Author Topic: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?  (Read 13201 times)

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Offline kskwerl

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Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« on: Wed, 15 January 2014, 22:06:02 »
So I have the HHKB Pro 2 and I'm loving it, I always had rather cheap MX blue keyboards so I'm wondering what the most highly regarded MX keyboard is. I want to try MX reds as I've only ever tried blues.
HHKB Pro 2 - Leopold 210TP -

Offline demik

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #1 on: Wed, 15 January 2014, 22:12:46 »
So I have the HHKB Pro 2 and I'm loving it,

So I have the HHKB Pro 2,

HHKB Pro 2,

/thread

don't need a peasant MX board when you have the almighty already.

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=51282.0

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Offline KangarooZombies

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #2 on: Wed, 15 January 2014, 22:15:21 »
So I have the HHKB Pro 2 and I'm loving it,

So I have the HHKB Pro 2,

HHKB Pro 2,

/thread

don't need a peasant MX board when you have the almighty already.

Having a bad day?
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Offline neunelfer

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #3 on: Wed, 15 January 2014, 22:18:24 »
H H K B H H K B H H K B H H K B

H H K B H H K B H H K B H H K B




But really, I would say that for stock MX boards, Filco is generally considered to be the best brand.

Offline demik

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #4 on: Wed, 15 January 2014, 22:19:41 »
but it also depends what type of reds you want to try.

plate or pcb mount?

if so, poker would be good for pcb mount. QFR for plate (well im not sure if they even have a red version) but you shouldn't be spending a ton of money on a board simply because you want to try the switch. you could also sign up for nubs' community switch tester and save yourself some cash.

hhkb comes CASE mount. your move cherry.
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Offline The_Beast

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #5 on: Wed, 15 January 2014, 22:21:57 »
hhkb comes CASE mount. your move cherry.

Ahhh, case mount....


...making it nearly impossible for a custom case to be made for it.....



....unlike that of cherry switches.....

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Offline demik

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 15 January 2014, 22:24:17 »
beast.


shut up.


hhkb > your wood
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Offline neunelfer

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #7 on: Wed, 15 January 2014, 22:27:12 »
Quote
HHKB Elitist

Offline Pacifist

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #8 on: Wed, 15 January 2014, 22:29:47 »
Doesn't beast make metal plates too?

Offline tuxsavvy

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #9 on: Wed, 15 January 2014, 22:39:07 »
So I have the HHKB Pro 2 and I'm loving it, I always had rather cheap MX blue keyboards so I'm wondering what the most highly regarded MX keyboard is. I want to try MX reds as I've only ever tried blues.
Depends a lot I guess. I think in my case Cherry G80-5000 HAMDE would probably be interesting coming from MX realm.
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Offline tp4tissue

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #10 on: Wed, 15 January 2014, 22:45:50 »
Best Current keyboard using Cherry MX is Egdx...

It is now rivaled by the unreleased Ergo Pro..  (assuming everything is up to snuff, stabilizers, tenting etc.)


All non-ergo boards are not in the running for best-board...


Offline Pacifist

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #11 on: Wed, 15 January 2014, 22:49:02 »
Best Current keyboard using Cherry MX is Egdx...

It is now rivaled by the unreleased Ergo Pro..  (assuming everything is up to snuff, stabilizers, tenting etc.)


All non-ergo boards are not in the running for best-board...

Show Image


Is staggered better than matrix for ergonomics?

Offline tp4tissue

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #12 on: Wed, 15 January 2014, 22:50:57 »
Best Current keyboard using Cherry MX is Egdx...

It is now rivaled by the unreleased Ergo Pro..  (assuming everything is up to snuff, stabilizers, tenting etc.)


All non-ergo boards are not in the running for best-board...

Show Image


Is staggered better than matrix for ergonomics?

On a Nunchaku design, it doesn't matter..

On something that's static and not -rotatable (kinesis/maltron)  then matrix is better.

Offline atlas3686

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #13 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 00:48:39 »
I mean I would consider a nice Filco MJ2 as the best std. mx board but why would you want one? I have both and I haven't used my mx boards since the HHKB arrived. Rather get a switch tester if you want to check out the other switches.

