Need advice on Cherry MX Switches

[ianxblog]

Hello.

Im planning on buying a mechanical keyboard, but i can't decide which switch would fit me the best.
There's no chance of trying some.

The only contact I had with mechanical keyboards was a White ALPS. I really liked it.

I always though that Blues were obviously my choice, because I like the tactile feedback, and love the noise.
But I noticed I may be wrong, because, from all the membrane/dome/scissor keyboards I tried, I like this things:

Keys that come up quicky after pressing (Like scissor switches or some membranes)
Hard bottoming out
Almost to the top actuation point.

So, im between Blue and red. In my country i wouldn't be able to get more than the 4 standar switches, and buckling spring (From model M which i can get much cheaper than any other mechanical kb)

Thanks.

[Oobly]

Browns are in between Blue and Red.... Tactile, but not clicky, work well for everything. Some prefer Blues for typing, some prefer Reds for gaming. It's quite personal, but Browns are a good first switch. If you don't like something about them after using them a while you at least then know which switch to choose afterwards.

[YoungMichael88]

The only complaint I have heard about browns is that when typing a bit quicker the tactile bump becomes nearly unnoticeable. It's too bad you can't get clears. The bump is a bit bigger.

[Tym]

The only complaint I have heard about browns is that when typing a bit quicker the tactile bump becomes nearly unnoticeable. It's too bad you can't get clears. The bump is a bit bigger.

Clears = Pregnant Browns?

[YoungMichael88]

^precisely!

[ianxblog]

I Do 75% typing and 25% gaming.

I do a very bit of web design, but in a near future I'll study that so I would be coding. Stilll gaming, I guess..

What's the best switch for my needs?

[Techno Trousers]

Clears won't give you the hard bottom out you're seeking. I'd say blues if you like noise, or browns if you want it quieter, just to give that hint of tactility over reds, which are linear and will give zero activation feedback. White Alps are a little stiffer than the light MX switches, but not by a tremendous amount. Shame you can't try a good buckling spring Unicomp or vintage Model M buckling spring board though.

[tp4tissue]

The only complaint I have heard about browns is that when typing a bit quicker the tactile bump becomes nearly unnoticeable. It's too bad you can't get clears. The bump is a bit bigger.

Clears = Pregnant Browns?

hahahahahahahahaaaa

[daetsid]

Clears won't give you the hard bottom out you're seeking. I'd say blues if you like noise, or browns if you want it quieter, just to give that hint of tactility over reds, which are linear and will give zero activation feedback. White Alps are a little stiffer than the light MX switches, but not by a tremendous amount. Shame you can't try a good buckling spring Unicomp or vintage Model M buckling spring board though.

+1

get a cheap model m

[ianxblog]

It's not that the bottom out is what i'm searching. The hard bottom is on membrane keyboards, the "tactile feedback" you get. So I guess i like tactile feedback.

I would like to try the IBM, but i don't like its noise and the lack of Windows key.

[ManicMatt1125]

Here's my 2cence on blues. I find them very very satisfying to type on. The only downside of them is that they are a bit noisy, which I actually enjoy. Being as they are the only key I have ever owned I cannot compare them to anything else but like I said I really enjoy them and I don't believe I could have made a better purchase.
Oh and I spend most of my time typing very little gaming.

[ianxblog]

Isn't the blues' click annoying when gaming? I read that.

[Tarzan]

Isn't the blues' click annoying when gaming? I read that.

They can be.  If I'm online with friends, I usually use a keyboard with linear switches.  Since I use a microphone on a desk stand, it really picks up the clicking of MX Greens or Blues.  YMMV, of course.

[Rena]

Isn't the blues' click annoying when gaming? I read that.

They can be.  If I'm online with friends, I usually use a keyboard with linear switches.  Since I use a microphone on a desk stand, it really picks up the clicking of MX Greens or Blues.  YMMV, of course.

On the subject of noise I can say that even the browns can be noisy and obnoxious to other people on voice chats, and my mic is a couple feet away from the keyboard. It's not the bump that makes the pronounced noise but rather bottoming out, and that noise can still be comparably loud to MX blues.

If you're touch typing I don't think it's as much of a problem though. I wouldn't know for sure, I usually bottom out.

[quickcrx702]

I recommend a Topre 55g based on your requirements.

Keys that come up quicky after pressing (Like scissor switches or some membranes) Check
Hard bottoming out Check - You're pretty much forced to bottom out but it requires a heavier keystroke.
Almost to the top actuation point. Double check


So, im between Blue and red. In my country i wouldn't be able to get more than the 4 standar switches, and buckling spring (From model M which i can get much cheaper than any other mechanical kb)

The only problem based on your requirements is that you would need to purchase a 55g from an international seller.

[ianxblog]

When I say if it's annoying I don't refer to noise, I refer to the feedback the blues offer. Maybe when WASDing or pressing keys repeteadly is annoying. Is it?

And I wouldn't be considering topre switches because I can't really get it for cheap here (Ultra expensive) and I don't see how good they can be.

The listings I done was on membrane/scissor keyboards, maybe I like something totally different on mechanical.

Maybe this week I will try a Blackwidow, though I read its bad. Will it give me a bad impression of blues?

[quickcrx702]

Yes.  When people say it's bad, they are talking about the build quality and overall value.  The switch feeling will still be the same though.  If you don't want to spend a lot on a Topre, buckling spring would probably be more fitting based on your requirements.  Also, the noise they make is lower pitched, so it doesn't get annoying even though it's slightly louder.  A good friend of mine came over and tried it, then couldn't shut up about how awesome it was, so I just gave it to him since I didn't use it much after getting a 55g.  I think anyone you ask will tell you that buckling springs are awesome, they're just too loud to use in an office cube farm or type at night around other people.

[YoungMichael88]

I've only used BS a little as a test and they do feel really nice. In my experience tho, identical MX switches will feel much different if they are plate mounted. Much more sturdy feeling which I find a lot nicer.

[kod]

Based on what you've said, why not try to find an Alps board?  Too rare in your home country?

[ianxblog]

Based on what you've said, why not try to find an Alps board?  Too rare in your home country?

Unfortunately.

[Lastpilot]

 

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=44165.0

[aref]

Yes.  When people say it's bad, they are talking about the build quality and overall value.  The switch feeling will still be the same though.  If you don't want to spend a lot on a Topre, buckling spring would probably be more fitting based on your requirements.  Also, the noise they make is lower pitched, so it doesn't get annoying even though it's slightly louder.  A good friend of mine came over and tried it, then couldn't shut up about how awesome it was, so I just gave it to him since I didn't use it much after getting a 55g.  I think anyone you ask will tell you that buckling springs are awesome, they're just too loud to use in an office cube farm or type at night around other people.

+1 on quickrx702's advice. A Unicomp Ultra Classic ($79 U.S.) keyboard is also another good keyboard to consider. It's the company who took over production of buckling-spring keyboards from Lexmark. Like quickcrx702, I'm a fan of 55-gram Topre switches on the Realforce 87U keyboards; I also really like buckling-spring switches and have both keyboards under my PC.