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Author Topic: Cheap Mechanical Keyboard for work.  (Read 5253 times)

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Offline hyper

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Cheap Mechanical Keyboard for work.
« on: Mon, 03 October 2011, 12:44:14 »
Hi,

Since getting my first mechanical keyboard recently, I haven't been able to stand using the cheap rubber domes at work. I was going to get another Filco Majestouch 2 for work but can't justify the price. Can anyone help me with finding quite a cheap one. These are the only requirements:

- Mechanical switch (any type, aslong as it's easy enough to type on)
- Normal or small size (not HUGE)
- UK layout

That's pretty much it :P

Suggestions please?
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Offline slueth

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Cheap Mechanical Keyboard for work.
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 03 October 2011, 12:47:00 »
rapoo v7?  I couldn't find anywhere to buy it though.  I am not sure what is cheap for you though.  Actually its not uk layout is it...
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Offline keyboardlover

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Cheap Mechanical Keyboard for work.
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 03 October 2011, 12:54:44 »
Check out G80-3000's at The Keyboard Company (UK)
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Offline RC-1140

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Cheap Mechanical Keyboard for work.
« Reply #3 on: Mon, 03 October 2011, 12:59:17 »
It really depends on what you'd call cheap. I'd vote for a cherry board. G80-3000 or G80-1800 if you want a smaller one. They are available e.g. here in the UK. They have the G80-1800 only with black MX switches (Model Number LPXXX) for £62.79 ex. VAT, and the G80-3000 with Blacks or Blues (Model Number LSXXX) for around £52 ex. VAT. I would definitely prefer Blues for typing, but I bet your coworkers wouldn't be very happy. (On the other hand I know people who are using Buckling Spring Boards in the office without anybody complaining)
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[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Unicomp 122-Key Terminal Emulator - IBM Model M 1394309 - IBM Model M 1394312 (Terminal) - Cherry G84-4100 - Cherry G80-1800 MX Black - Cherry G80-2551HAD (with a spare NIB)

Offline hyper

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Cheap Mechanical Keyboard for work.
« Reply #4 on: Mon, 03 October 2011, 13:23:54 »
Quote from: slueth;425555
rapoo v7?  I couldn't find anywhere to buy it though.  I am not sure what is cheap for you though.  Actually its not uk layout is it...

Yeah I looked at the rapoo v7, looks like there is no UK layout.

Quote from: keyboardlover;425559
Check out G80-3000's at The Keyboard Company (UK)

Thanks, they look good for the price. Might try and pick one up 2nd hand.

Quote from: RC-1140;425564
It really depends on what you'd call cheap. I'd vote for a cherry board. G80-3000 or G80-1800 if you want a smaller one. They are available e.g. here in the UK. They have the G80-1800 only with black MX switches (Model Number LPXXX) for £62.79 ex. VAT, and the G80-3000 with Blacks or Blues (Model Number LSXXX) for around £52 ex. VAT. I would definitely prefer Blues for typing, but I bet your coworkers wouldn't be very happy. (On the other hand I know people who are using Buckling Spring Boards in the office without anybody complaining)

Thanks for the link. I'd consider up to £50 cheap. Also don't really care about the noise :P I don't think others will mind much.

Any other suggestions?
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Offline keyboardlover

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Cheap Mechanical Keyboard for work.
« Reply #5 on: Mon, 03 October 2011, 13:34:18 »
There's a bunch of cheap mechanicals on ebay.
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Offline keyboardlover

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Cheap Mechanical Keyboard for work.
« Reply #6 on: Mon, 03 October 2011, 13:37:46 »
Quote from: ripster;425594
Wow.   That link must have taken a lot of work.


I knew it wouldn't be long before you started trolling outside your subforum again.

Reported for trolling.
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Offline hyper

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Cheap Mechanical Keyboard for work.
« Reply #7 on: Mon, 03 October 2011, 14:39:53 »
I think the Cherry G80-3000 sounds like a good choice. But brand new when you include VAT and shipping it's about £70. Only £30 less than a Filco Majestouch 2, hmmm. I don't think I would buy one brand new, might make a thread in the market here to try to find a 2nd hand one.

Edit; I wish there were Noppoo Choc Minis with a UK layout, really liked the look of the white one.

Edit 2; I wonder if I should get this :P http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dell-AT102W-Mechanical-Keyboard-ALPS-Blck-105key-UK-ISO-/320769223640?pt=UK_Computing_ComputerComponents_KeyboardsMice&hash=item4aaf55ebd8

What are Black ALPS switches like?
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Offline SBI

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Cheap Mechanical Keyboard for work.
« Reply #8 on: Mon, 03 October 2011, 15:05:34 »
Quote from: ripster;425597
I doubt they give the student discount over in the EU.

