Looking for a good mechanical keyboard.

[Mr. R]

Hello.

NEW member here. I am still looking for a good mechanical keyboard.

Out of interest, I tried a budget keyboard, the Scorpius M10 for about $50. The glossy appeal wasn't really my thing and it wasn't even the plus version. The USB and audio port covers were wasteful.
I also broke the crappy fragile stabilizers on it. I looked at the Cherry MX stabilizers and those look good. However, I don't think any keyboards with Cherry MX stabilizers and NKRO over USB exist.
That's fine. The NKRO over USB is not important At least 6KRO over USB and NKRO over PS/2 is what I want. Mostly I'm looking for a quality keyboard. I'm thinking that Filco is the highest quality, but it doesn't use Cherry MX stabilizers like the Leopold.
First question: Does anyone have a list of keyboards that use Cherry MX stabilizers? I wouldn't care if it's full-size and Tenkeyless, but I want a keyboard with at least one USB port for an external mechanical Numpad.

I also considered the Noppoo Choc Mini, however the outer plastic casing looked cheap as well as the keys. It has NKRO over USB.

Also, I have another important question. WASD Keyboards do not sell keycaps with an "LED Slit" in between.
I plan to buy the Leopold with printed keys, and then buy non-printed so that I have printed keys for backup, replacement, or, in some situation, anyone else who may want to use my keyboard.
I need to know where I can buy custom keycaps with an clear LED slit. Thanks.

[Lmnr]

http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?21674-Lots-of-key-caps-for-sale.-104-clear-37-PBT-Customized-keys-and-Aluminum-keys.

[pitashen]

for keycap from WASD keyboard, i wouldn't go anal about the LED light thingy. you will still able to see the light going on and off leaking through the bottom.
Keep in mind that the space bar will not be compatible with leopold, but don't think its an issue.
You can also head over to classifieds section for keycaps.

[Autolyze]

Are you really sold on the whole extra USB port thing? It's going to narrow down your options considerably. You're probably better off just getting a cheap USB hub for that, since there aren't all that many different brands of mechanical keyboards out there anyway.

[Autolyze]

for keycap from WASD keyboard, i wouldn't go anal about the LED light thingy. you will still able to see the light going on and off leaking through the bottom.

Yeah, I think the Leopold's lock lights actually look better when you have a normal keycap on them. The windowed keycaps are just ugly.

[flyball]

Hello.

NEW member here. I am still looking for a good mechanical keyboard.

Out of interest, I tried a budget keyboard, the Scorpius M10 for about $50. The glossy appeal wasn't really my thing and it wasn't even the plus version. The USB and audio port covers were wasteful.
I also broke the crappy fragile stabilizers on it. I looked at the Cherry MX stabilizers and those look good. However, I don't think any keyboards with Cherry MX stabilizers and NKRO over USB exist.
That's fine. The NKRO over USB is not important At least 6KRO over USB and NKRO over PS/2 is what I want. Mostly I'm looking for a quality keyboard. I'm thinking that Filco is the highest quality, but it doesn't use Cherry MX stabilizers like the Leopold.
First question: Does anyone have a list of keyboards that use Cherry MX stabilizers? I wouldn't care if it's full-size and Tenkeyless, but I want a keyboard with at least one USB port for an external mechanical Numpad.

I also considered the Noppoo Choc Mini, however the outer plastic casing looked cheap as well as the keys. It has NKRO over USB.

Also, I have another important question. WASD Keyboards do not sell keycaps with an "LED Slit" in between.
I plan to buy the Leopold with printed keys, and then buy non-printed so that I have printed keys for backup, replacement, or, in some situation, anyone else who may want to use my keyboard.
I need to know where I can buy custom keycaps with an clear LED slit. Thanks.

so you broke a keyboard and now you are going to buy a more expensive one? also read the wiki

[Mr. R]

Are you really sold on the whole extra USB port thing? It's going to narrow down your options considerably. You're probably better off just getting a cheap USB hub for that, since there aren't all that many different brands of mechanical keyboards out there anyway.

Just to clarify, I just wanted at least one USB port for an external numpad. I actually use it for a few games. But on the other hand, I could just go for full-size Leopold, and those don't even have under-lit keycaps.
So I think I'll just do that. I'll lose some desk real estate but it's worth it.

so you broke a keyboard and now you are going to buy a more expensive one? also read the wiki

Not just that, I also didn't read how terrible the M10 is in build quality so I didn't want it to die on me in the middle of anything.

I mainly have a big problem with Costar stabilizers. I thought mechanical keyboards would be more durable overall, but they are easily modifiable, which I like.
Too bad there aren't many mechanical industrial keyboards (I just looked up iKey and they're all rubber dome).

[Mr. R]

You should read the wiki.  The Scorpius M10 will break if you so much as look at it.

From the same folks that brought you the Xarmor!

I was really, mostly at fault because I used a screwdriver instead of a keycap puller.