Best Cherry blue board for an elderly friend

[macguy80]

Hi,

I am helping an elderly friend who is fed up with her laptop's keyboard go mechanical. She is pretty sure she wants something tactile, so my first thought is Cherry blues. However, the situation is that we can't shop in town with a Cherry blue board on display, and those that have stock haven't been willing to open a box so she can test it.

I was going to get a Leopold, since the price is relatively low as Cherry blue boards go, but EK's return policy (should she decide it's not for her) is prohibitive. Actually, non-existent.

So, despite the added price and new Chinese OEM, I am thinking of going with a new Das. At least she will enjoy being able to adjust her volume via keyboard that way. And if she decides it's not for her (which I doubt, but still...) she will be able to return it within 30 days.

Before I go for the Das, I wanted to ask if there are alternate recommendations for a Cherry blue board with:

1. Good quality relative to price
2. Decent return policy (no restocking fee)
3. Media keys (gaming boards with bells and whistles would be overkill)

And if a board with all 3 is not to be found, is there a board that satisfies the first 2? I'd like to be under $100 if no media keys.

Thanks for any Das alternatives that you can recommend.
-Will

[Gupgup]

It may not be the best and fanciest, but the CM QFR is very well priced for its quality, only about 64 I think on amazon?

It also has the media keys at the top!

There has been many reported problems with the left alt key and the clickiness of the blues. But I just ordered one last week and there were no problems at all with it, I think they may have fixed the problem and stopped selling the faulty ones.

But someone else will chime in and give more info on what I've said

[rowdy]

I second the QFR.  Plus on point 2, there are three (I think at last count) CM reps lurking around this forum who are quick and responsive to help if you run into trouble.

[esoomenona]

If you're considering a Das, I have one that I may consider selling. It was purchased before any new OEM. It has a geekhack engraved badge on it as well.

[Leslieann]

Buy the used DAS, it's better quality and you know it will work.

Otherwise, I will third  the QFR, best bang for the buck.

[LifeIsGooD2]

I would think the back lighting of a ducky would be very nice for an elderly person

[crthell]

I believe QFRs are still 60 bucks at Frys.com

[tp4tissue]

How elderly is he...

[Hak Foo]

The Ducky 2108 is also a reasonable choice at 75 dollars plus postage.  I'd check if the media keys do what you want though.