WASDv2 TKL, Filco Minila, RF 87, Leopold FC660C, etc

[Inept]

How does everyone go about deciding on a keyboard?

I'm in the US and have been able to try blue, red, black, and brown switches.  Due to work blue won't go that well since they're so loud and since I program a lot I really like the brown switches.  I spend a lot of my life at a computer due to my job so want something that will help prevent/reduce the risk of RSI, so I'd rather avoid the heavier switches like black or green, which leaves brown or topre.

On the note of RSI I really prefer the smaller keyboards but I'm not sure if I should go as small as possible (i.e. Minila vs TKL).  How do topres compare to the browns?  Do I just take the plunge on a topre and sell it if I don't like it?  Too many questions but the more I read various keyboard forums the more questions I have it seems.

[BearHug]

These are pretty hard questions, browns imo are fine for most things but topres are my favourite. If you have the money just buy a topre board and then if you dont like it buy a cherry board and sell the topre.
It mostly comes down to preference i am  afraid

[The_Beast]

It mostly comes down to preference i am  afraid

This x1000000000000000000000000


Gotta try a lot of switches before you find what you really like. It's an expensive endeavor, but overall worth it. Plus if you buy a board and don't like it, you'll take a $5-$20 hit, called the "renters fee" for finding the perfect switch

Good luck on the hunt!

[daerid]

Some of don't bother deciding beforehand. We just try everything, settle on what we prefer, and then sell the rest.

[Surnia]

Not as reliable as a comparison, but you can easily go with the WASD switch tester pack, and those keychains (techkeys is stocking them right now) to get a feel for what the switches are capable of.

From there you can get an idea of what type of switch you enjoy and can move from there.

[Inept]

Not as reliable as a comparison, but you can easily go with the WASD switch tester pack, and those keychains (techkeys is stocking them right now) to get a feel for what the switches are capable of.

From there you can get an idea of what type of switch you enjoy and can move from there.

The tester pack is very cool, is there anything like that for topre switches to test out 30/45/55 and normal vs silent?  From what I see I'd need to pony up $550 to be able to test everything (though like people said I could probably get a lot of that back by reselling the boards).

[Jagriff]

If you're worried about RSI, I recommend switching to Colemak. Then you can get the WASDv2 since it has DIP switches for hardware Colemak

[Surnia]

Not as reliable as a comparison, but you can easily go with the WASD switch tester pack, and those keychains (techkeys is stocking them right now) to get a feel for what the switches are capable of.

From there you can get an idea of what type of switch you enjoy and can move from there.

The tester pack is very cool, is there anything like that for topre switches to test out 30/45/55 and normal vs silent?  From what I see I'd need to pony up $550 to be able to test everything (though like people said I could probably get a lot of that back by reselling the boards).

Closest we have right now, there's the $70 realforce testers from Somefeng Geeky (vendor forums), the Mr. Interface Switch tester packs (not on sale right now, over at deskthority), or kmiller8's interest check for Topre testers ($10).

The easiest to access in the foreseeable future is probably kmiller8's, but he's busy with school right now, and he needs a donor board to cut up for switches.

[Inept]

If you're worried about RSI, I recommend switching to Colemak. Then you can get the WASDv2 since it has DIP switches for hardware Colemak

Yeah Colemak is on my list of things to try out and the WASDv2 would help with that, but I do want to try out topre switches before taking the dive.  I'm going to buy 2 copies (one for work and one for home) so want to make sure I'm making the right choice for me.

Not as reliable as a comparison, but you can easily go with the WASD switch tester pack, and those keychains (techkeys is stocking them right now) to get a feel for what the switches are capable of.

From there you can get an idea of what type of switch you enjoy and can move from there.

The tester pack is very cool, is there anything like that for topre switches to test out 30/45/55 and normal vs silent?  From what I see I'd need to pony up $550 to be able to test everything (though like people said I could probably get a lot of that back by reselling the boards).

Closest we have right now, there's the $70 realforce testers from Somefeng Geeky (vendor forums), the Mr. Interface Switch tester packs (not on sale right now, over at deskthority), or kmiller8's interest check for Topre testers ($10).

The easiest to access in the foreseeable future is probably kmiller8's, but he's busy with school right now, and he needs a donor board to cut up for switches.

Thanks

[birthdaymonkey]

If you're tempted by Topre, just get one first and save yourself time and money. Everyone eventually ends up getting one anyway (whether they decide they love it or not... I think most do.