Offline Novus

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #14 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 02:06:26 »
Huh all this HHKB fanboyism.
It's like you guys are all full time programmers or something.

Well jokes aside, I do get the appeal of HHKB on this forum.



Offline tp4tissue

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #15 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 02:15:39 »
Huh all this HHKB fanboyism.
It's like you guys are all full time programmers or something.

Well jokes aside, I do get the appeal of HHKB on this forum.




hhkb is probably the worst board for programmers.

You're essentially forcing yourself to get around a terribad layout with zero programmability..

You would think a "programmer" would know that "programmability" is a pivotal element of a good keyboard ... but... N000000oooooo... apparently rubber cups make a difference.... because u know, they're japanese rubber cups.. 

Most people here claiming to be programmers are just scrub weeaboos taking an intro to VB class...

ooo.. look at this... i can make a table and haz copy people's java script... oooo.. i'm a programmer...

Offline Oobly

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #16 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 02:17:56 »
Best Current keyboard using Cherry MX is Egdx...

It is now rivaled by the unreleased Ergo Pro..  (assuming everything is up to snuff, stabilizers, tenting etc.)


All non-ergo boards are not in the running for best-board...

Show Image


Is staggered better than matrix for ergonomics?

On a Nunchaku design, it doesn't matter..

On something that's static and not -rotatable (kinesis/maltron)  then matrix is better.

I call BS. Vertically staggered always trumps horizontal if designed (and used) properly. Your fingers rest naturally on the home row keys and move within their comfortable range to reach the upper and lower row keys, without inducing twist.
Buying more keycaps,
it really hacks my wallet,
but I must have them.

Offline tp4tissue

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #17 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 02:25:23 »
Best Current keyboard using Cherry MX is Egdx...

It is now rivaled by the unreleased Ergo Pro..  (assuming everything is up to snuff, stabilizers, tenting etc.)


All non-ergo boards are not in the running for best-board...

Show Image


Is staggered better than matrix for ergonomics?

On a Nunchaku design, it doesn't matter..

On something that's static and not -rotatable (kinesis/maltron)  then matrix is better.

I call BS. Vertically staggered always trumps horizontal if designed (and used) properly. Your fingers rest naturally on the home row keys and move within their comfortable range to reach the upper and lower row keys, without inducing twist.

vertically-----staggered-----vs  horizontal

what is vertically   staggered

and what is horizontal....

Offline gameaholic

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #18 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 02:49:02 »
Best Current keyboard using Cherry MX is Egdx...

It is now rivaled by the unreleased Ergo Pro..  (assuming everything is up to snuff, stabilizers, tenting etc.)


All non-ergo boards are not in the running for best-board...

Show Image


Ergo Pro?
IBM Model M SSK, Filco MJ2 Ninja TKL with Reds ergo-clears, CM Storm QFR 55g Whites, Poker II with Reds

Offline The_Beast

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #19 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 02:50:18 »
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Offline tp4tissue

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #20 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 02:54:07 »
beast.


shut up.


hhkb > your wood

No?

I like wood ok... but my fav building material is concrete..  except it's weak if the aliens attack us with microwave based weapons

Offline noisyturtle

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #21 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 02:57:28 »
So I have the HHKB Pro 2 and I'm loving it,

So I have the HHKB Pro 2,

HHKB Pro 2,

/thread

don't need a peasant MX board when you have the almighty already.

Show Image


damn man, made me chuckle silently to myself  :))

Offline rowdy

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #22 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 03:05:13 »
Huh all this HHKB fanboyism.
It's like you guys are all full time programmers or something.

Well jokes aside, I do get the appeal of HHKB on this forum.




hhkb is probably the worst board for programmers.

You're essentially forcing yourself to get around a terribad layout with zero programmability..

You would think a "programmer" would know that "programmability" is a pivotal element of a good keyboard ... but... N000000oooooo... apparently rubber cups make a difference.... because u know, they're japanese rubber cups.. 

Most people here claiming to be programmers are just scrub weeaboos taking an intro to VB class...

ooo.. look at this... i can make a table and haz copy people's java script... oooo.. i'm a programmer...
Show Image


Not quite.

