Help me pick a budget mechanical keyboard!

[matthewd49]

hey guys i've been looking around for a new keyboard that i will be using for playing starcraft along with casual typing. so far i've narrowed it down to a few choices after taking into account price, quality, and size( my keyboard tray isn't the biggest so something 18 inches or below is preferable):

Adesso MKB-125B (perhaps the MKB-135B but i don't know if it would be too big)

Unicomp Spacesaver (again i tried to find the dimensions of this keyboard but it seems like no one knows them and i am not sure how a buckling spring would fair for starcraft)

Cherry G84-5200LCMEU-2 ( this keyboard looks ideal to me but the one thing i am not sure of is what kind of keyswitches it has, the key layout though is suberb)

after a few days that's all i really managed to find so i must not be good at this or something so if you guys could help me choose one or also suggest one you think would kind of fit the bill for what i am looking for i would be very appreciative, thanks.

edit: another thing i want is that the keyboard won't have ghosting so if i were to cycle through 1-5 and hit a spot or something it would register all 5 keys if i did it very fastly, and i don't care too much about nkro.

[RColinTaylor]

What price was taken into account? I personally wouldn't pick any of these to play SC2 on.

[matthewd49]

im looking for something around 80 dollars or less, the reason i have chosen some compact ones is because sometimes when i move my mouse around my hand will hit my current keyboard and even though it's a small thing it does get on my nerves.

[RColinTaylor]

I would go with one of these from Qtan's store:

The PLU-87 w/ Brown Switches
http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/mechanical-keyboard-plu/plu-87-mini-mechanical-gaming-/lid=18974500

The Noppoo Choc Mini w/ Brown Switches
http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/mechanical-keyboard-noppoo/noppoo-mini-mechanical-gaming-/lid=18974422

The Filco Linear Type R
http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/mechanical-keyboard-filco/filco-tlk-mechanical-gaming-ke/lid=18974430

...Just kidding about the Filco... but if you want to not buy a keyboard you can send the money to me so I can afford the Type R.

[turbocharged]

The Cherry G84 uses ML switches. They are 3mm travel unlike the MX's which are 4mm travel. The problem I have with ML switches is that they don't operate smoothly if you hit the keys near the edge, where and MX switch is smooth everywhere. Check out my G84-4100 in my signiture for some better pictures of the switches and whatnot.

I think you should check out either the Noppoo Choc Mini or the KBC Poker. They both fit your size constraits, but use various MX switches. You can usually find them used for the $80 range...or new from the $100 range with shipping.

EDIT: I wouldn't really suggest the PLU-87 for SC2 due to it's lack of NKRO or 6KRO.

[matthewd49]

thank you rcollintaylori am now eyeing the chocmini and it looks great and i am pretty sure if it weren't for the shipping i'd buy it right now so i'm still thinking about it

The Cherry G84 uses ML switches. They are 3mm travel unlike the MX's which are 4mm travel. The problem I have with ML switches is that they don't operate smoothly if you hit the keys near the edge, where and MX switch is smooth everywhere. Check out my G84-4100 in my signiture for some better pictures of the switches and whatnot.

I think you should check out either the Noppoo Choc Mini or the KBC Poker. They both fit your size constraits, but use various MX switches. You can usually find them used for the $80 range...or new from the $100 range.

EDIT: I wouldn't really suggest the PLU-87 for SC2 due to it's lack of NKRO or 6KRO.

hm could you briefly explain how the ML switches feel and sound like to a mechanical keyboard noob such as myself?

[turbocharged]

hm could you briefly explain how the ML switches feel and sound like to a mechanical keyboard noob such as myself?

They are light tactile switches (about 45g at 1.5mm actuation, but ~50g for the tactile bump). I don't mind them, but would like them much more if it weren't for the sticking you get on offcenter keystrokes.

You can see more about it hear... http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Cherry+switches+and+boards

[Oqsy]

I suggest a used compaq mx11800 or a cherry mx11900 to get you started. Mx11800 has browns, mx11900 has blacks. Both have a compact layout compared to an IBM/Unicomp, and can be had pretty cheap.

[matthewd49]

hmmm is there anywhere or anyway to get cheaper shipping on the chocmini? that board really entices me.. like a lot. almost everything about it is perfect, the key layout, the fact that it even has the number pad but it's hidden on the regular keys, it's all so perfect. but, if i have to i suppose will. however, keep the suggestions coming guys! they've all been good so far and another thing is that the keyboard doesn't need to be a compact one, it's just something i'd prefer but, a normal one around 17.5 inches or so would be just fine.

[matthewd49]

okay guys, i just ordered the choc mini! it's my first keyboard purchase over 25 dollars or so, so i am still unsure of what i just did but based on a lot of what i've read about it on the choc mini thread here on geekhack i've been reassuring myself it was a good purchase and that i will enjoy it a lot. thanks all of you.

[Clickey]

Good choice.

[RColinTaylor]

okay guys, i just ordered the choc mini! it's my first keyboard purchase over 25 dollars or so, so i am still unsure of what i just did but based on a lot of what i've read about it on the choc mini thread here on geekhack i've been reassuring myself it was a good purchase and that i will enjoy it a lot. thanks all of you.

The hardest part of purchasing a Mechanical Keyboard, in my opinion, is committing to the price. I can honestly tell you, however, that it is worth it.

[Retox]

Hopefully I'm not too late but that keyboard on ebay with the simplified type ii blue alps has been getting great reviews, and that one is only like $40 dollars depending on what you win the bid for

[jpc]

I like the NIB Wang 724's from ebay for about $30 apiece. The seller still had about 50 as of late August. I bought two, and then two more, because my girlfriend liked them. They're well made.

These have tactile black ALPS that you can convert to linear by removing the click leaves, if you prefer 50g linear to 65g tactile.

[Tony]

I got my Compaq MX 11800 with brown switches for $20 and I think that is very cost effective.

[J888www]

Hopefully I'm not too late but that keyboard on ebay

Firstly, if you really want to win this kbd, don't plaster a link on the forum.
Secondly, this Listing seems not to ring true, brand new fake ALPS ? also in the description "Soft-Touch Gaming keys & Extra Rubber Thinkness and Distinctive Texture" would seem to be a description for a rubber-dome ?
So a mechanical rubber-dome "How can this beee", I quote Alia Atreides.

I like the NIB Wang 724's from ebay for about $30 apiece. The seller still had about 50 as of late August. I bought two, and then two more....They're well made.

These have tactile black ALPS that you can convert to linear by removing the click leaves....

I still have one of these NIB hidden somewhere in my tree-house, remembering making a cord from an old IBM KBD cable to make it work, I prefer not to modify these Black ALPS, always had the impression that it would ruin rather than enhance them if modified.
Totally agree that they are well made, no rattles when shake, I cannot fault it, unsurpassed.

[enoy21]

I am interested in this thread , because if my blues get to be too much noise for my new office neighbor , I will want to buy a brown/red board for as cheap as possible to use at work.  I will likely be looking for some old used on that is still in pretty good shape somewhere.