Need advice for a gamer keyboard :-)

[Xochielt]

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen!

First of all - please do not take any notice of my bad English. My English is not
the scum of the earth, but still far away from a native level.

Ok - to keep things short: I want to buy a new Keyboard for gaming purposes.
Currently I use my Logitech diNovo Edge, but it feels quite crappy gaming with.
And - besides the feeling - I am missing the 'O'-Key. This is not really important
when gaming, but have you ever tried to produce some code without an 'O'?

I can still remember the good old days, back when I learned typing using an
original typewriter. And sometimes ( maybe ten times a year ) I still use a
typewriter, and even this old piece of technology gives me a better feeling
than my current keyboard.
So I guess a mechanical keyboard is the right choice for me.

So, after I decided to buy a new keyboard, I started looking which one was
going to be 'my one', and I found the Razer BlackWidow.
Pros:

• Backlit
• Mech Keys
• Good experiences with Razer

Cons:

• Glossy finish ( ok - not so tragic )

But then I started researching for a really great, impressive, awesome,
long-lasting, ..., keyboard. I found BlackWidow-reviews, Logitech G15/19-
reviews, Razer all-range-keyboard-reviews and so on. And then the magical
moment came: I found geekhack.org.
And quite all my 'beliefs' in Razer decreased to a 'little-bit-over-Logitech'-
level.

I found new, never heard before Brands like Filco, Déck and Ione. And now...
... now I am confused like hell :-)
And this is, where I want you to help me :-)

I need a keyboard which is good for gaming and is available with a german
layout.
I would like to have a backlight, but I do not need to have it.
A palm rest would be great, but also no must have.

My playstyle:
I played MMOs 'til the end of 2010, but I maybe start playing them again.
What I currently play most are FPS like QuakeLive and CS:S.
And I also do a lot of typing ( as my profile says - I am software developer ).

I already read a lot articles ( and the mech-kb-wiki ) concerning the Cherry
MX-switches. I know how the blue ones sound, and that the black ones
seem to be quite hard to press ( but as mentioned before I can handle
using a typewriter without any problems ). And all the other stuff you all know.

But I really do not know which switch is the best one for me. I think, that the
MX-blue switches are good, but I have no comparison to the others.
I do not really care about the noise the blue ones make. I think I would even
like it :-)

Let me describe what the 'best switch' has to have for me:
I guess you are quite common with FPS like QuakeLive. I mostly need the
WASD-keys and the surrounding ones for moves/weapons.
But I really hit the 'A'- and the 'D'-keys very often in short periods of time.
I almost spam these keys rotational. Simply place your left ring and index
finger on A and D and start to type adadad... as fast as you can. Then you
know what I mean.

Now you know something about my playstyle and preferred games. I hope
it is enough information for you to 'advice' me :-)

Thanks in advance!
-Xoh

[FireSlash]

A lot of people like Blacks for gaming, but not typing. A poster recently also stated he didn't like them for WoW.

Personally I just bought a Ducky 9008 with Blues for gaming. I've tested blues for FPS and RTS games and they're great. the feedback is awesome for SC2. FPS games it feels a bit more crisp and I find weapon switches to be very nice and comfortable.

The reason I went Ducky was because it has the option to lock off the Windows key; which is something I really loved about my G15.

As for the choice in MX Blues, they're a DREAM to type on, and as a programmer, I <3 this. They also work great for gaming. So it was a nice middle ground for me.

If possible, see if anyone local sells mech keyboards and has a display you can type on. I found an adesso at a local microcenter and bought it for testing (Would have kept it if it wasn't so badly designed and broken)

As for backlit boards, your options are limited. Do you really need backlighting? I had it on my G15 and it was cool for a while but really I didn't use it at all.

Anyway, switches are almost entirely preference. If you look at the SC2 community for example, pros use all kinds of switches, from cheap domes to the whole MX spectrum, linear and tactile.

[Rairden]

I've tried black cherries (steelseries 6gv2).  Did not like.  But my hands are slightly weaker than other neanderthals that surround me.

I'm waiting on the leopold like everyone else.  For browns.  I may commit suicide on the wait.

I feel like deleting this post because the poster of me (FireSlash) is much more thorough and helpful.  **** it.  ENTER.

[FireSlash]

Welcome to Geekhack!

Ya know, the Black Widow isn't all that bad.  So I think you need to let us know a bit more what you don't like about the Black Widow.  In fact, is there a ISO German version of the Black Widow???

The safest choice for 50/50 gaming/typing is always a Brown Cherry MX.  But then you would lose the nifty programming any key capability of the Black Widow.

Even a $275 rubber dome Happy Hacking Keyboard can't be programmed without a big hassle.

The biggest complaint about the widow is that its only 2KRO. The finish is kind of annoying too. But 2KRO was the deal killer for me.