It is the layout that is particularly appealing for Unix programmers (or those programming on Unixy systems).

Ctrl where Caps Lock is makes sense as Unix makes much use of control characters.

Backspace where \| is also makes sense as the Backspace is closed to Enter, and the "home row" (should you choose to use it).

I alternate between TKL and HHKB, and it always feels more natural having Ctrl and Backspace where they are on the HHKB.

I am a programmer, but mostly under Windows, and I miss having dedicated arrow keys on the HHKB when using HHKB under Windows in the various GUI IDEs we use.
"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

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Offline tp4tissue

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #23 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 03:09:38 »
Huh all this HHKB fanboyism.
It's like you guys are all full time programmers or something.

Well jokes aside, I do get the appeal of HHKB on this forum.




hhkb is probably the worst board for programmers.

You're essentially forcing yourself to get around a terribad layout with zero programmability..

You would think a "programmer" would know that "programmability" is a pivotal element of a good keyboard ... but... N000000oooooo... apparently rubber cups make a difference.... because u know, they're japanese rubber cups.. 

Most people here claiming to be programmers are just scrub weeaboos taking an intro to VB class...

ooo.. look at this... i can make a table and haz copy people's java script... oooo.. i'm a programmer...
Show Image


Not quite.

It is the layout that is particularly appealing for Unix programmers (or those programming on Unixy systems).

Ctrl where Caps Lock is makes sense as Unix makes much use of control characters.

Backspace where \| is also makes sense as the Backspace is closed to Enter, and the "home row" (should you choose to use it).

I alternate between TKL and HHKB, and it always feels more natural having Ctrl and Backspace where they are on the HHKB.

I am a programmer, but mostly under Windows, and I miss having dedicated arrow keys on the HHKB when using HHKB under Windows in the various GUI IDEs we use.

^^^^^^^

These arguments are M0000t

non-programmability is a major hindrance to ANY KEYBOARD..

your hand is different than my hand..

you have different usage statistics for different keys...


Why should our layouts be stuck to some baseline that existed well before modern computing.


I find it a bit of madness that any true-programmer, outside of script-kids would at all CONSIDER a NON-programmable board.


Offline tbc

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #24 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 03:13:03 »
ahk

makes any keyboard programmable
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Offline tp4tissue

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #25 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 03:14:13 »
ahk

makes any keyboard programmable

right.. i agree.. this is the last resort...

but hardware programmability... no additional latency relative to AHK.. 

Offline rowdy

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #26 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 03:47:29 »
Huh all this HHKB fanboyism.
It's like you guys are all full time programmers or something.

Well jokes aside, I do get the appeal of HHKB on this forum.




hhkb is probably the worst board for programmers.

You're essentially forcing yourself to get around a terribad layout with zero programmability..

You would think a "programmer" would know that "programmability" is a pivotal element of a good keyboard ... but... N000000oooooo... apparently rubber cups make a difference.... because u know, they're japanese rubber cups.. 

Most people here claiming to be programmers are just scrub weeaboos taking an intro to VB class...

ooo.. look at this... i can make a table and haz copy people's java script... oooo.. i'm a programmer...
Show Image


Not quite.

It is the layout that is particularly appealing for Unix programmers (or those programming on Unixy systems).

Ctrl where Caps Lock is makes sense as Unix makes much use of control characters.

Backspace where \| is also makes sense as the Backspace is closed to Enter, and the "home row" (should you choose to use it).

I alternate between TKL and HHKB, and it always feels more natural having Ctrl and Backspace where they are on the HHKB.

I am a programmer, but mostly under Windows, and I miss having dedicated arrow keys on the HHKB when using HHKB under Windows in the various GUI IDEs we use.

^^^^^^^

These arguments are M0000t

non-programmability is a major hindrance to ANY KEYBOARD..

your hand is different than my hand..

you have different usage statistics for different keys...


Why should our layouts be stuck to some baseline that existed well before modern computing.


I find it a bit of madness that any true-programmer, outside of script-kids would at all CONSIDER a NON-programmable board.



