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Author Topic: Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard  (Read 2815 times)

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Offline gimpster

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  • Location: Seattle, WA
Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard
« on: Thu, 12 May 2011, 18:27:50 »
I've been lurking here for a bit, reading the wiki and several reviews and finally decided to post because I haven't been able to find what I'm looking for. I've owned 2 Das Keyboards in the past and loved them, but I'm looking for something more compact. What I can't seem to find is this exact set of features:

  • Compact (tenkeyless)
  • Cherry MX Blue switches (I will also accept Cherry MX Brown switches, if needed)
  • Backlit keys
All of the keyboards I have found come in combinations of either 1&2 or 2&3, but I haven't found anything that has all of these features yet. Can anyone help?

For any zealots wishing to play the bonus round, even though this will mostly be used on Windows machines, I'll buy a beer for anyone that can find one that matches these criteria and is also compatible with Mac in addition to Windows. :thumb:
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Offline gimpster

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Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 12 May 2011, 18:41:31 »
Damn. Well that was a short-lived dream. :) Thanks for the quick reply. Guess I'll go figure out which one I want to "settle" on.
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Offline The Solutor

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Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 12 May 2011, 18:45:30 »
The closest think is the deck 82/Tg3 BL82
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Offline The Solutor

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Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 12 May 2011, 19:03:24 »
Quote from: ripster;345545
Get a Mionix.  Looks hawt!

 
Looks average, but lacks 2 of the 3 requirements.

Zibal 60 for the OP is something like a quantum physics book as a suggested reading to Paris Hilton

Is not compact and has blacks switches.

An xarmor U9BL is not compact or a BL82 black switches, are both lacking just 1 point. On bl 82 the switches are easy to swap, so should be the preferred choiche
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Offline The Solutor

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Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 12 May 2011, 19:21:11 »
Quote from: ripster;345555
Don't get an Xarmor!  The LEDs stop working after a while.

 

Stop spreading urban legends.

Leds are leds and may stop working as any other electronic component.

On an Xarmor as on a deck legend, as on a Mionix.

http://www.overclock.net/12639765-post4.html

Quote
I've got a Deck Legend Frost and I don't regret my decision to pick one up in the slightest. Not to scare you, but after about two weeks around half the LED's on my board stopped working.


The only reason for the lack of broken mionix is.. the lack of working mionix.

You should avoid to use other users as your guinea pigs.

Do you like mionix ?

OK, buy one of them, keep it for a while, and then suggest it, if it's worth.
« Last Edit: Thu, 12 May 2011, 19:24:49 by The Solutor »
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Offline BucklingSpring

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Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 12 May 2011, 19:47:17 »
compact, backlit, Mechanical MX Black (not blue)

Deck Ice 82

Not pretty but robust.
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In memory of smallfry 1996-2013
Boards I own, click ->
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Ducky x2 (9008G2 Pro PBT/MX Green and Mini MX Red), Matias x2 (QP and Mini QP Dampened ALPS), Topre RealForce x4 (87U 55g/Digilog case, 103U-UW & 104UG High-Profile x2), Filco Majestouch x2 (TKL MX Blue & V2 AI 104 MX Blue), IBM-M x2 (BS & RD), Unicomp-M x5 (BS black on black x2, BS Ivory x2, QT Ultra-Classic), Deck x4 (Legend MX Black & MX Clear, Hassium & Francium w/ MX Brown), DAS III (MX Blue), KBT Pure Pro 60% (MX Red), NMB-RT8256CW+ x2 (black space invader), XArmor U9BL-S (MX Brown) given for free to someone I hate, CM X2 (Trigger/MX Green + Storm TKL/NovaTouch), TVS GOLD (MX Blue) and a many many more (NMB, DELL, MS, ATT, KeyTronic, Etc...)

Offline turtleslikejohn

  • Posts: 25
Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 12 May 2011, 20:21:52 »
Razer? They get a bad rap, but they meet two of the three requirements :/
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Offline IvanIvanovich

  • Mr. Silk Underwear
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Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 12 May 2011, 20:45:33 »
i exchanged about a half dozen emails with mionix when that board was announced. regarding other possible boards in the future before i found my dream board the kbc poker.
mionix may do a tenkeyless or compact later if this board sells well and there is enough market demand. they also may sell their keycaps separate if there is enough demand for our modding pleasures. so start pestering them.
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Offline BucklingSpring

  • Posts: 1613
Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 12 May 2011, 21:53:03 »
Quote from: lysol;345580
mionix may do a tenkeyless or compact later if this board sells well and there is enough market demand. they also may sell their keycaps separate if there is enough demand for our modding pleasures. so start pestering them.


