Recommend me an affordable cherry brown or red board for work please!

[RebelExtrm02]

I started a new IT job this week that has me on a keyboard all day long. I'm in love my with cherry brown xarmor I've been using at home for the last year and would like to get a mechanical for work. I'm looking for something more affordable however. By affordable, I mean in the $100 and under range (lower obviously being better). I don't want anything gamerific and don't need backlighting. I prefer 10-key but will look at 10-keyless boards as well.

They gave me some older dell board with the super stiff rubber domes and it tires my fingers out and is a pain to use, literally. I like brown switches and am interested in reds and anything else with similar actuation pressure. Though I only share an office with one other gentleman, I'd rather not get a louder cherry blue or other clicky board out of politeness.

Thanks for any advice. I really don't know where to start looking. It's been a while since I've been in the loop.

I should mention I reside in the US.

[rknize]

Rosewill and Leopold come to mind:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201042&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Keyboards-_-Rosewill-_-23201042
http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,fullsize&pid=fc500rtab

[modulor]

I would definitely recommend the same as rknize above.  I use a Leopold FC200 with MX Reds and it is now my primary (coming from a MX Browns board).  Based on most reviews of the Rosewill boards, they seem to be very well built.  Between those two, I'd say which ever you can get your hands on for the least cash!

[Human]

I suggest CM Storm series for your ease and peace of mind(as they are basically a FILCO).

P/S: Only if you can bear with all those heavily overbranded "CM Logo".

[shogrran]

I suggest CM Storm series for your ease and peace of mind(as they are basically a FILCO).

P/S: Only if you can bear with all those heavily overbranded "CM Logo".

I'd go with this suggestion. You can never go wrong with the cmstorm quickfire rapid price. The issue with the heavy over-branding may affect you if you are picky but in my case I soon forgot about it.

[HolidaySHRIMP]

Used Leopold from classifieds here.


http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=27059

White tkl $89

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[flyball]

Used Leopold from classifieds here.


http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=27059

White tkl $89

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

too bad thats the default price for them now

[modulor]

If you decide on the Rosewill, Newegg currently has a 10% off promo going thru February 15th: EMCNHNA27

http://promotions.newegg.com/NEemail/Feb-0-2012/GeeksValenntine09/index-landing.html?nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL020912&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL020912-_-EMC-020912-Index-_-E0G-_-Keyboards#Keyboards

[HolidaySHRIMP]

too bad thats the default price for them now

I was linking the default price as an edit. I should have noted it was an edit ^_~

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[RebelExtrm02]

Hmm, that mx red Leopold on EK looks tasty. Anything else that can compare in terms of quality for the price? Not diggin the CM Storm because of the mx blues.

And here is this to humor Ripster:

1) What is your budget?
~$100

2) Where (country) will you be buying this keyboard and keyboard language layout?
USA, US

3) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you don’t really like?
Any.

4) Would you consider keyboards that are used?
Yep

5) What are the primary tasks you will be performing with this keyboard?
Typical IT technician stuff. Email, data entry, server/SQL/network configuration, etc...

6) Will you be playing games on your keyboard? What type of games?
I don't intend to, but I am a FPS gamer at home.

7) Would you prefer to see the keyboard you’re considering before purchasing it or buying a keyboard online without seeing it is OK?
Nah, gambling is fun.

Will the keyboard be used for Windows, Mac, Linux, etc...?
Windows bases operating systems and Linux. Maybe Mac but unlikely.

9) What other keyboard(s) have you used before and why are you not using it/them anymore?
Off brand and Dell rubber dome keyboards because they feel like crap and hurt my fingers. Still using my Xarmor U9BLS because mx switches feel amazing and are less fatiguing.

10) What size keyboard would you prefer?
c.Don’t Care (I'd like to try out a 10keyless but I don't know if that will ever interfere with IT work.)

11) Are the keyboard’s looks and stylishness important to you? If so, describe any physical features such as color, material appearance, etc...
Not really, but I'm very partial to black. It's a cleanliness ocd thing.

12) When are you buying the keyboard?
Whenever.

13) How long do you want this keyboard to last?
Until I can afford something better. Preferably longer.

14) What key sound do you want?
Quiet or Medium

15) Do you want tactile feel?
Don’t Care

16) Do you want clickiness?
Don’t Care

17) How strong are your fingers?
Weak (mx browns made them go soft on me and I would like even softer)

18) PS/2 or USB
Either, it will be hooked via USB into a docking station though.

19) Media keys? Macro Keys? Backlight? USB Hub?
Not necessary.

[FinancialWar]

anything but a ducky.

[demik]

I have a ricercar SPOS for 100 shipped

[HolidaySHRIMP]

I have a leopold tkl brown that fits into my laptop bag with my work Lenovo t420 that I bring to and fro every day for work. Tkl rules for size. I also work in IT (MS) and tkl works fine for me. If you know how to type probably wont be a problem.

Good luck!

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[FKSSR]

I third CM Storm if you want Red Switches.  For Brown, I would go Leopold.

[Kamikaze K]

The CM Storm's are fantastic but I don't think I would classify them as a work keyboard though... The CM storm's are also a TKL (sans Numpad) board so that might not suit some workplaces especially if you use excel and need the numpad and the branding might not suit your black minimal look.  Now if you're buying for home use and want to try out TKL on a budget then CM's all the way!  I'm trying to resist the urge to cross into the fanboi catagory but they are an awesome board for the price (especially for the Red switch version)

I'd probably reccomend a Filco Majestouch 2 if you feel like splurging (or even a Topre if you feel like breaking the bank!). Filco's are great don't get me wrong but there are cheaper alternatives so if you want to stick to you $100 limit, I'd go the full deck version of the Leoplold's though Leopold's use a different type of stabilisers for their larger keys to the Filco's.   Also look at the Rosewill lineup and Ducky DK9008G2's (They are a great board.... solid build on par with the Leopold's.  Just ignore their 1xxx models and look at their flagship 9xxx range).

Good luck with your choices! Nothing like shopping for a new mech'board!