A customised programmable keyboard would just mean that you would be lost when using someone else's workstation, or vice versa.  Using a standard layout means the same key sequences work in the same way on any standard keyboard you use.  Unless either everyone has the same customisable keyboard and you upload your configuration to it each time you move to a different workstation, or you carry your keyboard around with you everywhere.
"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ

Offline tuxsavvy

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #27 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 05:07:44 »
Ahh man here we go again, off to the tangent of HHKB vs * again...

ErgoDox has what.. a teensy controller. Try telling me teensies aren't programmable... ErgoDox is a kit or can be fan-made, HHKB isn't fan-made, it is made commercially by a company who probably doesn't have much interest in letting out their specs let alone firmware. Therefore it would make practical sense for companies to ship fairly average mechanical keyboard with some flexibility. If you are going to try and compare HHKB like that, compare it first against Ducky for instance. Ask Ducky Channel to see if they would give out the firmware. Then don't forget manufacturers whom offer neither DIP switches nor customisable firmware.

As if to also prove the point, there is always hasu's TMK firmware _and_ TMK controller board for HHKB which not only gives one flexibility but more customisation (in the future), like teensy and therefore like ErgoDox (but controller-wise).

HHKB Pro JP Type-S | Northgate Omnikey 101 | APC/"Clicker" F-21 (GOG3YL) | Cherry G80-5000 HAMDE

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Offline SpAmRaY

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #28 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 07:06:57 »
Something plate mounted with stock mx clears and cherry or GMK doubleshot ABS caps.

Offline CPTBadAss

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #29 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 07:11:52 »
I keep coming back to my metal cased customs. KMAC LE and Epsilon

Offline ynrozturk

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #30 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 07:26:04 »
While the HHKB looks cool, Topre is just not for me. I think people just feel the need to glorify them because of their ridiculous price tag.

As far as commercial, fairly easy to get boards, I would say that Filco wins the MX realm. My preference would be browns. I'd much rather have a KMAC than a HHKB any day of the week.
IBM Model F | IMB Model M | Poker II MX Brown | Poker II MX Clear | Filco TKL MX Brown | Bastardized Razer Blackwidow TE MX Blue | Logitech G602 |  Cyborg R.A.T. 7 | | Logitech MX518 | Icemat  | Artisan Hien

Offline Wildcard

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #31 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 07:33:02 »
beast.

shut up.

hhkb > your wood

Elitist...

Offline Oobly

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #32 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 07:46:38 »
So I have the HHKB Pro 2 and I'm loving it, I always had rather cheap MX blue keyboards so I'm wondering what the most highly regarded MX keyboard is. I want to try MX reds as I've only ever tried blues.

It's personal..... 

I'd have to say any plate mounted board with a good PCB and decent caps will give you a feel of top shelf Cherry MX. Filco Majestouch seem to be quite highly regarded.

The problem is, there are so many options and so many mods, that the "ultimate" Cherry MX board is a very personal thing, and will feel unique. Mine has custom plates, no PCB, heavily modded Brown switches (trampoline, latex, stickers) and a mix of PBT and POM caps. That's the attraction of the MX switches for me, they can be tweaked to give the feel, travel distance, sound, etc, that I want.

Another advantage is the switches are complete self-contained units that can be replaced individually or used for custom physical layouts easily.

Best Current keyboard using Cherry MX is Egdx...

It is now rivaled by the unreleased Ergo Pro..  (assuming everything is up to snuff, stabilizers, tenting etc.)


All non-ergo boards are not in the running for best-board...

Show Image


Is staggered better than matrix for ergonomics?

On a Nunchaku design, it doesn't matter..

On something that's static and not -rotatable (kinesis/maltron)  then matrix is better.

I call BS. Vertically staggered always trumps horizontal if designed (and used) properly. Your fingers rest naturally on the home row keys and move within their comfortable range to reach the upper and lower row keys, without inducing twist.

vertically-----staggered-----vs  horizontal

what is vertically   staggered

and what is horizontal....

Vertical columns of keys staggered with the respect to the columns on either side of it, vs horizontal rows of keys, staggered with respect to the rows above and below. The former allows for the natural difference in resting positions of the fingers, equal movement to upper and lower rows, true vertical finger movements instead of diagonal, etc. The latter doesn't. BIG difference in ergonomics.

