Keyboard sturdiness, pcb/plate mount, case material and type feel.

[asgeirtj]

About keyboard sturdiness: I don't really get why keyboard sturdiness is so important for some, is it because people hammer their keyboard often?  I've been checking out the g80-3000 but I don't like the general bulkiness of it; is it bulky to increase weight/sturdiness?

Concerning pcb/plate mount: Is the typing experience different? (i use dental bands). I'm pretty sure I want to lube my future mx browns keyboard and from what I've gathered it is easier to lube pcb mounted boards because it doesn't need soldering, how much is it easier?

Case material: It seems that the flagship boards like the kmac and GON have an aluminum case, what is the advantage of that?  I don't like plastic (all keycaps are plastic right?) on plastic action so I don't think I would like plastic on aluminum action any better.  I use dental bands and want to continue using them because I find the regular travel distance a tad much (and i always bottom out always will) does that mean that an aluminum case won't change anything for me?  I gather that there are also acrylic cases and wooden cases and whatnot, what is the general cases on which is the best case and why?

[CPTBadAss]

1)  I don't really get why keyboard sturdiness is so important for some, is it because people hammer their keyboard often?  I've been checking out the g80-3000 but I don't like the general bulkiness of it; is it bulky to increase weight/sturdiness?

2) Concerning pcb/plate mount: Is the typing experience different?

3) I've gathered it is easier to lube pcb mounted boards because it doesn't need soldering, how much is it easier?

4) Case material: It seems that the flagship boards like the kmac and GON have an aluminum case, what is the advantage of that?

5) I don't like plastic (all keycaps are plastic right?) on plastic action so I don't think I would like plastic on aluminum action any better.

6) What is the general cases on which is the best case and why?

1) Ever type on a board that flexes? It's a terrible feeling. A solid board feels nice to type on to me. And yes, obviously everyone has a different typing style so some people will hammer on their boards. I think I type "harder" than other people since I always bottom out so I prefer a sturdier board.

And a G80-3000 case is just designed like that. It's actually not that heavy. A lot of the heft of say Filcos and Duckys are from the plate. A G80-3000 doesn't have that metal plate so it's a lot lighter.

2) Yes, they'll feel different.

3) You don't have to desolder PCB mount and you will have to desolder plate mount unless it has the custom cutouts. Not having to desolder saves a lot of time.

4) See my explanation from #1.

5) If you don't like plastic caps on a plastic case, and you're researching other case materials, what are you typing on? A cell phone?

6) I like metal cases. Stainless steel or aluminum. See my explanation for #1. And consider this, most "higher end" custom keyboards are made with metal cases. There's probably a reason for the popularity.

No one can tell you want you like.

[asgeirtj]

I meant that I don't really like the clack, so I like dampeners.

[ConscienceDrop]

feels good man.

mechanical is already a luxury in general. yea its long lasting, but its all about the feel anyways i would never but a 100$ rubberdome that lasted along time.


so sturdiness is just another level on top of that. picking up an object having it feel 'solid' is a joy. using your keyboard and having it feel entirely luxury is amazing.

Same reasons why people go nuts for PBT caps and aluminum cases, it all adds weight and tactile pleasure.

[asgeirtj]

I own a wasd v2 and filco and it seems to me that the wasd case flexes a lot more, is that correct?

And what is the general consensus about which is better to type on: pcb or plate mount?

Seems to me that most high end keyboards have plate mount, does the kmac also have plate mount?

Also, one would think that cherry boards would be the best of the best in mechs, why is that no so?  Do the new ones come with cherry profile keycaps?  I gather that the old ones come with thick cherry quality ones, why not anymore?

[Oobly]

New Cherry boards are cheaply made and are not that expensive to buy. They have thin keycaps, no plate, flexible cases, very little support for the PCB, laser printed legends, etc. The build quality and materials are fine (PBT keycaps, Cherry switches, Cherry stabilisers, good soldering, etc. ), just the design and chosen options make for a "cheap" keyboard.

For me, plate mount in metal case with modded switches is the best. Solid, precise, feels engineered and customised rather than cheap, made by machine and generic. Very premium.

A note about the sound of bottoming out switches. The slider of the switch hits the bottom casing, the keycaps and plate are not involved, so changing either keycaps or plate won't change the sound of bottoming out much (thick keycaps absorb some of the higher frequencies, though, and a plate may amplify certain frequencies of the sound whereas a PCB can dampen some). To improve the feel and sound of bottoming out you can either try adding orings or trampoline mod the switches (which requires opeining them to insert a piece of rubber in the little tube inside the switch). I love trampoline modded switches.

Also, some plates have cutouts that allow the switches to be opened without desoldering, but usually only offered on really custom boards, no commercial manufacturers sell board with these plates.

[pbtforever]

Plate mounted all the way.

[spiceBar]

A more solid build generally gives a better sound. As silly as it... sounds, the sound of a keyboard is an important part of the user's experience.

A plate mounted keyboard with adequate sound dampening (O-rings on Cherry MX for example) sounds "good".

A silenced Topre is, in my opinion, the most classy sounding keyboard in the world. Some people will prefer the more mechanical sound of an IBM model M or Cherry MX blues. They are noisy, but the sound is part of the design. These keyboards have been engineered to sound this way.

On the other end of the spectrum, a cheap $5 rubber dome keyboard sounds like you are typing on cardboard. It makes a lot of unpleasant noises. Press a key and all of this plastic resonates. You can even hear the sound of nearby keys moving in their slots, like the thing is going to break apart at any moment.

[CPTBadAss]

1) I own a wasd v2 and filco and it seems to me that the wasd case flexes a lot more, is that correct?

2) And what is the general consensus about which is better to type on: pcb or plate mount?

3) Seems to me that most high end keyboards have plate mount, does the kmac also have plate mount?

4) Also, one would think that cherry boards would be the best of the best in mechs, why is that no so? 

5) Do the new ones come with cherry profile keycaps? 

6) I gather that the old ones come with thick cherry quality ones, why not anymore?

1) According to you, that's correct. I don't own those boards. That's your experience, so I'd say that's true.

2) I prefer plate mounted myself.

3) Yes, my KMAC is plate mounted.

4) They don't have plates and generally the engineering aspects of the boards aren't the best. The cases have been a little shoddy from some of the ones I've seen. But if you look at some of Dorkvader's posts, he can better articulate why he doesn't like Cherry boards as much as other boards. I think the popularity is a vocal minority. I'm typing on a Cherry board right now and I really don't like it. (Cherry MX-Board 3.0)

5) My Cherry MX-Board 3.0 has Devlin caps, not the Cherry profile that is so popular.

6) Probably cost.