New, unsure about which Cherry to buy

[Fanmonty]

Hello, after about a week of checking out keyboards and learning about the different mechanical types, I have decided that I will be upgrading from my Logitech G110 to either a Filco or a Deck keyboard. I will be using this keyboard to type ads online this summer for computers I am going to be selling, I also game a lot. The reasons I am upgrading are that first, I get a lot of typos on this and other newer keyboards, and two my hands start to hurt after a while. The switches that I am looking at are: The Cherry MX Brown, Clear, and Black. I do not want the blue, as they are louder and I use open-back headphones, also I have tested myself and I do not rely on audio clues to type. I mainly want to avoid accidental key presses, feel more force when pushing the key down(I like how my old Dell Quietkey rubber dome board from 97' works, I cannot explain it, but I feel some feedback with it.) I need a keyboard with the full layout with the number pad and I do not want blank keys. I am not sure if I want Tactile or Linear, as they both get harder to push, the further the key is pushed, so I am asking the keyboard experts on what you think I should buy.

The way I type is really weird, one my left hand, I use one finger to type, and my right I use two/three. I can touch type like this somehow, but I do look at the keys sometimes.

[itlnstln]

Get the browns, period.  The clears and blacks are heavier and typically aren't preferred for typing (the blacks aren't anyway).

[ch_123]

Hello, after about a week of checking out keyboards and learning about the different mechanical types, I have decided that I will be upgrading from my Logitech G110 to either a Filco or a Deck keyboard. I will be using this keyboard to type ads online this summer for computers I am going to be selling, I also game a lot. The reasons I am upgrading are that first, I get a lot of typos on this and other newer keyboards, and two my hands start to hurt after a while. The switches that I am looking at are: The Cherry MX Brown, Clear, and Black. I do not want the blue, as they are louder and I use open-back headphones, also I have tested myself and I do not rely on audio clues to type. I mainly want to avoid accidental key presses, feel more force when pushing the key down(I like how my old Dell Quietkey rubber dome board from 97' works, I cannot explain it, but I feel some feedback with it.) I need a keyboard with the full layout with the number pad and I do not want blank keys. I am not sure if I want Tactile or Linear, as they both get harder to push, the further the key is pushed, so I am asking the keyboard experts on what you think I should buy.

The way I type is really weird, one my left hand, I use one finger to type, and my right I use two/three. I can touch type like this somehow, but I do look at the keys sometimes.

Get the Black switches, they are quite stiff and get stiffer as you depress them.

Tactile is like a regular keyboard - as you depress the key, the force builds up to a sudden bump and just gives way. In a linear switch, the force just gets stiffer and stiffer until you bottom out. Linears are good for gaming because there's nothing in the travel to interfere with repeateded pressing, but they are not pleasant to type on because you don't feel anything to indicate you've pressed the key.

Browns are quite light and make accidental presses more likely. Clears are probably a good compromise too.

[itlnstln]

All Cherrys get stiffer as you press them.  Check it.

[ch_123]

That's true, but the Browns are quite easy to press accidentally.

[ricercar]

Browns are a good starting point, so you can decide if you want more or less click.

[Viett]

I'd say if your hands are starting to hurt after a while, definitely don't get the black or clear cherry. I would worry about hitting the wrong key more than I would accidental keypresses. Try to improve your typing form and go with the cherry browns.

[lmnop]

Hello, after about a week of checking out keyboards and learning about the different mechanical types, I have decided that I will be upgrading from my Logitech G110 to either a Filco or a Deck keyboard. I will be using this keyboard to type ads online this summer for computers I am going to be selling, I also game a lot. The reasons I am upgrading are that first, I get a lot of typos on this and other newer keyboards, and two my hands start to hurt after a while. The switches that I am looking at are: The Cherry MX Brown, Clear, and Black. I do not want the blue, as they are louder and I use open-back headphones, also I have tested myself and I do not rely on audio clues to type. I mainly want to avoid accidental key presses, feel more force when pushing the key down(I like how my old Dell Quietkey rubber dome board from 97' works, I cannot explain it, but I feel some feedback with it.) I need a keyboard with the full layout with the number pad and I do not want blank keys. I am not sure if I want Tactile or Linear, as they both get harder to push, the further the key is pushed, so I am asking the keyboard experts on what you think I should buy.

The way I type is really weird, one my left hand, I use one finger to type, and my right I use two/three. I can touch type like this somehow, but I do look at the keys sometimes.

try the Deck Legend Tactile. Deck has a 30 day return policy no questions asked so if you don't like Cherry MX Clear return the Deck Legend Tactile and buy the Das Model S Silent. there is no reason to buy a Filco anymore unless you are looking for SFF which you are obviously not.

