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Offline w4rtortle

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help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« on: Wed, 03 October 2012, 19:29:42 »
Hi all,

Im struggling to pick out my next keyboard which hopefully will be able to last me a while.

Im looking for a backlit keyboard with reds or black.

So far I've been looking closely at the CM Storm Trigger, ducky yotd, race and the Keycool 87. Im worried about those green switches on the duckys and the build quality of them generally. I have seen people posting that Trigger is made by costar, but also a lot of people saying that It isn't so its hard to know which is true (I'm pretty sure it is though).

Ive heard weird things about the race too and see a lot of people selling them soon after buying, so thats a bit scary. The keycool layout appeals to me as I play a lot of sc2 and the F keys in that spot may be useful, however there also seems to be 2 different versions of this keyboard, one with F keys on top of the others and one with it in the normal spot? which is the better one?

Are there any other options? Cheaper is better but Ill pay more if its required.

I have owned in the past - filcos, QFR, leopold 700r, meka g1. They were all nice, anything like those with backlight would be perfect.
« Last Edit: Wed, 03 October 2012, 19:47:18 by w4rtortle »
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Offline Skull_Angel

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #1 on: Wed, 03 October 2012, 19:48:08 »
Ducky 90** series are fine as far as quality goes, the 10** are the ones with quality issues.
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Offline rowdy

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #2 on: Wed, 03 October 2012, 19:51:53 »
TKL or not?  If not, how about a Ducky Shine II?

Most people regard Ducky Shines fairly well - no problems with either of mine (albeit Ducky Shine version 1).
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"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

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Offline tp4tissue

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #3 on: Wed, 03 October 2012, 19:53:07 »
Given that Carter just confirmed that the Coolermaster Trigger is "costar" OEM, same as filco.

I don't see any other choice in the matter. Fvck ducky shine 2.


Trigger all the way bro...  :D
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Offline w4rtortle

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #4 on: Wed, 03 October 2012, 19:58:10 »
Im happy with TKL or TK, not a big deal. I was trying to stear away from the ducky due to the price but if its the only decent option ill look at it more closely for sure.

Im liking the look of this board, but I just have no clue about the quality.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Key-Cool-87-Back-light-Mechanical-keyboard-Cherry-MX-switches-W-Green-LED-/300778204831?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item4607c72e9f#ht_3325wt_779

Yes trigger was the one I was leaning closest too, just wanted to make a thread to check before I pulled the... trigger.
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Offline Skull_Angel

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #5 on: Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:00:55 »
As far as I've heard KeyCool are decent boards, still no word on what the soldering looks like. The LED versions have had some issues with LED failure, but that's to be expected from chinese manufacturing.

edit: even after getting my ducky shine 2 in mx reds I'm still staring at those KeyCool 84s...
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Offline w4rtortle

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:02:12 »
are these LED key cool versions fairly new? Maybe I should stear clear then.
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Offline tjcaustin

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #7 on: Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:12:23 »
Could also do a pure or a race. 
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Offline w4rtortle

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #8 on: Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:17:15 »
Yes I dont mind the Race, im again unsure of the build quality, and Ive seen a lot of people selling them so that seems like a bad indication. The pure has no F keys correct? Ill need those.
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Offline tjcaustin

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #9 on: Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:19:55 »
Pure does not have f keys, that's right.  That's why I bought a race and pure at the same time because I wasn't sure I'd dig not having an F row myself.  I'm still torn, but that's why I have both listed to sell.  That and I have a YotD on the way and don't need 4 keyboards.
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Offline w4rtortle

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #10 on: Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:22:44 »
So you would say that the yotd is superior to the race? It costs a lot more I guess so you would expect so. What didn't you like about the race?
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Offline shadewolf

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help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #11 on: Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:23:51 »
How about the CM QuickFire TK that someone posted here yesterday:
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=36137

Granted, price and release date are still TBA, but it looks kinda nice.


