Mechanical keyboards with low-profile key caps?

[fuzzybaffy]

I'm in the market for a new mechanical keyboard, and I recently tried out a Filco with Blue Cherries.

I used it for a few hours, and I found it to be a bit "harsh" on my fingers/hands.

At first I blamed it on the mechanical switches, but I realized that the biggest difference, between that Blue Cherry Filco, and the keyboard I have now, is that my current keyboard, just a plain HP rubber dome board, has low-profile keycaps: http://www.keycapsdirect.com/key-caps.php (Refer to LP).

That, and also the HP rubber dome uses a much softer plastic for its keycaps (the Filco's keycaps, in comparison, almost felt metallic, even though I knew otherwise).

So... are there any mechanical keyboards out there that use low-profile keycaps, as listed in the aforementioned website? With the LP key cap types?

Thanks a lot for the help.

[Brodie337]

Generally, no. A mechanical keyboard has a fairly long stroke (not that you use it all), which makes low profile keycaps impractical.

[Findecanor]

The "Cherry ML" switch is a mechanical (tactile? clicky?) switch with a key travel of 3 mm. That is right in-between most low-profile and "full travel" keyboards.
There is more info and links in the wiki and in various threads.

[chimera15]

I think you might like low profile alps.  You'll have to get a m1242 and either pull the switches and put them in something else or get an imate converter for it though.

[kriminal]

cherry ML keycaps, or keyboards are low profile.this is an example of one

[elbowglue]

Cherry keyboards have lower profile keycaps compared to Filcos.  It is particularly noticable in the lower row keys Shift-Z-X-C etc.  See ripster's all about keycaps post in the wiki to see pictures of this.
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Key+Reference+-+Pics+and+specifications+for+various+manufacturers+keys

I prefer filco keycap profile to the cherry keycap profile.  It's all personal preference.  In fact I was considering placing filco keycaps on my cherry keyboard (Blashpeme!) but they won't all fit correctly.

If you want cherry profile keys on your filco, I would advise doing ripster's anti-otaku mod and getting double shot keycaps on your filco.
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:6924

Oh yes, and if you ask my opinion, the reason you find it harsh is because when you bottom out, you are clacking the keycaps against the metal plate which mounts the key switches. You have re-discovered the importance and benefit of PCB mounted cherry switches.  PCB mounted cherry switches are much softer in landing, they feel less harsh.  If you search for PCB mounted cherry blue keyboard, you are looking for the G80-3000LSCRC-2 which was in stock previously, now is out of stock at gemini computers.

[kriminal]

I prefer filco keycap profile to the cherry keycap profile.  It's all personal preference.  In fact I was considering placing filco keycaps on my cherry keyboard (Blashpeme!) but they won't all fit correctly.

[/url]

BLASPHEMY!!!

doubleshot cherry caps on a filco is more fun than touching women tits!! err well not really but... you get the idea... ....

the cherry keycaps really are way lower than the filco keycaps

[gr1m]

doubleshot cherry caps on a filco is more fun than touching women tits!!

http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=10364

Sup?

[kriminal]

>_>

[Oqsy]

fuzzy:  I have 3 cherry ML boards.  I'll gladly sell you one for $15 shipped or $10 and you pay shipping.  The board I have is:
G84-4400PRBUS Black dual PS/2 with trackball (ball itself replaced with higher quality ball from SpeechMikePro)

I'm fine with the switches... they work as well for me as scissor switches.  I just don't care for the layout of this particular board.  Nothing that couldn't be fixed with AutoHotKey, but I have so many boards in the layouts I prefer I haven't bothered with it.  Plus, I only plan to keep one, so the other two are just taking up space.  Oh, and no international shipping, US only

[clickclack]

To the OP-
I noticed you said "low profile keys", not "low profile switches".
If you want keycaps that are not tall-ish like the Filco's then I would suggest something like a Cherry MX 11900. The keys are a lower (flatter) profile but the key tops are raked according to row (tilted/sculptured). However the boards that Oqsy mentioned have not only lower (flatter) keys they also are a flatter board and they have a switch that has less travel.

It seems like you desire a laptop style keyboard (in terms of keys). If you happen to find a keyboard that you love apart from the profile of the keys, you can always do a swap with another compatible board. This may or may not be a cheap solution though. But I threw it out there anyway.

Although I must admit if the key spacing is the same and the keytops are the same and the travel is the same but the key depth (downward dimension) is different would that really even make a fundamental difference?

=)

[hoggy]

Perhaps you have become very accustomed to your previous keyboard and are finding hard to adapt - a bit like driving a different car for the first time.  You may just need to give it a bit more time - at least a week - unless it causes you pain of course.

Another board you could try is a compaq mx 11800  - these have brown switches, no metal plates and are cheap.   Brown switches require less force than the blues.