All sounds cool.

If they go the quality route, I'd love to Mionixize my Decks with Zibal keys.
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In memory of smallfry 1996-2013
Boards I own, click ->
More
Ducky x2 (9008G2 Pro PBT/MX Green and Mini MX Red), Matias x2 (QP and Mini QP Dampened ALPS), Topre RealForce x4 (87U 55g/Digilog case, 103U-UW & 104UG High-Profile x2), Filco Majestouch x2 (TKL MX Blue & V2 AI 104 MX Blue), IBM-M x2 (BS & RD), Unicomp-M x5 (BS black on black x2, BS Ivory x2, QT Ultra-Classic), Deck x4 (Legend MX Black & MX Clear, Hassium & Francium w/ MX Brown), DAS III (MX Blue), KBT Pure Pro 60% (MX Red), NMB-RT8256CW+ x2 (black space invader), XArmor U9BL-S (MX Brown) given for free to someone I hate, CM X2 (Trigger/MX Green + Storm TKL/NovaTouch), TVS GOLD (MX Blue) and a many many more (NMB, DELL, MS, ATT, KeyTronic, Etc...)

Offline BucklingSpring

  • Posts: 1613
Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 12 May 2011, 21:58:41 »
Quote from: ripster;345566
Decks are nice because they supposedly have "industrial" leds.  I suspect it's a bit like Gold USB connectors but I don't see many LED failures on the Deck like I do on the Xarmor.


I don't recall any complaints about their leds back in the days I used to hang around their forum.
My oldest is a bit over 5 years and still as bright as the 2.5 years.

If they really use "Industrial" quality leds then they are easily good for >200 000 hours. That's about 23 years of non stop retro illumination :angel:
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In memory of smallfry 1996-2013
Boards I own, click ->
More
Ducky x2 (9008G2 Pro PBT/MX Green and Mini MX Red), Matias x2 (QP and Mini QP Dampened ALPS), Topre RealForce x4 (87U 55g/Digilog case, 103U-UW & 104UG High-Profile x2), Filco Majestouch x2 (TKL MX Blue & V2 AI 104 MX Blue), IBM-M x2 (BS & RD), Unicomp-M x5 (BS black on black x2, BS Ivory x2, QT Ultra-Classic), Deck x4 (Legend MX Black & MX Clear, Hassium & Francium w/ MX Brown), DAS III (MX Blue), KBT Pure Pro 60% (MX Red), NMB-RT8256CW+ x2 (black space invader), XArmor U9BL-S (MX Brown) given for free to someone I hate, CM X2 (Trigger/MX Green + Storm TKL/NovaTouch), TVS GOLD (MX Blue) and a many many more (NMB, DELL, MS, ATT, KeyTronic, Etc...)

Offline pitashen

  • Posts: 1200
Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard
« Reply #10 on: Thu, 12 May 2011, 22:34:27 »
OP, you are really limiting your choices by asking for backlit.
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\\\\ DSI Mac Modular Keyboard (Brown) w/ Leo  Blank Keycaps //
\\\\ Leopold 87keys Keyboard (Brown) w/ Black CherryCorp + SP DoubleShots //
\\\\ Filco Majestouch 2 NINJA (Black) w/ White CherryCorp + SP DoublsShots //

Offline IvanIvanovich

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Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard
« Reply #11 on: Thu, 12 May 2011, 22:43:02 »
pretty good deal on tg3 here... $25. cherry blacks aren't that bad. i'm tempted myself...
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Offline BucklingSpring

  • Posts: 1613
Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard
« Reply #12 on: Thu, 12 May 2011, 22:47:07 »
Quote from: lysol;345610
pretty good deal on tg3... $25. cherry blacks aren't that bad. i'm tempted myself...

Great find!
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In memory of smallfry 1996-2013
Boards I own, click ->
More
Ducky x2 (9008G2 Pro PBT/MX Green and Mini MX Red), Matias x2 (QP and Mini QP Dampened ALPS), Topre RealForce x4 (87U 55g/Digilog case, 103U-UW & 104UG High-Profile x2), Filco Majestouch x2 (TKL MX Blue & V2 AI 104 MX Blue), IBM-M x2 (BS & RD), Unicomp-M x5 (BS black on black x2, BS Ivory x2, QT Ultra-Classic), Deck x4 (Legend MX Black & MX Clear, Hassium & Francium w/ MX Brown), DAS III (MX Blue), KBT Pure Pro 60% (MX Red), NMB-RT8256CW+ x2 (black space invader), XArmor U9BL-S (MX Brown) given for free to someone I hate, CM X2 (Trigger/MX Green + Storm TKL/NovaTouch), TVS GOLD (MX Blue) and a many many more (NMB, DELL, MS, ATT, KeyTronic, Etc...)

