Looking for advice for a first mechanical keyboard

[Smankh]

Hi guys,

I've been pretty puzzled these last days since I'm trying to decide on what I should get for my first mechanical keyboard. So of course I thought I might get some help from you experienced guys but first I'm gonna tell you where I come from. This is my first time writing a post on geekhack by the way, and I already look forward to spending more time here.

My keyboard history isn't grand at all: some generic HP keyboard that came with my first computer when I was 13, then an upgrade to a Logitech Illuminated. Apparently it couldn't resist the happy period of my life after I bought it because the 'd' key broke (more precisely the scissor-switch clip on the keycap), you see I might have used :'DDD too much. So I tried to find myself another keyboard, possibly as silent as the Illuminated was. I tried an Apple Keyboard MB110LL for some weeks but I really couldn't appreciate the spacing of the keys. So I went and bought a Razer Arctosa (mainly because I couldn't find anything else in the shop where I returned the Apple one).

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All those times, I didn't even know what a mechanical keyboard was, except that my dad's old Model M (the spacebar passed away recently, I could get around fixing it after I clean it) was awfully clicky and gathering dust somewhere. I was pretty disappointed by the Arctosa as you can imagine, glossy as hell, more finger prints than I could possibly imagine and yeah, not comfortable. But why did it become so important all of sudden for me to have a good keyboard? Well, I'm a French engineering student doing Computer Science and during this first year, I started coding. Keyboards are my work tool now. I'm not much of a gamer but I still use my keyboard reasonably often to think that I should worry about it.

So I went and looked around for keyboards, discovered that things like blank keyboards existed (like the Das S Ultimate, at the time I thought it was still way too expensive). I got some ideas from a friend who uses a BEPO orthogonal keyboard and time passed to now. I read tutorials on geekhack, skimmed through guides (thanks ripster), learned about Cherry switches and this ocean of knowledge made me way more indecisive than I was in the beginning.

My first idea was to buy a Das S Ultimate with brown switches as I like silence but now seriously, I'm at a loss. Filcos seem to be everyone's favourite and some models have those fancy red switches that I imagine to be incredible. My girlfriend being of the flat type, I thought that having a Cloud of Boobs under my fingers all day would make me able to never regret having a less-bouncy partner. Convenient, eh? And yeah, that red Esc key (even if I can buy one to put it on a Leopold, am I correct?)... Of course I've also been very tempted by those Leopold keyboards that EK sells. I'm seriously considering a purchase in the weeks to come as I'm in Canada, BC for a month and a half more. I also wonder if importing a Filco through amazon.com (to Canada) would be a realistic way to get one? Or should I just get one though keyboardco.com when I'm back in Cocorico land (also known as France).

Then of course there are Topres. I don't consider myself as a hacker yet but I sure do salivate to the idea of owning a Happy Hacking keyboard. But seriously, a Topre switch keyboard as my first mechanical... I might have enough money to buy one right now but I don't feel I'm yet able to spend nearly 200€ in a keyboard. (Also I have this kind of preconception that Topre switches are way too close to rubber domes to be /that/ good. A weird feeling since I trust you guys when you say it's an incredible switch).

Oh, I forgot to mention: as a good French patriot (haha) I am most familiar with the AZERTY layout but this summer I truly realized that most programming languages were designed by dudes using the QWERTY layout. I could go into fancy land and learn BEPO or other exotic alternatives but I want to keep it simple for now.

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Okay, time to stop this wall-o-text. I'll sum it up all here:
- I like silent keyboards even if what I'm looking for is something comfortable and that lasts.
- I don't understand what a linear switch is supposed to feel like but hell, I'm curious.
- My budget is supposed to be topped around $150 but yeah...
- I'm in Vancouver right now.
- I'll be back in Paris in ~2 months.
- By experience, I don't like glossy things in general.
- Writing lines of code will probably be a big part of my job when I have one.
- Like everyone out there, I like that red Esc key.
- Tenkeyless is cool, especially if it can help my wrists survive longer

Thanks for reading all of that. Oh and by the way, do you guys have special ergonomic chairs or desks? I'm really wondering about what would the perfect work environment be so if you guys have input, I'd be glad to hear it.

Images: - Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou (c) Ashinano Hitoshi
            - ARIA (c) Amano Kozue

[EllipticSquare]

Huge load of text, I'll give you that (nice with source of images too!)

Don't got a lot to share, this is basically a bump as you seem to REALLY need all the info you can get.

ESC key can be gotten after-hand, depending if the keycap fits.

Tenkeyless common boards would be Filco and Leopold but no matter which switch you pick it would not be as silent as I imagine you want. Red/black switches are the closest ones (both linear), so hear with others about the sound (might even find sound samples around here). Sound samples and videos might be your best shot if you can't find one and try out yourself.

I haven't owned a mechanical so take above paragraph with a grain of salt: these are the general things I've heard.

Just sending this out and hope someone will give first-hand experience feedback.

[EllipticSquare]

Now that I think about it, maybe it's not even mechanical we should look for. They aren't really known for being quiet and Smankh states nowhere that it should be mechanical, they just share a lot of his requirements but certainly not being silent.

EDIT: Silly me, reading threads but not their thread-name.

[nhwhaup]

Although I do like the topres, my overall favorite switch is the linear red and i do prefer the tenkeyless style.  For me, I find the reds super light and very quiet.  Now I don't have one of those new 87U silent Realforces as being now sold on Elitekeyboards, however I have had a 103U Realforce and currently have an 86U Realforce.  Personally I think the Realforces are quite a bit louder than the red switches.  My vote hands down - if I only could own one keyboard it would be my Filco TKL with the reds.

[Smankh]

Hello again guys!

Seems like those four days I spent installing my first Gentoo cut me from the reality of having posted something on Geekhack. First of all, thank you for your replies.

@EllipticSquare: thanks for the bump because yeah, I REALLY want to get a good idea of what I'm looking for before I buy. Yaa I've seen many people getting ESC keys for their keyboards and all so I'm not that worried. Very good idea to check out users' recordings. I haven't had the time to do so but I'll definitely find some time tomorrow while my simulations run. Very good to know that Red/Black switches are the least noisy. I guess it all depends on how much you bottom out in any case. Also albeit I want something relatively quiet, I'm not looking for something absolutely silent but thank you for your attention to my post!

@ripster: thank you for your awesome guides that I intensively read before even thinking of posting on here. And yeah, as the thread name implies, I want something that lasts. Mechanical it will be. The Green Hair Anime part is pure coincidence, but it sure is soothing to look at all this moving green. Prolly the reason I like it.

@nhwhaup: I think that pretty much confirms my strongest impulse: getting a red switches keyboard. Quite nice to know that I don't need to buy Topres to achieve quietness though = ) Now do you guys have any idea of when and where should I get a Filco/Leopold (I hear they're almost identical to the neophyte's eye) with reds?

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Would it be better if I waited till I go back to Paris (and for example order from keyboardco as they are closer to home // less shipping fees I imagine) or should I try to import one from the States, get one in Canada by some way I don't know about yet? What about the Taiwanese shops that sell keyboards? Is their customer service equivalent to (or better than) the usual EK, keyboardco, etc... ?

Image: - ARIA (c) Amano Kozue

[Smankh]

Hi everyone,

I'm back in Canada and I finally found some time to browse EK long enough to succumb to the temptation of buying something.

Just ordered a classic Leopold TKL with reds. I'll write a review when it arrives in the mail!

[fohat.digs]

You should also clean and fix that old Model M that belonged to your father.

A classic buckling spring keyboard will not go out of style and can always serve as a reference point at its unique end of the spectrum.