Here's my keyboard background:
-grew up on model M's, which promptly spoiled me forever more by raising my keyboard expectations to unrealistic heights ever since, expectations that I've tried in vain to fill with newer models, of course.
-inherited a couple of model M's that they were throwing out at work, and while they were lovely and nostalgic, in the end I couldnt keep them because a) WAAAAY too loud (and i'm "heavy fingered" when i type), b) I prefer USB, c) I use the windows key quite often
-then I did the natural thing - ordered an Endurapro with the button mouse built in. Seemed to have everything - usb, windows keys, even a mouse, and buckling springs. Sold it in a month. Why? First of all noise was still an issue and it seemed to me the endurapro was even noisier than model M's (not as heavy, much more "click echo", thin plastic keys, etc. b) it was NOT the same in feel (unicomp springs seem much lighter, the sound and tactile response did not seem like tank-heavy model M's to me).
But - the endurapro did end my fantasy of "recreating" the model M experience. I decided I've moved on from my Model M days because I cant afford that level of noise anyway.
-But I think therefore what I want is a fair amount of key feedback - tactile and if-not-ridiculously-loud, then audio feedback too.
-which brought me to the cherries.
So I'm looking for some guidance from people who have experienced both browns and blues. Given my experience above, what do you think I would prefer? Browns or Blues?
As I understand it:
Blues: (das keyboard II or III, or scorpius m10): a much lighter, and slightly quieter, mechanical substitute for the buckling spring experience.
This sounds okay to me, but my question on the blues is: probably the only issue will be HOW quiet/loud it is. I can stand some noise but I dont want my neighbors to complain in my apartment complex, especially since I work late at night. Would they be too loud for late night work in manhattan working class high rise? Walls are not particularly thick, and neighbors sleep.
Browns: (Filco majestouch or DSI modular mac): no audible click, tactile feedback (a "bump" rather than a snap), light touch.
My question on the brown is, for people coming down from the "model M high", will the browns really just feel 'ordinary'? (and thus non-special?). I can live with the reduced noise of the browns, but if I want an 'ordinary' experience I could just go back to membrance keyboards. Do the "bump" and the "mechanical feel" of the browns constitute more feedback than a membrane?
Thanks for any help!