I'm ready for 60%, Where are They?

[chuckster]

Not sure where to put this, or if it's even really appropriate, but I'm looking for a 60% MX board right now, and I'm having trouble. After some research, I think a Poker II or a Leopold FC660M would both be very nice, with a nod to the Leo for the arrow keys. PBT caps are important to me, (I will eventually replace them with some nice SA caps though) as is switch. If I can't get heavy, tactile (and preferably clicky) switches like Greens or Whites, I would settle for clears or blues, which it seems is the only viable option for this in the Poker. The layout is also important. I don't need a Pn layer, but it's always nice to have, but I just can't imagine life without dedicated arrow keys (The HHKB lite2 seems like a perfect layout--with two Fn keys and a arrow cluster--but alas, it is not mechanical).

So which do you guys recommend? I've read a thread or five comparing various 60% boards to arrive at those two choices, but--and this is the embarrassing part--I can't seem to find any of either board in stock, other than from Chinese Ebay sellers, which I don't really trust to be honest, and I've got stuck with customs fees before when ordering direct from other nations. I was wondering if anyone had a helpful nod to the Leo stateside, or the Poker. I don't want this to be a WTB thread, but rather a suggestion thread (if that's permitted). I'm looking on opinions on the two boards as well, if anyone has advice for someone going for their first 60%

[rowdy]

qtan seems to have some Pokers: http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/category/cateogry1-name/catId=3982940

[derb2k2]

I expedited a Poker II with blues from Qtan on the 26th of December and I received it in 8 days in Florida! It went through two customs check in Japan and USA. Plus, yea he seems to be the only one that's carrying Pokers and Leopolds.  You can also check this site, as I think they ship from Canada or have a US warehouse.

http://www.banggood.com/KBC-Poker-2-Mini-Mechanical-Gaming-KeyboardCherry-MX-Blue-Switch-p-931140.html

I still haven't sat down with the Poker so I can't give you feedback, but the FN key is a bit difficult to reach to use the secondary WASD navigation keys.

[Defect]

Poker II seems to show up on Massdrop nearly every month for around 114.  Other 60% show up there as well.

I recommend Massdrop if you're patient.  Good deals

[katushkin]

V60 Mini is awesome. Poker 3 is apparently coming Soon^TM on mk.com

[Hypersphere]

The quintessential 60% keyboard is the HHKB Pro 2. Nevertheless, not everyone likes it. If you want compatibility with Cherry mx keycaps, then currently there is the Poker II, which is available from qtan. I prefer Matias switches to Cherry switches; if you like Matias, there is the KBP V60 Matias Click or Matias Quiet Click. I got the V60MTS-C and V60MTS-Q and swapped the alpha keys for dye-sub PBT from vintage Alps keyboards -- I like these almost as much as my HHKB Pro 2. The KBP V60 also comes with Cherry mx, but these versions are backlit. Finally, you could wait for the Poker 3. The Leopold FC660C is also a very good keyboard -- I like it much more than the Cherry version (FC660M), but it is somewhat larger than a true 60% keyboard.

[Bucake]

i've always liked my (non-backlit, PBT) KBT pure pro. i got it from qtan a while ago.
i'm not sure the spacebar is PBT, but it still doesn't shine one bit after almost 11 months of use!

build quality is great, but if you want clears, greens or whites then you'd have to solder.
my biggest con is the small backspace (top right).
small right shift isn't too bad, i got used to it over time.
other than that: great piece of hardware!
two Fn keys and arrow keys are great features.
nice bonus was an added keypuller
though: because of its 'weird' layout, it might be hard/impossible to replace all of the keycaps..

otherwise you could consider the 660C.

well, good luck finding a board that suits your needs

[chuckster]

Wow, thanks guys, there's my supply problem gone! Now only to decide... And lo, another challenger enters the arena! The TEX Beetle looks like everything I've wanted in a 60%, complete with two fn keys, built-in media functions, and directional buttons. The tiny right-shift key being the only possible quibble. Is the TEX programmable in any way, like the Poker, or am I stuck with what's built-in and nothing else? It looks like ABS caps, but that's just an excuse to curry some SA replacements all the sooner!


The Pure also looks promising, although I've heard of QC issues with the ABS caps. I'll have to dig a little deeper on that one.

[Hypersphere]

I got a Tex Beetle when they first came out. I have subsequently sold it. I liked the solid feel that came mostly from the top aluminum case. It is also a handsome looking keyboard. The caps are ABS, but they aren't bad. Apart from the fact that Cherry mx switches are my least favorite, the Tex Beetle had some fundamental issues with non-standard staggering and the 1.00x Right Shift key. I use the Right Shift more often than the Left Shift, and I need a key that is at least 1.25x. It was difficult to find replacement keycaps for the Beetle, and I much prefer PBT over ABS. I also prefer my 60% keyboards to have either a HHKB or a standard layout with no arrow keys, with a Fn key either to the right of the Right Shift or in the lower right-hand corner on the bottom row. If you are okay with the Tex Beetle layout and the keycaps, it is a nice Cherry mx keyboard. However, my own preferences in a 60% are: HHKB Pro 2 > KBP V60MTS-C ~ KBP V60MTS-Q >> Poker II.

[Defect]

Wow, thanks guys, there's my supply problem gone! Now only to decide... And lo, another challenger enters the arena! The TEX Beetle looks like everything I've wanted in a 60%, complete with two fn keys, built-in media functions, and directional buttons. The tiny right-shift key being the only possible quibble. Is the TEX programmable in any way, like the Poker, or am I stuck with what's built-in and nothing else? It looks like ABS caps, but that's just an excuse to curry some SA replacements all the sooner!


The Pure also looks promising, although I've heard of QC issues with the ABS caps. I'll have to dig a little deeper on that one.

The pure has my favorite (stock) layout of all available 60%'s.  The FN toggle options are nice, like turning the right modifiers into arrow keys by pressing FN + Space.  Holding FN and turns okl; to arrow keys.  Only issue is that it uses a short right shift, so swapping keycaps can be annoying.  I had to buy two full keysets to get a nice full set for my 60%.  Lot of extra keys.

[Oobly]

The pure has a great layout, but it's not programmable. The smaller right shift is the only real difference from standard layout and most Group Buys include a kit with a 1.75x Shift, so it's okay for keycaps.

The Leopold has the arrow keys and I do admit that even though I'm fairly used to the arrows on the Fn layer of the Pure I would still prefer dedicated arrow keys for when I'm doing a lot of text editing. I think the Leopold could have odd spacebar stabiliser positions, but perhaps that's another Leopold model I'm thinking of. The right Shift of the 660c is the same as the left, so it's a standard key size, but most GB's don't include a set with an extra left Shift, so it's a bit harder for keycaps than the Pure.

The stock keycaps on the Pure are thin ABS and not all that nice. Also, the LED's on the Pure are on the bottom of the switches instead of the top like they are on the Poker II.

Poker II is programmable and comes with PBT caps if you get the non-backlit model, but you can add in the LEDs yourself if you want the backlighting since it's supported on both boards. Standard layout means any keycap set will fit, no odd-sized caps. You can put the arrows anywhere you want on the second layer by programming it. I'd recommend something like the Pure layout as a starting point and adjust as you like from there.