Bored, What are my options?

[RedCloudFuneral]

Perhaps it is just that I've owned this keyboard for a few years now, or the fact that I only have this one board(the horror!) but I've decided it's time to try something new.

I currently own a Cherry Blue Ducky Year of the Tiger, which I have enjoyed for at least 3 years now(I honestly can't remember when these came out, I grabbed the last new one that sold on ebay.) Being a bit slow making my order I was forced to go with MX Blues. I've come to love the typing experiance, but I've never liked the noise. It's distracting when I am trying to listen to music with my open-backed headphones. And when I am working I prefer to listen to music. Let's just say my metal collection has grown a lot faster in these three years than my ambient and classical. 

I've been putting off getting something else for at least a year now as everything else about the board is perfect. I love the PBT keys, the build, the wrist-rest, I do prefer white keyboards though for nostalgia's sake.

I guess what I'm asking is what my options are these days. I haven't been around here for a few years, I see the pokers are still around(wasn't a fan.)

I don't really have any preferences except to say that I would be interested in trying something with a a bit more bounce to it. I've never learned not to bottom out the keys on this board and doing so slows down my typing. I've challenged myself to pass 100WPM(highest 97 so far) but I don't think I can do it with my current board(and technique.)

I'm tempted to try out a topre, or one of the various ergodynamic boards available... I guess what I want is something new and interesting. I've already tried MX Reds(with the Poker) and Clears(With a deck, my first mech) and wasn't a fan of either. One was too light, the other too heavy. The blues were the 'Goldilocks' switch for me at the time, though my preferences may have changed as well.

[Belfong]

Sounds like a Brown switch would fit you as it is slightly lighter than Blues minus the noise. It is also heavier than Red. And if you like PBT keys probably your choices are limited as stock PBT key caps that comes with keyboard are only Poker and KBTalking. But there is a Granite GB running now (click my signature) in which you can buy beautiful PBT keycaps. With that, you can opt for more keyboards - I am a proponent of WASD V2 so I suggest you take a look at their keyboards. Topre is definitely a good choice but you probably need to be hardcore to fork around us$200 for one.

[rowdy]

New and interesting = CM Novatouch

[zig_ziglar]

I doubt you'll browns very exciting. Maybe you just don't like typing?

[SSIPAK]

join the bandwagon with me and go with topre, after all these years with Filco Brown I am finally trying something new and I am very excited (my topre is getting shipped later today)

[RedCloudFuneral]

Hmm, I've been considering Topre. I just got a job which is going to require a lot of typing so I am open to spending more on my new board than I did this one. I wasn't going to break $200 when I was just using it for gaming & casual use but I'm willing to spend twice that now if it's warranted.

I think one of the changes that made me less of a fan of this keyboard was switching to a stand-up work station. I don't recall bottoming out the keys as much when I had a normal desk, so perhaps I should think about giving clears another try?

Yeah if I'm going with a regular rectangular keyboard I'm going to try out topre, what are my options on the ergonomic front? I've seen the ergodox but I haven't a clue where to buy a pre-assembled one. And I've also seen the King's Assembly on kickstarter, but I'm a bit skeptical as to how ergonomic something like that really is. It seems more something targetted toward gamers, and while I am a gamer I don't play first-person games much so I really don't need something like that.

[CPTBadAss]

If you're into ergo boards, consider picking up an ergo-dox. If you're bored with MX, why not try Alps or Buckling Spring? Or maybe you should try a linear or tactile MX switch.

[Belfong]

Can you wait till August? Matias Ergo Pro is available for pre order now.

[tricheboars]

ErgoDox.

[Linkbane]

As far as ergonomic boards, if you have tons of money you could even buy a microTRON (runs about $400-500), a split Topre board. Otherwise, the ergodox is usually bought as parts from Massdrop for $200, and you could probably either get one from the classifieds or pay someone who knows how to solder and show them WFD's tutorial.

Of course, for pre-assembled, the Kinesis might be a good choice.

[zig_ziglar]

Kinesis is pretty groovy, but still limited to MX blue, red, brown.

[esko997]

If clears were too heavy and reds to light you might look into cherry blacks -- i have been really enjoying them. Theyre lighter than clears and stiffer than reds.

[rowdy]

If clears were too heavy and reds to light you might look into cherry blacks -- i have been really enjoying them. Theyre lighter than clears and stiffer than reds.