ErgoDox is vertical stagger (although not enough on the pinkie rows), Ergo Pro is horizontal stagger.

Ergo Pro has best of both worlds in terms of programmability, though. It's apparently going to be "hackable", allowing custom firmware to be flashed to the controller, but has a stock, unprogrammable layout by default.

With the HHKB you can install a replacement controller with programmable firmware on it, but it requires more work and cost. Some people really like how they feel and think it is worth the cost. Others don't. All I can say about them is that I didn't like how the Topre switches felt in the few seconds that I tried a RealForce in a shop, but that's not really a fair evaluation (different board and not enough time spent using them).
Buying more keycaps,
it really hacks my wallet,
but I must have them.

Offline ideus

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #33 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 08:27:21 »
I wonder why we are always comparing topre and cherry based boards as if they were the same. They are not, besides caps, they are based in different physical principles to produce a switch signal. How a rather complex pcb based capacitive switch technology can be compared with a self contain simple plastic and metal switch? Well, maybe these never ending discussions are what fueled our beloved GH site...

Offline kskwerl

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #34 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 09:09:12 »
omg what did I do  :p
HHKB Pro 2 - Leopold 210TP -

Offline tp4tissue

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #35 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 10:08:53 »
Huh all this HHKB fanboyism.
It's like you guys are all full time programmers or something.

Well jokes aside, I do get the appeal of HHKB on this forum.




hhkb is probably the worst board for programmers.

You're essentially forcing yourself to get around a terribad layout with zero programmability..

You would think a "programmer" would know that "programmability" is a pivotal element of a good keyboard ... but... N000000oooooo... apparently rubber cups make a difference.... because u know, they're japanese rubber cups.. 

Most people here claiming to be programmers are just scrub weeaboos taking an intro to VB class...

ooo.. look at this... i can make a table and haz copy people's java script... oooo.. i'm a programmer...
Show Image


Not quite.

It is the layout that is particularly appealing for Unix programmers (or those programming on Unixy systems).

Ctrl where Caps Lock is makes sense as Unix makes much use of control characters.

Backspace where \| is also makes sense as the Backspace is closed to Enter, and the "home row" (should you choose to use it).

I alternate between TKL and HHKB, and it always feels more natural having Ctrl and Backspace where they are on the HHKB.

I am a programmer, but mostly under Windows, and I miss having dedicated arrow keys on the HHKB when using HHKB under Windows in the various GUI IDEs we use.

^^^^^^^

These arguments are M0000t

non-programmability is a major hindrance to ANY KEYBOARD..

your hand is different than my hand..

you have different usage statistics for different keys...


Why should our layouts be stuck to some baseline that existed well before modern computing.


I find it a bit of madness that any true-programmer, outside of script-kids would at all CONSIDER a NON-programmable board.



A customised programmable keyboard would just mean that you would be lost when using someone else's workstation, or vice versa.  Using a standard layout means the same key sequences work in the same way on any standard keyboard you use.  Unless either everyone has the same customisable keyboard and you upload your configuration to it each time you move to a different workstation, or you carry your keyboard around with you everywhere.

this rarely happens... very rare..  and most people who have custom setups would have an extra keyboard at their station for guests.

Offline tp4tissue

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #36 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 10:14:20 »
So I have the HHKB Pro 2 and I'm loving it, I always had rather cheap MX blue keyboards so I'm wondering what the most highly regarded MX keyboard is. I want to try MX reds as I've only ever tried blues.

It's personal..... 

I'd have to say any plate mounted board with a good PCB and decent caps will give you a feel of top shelf Cherry MX. Filco Majestouch seem to be quite highly regarded.

The problem is, there are so many options and so many mods, that the "ultimate" Cherry MX board is a very personal thing, and will feel unique. Mine has custom plates, no PCB, heavily modded Brown switches (trampoline, latex, stickers) and a mix of PBT and POM caps. That's the attraction of the MX switches for me, they can be tweaked to give the feel, travel distance, sound, etc, that I want.

Another advantage is the switches are complete self-contained units that can be replaced individually or used for custom physical layouts easily.

Best Current keyboard using Cherry MX is Egdx...