You're right, they don't. I'll go along and suggest a G80. If you're patient you can even score the occasional one with doubleshots for moderate prices on ebay. And if you're thinking about getting a really old keyboard like that Dell...do yourself a favour and instead of thinking ALPS think Buckling Spring and get a Model M. They go cheap often on ebay.
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Offline daerid

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« Reply #9 on: Mon, 03 October 2011, 22:25:18 »
Dell AT101W. Probably yer best bet.
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Offline Tony

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Cheap Mechanical Keyboard for work.
« Reply #10 on: Mon, 03 October 2011, 23:04:21 »
Compaq MX 11800s with brown switches are cheap but hard to find.

For new keyboards, PLU87 or Poker are under 100USD.
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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 N8N

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Cheap Mechanical Keyboard for work.
« Reply #11 on: Mon, 03 October 2011, 23:58:58 »
mmm, I found an 11800 without too much trouble on fleaBay.  Not much money either.  I sold it because I could not warm up to the layout.

I do have a POS board with browns that I would let go for a lot less than $100.  It's a rawko board, (ebay seller name) that I cleaned up and lubed the sliders.  Don't know if he has any left in browns or not.  Layout is much better than 11800 save for the ISO enter.
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Filco Majestouch-2 with Cherry Corp. doubleshot keys - Leopold Tenkeyless Tactile Force with Wyse doubleshots - Silicon Graphics 9500900 - WASD V1 - IBM Model M 52G9658 - Noppoo Choc Pro with Cherry lasered PBT keycaps - Wyse 900866-01 - Cherry G80-8200LPBUS/07 - Dell AT101W - several Cherry G81s (future doubleshot donors) (order of current preference) (dang I have too many keyboards, I really only need two)

Offline spdx

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Cheap Mechanical Keyboard for work.
« Reply #12 on: Tue, 04 October 2011, 01:28:19 »
Quote from: hyper;425554
I was going to get another Filco Majestouch 2 for work but can't justify the price.

You're going to touch the keyboard eight hours a day at work and no other thing or person has that relationship with you.

Don't go cheap.  :typing:
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Offline daerid

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Cheap Mechanical Keyboard for work.
« Reply #13 on: Tue, 04 October 2011, 02:09:51 »
Quote from: spdx;425858
You're going to touch the keyboard eight hours a day at work and no other thing or person has that relationship with you.

Don't go cheap.  :typing:

I actually feel more justified spending money on an expensive keyboard for work than I do for myself at home, for exactly this reason. It's how you make a living dude, don't skimp on it.
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fossala

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Cheap Mechanical Keyboard for work.
« Reply #14 on: Tue, 04 October 2011, 02:32:03 »
I'm getting a at102w £20 from him, being deliverd on Thurs. I will write a overview if you want.
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Offline Captain Hat

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Cheap Mechanical Keyboard for work.
« Reply #15 on: Tue, 04 October 2011, 04:57:32 »
Heh, nice to see somebody noticed one of my eBay listings.

If you want any extra info about the keyboards I have for sale (pretty much all second hand, in conditions varying from "a bit rubbish" to "almost new") you can do a lot worse than to check out my GH sale thread here.
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In the land of the stupid, the half-witted man is king.

Offline Tony

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Cheap Mechanical Keyboard for work.
« Reply #16 on: Tue, 04 October 2011, 06:23:37 »
Quote from: spdx;425858
You're going to touch the keyboard eight hours a day at work and no other thing or person has that relationship with you.

Don't go cheap.  :typing:

+1.

I put my Filco brown at work and Compaq MX 11800 brown at home. We're usually serious about working environment.
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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 hyper

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Cheap Mechanical Keyboard for work.
« Reply #17 on: Tue, 04 October 2011, 07:19:00 »
To the comments about not going cheap: Good point, the reason I was looking for a cheap one is lack of money at the moment. Might just save for a while and get another Filco.
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Offline oayhyc

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Cheap Mechanical Keyboard for work.
« Reply #18 on: Tue, 04 October 2011, 14:37:16 »
CM storm quick fire rapid just looks so tempting, considering its features and price.

http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?22303-CM-storm-quick-fire-rapid-impression&highlight=Storm+Quick+Fire+Rapid

However its keycaps are not beautiful, and compromise with its layout other than ISO at this moment might be needed.  
And also, mind the Custom charge, assuming that you are based in the UK.
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Offline daerid

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Cheap Mechanical Keyboard for work.
« Reply #19 on: Tue, 04 October 2011, 16:23:55 »
If you worked at a auto mechanic shop, would you grab the bargain set of tools at WalMart? Or spring for something like Snap-On?
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Offline hyper

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Cheap Mechanical Keyboard for work.
« Reply #20 on: Wed, 05 October 2011, 04:33:37 »
Quote from: oayhyc;426035
CM storm quick fire rapid just looks so tempting, considering its features and price.

http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?22303-CM-storm-quick-fire-rapid-impression&highlight=Storm+Quick+Fire+Rapid

However its keycaps are not beautiful, and compromise with its layout other than ISO at this moment might be needed.  
And also, mind the Custom charge, assuming that you are based in the UK.

Yeah I like the look of this keyboard. However I won't consider it until it's released in the UK.
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