Greens are more fun than blacks

[zig_ziglar]

Black probably my least favourite switch, personally. I still prefer it over rubber dome though.

[RedCloudFuneral]

Hmm, I don't really want to go over $400, still a college kid and the new job I'm getting this for isn't a sure thing just yet.  ) And by job I mean I'm starting my own buisness because there really isn't much else out there.

Are Topre linear or tactile switches? I could look into trying blacks, really what I think I'm looking for is a switch that will stop me from bottoming out as that is where most of the noise comes from. I'm not decided on an ergonomic board yet, every time I look down to see how I'm positioned on the keyboard it's different so it may be best for me to stay with a standard layout. It doesn't help that my technique isn't correct but I could work on that if need be. For example my 'home keys' for my left hand are R,S,A,left shift, space, and for my right hand j,k,l,'.backspace. It's not ideal but it works.  You know what would fix my boredom.. going for a layout different than QWERTY. I have to ask if there are any boards out there that let you toggle between different layouts(need QWERTY for gaming.) I don't look at the keys when I type so that isn't an issue.

[Linkbane]

Hmm, I don't really want to go over $400, still a college kid and the new job I'm getting this for isn't a sure thing just yet.  ) And by job I mean I'm starting my own buisness because there really isn't much else out there.

Are Topre linear or tactile switches? I could look into trying blacks, really what I think I'm looking for is a switch that will stop me from bottoming out as that is where most of the noise comes from. I'm not decided on an ergonomic board yet, every time I look down to see how I'm positioned on the keyboard it's different so it may be best for me to stay with a standard layout. It doesn't help that my technique isn't correct but I could work on that if need be. For example my 'home keys' for my left hand are R,S,A,left shift, space, and for my right hand j,k,l,'.backspace. It's not ideal but it works.  You know what would fix my boredom.. going for a layout different than QWERTY. I have to ask if there are any boards out there that let you toggle between different layouts(need QWERTY for gaming.) I don't look at the keys when I type so that isn't an issue.

If you want something to help you stop bottoming out, definitely don't get a Topre, as it's nearly impossibly to not bottom out on because it has the rubber dome. Go for an MX Blue or Clear, they will be the best for that. Not many boards have the layout switch, but it's really easy via Ctrl+Shift on Windows. You don't need QWERTY for gaming now, as every game I know automatically switches to another layout; it runs off key location, not the actual letter, if you see what I mean.

I play LoL, and I was overjoyed that when I started up, the letters immediately showed up as ',.p instead of QWER, and 'x' instead of 'b'.

[Defect]

Not really a new board, but may help with your "bored."

I bought a couple TG3 Data911 off ebay for like 25 bucks shipped (ea), and it came with a weird rubber dome overlay (for MX switches).  I cut it out to fit only top row + alphas on standard layouts (since the data911 is a weird layout)

Good way to get a new feeling with existing boards.  Personally I love it with stock blues (about the only time I like blues these days) or stock clears.  Really heavy with the stock clears but it's absolutely hilarious how it feels to break that super tactile top/mid point.  Stock clear springs + rubber dome = interesting effect.  Probably would not recommend for gaming though.

Edit: Also Unicomp has decent buckling spring boards.  After I tried BS I couldn't get back into blues.  And I used to love blues. 
Physical feedback is better than a model M (only my opinion, results may vary), but aural feedback is not as good.  Still, might be worth mentioning if you like blues.  I had to stop using mine cause I moved in to an apartment with a friend and it is LOUD.

[zig_ziglar]

I find that I bottom out blues too, to be honest. It is because the force builds up while the tactile bump is resisting it, then suddenly releases it downwards. You could get a KMAC with blues with custom springs that are a bit heavier, or maybe try Greens?

[Polymer]

I find that I bottom out blues too, to be honest. It is because the force builds up while the tactile bump is resisting it, then suddenly releases it downwards. You could get a KMAC with blues with custom springs that are a bit heavier, or maybe try Greens?

Clears would be a good choice...the resistance really builds up after actuation...so you'll hit more resistance at 3mm then you would at the bump which is at about 1mm.  (something like 75g vs. 65g).  The next 1mm of travel goes from about 75g to 95-100g.  That ramp up and the extra required force gives you a better chance of not bottoming out..