It is now rivaled by the unreleased Ergo Pro..  (assuming everything is up to snuff, stabilizers, tenting etc.)


All non-ergo boards are not in the running for best-board...

Show Image


Is staggered better than matrix for ergonomics?

On a Nunchaku design, it doesn't matter..

On something that's static and not -rotatable (kinesis/maltron)  then matrix is better.

I call BS. Vertically staggered always trumps horizontal if designed (and used) properly. Your fingers rest naturally on the home row keys and move within their comfortable range to reach the upper and lower row keys, without inducing twist.

vertically-----staggered-----vs  horizontal

what is vertically   staggered

and what is horizontal....

Vertical columns of keys staggered with the respect to the columns on either side of it, vs horizontal rows of keys, staggered with respect to the rows above and below. The former allows for the natural difference in resting positions of the fingers, equal movement to upper and lower rows, true vertical finger movements instead of diagonal, etc. The latter doesn't. BIG difference in ergonomics.

ErgoDox is vertical stagger (although not enough on the pinkie rows), Ergo Pro is horizontal stagger.

Ergo Pro has best of both worlds in terms of programmability, though. It's apparently going to be "hackable", allowing custom firmware to be flashed to the controller, but has a stock, unprogrammable layout by default.

With the HHKB you can install a replacement controller with programmable firmware on it, but it requires more work and cost. Some people really like how they feel and think it is worth the cost. Others don't. All I can say about them is that I didn't like how the Topre switches felt in the few seconds that I tried a RealForce in a shop, but that's not really a fair evaluation (different board and not enough time spent using them).

The pinky row on Egdx is fine...  Th pinky doesn't really have 3 rows of movement anyway with a wrist lift.. it has 2..

If you staggered the top key further what would it achieve ??

my setup is tilted around 35*,  this way  the "a " position key is directly under my pinky and I hit the "q" key with my ring finger..

If the A was moved down further, it would make z a bit harder to reach same with ". " on the right

Offline Folio

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #37 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 10:52:30 »
This thread made me laugh with every post. You guys are going completely off tangent. I love everyone here. So glad I still come to this forum.   :-*

Offline kskwerl

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #38 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 11:04:26 »
This thread made me laugh with every post. You guys are going completely off tangent. I love everyone here. So glad I still come to this forum.   :-*

lol I know right, all I wanted to know was what are some of the best MX keyboards in terms of overall quality and high praise here on GH.
HHKB Pro 2 - Leopold 210TP -

Offline Oobly

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #39 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 11:32:47 »
This thread made me laugh with every post. You guys are going completely off tangent. I love everyone here. So glad I still come to this forum.   :-*

lol I know right, all I wanted to know was what are some of the best MX keyboards in terms of overall quality and high praise here on GH.

hihiii... guilty.

TLDR; Filco
Buying more keycaps,
it really hacks my wallet,
but I must have them.

Offline kskwerl

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #40 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 11:55:19 »
This thread made me laugh with every post. You guys are going completely off tangent. I love everyone here. So glad I still come to this forum.   :-*

lol I know right, all I wanted to know was what are some of the best MX keyboards in terms of overall quality and high praise here on GH.

hihiii... guilty.


I wanted to know this because as I have the HHKB Pro2 I always have cheap MX keyboards and I'm just wondering how the higher end ones would compare.
TLDR; Filco
HHKB Pro 2 - Leopold 210TP -

Offline Linkbane

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #41 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 13:38:00 »
Filco is great, but it's not as good as those Korean customs by any means. They're far above any commercial keyboard in terms of quality and price.
Quickfire TK MX Blue Corsair K60 MX Red Ducky Shine 3 Yellow TKL MX Blue Leopold FC660C
Current best: 162 wpm.

Offline kskwerl

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #42 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 15:32:06 »
Filco is great, but it's not as good as those Korean customs by any means. They're far above any commercial keyboard in terms of quality and price.

What are some other custom ones besides the KMAC? If I'm understanding this correctly you build them yourself?
HHKB Pro 2 - Leopold 210TP -

Offline tp4tissue

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #43 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 15:40:58 »
Filco is great, but it's not as good as those Korean customs by any means. They're far above any commercial keyboard in terms of quality and price.

