Replacement keyboard recommendations

[a.justin.wong]

Hi all

Need some help choosing a new keyboard.  I just had my G710+ replaced, but really do not want to keep it. 

1. because of the horrible customer service I received when calling in for a RMA........   Got hung-up on twice (I played nice the whole time), talked to their escalation team and sent an email to their Arm Customer Care Manager.  Never heard back on the issue.  I take it that Logitech condones this type of behaviour from their support reps.  So I'm never buying their products again. 

2. After talking to others who had RMA'd their G710+ in the past.......  The new boards they received developed the exactly same problem after a few months.
So I'm just gonna pass the board to my nephew or sell it.

I am looking to spend around $140, like to have LED, have no need for the macro keys, do not wish to use a Function + Key to change setting or whatnot (but not a deal killer), and want the keyboard to have standard keyboard form factor (unlike the G710+ bottom row) also not a deal killer

So far I have looked at the
Ducky DK9008 Shine 3
Corsair Vengeance K70
Cooler Master Trigger Z
Gigabyte Aivia Osmium
 
If anyone has experience with these board or any other recommendation please help out.


Thanks

[dorkvader]

ducky is quite well respected, though I havent had the chance to open one up and compare. Also look into the WASD code
http://codekeyboards.com/
http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/code-keyboard.html

[JDorfler]

ducky is quite well respected, though I haven't had the chance to open one up and compare. Also look into the WASD code
http://codekeyboards.com/
http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/code-keyboard.html

I have to agree.  I have been in contact on and off with WASDKeyboards since I bought my first plank with them.  They are quick to respond to any question you may have and they take seriously the level of quality in their boards and everything that comes from their website.  I read a lot about how people don't like their ABS keycaps, but to be honest, I feel their quality is well above anything I have had prior to their boards.

I however do not have any experience with Ducky boards.  They seem to be just as nice a WASD/Code, but I have never actually held on in hand.  The lack of PS/2 support is the only thing so far that has stopped me from purchasing one.

[IvanIvanovich]

Ducky and CM Trigger are both fairly nice, similar build quality, but I think the Ducky is quite a lot nicer looking. Corsair boards are made at the same factory as Logitech (no they don't even make them). Gigabyte Aivia is one of poorest build quality I have ever seen on a mechanical, recommend to stay far away from it.
Code would be for sure another good choice.

[Defect]

Love my ducky shine II.  It still had better backlighting options than any of my other boards.  Even though I never use the backlighting and I hate full size boards, its really easy for me to recommend Ducky based on my experiences with it.  Shine 3 TKL is on my radar, even though I have many custom boards.

[a.justin.wong]

ducky is quite well respected, though I havent had the chance to open one up and compare. Also look into the WASD code
http://codekeyboards.com/
http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/code-keyboard.html

Thanks for the info but those are a bit out of my budget......  after shipping, duty and exchange rate the WASD will workout to be well over $200.  Mainly I am shopping at my local NCIX, no shipping, no customs so 100% of price goes towards the board.   The bad thing is they don't carry many brands that just specialize in keyboards. 
They however do have a Max Blackbird, FUNC KB-460, and Roccat Ryos Tkl Pro in my price range, so if anyone has an experience with those please share

Ducky and CM Trigger are both fairly nice, similar build quality, but I think the Ducky is quite a lot nicer looking. Corsair boards are made at the same factory as Logitech (no they don't even make them). Gigabyte Aivia is one of poorest build quality I have ever seen on a mechanical, recommend to stay far away from it.
Code would be for sure another good choice.

Those are the two main ones that I was planning on the Ducky and Trigger.  Ducky cause I hear so much praise about there boards and CM since they have a local service center in my area.  Just in case, would be a pain in the ass and wallet to shipped a 5LB board internationally.  So glad to hear that the CM build quality is similar to the Ducky boards  and thanks for the head up on the Gigabyte, was feeling the look of the board.

Also I been reading that the main problem with finding replacement keys for G710+ is because of the non-standard spaceBar size 6.5 units.  Believe it was said in another post that only the MAxkeyboard universal set has one that fits.  So is there anyway of telling if these boards im looking at now have the same issue 

Thanks

[IvanIvanovich]

The Logitech, Corsair and CM TK all are made by the same OEM as far as I can tell, and have the same mixed size bottom row and odd sized spacebar. The Tt Posiedon also has a nonstandard bottom row, but they use all easy to obtain key sizes.
All the keyboards made by iOne will have the 1.5 1 1.5 6 1.5 1 1 1.5 bottom row arrangement. iOne build quality ranges from terrible to OK... rebrands include stuff from Razer, Gigabyte, Func, Roccat, Tesoro, and many many more.
Most other brands use the current standard which is 1.25 and 6.25 keys for the bottom row. If all the control, alt, windows, menu keys are the same size you won't have issues with swapping keycaps in general.

Perusing ncix if I were you I would pick the Ducky Shine Zero (DK2108SZ) which is less expensive version of shine without all the flashy led effects and is currently on sale. Or, if you could do tenkeyless then CM Rapid I would be another good pick.

[Hypersphere]

I have had excellent experiences with WASD keyboards and their superb customer service. I had a problem with my first keyboard from them and after discussing it with customer service via email, they agreed to replace the board. I got a WASD V2 87 mx brown Barebones, because I was going to replace the keycaps anyway. The price was good, and the board is of excellent quality. I particularly like the Costar-type stabilizers, which give a crisp and even response on all the stabilized keys with no rattle.

[berserkfan]

I believe on ebay Canadian NCIX offers Ducky Shine 3s for $87 with $8 shipping Canada. These are supposed to be returns in otherwise new condition.

