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Offline mcr

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First mechanical keyboard
« on: Mon, 16 March 2009, 11:39:39 »
First of all I would like to say hi cause I'm new here and  new to all this geeky thing keyboard stuff... Hi :)
Why do I need keyboard with mechanical switches? At the moment I'm using Cherry Evolution Stream keyboard (something like that) with scissors mechanism. At work I have Logitech Ultra Flat-X (?) which is really crappy keyboard for me, especially that some of the keys are broken - in that way that I have to press them really hard to make them work. At home I do a bit of programming, e-mail writing, irc and occasionally gaming (used to play lot of counter-strike, now sometimes at lazy evenings).
Summing up, I think my fingers deserve something better than Cherry's Evolution. Second thing is that I have this disease of buying geeky stuff whenever I need them or not. I'm sure you know what I mean :)
So, I went through some topics on this forum and came up with Cherry G80-3000. Main reason for choosing this one is that I can afford it and it's possible to buy it in my country (Cherry's division here).
The thing is that I would like to have it in black and local store doesn't have it in stock. I was also told that there aren't any in Germany. I have to wait till they make new ones and that will be after 4th April.
After digging deeper into mechanical switches I figured that I would like to have a keyboard that has relatively quite, tactile keys - keyboard with Cherry's brown switches seem to be what I'm looking for.
So I'm looking for black G80-3000 with brown switches, but from what I've read here it will be impossible to get one. I know there are some other Cherry models with brown switches, but they seem to be oversized or have strange layout.
Are there any standard looking keyboards with brown switches that aren't from Japan or are easy to get in Europe?
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Offline lal

  • Posts: 360
First mechanical keyboard
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 16 March 2009, 12:00:00 »
Black Alps switches are quiet and tactile, too.  You can get them cheap in a used Dell AT101W.  The G80-3000 is *in principle* available with any combination of switch type, country layout and color.  But you have to ask retailers for the specific model number and  they could order it directly from Cherry.  That's how it works with keybo.de here in Germany.
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BS: Customizer, Model Ms; Alps: CSK-2101, FK-2002, AT-101 (SGI & Dell), MCK-860, FKBN87Z/EB; Cherry: Poker X, FKBN87MC/EB, WY60, G80-3000, G84-4100, TDV 5010

Offline lal

  • Posts: 360
First mechanical keyboard
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 16 March 2009, 12:04:17 »
Oh, and welcome to GeekHack!
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BS: Customizer, Model Ms; Alps: CSK-2101, FK-2002, AT-101 (SGI & Dell), MCK-860, FKBN87Z/EB; Cherry: Poker X, FKBN87MC/EB, WY60, G80-3000, G84-4100, TDV 5010

Offline mcr

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  • Posts: 7
First mechanical keyboard
« Reply #3 on: Fri, 20 March 2009, 05:47:12 »
I asked retailer for Cherry G80-3000 with brown switches. I told him I want quiet tactile keys. Response from Germany, that he send to me, was that most quiet model is: "G80-3000 G80-3000LPCEU Linear key action Combo". Can anyone tell me what kind of switches are in this model? And what "key action Combo" stands for?
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Offline Chloe

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First mechanical keyboard
« Reply #4 on: Fri, 20 March 2009, 05:52:56 »
It will have black/linear switches. Combo means it works over PS/2 and USB.
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Offline itlnstln

  • Posts: 7048
First mechanical keyboard
« Reply #5 on: Fri, 20 March 2009, 06:43:46 »
Quote from: mcr;24960
I asked retailer for Cherry G80-3000 with brown switches. I told him I want quiet tactile keys. Response from Germany, that he send to me, was that most quiet model is: "G80-3000 G80-3000LPCEU Linear key action Combo". Can anyone tell me what kind of switches are in this model? And what "key action Combo" stands for?


