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Author Topic: Getting recommendation for Mechanical Keyboard  (Read 2340 times)

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Offline lithony

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 5
Getting recommendation for Mechanical Keyboard
« on: Wed, 12 February 2014, 16:36:22 »
I would like to get a recommendation for a  top 5 great mechanical keyboard that is worth the money.

I've been thinking filco, topre, etc. I would be very delighted to hear other options :)
« Last Edit: Wed, 12 February 2014, 16:40:40 by lithony »
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Offline ManicMatt1125

  • Posts: 149
Re: Getting recommendation for Mechanical Keyboard
« Reply #1 on: Wed, 12 February 2014, 16:39:49 »
I am no expert on the subject but I have recently bought a ducky Shine 3 yellow edition with PCB keycaps and MX blue's and I could not be happier with the overall build quality. for a plastic keyboard this thing is solid and heavy. Like I said I hav not had any others but I ma very satisfied with my purchase, I have no regrets, and that is not something I say to often
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Offline Lastpilot

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  • Location: Louisiana
Re: Getting recommendation for Mechanical Keyboard
« Reply #2 on: Wed, 12 February 2014, 16:40:58 »
I second the Ducky recommendation. Much LED. Very features. Many build quality. Wow.
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Offline CPTBadAss

  • Woke up like this
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Re: Getting recommendation for Mechanical Keyboard
« Reply #3 on: Wed, 12 February 2014, 16:42:22 »
First and foremost, it makes it easier to play this game if you can answer these questions:

1) What switches do you want?
2) What layout do you want?

Then we can better steer you towards a recommendation.

A commonly recommended "good value keyboard" is a CoolerMaster QuickFire Rapid.
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Offline pbtforever

  • Posts: 158
Re: Getting recommendation for Mechanical Keyboard
« Reply #4 on: Wed, 12 February 2014, 17:33:47 »
Filco or HHKB. 
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Offline Oobly

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  • Posts: 3929
  • Location: Finland
Re: Getting recommendation for Mechanical Keyboard
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 13 February 2014, 02:31:30 »
Filco (MX)
HHKB (Topre)
Ducky (MX)
Realforce (Topre)
Leopold (MX and Topre)
Vortex / KBT (MX)
CMStorm QFR (MX)
Keycool (MX)

That's 8, sorry, couldn't limit it to 5. They're all worth the money assuming you choose wisely (that you choose the right tool for the job). There are different sizes, layouts and switches between the brands.

60% size: KBT Poker II, HHKB
In between 60% and TKL: Filco Minila, KBT Pure, Leopold FC660M/C, Keycool 84
TKL: Filco, Ducky, Realforce, Leopold, QFR, Keycool 87
Full size: Filco, Ducky, Realforce, QFR, Keycool 108
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Buying more keycaps,
it really hacks my wallet,
but I must have them.

Offline taylordcraig

  • Posts: 1044
  • Location: BC, Canada
  • New Keyboard Enthusiast [needs to learn to solder]
Re: Getting recommendation for Mechanical Keyboard
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 13 February 2014, 02:47:13 »
I got into mech boards last year. Started Filco MJ2 with Browns, then KBT Race with Whites, then KBT Pure Pro with Blues. Now Code 87 with greens.
My favorite switch so far is either blue/green.

Key caps play a large role in the feel of your keyboard. I have five different key caps sets, made of only two types of plastic. Even the same type of plastic from a different manufacturer feels totally different.
Bottoming out is especially noticeably different.

As someone else mentioned, the form factor of your keyboard is the most important decision.
Decide if you want a full size [104, or 108], Ten-keyless [TKL or 87%], or compact/60% [no function row, and varying layouts. (notably harder to find custom caps for SOME strange sized keys present on SOME of these keyboards)]

For me, it's all about trying everything to see what I like best.
$1000 and six months later I've still got the hunger.
You have been warned.
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Offline C5Allroad

  • Formerly HUNTERANGEL121
  • Posts: 1237
  • Location: Miami, FL
  • Watch out, I post when half asleep.
Re: Getting recommendation for Mechanical Keyboard
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 13 February 2014, 09:31:35 »
Filco, WASD, Keycool, Ducky, and KBC.
To me those are some of the best board manufacturers.
(No specific order of which is better...)
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Offline ManicMatt1125

  • Posts: 149
Re: Getting recommendation for Mechanical Keyboard
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 13 February 2014, 09:57:07 »
Quote from: taylordcraig on Thu, 13 February 2014, 02:47:13
I got into mech boards last year. Started Filco MJ2 with Browns, then KBT Race with Whites, then KBT Pure Pro with Blues. Now Code 87 with greens.
My favorite switch so far is either blue/green.

Key caps play a large role in the feel of your keyboard. I have five different key caps sets, made of only two types of plastic. Even the same type of plastic from a different manufacturer feels totally different.
Bottoming out is especially noticeably different.

As someone else mentioned, the form factor of your keyboard is the most important decision.
Decide if you want a full size [104, or 108], Ten-keyless [TKL or 87%], or compact/60% [no function row, and varying layouts. (notably harder to find custom caps for SOME strange sized keys present on SOME of these keyboards)]

For me, it's all about trying everything to see what I like best.
$1000 and six months later I've still got the hunger.
You have been warned.

