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Author Topic: Yet another first mechanical keyboard thread  (Read 3791 times)

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Offline Chancellor Gowron

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Yet another first mechanical keyboard thread
« on: Tue, 18 January 2011, 23:55:49 »
Well first of all I hope you guys aren't getting tired of threads like this one.  I've read Manyak's guide at OCN nearly in its entirety and have read many threads on this forum as well as others, yet even though i have done about 10 hours of research on the topic I am still somewhat in the dark about what type of keyboard to get. This, of course, is mostly because I haven't had the opportunity to try one and I live in northern Kentucky where exceptional electronics stores are in short supply.

I'm currently using a Razer Lycosa i got on ebay which i've been mostly satisfied with as its better than any of the crappy keyboards i've ever used but it has some really stupid design flaws.

Aside from general use (using this forum, etc.), my ideal keyboard would be something that's great for FPS gaming (bad company 2 and source games mostly) but I've also been getting into RTS games like Starcraft 2 and Supreme Commander lately so I want something that's versatile but FPS excellence is the priority.

I would prefer a black colored board.
Media keys are useful but not a necessity.
I can only imagine a situation where i would want to use a maximum of 4 simultaneous presses.
A numpad would be useful, as I'm accustomed to using it for the occasional spreadsheet or credit card number, but i mostly just use it for things like hotkeys for PlayClaw and Fraps.  I am, however, open to a tenkeyless board as i have on occasion thought it would improve ergonomics to move my mousepad closer to the left than is now physically possible for gaming.
At this point I believe I have seen most of the major brands/models and it's choosing the type of switch that I'm having the most trouble with.

In the aforementioned guide, it is suggested that linear switches are superior for gaming yet I have seen some voice opinions that cherry blacks can become tiring for extended use and that cherry reds are too sensitive and provide too little feedback.

This has led me to believe that cherry browns might be a good option as i have gathered that the force required to actuate is fairly low and they provide tactile feedback.  I do have a question about the browns though and I'm not sure if what I've gathered about them is correct.  Is it the case that if you press a key down just to the point of actuation that you must release the key by more than an infinitesimal amount in order for the key to disengage? Again, since I've never used one I don't know and have no idea how this would affect a situation where you're trying to quickly spam a key.

I also read the "what the pros use" thread which, in addition to opinions from other sites, leads me to believe that cherry brown is generally preferred for RTS and Topre boards for FPS gaming.  Is anyone of the opinion that cherry brown would be less than ideal for FPS gaming or that Topre aren't great for RTS games?

I am convinced than i can self-rationalize getting any board that i truly believe to be the right one for me so price isn't too much of a concern here, aside from an inkling that getting a first mechanical keyboard is a point of no return after which you tumble down a slippery slope of additional purchaces because YOU MUST TRY THEM ALL.

I would appreciate any suggestions/opinions, and I apologize for my noobish post!
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Offline msiegel

  • Posts: 1230
Yet another first mechanical keyboard thread
« Reply #1 on: Wed, 19 January 2011, 00:05:14 »
Quote from: Chancellor Gowron;280858
getting a first mechanical keyboard is a point of no return after which you tumble down a slippery slope of additional purchaces because YOU MUST TRY THEM ALL


absolutely correct! welcome, and good luck :D
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Filco Zero (Fukka) AEKII sliders and keycaps * Filco Tenkeyless MX brown * IBM F/AT parts: modding
Model F Mod Log * Open Source Generic keyboard controller

Offline HaaTa

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Yet another first mechanical keyboard thread
« Reply #2 on: Wed, 19 January 2011, 01:01:55 »
Kentucky, hmm....closer than I am to Unicomp (Lexington).
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Offline Tony

  • Posts: 1189
Yet another first mechanical keyboard thread
« Reply #3 on: Wed, 19 January 2011, 02:19:35 »
Quote from: Chancellor Gowron;280858


This has led me to believe that cherry browns might be a good option as i have gathered that the force required to actuate is fairly low and they provide tactile feedback.  I do have a question about the browns though and I'm not sure if what I've gathered about them is correct.  Is it the case that if you press a key down just to the point of actuation that you must release the key by more than an infinitesimal amount in order for the key to disengage? Again, since I've never used one I don't know and have no idea how this would affect a situation where you're trying to quickly spam a key.

I am convinced than i can self-rationalize getting any board that i truly believe to be the right one for me so price isn't too much of a concern here, aside from an inkling that getting a first mechanical keyboard is a point of no return after which you tumble down a slippery slope of additional purchaces because YOU MUST TRY THEM ALL.

I would appreciate any suggestions/opinions, and I apologize for my noobish post!


Exactly. After I got a 2nd hand Compaq 11800 mx brown keyboard, I am very satisfied, but I am also wondering what a blue switch keyboard would do.
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Keyboard: Filco MJ1 104 brown, Filco MJ2 87 brown, Compaq MX11800, Noppoo Choc Brown/Blue/Red, IBM Model M 1996, CMStorm Quickfire Rapid Black
Layout: Colemak experience, speed of 67wpm

Offline steeef

  • Posts: 156
Yet another first mechanical keyboard thread
« Reply #4 on: Wed, 19 January 2011, 08:41:01 »
Nice Avatar!

