Race with MX White/"Milk"

[newtrekemotion]

So here is my humble opinion on the KBT Race with MX Whites. I was going to post this sooner, but thought I'd spend sometime with the keyboard just to make sure.



Part I The Switches:

The Cherry MX Switches are simply amazing. I'm not quite ready to disect the board to get pictures of the white switches anymore than this . As for the feeling, they seem to be exactly what I wanted clears to feel like. That is a harder blue. I've seen some discussion about the lack of friction on blues making them feel lighter compared to the non-clicky versions that have more area that is causing friction.

That said, having tried MX Blues, Clears and now Whites, the MX Whites are definitely my favorite. They seem to be less grindy feeling than the clears, which I attribute to friction, but more tactile than the Blues.  Now comes to a few questions I have for the community. Are the MX Whites really as similar to the MX Greens as this http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_MX_Green would have it seem? I understand that Whites are "soft clicky", so are the Greens just louder versions of whites?


Part II Keycaps:

Obviously, the keycaps I thought deserved an entire section. Next to either the caps that came with my Das, or the Leopold I have, these seem to be in an entirely different league. I suppose that is the PBT doing it for me. Also, the gray/white colors are right up my current alley. The lasering seems to be extremely precise. I don't have the best camera, so pictures aren't as precise as I'd like, but oh well what can you do.

Part III General Board/Other:

The first, and the largest negative I have for this board comes from the case. This has been discussed quite a bit. Mine seems to have a bit of a wobble to it which is truly frustrating. Hopefully IMSTO, or someone else, has another case GB since I couldn't afford one this time. Secondly is the layout, but I, and anyone else going this route should know that the layout is different at the time of purchase, which isn't terrible, I do love that it takes up so much less space though Mostly, for me, the layout issues come from the tiny right shift key. I personally wouldn't have minded if the arrow keys were all the size of the home/pg up/pg dn keys and the right shift and control were larger. I'm being overly pedantic at this point so I'll just stop here for now.

[dorkvader]

Part I The Switches:

The Cherry MX Switches are simply amazing. I'm not quite ready to disect the board to get pictures of the white switches anymore than this

Show Image

. As for the feeling, they seem to be exactly what I wanted clears to feel like. That is a harder blue. I've seen some discussion about the lack of friction on blues making them feel lighter compared to the non-clicky versions that have more area that is causing friction.

I have some green/white comparison pictures on my photobucket, for those interested. They look almost exactly the same. Whites measured very lightly less force, and the click is softer. (I suspect the black slider get less friction or some such)They are pretty awesome.

http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l38/dork_vader/Keyboards/

That said, having tried MX Blues, Clears and now Whites, the MX Whites are definitely my favorite. They seem to be less grindy feeling than the clears, which I attribute to friction, but more tactile than the Blues.  Now comes to a few questions I have for the community. Are the MX Whites really as similar to the MX Greens as this http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_MX_Green would have it seem? I understand that Whites are "soft clicky", so are the Greens just louder versions of whites?

Yep. They feel basically the same, take almost the same force, look the same inside, have the same spring, etc. It's crazy.

Part II Keycaps:

Obviously, the keycaps I thought deserved an entire section. Next to either the caps that came with my Das, or the Leopold I have, these seem to be in an entirely different league. I suppose that is the PBT doing it for me. Also, the gray/white colors are right up my current alley. The lasering seems to be extremely precise. I don't have the best camera, so pictures aren't as precise as I'd like, but oh well what can you do.

Yep, PBT is awesome! I prefer dyesub, but the lasering looks really good. I want this keyboard now.

Thanks for the review!

[perragnar]

Nice keyboard! Where did you get it?

[pasph]

Yep. They feel basically the same, take almost the same force, look the same inside, have the same spring, etc. It's crazy.

If you push whites without the upper shell they make the same sound as the greens

[newtrekemotion]

I have some green/white comparison pictures on my photobucket, for those interested. They look almost exactly the same. Whites measured very lightly less force, and the click is softer. (I suspect the black slider get less friction or some such)They are pretty awesome.

http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l38/dork_vader/Keyboards/

Awesome! Thank you for that.

Yep. They feel basically the same, take almost the same force, look the same inside, have the same spring, etc. It's crazy.

So if the rumored CM QFR with greens ever comes to reality, I'll be in line for one. I love the whites, but I'd like a bit higher quality board than this one (the rocking on the case is getting really annoying even as I type this).

Yep, PBT is awesome! I prefer dyesub, but the lasering looks really good. I want this keyboard now.

I've never had any dyesub, but I can say these are the best caps I've had.

[newtrekemotion]

Didn't see these, sorry.