Offline gimpster

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 416
  • Location: Seattle, WA
Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard
« Reply #13 on: Thu, 12 May 2011, 23:22:53 »
I failed to mention this in my original post, but I ranked the criteria in order of importance. Bottom line, for the right keyboard I would be willing to live without backlighting, but I'd really rather not. I tend to work in a lot of low-light situations and my laptops that don't have backlit keyboards are much more frustrating to use than the ones that do, even though I'm a touch typist. I've really grown to love the feature, plus it just looks cool. :)

I'm still putting together a list to choose from but the BL82/Ice keyboards are looking pretty nice. Good layout for the keys and the more I think about it, if I have to mod the keyboard to get all the features I want anyway, it would probably be easier to mod the keyboard with different keys than trying to mod it by adding LEDs that were never there.
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Offline gimpster

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  • Location: Seattle, WA
Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard
« Reply #14 on: Fri, 13 May 2011, 03:28:07 »
Well, after much deliberation, I decided to pick up a Leopold Tenkeyless "brown" and a Filco Majestouch-2 Tenkeyless "blue" so I can figure out which keys I like better. I'll probably end up offloading the other one here later. :)
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Offline J888www

  • Posts: 270
Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard
« Reply #15 on: Fri, 13 May 2011, 06:03:08 »
Bienvenue.

In reply to OP, I can't help, SOS.
Every keyboard I have purchased has either this or that not to my liking. My One is not perfect but it's the closest thing to my personal requirements. I have now stopped purchasing or modding anymore keyboards. Maybe if Unicomp manufactures a Tenkeyless SpaceSaver, then I'll stop stopping keyboard purchases.
I wish you much success on your quest in finding your "Perfect" keyboard, I surmise you'll also purchase more through discontent.
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Often outspoken, please forgive any cause for offense.
Thank you all in GH for reading.

Keyboards & Pointing Devices :- [/FONT]One Too Many[/COLOR]

Offline BucklingSpring

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Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard
« Reply #16 on: Fri, 13 May 2011, 07:22:01 »
Quote from: gimpster;345676
Well, after much deliberation, I decided to pick up a Leopold Tenkeyless "brown" and a Filco Majestouch-2 Tenkeyless "blue" so I can figure out which keys I like better. I'll probably end up offloading the other one here later. :)


Excellent choice. To solve your low light work conditions, you can always get one of these
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In memory of smallfry 1996-2013
Boards I own, click ->
More
Ducky x2 (9008G2 Pro PBT/MX Green and Mini MX Red), Matias x2 (QP and Mini QP Dampened ALPS), Topre RealForce x4 (87U 55g/Digilog case, 103U-UW & 104UG High-Profile x2), Filco Majestouch x2 (TKL MX Blue & V2 AI 104 MX Blue), IBM-M x2 (BS & RD), Unicomp-M x5 (BS black on black x2, BS Ivory x2, QT Ultra-Classic), Deck x4 (Legend MX Black & MX Clear, Hassium & Francium w/ MX Brown), DAS III (MX Blue), KBT Pure Pro 60% (MX Red), NMB-RT8256CW+ x2 (black space invader), XArmor U9BL-S (MX Brown) given for free to someone I hate, CM X2 (Trigger/MX Green + Storm TKL/NovaTouch), TVS GOLD (MX Blue) and a many many more (NMB, DELL, MS, ATT, KeyTronic, Etc...)