I'm actually just preparing to put my Compaq MX11800 in the classifieds if you're interested.
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Cherry MX Blue: Filco Majestouch Tenkeyless. Cherry MX Black: TG3 KBA-BLTD-5RBUVS (Police Cruiser keyboard). Cherry MX Clear: KBC Poker (modded with Ergo Clears) Cherry MX Brown: Goldtouch GTC-077 USB numpad. Buckling Spring: IBM Model M 1391401 (1989-01-03 and 1991-11-21).

Offline stuiees

  • Posts: 140
Yet another first mechanical keyboard thread
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 20 January 2011, 14:33:57 »
Topre is not inferior for RTS gaming IMO. But because of the hard and deliberate key presses in FPS gaming the soft landing is deffenitly a welcomed feature during long sessions.  I prefer my Topre to browns in all aspects when it comes to key feel.
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I like Topre!

Offline ajx

  • Posts: 391
Yet another first mechanical keyboard thread
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 20 January 2011, 15:00:49 »
actually mx brown feels comfortable for both, typing and gaming
unless being a tough pro gamer, mx brown would be benefit in fps gaming
i noticed a minor issue about double taping from certain games
well, for most of gamer, brown or blue sound good enough
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Offline Azuremen

  • Posts: 317
Yet another first mechanical keyboard thread
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 20 January 2011, 15:07:29 »
Quote from: Tony;280913
Exactly. After I got a 2nd hand Compaq 11800 mx brown keyboard, I am very satisfied, but I am also wondering what a blue switch keyboard would do.


They are magical. That is all.

As for the question at hand, browns are good but I feel they are a bit too subtle. I prefer blues for RTS games (competitive SC2 player) but I can see their issue in FPS games, though the guide at OCN tends to exaggerate this extensively. Blacks are not bad, and some people love them, I do not as they are somewhat vague to type on (no audio or tactile indication of actuation)

The only reason people argue Browns for RTS games is because of the huge thing with FruitDealer (GSL1 champion), though we still have yet to confirm he is using browns rather than ALPS. Tester (Ki So) uses Browns though, and Boxer has been seen using Blues. Mostly a matter of personal preference.

Safest bet is Browns to start with, I'd say.

As for Tenkeyless, I love it. The reduced travel distance for mousing is subtle but certainly noticeable, and the loss of the numpad only made me realize how dependent I was on it for relatively trivial inputs (zip codes and what not).

However, if you want the best bang for the buck, I think Razer Black Widow takes the cake, followed by the Rosewill RK-9000 or SteelSeries 6Gv2 (I've owned both - actually I'd sell you the 6Gv2 if you are in the US)

But it is almost certain you'll buy one keyboard, and then want to try out another switch type. And another. And then you turn into one of us. It is kind of magical, like a virus.
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Filco Tenkeyless Tactile Click ~ Kinesis Professional ~ White label Model M ~ DX HHKB Killer
Mionix Naos 5000 ~ Logitech Mx518
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Offline turbocharged

  • Posts: 298
Yet another first mechanical keyboard thread
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 20 January 2011, 15:13:20 »
I'm not sure if I was lucky (or unlucky because I went to a lot of effort trying other switches)...but the first board I tried (Cherry MX-11900 with MX Black switches) happened to have what is so far my favorite switch.

Still haven't tried Topre, Cherry Clear, or Cherry Red switches, but don't feel like dropping the $200 just to try them out without knowing if I am going to like them.
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| Deck Legend Fire (MX Blacks) | KBC Poker X (MX Reds) | Cherry G80-11900LTMUS (MX Clears) |  Cherry G80-11900HRMUS (MX "Ghetto Reds")
| IBM Model M 1391401 (BS) | Goldtouch GTC-0033 Keypad (MX Browns) |

[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Offline Minskleip

  • Posts: 230
Yet another first mechanical keyboard thread
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 20 January 2011, 17:03:50 »
I play on Alps ;)
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What\'s in the back of my car? A cdr lol

Split Tipro keyboard with R3 keycaps

Offline Lanx

  • Posts: 1915
Yet another first mechanical keyboard thread
« Reply #10 on: Thu, 20 January 2011, 17:37:43 »
just find ebay compaq mx11800 and have fun with browns, then you can be more adventurous later.
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Offline theferenc

  • Posts: 1327
Yet another first mechanical keyboard thread
« Reply #11 on: Thu, 20 January 2011, 17:47:49 »
Chancellor, if you're in Northern KY, I assume you mean the Cincinnati/Newport/Convington area. Up on the north side of Cincinnati is a Micro Center. It's off 275, near Kemper Road.

If you mean the Evansville/Henderson area, that puts you not too far from the Fry's in Indy. Well, that isn't that far from Cincinnati, for that matter.

But try Microcenter and/or Fry's. Both will likely carry the Black Widow and the Steelseries, and last time I was at Fry's, they had Cherry keyboards on the POS terminals. ****'s sporting goods uses Cherry G86 SPOS keyboards, which I think are ML switches? They sound dead up like browns though, to me.
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HHKB Pro 2 -- Custom UNIX layout Unicomp Customizer 101 -- IBM Model M 1391401 (modded to UNIX layout) -- IBM 1397000 (also UNIX layout) -- SSK in UNIX layout -- Model F 122 key in UNIX layout (Soarer USB "native")
 
CST L-TracX trackball -- Kensington Expert Mouse trackball
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