[lmnop]

Hello, after about a week of checking out keyboards and learning about the different mechanical types, I have decided that I will be upgrading from my Logitech G110 to either a Filco or a Deck keyboard. I will be using this keyboard to type ads online this summer for computers I am going to be selling, I also game a lot. The reasons I am upgrading are that first, I get a lot of typos on this and other newer keyboards, and two my hands start to hurt after a while. The switches that I am looking at are: The Cherry MX Brown, Clear, and Black. I do not want the blue, as they are louder and I use open-back headphones, also I have tested myself and I do not rely on audio clues to type. I mainly want to avoid accidental key presses, feel more force when pushing the key down(I like how my old Dell Quietkey rubber dome board from 97' works, I cannot explain it, but I feel some feedback with it.) I need a keyboard with the full layout with the number pad and I do not want blank keys. I am not sure if I want Tactile or Linear, as they both get harder to push, the further the key is pushed, so I am asking the keyboard experts on what you think I should buy.

The way I type is really weird, one my left hand, I use one finger to type, and my right I use two/three. I can touch type like this somehow, but I do look at the keys sometimes.

try the Deck Legend Tactile. Deck has a 30 day return policy no questions asked so if you don't like Cherry MX Clear return the Deck Legend Tactile and buy the Das Model S Silent with Cherry MX Brown, the Das Model S has a longer cable, usb hub, mirror finish, laser etched keycaps and a return policy all for the same price as the Filco Majetoch Tactile Touch.

[lmnop]

Hello, after about a week of checking out keyboards and learning about the different mechanical types, I have decided that I will be upgrading from my Logitech G110 to either a Filco or a Deck keyboard. I will be using this keyboard to type ads online this summer for computers I am going to be selling, I also game a lot. The reasons I am upgrading are that first, I get a lot of typos on this and other newer keyboards, and two my hands start to hurt after a while. The switches that I am looking at are: The Cherry MX Brown, Clear, and Black. I do not want the blue, as they are louder and I use open-back headphones, also I have tested myself and I do not rely on audio clues to type. I mainly want to avoid accidental key presses, feel more force when pushing the key down(I like how my old Dell Quietkey rubber dome board from 97' works, I cannot explain it, but I feel some feedback with it.) I need a keyboard with the full layout with the number pad and I do not want blank keys. I am not sure if I want Tactile or Linear, as they both get harder to push, the further the key is pushed, so I am asking the keyboard experts on what you think I should buy.

The way I type is really weird, one my left hand, I use one finger to type, and my right I use two/three. I can touch type like this somehow, but I do look at the keys sometimes.

try the Deck Legend Tactile. Deck has a 30 day return policy no questions asked so if you don't like Cherry MX Clear return the Deck Legend Tactile and buy the Das Model S Silent with Cherry MX Brown.

[skcheng]

If you get a Deck, pls write up a review here.   I keep thinking about pulling the trigger on a Deck since I actually like lit up keyboards, but then something else comes along that I just need to have.  

I have a hard time typing on Cherry Blacks, but everyone over on the OCN seems to like them.  I find the Black switches MUCH stiffer than the Model M buckling springs.   JMHO.

[audioave10]

I have the DECK "Toxic" which is linear and I love it. You should know however that I have industrial fingers so the pressure doesn't bother me. The backlight is better than anyone else has ever done (if you need that).

[Shirukii]

I had the same dilemma as you, I bought a Model M for comparison and found that while it felt great for typing, it was too heavy for gaming, my pinky would get tired pressing ctrl after a while. In the end I decided on browns.

[skcheng]

Lmnop and I are the only two people I know of here with Trucker Girl! ;-)

Show Image

Forget Trucker Girl, where do I get myself Sir Penguin??   I need a few for my Das boards.

[lmnop]

I wish Deck still sold the PBT Blanks

they no longer sell Keycaps of any kind though Deck Legends and 82 come with the Skull & Crossbone Keycap.

[lmnop]

I wish Deck still sold the PBT Blanks

they no longer sell Keycaps of any kind but if you break one or have to RMA they will replace them. Deck Legends and 82 come with a Skull & Crossbone Keycap it's kinda their version of the Red Esc Key which I think is getting out of control these days.

[J888www]

Deck has a 30 day return policy no questions asked.

Order all the different switches from Deck, try them all for two Weeks,then return them all and choose Realforce 103U/UB/UB 55g, whichever is your preference. Ooops, SOS Deck........................ I talk too much once again. :banplease:

Edit: Had to go off to cook rice, back again.  What I'm saying is maybe better to have a more open option, rather than only MX switches.

[lmnop]

im thinking of buying a Cherry G80-3494. poor man's Topre. obook will ship one to North America for $202.59.

[ricercar]

$202 is getting up into graphics card territory.