Offline gilgam

  • Posts: 298
Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard
« Reply #17 on: Fri, 13 May 2011, 07:35:31 »
i solved my lighting problem by learning to touch type :-)
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Realforce 105 FR, HHKB Pro 2 black, 1 Raptor K1 Black Cherry and 1 Raptor K1 Red Cherry , Compag MX 11800  tBrown Cherry, G80-3000 Clear Cherry , G80-1000 Blue Cherry / Ghetto red, Lexmark 1992 SSK Buckling spring, Unicomp 2011 Customizer 102 Buckling spring
and a few rubber dome/scissors keyboards from Apple/Logitech

Offline BucklingSpring

  • Posts: 1613
Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard
« Reply #18 on: Fri, 13 May 2011, 07:52:09 »
Quote from: gilgam;345701
i solved my lighting problem by learning to touch type :-)

Are you able to reach all Fn keys that way and do you know without looking all the ALT keys?
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In memory of smallfry 1996-2013
Boards I own, click ->
More
Ducky x2 (9008G2 Pro PBT/MX Green and Mini MX Red), Matias x2 (QP and Mini QP Dampened ALPS), Topre RealForce x4 (87U 55g/Digilog case, 103U-UW & 104UG High-Profile x2), Filco Majestouch x2 (TKL MX Blue & V2 AI 104 MX Blue), IBM-M x2 (BS & RD), Unicomp-M x5 (BS black on black x2, BS Ivory x2, QT Ultra-Classic), Deck x4 (Legend MX Black & MX Clear, Hassium & Francium w/ MX Brown), DAS III (MX Blue), KBT Pure Pro 60% (MX Red), NMB-RT8256CW+ x2 (black space invader), XArmor U9BL-S (MX Brown) given for free to someone I hate, CM X2 (Trigger/MX Green + Storm TKL/NovaTouch), TVS GOLD (MX Blue) and a many many more (NMB, DELL, MS, ATT, KeyTronic, Etc...)

Offline gimpster

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 416
  • Location: Seattle, WA
Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard
« Reply #19 on: Fri, 13 May 2011, 10:22:07 »
Quote from: BucklingSpring;345703
Are you able to reach all Fn keys that way and do you know without looking all the ALT keys?

Exactly. :) I've been a touch-typist for over 15 years, but there are some key combos that I use frequently that are greatly aided by looking at the keyboard. Especially true when your hands aren't already on the home row.

@BucklingSpring, that USB light is pretty schweet, I've seen lots of those type of devices, but never one that looked so good. Do you happen to have a link?
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Offline BucklingSpring

  • Posts: 1613
Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard
« Reply #20 on: Fri, 13 May 2011, 11:23:03 »
Quote from: gimpster;345753
Exactly. :) I've been a touch-typist for over 15 years, but there are some key combos that I use frequently that are greatly aided by looking at the keyboard. Especially true when your hands aren't already on the home row.

@BucklingSpring, that USB light is pretty schweet, I've seen lots of those type of devices, but never one that looked so good. Do you happen to have a link?


LoL I'm in the same boat. The fact that we are not black belt 7th dan degree Otaku Ninja's like gilgam doesn't mean we can't touch type.

Sorry I can't find the place anymore...

BUT if you ebay search "90 usb angle" you can use the connector to convert most of the easily findable usb lights like the cool angled one on the picture above.
« Last Edit: Fri, 13 May 2011, 11:33:47 by BucklingSpring »
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In memory of smallfry 1996-2013
Boards I own, click ->
More
Ducky x2 (9008G2 Pro PBT/MX Green and Mini MX Red), Matias x2 (QP and Mini QP Dampened ALPS), Topre RealForce x4 (87U 55g/Digilog case, 103U-UW & 104UG High-Profile x2), Filco Majestouch x2 (TKL MX Blue & V2 AI 104 MX Blue), IBM-M x2 (BS & RD), Unicomp-M x5 (BS black on black x2, BS Ivory x2, QT Ultra-Classic), Deck x4 (Legend MX Black & MX Clear, Hassium & Francium w/ MX Brown), DAS III (MX Blue), KBT Pure Pro 60% (MX Red), NMB-RT8256CW+ x2 (black space invader), XArmor U9BL-S (MX Brown) given for free to someone I hate, CM X2 (Trigger/MX Green + Storm TKL/NovaTouch), TVS GOLD (MX Blue) and a many many more (NMB, DELL, MS, ATT, KeyTronic, Etc...)

Offline gimpster

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 416
  • Location: Seattle, WA
Need help finding the "perfect" keyboard
« Reply #21 on: Fri, 13 May 2011, 14:41:06 »
I couldn't resist and ordered up a Deck 82 Ice as well...let the testing begin!! Oh and a side note, DAMN those elves at Deck are fast. 26 minutes from the time I placed my order, I had a tracking number in my email...wow! :rockon:

Also, TinEye to the rescue on the USB light. This seems to be the source. Only available in black, now, though.

$10 - http://www.lightwedge.com/Shop/USB/Flex-Neck-Laptop-Light
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-Ryan
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