First and second mechanical keyboard

[Dreyer]

Hi everyone,

I've never had any problems with rubber dome keyboards until I join college. Since then, as the amount of hours I spend typing increase drastically, using one of this cheap keyboards become something very annoying.
So two months ago I decided to find a better keyboard, one that make typing more enjoyable. I visited some tech stores and just found, fancier versions (backlight/bluetooth/etc) of the rubber domes ones, and every salesman I asked told that those were the top keyboards they had.

You have to note that at that time I've never heard anything about mechanical keyboards, so I was quite disappointed, thinking that I couldnt find a keyboard with better typing feel.

So as last hope I resorted to my memory: I remembered  when I was little( around 8-9 years) my uncle had a very clicky/loud keyboard that I found very nice to type. So i google those terms and found a geekhack page about a model M, and since then I have been lurking in the forums, trying to find the best keyboard to my needs.

Tomorrow I will be traveling to USA, so i will take the opportunity to buy my first and second mechanical keyboard, since if i opt to import the items instead, the shipping and taxes will likely triple the final price.

I was thinking to buy a buclink spring, for nostalgia (assuming that my uncle had one ) and a keyboard with a MX-cherry switch. Since the beginning I was inclined to buy a UNICOMP, but I am quite undecided with the latter option. After much research I'm between the Rosewill and the CM Quickfire-Rapid, since both brands have great build quality (comparable to the filco's), are very affordable ($80-$100) and have ugly logos (which i don't mind ). So what do you guys think about my choices?? I am open for comments and sugestions.

Regarding to the switch type I would like to test some a few before I have to choose. I'm going to travel to Rochester,NY, there is any store where I can try them?

Thank you for the help.

[audioave10]

I'm not near New York but your choices seem good to me. A Buckling Spring and a Blue (or) Brown switch sounds good.
I have the CM Storm Quickfire Blues and I find it good quality.
and.......Welcome!

[NeeGo]

Welcome! Where are you from? Hopefully some members from Rochester, NY could give you a little keyboard tour. How long do you plan on staying here in the US? Sorry I really don't have much to contribute to your first/second mechanical keyboards but if you could stay for a while, maybe you could snatch up some used US keyboards on eBay and GeekHack.

[mkawa]

the easiest QFR to find is the blue switched version, so you might want to go with the rosewill if you'd prefer a different switch. however, if our friend shaker at mechanicalkeyboards.com has stock of all the switch types of qfr still, then it comes down to whether you want a TKL or full 104 layout. otherwise, the boards are quite comparable as far as i know

[Warduke]

Funny how you mentioned all three of my keyboards. Buckling springs are one of a kind, so I would definitely tell you to get one. As for the Cherry MX switch, I love both of mine (both blue) but I prefer my QF simply for one reason...tenkeyless. But if that doesn't matter to you, then you'll be happy with either.

[NeeGo]

Funny how you mentioned all three of my keyboards. Buckling springs are one of a kind, so I would definitely tell you to get one. As for the Cherry MX switch, I love both of mine (both blue) but I prefer my QF simply for one reason...tenkeyless. But if that doesn't matter to you, then you'll be happy with either.

Listen to ^. He's got all three of the keyboards you want! What a coincidence lol.

[Internetlad]

Most here tend to start with a Buckling Springs KB, most often a Model M, picked up on ebay for ~40 bucks used. They're tanks and as long as you don't mind the stiffness and clicking, they won't let you down.

If you're looking at something more modern, check out the offerings from rosewill on newegg, as they are often on sale. Also consider possibly a leopold on elitekeyboards.com, as they can be had in almost any style and switch type for ~100 bucks.

[Dreyer]

I had no internet acess in the last couple of days, so sorry for the delay. Thank you all for your responses, they we're very helpful. as Neego mentioned I think I will buy a CM since it is smaller, making easier to carry it around. Regarding to the type of the switch I think I will go to a Best Buy since they seems to have some Razer keyboards with blues and browns, which I can try out.

[Dreyer]

Hi everyone. Today I tested the razor Black Widow ultimate, which I suppose (since the sales man could not especify) have blue cherry switches. I don't know how to explain but I was expecting something more sturdier. At first sight the keys felt more originated from a toy than a $100+ keyboard. I read a couple of reviews and both of them praised the build quality of the board, so I think will this impression I had, would independent of the keyboard manufacturer. I am kind of insecure now to buy a cherry switch board, so I will probably stick only with an UNICOMP and then after I try more switches (brown and red) see if I will buy a CM.

[Dreyer]

I decided to buy only an Unicomp and oh boy this thing is a joy to type on.

My friends that traveled alongside me coudn't understand how I could spend $ 70 on a keyboard that looked like comming from last century
I Guess is all a matter of opinion since i coudn't understand also some of the purchases of my friends (one guy spend like 400$ in perfums).

Anyway, I also tried a lot of cherry switches. Here is the my general impressions of them:

-Blue : The worse switch I test by far, the feedback response felt unnatural and atificial. Felt like a toy.
-Browns: Quite liked it. Odly enough I found it quite different from the blues ones.  
-Blaks: Felt the most similar to membrane keyboards but requiring more force to activate. The cherry switch I liked the most.

One thing that I found interesting was the lack of Knowledge poseces by the sellers. In all the stores that I went, no one could say which kind of mechanical switch was used  in the keyboards.

One particular interesting fact ocurred in a New York store (B & H i guess), where all the sellers used mechanical keyboards from Cherry Corp, and none of them (at least all that I asked), even knew
that they were using mechanical keyboards. They also looked me with a strange face when I asked to type on it.

Anyway thank you for all the information available in the forums and to help me decide the keyboard I bought.