Hello to everyone,
My name is Flavio, and I'm a newb on this forum. I'm from Romania, actually living in Italy, so please excuse my English.
I' almost proud to say that I got my first mechanical keyboard a week ago, and after using it for a while, I thought I should present it to you. Why ALMOST?
Because without the possibility of trying out some mechanical switches, and only by reading some threads, I went and bought this keyboard - the Cherry G80-3000LQCEU-0.
The Cherry corporation states that this model has a soft tactile feel, and I went for it, but I'm a little bit disappointed because the keys are not so soft, and honestly, it feels close to a rubber dome keyboard. Don't get me wrong, you still have that pleasant sensation that you get from a mechanical keyboard when typing, but the force required to depress the keys, cumulated with the force required to "beat" the bump that gives you that tactile feedback, makes you bottom out eight times out of ten. Your fingers won't get to hoover over the keyboard, or dance like many like to say. You almost always will end up bottoming out.
EDIT (after a month of use)
But fortunately this happens only to those who are used to the rubber dome keyboards, because you are forced to bottom out every key and the muscle memory is stronger than your brain. Anyway, I can assure you that after one month you will be flying on the keys.
And yes, the Cherry MX clears are made for man hands. But this is a plus in my oppinion. Not being able to bottom out on every key press, your keyboard will be more silent.Most of the noise, coms from bottoming the keys. Actually, after trying the Cherry MX reds, which don't have any tactile feedback and are the softest of them all, I find the clears really nice. And the strong tactile feedback is just heaven for heavy text proccesing. So it is true what they say. Once you buy a mechanical keyboard, you'll fall inlove.
So for those in search of a switch that is not loud like the MX Blues, but still want to have that tactile feedback, I say take the Clears. If you think they are too stiff, then just ... GO WITH THE BROWNS.
Anyway, this is it the Cherry G80-3000LQCEU.
But before inserting the photos, let me tell you something about this board.It has a standard ANSI layout, with the € sign. It uses PBT keycaps and PCB mounted Cherry MX Clear switches, which are tactile NON clicky switches. Seems that the clear switches are an enhanced version of the browns, and require more force to be depressed. Browns need 45g and clears need 55g. Actually someone says that the clear switches feel like the blacks but with a bump (the tactile feedback that tells you the switch has actuated).
The keyboard comes in a simple cardboard box, it has a USB connection but they provide a USB to PS2 adapter, for those who want to use a PS2 connection.
The photos I made are not frontal, because for that kind of pictures you can go and visit the producers site.
I tried to take some pictures with the inside of the board, just to have an idea of the switches, controller and the PCB board. And of course the construction of the keyboard.
EDIT
After taking a closer look to the controller board, I see that it is very easy to replace with another one custom made. And because the switches are PCB mounted, wich means that you can open them very easy without desoldering, makes this keyboard very MODDING friendly. Horray for Chery.
Finally, here are the pictures
This is the opened case with the PCB visible.
[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 37455[/ATTACH]
The top part ope the case.
[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 37456[/ATTACH]
The PCB itself. Actually the PCB is kept in place by those three "spikes". That is what the three holes in the PCB are for.
[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 37457[/ATTACH]
And finally the Cherry Mx Clear switch, which actually has a white stem.
[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 37458[/ATTACH]
[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 37459[/ATTACH]
I wonder what does this tag mean? The letters and the colours.
[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 37460[/ATTACH]