DataCal.com has G80-3000s with Cherry Browns.
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Offline lal

  • Posts: 360
First mechanical keyboard
« Reply #6 on: Fri, 20 March 2009, 08:18:44 »
Quote from: mcr;24960
I asked retailer for Cherry G80-3000 with brown switches. I told him I want quiet tactile keys. Response from Germany, that he send to me, was that most quiet model is: "G80-3000 G80-3000LPCEU Linear key action Combo". Can anyone tell me what kind of switches are in this model? And what "key action Combo" stands for?


G80-3000LPCEU is indeed the most quiet variant but not tactile.  You want the G80-3000LQCEU which has brown Cherry MX switches.
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BS: Customizer, Model Ms; Alps: CSK-2101, FK-2002, AT-101 (SGI & Dell), MCK-860, FKBN87Z/EB; Cherry: Poker X, FKBN87MC/EB, WY60, G80-3000, G84-4100, TDV 5010

Offline mcr

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  • Posts: 7
First mechanical keyboard
« Reply #7 on: Tue, 24 March 2009, 08:31:40 »
Quote from: lal;24967
G80-3000LPCEU is indeed the most quiet variant but not tactile.  You want the G80-3000LQCEU which has brown Cherry MX switches.


Thanks, I've placed an order for that one.

Also I've placed a bid for FKB4700. Probably no one will bid beside me, so I'll get it almost for free. I hope it'll work. I'm really curious about it.





I'm just wondering, why only space key is yellowish.

Cheers
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Offline itlnstln

  • Posts: 7048
First mechanical keyboard
« Reply #8 on: Tue, 24 March 2009, 08:49:42 »
Sometimes, spacebars are made from a different plastic type for strength, minimal cost savings, etc.
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Offline lam47

  • Posts: 688
First mechanical keyboard
« Reply #9 on: Tue, 24 March 2009, 08:59:11 »
Hope you win it.
What kind of switches does it have?
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Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline skriefal

  • Posts: 235
  • Location: Utah, USA
First mechanical keyboard
« Reply #10 on: Tue, 24 March 2009, 09:41:18 »
Fujitsu Peerless.  Others here have described them as quite awful.
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Offline bhtooefr

  • Posts: 1624
  • Location: Newark, OH, USA
  • this switch can tick sound of music
    • bhtooefr.org
First mechanical keyboard
« Reply #11 on: Tue, 24 March 2009, 17:58:50 »
It's a good idea that doesn't work as well in practice. :)
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Offline mcr

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First mechanical keyboard
« Reply #12 on: Wed, 25 March 2009, 11:28:36 »
Today came my G80-3000LQCEU. Man that was fast delivery - didn't expect that. It hasn't brown switches as lal said. It has white (clear?) ones. I don't know if it's much difference between those.
For me keyboard is great. What I like most about it is that I don't have to push key all way down, that is so great. I think I'm typing faster because of that. Also I like the sound that it makes when I type. I think I can say this is what I was looking for.
Thanks for advice.
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Offline itlnstln

  • Posts: 7048
First mechanical keyboard
« Reply #13 on: Wed, 25 March 2009, 11:37:58 »
The clear switches require more force than the browns, but supposedly, the overall feel is similar.  From what I understand, they are the same switch with a different spring.
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Offline lal

  • Posts: 360
First mechanical keyboard
« Reply #14 on: Wed, 25 March 2009, 14:17:14 »
Quote from: mcr;25399
Today came my G80-3000LQCEU. Man that was fast delivery - didn't expect that. It hasn't brown switches as lal said. It has white (clear?) ones.


Arrgh.  Well, I guess an excuse is in order :)  Sorry about that.

Now I remember that this has been a fact we have not been 100 percent certain about.  LPC is black linear and LSC is blue clicky for sure.  Cherry describes LQC as "Soft pressure point" which fits what we know about browns.  And given that the vast majority of currently produced keyboards use either black, blue or brown MX, it had been obvious for me that Cherry just *had* to use these three variants in their own G80 line, too.  I was wrong.

