Looking for a solid cherry mx brown keyboard

[PurpleFurple]

Hi people from geekhack im kinda new to geekhack but im already loving it. I am looking for a solid (high build quality), comfortable  new mechanical keyboard with cherry mx browns and Fn options for media controls like volume up/down etcetra . I have looked into quite some mechanical keyboard brands but dont know wich one is the most comfortable and durable. These are some brands i have looked into Ducky, Keycool, Leopold, Vortex/KBC, Das keyboard, Coolermaster, Steelseries, WASD Keyboards, Rosewill and Tesoro. Backlighting is not a must but it is always nice. My price range is from 0 to about 130$. I hope you can help finding the best mechanical keyboard for me,

[Sifo]

With that price range probably CM Storm QFR. Don't go for Rosewill/Tesoro/Steelseries/new Das. Those other brands work fine, it all comes down to what size you want the keyboard to be.

QFR has everything you've asked for so far, are cheap and for the most part widely available all around the world.

[PurpleFurple]

With that price range probably CM Storm QFR. Don't go for Rosewill/Tesoro/Steelseries/new Das. Those other brands work fine, it all comes down to what size you want the keyboard to be.

QFR has everything you've asked for so far, are cheap and for the most part widely available all around the world.

thank you for the reply. how are the keycaps on the qfr should i consider buying better keycaps at wasdkeybaords.com? And size doesnt matter that much i have enough space for a full size but i never use the numpad..

[Sifo]

Stick with TKL then I guess.

WASDkeyboard's keycaps aren't the best of quality, they are equal to the stock keycaps on a QFR. I'd consider checking out the groupbuys for any set that you might fancy.

[PurpleFurple]

Stick with TKL then I guess.

WASDkeyboard's keycaps aren't the best of quality, they are equal to the stock keycaps on a QFR. I'd consider checking out the groupbuys for any set that you might fancy.

 okay okay thank you. Is there any quality difference between the brands i mentioned because i dont mind spending some more on better quality/comfort.

[Sifo]

Ducky is great if you want backlight, pretty much the #1 keyboard brand with backlighting atm.

Leopold and KeyCool are unique in the sense that they use Cherry stabilizers, but they aren't for everyone. Can't really suggest them without having you feel them first.

WASD's great too, if you're into the features they have.

But QFR overall sounds the best for you from what you've written

[PurpleFurple]

Ducky is great if you want backlight, pretty much the #1 keyboard brand with backlighting atm.

Leopold and KeyCool are unique in the sense that they use Cherry stabilizers, but they aren't for everyone. Can't really suggest them without having you feel them first.

WASD's great too, if you're into the features they have.

But QFR overall sounds the best for you from what you've written

okay ill keep that in mind. what do you think about vortex/KBC

[Sifo]

Vortex has been known as a controversial company in the sense that they never deliver and that their first rounds always have quality check issues.

However over the last year they've gained a decent reputation, I hear they make pretty good 60% boards if you're into that.

[PurpleFurple]

Vortex has been known as a controversial company in the sense that they never deliver and that their first rounds always have quality check issues.

However over the last year they've gained a decent reputation, I hear they make pretty good 60% boards if you're into that.

yea i have looked into the race II wich is very compact but still offers what i want. owyea i am using the keyboard for gaming and typing if that will make a difference in your choices

[Sifo]

Vortex has been known as a controversial company in the sense that they never deliver and that their first rounds always have quality check issues.

However over the last year they've gained a decent reputation, I hear they make pretty good 60% boards if you're into that.

yea i have looked into the race II wich is very compact but still offers what i want. owyea i am using the keyboard for gaming and typing if that will make a difference in your choices

Not really, it all comes down to what you're comfortable with, and depends on what games you play. Personally I absolutely need function keys, so I don't like using compact boards for gaming. The Race's 75% layout is a little too weird for me. But again all personal preference.

[PurpleFurple]

Vortex has been known as a controversial company in the sense that they never deliver and that their first rounds always have quality check issues.

