Help a heretic buy his "first" mechanical keyboard (aka my questions thread)

[rogue]

Hi,

I haven't introduced myself yet, so I will just tell the basics: I live in south-west Europe and spend too much time coding. Coding things in arcane languages, messing with system internals, operating debuggers, and not reading reddit.
I've come to a point where I want to shell out decent value for a good mechanical keyboard, and spent some time reading about the available tech today. I have a very expensive workstation to do my usual development and virtualization stuff, so I need a keyboard that performs better than my Apple aluminum wired keyboard (got it because it was only slightly better than most membrance keyboards in the market).

I no longer have the problem of a girl whose tolerance for mechanicals is nil. My girl is OK with clickety-clicks.

So, for me, after reading the wiki for a while:

• Apparently the MX Cherry Blue might be the right choice. I need something lighter than the ~70g my Apple keyboard requires and I definitely need key feedback. I'm a minimum-60wpm typist even when relaxed and my hands hurt these days.
• I would like to buy two keyboards actually, but don't want to shell out too much on the second one. I thought about a Filco as first option (Majestouch Ninja, not that I hate key labels but I get distracted very easily, so blacklit keyboards are always taboo for me).
• I've spent some time looking for the best retailer/online shop catering to Europe-based keyboard junkies. I'm at Spain right now, but I won't type on any other layout but US-105. (or a smaller keyboard sans numpad, if that means operating the mouse is more comfy).

Thanks, and great forum!

[cactux]

I think you are on the right track. Stay with blues if you like the cklicky other wise get browns (less noisy).
If you are in Europe these guys can help you to get you Filco, this is there official website.

You can also fined some other shops here .

You can post here your thread requesting a particular board. Someone may have one for sale.

Welcome To GH  (WTGH)

[rogue]

Thanks cactux. May I ask if there is any real difference with the Brown switches besides the noise? I've read the tactile feedback is resistance-based, meaning you "feel" the key getting "stronger" as you try to bottom it out.

[cactux]

Yes it feels a little bit more resistance. Is  hard to describe and the best way to know if a particular switch is for you is by trying each one. IMHO I will recommend the cherry browns for someone that wants to buy its first mech board

[rogue]

Why the Brown switches for a first timer? Could you explain your suggestion to me? Note that I am using the board *intensively* throughout the day. I mean, typing at regularly fast speeds perhaps for six hours, or more. There are days I go on a coding binge and it gets ridiculous.

[urbanus]

Why the Brown switches for a first timer? Could you explain your suggestion to me?

Browns are considered to be a safe bet, especially for first timers who don't have an established preference.

Browns are relatively light, they're not too noisy (i.e. no noise from the switch itself, just from bottoming out the key), they have a small amount of tactility which makes them OK for both typing and for gaming, and lots of people like them.

I'm not a huge fan of Browns, myself.  Their "tactility" is nominal in my opinion: it feels like a rough spot in the mechanism, which I find more distracting than helpful for touch typing.  I find MX Reds a more "honest" alternative to MX Brown -- at least they don't pretend to be tactile -- and I find MX Blues better for touch typing.

None of the above compete with Topre switches for tactility and a smooth, comfortable typing experience.  However many mechanical switch users consider Topre-based boards to be overpriced, but I think it's a matter of priorities.

[cactux]

Why the Brown switches for a first timer? Could you explain your suggestion to me? Note that I am using the board *intensively* throughout the day. I mean, typing at regularly fast speeds perhaps for six hours, or more. There are days I go on a coding binge and it gets ridiculous.

Is hard to tell which switch you going to love: it could be reds, or blues. If you want to play safe and want to buy a mech board right away buy browns.
If you prefer to try the different switches first and you are not in a hurry, you can join Deskhority and ask here if you can join these group (That will save you some money in the long term)

In this sinklist you can try the cherry and topre switches

[rogue]

The Keyboard Corp is out of stock for the USA Filco Ninja Majestouch-2 with blue switches... they do seem to have the brown ones in stock. I like keyboards that click. When I enclosed "first timer" it is because I started with mechanical keyboards, but it's been years I use any real mechanical boards. My first computer had the real deal, so I know the feeling. Any other dealers in Europe that carry the Filco with blue switches and have stock?

[cactux]

There is a seller in ebay uk that may have what you need and here

[Lanx]

get browns, sounds like you might have an issue with the girlfriend factor (even tho she says no)

[RC-1140]

Well, I'm not sure how this fits to the "lighter" point, but a Buckling Spring Keyboard is definitely worth a try. It might not be as light as blues, but the tactility is far superior imho, and the click isn't as annoying as the blues click. I think blues sound like shaking a bag of legos, compared to the metallic click of the Model Ms. You might find a used Model M on ebay, that won't be too expensive and if you don't like it, you can simply sell it off for the same amount of money and don't make any loss. Buckling springs might be stiffer than blues, but they still don't feel as tiring as an average rubber dome.