I even emailed Cherry Germany about this question but never got a reply.  Now we know that the G80-3000LQC does *not* have brown but clear MX switches.  Thanks for that, mcr.  Good to know you're liking it nevertheless :)
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BS: Customizer, Model Ms; Alps: CSK-2101, FK-2002, AT-101 (SGI & Dell), MCK-860, FKBN87Z/EB; Cherry: Poker X, FKBN87MC/EB, WY60, G80-3000, G84-4100, TDV 5010

Offline itlnstln

  • Posts: 7048
First mechanical keyboard
« Reply #15 on: Wed, 25 March 2009, 14:19:28 »
I think I would rather have the clears over the browns, personally.  While I really like the browns, they are pretty light.  I like a little meat with my potatoes. :)
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Offline mcr

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  • Posts: 7
First mechanical keyboard
« Reply #16 on: Wed, 25 March 2009, 14:58:18 »
So far I'm happy with it. I don't feel like I would need keys that are more sensitive or can be pressed with lesser force to make them active. Still, I need to get used to it - sometimes I'm pushing keys too hard.
I took some photos of keyboard, key switch and label after I've unpacked it. I can post them here or elsewhere if you want.
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Offline lal

  • Posts: 360
First mechanical keyboard
« Reply #17 on: Wed, 25 March 2009, 15:03:06 »
Quote from: mcr;25436
So far I'm happy with it. I don't feel like I would need keys that are more sensitive or can be pressed with lesser force to make them active. Still, I need to get used to it - sometimes I'm pushing keys too hard.
I took some photos of keyboard, key switch and label after I've unpacked it. I can post them here or elsewhere if you want.


Yes, please post them all!
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BS: Customizer, Model Ms; Alps: CSK-2101, FK-2002, AT-101 (SGI & Dell), MCK-860, FKBN87Z/EB; Cherry: Poker X, FKBN87MC/EB, WY60, G80-3000, G84-4100, TDV 5010

Offline FKSSR

  • Posts: 529
First mechanical keyboard
« Reply #18 on: Wed, 25 March 2009, 15:13:18 »
Definitely post them.  I'm very intersted in the clear and red key switches, now.  It sounds like the red would be better linear keys for gaming than blacks and the clear would be better for my preferred typing style.
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Offline bhtooefr

  • Posts: 1624
  • Location: Newark, OH, USA
  • this switch can tick sound of music
    • bhtooefr.org
First mechanical keyboard
« Reply #19 on: Thu, 26 March 2009, 00:54:25 »
I believe the clears have the same springs as... the blacks?

The browns would probably have the same springs as the blues. (And reds.)
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Offline Bauglir

  • Posts: 10
First mechanical keyboard
« Reply #20 on: Thu, 26 March 2009, 12:53:03 »
Quote from: lal;25431
Arrgh.  Well, I guess an excuse is in order :)  Sorry about that.

Now I remember that this has been a fact we have not been 100 percent certain about.  LPC is black linear and LSC is blue clicky for sure.  Cherry describes LQC as "Soft pressure point" which fits what we know about browns.  And given that the vast majority of currently produced keyboards use either black, blue or brown MX, it had been obvious for me that Cherry just *had* to use these three variants in their own G80 line, too.  I was wrong.

I even emailed Cherry Germany about this question but never got a reply.  Now we know that the G80-3000LQC does *not* have brown but clear MX switches.  Thanks for that, mcr.  Good to know you're liking it nevertheless :)

This link of the wiki specifies, in the fourth paragraph, that the Q is for white axis (I think it really means clear), and the K is for the brown axis (the article refers to them as tea):

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=cn&u=http://blog.dengzhe.com/article.asp?id=254

Anyway, clear switches looks more like blues than de browns; it could be a good way to have blues without noise.
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Offline mcr

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First mechanical keyboard
« Reply #21 on: Thu, 26 March 2009, 18:30:27 »
here are promised pics:



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