[lmnop]

$202 is getting up into graphics card territory.

a Topre RealForce is going to cost $284 USD to ship to Canada that is $291 CAD + $40 CAD Customs? I don't know.

Cherry G80-3494 isn't exactly a bad keyboard. ABS Casing, POM Keycaps, Laser Etched Printing, Laser Etched Cherry Logo, Blue LED, Cherry MX Red Linear, Steel Plate, Full Rollover, etc.

[itlnstln]

$202 is getting up into graphics card territory.

A keyboard will last you longer, though.  Ripster and I will agree on that point.

[skcheng]

A keyboard will last you longer, though.  Ripster and I will agree on that point.

Yeah, but a good graphics card (I have the Radeon 5870) is worth it.  And I'm not so sure that the money spent on a Re^lforce 87U is necessarily money well spent??

[kishy]

I have the DECK "Toxic" which is linear and I love it. You should know however that I have industrial fingers so the pressure doesn't bother me. The backlight is better than anyone else has ever done (if you need that).

I've yet to understand why everyone focuses on the amount of force required to press a key...but that's just me.

Cherry Blacks are hated for being linear, above all else, it seems. It's certainly why I hate them; I could live with them if they had a good sharp tactile point, clicky or otherwise.

[washuai]

If you're going to have one board to game and to type, then I concur with the browns.  I'd go ahead and recommend the clears, but you have the fatigue issue.  However, there is the return policy, so you could see if the clears were too tiring.

I'm suggesting tactile over linear, because of your typing interest and lower noise interest.  You'll bottom out less, if you're feeling the bump.

G80-3494 looks sweet.  If Déck used reds and changed that font, that would be my frivolous board in a heartbeat.  Frivolous, since I don't need to lose the bump to game, nor do I need back lighting.
 
I know your system works for you.  Learning to use your ring and pinky fingers will lower the fatigue cost on your fingers, hands & forearm, as well.

[J888www]

How much to spend on a keyboards/graphics cards/anything is dependent on your priorities and how much you can afford. I personally prefer to have the best components/peripherals than nice clothing/foods. I might not be here tomorrow, so I see no point in hoarding a 'figure' in Bank Statements, I'd rather have something substantial. So please take no notice of whatever I say.

[Fanmonty]

Like I've said before, I liked my dad's rubber dome keyboard from 97, after trying it versus my current Logitech.
 I have heard bad things about DAS boards, and most of them are discontinued anyway, so I won't bother with them, and I want the cherry MX switches because they can be quieter than any other mechanical type that I know of.
 The main problems when I type are out of order letters and spaces, but I'm wondering if the linear keys added force would be enough for me, or if the bump in the tactile boards would be too much for me while gaming, I have no way to test other than buying and returning which my parents would not allow.

Now that I have tested all the keyboards I have(all rubber dome) I believe that my accidental key presses are caused by how low(laptop style) my keyboards are, and I should not have the problem once I get back to the taller keys. The reason I bought the Logitech G110 is that the keys looked higher than all the other "gaming" keyboards. I game a lot in the dark, but I am wondering if the light from my LED screen would be enough to light up a keyboard.

I have read that link I was given earlier(thank you google translate), but my main problem is I have never tried a mechanical board and I have no local stores that carry them, so I do not know what the "bump" in tactile boards is like, can someone describe it for me?

[pfink]

I wish Deck still sold the PBT Blanks

They still have sets of blank Deck keys at Performance PCs:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=21744

[ricercar]

I want the non-blank linux/mac/standard Deck accessory key sets.

[skcheng]

They still have sets of blank Deck keys at Performance PCs:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=21744

Illuminated blank keys?

[pfink]

Illuminated blanks keys?

I think they sold them mainly for modding. You can mask off the part that you want the light to show through with your own design and paint the rest of the keytop black.

[Fanmonty]

Not to be rude, but can we please get back to the topic here, of which switch and company to buy.

[skcheng]

Not to be rude, but can we please get back to the topic here, of which switch and company to buy.

You seem to know what you want.   No Das......despite my glowing review on the Das S.  Full size keyboard.  Filco or Deck.  No Cherry Blues.  

So there you go......what you originally mentioned.   Do you need lit up keys??  If so, spring the big bucks for the Deck.   If not, Filco brown full keyboard.  Keep in mind that the NRKO version of the Filco is $134 vs $109 for the non-NRKO version.  

I can only think of one person here who has a full size Deck, but he likes it.

It's like on the OCN where one guy posted that he thinks he want's Cherry Blacks unless convinced otherwise.   4 pages of posts later, he buys the Filco with Cherry Blacks LOL.  

If you opt for either the Deck or the Filco, I'm sure you'll be happy.

[Fanmonty]

That is the thing, I am still looking at the cherry blacks, clears and, browns and I know to decide on brand by myself now.

