cherry g81-1800 revisited

[pmyshkin]

When I first bought the cherry g81-1800, I had a severe case of buyer's remorse because I wasn't expecting the MY switches. I then immediately bought the g80-3000 with blue switches and was very happy with that purchase. The g81 just sat on my desk unused since I received the g80...

That is until I spent the entire day today playing crappy flash games in the GH arcade. I didn't think it would be a problem for me but the g80's clickyness is really annoying when playing games (not to mention it completely gives away what I'm doing to my roommate). Plus, the mx switches require so little actuation force and bottoms out so hard that it feels like I'm breaking the board as I mash down on the arrow keys. The significant amount of overtravel also doesn't help with precise timing of single key presses.

On the other hand, the g81-1800 makes no noise at all, and the stiffer actuation feels great when you're letting those keys have it. The construction in general also feels more solid than the g80: the entire board doesn't vibrate when you bottom out. Lastly, it's completely quiet, even quieter than rubber domes. The only problem I have with it is that it seems like some of the plungers don't want to go down as easily when you press them at an angle.

So I think from now on I will do all gaming on the g81. How does everyone else feel about gaming with blue switches? Am I the only one who can't stand it?

[keyb_gr]

That's pretty much in line with what others have found, myself included. Among MX switches, blacks seem to be the most popular for gaming, and for good reason. (Your G80 has blues, I guess? It's a good idea to specify either the switch type or the suffix in discusssions.) And yes, G81s are both heavier and quieter than any MX board.
It's too bad they don't seem to be quite as bombproof as they used to be... something to do with the membrane - controller board connection I guess. Should take a closer look at my spares G81 one of these days.

[o2dazone]

I'm the same way. I found blue cherries to be horrible to game on. Last night I played an fps a little bit and even noticed the HHKB isn't the most suitable switch to game on...or maybe it'll take some getting used to.

On that note, I found the brown cherries to be a happy medium between gaming and typing on. Some consider them to be too light though, and it has virtually no tactile feedback (it's a very VERY minor bump)

I've also read in numerous places most "gamer" mechanical keyboards use linear switches, for some of the reasons you noted above

[IBI]

How does everyone else feel about gaming with blue switches? Am I the only one who can't stand it?

I haven't tried Clicky MXs, but buckling springs didn't bother me for gaming. I have heard ohers expressing the same sentiment as you though.

[Viett]

I'm no pro gamer, but I game pretty frequently. I like scissor-switches for FPS because of the low key travel and ease of hitting multiple keys (Control, alt, shift, space, wasd) when you're off home row. For more hotkey-based games (StarCraft), I prefer tactility (currently on Black Alps). I've tried the Deck for FPS before, and it's no better than the Black Alps in terms of gaming performance.

I still plan to get the Blue Cherry Filco. I'll just have to hope it doesn't bother me too much.

[Eclairz]

if gamers preferred low travel then the ideal keyboard would really be a G84-4100 ML switch, black switches are better for gaming since gamers will use the same keys over and over again so they already memorise the activation point and their hand stays ina constant spidery grip. Also some games will bottom out anyway so heavier keys makes them more deliberate with their actuations. And of course mentioned is they make no sound and there fore not distracted by the sounds.

I have a modified G80-1800 with blue cherries and i game with it all the time but then i play real time and turn based strategy games, not exactly the pro gamer unless people still believe in starcraft and go/chess. End of the day it is up to the gamer to master their own tools, and accordingly modify their system to customize their inputs, and memorisation of menu orders.

[vultureparade]

I game pretty heavily, and I used to use my Model M a lot.  It wasn't the ideal keyboard for gaming, but I made it work.  I don't think my performance was any better or worse compared to another keyboard once I became accustomed to using the M.

Right now I'm using the Apple keyboard that came with my Mac.  The low travel combined with almost nonexistent tactile response is the opposite of the M. I find my kill to death ratio is about the same as it was on the M, but I enjoyed the feeling of the M more regardless of it's limitations -- number of keys I could hit as once, loudness, size on the desk.