Author Topic: trying to find a great gaming board (Read 9121 times)

jellyfin · « **on:** Fri, 22 January 2010, 16:01:04 »

I recently got a new gaming PC, after having the same old POS for years. (I got a maingear shift that's pretty beastly).

Keyboards I use / have recently tried:
On my Mac SE/30, I use my all time favorite keyboard -- the Apple Extended Keyboard II. However, the keys are a bit too close together for me to be really comfortable for a long time. I guess I had healthier hands when I used it the first time around. And I don't really want a number pad when I'm gaming, because it keeps my right hand too far from my mouse.

At work, I use a Kinesis Advantage, which is great for coding all day in Dvorak, but when I play games, I wanted a straight up keyboard so I can use one hand on it effectively. I understand this uses Cherry MX Brown switches, though I'm not sure. Can anyone confirm?

So far I've tried:
Matias Tactile Pro 3.0 -- the keys on this feel flimsy, though they have a nice action. They just feel too light. They're nice and clicky, though.

Filco Majestouch Tactile Touch Tenkeyless with Cherry MX Brown Switches -- this feels pretty good, but I'd really like something a TAD louder and with a tad lighter touch.

Filco Zero Series Tenkeyless -- the Fukka White Clicky Switches on this are much harder to press than the Alps (I think?) switches on my Apple Extended Keyboard. The keys feel nice and solid, but the sound is much more metallic than what I wanted.

I've ordered a Realforce 87U Tenkeyless with the ergonomically weighted keys. That should come tuesday. I'm excited to try it because I hear it's so light to touch. I'm a bit dubious about the mechanism, but I feel I might as well give it a shot.

If I don't like that, I guess I'll stick with the Tactile Touch, but I'd really like something that feels like my Apple Extended Keyboard, yet has no number pad. Anybody have any suggestions?

Thanks,
_a_n00b_03

ch_123 · « **Reply #1 on:** Fri, 22 January 2010, 16:14:08 »

There's nothing out there that is louder AND lighter than the Cherry Browns. The lightest clicky switch that can be easily found is the Blue Cherry, this is 5g heavier than the Browns. Topres theoretically have the same resistance, but are probably quieter. I'd still give them a shot, as a lot of people end up preferring them over their Cherry keyboards.

Want something that has no number pad yet feels like your AEK? Get your soldering iron out... you can swap the switches in your Filco Zero with the Alps switches easily enough.

ricercar · « **Reply #2 on:** Sat, 23 January 2010, 02:41:52 »

Quote from: jellyfin;153093

Kinesis Advantage.... uses Cherry MX Brown switches, though I'm not sure. Can anyone confirm?

Both of my Kinesis Contour-Advantage boards have Cherry brown.

cmr · « **Reply #3 on:** Sat, 23 January 2010, 04:05:20 »

i feel a strange urge to recommend you try a scissors keyboard, but i know that can't be right....

Rajagra · « **Reply #4 on:** Sat, 23 January 2010, 09:10:03 »

One day I will get a Raptor K1 for gaming. They seem to be the only non-bull gaming boards out there. Compact layout while retaining all keys, Cherry brown switches with reduced travel and possibly even lighter than normal browns?

If you want extra keys get a Nostromo N52. If you need macros or mutlimedia controls, use AHK. If you want lots of lights and gaming logos, then GTFO! :smile:

J888www · « **Reply #5 on:** Sat, 23 January 2010, 14:19:19 »

If you can get hold of one, then go for the one which certain gamers find useful. The

as posted elsewhere.
No doubt many here is also trying to get hold of one, am still debating if it's worth the risk and cost of purchasing. The feelgood factor of the looks is sooo enticing.

