Do you prefer a black or a white keyboard?

[loki993]

I have a white keycool 84 and I like it but it gets really dirty fast, it looks really nice when its clean though. I also ordered a Poker II from the massdrop but I ordered a grey one. Well they sent me the wrong one. The gave me an option keep the white and get 30 dollars refunded or swap it out for the grey. 

So Im just curious what colors do people prefer? Im on the fence so far.

[pbtforever]

Black

[SpecTP]

one of each

[saturnotaku]

one of each

^ This.

I have a white Realforce at work and black one at home, though I will be putting the former's alphanumeric keycaps on the latter.

[E TwentyNine]

Industrial.

[Gaahl]

Both of mine are black but that is mainly because all of my other peripherals are black and I like everything to fit together. I might get a white one next. I am thinking of getting a set of white keycaps for my Poker though.

[SpAmRaY]

I much prefer black keyboards, I'm thinking of painting my white keycool since I never found a black one.

[jameslr]

I think I prefer white. I like the contrast with a dark set of keys. Like my custom painted Filco

[user 18]

No love for beige boards?

I think the body of the board should be an appropriate colour to complement the caps. Precisely what colour that is, can vary from setup to setup.

[HipsterPunks]

Old photo

My hhkb almost always stays with blank black mods, black on black alphas. I just love the look 😈 however it is a PITA to keep the dust away

[cruzin]

Black, although I've been thinking about getting a white one.

[Altis]

I tend to prefer newer models to be in black, as my older ones are all beige/white(ish). The thing about black though is that, where white gets dirty, black gets dusty. A gloss black finish makes this far more noticeable, but I can see it on matte black as well.

Backlit keyboards are also much easier to read with black keycaps, as white with backlight can be difficult when ambient light is high enough.

Bottom line: Mix it up however you like!

[divito]

One of each.

[Sent]

Black and darker colors in general with the exception of pink and purple.

[esoomenona]

Industrial grey/olive greenish. Then black, but I do like having a white as well.

There's something to be said for how well other colors mesh with black. It accepts everything very nicely.

[D01]

Black only.

[davkol]

Light keycaps on a dark case or the other way around. Like Unicomp EnduraPro (gray keycaps, black case) or now my ErgoDox (black Cherry POM keycaps, czarek's white PVC case).

[inanis]

I have a white Poker II. I think it is fantastic. Now, I could also see the appeal with the black, or grey, BUT...if someone told me they would give me $30 to keep a pristine white Poker, I'd be all over that like flies on honey.

Also, I'm very frugal.

[NAMESPACE]

I would go with black, if your keyboard is white or Beige like an old windows box everyone in the office will tease you.

[0100010]

Blank black, that way other people in the office leave it alone because they don't think they can type on it.

[NAMESPACE]

Badass DAS users, right? Then switch it to colemak or dvork so the ones who dare to bother you get what's coming.

[esoomenona]

Blank black, that way other people in the office leave it alone because they don't think they can type on it.

A 60% can do that as well. A lot of people look at it and wonder how you can type on it. A blank 60%? Oh ****, son.

[cherpalla]

White for me. I clean it daily, but it undoubtedly looks prettier to me. I like my black ones, too, but something about my white ones are just more special to me. Perhaps it's because most other keyboards I see are black.

[FrostyToast]

Depends on what style I want the keyboard to be.
Some keysets work well with black, and some better with white.

[Puddsy]

black with white keycaps.

[barkinos98]

Black/darker colors because white hurts my eyes, i love my room being illuminated very well and the light shining off the white board disturbs my eye because peripheral vision...

[Touch_It]

White I suppose.  Feel sleeper to me.  Take a look at a old white or beige keyboard and think why are you typing on that pos.  Then they type on it and are like oh wow!

[Hypersphere]

I like contrasts. Some of my boards are white, some beige, some black. My most recent acquisitions include the HHKB Pro 2, RF 87u, and CM Novatouch. All were purchased in black with black keycaps, but I replaced the alphanumeric keycaps on the HHKB and RF with white keycaps (black legends) from a HHKB Pro 2. The Novatouch currently has blue alphanumerics (black legends) and gray/beige mods (black legends).