[lzf929]

The biggest complaint about the widow is that its only 2KRO. The finish is kind of annoying too. But 2KRO was the deal killer for me.

For most gamers, 2KRO is enough, unless your apm is 500 or even higher...

[kill will]

Your English is the scum of the earth!

[keyb_gr]

If you think you can stand using blacks, try a Raptor-Gaming K1.

You can still get a board with blues (like a Cherry G80-3000LSCDE) for typing later. Nobody said you have to be monogamous as far as keyboards are concerned.

[Mr. Perfect]

If you really do want backlit keys, then you're pretty much limited to the Razer Black Widow Ultimate with Cherry Blues or a Deck Legend with either Cherry Clear or Black switches. If a tactile point is important to you, avoid the Blacks. You can't tell where the switch activates, so you have to hammer it all the way down to be sure it will register, and let it return all the way to the top to be sure it's reset.

Your English is the scum of the earth!

I know, right? A native speaker would have more misspelled words, grammatical errors, missing punctuation and possibly even improper capitalization. That and you didn't use a single texting\Twitter abbreviation! Let me reprase your topic in proper, native English.

"Yo, i play mad games, bro. can U tell me what KB i should buy for fastr FPS and more APMs? LED lights are tight 2!"

I think you will find that you will have more meaningful answers when properly phrasing your question.:pound:

[ajx]

For most gamers, 2KRO is enough, unless your apm is 500 or even higher...

are you really sure?
some gamers DO use CTRL, SPACE and SHIFT while they are pressing WASD simultaneously.
as a consequence, 2KRO is NOT enough

[runeazn]

i know a nice German layout of mech keyboard.
Its name is DASkeyboard and is buy able in Germany

[sixty]

Not sure where the whole 2KRO rumors come from. Its not really limited to 2 key rollover, there are some combinations where it will lock out at 2 yes, but that does not mean the entire board locks at 2 keys. In fact the Black Widow passes most common combinations, as I tested in my original review months ago.

[ajx]

Your English is the scum of the earth!

with all due respect, speaking english for anybody who aint be an English native one, makes an huge effort.
When you travel around the world, you barely need to speak in their tongue whereas local people have to translate
English does not sound that common for everybody on this earth :wink:

[Xochielt]

...I've tested blues for FPS and RTS games and they're great. the feedback is awesome for SC2. FPS games it feels a bit more crisp and I find weapon switches to be very nice and comfortable...
...The reason I went Ducky was because it has the option to lock off the Windows key...
As for the choice in MX Blues, they're a DREAM to type on, and as a programmer, I <3 this...
...Do you really need backlighting?

• I think I have to test the blue switches. I heard, that a local store has a

BlackWidow ( which has the Cherry blue ones ), so I am going to test them.

• I hope that they are a dream for programmers. When they are I am definitely

going to buy them!

• Like I said - I do not need to have backlightning :-)

...I think you need to let us know a bit more what you don't like about the Black Widow...
...In fact, is there a ISO German version of the Black Widow???

• What I don't like? Glossy finish and 2KRO. The usual suspects.

Oh yeah. And it looks like a toy. Maybe Razer wants to sell the BlackWidow
to users that favor hardware with a spacey look. Or not! If it is really good,
this statement simply vanishes.

• Yes, there is a BlackWidow with German layout.

...If a tactile point is important to you, avoid the Blacks. You can't tell where the switch activates, so you have to hammer it all the way down to be sure it will register, and let it return all the way to the top to be sure it's reset...
...Let me reprase your topic in proper, native English.

"Yo, i play mad games, bro. can U tell me what KB i should buy for fastr FPS and more APMs? LED lights are tight 2!"...

• I think the blacks are not the right choice for me. I am sure, that I have

the 'force' within my fingers, but I want to know, when the key performs.

• And THX 4 Ur answr!!1 ( scnr! )

...Not sure where the whole 2KRO rumors come from. Its not really limited to 2 key rollover, there are some combinations where it will lock out at 2 yes, but that does not mean the entire board locks at 2 keys...

• Two keys are just the MINIMUM. This is what 2KRO means ( if I understood

correctly! ).
But I heard, that CTRL+Y+X+C does not work, and I use this shortcut ( just
as an example ). Maybe other shortcuts I use are affected, so there is this
'risk'. Best way would be to simply buy it, test it and return it if it does not
fit my needs.
[/list]

i know a nice German layout of mech keyboard.
Its name is DASkeyboard and is buy able in Germany

• I already heard of this Keyboard. Looks quite minimalistic - like it!

At least I keep it in mind :-)
And with the DAS-Keyboard the keyboard-layout is just uninteresting.
Blank keys have advantages :-)
[/list]


Thanks for all your answers!
I am going to test the MX-blues this week. Maybe on wednesday. After
testing I am going to tell you more about how I feel typing with them :-)

-Xoh