Help Me Choose My First Mech Keyboard

[curb]

Hey guys, I have a serious itch to get into mechanical keyboards to the point where I seriously have a hard time sleeping from thinking about it too much. Can you help point me to the right direction based on my criteria?

- 100% for typing
- Budget is $120, least is better
- Compact like the choc mini
- Tactile

Preferred
- Clicky
- Least amount of force
- No backlighting
- Tenkeyless
- Least amount of key travel (used scissors all my life & don't mind adding o-rings)

The only one I can think of is the ducky 1087 green alps and choc mini with blue switches. Out of the two, it looks like the ducky has a better fit because of the force and key travel but the build quality is questionable.

[tp4tissue]

ah.. filco tkl, or the quickfire "rapid"

best 2 choices.

both boards are identical except for branding.

[SmallFry]

There is a Filco browns 104 key (full-size) that just popped up in the classifieds that you could probably call dibs on. I think it was $100 plus shipping"

[boost]

The CM Storm with MX Blues is a nice choice for $60, Leoplod from EK in any switch type for $99+Ship

http://www.elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,tenkeyless

[FJ_Sanchez]

Hi,

I'm also looking for a keyboard. It will be my first mechanical keyboard (I think I've used it in the past, just not sure about it). For me important things are:

- ISO keyboard, so 105 keys or 88
- Not more than 100$
- Spanish layout if possible

About the switches, I think I'll go for reds but not sure about this... I'll use this for games and typing. Mostly I use the keyboard for games and applications where I've to use lots of shortcuts. Of course it's a keyboard and I'll have to type with it code, mails, documentation, etc. In this aspect, maybe browns are better, but I've read that they feel like a red with sand inside... I don't know if this is good.

About aspect, I like the Quick Fire Rapid, but I didn't find it in ISO layout. TT Meka also looks nice to me, same for CM Storm QuickFire Pro. Daskeyboard also looks cool to me.

Any recommendation for me?

[dorkvader]

They make the rapid in ISO layouts. Someone recently got a spanish one in reds by mistake.

I don't know the 2-letter code for Spanish, but the PN for the USA version is: sgk-4000-gkcr1-US

[FJ_Sanchez]

They make the rapid in ISO layouts. Someone recently got a spanish one in reds by mistake.

I don't know the 2-letter code for Spanish, but the PN for the USA version is: sgk-4000-gkcr1-US

Yeah, I've found this guy in the forum: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=35226.msg669413#msg669413

Where can I get this? It's really cool! Even better if it would be with reds (I supousse)

[curb]

thanks, I'll pick up the quickfire and see how it goes.

[neeb]

thanks, I'll pick up the quickfire and see how it goes.

Let us know man, and congrats on taking the next step toward your first "real" keyboard !

[metalliqaz]

If you really like that small form factor like the choc, there is the keycool 84.  You can see it at qtan's store.

[curb]

I was on the final page of ordering the quickfire until a friend told me about his ducky 1087 with green alps. I LOVE THIS THING! It's like a lap dance for my fingers. I haven't tried the blues yet but the force on the green alps are very light. The only thing that bothers me a little is the sound that the space bar makes. The sound when typing are synchronized but it gets thrown off when I press the space bar. Making my thrown off a little bit.

I'm going to put my quickfire and choc mini on hold for now.

Thanks again guys =D