What are some other custom ones besides the KMAC? If I'm understanding this correctly you build them yourself?

a kmac is like a kit to build a classic horse pulled carriage..

The whole concept of the horse drawn cart itself is obsolete and slow as balls..  BUT it's pretty and reminds people of simpler times.


The Egdx on the other hand is like a modern gasoline car..  It's better in everyway.. you may or may not find it aesthetically pleasing, since to most people, it's not what they're used to seeing with respect to the rectangle in front of their computers.


Make no mistake... extended use of classic keyboards inevitably leads to Repetitive stress disorder...

There is no question that this is what's going to happen if you lead a computer-oriented lifestyle..


If you had to dig trenches with a shovel,  vs a tractor...   That is the difference...


Offline Folio

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #44 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 15:49:14 »
a kmac is like a kit to build a classic horse pulled carriage..

The whole concept of the horse drawn cart itself is obsolete and slow as balls..  BUT it's pretty and reminds people of simpler times.

The Egdx on the other hand is like a modern gasoline car..  It's better in everyway.. you may or may not find it aesthetically pleasing, since to most people, it's not what they're used to seeing with respect to the rectangle in front of their computers.

Make no mistake... extended use of classic keyboards inevitably leads to Repetitive stress disorder...

There is no question that this is what's going to happen if you lead a computer-oriented lifestyle..

If you had to dig trenches with a shovel,  vs a tractor...   That is the difference...
Show Image


tp, your title should be "Ergodox Enforcer"

Offline tuxsavvy

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #45 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 17:37:41 »
a kmac is like a kit to build a classic horse pulled carriage..

The whole concept of the horse drawn cart itself is obsolete and slow as balls..  BUT it's pretty and reminds people of simpler times.

The Egdx on the other hand is like a modern gasoline car..  It's better in everyway.. you may or may not find it aesthetically pleasing, since to most people, it's not what they're used to seeing with respect to the rectangle in front of their computers.

Make no mistake... extended use of classic keyboards inevitably leads to Repetitive stress disorder...

There is no question that this is what's going to happen if you lead a computer-oriented lifestyle..

If you had to dig trenches with a shovel,  vs a tractor...   That is the difference...
Show Image


tp, your title should be "Ergodox Enforcer"
You're definitely not alone there - I have said something similar before. Also that is ignoring the fact that there's dime-a-dozen more ergonomic keyboards floating out there on the market, plenty more fancy varied shapes and sizes to choose from. When talking about ergonomics, there's plenty of ways to skin a cat - to say ErgoDox is superior to all of the ergonomical keyboard designs out there is really a bold (yet naïve) statement.

Anyway OP, I think your question is too open. For HHKB equivalent in Cherry MX realm (whilst retaining 60% factor) you have KMAC. For μTron keyboard equivalent, you have the likes of Cherry G80-5000 for instance, and so on and so forth.
« Last Edit: Thu, 16 January 2014, 18:02:16 by tuxsavvy »
HHKB Pro JP Type-S | Northgate Omnikey 101 | APC/"Clicker" F-21 (GOG3YL) | Cherry G80-5000 HAMDE

僕の日本語が下手です。我的中文也一樣爛。

Offline ideus

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #46 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 17:49:53 »
Filco is great, but it's not as good as those Korean customs by any means. They're far above any commercial keyboard in terms of quality and price.

What are some other custom ones besides the KMAC? If I'm understanding this correctly you build them yourself?

a kmac is like a kit to build a classic horse pulled carriage..

The whole concept of the horse drawn cart itself is obsolete and slow as balls..  BUT it's pretty and reminds people of simpler times.


The Egdx on the other hand is like a modern gasoline car..  It's better in everyway.. you may or may not find it aesthetically pleasing, since to most people, it's not what they're used to seeing with respect to the rectangle in front of their computers.


Make no mistake... extended use of classic keyboards inevitably leads to Repetitive stress disorder...

There is no question that this is what's going to happen if you lead a computer-oriented lifestyle..


If you had to dig trenches with a shovel,  vs a tractor...   That is the difference...