I second this, I am roughly a month in and already out $500.

It, like any other hobby costs money
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Offline davkol

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  • Posts: 4994
Re: Getting recommendation for Mechanical Keyboard
« Reply #9 on: Fri, 14 February 2014, 11:33:08 »
ErgoDox. ErgoDox. ErgoDox. ErgoDox. ErgoDox. Someone had to say it.
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Offline archer

  • Posts: 215
Re: Getting recommendation for Mechanical Keyboard
« Reply #10 on: Fri, 14 February 2014, 13:49:37 »
From personal experience...

Filco
Leopold
Ducky
Keycool

are all exceptional keyboards.

I heard that Code keyboard is pretty nice as well.

All of my experience has been in the MX world. Never used a topre switch, so I can't really comment on them. Good luck in your search!
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Offline mapple

  • Posts: 231
  • Location: UK
Re: Getting recommendation for Mechanical Keyboard
« Reply #11 on: Fri, 14 February 2014, 15:12:02 »
filco and ducky for cherry
hhkb for topre
model m or better pc/at keyboard for buckling springs
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In God We Trust

Offline aref

  • Posts: 581
Re: Getting recommendation for Mechanical Keyboard
« Reply #12 on: Fri, 14 February 2014, 17:21:49 »
Cherry MX : Filco
Topre: Realforce 87U (my preference is Topre's 55-gram switch)
Buckling spring: Full-size KB, Unicomp Ultra Classic (PC) or Space Saver (Mac); IBM Model M SSK
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Offline kfmfe04

  • Posts: 92
Re: Getting recommendation for Mechanical Keyboard
« Reply #13 on: Fri, 14 February 2014, 19:49:18 »
Quote from: lithony on Wed, 12 February 2014, 16:36:22
I would like to get a recommendation for a  top 5 great mechanical keyboard that is worth the money.

I've been thinking filco, topre, etc. I would be very delighted to hear other options :)

You've already hit the mark: FILCO is arguably the most solid MX board out there - great for the desktop or for gaming. 

As for the hhkb, I've lost interest in acquiring new boards after this one, though I probably would have still bought a Filco just out of curiosity.  This is the best board for a laptop, even more so if you are a UNIX developer.

IMHO (I own both boards), both are very much worth the money, though I'd be willing to pay a 50-100% premium over retail on the hhkb, only after knowing what I know now.  (in other words, it seems overpriced before I bought it, but underpriced after I used it for a month).
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⌨White Blank HHKB P2 ⌨Filco TKL SA MXRed
Interests: ⌨AcidFire's Board ⌨Kinesis Advantage LF

Offline jabar

  • Posts: 848
  • Location: TX, USA
Re: Getting recommendation for Mechanical Keyboard
« Reply #14 on: Fri, 14 February 2014, 21:02:51 »
Quote from: Lastpilot on Wed, 12 February 2014, 16:40:58
I second the Ducky recommendation. Much LED. Very features. Many build quality. Wow.
oh man is this shibe meme getting tired fast
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Leopold FC660C - Max Keyboard Nighthawk X8 - Ducky DK9008 Shine II 78 Edition - Noppoo Choc Mini - Cherry G80-2100HDD - Cherry G80-8113HDPUS - Plu-M87 - Leopold FC700R Ergo Clears - Deck Legend Frost 105 - IBM F PC Keyboard - IBM M 122 (Lexmark) - Apple Extended Keyboard II

Phantom 7bit

Offline exitfire401

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  • Posts: 2969
  • Location: United States
  • The Force is Re/\l
Re: Getting recommendation for Mechanical Keyboard
« Reply #15 on: Sat, 15 February 2014, 15:10:27 »
Ducky Shine 3
any Filco
Cooler Master QFR
Realforce 55g
or my personal favorite, a korean custom!
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Boards: Kingsaver Complicated Blue Alps |Sprit 60% Transparent MX Clears in Gateron housings with 62g gold Sprit springs lubed and RGB color shifting LEDs | Ducky Shine Zone MX Black with Blue LEDs | Realforce 10AE Variable Silenced

B/S/T thread: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=55351.0

Past projects: KBT Race 2 L.E.
Past Boards: Ducky Shine 2 | KBT Pure | LZ Aluminum Skin| HHKB | Realforce 23u |

Offline luis911

  • Posts: 141
  • Location: Queens, NY
Re: Getting recommendation for Mechanical Keyboard
« Reply #16 on: Sat, 15 February 2014, 15:11:09 »
Ducky shine 3 is awesome. Well built. Nice keycaps. LEDS
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Check out my website FDMPrints.org

Offline CatNip :3

  • Posts: 72
  • Location: Auckland, New Zealand
  • bouncy bouncy
Re: Getting recommendation for Mechanical Keyboard
« Reply #17 on: Sat, 15 February 2014, 15:19:59 »
Matias is releasing their new 60% keyboard so keep an eye out. :D
I think their keycaps can be swapped with any ALPS keycap. :)
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