[a.justin.wong]

The Logitech, Corsair and CM TK all are made by the same OEM as far as I can tell, and have the same mixed size bottom row and odd sized spacebar. The Tt Posiedon also has a nonstandard bottom row, but they use all easy to obtain key sizes.
All the keyboards made by iOne will have the 1.5 1 1.5 6 1.5 1 1 1.5 bottom row arrangement. iOne build quality ranges from terrible to OK... rebrands include stuff from Razer, Gigabyte, Func, Roccat, Tesoro, and many many more.
Most other brands use the current standard which is 1.25 and 6.25 keys for the bottom row. If all the control, alt, windows, menu keys are the same size you won't have issues with swapping keycaps in general.

Perusing ncix if I were you I would pick the Ducky Shine Zero (DK2108SZ) which is less expensive version of shine without all the flashy led effects and is currently on sale. Or, if you could do tenkeyless then CM Rapid I would be another good pick.

So is the only difference between the DK2108SZ and DK9008 the lighting effect option on the latter?  Cause I have seen the DK9008 go as low as $119 at NCIX.   And as far as I can see the CM Trigger Z
has the sames size bottom buttons and got a pretty good review by YuukiHaruto on the forum.  Any idea on the build quality on that, is it also by the same people who build boards for Logi and Corsair?  I kinda like the look of that one the most.

[rowdy]

I suspect many do not like the Trigger because of the keycaps, and because of the extra macro keys.  For many people macro keys are unnecessary, and sometimes inconvenient.

[johndavis33]

I've opened up a QFR, ds 3, and filco majetouch before. The ducky and filco were easily better built than the QFR. The plates were thicker, the plastic cases were thicker, everything was just more "solid". And the QFR is supposed to have the best quality out of all of the "gamer" boards.

[rowdy]

I've opened up a QFR, ds 3, and filco majetouch before. The ducky and filco were easily better built than the QFR. The plates were thicker, the plastic cases were thicker, everything was just more "solid". And the QFR is supposed to have the best quality out of all of the "gamer" boards.

My QFS (basically QFR) MX greens has had a fair beating since I bought it secondhand - hasn't missed a beat!

My QFR MX blacks has also had a fari bit of use, and zero problems.

[johndavis33]

I've opened up a QFR, ds 3, and filco majetouch before. The ducky and filco were easily better built than the QFR. The plates were thicker, the plastic cases were thicker, everything was just more "solid". And the QFR is supposed to have the best quality out of all of the "gamer" boards.

My QFS (basically QFR) MX greens has had a fair beating since I bought it secondhand - hasn't missed a beat!

My QFR MX blacks has also had a fari bit of use, and zero problems.

I doubt they'll break down in any reasonable amount of time. When I say "build quality", I'm talking more about the solid-ness of the keyboard. That'll alter feel a lot when bottoming out. It's hard to tell if you don't bottom out or use stiffer switches, like greens. But if he uses browns, he'll definitely be able to feel the difference between a ducky shine 3 and a QFR when bottoming out. His fingers will be hitting switches in a steel plate that's significantly thicker.

[Garret Masterson]

Ducky is a good brand. I have a ducky shine 2 that's still in excellent condition for almost 2 years now that I use every day. 

I have been reading some posts in a local forum in our country though that says they have problems with broken led lights after a few months with their ducky shine 3 so I'd recommend getting the older versions if you're planing to buy ducky keyboards

[johndavis33]

Ducky is a good brand. I have a ducky shine 2 that's still in excellent condition for almost 2 years now that I use every day. 

I have been reading some posts in a local forum in our country though that says they have problems with broken led lights after a few months with their ducky shine 3 so I'd recommend getting the older versions if you're planing to buy ducky keyboards

The failure rates on the 1 and 2s are much higher, from what I've heard.

[C5Allroad]

I'm biased. Ducky.

Although, I do want a code board... One day...

[a.justin.wong]

I suspect many do not like the Trigger because of the keycaps, and because of the extra macro keys.  For many people macro keys are unnecessary, and sometimes inconvenient.

"Because of their keycaps" as in cheap quality, cracks easily like the G710 ones do?  I do game a bit, sometimes MMO, but not serious enough to take the time to set macro's.   Maybe when Blade and Soul or Condor Heroes Zero finally make it to NA. 

Ducky is a good brand. I have a ducky shine 2 that's still in excellent condition for almost 2 years now that I use every day. 

I have been reading some posts in a local forum in our country though that says they have problems with broken led lights after a few months with their ducky shine 3 so I'd recommend getting the older versions if you're planing to buy ducky keyboards

That's another reason I'm leaning towards the Trigger Z.  CM has a Service Center 15min away form my place.  I was just lucky that 2 of Logitech reps though it was ok to hang-up on me, and their escalation team figured that they can make it up by offering me free shipping.   Doubt they will ever do that for me again after I'm done with their Arm Customer Care Manager.   

[rowdy]

Ducky is a good brand. I have a ducky shine 2 that's still in excellent condition for almost 2 years now that I use every day. 

I have been reading some posts in a local forum in our country though that says they have problems with broken led lights after a few months with their ducky shine 3 so I'd recommend getting the older versions if you're planing to buy ducky keyboards

Welcome to Geekhack!

I have two Ducky Shine version 1 - one of them has had heavy daily usage for more than a year, and hasn't missed a beat.

[IvanIvanovich]

Pretty sure CM Trigger is made by Costar like the Rapid and XT models. CM Pro and TK are made by different OEMs.