Newbie "test" keyboards orderd

[Porschefan]

Background info: introductory post is over here: http://geekhack.org/index.php?action=profile;area=showposts;sa=messages;u=24139

Since I don't have any experience I decided to order the Gigabyte Osmium keyboard with Cherry RED switches and the DAS Keyboard Professional S with Cherry BROWN's.    That way I'll get a chance to try out both of them and return one (or both) of them if I don't like them.

I'm tempted by the Kinesis Advantage ergo keyboards, but it seems like they might compromise typing speed?   Any feedback on that?    Do ANY of the speed demon typists use an ergo keyboard?     The Kinesis also has the advantage of switchable layouts and I have curiosity about Dvorak.

[Porschefan]

Wow...lots of feedback 

I've just hooked up the two keyboards--Aivia Osmium (Reds) and DAS Professional S (Browns).   I've done a few typing tests on line and neither one seems to affect my speed much--pretty much in the 70-75 WPM on either one, so I guess I have to bone up on my typing skills. 

The DAS is a much more elegant design and I think I VERY slightly prefer the feel of the brown switches--but we're talking about 10-15 minutes of testing time at this point.

The Osmium is less elegan, but flashier, with the backlit keys and other features.   It has a lot of macro program-ability (25 macros), but i really don't need that, at least right now.   I've thought of possibliy setting some simple typing macros up for emails and Word docs though.   Osmium also has scroll wheels for backlight and sound volume...I can take them or leave them.    Osmium also has a USB 3.0 (passthrough) connection on the keyboard, as well as audio jacks.   Again, nice features, but I haven't any real use for either at this time--I do have 2 USB 3.0 ports on my computer, but currently no 3.0 devices.   I have a nice hi-fidelity sound system (amplifier, speakers and subwoofer) hooked up to the computer, so I don't want bypass that for headphones.

I slightly prefer the Osmium's layout--it has a "regular" sized Ctrl key where the DAS has that space split between a smaller Ctrl key and the Fn key.

Annoyance: the space bar on the Osmium is about 3X as loud as the DAS and about 2X as loud as the rest of the keys.   Typing is constantly punctuated by the loud "CLACK" sound of the space bar.     If I had to choose which one to keep right now, I think it would be the DAS just because this noise is so annoying.   Is there something that can be done about that?   I like the SIZE of the Osmium space bar--it's a little wider than the DAS, but the noise is bad.

Build-wise both seem to be very high-quality.   The Osmium is about $9 more than the DAS, so that's pretty much a wash also.   And both are a great improvement of the membrane-syle Dell keyboard I've been using.   (Just as an aside, I was typing on my notebook earlier today and I actually like it's keyboard a lot too.   Very short-travel "flat" keys, but real easy to type on also.)

I'm noticing that the Osmium's Cherry Reds are VERY easy to press--if one could develop the proper light touch, I think you could really fly on them--but probably true for the Browns also.

TIA for any advice or observations

[Germiphene]

Head over to /r/mechanicalkeyboards as they have some nice wiki's on the different types of switches.  The reds have a lower actuation force and no "bump", where as the browns have a slight tactility and a higher actuation force.  This can be read about at the Das website, http://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/?page_id=1458#keyswitches.  That would explain the lighter touch  .  In terms of the space bars, I would refer to someone who knows what stabilizers are used in the Aivia.

[Porschefan]

Thanks for the input, Germiphone.

I actually did quite a bit of reading on the various switches, but without some real-world testing, it's kind of meaningless.   I did settle down to trying either the Reds or Browns as those seemed most likely to be what I would like.    I wish there were more mechanicals around so I could try them out in a store or something.

I've now sent the Osmium back to Amazon.    I tried to remove the space bar and see if there might be something I could do to dampen the sound.   In the process, I snapped an incredibly flimsy piece of plastic that attached one of the ends of the space key to a wire "bar"--is that what you mean by the"stabilizer" bar?   It still worked, but was out of balance and my attempts at dampening weren't successful anyway.    I know that they make O-rings for dampening switches, but the space bar has a single switch at the center and I don't think the CLANKing was coming from there.

I'm going to keep the DAS for a while, but I'm thinking of sending it back also.    Maybe try the WASD V2 when it comes out, or try one of the Kinesis Advantage ergo boards. 

I'm kind of disappointed with my experience so far.   The DAS with Browns is nice enough, but I'm not getting any WOW factor so far.

EDIT:  After using the DAS for a full day of actual work-related typing, some of the wow factor is back.   I certainly wouldn't go back to the cheap keyboard.

[oneproduct]

You will likely type a little bit slower on a Kinesis compared to a flat board. At least that's my experience with it, though it's not a huge difference mind you, maybe something like 10% slower at most. However that's not really the point of an ergonomic keyboard and, for most people, typing at max speed isn't a requirement and taking a hit on speed is worth it for the gains of ergonomics.

