In the market for my first mechanical keyboard

[Seltox]

Hi, I was given some money over Christmas which I was told I HAD to spend on something I normally wouldn't (meaning I couldn't put it towards my rent like I was going to), and after some thought i've decided to get a new keyboard.

Currently i'm running with a Logitech G15 Refresh (as when I bought it I was easily sold my nice gimmicks like the LCD screen), and it's getting a bit old.  In the years since I bought it i've started my Degree in IT, and i'm majoring in Application Programming, so I find myself doing a lot of programming, and the keys are starting to feel really really mushy and a bit bad.  I looked into the problem and quickly found myself in the realm of mechanical keyboards.

Anyway, i'm still not sure what switches I actually want - I would go for blues, but I do still do a very large amount of gaming, games like League of Legends which often have me mashing the same key, which i've read the blue switches aren't amazing for due to actuation and release being at different points of depression or something.  The noise isn't an issue for me.

Anyway, I don't want to spend in excess of AUD$200 (For others, let's just say a SteelSeries 7G Professional is $170 AUD, while a Realforce 104U is $270, should give you some sort of idea where my budget is).  

There were two things I wanted to retain on the new keyboard - multimedia keys (I don't mind if they're FN ones and not standalone, just that they exist) and backlit keys.  The backlighting seems to have limited my options severely, and upon seeing that, i'm a little more flexible about it.

I've been considering a SteelSeries 6GV2 for a cheap option (comes in at AUD$100), or something like a Ducky DK9008 Shine (comes in at AUD$150).  But i've really only spent like 2 days looking into this so i'm really not too sure.

Any advice at all would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Seltox

[Boyiee]

Before I bought my first mechanical I swore I needed to at least keep backlighting if not both backlighting and multimedia/macro keys. When I finally got my first mechanical I grabbed a Deck Legend, so I could keep the backlighting and give up the media/macro keys. Seeing how easy it was to give up something I thought I needed, I went ahead and grabbed a Filco to try a different type of switch. Turns out I was wrong about needing backlighting too, and sold my deck.

This is coming from someone who extensively used macro keys as well.

Try doing what I did and just giving up on the one option, it might turn out that you are overvaluing the backlit keys just like I was. They are really nice though, and Deck does a great job with them. They are expensive though.

[Seltox]

I guess this could be true.  

You're able to use software to artificially create/map media keys even on keyboards that don't have them can't you?

In that case has anyone seen anything about the WASD customisable keyboards?  I don't want to be sucked into another gimmick, but having a triforce replace the windows key is so tempting

[Saviant]

I was a G15 user for a long time but after having so many of them fail, I swapped to a Steelseries 6Gv2. After some time though I realised it was a bit tough and swapped to a Filco Brown and have not looked back. The good thing is we can get them for a decent price in Australia from auspcmarket.com.au. You could save some money and go with the leopolds from pccasegear if you wanted to save a bit of money.

[Seltox]

Yeah, i've been looking at the Filco's on auspcmarket, although i've never shopped from there.  I usually get everything I can from PCCG because I can pick it up from the warehouse.  

There are a LOT of Filco's on the site though, and I don't really know what differentiates between them.. In any case, i'm thinking of brown switches.

EDIT:  So would I be looking at something like  this?

[dilorenzo]

I was also a G15 user about a month ago and now switched to the Zowie Celeritas Keyboard.

It has brown mx switches which should be ideal for mixed use (gaming/typing)

Regards,
Fabio

[Saviant]

Yeah, i've been looking at the Filco's on auspcmarket, although i've never shopped from there.  I usually get everything I can from PCCG because I can pick it up from the warehouse.  

There are a LOT of Filco's on the site though, and I don't really know what differentiates between them.. In any case, i'm thinking of brown switches.

EDIT:  So would I be looking at something like  this?

That is the one depending if you want fullsize or tenkeyless or the ninja ones. I have brought a few keyboards from them in the last month or so and they are very good with the ordering and shipping.

[Seltox]

I definitely want a full size.  The number keypad is one of those things I don't think I use until it isn't there.  What's the difference with the ninja ones?

EDIT:  It's going to fun trying to explain to my friends why I replaced the fancy looking one with all the extra buttons and the screen for a more expensive & much more boring one.

[Saviant]

The only difference is the lettering is printed on the front of the keys and not the top like usual. I started with the full size but got used to the Tenkeyless and don't miss the number pad. Though if I did need it for whatever reason I have a full sized Filco Linear R in my cupboard I  can swap to.

[Henry Allen Venture]

It's going to fun trying to explain to my friends why I replaced the fancy looking one with all the extra buttons and the screen for a more expensive & much more boring one.

Ha. Before I went mechanical I had a G110, and I had a lot of friends asking questions as well. If when they type on mine they can't feel the difference, I usually don't bother explaining any further anymore. I kept the G110 for a while after I got my first mechanical, but I realised that I'd never type on it ever again, because it felt awful, so I ended up giving it away to a friend who was building his first full-size gaming desktop. Funny thing is, after he spent a bit of time using my keyboard(s), and hearing my explanation of why its so good, he is considering going mechanical, too.

I did miss the macro keys and backlighting at first, especially because I used the macro keys a lot with AutoCAD. I learned to touch type, which solved the lighting issue, although I still miss the way it looks a bit - tasteful backlighting can be very nice. Being able to touch-type also sped up my use of AutoCAD to the point where I didn't miss the macro keys either, so I guess it all worked out. It depends on what you use them for as to whether you're going to miss them, though.

[Seltox]

I'm still undecided between blues and browns..  does anyone from Melbourne, Australia know anywhere I'd be able to go to try them out and make my final decision?

[Seltox]

I'm still considering the Ducky DK9008 Shine.  I can get it cheaper than the Majestouch 2 Filco (albeit, only like $15), and it still has the backlighting and media controls.  In all honesty what are the differences between these two?  I've noticed a very large Filco following on here - Is this just due to exceptional build quality?  

If I get the Ducky I think I'd go with brown switches, and later on get a Filco with blue switches.

[Human]

I'm still considering the Ducky DK9008 Shine.  I can get it cheaper than the Majestouch 2 Filco (albeit, only like $15), and it still has the backlighting and media controls.  In all honesty what are the differences between these two?  I've noticed a very large Filco following on here - Is this just due to exceptional build quality?  

If I get the Ducky I think I'd go with brown switches, and later on get a Filco with blue switches.

FILCO = over 90% chance to be problem free + superior built quality
Ducky = mediocre built quality + Ripster hate it(or once).

In short, build quality wise go for FILCO, features or budgets wise go for Ducky.

[pitashen]

DK9008's build quality is fine. It is not as refined as Filo or Leopold but the sturdiness is definitely on par with them.