Reds vs Browns

[Fragil1ty]

I know this can end up in somewhat of a heated discussion, but heh, who doesn't like a good debate every now and then?

I'm just curious is all, I've currently got a few keyboards, I tend to switch between these depending upon my mood.

I've got a Filco tkl /w Reds, a Noppoo Choc Mini /w Reds and a Keycool 84 /w Browns.

I tend to be switching between these (like I said, depending upon my mood), but I've been switching back to the Brown keyboard more often as of late and I'm not entirely sure why really. Maybe it's because that's it better to type on than my Noppoo and just feels more natural because of the games I play and what not really.

I play mainly League/DayZ/RTS games and so on, this is not to say that Reds cannot handle that because they really can, I guess I'm just too picky and when I have choice of more than one, I become very indecisive.

Anyway, here's my question/s.

1. What do you prefer Reds or Browns?
2. Why?
3. If you use Reds - What do you use them for mainly? Gaming, typing, work? etc.
4. If you use Browns - What do you use them for mainly? Gaming, typing, work? etc.

Thanks!

[laffindude]

Browns for general usage.
Prefer browns for gaming, reds for typing.

[squarebox]

Browns for general usage.
Prefer browns for gaming, reds for typing.

X2
Red for typing.
Brown for everything else.

[Tony]

I have both in my collection. Each for different use. No one is better than the other.

1. Brown for typing, Red for FPS gaming.
2. Reason: Brown - tactile. Red - linear.
3. Red - FPS gaming.
4. Brown - typing, general use.

Typed on a Filco brown.

[nubbinator]

I don't like either. Reds are too light and Browns feel like dirty Reds.  Give me 65-67g Ergo Clears, Ghost Blacks, Blacks, or 65-67g linear switches.  I'd even do Blues over Browns and Reds.

If I had to choose one though, it would be Reds.  That way, if I decided I didn't really like Reds anymore, I could just toss it onto the beach, bury it and unbury it a few times, give it some good shakes and taps, and I'd get a keyboard that feels like a hybrid Red and Brown keyboard.

[Grim Fandango]

I like both reds and browns for gaming. Reds are super light and feel very immediate and responsive. Browns do too, bus slightly less so.

For typing however, there were two reasons why I prefer the browns. One, I will always bottom out with reds, because they are so light. Two, I have more accidental keypresses with reds, because they are so light and there is no feedback to indicate when a key is registered.

One thing I do have to say is that I do not feel the term "dirty reds" that people use to describe the browns is entirely accurate. Wile I do understand why they say it, I think that when you say "dirty", it makes it sound as though browns feel like they have added friction, and are somehow inconsistent. My personal experience is that while the tactility is indeed subtle, the switch does feel smooth and consistent every time you hit it, not resembling friction caused by "dirt" at all. But I guess that is just my take, others might feel different.

MY first mechanical keyboard was blacks (a Steelseries, back in 2008/2009). I then went to reds because the blacks were too heavy. The reds were nice and light, which I loved, but it also caused some problems in their day to day use. So I went with browns and loved it. Never looked back. Since then I have had the opportunity to use blues too (on a razer keyboard, but hey blues are blues) and while I like them as well, I just love the lighter feeling of browns.

[katushkin]

Browns. Every day and twice on Sunday.
I prefer the sound and feel. I haven't owned a Red board, but my friend had one for a long time and after trying his a couple of times I definitely prefer the satisfying "thock" sound of browns.
I use Browns for eeeeeeeverything. Although I'm on a blue at work. Until next week when I get clears (Y)

Also I think I've converted my dad. He's been typing on membranes/rubber domes forever, and recently had to use my KC on his PC after I stole my Black Widow for work. And he says he loves it!

[tp4tissue]

buy both... double the fun..

[Novus]

Have a red and brown filco.
I like them both but I stick with the reds because I slightly prefer them over Browns and I don't like switching back and forth.

[kfmfe04]

Reds (typing on a Red Filco TKL) for everything.  Initially, I bottom out, but over time, I find that I am typing lighter, faster, and quieter.

Of all the MX switches, Browns are at the bottom - they just feel really scratchy/dirty to me.

[Oobly]

Reds (typing on a Red Filco TKL) for everything.  Initially, I bottom out, but over time, I find that I am typing lighter, faster, and quieter.

Of all the MX switches, Browns are at the bottom - they just feel really scratchy/dirty to me.

Let them wear in a little. They get smoother with use.

Browns for everything. There's nothing they are bad for and I don't like switching.

[rowdy]

Searchy searchy ... http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46557.0

[ShriekBob]

I prefer Greens.  I like the tactile bump, I like the loud click, and I like the heavy spring.  I think if I had to have a non-clicky it would probably be a clear (I think that's the heavy Brown right?)

[epzy]

I prefer Greens.  I like the tactile bump, I like the loud click, and I like the heavy spring.  I think if I had to have a non-clicky it would probably be a clear (I think that's the heavy Brown right?)

"1. What do you prefer Reds or Browns?
2. Why?
3. If you use Reds - What do you use them for mainly? Gaming, typing, work? etc.
4. If you use Browns - What do you use them for mainly? Gaming, typing, work? etc"

And yes, clear = heavy brown with a larger bump.

[tp4tissue]

I prefer Greens.  I like the tactile bump, I like the loud click, and I like the heavy spring.  I think if I had to have a non-clicky it would probably be a clear (I think that's the heavy Brown right?)