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Offline esoomenona

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« Reply #12 on: Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:24:32 »
.
« Last Edit: Wed, 15 October 2014, 16:49:36 by esoomenona »
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Offline esoomenona

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« Reply #13 on: Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:26:15 »
.
« Last Edit: Wed, 15 October 2014, 16:49:25 by esoomenona »
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Offline tjcaustin

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #14 on: Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:30:21 »
  According to our resident girlshark, halverson (who has all four boards),
Quote
But overall, I would have to say the YOTD is the best. It is very heavy and very solid. I can't get it to bend or flex when holding it. And it looks sexy as hell. And then you have the added bonus of the LEDs. The ability to customize two(or three?) sets of LED patterns is awesome.

Which is the reason why I haven't opened the box for the race yet.  I'm not bothered by the lack of f row like I thought I would be and the price on the ducky dipped $20 bucks while the two kbt boards were in shipping to me.
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Offline tjcaustin

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #15 on: Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:32:15 »
Quote from: esoomenona on Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:26:15
Quote from: tjcaustin on Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:19:55
That and I have a YotD on the way and don't need 4 keyboards.
What is this blasphemy? I'm typing on my new Race right now, my third (mechanical; sixth total) keyboard, and I plan on having a YOTD coming my way, as well as a Poker if that GB goes through. And I want a HHKB soon.

I want an hhkb, too, buuuuuut....

I guess if you count membrane boards, I already have four, but one keyboard for random novelty key vomit and another for tasteful sets seems like a good balance to me.  That mentality may change by the time my ducky gets to me, though. 
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Offline m00nshake

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #16 on: Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:35:07 »
Ducky Shine 2 with red cherry mx. The build quality is very good, I don't sit there and think the quality is worse than any of my Costar boards. It's solid. It's a great board. I recommend it and it meets all of your criteria. And how many backlit boards does Costar make? Despite that someone from CM said its from the same place, has anyone taken one apart to confirm it? I fought this same dilemma for awhile about a backlit board that was built well and didn't cost a lot like the Deck and the Ducky was the only board that met the criteria. And I'm very happy with mine.
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Offline w4rtortle

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #17 on: Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:35:57 »
Quote from: shadewolf on Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:23:51
How about the CM QuickFire TK that someone posted here yesterday:
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=36137

Granted, price and release date are still TBA, but it looks kinda nice.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh yes, Ill be getting one on release as long as the reviews are decent. But need something for the mean time :)

@esoomenona thanks, im in australia, but ill have a look if I can get one that way anyway.

Looks like its down to Trigger and key cool 87 still I think. I think Trigger quality might be better but I like the race layout.

« Last Edit: Wed, 03 October 2012, 21:11:10 by w4rtortle »
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Offline rowdy

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #18 on: Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:38:32 »
Quote from: w4rtortle on Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:35:57
@esoomenona thanks, im in australia, but ill have a look if I can get one that way anyway.

Well that cuts your options down a bit, unless you are willing to pay ridiculous shipping prices.
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"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ

Offline w4rtortle

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #19 on: Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:40:45 »
Quote from: rowdy on Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:38:32
Quote from: w4rtortle on Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:35:57
@esoomenona thanks, im in australia, but ill have a look if I can get one that way anyway.

Well that cuts your options down a bit, unless you are willing to pay ridiculous shipping prices.

Yeah thats why the duckys are mostly too expensive but boards like the key cool 87 and the trigger are pretty cheap as I can get them more locally.
« Last Edit: Wed, 03 October 2012, 21:10:58 by w4rtortle »
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Offline Skull_Angel

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #20 on: Wed, 03 October 2012, 21:30:09 »
PCCasegear (Aus e-tailor) has Duckys if you really want one.
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Offline w4rtortle

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #21 on: Thu, 04 October 2012, 01:54:52 »
thanks for that.

Im down to

- keycool 87 with white lights
- keycool 84
- cm storm trigger

going to buy one tonight so hopefully make the right choice.

also need to decide between reds and blacks but i don't mind both really so that's fine.
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Offline Skull_Angel

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #22 on: Thu, 04 October 2012, 02:31:28 »
I really like the layout on the KC84 like I said earlier, lol.
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Offline tjcaustin

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #23 on: Thu, 04 October 2012, 02:32:31 »
If only you were looking for blues...
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Offline boredgunner

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #24 on: Thu, 04 October 2012, 09:13:47 »
I vote for the Trigger, great value and it has less of a mixed reputation compared to Keycool.
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Offline metalliqaz

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #25 on: Thu, 04 October 2012, 09:26:05 »
Quote from: w4rtortle on Thu, 04 October 2012, 01:54:52
thanks for that.

