So, I need a new keyboard..

[Zergreth]

First, let me introduce myself, since I'm new to this forum
I'm only 17 years old, live in Germany, and I love computers, basically. I'm a programmer, sometimes a graphic designer...but also a gamer. My current keyboard is a Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000 (I hope you will read on after that one, hehe). I'm amazed it lasted over 4 years Still works, but it's falling apart, so I need a new one..

I did some research, because a thing very important to me does not work with my current keyboard. Left/right arrow key, down arrow key and Q/J. J is not important, but the left/right, down and Q combination is. I know, it's awkward, but I need it for gaming purposes So, while keeping that in mind, I looked for a good keyboard which would last long, not offering a bazillion of useless media key bull**** and having an overall awesome quality.

I found the Cherry G80-3000LSC. Blue MX switches. I thought about getting one, but before I would do so, I wanted to ask you guys about the whole thing. Your personal experiences with blue MX switches, and also possibly black and/or clear MX switches (since they are an option as well). Also, I wanted to ask the guys who have one of these to check the key combination described above with geekhack's rollover "tool". I know it doesn't support arrow keys, but just hold the arrow keys down and hit either Q or J. If it's possible and you wouldn't bother checking other letters instead of Q or J, I would be glad if you did

I'm also somewhat open to recommendations, but please keep in mind I'm not a hardcore typist, but more a gamer. I type a lot when coding, but not even the Microsoft keyboard was a problem so far when doing that. Also, the G80-3000 basically has the perfect price. I don't have much money to spend, so keep that in mind as well.

Also, a note: I already read the wiki articles about Cherry switches, and I thought blue would probably work best for me. I'm not the average "don't search just ask" forum user. Still, I would like to have some personal input here


Thanks in advance, awaiting pure professional advice here

[huha]

Blues are fine. Haven't tried clears yet. Blacks can be found for cheap on ebay if you don't mind getting a PS/2 or even AT board (adapters are available for cheap, so that's not a big problem) and cleaning it.

cLeft, cDown, cRight, Q works.
cLeft, cDown, cRight, J works.
cLeft, cDown, cRight, I works.

[edit: In fact, all letters work with cLeft, cDown and cRight pressed.]

I find the G80-3000LSCDE to be a bit too light (both board and switches), but this can be remedies (gluing down some steel rods, swapping springs).

-huha

[bloodien0se]

I love my Filco Tactile Click (also Cherry Blues), but it only comes in TenKeyLess right now. It has n-key rollover though, so key combinations will be no problem.

[Zergreth]

Welcome to Geekhack!

Have you checked the review section of the forum?  Not much on the Cherry clears but lots of discussion after the review on the blues and blacks.  Use this wiki entry to find the model number by switch then look for the review.

Yep *nods* Forgot to say I went through the reviews already as well, hehe. I really like the typing sound of the G80-3000LSC.

Thanks for the input so far, guys. I have another question though. Since I never had a keyboard with mechanical key switches, is there a way to describe how the keys "feel" when typing? Like, is there something you can compare the force you need to press a key to?

[Manyak]

Yep *nods* Forgot to say I went through the reviews already as well, hehe. I really like the typing sound of the G80-3000LSC.

Thanks for the input so far, guys. I have another question though. Since I never had a keyboard with mechanical key switches, is there a way to describe how the keys "feel" when typing? Like, is there something you can compare the force you need to press a key to?

Clears are basically Cherry Browns with the stiffer spring of the Blacks.

Personally I like blues the best, because I respond better to it's precise tactility than the rounded bump of browns.

As for the feel......you know how with most remote controls that have solid rubber buttons, they feel very mushy compared to a keyboard, or even compared to a remote with plastic buttons? Mechanical keyboards make almost all rubber dome boards feel that way.

[o2dazone]

I personally like blues for typing. The tactile (and auditory) feedback is nice. I don't like it on gaming though, I'm pressing so hard on the keys, I don't need the tactile feedback (browns would probably work better here, or even more so, cherry blacks).

There really is no "perfect" keyboard, because typing and gaming require two different things. If there is a universal switch to address both of these, I'd say it'd be a brown. Super light on tactility, 5g less resistance than a blue, but still provides enough tactility when you type (you have to get going fast, but you'll feel it after a while), and still light enough that the tactility doesn't get in the way of gaming.

My opinion of course. We all have different ones here

[Zergreth]

Well, the force required goes all over the map (see the Japanese force diagrams in that Switch Link) and rubber domes just feel mushy because you have to bottom out to  get the key to fire.