Nice keyboard! Where did you get it?

Qtan has them. http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/shop-mechanical-keyboard-by-br/kbt-race-75-mechanical-keyboar/lid=32974362
I guess I was one of the first ones to order it because I've had mine for a few weeks now.

Yep. They feel basically the same, take almost the same force, look the same inside, have the same spring, etc. It's crazy.

If you push whites without the upper shell they make the same sound as the greens

That is really interesting! If I understand what you mean by upper shell, they seem identical from the pictures that dorkvader posted. I wonder how they dampen the sound..

[perragnar]

Thanks, I think I'll have to try one of these :l

edit: ordered! woho

[newtrekemotion]

Thanks, I think I'll have to try one of these :l

edit: ordered! woho

Congrats! I'm extremely pleased with the switches and the caps, but not the wobble in the case. Hopefully yours doesn't do that. I'll probably figure out a way to stop it.

[perragnar]

Have you tried to just bend it? My filco had this issue but I just gave it a crack and now it's fine.
Just don't break it

[TheQsanity]

Hi, looks like you guys have quite a bit of experience with the uncommon switches. I was thinking about opening my own thread but this sounds like a good place to ask some questions. I have tried out all of the common switches and have always thought that lighter is better. I have always wanted the red switches b/c they are supposedly the lightest until I tried them out for myself. Turns out the lighter the switch the more I bottom out and the slower the recoil(or w/e the term is for snapping back in place). I don't like the feeling of bottoming out because it hurts my fingers ><. I just right now came across this exact keyboard on ebay.com right before reading this thread. I thought it was some type of fake because I have never heard of cherry mx milks(I assumed it must have been a mistranslation of the word white or something because the seller was from China). Right before I came across this board I also saw a board that had a yellow stem so I assumed that there would be more fakes.

So from what I hear the green, clear, white, milk, and whatever else that is uncommon feel nicer than the normal key switches. Also from what I have read all these switches are comparable in feel and could even be the same switch(or close enough) just in different colors. Milks seem to be the easiest to find while the others are pretty much hopeless unless you are willing to wait and dig or overpay.

Here are my questions:

• Could someone that has had experience with these make a list from hardest to softest or lightest to most quiet or something of that matter?
• Is there anyone willing to make a Youtube video on these for those of us that have no idea.
• Are there any other switch types that I have missed?
• Is there anyone that has anything bad to say at all or completely hate them?
• Anyone know if any of these will make an appearance in the market?(I have been waiting and hoping for quite a while)
• Is there a switch with the stem of an mx brown but the spring of an mx black or something of that sort?(My favorite switch atm is my mx browns and I have come to like the feeling of blacks)

Sorry for the long post and list but any information is much appreciated!
Thank you for reading and/or replying!

[alaricljs]

The yellow switches are fake and similar to Cherry Red.

Clear is closest to a stronger brown, the spring is stronger and the tactile bump is stronger, not many available on the market, Leopold had a run.

Green is the same as blue with a stronger spring, Ducky just released a board and CM Storm is considering one as well.

There are a few greys, quite rare... linear and clicky, maybe even tactile, I think there was even a nasty grey with ~200g force.

[esoomenona]

.

[TheQsanity]

The yellow switches are fake and similar to Cherry Red.

Clear is closest to a stronger brown, the spring is stronger and the tactile bump is stronger, not many available on the market, Leopold had a run.

Green is the same as blue with a stronger spring, Ducky just released a board and CM Storm is considering one as well.

There are a few greys, quite rare... linear and clicky, maybe even tactile, I think there was even a nasty grey with ~200g force.

Have most people said good things about the clears? There must have been a reason it died out. It sounds appealing to me but maybe the tactile bump is to hard or some thing.

Greens sound nice, I do like blues when i get used to them, I assume that greens must be better.

I am a fan of CM the Storm line they make nice products for a reasonable price.(unlike Razer...grr)

I do like the way that Razer looks and all but they are like the Apple of peripherals: always holding back, overcharging, and great advertisement and hype!(such a tease)

Anyways getting a little off topic, Thank you very much for the reply much appreciated!

[TheQsanity]

~200g!? Typing with a sledgehammer...

Best for the two-finger-typer? Lol.
Or maybe good for data entry?

[funkymeeba]

Have most people said good things about the clears? There must have been a reason it died out. It sounds appealing to me but maybe the tactile bump is to hard or some thing.

I freaking love my Leopold with clears. They are the easiest switch for me to type on, of the ones I've tried. They are very easy to float on, and don't have the "falling off a cliff" feeling I get from browns.