"1. What do you prefer Reds or Browns?
2. Why?
3. If you use Reds - What do you use them for mainly? Gaming, typing, work? etc.
4. If you use Browns - What do you use them for mainly? Gaming, typing, work? etc"

And yes, clear = heavy brown with a larger bump.

Those questions need not be answered..

they're all fun to use..

and without the contrast between diff keyboards here and there...  even the best keyboard ever can feel a bit bland...


For example... chocolate is great.. but if you ate that 3 meals a day for a month.... is it still so great?...  but, suddenly you switch to vanilla for a month, and presto... chocolate is tastee again...

[mrmillsy]

Seems like a popular question for us noobs - red vs brown.  This thread and similar helped a lot to read through when making that all important First Choice.  Glad to hear the reds settle a bit, there's something ... metallic? ... about the action of my new ones at the moment.  In my head I put that down to a combination of my fingers and new springs, which seems like a reasonable assumption.

[ynrozturk]

Browns for me all the way because I like that subtle tactile bump. Better for typing for me, and I have no problems gaming with them. I find Blues to be bad for gaming. I just don't like linear switches.

[zoolzoo]

both fine for all uses

[Hyde]

I like them both, however:

Brown slightly better for typing.

Red slightly better for gaming.

[archer]

Avid gamer here.. I prefer MX Reds for gaming and typing. I type in a pretty ham-fisted manner, so that tactile bump that the browns provide is almost unnoticeable to me, unless I'm pressing a key slowly for the sole purpose of feeling said bump.

I arrived at reds after using Blacks for about a year (Mionix keyboard thing). I fell in love with the linear switch, but the black way waayyy too stiff for me. That's when I did a bit more research and learn of the existence of Reds. Haven't looked back since.

[demik]

Both suck

[rowdy]

I like them both, however:

Brown slightly better for typing.

Red slightly better for gaming.

Probably this is the simplest differentiation between them.

Although to me browns feel like gritty reds, so I'd be red all the way, except they are far too light, so I prefer blacks.  Or greens.  Or BS.  Or Thorpe. )

[zoolzoo]

Both suck

actually yah

[tp4tissue]

Both suck

actually yah

Calm down Fanboiz...

[Suichoy]

I own both and I prefer the browns by quite a margin. The slight bump of the browns adds a new dimension to typing as I can "ride" the bump by just depressing it without bottoming out. When I type more quickly, the browns make a slight clicking sound which is very pleasant. The tactility of the browns are just more interesting to me than the reds.

However, reds are a good switch and with POM keycaps, they feel very smooth and make a nice "tock" sound. I like to keep the reds around and every once in a while I come back to it. I used to use it as my main keyboard and it always felt like something was lacking so I don't think reds are the most ideal if you had to pick just one switch.

[nubbinator]

Both suck

actually yah

Calm down Fanboiz...

Show Image

Are your jimmies rustled by the truth?

[rowdy]

Both suck

actually yah

Calm down Fanboiz...

Show Image

Are your jimmies rustled by the truth?

His Ergo Dox probably has red and/or brown switches ;)

[Wildcard]

1. Reds
2. I enjoy linear switches and reds are the right force for me.
3. Typing, Work
4. NA

bonus question
# They're definitely quiet and good in an office setting.

[terran5992]

Reds , just because they dont wear out

[Fragil1ty]

Yeah, I think I prefer reds over anything, I tried to type on the Browns for a while last night, it just didn't feel as nice to me anymore, maybe it's okay on the Macbook when I'm doing a bit of coding or something, but after I'm done, I just love going back to reds.

I miss using my Filco though, it feels so much better than the Noppoo to be honest!

[magohipnosis]

well, I have tried both.

My first keyboard had brown switches (quickfire rapid).

And then I changed it for red switches (Quickfire TK)

I think that I love reds more than browns.

For games, reds are the better switch for osu! and FPS games.

Typing on browns felt nice, but I wanted an even lighter feeling.

So reds are for me. Although I'd like to type on blues some day. The only available blue switch keyboard here is the blackwidow, which is crappy.

[tp4tissue]

well, I have tried both.

My first keyboard had brown switches (quickfire rapid).

And then I changed it for red switches (Quickfire TK)

I think that I love reds more than browns.

For games, reds are the better switch for osu! and FPS games.

Typing on browns felt nice, but I wanted an even lighter feeling.

So reds are for me. Although I'd like to type on blues some day. The only available blue switch keyboard here is the blackwidow, which is crappy.

There is no end to this cycle..

Even when You've tried it all... They're going to release more stuff....

[ideus]

1. Reds
2. I enjoy linear switches and reds are the right force for me.
3. Typing, Work
4. NA

bonus question
# They're definitely quiet and good in an office setting.

Browns are not loud either.

[Neo.X]

I prefer Red, the tactile feel in brown makes me feel wierd.

[Fragil1ty]

I prefer Red, the tactile feel in brown makes me feel wierd.

I'm starting to notice that myself, the slight bump can be a little bit annoying sometimes and I don't like that, but I do like browns, I don't know I'm weird.

I'm typing on my Noppoo at the moment, but I'm not sure if I want to stick with this keyboard, I think I need to sell my other keyboards to ensure that I have no option but to stick with my current keyboard and not be indecisive. lol

[lilky]

I feel like reds feel nicer to push on in terms of just sheer button-pressing, but I can't type for crap on reds and prefer browns whenever I'm playing video games, typing, or anything else that actually requires keyboard accuracy.