Edit: I like the black RF 87u with blue alphas and black mods so much, I am considering the same color scheme for all my black keyboards. Previously, my RF was all black, but I prefer legible legends on the alpha keys. However, the contrast was too stark with white keys and black legends on a black keyboard. The sky blue keys dials down the contrast to a level that is soothing and functional.

I've also tried expanding the blue keys to the F-key row and the Navigation Island, but this looked too busy. However, the RF 87u looks good with blue arrow keys in addition to blue alphas, with everything else in black.

My vintage IBM boards are a different story. They look fine in their original beige and off-white, although some look great with the case repainted in certain dark colors (but not necessarily black).

[paicrai]

hhkb

[keyton]

Red.  But I don't have one.

[paicrai]

Red.  But I don't have one.

who are you ****er

[Novus]

Red.  But I don't have one.

who are you ****er

[Grim Fandango]

Depends on the desk, room, and the rest of your peripherals. In my game room (or, what my girlfriend keeps calling our "study") black is the best choice as it blends in well with the rest. In the living room, where the computer has to blend in as well (only the keyboard and monitor are visible, nothing else) white is the far better option.

When it comes to dirt they both have their pros and cons. On black keys, you can see dust , lint, cathair, and general wear on the keys much more clearly than on white. On white keys you do not notice those things nearly as much, but the dirt and grime that the keycaps pick up from your hands is much more visible.

[Findecanor]

black with white keycaps.

White with black keycaps!!

[thestage]

white, generally

[clacktalk]

I like both depending on how they're done. HHKBs do it best. White unprinted and black printed are godlike in their own special ways and have no equal. I actually lean more towards the white unprinted, but just by a hair

hhkb

you need one in your life

[StylinGreymon]

Between the two, I definitely prefer African-American keyboards.

Though I prefer silver to both.

[Hyde]

They each have their pros and cons, but generally I think I'd pick white over black if the option is available.

However dark grey is catching up to be my new favorite color lol. (Example: Poker 2 Keycaps, Topre Type Heaven)

As for the Pros and Cons:

White - More unique in my opinion, also contrary to popular believe white is actually easier to maintain, also color matches well with most custom keycap sets.  However companies tend to never use the same shade of white/light grey/beige so sometimes it's pain in the butt.

Black - Easier to color match other gear such as mouse / computer tower.  Goes well with certain keycap sets such as Dolch.  Drawback being dust and shiny shows up too well on black.

[cherpalla]

Between the two, I definitely prefer African-American keyboards.

Though I prefer silver to both.

WHERE DID YOU FIND AN AFRICAN KEYBOARD?!

[demik]

black is beautiful but white is right






sorry.


i just really like the white classy look of keyboards. plus you see shine less on the spacebar.

[nubbinator]

White is sexy, but it gets dirty so damn easily.  I'd probably do white if I didn't know for certain that I would get it dirty.

[dustinhxc]

Black!  Always!


Except for HHKB Pro 1, IBM, Alps, etc

[tp4tissue]

did anyone post the racist gif yet?

[davkol]

white powa

[Oobly]

Silver. Plain anodised aluminium works for me.

Actually I like black, white and silver. All 3 colours go well with almost any keycap colours, so you can pick and choose.

[epzy]

I like them both, it all depends on which keycaps I'm gonna use.

[osi]

Black hhkb with white/gray caps-blanks

[Binge]

Neither! Anodized alu or matte metallic colors.

Black/white are bad for different reasons.

Black - hides dirt and therefore becomes hard to clean.  Never looks quite as clean or sleek as a new white keyboard.

White - might discolor , dirties easily, and doesn't look great with most keycap sets.

[loki993]

I have a white Poker II. I think it is fantastic. Now, I could also see the appeal with the black, or grey, BUT...if someone told me they would give me $30 to keep a pristine white Poker, I'd be all over that like flies on honey.

Also, I'm very frugal.

This is probably the real question.....even if I did want black is it worst 30 extra bucks to me...Im not sure.

[rowdy]

Anything with good contrast on the legends in poor light.