Cherry MX Blacks?

[Fragil1ty]

Hey guys, I've recently purchased the Keycool 84 with MX Black cherry guys, now it's not here yet but over the web I am constantly hearing bad things about the MX blacks, constantly complains about hand fatigue, you can't type for excessive amounts of time and stuff like that.

I currently use reds and obviously reds are very lightweight and they are a dream to type on, have I made a mistake? I don't want this purchase to feeel like a downgrade as the only reason I've got a new keyboard is down to the fact that this keyboard is pretty much broken due to bouncing keys.

Any advice from current black users?

[rowdy]

I like blacks and reds, but I have fairly strong fingers.

I do notice the slight extra force to press the keys, but it doesn't bother me.

[Photoelectric]

I love Blacks.  Don't listen to people--try switches yourself.  Everyone's opinion will be different.  I like Browns and hate Reds--and both are very light, which I prefer.  I don't consider Reds to be a dream to type on at all.  It's some people's dream, not mine.  It could be the same for you.  Reds are super easy to bottom out, and I'm a light touch typist.  Blacks are really not that heavy, and because you don't need to bottom out for your key to register (actuation point is halfway down), I like the cushiony feeling of Blacks--easier to stop before bottoming out.  You may like them or you may not--you won't know until you use them for a few days. 

Personally, I like most of the Cherry switches I've tried (except Reds--so bland).  If you are getting this keyboard for long typing sessions--you'll probably do better with tactile switches instead.  If it's for home use with an e-mail here and there, a game periodically--blacks should be just fine.

[PointyFox]

Only losers can't press MX blacks.  They're lightweight with about the same force needed as a standard rubber dome keyboard.
I've used MX black, green, blue, brown and red.   My two favorites are black and red.

I'd recommend MX black for keyboards with Costar stabilizers and MX red for keyboards with Cherry stabilizers.
I prefer blacks since they provide slightly more force than reds which is helpful for reducing the probability of accidentally pressing keys.
I prefer MX reds for boards with Cherry stabilizers because those stabilizers add some force to the keys, making the modifiers stiffer.

What is awesome about MX blacks is how they get smoother over time.  There really isn't much perceivable difference between reds and blacks.  Blacks just feel a little bit firmer which makes them feel better.  It's like closing a door to a luxury car versus a piece of junk.  Reds are a little bit limp feeling in comparison, but the only negative effect that has is increasing the probability of pressing keys accidentally.  Reds do allow slightly faster key presses, but only if you're spamming a key VERY fast, which you likely won't ever do unless mad.

Of all the MX key switches black is my favorite for gaming.  No tactility or reset points to worry about.  No distracting clicks.  I used a Filco TKL Multicam with blacks for a while.  Probably one of the best boards for gaming.  I just switched to a Poker II with reds since it has Cherry stabilizers.  I wish it had a bit more force in the non-stabilized keys.  Maybe I'll mod them to blacks later.


Oh, about my "only losers can't press MX blacks" line:  People who can't press them have weak hands and therefor weak handshakes, which make people question their integrity, which leads to a lack of friends/jobs/etc. and loserdom.   

[rowdy]

Heh my 7yo daughter likes my QFR with MX blacks

[neoezekiel]

My fiance loves her Noupoo 84 with blacks, I prefer clears, to each their own.

[Fragil1ty]

Thanks for your great points guys, this has made me feel a lot more at ease with my purchase, thank you.

[rowdy]

Hope you enjoy it, when it arrives - let us know what you think.

Worst case - if you really don't like blacks you can (after a few more valuable, insightful posts to reach 60) sell it here in Classifieds for usually not much less than you originally paid for it.

[Dubsgalore]

Blacks are my favorite, i do get a bit tired after hours and hours and hours of using them, and that's why i am trying to find out what spring is the one for me.

i do use my poker with clears more at the moment..i do enjoy these clears

[Moosecraft]

Standard blacks kill my hands after around 30 minutes, but I'm a very light typist hence I prefer reds for everything.

[Grim Fandango]

You will have to try them to figure out whether you like them or not. There are plenty of people who enjoy typing on blacks.

Personally I can not deal with them, and I do get that "hand fatigue" when typing on them for long periods of time. But not everyone has that issue.

[PointyFox]

I used them for 6+ hours a day gaming and felt no discomfort. Actually they were more cushiony than reds. Reds give me slight discomfort because they bottom out harder. Maybe I'm just used to blacks and pressing a little too hard? It's difficult to type lightly and quickly while gaming though.

[Fragil1ty]

Well I'm hoping to get  it sometime next week, hopefully by next friday at the latest, so I was thinking about doing a little miniature review on here, few pictures, few low and high points and then at least I'd be contributing to this lovely community! So far I've had blues and reds, after leaving blues, I don't think I could go back to them, they are lovely to type on, but for gaming and what not? they're not very useful as it is impossible to  double tap twice because of the clicky sensation.

It did actually take me a while to get used to reds because of the lightness  of them, but yeah guys definitely I will report back my findings when it comes here, I've briefly typed on a friends black, but I wasn't actually typing it, it was more of configuring a bios, so I was on it for all of 10 seconds, I didn't get a chance to test it out properly sadly.

[Lu_e]

If you consider yourself at all heavy handed I would think you would be fine with blacks. I know I would be, and yes getting accustomed to reds can be interesting yet rewarding.

When I tried blacks in a store on the 6gv2 I liked them quite a bit in comparison to reds linear feeling. Ill probably try blacks next which is a nice price-point on a lot of boards as well.

[tehsprayer]

I've tried blacks in stores and they didn't seem bad but my personal preference is tactile mx switches, I like the feedback and knowing when they are activated. If you think reds are too lightweight you would always go to stores and try them out for yourself. I've noticed that black switches seem to be very popular as I believe the 6gv2 steelseries uses them.