J888www · « **Reply #6 on:** Sat, 23 January 2010, 14:35:09 »

If you can get hold of one, then go for a Keyboard which are used by some gamers. The wNv Cherry G80 - 1863HUMUS 2 ,which was posted elsewhere. The looks feelgood factor alone is enticing enough. The debate is if the keyboard is worth the risk/cost/stress of purchasing.

cheater1034 · « **Reply #7 on:** Sat, 23 January 2010, 16:05:31 »

But that would be hard and expensive to find - and they are cherry browns which he said he doesn't like :O

These browns I just started using seem like they'd be ideal for gaming - much much better than the cherry blues were.

kriminal · « **Reply #8 on:** Sat, 23 January 2010, 22:37:24 »

weird from my take and research i figured the brown cherry would've been best for gaming... hmm too each its own

majestouch · « **Reply #9 on:** Sun, 24 January 2010, 06:18:22 »

Quote from: ripster;153342

Post in the Elitekeyboards forum subsection and ask him to stock.

I have one of these, nice switch, but I'm not too excited about the rest of the keyboard...

AndrewZorn · « **Reply #10 on:** Sun, 24 January 2010, 10:21:14 »

Quote from: majestouch;153380

I have one of these, nice switch, but I'm not too excited about the rest of the keyboard...

why not? the g80 series is pretty highly regarded...

Mental Hobbit · « **Reply #11 on:** Sun, 24 January 2010, 14:25:39 »

Quote from: AndrewZorn;153400

why not? the g80 series is pretty highly regarded...

Typical Cherry build I guess. Tupperware inspired. :biggrin1:

didjamatic · « **Reply #12 on:** Sun, 24 January 2010, 14:36:32 »

Cherry G1800 w/ Black linear switches and 2-shot key caps.

J888www · « **Reply #13 on:** Sun, 24 January 2010, 16:18:26 »

Quote from: cheater1034;153280

But that would be hard and expensive to find - and they are cherry browns which he said he doesn't like :O

These browns I just started using seem like they'd be ideal for gaming - much much better than the cherry blues were.

Maybe he should contact some wNv members and explain to them that World Champion Gamers should NOT use Brown Cherry switches.

Approximately US $295 purchased and Shipped to UK.

rdjack21 · « **Reply #14 on:** Sun, 24 January 2010, 16:25:55 »

Quote from: J888www;153467

Approximately US $295 purchased and Shipped to UK.

OH man don't tell lal that he will have a cow that a Cherry board costs more than a Topre board

gun_sl1nger · « **Reply #15 on:** Sun, 24 January 2010, 18:05:30 »

Get a Deck

Its got black cherry switches and a gamers layout.

I use one on my gaming PC.\

Works great

EDIT: Its a Deck 82 Key 'Fire' (Red backlighting)

microsoft windows · « **Reply #16 on:** Sun, 24 January 2010, 20:12:15 »

How good is that kind of backlighting? I always thought those light-up keyboards were kind-of neat since they'd be easy to use in the dark.

kriminal · « **Reply #17 on:** Sun, 24 January 2010, 20:29:15 »

back lit keys actually help when i game in the night with the lights off, just like my former logitech g15 kb...

gun_sl1nger · « **Reply #18 on:** Mon, 25 January 2010, 02:11:19 »

Quote from: microsoft windows;153498

How good is that kind of backlighting? I always thought those light-up keyboards were kind-of neat since they'd be easy to use in the dark.

Until I found this website, I thought I would never ever buy another keyboard. The backlighting is excellent. The keyfeel is great (black cherry) the quality is high (manufacturing wise). They come with replaceable keys etc. 1 LED per key + another for CAPS (blue).

I still like typing on it even though my daily driver is now a HHKBP/Realforce 87U.

i can take a photo if you like but if you go to the deck site they have some shots taken in the dark.

ch_123 · « **Reply #19 on:** Mon, 25 January 2010, 07:03:29 »

Do you know what's great for using a keyboard in the dark?

...

Typing skills.

didjamatic · « **Reply #20 on:** Mon, 25 January 2010, 07:08:42 »

Quote from: ch_123;153562

do you know what's great for using a keyboard in the dark?

...

Typing skills.

awesome.

devilcm3 · « **Reply #21 on:** Mon, 25 January 2010, 07:09:33 »

Quote from: ch_123;153562

Do you know what's great for using a keyboard in the dark?

