First mechanical keyboard

[Intensify]

I am a gamer, mostly sc2 lately but i do play fps and mmorpgs, just got a epic naga mouse (love it) and i need my first mechanical keyboard. Went into a local pc shop and tried the open arrow keys on a razer blackwidow ultiment didnt mind it at all felt kind of wobbly on the keys and a little lose. I did like the feel of the blues though but not the click noise (got to keep in mind others around me they sound kind of loud) so basically looks like i am after Cherry mx browns. I am from Australia i have available most brands to purchase except wasd it seems. My current keyboard is a Microsoft Multimedia 1.0A i have had it for at leased 6 years minimum and still going strong!. Things i like about this keyboard is the shape where my palms sit its a got a small curve front could be a little bigger but it is nice.

Things i want
Cherry mx brown
Some sort of palm rest (do you purchase this separate?)
ps2 for N-key roll over (i got spare usb to ps2 adapters)

Qualifiers
Filco mj2
Leopold FC500R
Das Keyboard Model S Professional Silent

open to other suggestions but these are available to me and heard good things about them.

[longweight]

I would avoid the das due to the shiny body which will act as a dust magnet!

I love my Filco tenkeyless ninja with browns

[Henry Allen Venture]

Check the wikis, man. There are links to reviews and world-wide shopping links that can answer most of these questions better than any one geekhacker. I'll try my best, though:

Prettymuch all mechanical keyboards will come with a PS/2 adapter, so I wouldn't worry about that.

The palm rest you're more than likely going to have to buy seperately. SteelSeries keyboards come with one, I think, but those all use MX Black switches. I can't think of any MX Brown keyboards that come with a palm rest.

I believe you can get a WASD shipped out to Australia. I've not tried it myself, but I think they do. Someone else will have to confirm that.

If I were you I'd go with the Filco from AusPC Market, or wait a bit for the Leopold FC700R to come out and then grab that from PC Case Gear (note that the FC700R is a tenkeyless model).
From memory PC Case Gear only sell the full-size Leopold in MX Reds.
The Filco can be either tenkeyless or not (subject to availability, of course).

If the shiny coating doesn't bother you, the Das Keyboard also seems to be an OK choice.
Personally I don't like the shiny coating or the font on the keys, so I'd never buy one.
I'm sure there will be a couple of other people around here that will be able to comment on the quality of the Das Keyboard.

[Horgath]

Hi there

got myself a Filco MJ2 with browns last week and i really love it.
I was also thinking about getting a DAS-Keyboard...but i didnīt like that shiny coating.
If you want a Mechanical Keyboard with wrist rest...have a look at the WASD-Keyboards.
Otherwise you can purchase a wrist rest for your keyboard separately of course.


Greetings from Austria

[Intensify]

I had a look at the wiki, and really whats the difference between each brand of keyboard besides the small stuff like shinny finish and braded cables. I am fine with where to purchase from thats what staticice is for and google searches.
I guess what i really want to know is what would be the difference between paying $165 for a filco mj2 over a leopold fc500r (sorry ment this model) which can be had for much cheaper $115, and ducky DK9008G2 $135.

[Henry Allen Venture]

Between the three you mentioned, the key difference is the stabilisers (calling them stabs from now on...) each board uses.
Both the Ducky and the Leopold use Cherry stabs, whereas the Filco uses Costar stabs.
Generally speaking, people prefer the feel of the Costar stabs, myself included.
For the first keyboard you buy, on the other hand, you aren't going to know the difference.
So, in your case, I'd recommend buying the Leopold - I've used an FC500R with MX Browns quite a bit, and its a very good keyboard.
Later on down the track, if you feel like you want to spend a bit more money, by all means get the Filco.
There is also a reported difference in the quality between the Filco and the Leopold, but that all depends on who you talk to. There have been many threads arguing over this, but the general concensus is that Filco are of a higher quality, but the Leo (and Ducky) are still excellent keyboards. At least, having tried all three myself, thats the conclusion I've come to.

tl;dr: Got plenty of money, get the Filco. If you're on a budget, either of the other two are fine choices as well.

[boredgunner]

The CM Storm QuickFire Rapid with Brown switches might be available to you.  Check to see if I'm right - it is an excellent keyboard for an excellent price.

[Intensify]

The CM Storm QuickFire Rapid with Brown switches might be available to you.  Check to see if I'm right - it is an excellent keyboard for an excellent price.

Thanks for the advice it does look like a very good buy but they seem to have every switch type except brown

I think i am going to go with a Ducky DK9008G2, it has some nice little extras with the FN i expecially like game mode (like the cm storm) that disables the windows key as i usally just remove that key off my rubber dome keyboards, as this one is a lot more expensive disabling it is the next best thing!.
I will look into some sort of palm rest after keyboard purchase depending if i feel the need for it. my mouse has one of those jell wrist rest that i absolutly hate while using a mouse, might jam it under the keyboard insted!

Thankyou for all the advice and insight into mechaical keyboards!

[HaiiYaa]

Thanks for the advice it does look like a very good buy but they seem to have every switch type except brown

I think i am going to go with a Ducky DK9008G2, it has some nice little extras with the FN i expecially like game mode (like the cm storm) that disables the windows key as i usally just remove that key off my rubber dome keyboards, as this one is a lot more expensive disabling it is the next best thing!.
I will look into some sort of palm rest after keyboard purchase depending if i feel the need for it. my mouse has one of those jell wrist rest that i absolutly hate while using a mouse, might jam it under the keyboard insted!

Thankyou for all the advice and insight into mechaical keyboards!

You can get the cm storm on pchome with cherry mx brown here
http://global.pchome.com.tw/?mod=item&func=exhibit&IT_NO=DCAH28-A58432699&SR_NO=DCAH23&ROWNO=2&tm=u