[TheQsanity]

Have most people said good things about the clears? There must have been a reason it died out. It sounds appealing to me but maybe the tactile bump is to hard or some thing.

I freaking love my Leopold with clears. They are the easiest switch for me to type on, of the ones I've tried. They are very easy to float on, and don't have the "falling off a cliff" feeling I get from browns.

Sounds very appealing!
Thanks for your input much appreciated!

[newtrekemotion]

Have you tried to just bend it? My filco had this issue but I just gave it a crack and now it's fine.
Just don't break it

Yeah, I tried, at least a little, I'm a bit paranoid of breaking it.

Hi, looks like you guys have quite a bit of experience with the uncommon switches. I was thinking about opening my own thread but this sounds like a good place to ask some questions. I have tried out all of the common switches and have always thought that lighter is better. I have always wanted the red switches b/c they are supposedly the lightest until I tried them out for myself. Turns out the lighter the switch the more I bottom out and the slower the recoil(or w/e the term is for snapping back in place). I don't like the feeling of bottoming out because it hurts my fingers ><. I just right now came across this exact keyboard on ebay.com right before reading this thread. I thought it was some type of fake because I have never heard of cherry mx milks(I assumed it must have been a mistranslation of the word white or something because the seller was from China). Right before I came across this board I also saw a board that had a yellow stem so I assumed that there would be more fakes.

Qtan, has a vendor forum here, which is part of why I trusted enough to buy from him.

Here are my questions:

• Could someone that has had experience with these make a list from hardest to softest or lightest to most quiet or something of that matter?
• Is there anyone willing to make a Youtube video on these for those of us that have no idea.
• Are there any other switch types that I have missed?
• Is there anyone that has anything bad to say at all or completely hate them?
• Anyone know if any of these will make an appearance in the market?(I have been waiting and hoping for quite a while)
• Is there a switch with the stem of an mx brown but the spring of an mx black or something of that sort?(My favorite switch atm is my mx browns and I have come to like the feeling of blacks)

Sorry for the long post and list but any information is much appreciated!
Thank you for reading and/or replying!

Others posted about more kinds of switches. Personally, Whites are now my favorites. However, I still appreciate the clears and blues that I have.

The yellow switches are fake and similar to Cherry Red.

Clear is closest to a stronger brown, the spring is stronger and the tactile bump is stronger, not many available on the market, Leopold had a run.

Green is the same as blue with a stronger spring, Ducky just released a board and CM Storm is considering one as well.

There are a few greys, quite rare... linear and clicky, maybe even tactile, I think there was even a nasty grey with ~200g force.

Have most people said good things about the clears? There must have been a reason it died out. It sounds appealing to me but maybe the tactile bump is to hard or some thing.

Greens sound nice, I do like blues when i get used to them, I assume that greens must be better.

I am a fan of CM the Storm line they make nice products for a reasonable price.(unlike Razer...grr)

I do like the way that Razer looks and all but they are like the Apple of peripherals: always holding back, overcharging, and great advertisement and hype!(such a tease)

Anyways getting a little off topic, Thank you very much for the reply much appreciated!

Greens/Whites (assuming they really do feel quite similar) are nice. Some will prefer the Blues. The QFR from CM seems to be nice, and a brandless one with Greens would be right up my alley.

[newtrekemotion]

Oh I wanted to say as well that the Clears are quite good to type on. Though I could understand why some gamers would want a lighter switch. For me the increased tactility of the Clears and Whites make them nicer than the Browns and Blues.

[newtrekemotion]

Green is the same as blue with a stronger spring, Ducky just released a board and CM Storm is considering one as well.

This didn't sink in until now. I didn't know that Ducky had a board with Greens. Is it a Shine II? I haven't seen that one..

[alaricljs]

Ducky green thread.

[newtrekemotion]

Ducky green thread.

Thank you!

[dorkvader]

~200g!? Typing with a sledgehammer...

Best for the two-finger-typer? Lol.
Or maybe good for data entry?

High force keys are commonly used for the "reset" key on some older keyboards. You really don't want to press that by mistake.

[perragnar]

It arrived today!
Feels solid, no bend as was mentioned in here. How is it going with what btw?
I'm not sure what I think of the mx whites/milks yet, feels strange. Have to test them some more. I like them more than blues though..

[tillertow]

Wauw, would love to try out whites..those and browns i haven't tried yet.
And the board looks good, maybe a bit too compact for my liking

[newtrekemotion]

It arrived today!
Feels solid, no bend as was mentioned in here. How is it going with what btw?
I'm not sure what I think of the mx whites/milks yet, feels strange. Have to test them some more. I like them more than blues though..