...

Typing skills.

+1

hyperlinked · « **Reply #22 on:** Mon, 25 January 2010, 07:12:38 »

Quote from: ch_123;153562

Typing skills.

Bah, you're so predictable. Try night vision goggles for a change!

kriminal · « **Reply #23 on:** Mon, 25 January 2010, 07:36:05 »

i have no typing skills.... =S

AndrewZorn · « **Reply #24 on:** Mon, 25 January 2010, 08:01:03 »

well i guess you are doomed for life then, nothing can change that...

kriminal · « **Reply #25 on:** Mon, 25 January 2010, 09:32:12 »

Quote from: AndrewZorn;153575

well i guess you are doomed for life then, nothing can change that...

a back lit keyboard can!! =D

didjamatic · « **Reply #26 on:** Mon, 25 January 2010, 10:24:55 »

Quote from: jellyfin;153093

I've ordered a Realforce 87U Tenkeyless with the ergonomically weighted keys. That should come tuesday. I'm excited to try it because I hear it's so light to touch. I'm a bit dubious about the mechanism, but I feel I might as well give it a shot.

If I don't like that, I guess I'll stick with the Tactile Touch, but I'd really like something that feels like my Apple Extended Keyboard, yet has no number pad. Anybody have any suggestions?

I have the 87u that you ordered, I bet you will love it. I also have an Apple Extended Keyboard (Orange alps) and I like the feel of it so much I'm going to get an ADB to usb adapter to be able to use it so it sounds like we have similar taste in keyboards.

Who knows, you may like your Topre so much that you abandon gaming completely, in favor of typing into notepad for hours on end.

gun_sl1nger · « **Reply #27 on:** Mon, 25 January 2010, 15:00:52 »

Quote from: ch_123;153562

Do you know what's great for using a keyboard in the dark?

...

Typing skills.

Point taken in regards to typing, but when I game I don't sit with my hands on the home row. They could be WSAD or Arrows, or whatever else I have bound my keys to.....

Enter --> Backlit Keyboard: Very useful for gaming

microsoft windows · « **Reply #28 on:** Mon, 25 January 2010, 15:35:48 »

Quote from: ch_123;153562

Do you know what's great for using a keyboard in the dark?

...

Typing skills.

Having those never hurts.

J888www · « **Reply #29 on:** Mon, 25 January 2010, 16:58:31 »

Quote from: ch_123;153562

Do you know what's great for using a keyboard in the dark?

...

Typing skills.

I remove my spectacles, just as effective.

I prefer the light on, just in case I miss the IBM mug.

...

When I go toilet.

HaaTa · « **Reply #30 on:** Mon, 25 January 2010, 18:50:19 »

Lol, typing in the dark was probably the reason I learned to touch type.

That, and I got tired of having to calculate the position of keys on my blank keyboard.

microsoft windows · « **Reply #31 on:** Mon, 25 January 2010, 19:56:17 »

When I am really into something, I rarely glance down at my keyboards. However, I have the habit of always glancing down at the QWERTY pad and it probably slows down my speed. I am working on that as well as using both the left and right Shift keys to make my left pinky stop hurting.

I've also found using Caps Lock helps ease strain on those pinkies . I never really used to use it except when entering some ReCaptcha's and product keys, but I have been training myself to use it more often when typing acronyms that need uppercase letters. I'd give it a shot some time and then you all'll see why they put Caps Lock there right above the Shift key. It's quite handy sometimes. But, like most other things, it's not for everyone---people have their own habits and their needs.

ch_123 · « **Reply #32 on:** Tue, 26 January 2010, 04:02:28 »

Quote from: microsoft windows;153731

then you all'll see why they put Caps Lock there right above the Shift key.

To cater to boneheaded secretaries who didn't want anything to be different to their old Remington typewriters?

microsoft windows · « **Reply #33 on:** Tue, 26 January 2010, 13:46:40 »

Or the boneheaded computer people who got used to Ctrl being there.

kishy · « **Reply #34 on:** Tue, 26 January 2010, 14:00:09 »

Quote from: ch_123;153766

To cater to boneheaded secretaries who didn't want anything to be different to their old Remington typewriters?

