Keyboard for office work

[mariusmssj]

Hey guys,

I know I have already asked about this a month or so ago but I want to be fully sure before I make my purchase.

Background info:
- Starting PhD soon, a lot of typing involved (Hopefully next week)
- Sharing office with 3 other people (Need a silent keyboard)
- Own CMStorm with Reds(LOVE IT), tried Black, Blue and Brown but only as a single switch on home made test bench(picture)
- After using Reds for a month Brows felt like broken Reds but I haven't tried a keyboard with full brown keys
- When I type I always bottom out the keys, can't touch type
- Got a bag O-rings (125)

So my thought was to get a Filco keyboard with Red switches but as student I am not very rich, well rather broke I would say. So I am not sure if 120GBP is a justifiable price for a keyboard.

Are there any alternatives with better a price point? or should I forget food and buy Filco? 

Any suggestions guys?

Thank you

[Neo.X]

If you share a quiet office with other people, topre switch, especilly silent version is your best choice.

Cherry switches are loud, even you put o-ring. especially, you are not typing lightly.

[MechKey]

I like my CM Storm.  Why not just get another?

[maui]

If you share a quiet office with other people, topre switch, especilly silent version is your best choice.

Cherry switches are loud, even you put o-ring. especially, you are not typing lightly.

haha he says he is a poor student and you advice a topre board

are you looking for a fullsize board or something smaller?

[Binge]

Matias quiet pro. Nuff said.

[mariusmssj]

If you share a quiet office with other people, topre switch, especilly silent version is your best choice.

Cherry switches are loud, even you put o-ring. especially, you are not typing lightly.

haha he says he is a poor student and you advice a topre board

are you looking for a fullsize board or something smaller?

Torpe is not an option for me!

And yes I am looking for a full size keyboard with numpad and UK ISO layout


@Binge it only comes in US layout, it's no good for me.


@MechKey i guess getting the CMStorm pro again would be a good option too

[boost]

You can also looking into a ducky with reds or leoplod

[swagpiratex]

Hehe. We (geekhack) don't know what poor means.

I have reds at home, and browns at work. I also think that the browns feel like a dirty red, but I've found they are nice to type on at work, and doesn't make a racket like the blues.

[m00nshake]

I've got my buckling spring here at the job. It's the sound of hard work, I tell you!

[rowdy]

If you always bottom out then most mechanical keyboards will be very loud for you. So not MX blues, and O rings or similar should help dampen the noise.

I wonder if sitting the keyboard on a towel or similar would make it even
More quiet?

[newtrekemotion]

I use a Leopold with clears in my office. Though our offices are a bit bigger than average (10 people per office). I've gotten three comments related to keyboards, the latest that it looked like a Filco, prior I was asked about PS/2->USB conversions, and someone commented that it was weird I brought my own keyboard. Nothing about it being loud. So if you fill your other requirements, go with something you like. A CM storm with Browns and O-rings would probably be quiet enough to not disturb those around you. Ducky and Leopold would be good options too, but I'm not sure if a) they fit the other requirements b) they are any cheaper than CM. I honestly think that CM has made several other brands become secondary choices because of the high quality/price ratio that they offer.

Also, LOL @ topre suggestion.

[mariusmssj]

I see quite a few people have suggested to get browns for work related typing. I really want to try out a keyboard with full set of browns since my only experience with Brows is a single switch I got, I assume typing with all browns keys would be a different feeling.

I saw that people also suggested Ducky keyboards but I honestly can't find them with UK ISO layout and the Leopold keyboard here same price as Filco



 

[fruktstund]

I used a KBC Poker X modded to Ergo-Clears at work for a long time, and it worked really well. Nobody complained about its sound level, but then again they didn't complain about my Filco with MX Blues and my workmate's Model M either.
A KBC Poker X isn't an alternative for you I guess, since you like ISO layout.

Something I think could be good for you would be a cheap Cherry G80 of some kind. I have no idea how the ones currently produced are, but I can't imagine they're too different from the vintage boards (except for keycaps, vintage switches and all that). Since they have PCB mounted switches instead of plate mounted ones they're a bit more silent (and some people even think PCB mounted switches feel better), and also easier to mod. Also, the less you bottom out, the more silent your typing will be, which is why I'd recommend clears or Ergo-Clears, since it's easier not to bottom out when typing on those, in my opinion.

I'm pretty sure they're kind of cheap, and available in UK layout.

