Thanks very much for the input so far. I spent a few minutes researching every kb you mentioned.
The monoprice kb looks nice, but I worry about the quality of the keyboard. I think my fascination with CM kb's is because of the quality at it's price point.
I previously looked a the larger Roccat and liked the functions etc. But from all the images, it looks kinda cheap to me. I gotta get past the thundercats symbol lol. The smaller one is intriguing and I have to add it to my short list. Not a lot of reviews but I'll use the bigger one as a base and add the light show from the ces show I found. Does anyone have one? I believe its around $130 US so it's right with the rapid-i and k65 rgb when sales start.
The Ducky Shine 3 TKL is that the same as the slim?
http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=538I like this kb obviously, but I think I'd take the rapid i since it's the same price.
I feel like there's getting to be more competition. Does anyone know of any other kb on the horizon that will pack all or most of the features. By now they know that people will buy a 2nd kb just for mobility if it packs every feature on my list.
It has to be red or black since it will be my gaming kb. I might buy another for typing, but I want to test several different kb's before opening that can...
I prefer tkl because I am moving my gaming components from a big stationary corsair 650d into a much smaller og bitfenix prodigy. Both monitors and the case will be moving it around a bit in an old wheeled tv tray. I really disliked the size of my old logitech gxxx or I would have grabbed the big corsair and been done with it already.
Backlit due to hours and at times I watch movies and game in the dark. It's not mandatory, but I know I'll miss it at times.
Flip flopping on macros. From what I read, the CM sw is crap and the Roccat and Corsair is much better. But I can live without it. I just figured if getting a kb primarily for gaming and entertainment, I should look for all the possible options. I'm going to see how the g700s feels wired. That should cover most of my macro needs. Let's just cross that off as a non factor (for now).
Ducky Shine 3 tkl - Good build, but maybe slightly less kb than the cm for same price?
Rapid-i - Build and features are good. Paying extra for light show.
k65 rgb - Paying a little bit more for good macros and light show. Maybe not as well built as the 1st two.
Roccat tkl pro - Full featured like the k65. Not sure about quality or availability.
If qc wasn't an issue, I would have ordered the monoprice this morning.
Thanks very much for all your help and info. If there's any other kb $130ish US, please lmk. Unless I can find a roccat to play with locally (los angeles), it looks like I'll be picking between the cm and the corsair since I can physically test both at bestbuy.
Will post what I decide in near future. Might be today or in the next couple weeks. New case is coming this week. Will take a couple days to mod it to fit matx mobo in the mini itx tray. But that's another story lol.