Mechanical, I feel that I need one

[Superman]

So I've read about them(somewhat), never touched one though. For $80 I can get a cm storm rapid with mx blues. They make clicky sounds right?

Are they really 5x more reliable than domes?

[Cindori]

man, do some research.

[longweight]

Where have you plucked that number from?

Blues are indeed clicky.

[f/64]

Where have you plucked that number from?

Blues are indeed clicky.

If I had to guess: 10million key presses for domes, 50million for Cherries.

[longweight]

Are those the real figures?

[ih8]

I wouldn't buy one just because you've read something about it, nor for the "reliability factor". I personally haven't ever had reliability issues with dome keyboards past a reasonable time frame.

You should determine if you actually like the feel first.

[Superman]

Reliability is something I care about, if I buy a $12 keyboard and it lasts even half as long as an $80, without issues that is, then I won't see need for that $80 keyboard other than extra features.

I tend to get, inconsistent and stuck keys after 1-2 years with domes. Also not having n key roll over is annoying, even though I haven't owned a keyboard with proper n key roll over.

That's the thing, I can't determine if I like the feel, but if I can press the buttons, and it stays consistent for a year or two without getting stuck. Then just being used to it will make me like the feel I guess.

I read that blues are bad for tapping quickly, so the blacks are looking like a better option.

Anyone been using a mechanical keyboard for many years without issues?

[dreamingftw]

Reliability is something I care about, if I buy a $12 keyboard and it lasts even half as long as an $80, without issues that is, then I won't see need for that $80 keyboard other than extra features.

I tend to get, inconsistent and stuck keys after 1-2 years with domes. Also not having n key roll over is annoying, even though I haven't owned a keyboard with proper n key roll over.

That's the thing, I can't determine if I like the feel, but if I can press the buttons, and it stays consistent for a year or two without getting stuck. Then just being used to it will make me like the feel I guess.

I read that blues are bad for tapping quickly, so the blacks are looking like a better option.

Anyone been using a mechanical keyboard for many years without issues?

Go to your local electronics store and try them out. Then decide if you like the feel or not.

[FoxWolf1]

Different mechanical keyboards have different lifespans. I had a Ducky 1008XM which, despite being mechanical, only lasted two months. On the other extreme, IBM Model Ms are known to often live for over 20 years, Model Fs even longer (and the Fs can have NKRO as well).

[Superman]

Different mechanical keyboards have different lifespans. I had a Ducky 1008XM which, despite being mechanical, only lasted two months. On the other extreme, IBM Model Ms are known to often live for over 20 years, Model Fs even longer (and the Fs can have NKRO as well).

Oh wow, 2 months, what happened?

[FoxWolf1]

Different mechanical keyboards have different lifespans. I had a Ducky 1008XM which, despite being mechanical, only lasted two months. On the other extreme, IBM Model Ms are known to often live for over 20 years, Model Fs even longer (and the Fs can have NKRO as well).

Oh wow, 2 months, what happened?

The PCB traces started to come apart from repeated flexing, resulting in key failure. When I finally opened it up, you could literally see where the pads to which the switches were soldered had come off of the PCB, sometimes taking lengths of trace with them. The worst damage was underneath the backspace key, possibly because I have a heterodox typing style that involves pressing the backspace key with a three-fingered claw.

Very not cool. I've heard the more expensive Ducky keyboards (my 1008XM was at the very bottom of their model range, price-wise) are better-made, though, and there are other brands with even better reputations for quality.

[Superman]

No warranty or anything on that ducky?

I live in south africa, options are very limited, I could get a das model s ultimate for $210, price kills me though. I'd be like the 201st guy to buy a mechanical keyboard here since ibm's mechanicals.

Thermaltake meka, love the clustered keys, though I have no idea what to expect in terms of build quality, because it's pretty cheap.

[Rafen]

The ducky 1008xm aren't very well made and many others had design flaws. The new duckys are amazing from what everyone has said and posted pics of. This is going to be based on opinion though. I would find a switch that you want to try or a switch you think that you will like and get a board that has had a great set of reviews.

What are some other options that you could get besides the DAS and Meka? Listing them here will also help because people will tell you what the best is out of your options.

