Suggestions for first mech w/backlit

[BrockSamson]

So a week ago I might have spilled a bottle of water on my awesome $30 "Vakoss luminescent keyboard" from Fry's. It worked fine for a few days but then it started to output multiple letters per key. I've since spent the last week researching a replacement and for better or worse ended up here in the land of key cap obsession. I'm still watching, reading, and learning what I can but in the end I'll never know everything so some expert advice is requested. A few notes about my thoughts so far...

• I haven't decided on the switch yet. I was only able to try red and blue for a few minutes. Leaning brown or red but I ordered a sample kit so that I can try them all and be sure. I'm slightly terrified about my options if I like the clears
• If possible I'd prefer something with standard(ish) keys so I can swap them. I might have seen a picture of those glowing rainbow pom jellys on this forum and could one day want a full white set so that I can type on glowing mini-marshmallows If that's impossible I'm open to nice alternatives...
• Layout doesn't really matter to me as long as the important keys for programming (like delete, home, end) are real keys and not fn/alts of other keys. This seems to eliminate a few options like Vortex.
• A keypad or macros keys aren't required but I have the space so it might be nice to have them in case I ever needed them.

Ducky Shine 3
+ LOVE that you can customize the fading reactive keypress lighting mode.
+ Like that you can backlight only user-selected keys.
- Dislike the snake spacebar and would probably want to change the cap.
- HATE how the caps, scroll, and num lock keys don't seem light up unless that function is enabled. Is there a way to change this? It would probably be a deal-breaker

Corsair K70/K95
+ Like the overall appearance and design.
+ Like that you can backlight only user-selected keys.
+ Like that it has at least a basic form of reactive lighting (even if it's not nearly as nice as Duckys)
+ Like that there is a volume roller
- Dislike the switch type vs background/led color selection (may or may not be a problem)
- HATE to be scared of reports that the LEDs dye fast and in number. A nice backlit keyboard doesn't help me if the lights don't work or it's in the mail for RMA

CM Quickfire Ultimate/TK
+ Like the price
- Dislike the appearance a little bit
- Dislike the switch type vs background/led color selection (may or may not be a problem)
- Dislike the configuration for the numpad LEDs on the TK version

Max Nighthawk
+ Like the appearance
+ Like that it seems to be an overall solid keyboard with few complaints (even if it's iOne)
- Dislike the idea of paying luxury pricing for a seemingly-solid-but-nothing-special keyboard

Logitech G710+
+ Like that there is a volume roller
- HATE that it's ugly-as-sin with that orange highlight around the "game" keys (and pretty much stopped researching after that)

Razor Anything
- Hate that it's Razor
- HATE that it's Razor

Deck
- Dislike the appearance (and pretty much stopped researching after that)

WASD CODE
- Seems unavailable for the meaningful future 


I still need to look into the Ducky Zero Shine, Keycool, and Max Tesoro Duranda (which I assume is the same/similar to Nighthawk) but are there any other options? It seems like everything with a backlight has one flaw that would bug the heck out of me. The Ducky, Corsair, and Nighthawk, and CM are so close yet all have one thing that holds me back and if I'm going to spend this much on something that is "almost" what I want then I might as well get a non-lit keyboard that's better in every tangible way and put some little LED light bar or something next to it. I feel like I'm missing something though. There has to be something for me. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

[Photoelectric]

Edit: nevermind, I've overlooked your backlit requirement.  I vote for a Ducky Shine II or III.

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

I'd say Ducky Shine - except that you want the caps lock etc. on all the time, even if the respective function is not enabled?  That would bug me - better that they light up only when activated.

The Ducky has a completely standard layout (except for the 4 extra keys on the full size version) - most keycap sets fit (albeit with varying degrees of backlight friendliness).

[BrockSamson]

Thanks for the replies. I got my sample kit today and I am now truly terrified that I may need several different keyboards if I can't decide on just one switch

Seems like we're at +2 for the Ducky so far. I guess my main concern with the Ducky is that if everything is lit up except for 3 keys then it will look like those 3 keys are burned out and not working correctly. It would be a problem in the only-select-keys or non-backlit reactive mode. I really would like to do the minimum-default-backlit with reactive though and the 3 keys would stand out as being different. As far as I know you can't do a combination of the only-selected-keys and reactive lighting can you?

