Too many cooks!!!! (Too many KB options! Help!)

[Everybody]

Hey there everybody!

Longtime lurker, first time poster.

So i've finally saved up some money to get myself a serious keyboard and I'm having trouble picking one. I'm currently using a Razer Blackwidow Ultimate. I really like it, but want to switch to something that meets the following criteria:

+ Cherry MX Blue - I love the tactile feel with the clicky sound and it really helps me get in a typing rythm
+ Tenkeyless - I never use the numpad so it just gets in the way
+ Easily customizable keys/keycaps - Yesterday, I switched to Dvorak (this post is taking forever to touch-type and "L"s are a bit of a pain but I'm enjoying it so far), and I intend to have all my keycaps blank
+ Possibly ergonomic
+ Available new - bit of a germaphobe and so the used market is unavailable to me

Things I do not care about:

- Macros
- Any type of lighting - it can have it as long as its not distracting or it's disabelable (not a word; sue me)

Current contenders: HHKB2, CMStorm Rapid Fire, DasKeyboard Ultimate (least attractive b/c of numpad), TECK, and Kinesis Advantage (new model coming out this year, supposedly, so obviously I'd wait to see what it offers).

Currently, the CMStorm and Kinesis are what most interest me. Disadvantages to the Rapid Fire - not really ergonomic. Disadvantages to the Kinesis Advantage - MX Browns; getting blank, coloured keycaps is a bit of a challenge (that GH users have more or less solved). I'm very curious re: the Advantage for its supposed reduction of RSI, CTS, CIS, wrist pain, etc....

Primary use: typing. I am a novelist and I'm primarily interested in typing comfortably for long periods of time.

Any input is welcome.

Thanks and HELLOOOOO GH!

Edit: title clarification.

[SpAmRaY]

Your title makes no sense to me.

[Joey Quinn]

Your title makes no sense to me.

It doesn't make any sense, a better title may get Everybody some better answers.

[hwood34]

Also include KULs and Duckies in that list (I'm not sure if they make one with blues yet though). Both really good and readily available boards

[derb2k2]

I assume you're looking to game with this keyboard also since you have the Black Widow (lol?  ) CM boards are pretty nice and remember that HHKB uses a different type of switch. As I'm typing this, I don't know how I'd feel about gaming with Topre. Typing on it is amazing though.

[SpAmRaY]

Your title makes no sense to me.

It doesn't make any sense, a better title may get Everybody some better answers.

I must be too old to get it. Perhaps a title with something like, so many keyboards help me choose, would be better.

[Everybody]

I assume you're looking to game with this keyboard also since you have the Black Widow (lol?  ) CM boards are pretty nice and remember that HHKB uses a different type of switch. As I'm typing this, I don't know how I'd feel about gaming with Topre. Typing on it is amazing though.

As I said in my post, my only use is typing. I randomly won the Razer at a holiday party and that's why I have it.

[inanis]

Your title makes no sense to me.

It doesn't make any sense, a better title may get Everybody some better answers.

I clicked into this thread specifically because of that title. I will now have Too Many Cooks stuck in my head for the remainder of the day. Damn you, Everybody! That stupid thing makes no sense, but the tune haunts me.

For the choices you listed, I would probably start with the CMStorm. They are a pretty good value, easy to find and easy to customize. Once you know if you like the feel of the blues and the layout of the TKL you can make a more informed choice on something a little pricier.

[drewba]

Your title makes no sense to me.

It doesn't make any sense, a better title may get Everybody some better answers.

Damn you, Everybody! That stupid thing makes no sense, but the tune haunts me.

Same...I'll probably end up watching the video several times after work now.

OP - Get a KUL ES-87. Rock solid keyboard, exactly what you're looking for and MX Blues are available on elitekeyboards.com

[Oobly]

1. KÛL ES-87
2. Filco Majestouch 2 TKL
3. Ducky Shine TKL

with Blues are the three I'd recommend. They're all top quality boards with steel plates and pretty solid cases.

Then add your order to the Hack'd by Geeks keycap Group Buy (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=67446.0). I'm typing right now on PuLSE SA keycaps and the full contoured SA keycap profile is insanely nice to type on

You could also look at getting an ErgoDox with Blues, but the keycap options are more limited.

In the future, please have look at this thread: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=66836.0

I'm working on a portable keyboard for writers that you can add any Android (and in future, iOS) device to to create a "typewriter". It will have a battery in to charge / extend your devices battery life so you can keep typing for as long as inspiration lasts. Still has some development work needed and will be a while before production starts, but it's getting there.

And I have an ergonomic keyboard in process as well (based on the prototype you can see in my avatar), but it will be a later release.

[Everybody]

After having spent all of yesterday doing reading and agonizing over my decision, I just bit the bullet and bought an HHKB Pro 2.

Very excited for delivery!

[Lurch]

After having spent all of yesterday doing reading and agonizing over my decision, I just bit the bullet and bought an HHKB Pro 2.

Very excited for delivery!

Excellent.

[drewba]

After having spent all of yesterday doing reading and agonizing over my decision, I just bit the bullet and bought an HHKB Pro 2.

Very excited for delivery!

Sounds like someone spoiled the broth

[Joey Quinn]

After having spent all of yesterday doing reading and agonizing over my decision, I just bit the bullet and bought an HHKB Pro 2.

Very excited for delivery!

Good choice, I just bought mine and I've already modded it a bit and haven't used cherry in a while.

[snipars]

After having spent all of yesterday doing reading and agonizing over my decision, I just bit the bullet and bought an HHKB Pro 2.

Very excited for delivery!

Reading the thread i was worried you had decided on something else, that's easily the best keyboard that you listed

[derb2k2]

After having spent all of yesterday doing reading and agonizing over my decision, I just bit the bullet and bought an HHKB Pro 2.

Very excited for delivery!

sick choice bro! Would this officially be your first purchase of a "mechanical" board ? If so, you've got guts.

[Everybody]

After having spent all of yesterday doing reading and agonizing over my decision, I just bit the bullet and bought an HHKB Pro 2.

Very excited for delivery!

sick choice bro! Would this officially be your first purchase of a "mechanical" board ? If so, you've got guts.

Haha. yeap. First mechanical. I'm the type of person that likes to dive into the deep end of topics so not only did I get HHKB2, I'm also planning on doing a keycap mod (where I'll have to dye my own keys).

I figured I might as well go for what (very general) consensus has as being the best. Whats the worst that can happen?

[katushkin]

>Wanted ergonomic
>Wanted MX Blue
>Wanted easily customisable keys

My first thought was ergodox, but hey. One more soul for Demik's topre heaven/hell depending on how you look at it.

[Kira]

Definitely go for a QFR if your on a budget, if not, get a proper Filco TKL. Stick with MX blues and I wouldn't go topre if I were you, they feel too much like rubber domes, at least IMO. I understand you want something more ergonomic, may I ask why? I don't see a 80% keyboard being much of a problem. Better yet a 60% keyboard maybe better. Go with a Poker II in that case =D
You might wanna try MX reds, I'm not sure if you would like them or not but they definitely cause the least amount of strain because of how LIGHT they are xD