[jkercado]

Unicomp, or IBM Model M. Almost indestructible, clicky as hell.

[raisinbun]

IMO the single reason for me to get into mechanical keyboards was the feeling of typing. Lifespan is just a bonus. Customizability  (keycaps, backlight, etc) is another bonus.

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

For me the clicky tactile blues bring back memories of old, when nearly all computers had clicky keyboards.  Each Cherry MX switch is rated for 50 million keypresses, so as long as you look after a keyboard it should last for many years.

[stingrae]

No warranty or anything on that ducky?

I live in south africa, options are very limited, I could get a das model s ultimate for $210, price kills me though. I'd be like the 201st guy to buy a mechanical keyboard here since ibm's mechanicals.

Thermaltake meka, love the clustered keys, though I have no idea what to expect in terms of build quality, because it's pretty cheap.

Oh hi,

I live in south africa (probably too far for you to come try switches (pmb area)) to if you can't get to try the switches, your best 3 options are: CM storm quick fire rapid mx blue, TT MEKA G1 or the cm storm trigger.

All of those are manufactured by costar who manufacture the old das range (not the new media ones) and filco.

And yes I would recommend in that order...

If you don't think you will like clicky switches -> get mx black cm storm quick fire rapid, if you don't want tkl ->get tt meka g1 and if you want brown switches (and back-lighting) get the cm storm trigger. The only reason I put the trigger last is well it uses different stabilizers for big keys and most people don't like these, I also think more can go wrong with it.

Edit: can't find a meka-G1 for sale anymore meh.

[dorkvader]

No warranty or anything on that ducky?

I live in south africa, options are very limited, I could get a das model s ultimate for $210, price kills me though. I'd be like the 201st guy to buy a mechanical keyboard here since ibm's mechanicals.

Thermaltake meka, love the clustered keys, though I have no idea what to expect in terms of build quality, because it's pretty cheap.

The Meka G1 is OEM'd by costar, as far as I know, and should be great quality. (The WASDkeyboard is similar.)
Not sure about the normal meka. If you want a small layout likek that, have you thought about gettign a noppoo choc mini? or race?

[Rafen]

The rapid is a very nice board. Has costar stabliizers and is very well built. The only thing you might not like is the logos all over it but, people are posting that CM has been removing them. If I were you I would go with this board. I owned one with blues switches but got rid of it because I'm not a fan of the blue switches, more of a browns kinda guy.

[tp4tissue]

The rapid is a very nice board. Has costar stabliizers and is very well built. The only thing you might not like is the logos all over it but, people are posting that CM has been removing them. If I were you I would go with this board. I owned one with blues switches but got rid of it because I'm not a fan of the blue switches, more of a browns kinda guy.

Blue feels more like a classic button press. Brown, Red, and Black, is more like touching a bare spring, it just compresses but doesn't give that satisfying I pressed it feel.

That said. the different switches make very little difference to typing speed or gaming experience. Because the primary hindrance in both circumstances is the User's ability above all else

For example, some people like me will probably never type more than 140 WPM, because we are not capable of text parsing at above that rate.

And in terms of gaming, double tap situations are rare, but if you think they're extremely vital, then yea, you're gonna have to go with red or black.

[Superman]

Oh hi,

I live in south africa (probably too far for you to come try switches (pmb area)) to if you can't get to try the switches, your best 3 options are: CM storm quick fire rapid mx blue, TT MEKA G1 or the cm storm trigger.

All of those are manufactured by costar who manufacture the old das range (not the new media ones) and filco.

And yes I would recommend in that order...

If you don't think you will like clicky switches -> get mx black cm storm quick fire rapid, if you don't want tkl ->get tt meka g1 and if you want brown switches (and back-lighting) get the cm storm trigger. The only reason I put the trigger last is well it uses different stabilizers for big keys and most people don't like these, I also think more can go wrong with it.

Edit: can't find a meka-G1 for sale anymore meh.

Thanks, but yeah you're quite far from me.

Thermaltake Meka (not the g1 or g unit), will arrive in a few days, friend got it for R600($73) with shipping(b-day present).

