brown - Filco Majestouch 2 MX Blue - Filco Majestouch 2 MX Brown

Offline Zet

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 304
In the need of advices for my first mechanical keyboard
« Reply #12 on: Sat, 05 March 2011, 11:29:48 »
Thanks a lot for everyones reply apporting to the matter.
Yes, about the Das ISO, I know they are at sale, but according to the customer support, none of them are sold on the USA, the 105key layout is sold only on EU.

I would preffer the 105key layout ultimate silent, ergo, the ones without the lasered keycaps, but if Das Austin Texas sells the ones with the keycaps lasered that would also do.

Ripster, how can I get in contact with Das Austin Texas? is he a user, or a store?

Thanks in advance
Logged

Offline Zet

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 304
In the need of advices for my first mechanical keyboard
« Reply #13 on: Sat, 05 March 2011, 11:38:16 »
btw, Ripster, I saw you know a lot and post a lot on this forums, have you succeed on remaping the keys like I mentioned before? making 9+alt gr and 0+alt gr into "<" and ">" ?
its ok if before windows 7 or linux boots up, the program that remaps the key isnt running, ergo I would have to type my password without any remaping done, but then as the user session its started (making me able to open other program) I can use the remaped keys...

Thanks again!
Logged

Offline theferenc

  • Posts: 1327
In the need of advices for my first mechanical keyboard
« Reply #14 on: Sat, 05 March 2011, 12:47:16 »
Well, on a 104, those characters are present on another key, specifically shift+, and shift+..

That looks super awkward in writing...

Anyway, they are there, so you can use them prior to boot.
Logged
HHKB Pro 2 -- Custom UNIX layout Unicomp Customizer 101 -- IBM Model M 1391401 (modded to UNIX layout) -- IBM 1397000 (also UNIX layout) -- SSK in UNIX layout -- Model F 122 key in UNIX layout (Soarer USB "native")
 
CST L-TracX trackball -- Kensington Expert Mouse trackball

Offline Zet

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 304
In the need of advices for my first mechanical keyboard
« Reply #15 on: Sat, 05 March 2011, 21:07:02 »
Quote from: theferenc;305602
Well, on a 104, those characters are present on another key, specifically shift+, and shift+..

That looks super awkward in writing...

Anyway, they are there, so you can use them prior to boot.


exactly, mainly I think I wont be needing to make any of both symbols previous or during the boot. The real problem is, that if I leave the configuration of the keyboard to Spanish layout, it will remain like that, I'll be able to make use of the "ñ" i.e. but since I lack a key, I wont be able to make the minor and mayor symbols since the program that remaps the keys hasn't started yet with the OS.
Logged

Offline Zet

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 304
In the need of advices for my first mechanical keyboard
« Reply #16 on: Sat, 05 March 2011, 21:13:26 »
I'll try remaping the keys now, with my regular keyboard with 105-key layout and do the testing needed to check on the future problems I might get. Then, if all goes alright I might be getting the US layout.

about the programs to remap, which one you guys think its the best?

and to other Das keyboards/Filcos owners, after use, those rubber like or similar tops on the keyboards, it gets shinny or oily, the Das gloss finish, or like the Razer Black Widow, they do pick a lot of fingerprints, but its a lot easier to clean(altho it gets dirty fast also), and restore the product back to how it was when new, but the other ones, like the Filcos, I'm thinking after long use, it gets shinny or oily due the use, and at least I haven't been able to clean it well enough so it back as new.

It's kind of what happens with the keycaps, after using them they get shinny or oily, and you can't make them be like new again, but the glossy if you clean it well enouth it get's back as new. The real deal is, if you get to "scratch" that glossy kind of material, that scratch will remain forever, the other ones like the Filcos don't get scratched that easily.
Right?
Logged
Pages:  [1]     Go Up
« previous next »