Show Image



If the dox is a "gasoline car", you said. Then what would be the board "equivalent" to a modern hybrid or an F1 car? what an imagination to make this metaphor up.  :D

Offline Novus

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #47 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 17:56:12 »
Filco is great, but it's not as good as those Korean customs by any means. They're far above any commercial keyboard in terms of quality and price.

What are some other custom ones besides the KMAC? If I'm understanding this correctly you build them yourself?

a kmac is like a kit to build a classic horse pulled carriage..

The whole concept of the horse drawn cart itself is obsolete and slow as balls..  BUT it's pretty and reminds people of simpler times.


The Egdx on the other hand is like a modern gasoline car..  It's better in everyway.. you may or may not find it aesthetically pleasing, since to most people, it's not what they're used to seeing with respect to the rectangle in front of their computers.


Make no mistake... extended use of classic keyboards inevitably leads to Repetitive stress disorder...

There is no question that this is what's going to happen if you lead a computer-oriented lifestyle..


If you had to dig trenches with a shovel,  vs a tractor...   That is the difference...

Show Image



If the dox is a "gasoline car", you said. Then what would be the board "equivalent" to a modern hybrid or an F1 car? what an imagination to make this metaphor up.  :D

Don't forget modern diesel cars too. Those things are beast.

Offline ideus

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #48 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 21:13:25 »
Filco is great, but it's not as good as those Korean customs by any means. They're far above any commercial keyboard in terms of quality and price.

What are some other custom ones besides the KMAC? If I'm understanding this correctly you build them yourself?

a kmac is like a kit to build a classic horse pulled carriage..

The whole concept of the horse drawn cart itself is obsolete and slow as balls..  BUT it's pretty and reminds people of simpler times.


The Egdx on the other hand is like a modern gasoline car..  It's better in everyway.. you may or may not find it aesthetically pleasing, since to most people, it's not what they're used to seeing with respect to the rectangle in front of their computers.


Make no mistake... extended use of classic keyboards inevitably leads to Repetitive stress disorder...

There is no question that this is what's going to happen if you lead a computer-oriented lifestyle..


If you had to dig trenches with a shovel,  vs a tractor...   That is the difference...

Show Image



If the dox is a "gasoline car", you said. Then what would be the board "equivalent" to a modern hybrid or an F1 car? what an imagination to make this metaphor up.  :D

Don't forget modern diesel cars too. Those things are beast.


Yeah, tp4 should extend his metaphor to cover all the vehicles then. Haha! Wonder how he may still position his beloved dox at the top of them.

Offline kskwerl

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Re: Most highly regarded MX keyboard?
« Reply #49 on: Thu, 16 January 2014, 21:15:22 »
a kmac is like a kit to build a classic horse pulled carriage..

The whole concept of the horse drawn cart itself is obsolete and slow as balls..  BUT it's pretty and reminds people of simpler times.

The Egdx on the other hand is like a modern gasoline car..  It's better in everyway.. you may or may not find it aesthetically pleasing, since to most people, it's not what they're used to seeing with respect to the rectangle in front of their computers.

Make no mistake... extended use of classic keyboards inevitably leads to Repetitive stress disorder...

There is no question that this is what's going to happen if you lead a computer-oriented lifestyle..

If you had to dig trenches with a shovel,  vs a tractor...   That is the difference...
Show Image


tp, your title should be "Ergodox Enforcer"
You're definitely not alone there - I have said something similar before. Also that is ignoring the fact that there's dime-a-dozen more ergonomic keyboards floating out there on the market, plenty more fancy varied shapes and sizes to choose from. When talking about ergonomics, there's plenty of ways to skin a cat - to say ErgoDox is superior to all of the ergonomical keyboard designs out there is really a bold (yet naïve) statement.

Anyway OP, I think your question is too open. For HHKB equivalent in Cherry MX realm (whilst retaining 60% factor) you have KMAC. For μTron keyboard equivalent, you have the likes of Cherry G80-5000 for instance, and so on and so forth.

The reason I ask this and started this thread is because of my concern that one day the HHKB will no longer be available. This scares me as I'm learning this layout and then I'll have to go back to a standard layout.
HHKB Pro 2 - Leopold 210TP -