I actually managed to fix the bend! My board is solid now. Glad to hear you didn't have that issue! I definitely like the whites better than blues. I can see gaming and not liking them, but since I no longer do PC gaming (or console that much anymore really) that doesn't have an impact for me.

Wauw, would love to try out whites..those and browns i haven't tried yet.
And the board looks good, maybe a bit too compact for my liking

The very short time I spent with browns, I simply regarded them as less tactile clears. I guess I like the higher force switches though. So far I'd put clears> browns and whites>blues, but as for the mixture of those two lines, I become fuzzy. I like certain aspects of both clears and blues, and picking between them seems less absolute. As far as the compactness goes, the layout could be my least favorite feature. I'm still not used to the bottom right corner and hit the arrows instead of shift,?, etc. Part of that, I think, is from the switching between my Leopold, my Thinkpad and the Race. The layout in the Noppoo Choc Mini/Keycool 84 looks much nicer than this one for a "compact" keyboard.

Now I have a question that maybe someone can answer. Is there a switch that takes less force (something like a MX Blue or less), but has a stronger tactile bump than the MX Blue?
Edit: So Ergo-clear might fit that bill, yes? But something that isn't a mod? Alps, etc?

[fruktstund]

Ordered one of these a moment ago, for the sole purpose of trying out MX Whites on a full keyboard. Bought ten MX Whites from 7bit a while back and thought they felt a lot nicer than Blues, which is nice since I kind of dislike Blues, but ten switches aren't enough to get a feel of the switch, or something like that.
Will most likely sell the keyboard after a few hours of typing, so I hope there's someone in Europe interested in buying it.

newtrekemotion, you should just try Ergo-Clears! They're definitely worth the modding, at least if we're talking about PCB mounted switches.

[newtrekemotion]

Ordered one of these a moment ago, for the sole purpose of trying out MX Whites on a full keyboard. Bought ten MX Whites from 7bit a while back and thought they felt a lot nicer than Blues, which is nice since I kind of dislike Blues, but ten switches aren't enough to get a feel of the switch, or something like that.
Will most likely sell the keyboard after a few hours of typing, so I hope there's someone in Europe interested in buying it.

newtrekemotion, you should just try Ergo-Clears! They're definitely worth the modding, at least if we're talking about PCB mounted switches.

I'd have to find a board to do it with, but it might be worth a shot. One day, maybe, not now for me though (money,time, etc).

[TheQsanity]

Let us know what you think when you get em!

[Franzl]

Juhu,
which mx is used for the space key? An mx white too?

Thx

[TheQsanity]

I guess whites can be used for spacebars. The more common ones would be green,  clear,  grey, or dark grey.

[gbak]

quick question.

do you know if i get that race with mx milk,the keyboard should have this grey colour? or depends the order

[mashby]

Mostly, for me, the layout issues come from the tiny right shift key. I personally wouldn't have minded if the arrow keys were all the size of the home/pg up/pg dn keys and the right shift and control were larger. I'm being overly pedantic at this point so I'll just stop here for now.

I had the same issue with the Race. I use the right shift quite a bit and I kept mis-typing and hitting the arrow. Having a slightly different layout where the arrow keys would be smaller would have made that an ideal board for me.

I've recently switched to the Pure and my issue with the shift key is now resolved. Of course I'm now adjusting to the arrow keys needing a "fn" key. 

[newtrekemotion]

quick question.

do you know if i get that race with mx milk,the keyboard should have this grey colour? or depends the order

AFAIK they are all grey.

Mostly, for me, the layout issues come from the tiny right shift key. I personally wouldn't have minded if the arrow keys were all the size of the home/pg up/pg dn keys and the right shift and control were larger. I'm being overly pedantic at this point so I'll just stop here for now.

I had the same issue with the Race. I use the right shift quite a bit and I kept mis-typing and hitting the arrow. Having a slightly different layout where the arrow keys would be smaller would have made that an ideal board for me.

I've recently switched to the Pure and my issue with the shift key is now resolved. Of course I'm now adjusting to the arrow keys needing a "fn" key. 

I don't think I could deal with that, unfortunately.

[OrpheusX]

quick question.

do you know if i get that race with mx milk,the keyboard should have this grey colour? or depends the order

mechanicalkeyboards.com has these now (or they did a few weeks ago) and they have them with PBT caps and this grey color as well as ABS caps, blue LED backlighting and a darker black color. There may be other options. A while ago I saw Qtan had one with purple backlights.

[gbak]

thanks guys,assume that is the keyboard we talk about,grey one
qtan link


http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/shop-mechanical-keyboard-by-br/kbt-race-75-mechanical-keyboar/lid=32974362