I've no idea whatsoever if they're available in browns anywhere, but you could buy one with blues and buy enough brown stems from someone here at GH, which shouldn't be too expensive.

Feels like I might've missed something, so excuse me if this post seems weird in any way.

[mariusmssj]

I used a KBC Poker X modded to Ergo-Clears at work for a long time, and it worked really well. Nobody complained about its sound level, but then again they didn't complain about my Filco with MX Blues and my workmate's Model M either.
A KBC Poker X isn't an alternative for you I guess, since you like ISO layout.

Something I think could be good for you would be a cheap Cherry G80 of some kind. I have no idea how the ones currently produced are, but I can't imagine they're too different from the vintage boards (except for keycaps, vintage switches and all that). Since they have PCB mounted switches instead of plate mounted ones they're a bit more silent (and some people even think PCB mounted switches feel better), and also easier to mod. Also, the less you bottom out, the more silent your typing will be, which is why I'd recommend clears or Ergo-Clears, since it's easier not to bottom out when typing on those, in my opinion.

I'm pretty sure they're kind of cheap, and available in UK layout.

I've no idea whatsoever if they're available in browns anywhere, but you could buy one with blues and buy enough brown stems from someone here at GH, which shouldn't be too expensive.

Feels like I might've missed something, so excuse me if this post seems weird in any way.

Hi there,

Yeah i actually just found quite a few online stores that sell them here in UK and it does come with UK ISO layout but the only ones I can find are MX Blues, seems like their only ones with UK layout

[mariusmssj]

Guys should I wait and buy the CM Storm =http://www.cmstorm.com/en/products/keyboards/quickfiretk/QuickFire TK for home use and just use my Quickfire pro at work???

[newtrekemotion]

Guys should I wait and buy the CM Storm =http://www.cmstorm.com/en/products/keyboards/quickfiretk/QuickFire TK for home use and just use my Quickfire pro at work???

That would probably be a good option. Carter said build quality was good, but it is a bit of an unknown at this point. Though hopefully the quality is excellent.

[ranviper]

Seems like a viable idea, it's all a matter of what you're used to and comfortable using. I know the actual brand Cherry makes some decent office boards.

[modulor]

I use my Leopold FC200R with MX Red and O-rings at work and I'm quite satisfied...it's also pretty silent.  I'd say use your QFPro at work if you have the desk space and pick up a QFRapid for home...the build quality is the best so far out of CM's offerings from what I've read, as it is Costar based (same as Filco).  I can attest to the QFRapid - it is a solid board!  If you can do without the ten key pad, that is.  As for the newer CM boards, not much is known of their OEM or build quailty yet.

[jkercado]

Unicomp offers a great typing experience.

[Burz]

You should get a Quiet Pro keyboard if you need quiet while doing lots of typing. IMHO, nothing else produced today for under $200 has switches that are designed for that combination of requirements.

They recently put up a nifty sound widget that compares the MQP to MX browns and blues:
http://matias.ca/quietpro/

[furosuto81]

I second Burz. I'm really liking my MQP at work...sound, feel, everything. I'd describe the sound as a "thock" compared to the MX Brown's "clack". It's more tactile too.

[morpheus]

Quick question:

Do you think the Dell AT101W is tolerable for the office?

[AKIMbO]

Get a quiet pro.  Nice tactility with being very quiet.  Plus, it's cheap-ish.

[tp4tissue]

Dont' get the quiet pro if you're thinking about custom caps.

[morpheus]

So I'm guessing that's a nay on the Dell AT101W...

Having seen some videos of it, I'd love to get that Matias Quiet Pro, but not yet.

[elchupanegre]

I see quite a few people have suggested to get browns for work related typing. I really want to try out a keyboard with full set of browns since my only experience with Brows is a single switch I got, I assume typing with all browns keys would be a different feeling.

I saw that people also suggested Ducky keyboards but I honestly can't find them with UK ISO layout and the Leopold keyboard here same price as Filco

Ducky with brown switches:

http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/Cherry_MX_Brown.html
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Home/Search/Peripherals/Keyboards-Mice/?attribute_value_string%7cBrand=Ducky

They aren't cheap though for the backlit version, ~£150. Unless you want the backlight, save £30 and get a Filco if you're going to spend that much. Or go with the cheaper Ducky 2108 for ~£70. That's about as cheap as you can get for a full size board with browns in UK layout (we don't get Rosewill over here that I've seen).

