Buying my first mechanical keyboard

[udgags]

So I spilled water on my keyboard (Logitech G15) yesterday morning so I spent yesterday looking up keyboards. I stumbled on this awesome forum and have been reading posts, wiki's, etc. now for a few hours. The amount of options, variations and companies is staggering. I never knew keyboards were this "complicated" but find it pretty cool (engineer in RL).

Here is what I've come up with so far from searching on here...

• I mainly use my home system for gaming (WoW, SC2, Diablo 3, some FPS, etc.)
• This will be my first mechanical keyboard. I don't have experience with the various switches.
• Cherry Red switches seem best for gaming...also considering Brown but they seem like a middle ground. The noise blue makes seem like it would get annoying over time.
• Filco seems like the best but they don't have red switches available (in the US/amazon.com) so would be stuck with Brown.
• WASD, CM Storm QuickFire Rapid seem like my top two choice. Maybe Ducky?
• Trying to stay away from Rosewill since a lot seem to get RMA from what I read
• Not too concerned with cost but probably under $250. More concerned about quality.

So my question(s) would be how do my conclusions look on my list? Is there something (brand, switch, etc.) I'm missing that I should do more research on? whats your recommendation?

Thanks!

[thegunner100]

Welcome to GH!
Someone who reads the wiki before posting?! no wai.

So ripster, now you're a benevolent monk?

[FerretBuster]

Browns are not a middle ground... I wish people would stop saying that

[sth]

Consider a Leopold. I couldn't be happier with mine. If you think the MX Blues will be too noisy, you're probably right. They are not quiet by any means, but learning how to type without bottoming out helps quite a lot.

[tp4tissue]

Consider a Leopold. I couldn't be happier with mine. If you think the MX Blues will be too noisy, you're probably right. They are not quiet by any means, but learning how to type without bottoming out helps quite a lot.

bottoming out influencing speed is a myth... It doesn't make sense to train your fingers to STOP in the middle of a keypress.

[sth]

bottoming out influencing speed is a myth... It doesn't make sense to train your fingers to STOP in the middle of a keypress.

lolwut I'm talking about volume.

[tp4tissue]

Browns are not a middle ground... I wish people would stop saying that

There is no middle ground. MX-Blue is the best switch...

[udgags]

I don't think blues would bother me with their noise but my fiance has her laptop in the same room and i don't want it to be an issue.

What do you consider browns? I know most people say its just personal preference on the different switches so do you like browns?

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

[udgags]

There is no middle ground. MX-Blue is the best switch...

Why do you say blue is best? Trying to learn.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

[sth]

Why do you say blue is best? Trying to learn.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

Because he likes them. Honestly you might as well just pick one at random because 2 months from now you're going to buy another board anyway.

[FerretBuster]

Here is what I've learnt. If you think that something may be a problem, you're best option is to go for the board that doesn't have the potential problem. So if you think the sound may be a problem, don't get blues. Unless you can find a way to try out some switches at a local shop or something.

[tp4tissue]

I don't think blues would bother me with their noise but my fiance has her laptop in the same room and i don't want it to be an issue.

What do you consider browns? I know most people say its just personal preference on the different switches so do you like browns?

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

Well, with all the money you'll be spending on your keyboards, you won't be able to afford marriage,, so you might as well try them all out.. Although, I have confidence you'll end up with blue.

[stingrae]

Get an mx brown if you type, get a tenkeyless if you don't do data entry. mx brown are a great safe choice.

In my opinion mx red is probably nicer for WoW but overall it's a hyped switch and mx browns I think are much nicer across the board. Reds are probably the most overhyped switch although I can see how they would be liked and do like mine occasionally.

CM storm from pchome if you want a brown tenkeyless with media keys. Filco is a good option otherwise.

[filphil]

If possible go used.  I don't exactly see many places for keyboards to get damaged, especially from a geekhacker.