When I bought my first mechanical keyboard, I was pretty disappointed too. I certainly didn't feel any WOW factor about it. However, after owning it for several weeks, when I had to type on someone else's rubber dome keyboard it suddenly struck me how terrible they were. So it wasn't that the mechanical keyboard itself felt great, but just that rubber dome keyboards felt terrible and I had never noticed it before. Give it a bit of time and I imagine you'll find the same.

[firebt]

You will likely type a little bit slower on a Kinesis compared to a flat board. At least that's my experience with it, though it's not a huge difference mind you, maybe something like 10% slower at most. However that's not really the point of an ergonomic keyboard and, for most people, typing at max speed isn't a requirement and taking a hit on speed is worth it for the gains of ergonomics.

When I bought my first mechanical keyboard, I was pretty disappointed too. I certainly didn't feel any WOW factor about it. However, after owning it for several weeks, when I had to type on someone else's rubber dome keyboard it suddenly struck me how terrible they were. So it wasn't that the mechanical keyboard itself felt great, but just that rubber dome keyboards felt terrible and I had never noticed it before. Give it a bit of time and I imagine you'll find the same.

Really? That's interesting.  The first time I typed on my Ducky Shine II I was really amazed, but that's probably because I was using a rubber dome keyboard for so long, or just the standard keyboard on my laptop, which sucks too. 

I highly prefer the Red, as it is in my opinion the smoothest, and if you train your fingers correctly they should have the least strain.  I also like to game a little bit so these are good.

As for the keyboards, are you really set on Das? Don't get me wrong, they are great keyboards, but many people think that they are little big for well...no reason.  In particular we are talking about the top right plastic portion that is there for...I dont know? loll

Try looking into Filco, they are very nice.  If you have the money, check out Topre Realforce.  These are legit as well. 

[Porschefan]

You will likely type a little bit slower on a Kinesis compared to a flat board. At least that's my experience with it, though it's not a huge difference mind you, maybe something like 10% slower at most. However that's not really the point of an ergonomic keyboard and, for most people, typing at max speed isn't a requirement and taking a hit on speed is worth it for the gains of ergonomics.

When I bought my first mechanical keyboard, I was pretty disappointed too. I certainly didn't feel any WOW factor about it. However, after owning it for several weeks, when I had to type on someone else's rubber dome keyboard it suddenly struck me how terrible they were. So it wasn't that the mechanical keyboard itself felt great, but just that rubber dome keyboards felt terrible and I had never noticed it before. Give it a bit of time and I imagine you'll find the same.

I've spent another day and it's grown on me some more.    What I'm noticing more and more are the weird wrist gyrations involved in typing on any flat board.   I see a Kinesis in my future--at least as a try out.    I don't know whether it would be worthwhile (or fun) to explore Dvorak or other alternative layouts.   I'm guessing that must be the rationale behind alternate layouts--to minimize or eliminate hand/wrist contortions.    I believe the Kinesis Advantage has the capability to flip a switch and change layouts.    I'm kind of surprised because it seems like just examining the subject of better/alternate keyboards has somehow heightened my awareness of some of the awkward hand movements that I've lived with for decades!    I hope I'm not just generating psycho-somatic phenomena!

I highly prefer the Red, as it is in my opinion the smoothest, and if you train your fingers correctly they should have the least strain.  I also like to game a little bit so these are good.

From my brief trial with the Osmium, I think I might prefer the Reds also.

As for the keyboards, are you really set on Das? Don't get me wrong, they are great keyboards, but many people think that they are little big for well...no reason.  In particular we are talking about the top right plastic portion that is there for...I dont know? loll

Try looking into Filco, they are very nice.  If you have the money, check out Topre Realforce.  These are legit as well.

I'm not set on the DAS, or anything yet, since I'm a complete newb.   I don't particularly think the bump/protrusion on the DAS looks great, but it doesn't interfere with anything for me.   I'm virtually certain they designed it that way so their boards would be very easy to spot!    Besides the fact that the DAS was available on Amazone with their great PRIME return policy, the only thing I went on was that it was available with Browns and that one of world-champ speed typists (I forget his name) used one.     I'll try anything as long as there is some way to use/test it and see if it's a keeper!

[firebt]

Sweet.  Wait, so are you still deciding on the type of switch?  If you have a Fry's Electronics near by, they usually have a decent selection of keyboards that are out which you can play with, namely the Cherry MX Blues and the Browns.  Reds are usually a little more rare, so not sure if you can find those there all that easily.

However...

I don't know if you'll be able to test most brands of keyboards that we speak of until well...you order one.  Which kind of sucks.

Check out mechanicalkeyboards.com, they have a wide selection of most of the good keyboards out there.  They don't carry Realforce, but that is also another very very nice keyboard. 

Another thing about DAS is that they are very shiny, so all your finger prints will show and you will have to wipe down constantly.  I don't know if that's important to you or not.