Best handy thing I can think of that goes click! and there is a bit of a bump is your mouse button (microswitch).  My Logitech G5 has almost as loud a click as a Blue Cherry switch but not as much travel obviously.

Ahh, you got a G5 as well <3 I'm in love with mine. Alright, I will be getting the G80-3000LSC then Mechanical key switches, here I come!

Thanks for your help, everybody

[timw4mail]

I personally like blues for typing. The tactile (and auditory) feedback is nice. I don't like it on gaming though, I'm pressing so hard on the keys, I don't need the tactile feedback (browns would probably work better here, or even more so, cherry blacks).

There really is no "perfect" keyboard, because typing and gaming require two different things. If there is a universal switch to address both of these, I'd say it'd be a brown. Super light on tactility, 5g less resistance than a blue, but still provides enough tactility when you type (you have to get going fast, but you'll feel it after a while), and still light enough that the tactility doesn't get in the way of gaming.

My opinion of course. We all have different ones here

I'd argue that the Model F is best for typing and gaming, but I'm the crazy one who spent ~$100 on a keyboard older than I am.

[o2dazone]

Yeah, I should also mention every opinion on this board stems from what we've tried. I don't think anyone can agree on one thing...I asked the same question when I bought my first board. I pm'd a few knowledgeable Geekhackers, and they all told me different things. I got two votes for blue, one for brown, one for blacks, and one for buckling spring. I got a blue,a month later, a brown, and then a month and a half after that, an overpriced switch dome :b

[timw4mail]

My son likes a buckling spring Unicomp best for TF2 gaming.   Boy, that gets LOUD.

After going home from school for the weekend, and typing on my Model M again, compared to the Model F, the Model M is quiet. Keyboard noise has never bothered me, though.

[ch_123]

I'd argue that the Model F is best for typing and gaming, but I'm the crazy one who spent ~$100 on a keyboard older than I am.

It's quite good for gaming, but the oddly placed control and some other details of the layout don't make it completely ideal. And I prefer blue Cherrys for typing, I like the lightness of them. Then again, it's all a matter of opinion.

Also, the G80-3000 basically has the perfect price. I don't have much money to spend, so keep that in mind as well.

You won't go wrong with a Blue Cherry G80. They're a great board just about everything, unless you need to be quiet.

[Zergreth]

You won't go wrong with a Blue Cherry G80. They're a great board just about everything, unless you need to be quiet.

Actually, now that you mention it, that might be a slight problem. But I'm not going to explain why It doesn't sound too loud in the video and sound clips in the review section though.

[Zergreth]

Well, is it comparable to the G5 as well? That would be no problem then

[timw4mail]

It's really no louder than any other clicky switch.  But it is high pitched so it does bug some people.  Actually, the Cherry Corp Blue Cherry boards appear to be less high pitched than the Filco (from the recordings).

From what I understand the Filco boards are actually the most annoying. Not that I've had any other blue cherry board other than my iOne Scorpius.


I like the position of the keys on the Model F, I'm finding the control key spot much more handy than it would be on a normal keyboard, less contortions...but that's just me.

[ch_123]

The Control key is useful for non-gaming stuff, but not so useful in games... I use Control for crouch and I'm reluctant to mess with my layout system which I have built up over the years.

It doesn't sound too loud in the video and sound clips in the review section though.

It's the type of sound it makes, which you can only really appreciate when you hear it in person. It's quite high pitched and plasticky. I personally have no issues with it, but I'd appreciate that it would annoy some people.

[itlnstln]

I didn't like blue Cherry click, personally.  I thought the sound was plasticky like others have mentioned.  It's fairly loud (perception-wise, anyway) and high-pitched.  It sounded similar to dropping a bunch of cheap poker chips on a table in terms of pitch and sound.  I prefer the browns over the blues.  They are a little lighter; although, I didn't really feel a difference, but then again, I didn't use the blues but for a few minutes.  The browns are nice and quiet.  They aren't much louder than a cheap dome 'board (my Filco is a little louder than my G80).

[Zergreth]

Well, it looks like I can't get my hands on brownies easily, only clear ones. I will probably go with the blue ones though, I don't mind the sound, don't think so.

[huha]

Mechanical keyboards just feel nice, if you don't happen to get the very bad ones (they exist!). It's hard to describe it, because you don't know what it feels like. It's totally different. However, if you know one, you can easily imagine what others feel like when reading descriptions or looking at force-displacement diagrams.

I'd recommend getting the black version of Cherry boards, though. Keycap lettering is still lasered, but I think they use some kind of intaglio to fill it with white plastic. On greyish keycaps, you'll just get lasered burn marks, which are a bit ugly.

-huha