However over the last year they've gained a decent reputation, I hear they make pretty good 60% boards if you're into that.

yea i have looked into the race II wich is very compact but still offers what i want. owyea i am using the keyboard for gaming and typing if that will make a difference in your choices

Not really, it all comes down to what you're comfortable with, and depends on what games you play. Personally I absolutely need function keys, so I don't like using compact boards for gaming. The Race's 75% layout is a little too weird for me. But again all personal preference.

yea i play mostly league of legends and fps games so i dont use the f keys for gaming that much. what do you think about this one http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=463 i dont know why but the keys look more comfortable cus they are more mat or something or is that because these are pbt and on the qfr are abs

[rowdy]

QFR if you don't want backlighting, or Ducky if you do.

Both are solid keyboards that should last you for many years.

[PurpleFurple]

QFR if you don't want backlighting, or Ducky if you do.

Both are solid keyboards that should last you for many years.

so there is no difference in comfort build quality or keycap quality (i like mat keycaps)

[rowdy]

Comfort you will need to judge for yourself.  Given that I regularly use keyboards from Model M to HHKB, I am probably not the best one to judge comfort

Quality - both are great.  One of my Duckys has had fairly heavy daily use at work for more than a year and is still going strong.  My QFR (which I am using to type this) sees less usage, but is still in fantastic condition.

Keycap quality - I swapped the QFR keycaps out almost straight away as I didn't like the legends, so I can't really comment on those.  Ducky Shine keycaps are backlight friendly and have shown no sign of wear (a little shine, perhaps, on some of the more commonly used keys, but they didn't have that much texture to start with).

[PurpleFurple]

Comfort you will need to judge for yourself.  Given that I regularly use keyboards from Model M to HHKB, I am probably not the best one to judge comfort

Quality - both are great.  One of my Duckys has had fairly heavy daily use at work for more than a year and is still going strong.  My QFR (which I am using to type this) sees less usage, but is still in fantastic condition.

Keycap quality - I swapped the QFR keycaps out almost straight away as I didn't like the legends, so I can't really comment on those.  Ducky Shine keycaps are backlight friendly and have shown no sign of wear (a little shine, perhaps, on some of the more commonly used keys, but they didn't have that much texture to start with).

aah okay thank you with what keycaps did you replace them? (i would like to have the letters on them not fully blank keycaps) and what about the keycaps on the
Ducky DK9008G2 PRO those seem really nice (and i dont mean the colours haha)

[rowdy]

aah okay thank you with what keycaps did you replace them? (i would like to have the letters on them not fully blank keycaps) and what about the keycaps on the
Ducky DK9008G2 PRO those seem really nice (and i dont mean the colours haha)

Hahaha initially I replaced the keycaps with a combination of BoW doubleshots from an old terminal board with MX blacks and modifiers from, I think it was, the red Alert set.

Then I managed, after a long search, to get a set of Filco yellow keycaps.

Next up was the green pad-printed set from EK.

Next I think was Miami.

Then I can't remember.

Currently is is Rowdybeit - a mixture of mostly Tai Hao keycaps in something very close to the Handarbeit layout.

Bet you wished you hadn't asked now

[PurpleFurple]

aah okay thank you with what keycaps did you replace them? (i would like to have the letters on them not fully blank keycaps) and what about the keycaps on the
Ducky DK9008G2 PRO those seem really nice (and i dont mean the colours haha)

Hahaha initially I replaced the keycaps with a combination of BoW doubleshots from an old terminal board with MX blacks and modifiers from, I think it was, the red Alert set.

Then I managed, after a long search, to get a set of Filco yellow keycaps.

Next up was the green pad-printed set from EK.

Next I think was Miami.

Then I can't remember.

Currently is is Rowdybeit - a mixture of mostly Tai Hao keycaps in something very close to the Handarbeit layout.

Bet you wished you hadn't asked now

well thats a lot of information to look up haahha what do you think about the pbt and abs difference whats the biggest difference between those two

[rowdy]

well thats a lot of information to look up haahha what do you think about the pbt and abs difference whats the biggest difference between those two

To me the biggest difference between PBT and ABS is that PBT has texture on the surface of the keycaps, ABS is smoother.

I don't mind either, and I have enough keyboards and keysets that I swap them around before any serious shine starts happening on the ABS sets.

You'll find information about the keycap sets here: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=49524.0

[dorkvader]

Solid?

Hard to beat the solidity of the TypeNow Solid, and it's metal case.

well thats a lot of information to look up haahha what do you think about the pbt and abs difference whats the biggest difference between those two

To me the biggest difference between PBT and ABS is that PBT has texture on the surface of the keycaps, ABS is smoother.