Actually I think I have a vintage Remington somewhere and the "shift lock" is in the spot CTRL appears on a computer keyboard...will get back to you on this though.

ricercar · « **Reply #35 on:** Tue, 26 January 2010, 14:56:04 »

According to my Northgate manual, there are quite a few vendors who shipped keyboards with Caps Lock on the bottom row and Control next to A. Northgate Omnikeys have a dip switch (and appropriately sized key caps) to do the swap in hardware.

ch_123 · « **Reply #36 on:** Wed, 27 January 2010, 10:36:25 »

Quote from: microsoft windows;153872

Or the boneheaded computer people who got used to Ctrl being there.

You mean that they designed computer keyboard to accomodate the needs of computer users? Tell me more!

Quote

Actually I think I have a vintage Remington somewhere and the "shift lock" is in the spot CTRL appears on a computer keyboard...will get back to you on this though.

That would be the case on most mechanical typewriters. Really what I meant to say was Selectric, as this was what influenced the IBM Enhanced keyboard layout so much.

kishy · « **Reply #37 on:** Fri, 29 January 2010, 21:37:42 »

Quote from: kishy;153880

Actually I think I have a vintage Remington somewhere and the "shift lock" is in the spot CTRL appears on a computer keyboard...will get back to you on this though.

Dating back to the late 1930s, as promised, though not as remembered:

I'm a bit upset; the rust was not there last time I saw it ~2 years ago. Humidity in the crawlspace appears to be to blame.

Mental Hobbit · « **Reply #38 on:** Sat, 30 January 2010, 01:48:20 »

Nice one. On all mechanical typwriters I've ever seen (that's quite a few), Caps Lock is above Shift and actually arrests the lever of the shift key in it's bottom position.

kishy · « **Reply #39 on:** Sat, 30 January 2010, 02:02:38 »

Quote from: Mental Hobbit;154780

Nice one. On all mechanical typwriters I've ever seen (that's quite a few), Caps Lock is above Shift and actually arrests the lever of the shift key in it's bottom position.

Seems to be the logical method of operation. Without any sort of electronic 'toggle', a mechanical lock is the only feasible way, and would perhaps explain why "caps lock" is called caps "lock" instead of something different (say, "caps hold" or "caps toggle")

Mechanical typewriters (if not typewriters altogether) predate me and, admittedly, my interests as well. This, however, is likely to stay with me for a very long time for specific sentimental reasons (relating to who gave me it).

In Stereo! · « **Reply #40 on:** Sat, 30 January 2010, 02:04:29 »

Quote from: ch_123;153562

Do you know what's great for using a keyboard in the dark?

...

Typing skills.

The problem arises when moving the hand from the mouse back to the keyboard. In complete darkness, you need at leas a few seconds to hit a key (after finding the home row). If you instead look at the keyboard, you can instantly hit that same key, which is crucial in a gaming scenario.

microsoft windows · « **Reply #41 on:** Sat, 30 January 2010, 08:16:52 »

I like to know what letter is on the key I press, as it does make typing a little more efficient. However, that doesn't mean there's anything wrong for going with the minimalistic style with blank keys.

Although, I've never really been big on typing in the dark as I can't see any other thing I'm doing when it's so dark.

trievalot · « **Reply #42 on:** Sat, 20 February 2010, 01:07:49 »

how about glow in the dark cherry keycaps?
Triple shot (one with radium)

Phaedrus2129 · « **Reply #43 on:** Sat, 20 February 2010, 02:05:58 »

Quote from: trievalot;159547

how about glow in the dark cherry keycaps?
Triple shot (one with radium)

Yay for finger cancer.

trievalot · « **Reply #44 on:** Sat, 20 February 2010, 03:44:17 »

but, you could SEE the keys.
how about just radium upo the f and j keys

or WASD for gamers

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Author Topic: trying to find a great gaming board (Read 9121 times)