Im down to

- keycool 87 with white lights
- keycool 84
- cm storm trigger

going to buy one tonight so hopefully make the right choice.

also need to decide between reds and blacks but i don't mind both really so that's fine.

No Ducky Shine or KBT Race on that list?  too bad.
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Offline _js_

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #26 on: Thu, 04 October 2012, 14:11:50 »
OK.  That is too cool!  I had no idea that there was a backlit Cherry Blue MX keyswitch keyboard!  Awesome!
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Offline rowdy

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #27 on: Thu, 04 October 2012, 15:17:22 »
Quote from: _js_ on Thu, 04 October 2012, 14:11:50
OK.  That is too cool!  I had no idea that there was a backlit Cherry Blue MX keyswitch keyboard!  Awesome!

Ducky Shines are available with MX blue/black/red/brown and with white/blue/red/green LEDs.  Ducky YoTD is available with different combinations, such as MX brown/yellow LED and red MX/purple LED.
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"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ

Offline Lethal Squirrel

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #28 on: Thu, 04 October 2012, 15:50:19 »
Quote from: Skull_Angel on Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:00:55
As far as I've heard KeyCool are decent boards, still no word on what the soldering looks like. The LED versions have had some issues with LED failure, but that's to be expected from chinese manufacturing.

edit: even after getting my ducky shine 2 in mx reds I'm still staring at those KeyCool 84s...

I was just gonna add pictures of the solder on the keycool 87 and add them to my mini review if you were interested. should be up within the hour.
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Offline metalliqaz

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #29 on: Thu, 04 October 2012, 16:17:22 »
Quote from: Lethal Squirrel on Thu, 04 October 2012, 15:50:19
Quote from: Skull_Angel on Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:00:55
As far as I've heard KeyCool are decent boards, still no word on what the soldering looks like. The LED versions have had some issues with LED failure, but that's to be expected from chinese manufacturing.

edit: even after getting my ducky shine 2 in mx reds I'm still staring at those KeyCool 84s...

I was just gonna add pictures of the solder on the keycool 87 and add them to my mini review if you were interested. should be up within the hour.

+1 for giving back to the community!
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Offline Skull_Angel

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #30 on: Thu, 04 October 2012, 19:49:23 »
Quote from: Lethal Squirrel on Thu, 04 October 2012, 15:50:19
Quote from: Skull_Angel on Wed, 03 October 2012, 20:00:55
As far as I've heard KeyCool are decent boards, still no word on what the soldering looks like. The LED versions have had some issues with LED failure, but that's to be expected from chinese manufacturing.

edit: even after getting my ducky shine 2 in mx reds I'm still staring at those KeyCool 84s...

I was just gonna add pictures of the solder on the keycool 87 and add them to my mini review if you were interested. should be up within the hour.

Oh sweet! thanks!
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Offline w4rtortle

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Re: help me pick a keyboard - backlit options
« Reply #31 on: Thu, 04 October 2012, 19:58:04 »
Quote from: metalliqaz on Thu, 04 October 2012, 09:26:05
Quote from: w4rtortle on Thu, 04 October 2012, 01:54:52
thanks for that.

Im down to

- keycool 87 with white lights
- keycool 84
- cm storm trigger

going to buy one tonight so hopefully make the right choice.

also need to decide between reds and blacks but i don't mind both really so that's fine.

No Ducky Shine or KBT Race on that list?  too bad.

Yeah Im now looking at it as

- Race
- Keycool 87
- Trigger

Still no idea though! I want to try to decide today.

@Lethal Squirrel - great Ill check it out!

EDIT - ok now Im down to kc87 and trigger. This is hard!
« Last Edit: Thu, 04 October 2012, 20:50:06 by w4rtortle »
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