Could've gotten a g1 for R1000($122). I really wanted to get the steelseries 6gv2, but the guys I buy from can't get it, it would've been R900($108) with shipping.

The Meka G1 is OEM'd by costar, as far as I know, and should be great quality. (The WASDkeyboard is similar.)
Not sure about the normal meka. If you want a small layout likek that, have you thought about gettign a noppoo choc mini? or race?

Can't get noppoo's here for less than $235 with shipping, price, no for me. Looking for a race was extremely tedious due to the brand name, anyway couldn't find any here. Also, I did look for ibm's, couldn't find any here.

Welcome to Geekhack!

For me the clicky tactile blues bring back memories of old, when nearly all computers had clicky keyboards.  Each Cherry MX switch is rated for 50 million keypresses, so as long as you look after a keyboard it should last for many years.

Thank you. The blues are very tempting to try, I would like to try out that tactile feel. Actually all the switches are tempting.

[Superman]

http://www.i-rocks.com/Product_detail.aspx?CLASS_ID=1056&PRODUCT_ID=1201

 ) Thermaltake took that, and threw in black switches with red leds instead of blue.

Can't find any i-rocks here.

[stingrae]

id say the steelseries is pretty unrecommended at least here. The keycaps seem to fall off lol.

No idea how you are coming up with that amount. A choc mini from qtan (doesn't have much selection) would cost $92 +customs charges +$20 (provided he will ship here, not shipped here yet as have got all stuff via the uk). I'd offer you mine but still not tried to fix the fn switch lol.

And uhh yeah pretty much everyone on geekhack buys from china or taiwan (pchome, qtan and taobao) hence the kbt/kbc board idea.

[Superman]

id say the steelseries is pretty unrecommended at least here. The keycaps seem to fall off lol.

No idea how you are coming up with that amount. A choc mini from qtan (doesn't have much selection) would cost $92 +customs charges +$20 (provided he will ship here, not shipped here yet as have got all stuff via the uk). I'd offer you mine but still not tried to fix the fn switch lol.

And uhh yeah pretty much everyone on geekhack buys from china or taiwan (pchome, qtan and taobao) hence the kbt/kbc board idea.

Aaah . Thank you.

[tp4tissue]

id say the steelseries is pretty unrecommended at least here. The keycaps seem to fall off lol.

No idea how you are coming up with that amount. A choc mini from qtan (doesn't have much selection) would cost $92 +customs charges +$20 (provided he will ship here, not shipped here yet as have got all stuff via the uk). I'd offer you mine but still not tried to fix the fn switch lol.

And uhh yeah pretty much everyone on geekhack buys from china or taiwan (pchome, qtan and taobao) hence the kbt/kbc board idea.

What?? I only buy from amazon.com. How are you guys using pchome and taobao without really long delivery times.

[Superman]

Well we both live in South Africa. I usually get my hardware for the same amount in comparison to other international shops. But never had to bother importing anything, how much do you think amazon would charge for shipping to South Africa though?

$13.99 + $2.49/lb for Expedited Shipping 12 to 18 business days. $39.99 + $4.99/lb Priority Shipping 3 to 6 business days to get to South Africa.

Not too bad from amazon.com.

[FoxWolf1]

What?? I only buy from amazon.com. How are you guys using pchome and taobao without really long delivery times.

PCHome's fast...the one time I ordered from them, the thing got here in 4-5ish business days. Not that I'd do it again, since it's not practical to return something there if it's no good.

Mainly, though, you'd use TaoBao or PCHome to get something that isn't available through more local sources.

[stingrae]

Yeah like I tried to say, not imported stuff here mostly because I don't really trust customs...

[Superman]

I got my thermaltake today, I like the feel of this thing. It's not noisy in comparison to membrane, maybe even more silent than many. Keys aren't as spaced out as my old keys, which makes reaching keys quicker.

I can't imagine less actuation force, because this thing types really easily, trying to get myself used to not bottoming out, which is going well so far.

Anyway I know many of you would hate this kb, for things like odd placed shift and /, and that big enter key.

The led's are annoying though. And the tilt stands are useless, makes it to be too vertical, because of the standard tilt is already has.

Doesn't have nkro, but can press six keys at once, which seems fine to me.