I found the Vortex Race and Keycool 84/87 last night so I'm going to look into those today. Still have a lot of decisions though, so if anyone has additional input or suggestions I'd love to hear it. Thanks again!

[Photoelectric]

That's how Ducky's been doing their backlit Shine keyboards for a long time now, and I don't see anyone commenting about those switch LEDs, saying they look burned out.  I don't think it's an issue when you have one of their keyboards in front of you.  The indicator LEDs also light up at higher intensity than other LEDs, so you can tell when they are off, and you can tell when they are on.

[Kian]

I would really have to go with the Ducky Shine if I were you.

[pichu23]

Shine series would suit your requirements. But Shine II is EOL-ed already. Prolly have to look at the classifieds if not Shine III

[rowdy]

That's how Ducky's been doing their backlit Shine keyboards for a long time now, and I don't see anyone commenting about those switch LEDs, saying they look burned out.  I don't think it's an issue when you have one of their keyboards in front of you.  The indicator LEDs also light up at higher intensity than other LEDs, so you can tell when they are off, and you can tell when they are on.

On my Shine 1 with red LEDs the indicator LEDs are blue.

[Linkbane]

If you really need something that has all the switches backlit (besides the Fn key when it's not locked and the arrows when they're not in use for obvious reasons), the TK would work pretty well for you. Also for Corsair, I haven't heard anything bad about their LED's, and they're a reputable company so you shouldn't have issues.

That said, if you have the money and having all the keys lit isn't an issue, just go with a Ducky.

[metalliqaz]

If you want backlit, I suggest the Shine.  Ducky really knows how to do it.

[C5Allroad]

Compared to my K90 get the shine… The LEDs are amazing and really bright.

[mapple]

you wanted to vote : Ducky Shine 3.

[BrockSamson]

Thanks again everybody. The advice seems quite consistent so I think I probably will get the Shine 3 if I get a backlit board. Having said that, as much as I'd like the lighting and keypad, it's hard to argue with the cost of the Quickfire Rapid/Stealth. I mean I could get one for home and one for work for roughly the same as a single Shine 3...

I'm also thiking to try those pom jelly caps that feng is selling. They should be compatible with either board right, and if I hated them the resell value would be pretty decent/easy? Or would I be better off with the rainbow PBT or something else entirely? (I of course don't NEED to get anything, but yeah, I don't think I'll be able to resist trying some nicer caps so I might as well factor this in now...)

[Linkbane]

Thanks again everybody. The advice seems quite consistent so I think I probably will get the Shine 3 if I get a backlit board. Having said that, as much as I'd like the lighting and keypad, it's hard to argue with the cost of the Quickfire Rapid/Stealth. I mean I could get one for home and one for work for roughly the same as a single Shine 3...

I'm also thiking to try those pom jelly caps that feng is selling. They should be compatible with either board right, and if I hated them the resell value would be pretty decent/easy? Or would I be better off with the rainbow PBT or something else entirely? (I of course don't NEED to get anything, but yeah, I don't think I'll be able to resist trying some nicer caps so I might as well factor this in now...)

Most people will tell you to skimp on the backlighting, but I personally like it. I'd say better go for one board you love than two boards that you kind of like.
Heard good things about those POM caps, they're apparently pretty nice. If you like looks and think you'd like the smooth and apparently quite good for typing POM surface, go for it. It's often debated whether it or PBT is a better keycap, but it's preference. PBT is rougher, POM is smoother. PBT also has more options, but it's more expensive. Duality everywhere.

So what I mean is, if you think you'll like having two keyboards and not regret buying the nice expensive one, get the two Rapids. If you think that you'd like a really nice keyboard (not saying that the QFR and QFRS aren't good, they're just not as fancy) and love it rather than having two ones that you might or might not like (because you'll probably be pining for the backlighting), just get the Shine.