Yo.. I have no idea whats going on

[trashboy]

Hi guys... I used to consider myself a keyboard enthusiast but yikes.. after coming back to buy a new board I have no idea wtf is going on anymore. I went on /r/mechmarket trying to find a new TKL, and when I was looking through the post titles I didn't even know what was a keyboard and what wasn't...

I'm just looking for a good, solid board. I saw a couple topics (QFR of today, Filco build quality, Ducky, etc...), but am still a little stuck on where I wanna go. I had a Poker II, a Ducky One TKL, and a QFR Rapid back in the day. I'm just down to the Ducky now, and gotta say that I'm kinda dissapointed. Just a little bit over a year of it's lifespan, it broke, and the arrow keys don't seem to work. Also, some buttons keep repeating and will trigger other letters (ex: typing 't' actually types 'tr'). I wanted to get it warrantied, and Ducky said they couldn't do anything, as I was outside the warranty period.

I'm not into features, or looks, or anything like that. I just want a solid, strong keyboard that I can use for years. I think what I may want is a Filco? The high price tag kind of puts me off though, as Ducky was supposed to be a sturdy keyboard.

TL:DR; Whats the strongest TKL you can think of in the ~100$ price range?

Ty.

[ygor]

Ducky One TKL is in that price range. Decent. For 50 bucks more you could get a KBD75 tho. Different layout but I think it's a better board. Price is unbeatable for the quality IMO.

[SpAmRaY]

Leopold.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Leslieann]

Just wait till you go to pick a switch.   )

[Puddsy]

Just wait till you go to pick a switch.   )

i disappeared for a year and suddenly there were like 40 options and i was confused

Leopold.

pretty much

all the old standard brands are good, but leopold has really upped their game with the 750R

[tp4tissue]

- Ergodox -

[xondat]

- Ergodox -

no


Ducky, CM, WASD, Filco, and Leopold are probably top 5 stock makes.

[jcoffin1981]

Guys, and gals I'm sure there are a few, when buying from mechanicalkeyboards can you PLEASE write  reviews.  Amazon's products are well reviewed, but most of the boards here have zero, and I know a LOT of people are buying here.
I like to hear things like "short cable," or "rattling stabilized keys", "quiet," "DOA," etc.  Thank you 

[Findecanor]

I don't put Amazon's reviews in that high regard. The reviews that Amazon shows for a product are often not for that exact product but for a similar one ...
I have also seen reviews for DVDs before the movie has even come out on DVD/BluRay yet.

I'm just down to the Ducky now, and gotta say that I'm kinda dissapointed. Just a little bit over a year of it's lifespan, it broke, and the arrow keys don't seem to work. Also, some buttons keep repeating and will trigger other letters (ex: typing 't' actually types 'tr'). I wanted to get it warrantied, and Ducky said they couldn't do anything, as I was outside the warranty period.

I think there might be only a glitch on the PCB that could be repaired.

[Leslieann]

I don't put Amazon's reviews in that high regard. The reviews that Amazon shows for a product are often not for that exact product but for a similar one ...
I have also seen reviews for DVDs before the movie has even come out on DVD/BluRay yet.

It's also full of paid/fake reviews.

[raxander]

If I was in the market for a TKL, I might pick up the glorious gaming:
https://www.pcgamingrace.com/products/glorious-modular-mechanical-pc-gaming-keyboard-tenkeyless-tkl-87-key-gateron-cherry-kailh-switches?variant=43850261006

60 bucks with no switches or keycaps.  It's a hot-swappable pcb so you can change switches without desoldering.

I haven't owned one, but I've heard good things about the full-size version.  A friend of mine has one so I've seen it in person, seems to be good build quality.

[daerid]

for the $100 budget, might I suggest the CM MasterKeys line. Solid boards w/ Cherry stabilizers.

otherwise, yeah... Leos are where it's at

[chyros]

Get a cheap Chinese clone board. There is no way that major brands can compete with that.

[dante]

I'm just down to the Ducky now, and gotta say that I'm kinda dissapointed. Just a little bit over a year of it's lifespan, it broke, and the arrow keys don't seem to work. Also, some buttons keep repeating and will trigger other letters (ex: typing 't' actually types 'tr'). I wanted to get it warrantied, and Ducky said they couldn't do anything, as I was outside the warranty period.

Welcome to Mechanical Keyboards.  You are around two decades too late if you wanted something that will last.

Enjoy your stay.

[SamirD]

Strongest tkl?  IBM SSK--but it's going to be north of the $100 mark.

But if you think of it as an investment, it will never go down only up even as you get to use it.  Not many investments have that type of return.

[poi_themachine]

What about DAS keyboards? The TKL was for 99$ if I am not wrong. It's pretty solid. Have been using it for 6 months now and have changed keycaps like thrice. It is heavy, no flex, long cable and overall just a sturdy keyboard.

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

[SamirD]

I haven't tried a DAS, but that definitely sounds like a contender.

There a deal on the logitech tkl gaming with the romer G switches for $20 at staples.  At $20, you could definitely try that one as gaming keyboards are designed for a bit of punishment.

[mogo]

Strongest tkl?  IBM SSK--but it's going to be north of the $100 mark.

But if you think of it as an investment, it will never go down only up even as you get to use it.  Not many investments have that type of return.

That's a fact. A Model M as old as I am still feels as solid as the day it was made. bmmcwhirt has been getting some out to GH members cheaply (although not very many yet) and I just picked one up for 150+shipping. Completely worth.

for the $100 budget, might I suggest the CM MasterKeys line. Solid boards w/ Cherry stabilizers.

otherwise, yeah... Leos are where it's at

Have to agree with this. Boyfriend used a CM QuickFire board for years and it's still working flawlessly. CM make solid, secure construction. I feel like it would take abnormal abuse to wear one down.

Double agree because Leo.

[phoible]

KUL makes pretty good no-frills tenkeyless boards.

[Altis]

KUL makes pretty good no-frills tenkeyless boards.

+1.

KUL ES-87 is a great board. Cherry stabilizers, highly customizable, detachable cable with multiple routings, and well built... can even get a few different case colors and good switch selection. 

[dante]

KUL makes pretty good no-frills tenkeyless boards.

+1.

KUL ES-87 is a great board. Cherry stabilizers, highly customizable, detachable cable with multiple routings, and well built... can even get a few different case colors and good switch selection. 

KUL started off strong.  However no updates/company news since early 2015 would make me worry if they will be around when problems develop.

[Altis]

KUL makes pretty good no-frills tenkeyless boards.

+1.

KUL ES-87 is a great board. Cherry stabilizers, highly customizable, detachable cable with multiple routings, and well built... can even get a few different case colors and good switch selection. 

KUL started off strong.  However no updates/company news since early 2015 would make me worry if they will be around when problems develop.

Perhaps... most issues occur after the warranty has ended, though, so I'm not sure how much weight I'd put into that.

The ES-87 has been around for a few years and seems to be a well liked board with no consistent reliability issues. The only thing I can think of is its pingyness when outfitted with MX Clears (though it's still great that they offered them).