Need Cherry Blue Keyboard Recommendation

[ENOTTY]

Hi,

Just stumbled across this forum while searching for keyboard switch types, and you guys just blew me away with your passion and knowledge of keyboards, so I'm hoping you can help me out.

I'm looking for a keyboard with mechanical switches. I think I'm going with Cherry Blue switches because I want an audible click without the huge force required to depress a buckling spring.

But I'd like to have:

• NKRO (I know to use a USB to PS2 if needed)
• No left windows key (so I don't accidentally press it while gaming)
• No numpad, but full size otherwise. I don't want a column of buttons to be the Insert/Delete/Home/End/PgUp/PgDn keys like in laptops.
• Backlit (I can budge on this. I read on this forum that its hard to find backlit mechanical keyboards)

I'm leaning towards a Filco Majestouch Tenkeyless Tactile Click at the moment, but I'm certainly looking for other keyboards to look at.

Also, say I wanted to swap out keys (like I want to get a Tux key to replace the Windows key), where could I get those keys? Is it per keyboard/manufacturer? Is it based on the switch used?

Thanks in advance.

[washuai]

These boards do have the left windows key.  If you're willing to [strike]give up both windows keys, you could disable them by[/strike] assign it a different function with autohotkey, then that'll take care of the left.

[NoRCoN]

I was in the same boat about a week ago, ENOTTY. I ended up ordering the Majestouch Tenkeyless Tactile Click. The Cherry Blue switches seem to be pretty highly thought of.

Also, for an introductory mechanical keyboard, I didn't consider ~120 bucks to be too much of a strain. But that depends on your budget. It's not like you are looking to buy a $260 HHKB.

I would throw my vote in for the Filco simply based on it's reputation throughout this forum. I could let you know more once I get mine on Tuesday, but there are threads abound here to be searched.

[Rajagra]

No left windows key (so I don't accidentally press it while gaming)

Use KeyTweak to disable that key (or change it to something useful like an extra Alt key.)

[ENOTTY]

Thanks for the pointers to the software tools. Those look mighty useful and I just bought the Filco board.

[spolia optima]

Did you get the white otaku?

[ENOTTY]

Did you get the white otaku?

No. Got the one that is black with the letters printed.

[ENOTTY]

So.... first impressions?

Hahaha, I wish. I just ordered it this morning, so it'll take it's sweet time getting here. I haven't even gotten an order confirmation or tracking number. Just a receipt from Paypal.

[NoRCoN]

Hahaha, I wish. I just ordered it this morning, so it'll take it's sweet time getting here. I haven't even gotten an order confirmation or tracking number. Just a receipt from Paypal.

Since you can't give your first impressions yet, I'll throw mine out there (Filco Majestouch Tenkeyless Tactile Click "Otaku").

It seems to be built really well. It feels heavy for as small as it is. It is not a bad-heavy at all. This board reeks of quality. I forgot how much I enjoyed typing on a mechanical keyboard. The last time I did so extensively was probably back when I was seven or eight years old (twenty-two now).

One of the main concerns I had was key texture. I was worried the keys might be a bit too polished, and that my fingers would have some trouble gripping the keys. This is not an issue for me whatsoever. The keys have a very nice matte finish that my fingers grip really well.

The keys ARE NOT as loud as I was prepared for. This is good. I wanted a nice sound, not quiet. That is what this board provides.

It is going to take some time to learn not to bottom out the keys all the way. You definitely can; it's not a problem. But I can see why people like to not have to do so.

I've had this thing out of the box for about thirty minutes. The pictures really do not do it justice. It's gorgeous. I wish I could have typed this blurb on the board, but I'm at work and trying to be considerate of those around me. I was thinking of maybe picking up a Happy Hacking Pro 2 for work. Now that I have used this, I am more inclined to grab a Majestouch Tactile Touch (with Cherry Brown switches) to keep the noise down in my cubicle.

Very impressed so far. Can't wait to put some serious miles on it. I will be gaming this evening. So I should be able to get that side of the spectrum as well.

I look forward to hearing what you think of yours when you get it, ENOTTY. I'm sure you will be pleased. FYI, it took about a week for mine to get to me after placing the order. It had to go from California to Iowa. Thanks, Majestouch (that is his forum name, correct?) and elitekeyboards.com! I see no need to venture elsewhere for my keyboard needs in the future.

EDIT: It's only fair to list a drawback. The only one I can think of so far is the length of the USB cable. It is just a bit on the short side. However, I knew this when purchasing the keyboard. A cheap USB extender would solve the problem; good thing I already have one.



Afterthought:

Did you get the white otaku?

The black is awesome. But I bet the white looks damn good in person too.

[002]

...I was thinking of maybe picking up a Happy Hacking Pro 2 for work. Now that I have used this, I am more inclined to grab a Majestouch Tactile Touch (with Cherry Brown switches) to keep the noise down in my cubicle....

I thought I'd let you know that I bought myself a white otaku with browns just for work thinking that it would be no louder than my colleagues Dell boards but I was wrong.

Thankfully I work with people that I get along with well and they got used to it after a while. If you work in a somewhat noisy environment or you are blocked off enough from your workmates I don't think it'd be a problem but if you work in an environment that is almost dead silent then you'll constantly be worried if your keyboard is too loud.

When I get back from my holiday and get to meet my Realforce I think it'll be replacing the otaku at work.

[NoRCoN]

I thought I'd let you know that I bought myself a white otaku with browns just for work thinking that it would be no louder than my colleagues Dell boards but I was wrong.

Thankfully I work with people that I get along with well and they got used to it after a while. If you work in a somewhat noisy environment or you are blocked off enough from your workmates I don't think it'd be a problem but if you work in an environment that is almost dead silent then you'll constantly be worried if your keyboard is too loud.

When I get back from my holiday and get to meet my Realforce I think it'll be replacing the otaku at work.

Thanks for the input. I sit relatively close to an air vent that is almost always on; it creates enough ambient noise to almost drown out annoying clicks. The Blues were just loud enough that I would not want to use this one at work. This is what leads me to believe that the browns would be fine.

My friends keep telling me I'm going to miss the number pad. That may prove true, but the desk space I now have is totally worth it. My mouse is very happy now.

[002]

Cool - it looks like you've given it more thought than I did.
Regarding the numpad - I missed mine at first but got used to it after a while. I think most people who use tenkeyless boards either don't use the number pad often or prefer the aesthetics and desk space/ergonomic benefits. I definitely fall into the latter group.

If you have trouble touch-typing the number row (assuming you get an otaku for work) then you'll have to persevere for the first few days/weeks

[NoRCoN]

One "training wheels" trick for the number row is to remap that stupid tilde/accent to period.  Then whenever you need to enter a string of numbers make the number row your home row.  Eventually you'll be able to move directly from the home row. You can always get Tilde back with SHIFT with this AutoHotkey script.

Code: [Select]


;Tilde key becomes period, SHF tilde becomes tilde
`::.
+`::Send, `~

That would work beautifully for IP addresses.

It hadn't even crossed my mind to just do this and move my hands to the number row and treat it as the home row. The only time I use the number pad is when entering strings of numbers anyway. This takes care of that. Nice!