Keyboard height

[austevo]

Hey guys,

Note sure if anyone else is plagued by this as I can't find any threads relating to it. I've bought a Coolermaster Quickfire Pro MX Blue and hate it, the keys feel so high which makes typing extremely error prone, it's also quite painful using it for longer periods of time. I'm now on my friends Ducky DS2108 in MX brown and love it, the height of the keyboard/keys feels normal.

I want to buy a new keyboard but can't find any information about the height of the keyboard itself and the keys. I'm planning on getting either:

Cooler Master CM Storm QuickFire Stealth MX Brown
Filco Majestouch 2 TenKeyLess NINJA MX Brown

If all of the above are considered 'tall' then I'll probably just get the DS2108.

I've tried everything to do with posture and I've tried adjusting the keyboard as much as I can, it's the keyboard itself. I've tried a Deck and a Ducky in the same position, and they work amazing. So just wondering if I'll have the same issues with the Stealth and Ninja as I have with the CM Quickfire pro?

Help please.

[ideus]

If the main issue are the keycaps and their height, you may try to replace them. Cherry and DCS are lower profiles than OEM caps. If the issue is the keyboard the only way is to get a new one.

[PointyFox]

Your table is probably too low.  Try a wrist rest.

[Defect]

You could also get a keyboard mat or a large mousepad and just take the board out of its case, if its the case that's causing the uncomfortable profile.  Won't look as pretty.

Otherwise, look for new caps as people have mentioned.  Wrist rest helps as well.

[CPTBadAss]

There's a lot of factors that play into this:

- Posture
- Keycap height
- Where you place your keyboard
- Do you angle the keyboard up with the legs

It's not as simple as *just* the keyboard. In order to start helping you, can you tell us about your typing posture, where your keyboard is sitting, what keycaps the two keyboards have?

[austevo]

It's the keyboard or the caps. Are MX brown and MX blue the same height? I'm using his keyboard on my desk now, in the same position with the same wrist rest and it's much better. The difference between the two is night and day. I think it's the case as the angle of the keys seems to be causing the height issue.

[Defect]

It's the keyboard or the caps. Are MX brown and MX blue the same height? I'm using his keyboard on my desk now, in the same position with the same wrist rest and it's much better. The difference between the two is night and day. I think it's the case as the angle of the keys seems to be causing the height issue.

Changing the MX switch type won't affect height/profile of the board.

[ideus]

All MX switches are the same height. The caps profile may be different, but I do not think they may cause a huge difference in typing. As some has said is more a general ergonomic issue. You may better elaborate your problem, in order to allow the community to provide some advice.

[austevo]

Thanks for the replies. So I feel like I have to raise my finger much more to type on the CM, causing pressure near my knuckles. It's an effort to reach the top row of the keys. When I'm typing my finger tips end touching other keys (possibly due to the height on the CM) as I'm 'hunting' for keys.

[ideus]

Have you tried negative angle?

[austevo]

I've tried adjusting the keyboard as much as I can. It just feels way too high. I instantaneously fell in love with the Ducky, I've been trying to fall in love with the CM for months of daily usage now but still hate it.

[ideus]

I've tried adjusting the keyboard as much as I can. It just feels way too high. I instantaneously fell in love with the Ducky, I've been trying to fall in love with the CM for months of daily usage now but still hate it.

It seems that you just want a Ducky. Thus, no need for excuses.    JJ

[austevo]

Not really. I'd rather one of the other keyboards stated above but don't know whether I'll suffer from the same issues.

[jacobolus]

My guess is that your desk is too high (or your chair is too low).

Ideally you want to be sitting up with a straight back, your head pointed straight ahead at a computer display at about eye level, with your elbows bent about 90°, and your wrists straight, so that your hands 'float' right above the keyboard which should be at a height that your fingertips are touching the keys. The best is to have the keyboard flat or even tilted down at the back (side furthest from your body) by a few degrees.

This old site has a fairly reasonable summary:
http://web.archive.org/web/20050207091800id_/http://benjaminrossen.com/ERGO/html/ergonomic_01.htm

[mouse.the.lucky.dog]

Have you tried raising your chair?

[austevo]

Tried everything. Keyboard is in the same position as the other, just don't like the CM. Side by side, you can see that the height of the keys from the base of the board is much heigher on the CM than the Ducky. I'm even using a Deck in the same position now, which works amazing.

So does anyone know if the originally mentioned keyboards would be the same as my CM? I really like the TKL Ninja and Stealth.

[divito]

I think a picture would really help.

[blackbox]

Have you tried dsa profile keycaps?

[austevo]

Here's the differences.

[jacobolus]

Do you rest your wrists/arms on the table or a wrist rest when you type? You really want to have them 'floating' in the air for comfortable typing. If it’s not comfortable to type with your wrists in the air, then your chair is too low or your desk is too high (an under-desk keyboard tray can be very helpful).

Also, judging from the relative heights of keyboard and display in your picture, you probably want to raise your display up higher.