What keyboard should I buy?

[guidebook]

Hello,

I'm a computer science student and I'm considering switching to a mechanical keyboard. Until now I've only used rubber dome ones.

I'm looking for:

• A blank or belgian ISO layout
• Blue or brown switches (which one do you think I should choose?)
• Preferably black but grey/white is OK
• Shippable to Belgium

I don't need backlighting or media keys, I prefer something really simple.

What should I get and where should I get it? I've seen the Das Keyboard Ultimate or the Leopold on getdigital.de

Thank you!

[joules]

Hi,
Its a good question if you narrow it down to whether you want to find (and then buy) a
older manufactured mechanical keyboard (like the Model M) or a more recently manufactured one.
Because alot of people would just say "Model M" and then work our way back (or forward in time) from there.

So. Just in case I've killed my Model M and wish to replace it - I would like to know as well.

I know I've walked into a store tried out all the keyboards on display and walked out in disgust. Flashing/pulsing LED's
extra multimedia keys, back lit etc don't alter the fact that its an expensive POS.

J

[Reomero]

How about a Filco from the Keyboard Company? They also sell them with various layouts. As for blank keycaps, I suggest you get a set from this user.

[aggiejy]

Filco is a good choice. You can easily customize key caps later, and the board is one of the best built. 

Brown and Blue are great, it's impossible to give you good advice there. I have a few of both (and red and black and clear too) and I'm still not sure which I like most. :-) Blue's are certainly louder if that's a concern though.

[nullstring]

Filco is a good choice.

If you want to save a little cash, you could get a Cooler Master quickfire rapid (tenkeyless) or yet-to-be-released quickfire XT (full size)
These are manufactured by the same OEM as Filco, have similar build quality but are ussually quite a bit cheaper.

I, myself, prefer brown switches, but it's all personal perference.

[tp4tissue]

Quickfire rapid.. that's all you need to know...

Buy one

if like... done

if no like... sell... take 30% down.. buy a different QFR...

repeat until you find the one you like..


Dont' buy the Filco unless you plan to solder things to it, because that's its only real advantage...

[aviphysics]

Quickfire Rapid is a good choice. Identical to the Filco TKL in every way that matters and substantially cheaper. If you switch between computers it is even better because the cable plugs into the keyboard with a standard USB connector, so you can just get a second cable and switch between computers without having to dig behind your computer.

[IvanIvanovich]

Here is a nice Alps keyboard in BE layout for a bargain price if you don't mind something more oldschool.
Otherwise if you need BE legends on Cherry then G80-3000LSCBE would be a good one to look for. G80-3000LSCXX is a blank version with blues.