There's also the Zowie Celeritas with browns if you want full size but cheaper than a Filco (~£100), or Qpad MK-80 or -85 (~£100, hard to find stock with browns).

[keymaster]

A full-size keyboard with Brown switches. Get the red o-rings from WASD Keyboards, they will feel softer when bottoming out and nearly silent.

A couple inexpensive, full-sized keyboards are Rosewill and Leopold. I'd recommend a Filco, but they're about 70%+ more expensive.

[Grim Fandango]

I am a PhD student in a very similar situation. I share an office with 2 very serious and silent Israelian guys and one jolly and loud Turkish guy. The latter could care less, the former would strangle me if I were to type on something like blues.

My experience is that in this kind of environment, any Cherry Switch is too loud without the dampeners. Even Cherry MX Red, unless you can somehow not bottom out on them (which I found practically impossible). The tactile noise of the Browns is acceptable as long as you use the o-rings.

Since you are in this line of work, and might stay in academia, I suggest you learn how to touch type. Low cost , large reward. It is not just about being able to type fast. The more important thing is being able to look at the screen as you type a sentence, which makes you more efficient and makes it easier to write and think about how to word certain phrases etc. Use one of those free typing software for about 2-3 weeks for about an hour each day. Then, when you have figured out the basics, just make the whole switch at once. You may be in the office a couple of hours more for the first week, but it won't take long until you are up to 40 WPM, at which point it will already hardly slow you down.

Think of yourself as lucky. I had to learn English (Yes, I was one of those few people in the world who could not write English. Not at a level that was required anyway)

[poxeclipse]

The only 'anti-bottom out' switches I tried are the MX clears. Some already mentioned them. You can find them in some cheap Cherry G80-8113 keyboards. When I type on it, I never bottom out, only if I intendedly do so.

[mechanisch]

I've also heard good things about the Matias Quiet Pro.  I haven't (yet) had the need to procure one for myself, but if I find myself in a shared situation again, it'll be the board I pick up for the office. Well, give it a go anyways.

[CPTBadAss]

I've also heard good things about the Matias Quiet Pro.  I haven't (yet) had the need to procure one for myself, but if I find myself in a shared situation again, it'll be the board I pick up for the office. Well, give it a go anyways.

If you want more info on the Matias Quiet Pro, you can check out my buddy Binge's review. I think it's his daily driver at work.

[1839cc]

Do you plan to learn touch typing, or stop bottoming out? If not, I would think reds with soft o-rings would be about as good as you'll get. Otherwise, I can vouch for the clears being hard to bottom out. And a towel or mousepad will help reduce noise further.

[morpheus]

The reds with O-rings sound like a rational choice.

Could anyone tell me the difference between the O-Rings?

I bought the WASD Sampler pack and I received three colored rings, Red, Blue, and Black.

Which one would be the best one for the MX Red?

[CPTBadAss]

The reds with O-rings sound like a rational choice.

Could anyone tell me the difference between the O-Rings?

I bought the WASD Sampler pack and I received three colored rings, Red, Blue, and Black.

Which one would be the best one for the MX Red?

Red is 40A durometer hardness with 0.2mm travel reduction.
Blue is 50A durometer hardness with 0.4mm travel reduction.
Black is 50A durometer hardness with 0.4 travel reduction.

I don't have any MX red boards so I can't offer my opinion on that

[N8N]

So I'm guessing that's a nay on the Dell AT101W...

Having seen some videos of it, I'd love to get that Matias Quiet Pro, but not yet.

That would have actually been my choice, I finally settled on a SGI Granite at work (what the QP is trying to emulate) as a keyboard that was quiet enough to not piss off my coworkers yet tactile enough not to piss off me.  (never mind that the generic Dell domes are far louder than most boards when in the hands of an admin who knows how to type; I think some people just like to complain when anyone has something different.)

[N8N]

Dont' get the quiet pro if you're thinking about custom caps.

However it looks like Matias used a winkeyless layout with 1x winkeys and no menu key, so unless they did that stupid thing where the top row has the switches rotated 90 degrees like the AEK2 you should be able to use caps from a SGI board which are dye-subs (way more durable than cherry doubleshots!)

In fact I am having an evil thought of ordering one now for just that reason, because I love SGI caps and have a set I can't use (on a non-ps/2 board).  But really I should probably sell them and let someone else try it.

[eth0s]

Hey guys,

I know I have already asked about this a month or so ago but I want to be fully sure before I make my purchase.