[PointyFox]

I've tried blacks in stores and they didn't seem bad but my personal preference is tactile mx switches, I like the feedback and knowing when they are activated. If you think reds are too lightweight you would always go to stores and try them out for yourself. I've noticed that black switches seem to be very popular as I believe the 6gv2 steelseries uses them.

You know a linear switch is activated when you bottom out

[Photoelectric]

I've tried blacks in stores and they didn't seem bad but my personal preference is tactile mx switches, I like the feedback and knowing when they are activated. If you think reds are too lightweight you would always go to stores and try them out for yourself. I've noticed that black switches seem to be very popular as I believe the 6gv2 steelseries uses them.

You know a linear switch is activated when you bottom out

I'm taking it's a joke   But it's true that it's difficult to avoid bottoming out on linear switches.

[PointyFox]

I've tried blacks in stores and they didn't seem bad but my personal preference is tactile mx switches, I like the feedback and knowing when they are activated. If you think reds are too lightweight you would always go to stores and try them out for yourself. I've noticed that black switches seem to be very popular as I believe the 6gv2 steelseries uses them.

You know a linear switch is activated when you bottom out

I'm taking it's a joke   But it's true that it's difficult to avoid bottoming out on linear switches.

No, seriously, I bottom them out every time, unless it's MX black, then it's most of the time.

[TimIsABat]

I am typing on a FC660M with MX Reds right now, but I tried the UST which had MX Blacks.

I really like the MX Blacks. I kinda wish I just bought a different board with MX Blacks rather than reds (might get a Poker II or another board that will have MX Blacks and sell this FC660M).

The stiffness is more a of a cushion to prevent the unnecessary and straining bottoming out that you get with reds. Thus, they would be less straining on the fingers if you are using it that way instead of bottoming them out like you would with reds.

[Surnia]

I went blacks because i don't bottom out on them in a normal session. The force on them is enough to prevent bottoming out on most cases, however I think I'd prefer some tactile switches on the modifiers and spacebar just for comfort.

The smoothness of a broken in black though is amazing. I bottom out far too easily on reds, something i learned on my old MX Brown board that my mom now uses.

I'm itching to try greens + whites because they are hopefully best of both worlds: good solid springs that reduce bottoming out, with a nice tactile click.

[berserkfan]

As a guy who mainly uses buckling springs, I think blacks are light compared with mx greens and springs. And I use them all day! but then again, if you look at my avatar (gutz), I do have fingers that can put up with that kind of punishment...

Well I'm hoping to get  it sometime next week, hopefully by next friday at the latest, so I was thinking about doing a little miniature review on here, few pictures, few low and high points and then at least I'd be contributing to this lovely community! So far I've had blues and reds, after leaving blues, I don't think I could go back to them, they are lovely to type on, but for gaming and what not? they're not very useful as it is impossible to  double tap twice because of the clicky sensation.

It did actually take me a while to get used to reds because of the lightness  of them, but yeah guys definitely I will report back my findings when it comes here, I've briefly typed on a friends black, but I wasn't actually typing it, it was more of configuring a bios, so I was on it for all of 10 seconds, I didn't get a chance to test it out properly sadly.

[TheSoulhunter]

A lot people prejudice against blacks, but you should be above such things, simply give em a try :3

[tp4tissue]

A lot people prejudice against blacks, but you should be above such things, simply give em a try :3

LOL

[inteli722]

blacks are light compared with mx greens

This. I'm typing on Greens right now, and Blacks are really light after using Greens. Greens aren't too stiff. I think Greens are great, but that's my opinion. It's all you.

[tns]

I have thin fingers, pianist hands, and... weak fingers...

I gave my blacks switches keyboard to a friend who liked it over blues so...

He's taller and bigger than me so... maybe that's why
bigger fingers as well

[rowdy]

Not necessarily.  I have long thin fingers, but a few years of karate have strengthened them somewhat.  I like blacks, but can feel the difference over reds.  I do not mind either (he says, using Topre to type this).

[tns]

But you can have long fingers without having pianist hands mine are long and thin, are yours thin
(I'd like to try Topre 30g xD)

[rowdy]

But you can have long fingers without having pianist hands mine are long and thin, are yours thin
(I'd like to try Topre 30g xD)

Mine are long and fairly thin, and most of them bend backwards in the middle joint (which makes pushups on the fingertips a little uncomfortable).

[tns]

But you can have long fingers without having pianist hands mine are long and thin, are yours thin
(I'd like to try Topre 30g xD)

Mine are long and fairly thin, and most of them bend backwards in the middle joint (which makes pushups on the fingertips a little uncomfortable).

I feel like we got same kind of fingers haha xD oh well personal taste
blues ftw

[PadawanGeek]

A lot people prejudice against blacks, but you should be above such things, simply give em a try :3

LMAO! It sounds so.......ambiguous! Anyway, I have various KB's with Red, Black, Brown, Blue and Green, and I'm really beginning to appreciate how good Blacks are, great for typing (less typos than Reds due to force needed to actuate the switch) and awesome for gaming. I'm a small fella, with smallish hands and thin fingers, yet I have no trouble using and liking Black. I'm actually typing this post with my Ducky DK9087G2 Pro with Cherry Black.......so love it, same with my Filco MJ Ninja Black as well.

[Tony]

Don't worry, in the end you will have all switch colors, curiosity kills the cat you know.

[PadawanGeek]

Don't worry, in the end you will have all switch colors, curiosity kills the cat you know.

Damn, sagely words....I kid you not! I started out needing three mechanical KB's for my 3 rigs, I now have 12 with another two on the way.