[skcheng]

That is the thing, I am still looking at the cherry blacks, clears and, browns and I know to decide on brand by myself now.

If it was me, I would purchase a Cherry Brown Das Silent model.   That would be my first choice.  Great plate mounted board, USB 2 Hub, and full NKRO.   And the cheapest option out there.   Maybe a little difficult to find though.

Next, I would opt for the NKRO Filco Cherry Brown board.  

Just depends on what you're using the board for.  I personally HATE typing on the Cherry Blacks.   But I'm not a heavy gamer.  

You can't get Cherry Clears with a Filco, so you're stuck with Deck if that's what you choose.

[Fanmonty]

What I like about the Filco and I think the Deck is the coating on the keys, some would call it "chalky" I hate slippery shiny keys, and correct me if I am wrong, but the DAS does not have that coating, just wondering, what is it about the blacks that makes you hate typing on them, I am leaning toward the cherry clear/browns currently, can someone explain the difference between the browns and the clears?

[Shirukii]

Clears require 10g more force to actuate than browns but are otherwise the same. People don't like typing on blacks because they're stiff and provide no tactile feedback upon actuation. Blacks are good for gaming because accidental keypresses are reduced and double tapping is easier, but it makes typing fatiguing for some.

[Fanmonty]

I have decided on buying a Deck keyboard because the Filco key caps do not seem tall enough for what I am looking for, is there anyone who uses cherry blacks that can give me an opinion on them for gaming or typing? I see that they are not recommended, so I will probably go with the clears.
I'll make sure to review it when I buy one, as someone has requested, but It will be my first board, so the review won't be very good.

EDIT: The deck's have a rough or chalky keycap right?

[ricercar]

is there anyone who uses cherry blacks that can give me an opinion on them for gaming or typing?

ricercar's Cherry hierarchy

browns > blacks > blues

I first encountered blacks on my TG3 backlit keyboards (TG3 is the OEM company that makes boards for Deck). I used the backlit for all chores, day and night, for about three weeks.

I like blacks because they are smooth. They don't make noise or twitch under your fingers when the electrical contact is made. They are stiff enough to never be pressed by mistake; on the other hand browns and blues are triggered whenever I daydream with my fingers touching the home row. With black switches, I could hover on the Fire key halfway down and jiggle on the contact point. With blues, you have to retreat significantly before the switch resets for the next contact.

Unfortunately after three weeks I found myself bottoming out on any keyboard I used, black, brown, blue, spring, dome. This was frustrating because I'd trained myself to press Cherry browns to contact and no further. At that point I reverted to Cherry browns as my daily driver and retired my unlit Cherry black keyboard, and now use Cherry blacks only when a backlight is required.

[Fanmonty]

I am not completely sure on "chalky" but I believe it is just a texture instead of a shiny smooth key, are you saying that the Deck keys are shorter that the Filco? I have not been able to find any pictures of the Deck from any angle other than directly above it, I like the key hight on the Dell Quietkey model GYUR43SK if that is useful in any way.

[Fanmonty]

I am going to go with the forum on this seeing as you guys know what you are talking about, and I'm not going get the black switches, I will be getting a clear switch Deck unless I change my mind and choose the brown switch Filco,
Thanks for the help everyone, I'll try to put up a review in the future, not sure when I'll be ordering though.

[washuai]

Let us know what you ordered, initial impressions and impressions after a month, etc.  Record your current cpm/wpm, too.  Oh yea, since you're getting clears are you getting ice (blue) or frost (white)?

Given that I own cocoa cherries, when it comes to Déck, color and quietness are gonna be larger factors, when I finally bite that bullet.  I need to edit my sig to color preference ignoring the fact ice matches my rig best.

[Fanmonty]

I am leaning toward the Ice(blue) at the moment, but I doubt LED light color matters in typing at all.

[itlnstln]

You might want to go with the Frost since the color of the LEDs more closely match the color of the switch.  The resulting synergy will enhance the typing experience greatly.

[washuai]

I'm not going to say LED color changes key feel.  LEDs lack of influence on touch typing, is one of the reasons I own a Filco right now and not a tactile ice Déck.
I still want a Déck, though with the exception of switch curiosity, mostly frivolous reasons, since I already own the Filco.  Although, if I don't stop bottoming out, I'm going to start thinking clears aren't so frivolous.

[itlnstln]

It's not the end of the world if you bottom out.

Unless your girlfriend punches you in the throat because of it.

[Fanmonty]

I have ordered the Deck Legend Frost Tactile keyboard, I will be posting a first impressions review and a review a month later with lasting impressions, keep in mind this is my first non-rubber dome board I have ever even used.

[lmnop]

TG3 should pay me a commission I have convinced 6 people to buy one in 8 or 9 months.