Background info:
- Starting PhD soon, a lot of typing involved (Hopefully next week)
- Sharing office with 3 other people (Need a silent keyboard)
- Own CMStorm with Reds(LOVE IT), tried Black, Blue and Brown but only as a single switch on home made test bench(picture)
- After using Reds for a month Brows felt like broken Reds but I haven't tried a keyboard with full brown keys
- When I type I always bottom out the keys, can't touch type
- Got a bag O-rings (125)

So my thought was to get a Filco keyboard with Red switches but as student I am not very rich, well rather broke I would say. So I am not sure if 120GBP is a justifiable price for a keyboard.

Are there any alternatives with better a price point? or should I forget food and buy Filco? 

Any suggestions guys?

Thank you

1.  Touch typing simply means that you keep your fingers on the home row as a default position, and you don't look down at the keyboard as you type.

2.  Bottoming out the keys, or not bottoming out the keys, is immaterial to typing efficiency, so that is not really a criteria you should use in buying a keyboard.

3.  Cherry MX Reds are very underrated for typing.  In fact, IMO they are better suited to typing than to gaming, which seems to be contrary to popular thinking for some reason.  In gaming you want to feel the tactile actuation of the key, since each keypress can mean the difference between life and death (well virtual life or death).  In typing long documents, you want maximum comfort, and you want to minimize fatigue.  MX Reds are perfect for both.  You can type a lot of pages, and not get tired with MX Reds (or as tired as with other switches).  I think you have made a great choice with your MX Red keyboard.

4.  Now, as for choosing new keyboard vs. food, you should always choose food.  Do not strain your budget to buy a new keyboard, it's simply not worth it.  Especially since you already have a keyboard that you are comfortable with:  your CM Storm with MX Reds.  If I were you, I would stick with that.  I don't think you will like MX Blacks, and since you find that MX Browns feel like gritty Reds (which is true), I can't suggest Browns or Blues (which are basically clicky browns).  Based on the foregoing, I don't think you need a new keyboard at all.  You already have a good one.  Or one that is "good enough".

5.  Conclusion:  wait until you get a paying job, or a paid research position, or a stipend, or at least a birthday gift from grandma, or some other source of cash, before you think about buying a new keyboard.  And at that point, when you don't have to choose between food and a keyboard, you should consider a Topre RealForce 87U Silent Variable.  Which IMO, is the perfect keyboard for massive amounts of typing in a crowded office.  And the mellifluous thock, thock, thock of the Topre silent switches, will make everybody in your office wonder "What the heck kind of keyboard is that?"

6.  Now if you are hellbent on buying a new keyboard right now, then I would say get the Filco with MX Reds.  But don't say I didn't warn you that you will be incredibly underwhelmed, because you will have spent 120 GBP for only a slightly better version of what you already have.

[davkol]

The reds with O-rings sound like a rational choice.

Could anyone tell me the difference between the O-Rings?

I bought the WASD Sampler pack and I received three colored rings, Red, Blue, and Black.

Which one would be the best one for the MX Red?

Red is 40A durometer hardness with 0.2mm travel reduction.
Blue is 50A durometer hardness with 0.4mm travel reduction.
Black is 50A durometer hardness with 0.4 travel reduction.

I don't have any MX red boards so I can't offer my opinion on that

I do—in fact, I have all of those o-rings installed, and I'm typing on the keyboard right now. The problem is that everyone is different, there are people who love red/blue o-rings, and there are people who hate them. My opinion? All dampeners unfortunately suck with Cherry-profile keycaps IMHO, which is a pity because I really like my doubleshots. Apart from that, the black ones don't feel bad, and make bottoming out (both sound and impact) less harsh. Both red and blue ones are on the other hand almost too soft and mushy. I wouldn't recommend them unless you need very soft landing. But again: YMMV

[joules]

- When I type I always bottom out the keys, can't touch type

Hey man.
Listen, you really need to learn how to touch type. I know this is not your question and may seem a PITA. I have co-workers, friends and family that after ~5 years of not listening to me when I say "learn to type".
With a little effort of ~3-6 months one can type proficiently and comfortably.
So I will answer your question:

Any soft dome keyboard <$5 should suffice. (until you learn how to type)

[Hyde]

I think some people have different interpretation of what "touch type" means.  Some people think touch type means typing without bottoming out.  Some people think touch type means typing without looking at the keyboard.

In the case of the OP I have a feeling he mean he can't type without bottoming out.  In your case yes MX Red with o-ring or Matias Quiet Pro would help