[whiskerBox]

The best advice I can give you is too spend as much money as possible on your board. Otherwise you will just end up upgrading in a month, so many people (myself included) do this and waste so much money buying and selling over and over until they get what they really want. So if you see something you really like and your nervous because it is expensive just sac up and buy it.

[whiskerBox]

Oh and don't buy a cheap board and a bunch of crazy keys to make up for it. Buy a nice board and nice keys (PBT or doubleshot, etc.) and you will be much happier in the run. Quality boards that feel great and last a long time cost $$$. Don't try and polish a turd.

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[Logun]

If you do find the Red or blue switches too loud you can mod them with an O ring fairly easily.

[tp4tissue]

If you do find the Red or blue switches too loud you can mod them with an O ring fairly easily.

O-ring mod reduces travel, and takes getting used to, about 3 days to get back your Maximum WPM..

[tp4tissue]

The best advice I can give you is too spend as much money as possible on your board. Otherwise you will just end up upgrading in a month, so many people (myself included) do this and waste so much money buying and selling over and over until they get what they really want. So if you see something you really like and your nervous because it is expensive just sac up and buy it.

THat's the solution to pretty much everything isn't it?? Throw money at it... He may as well get a HHKB silent, or a special edition topre,, although I'm not a huge fan of the bezel on the topre,, there's just too much of it

[filphil]

3 days is not a lot of time.

[tp4tissue]

3 days is not a lot of time.

Just giving you the heads up, so you don't get discouraged if you do the mod,, because reflex loop takes a long "time" to build,, and the OLD reflex loop is almost completely resistent to extinction. It is also the case that your old reflexes will block and reduce your rate of learning of NEW reflexes, because the new reflex in part requires inhibiting the OLD one.

[udgags]

I just purchased

104-key WASD V1-Cherry MX (red) with 40A o-rings. I plan to get some PBT keycaps once they are in stock at WASD or overclock.

[c0rbin]

Excellent choice... WASD is the best full size Cherry MX keyboard on the market.

[whiskerBox]

Congrats:llama:

[tp4tissue]

Excellent choice... WASD is the best full size Cherry MX keyboard on the market.

Full size is inconvenient because one cannot put it in the center of the table without moving the mouse too far to the right.

Best combo is tkl + a separate numpad

[FerretBuster]

I have tried a tkl, and to be honest the 7cm odd you save isn't really that big of a deal...

[tp4tissue]

I have tried a tkl, and to be honest the 7cm odd you save isn't really that big of a deal...

i can tell you musn't type very much.... It's not a big deal if you're only typing in short bursts,, but when you gotta churn out long posts on several forums all over the interwebz,,,, one really does need to center their keyboard,, Otherwise one's right arm will be overstreched leftwards

But yea,, it's not undoable,, but tkl is mo4r comfortable for sure.

[tp4tissue]

If possible go used.  I don't exactly see many places for keyboards to get damaged, especially from a geekhacker.

This is a function of how much of other people's semen you're willing to put up with.

[FerretBuster]

This is a function of how much of other people's semen you're willing to put up with.

Are you inferring I bought a keyboard not for typing on? Of course I type, I am in college. I write essays and all manner of write ups with this thing. And I also program for relatively long periods of time...

[udgags]

Full size is inconvenient because one cannot put it in the center of the table without moving the mouse too far to the right.

Best combo is tkl + a separate numpad

This would differ on each person and how wide they are....

Full length is 17.4"
TKL length is 14"
My shoulder width is 23.5", dead center would be 11.75".

Both keyboards are still inside my shoulder width (probably because of my body structure being wide). My mouse is pretty much exactly where my arm sits on the table naturally.

[biszarerabbit]

Yeah I recently got a cm quickfire and haven't really noticed a difference going from a full sized keyboard to TKL. I would say the biggest advantage of going TKL over full sized is that you have more desk real estate for whatever you want. That being said, I personally love the TKL layout.