I don't mind either, and I have enough keyboards and keysets that I swap them around before any serious shine starts happening on the ABS sets.

You'll find information about the keycap sets here: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=49524.0

Now, see, that's not exactly true.

PBT is actually smoother than ABS. You can tell this by running your finger down the side of an IBM spacebar: very smooth. It's just that usually PBT keycaps are cant with better surface roughness than ABS. This is not always the case, though. Take, for example, some of signature plastics keycaps. Many of their doubleshot ABS keycaps are rougher than any PBT I have. Also, there are some PBT keycaps (imsto, arguably topre) that aren't very rough either. It all depends on their mould.

now, what is he biggest difference between PBT and ABS? from my perspective it's the wear and corrosion resistance. PBT is much harder than ABS and will not wear much, making it much more long lasting. I don't have trouble with wear on any keycaps, but I like the more interestingly engineered option, where available.

[PurpleFurple]

Solid?

Hard to beat the solidity of the TypeNow Solid, and it's metal case.

well thats a lot of information to look up haahha what do you think about the pbt and abs difference whats the biggest difference between those two

To me the biggest difference between PBT and ABS is that PBT has texture on the surface of the keycaps, ABS is smoother.

yea that is what i was thinking already but didnt know it for sure.

soooo i would like to have stock pbt keycaps prefferably wich one would je recommend. i think you already saw what i was looking for in the beginning of the thread

I don't mind either, and I have enough keyboards and keysets that I swap them around before any serious shine starts happening on the ABS sets.

You'll find information about the keycap sets here: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=49524.0

Now, see, that's not exactly true.

PBT is actually smoother than ABS. You can tell this by running your finger down the side of an IBM spacebar: very smooth. It's just that usually PBT keycaps are cant with better surface roughness than ABS. This is not always the case, though. Take, for example, some of signature plastics keycaps. Many of their doubleshot ABS keycaps are rougher than any PBT I have. Also, there are some PBT keycaps (imsto, arguably topre) that aren't very rough either. It all depends on their mould.

now, what is he biggest difference between PBT and ABS? from my perspective it's the wear and corrosion resistance. PBT is much harder than ABS and will not wear much, making it much more long lasting. I don't have trouble with wear on any keycaps, but I like the more interestingly engineered option, where available.

[rowdy]

Solid?

Hard to beat the solidity of the TypeNow Solid, and it's metal case.

well thats a lot of information to look up haahha what do you think about the pbt and abs difference whats the biggest difference between those two

To me the biggest difference between PBT and ABS is that PBT has texture on the surface of the keycaps, ABS is smoother.

yea that is what i was thinking already but didnt know it for sure.

soooo i would like to have stock pbt keycaps prefferably wich one would je recommend. i think you already saw what i was looking for in the beginning of the thread

I don't mind either, and I have enough keyboards and keysets that I swap them around before any serious shine starts happening on the ABS sets.

You'll find information about the keycap sets here: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=49524.0

Now, see, that's not exactly true.

PBT is actually smoother than ABS. You can tell this by running your finger down the side of an IBM spacebar: very smooth. It's just that usually PBT keycaps are cant with better surface roughness than ABS. This is not always the case, though. Take, for example, some of signature plastics keycaps. Many of their doubleshot ABS keycaps are rougher than any PBT I have. Also, there are some PBT keycaps (imsto, arguably topre) that aren't very rough either. It all depends on their mould.

now, what is he biggest difference between PBT and ABS? from my perspective it's the wear and corrosion resistance. PBT is much harder than ABS and will not wear much, making it much more long lasting. I don't have trouble with wear on any keycaps, but I like the more interestingly engineered option, where available.

I only have two complete PBT sets, and they are both somewhat more textured than the ABS sets I have.  Or perhaps the ABS ones have just worn in slightly.

Ok, 4 if you includes the 1.9 sets of Model M keycaps

[PurpleFurple]

what do you think of this one http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=44

[PolaBurrr]

what do you think of this one http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=44

that's not a bad board, but for a little more, you could get a shine or a filco mj2. Even though that keyboard has pbt keycaps, iirc, it is the normal ducky pbt keycaps, which is not thick. So if you are planning to upgrade to thick pbt keycaps later on, then the pbt keycaps on that g2 will be a non-factor.

[boradori007]

I love my Filco TKL Brown, still going strong after 3 years of heavy usage. You should try it.