Finding the right keyboard for me...

[TacticaT]

Hey folks, I've been looking in to getting a new mechanical keyboard for awhile, and am finally getting around to actually purchasing one. I do game some (WoW and Starcraft) but I also type a lot (coding), and have a few opinions on how my keyboard should be arranged.. Looking through a billion different threads on dozens of websites, it seems like a Ducky Shine 3 is what I want - I wish there was like some magical page that had pictures of like 'all the keyboards ever' heh.

You guys know of many more boards than me, so if there are others you know about that I should consider, please let me know!

Wants:

• Full 19 Fkeys on a full size keyboard or 15 F-keys + some side macro keys on a TKL like the SideWinder X6
• Minimal case size (i.e. no built-in wrist rest, no enormous side moldings)
• Backlighting required (I use in the dark, without enough light to illuminate they keys, I touch type but when playing games I don't necessarily know exactly where a letter is when I'm not typing full words)
• Backlight preferences are the letter itself illuminates rather than all the 'empty space', and that there is some control over the backlight brightness (the SideWinder X6 has a knob, but even just a couple specific steps would be fine)
• I don't need the 3 led scroll lock / caps lock / num lock LEDs up in the corner.
• Mac - so control/option/command keys are needed, winkey/right-click keys are not needed. Preferably a set on each side of the space bar.

Nice-to-haves:

• USB cable that is removable from the keyboard so I can get a custom length one (I won't be transporting between work/home, it will be relatively stationary)
• A couple USB ports
• Preference to an Apple-style tenkey (where there are 0 and Enter keys are double size, but the + key is not, so the right column is double-enter, +, -, * with the top row being clear, =, /, *)
• Standardized key caps for easy swapping (which it seems like I don't need to mention, since it seems like everything uses Cherry switches)
• I don't need a 'locking' caps lock key, not sure if any modern mechanical boards have those anymore or not, but I'd rather it just be another regular key so I can reprogram it to something other than caps lock

[TacticaT]

Oh, and I already ordered one of the Cherry switch tester boards to help confirm my switch choice (which is Brown based on reading, hearing some youtube videos, and typing on a friend's Red)

[Belfong]

You should read this thread, despite the title of the thread:
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=52573.0;topicseen

And welcome to GeekHack, where your wallet is not safe anymore! 

[TacticaT]

Thanks for the welcome & the thread.

I did skip that topic when I was going through the forum, but I'll take a look in case it has non HHKB stuff in it.

I actually have one of the original HHKB from when they first came out in black. It was a great tiny keyboard for what I needed at the time - a second keyboard for occasional local control of a computer that was normally used through a remote connection, but could crash during debugging sometimes. I'd never use that cramped layout for my daily use though.

[Belfong]

Oh I see, if you already owned a HHKB before then the thread is irrelevant. That thread is to basically tell you to go ahead and get a HHKB as it is the best keyboard for most people - and you will save money instead of getting some Cherry keyboards and then ended up with a HHKB at the end of the day.

But if you have experience HHKB before, then the point is moot. But maybe you can contribute to say why you didn't like it, LOL!

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

Ducky Shine would probably be the closest match, followed by CM Trigger.

A Razor Blackwidow would also come in close, however they generally have some serious quality control issues.  You might get by if you were just to use it for gaming, but for typing the Ducky would be much better and last much longer.

Also the Ducky Shine works well on a Mac - you can use System Preferences to swap Alt/Win keys to suit the Mac's Command/Option layout.

[terran5992]

Ducky shine 3 TKL would be nice

[eth0s]

Welcome to GH!

[Oobly]

15 or 19 F-keys? Really?

The Mac numpad layout is completely non-standard and you're going to have a VERY hard time trying to find something the same in a mechanical board or USB numpad.

There is the Logitech G710+. Full backlighting, 12 function keys + 6 macro keys. Cherry MX brown switches with orings preinstalled. I have heard that it doesn't feel as "solid" as a Ducky or other good plate-mounted board, but AFAIK none of the "good" board brands have extra function keys or macro keys. The Corsair K90 is another option (MX reds on normal keys), but the macro and function keys are rubber domes.

Honestly, though, I'd just buy a Ducky Shine. Cherry MX switches throughout, plate mounted, solid feeling, full backlight, standard keycap sets fit (this can be a big issue, some boards have non-standard space bars, etc), etc. Go with the TKL if you can live without a numpad, otherwise full size.

[TacticaT]

But if you have experience HHKB before, then the point is moot. But maybe you can contribute to say why you didn't like it, LOL!

It was good for the specific use I had for it - small, could push it out of the way, kept connected to a machine that only occasionally needed to be directly accessed.
But non-dedicated f-keys is a blocker for my daily use, and there was something about the key layout that I didn't care for but I don't remember it has been quite awhile since I've used it. Also, it has no backlight which I really want.

[TacticaT]

15 or 19 F-keys? Really?

Yep, I have them all mapped. In some cases having them overloaded (i.e. cmd-f15) would be fine, but not all. I used to have an XKeys Stick above one of my smaller keyboards to solve the problem, but it is an unattractive/clunky solution.

The Mac numpad layout is completely non-standard and you're going to have a VERY hard time trying to find something the same in a mechanical board or USB numpad.

That's what I was afraid of. I've had that layout for years, but thinking back it was almost always when I was using one of my Apple keyboards. I'm not married to that layout, it was convenient for some games I played to have everything mapped to my right hand.
Was thinking maybe there were some keyboards that work like some other devices I have, where there are multiple switches on the board but there were some caps that could bridge them, then a dip switch / software setting would disable one of the switches so you could configure the layout.


Thanks for the pointer to the G710, I'll give that a look before jumping in.

[rowdy]

15 or 19 F-keys? Really?

Yep, I have them all mapped. In some cases having them overloaded (i.e. cmd-f15) would be fine, but not all. I used to have an XKeys Stick above one of my smaller keyboards to solve the problem, but it is an unattractive/clunky solution.

The Mac numpad layout is completely non-standard and you're going to have a VERY hard time trying to find something the same in a mechanical board or USB numpad.

[...]

I'm not married to that layout, it was convenient for some games I played to have everything mapped to my right hand.

Do you use the mouse with your left hand?  Or perhaps play games that only require keyboard?

Just curious

[TacticaT]

I have an ambi mouse, so I can swap it between left/right whenever my wrist/thumb joints start hurting

[rowdy]

I have an ambi mouse, so I can swap it between left/right whenever my wrist/thumb joints start hurting

Oh noes!

I try using a mouse with my left hand every now and again (my other half is left-handed) - I cannot cope!

[Belfong]

could push it out of the way, kept connected to a machine that only occasionally needed to be directly ..

You use a HHKB on a machine you use occasionally? Blasphemy!!!!!