New keyboard advice - Can't meet requirements

[Folderol]

Hi, I'm new to the world of keyboards.

I'm looking for advise for a new keyboard which will be purely for typing in an office environment

I'm thinking of getting a Blue/Brown switch keyboard (if I find it too loud, I'll install 0.4 mm O-rings)


These are my requirements:

Must:

• 104 keys standard layout
• Detachable USB Cable (for portability)
• Compatible with most common keycaps

Prefer:

• RGB backlighting (will consider Dual and single LED lighting)
• Minimalistic design

If there is a keyboard out there suitable for me, cost isn't much of a concern
I just can't seem to find one that fits all my requirements (or am not satisfied with the ones that do/almost do)

Are there any out there that meet my requirements? Or at least tick most of the boxes?

Your advice is much appreciated

[user 18]

RGB backlighting is still a very rare feature on mech boards. One thing to consider is that installing o-rings will not change the sound of the MX blue switch itself -- that sound from the switch is from the internals, which o-rings don't affect.

Let me think about the rest of the points, I'll see what I can find.

E: CM Quickfire XT hits all the boxes except for backlighting -- it doesn't have any. CM Quickfire Ultimate has backlighting (single colour), but compromises a bit on minimalism and cap compatibility.

Ducky Shine 4 has bicolour LEDs and is relatively simple in design (even if many enthusiasts don't like the aesthetics), but no removable cable.

[Ludovician]

From what I can tell, the CM Novatouch covers everything except the 104-key layout, which is unfortunate as it seems that's a necessity (and I hear Topres are really nice for typing).

I think the WASD CODE keyboards might suit you well. They only come with Cherry MX Green and Clear, but they seem to meet all of your requirements.

[sidel]

WASD has a plain 104 key that meets your requirements but has no backlighting.  They also have their CODE series but I believe those only come with mx clears or greens.  Just to reiterate the warning you've already been given: the actual internal click you get with blues (not associated with bottoming out) can potentially bother people around you.

[jdcarpe]

I would recommend the Ducky Shine 3 DK9008. It meets most of your requirements, and is single-color backlit.

[user 18]

From what I can tell, the CM Novatouch covers everything except the 104-key layout, which is unfortunate as it seems that's a necessity (and I hear Topres are really nice for typing).

I think the WASD CODE keyboards might suit you well. They only come with Cherry MX Green and Clear, but they seem to meet all of your requirements.

Novatouch isn't backlit. If you're looking at WASD boards, take a look at the WASD V2, which is very similar to the code

[Ludovician]

Thanks. My inexperience is showing

[Folderol]

Not too concerned with the noise, I was actually planning to buy both Blue and Brown

CM Quickfire XT - can't find stock for Blues

CM Quickfire Ultimate - having keycap compatibility is important to me to be able to personalize the keyboard, the look of that keyboard doesn't appeal to me anyway

CM Novatouch - not familiar with Topres but as you and I both mentioned 104 is essential

WASD CODE - might consider in the future, not sure how I feel about Green and Clear (have only tried Red, and would prefer to try Blue and Brown first)

WASD V2 - won't have Blues until late April (can't afford to wait that long)

Ducky Shine 3 - local store out of stock, looked at another store that ships to Australia and out of stock, not sure about other sites
(looking at White LED version)

Ducky Shine 4 - the videos I've been watxhing show a detachable cable. The most annoying thing that is putting me off with this keyboard is design of the standoffs (prefer flip). Unfortunatly given the current options this might be the keyboard I will have to settle with


I hope I'm not being too picky but wow, when I first began this quest for a new keyboard I didn't think I would have so much trouble in fact I thought I would be so overwhelmed with so many alternatives that I would have trouble deciding which one to buy. I was actually expecting to make multiple purchases from different brands

[Ludovician]

For what it's worth, Clears are basically stiffer versions of Browns.

[slickmamba]

depending on your work, 4mm orings may not be enough to dampen mx blues.  YMMV

[derb2k2]

in an office environment? I would say ditch the Blues. Even with o-rings they are quite loud-sounding. This is from experience working in an office with several people about 10 feet from me. You might have to go Browns with o-rings which is a nice combination that I use at home sometimes.

[rowdy]

On the switches, the blues make two sounds - a solid thump when you bottom out (which can be reduced with O-rings) and a high-pitched tick as each switch actuates.

Most keyboards produce bottoming out sound, and people are used to it.

Not many produce a high-pitched tick and that sounds tends to carry quite well and annoys a lot of people.

If you are planning to use a keyboard with MX blues in an office environment (and I accept that there are many different office environments) be prepared for some negative comments.

[user 18]

Not too concerned with the noise, I was actually planning to buy both Blue and Brown

CM Quickfire XT - can't find stock for Blues

CM Quickfire Ultimate - having keycap compatibility is important to me to be able to personalize the keyboard, the look of that keyboard doesn't appeal to me anyway

CM Novatouch - not familiar with Topres but as you and I both mentioned 104 is essential

WASD CODE - might consider in the future, not sure how I feel about Green and Clear (have only tried Red, and would prefer to try Blue and Brown first)

WASD V2 - won't have Blues until late April (can't afford to wait that long)

Ducky Shine 3 - local store out of stock, looked at another store that ships to Australia and out of stock, not sure about other sites
(looking at White LED version)

Ducky Shine 4 - the videos I've been watxhing show a detachable cable. The most annoying thing that is putting me off with this keyboard is design of the standoffs (prefer flip). Unfortunatly given the current options this might be the keyboard I will have to settle with


I hope I'm not being too picky but wow, when I first began this quest for a new keyboard I didn't think I would have so much trouble in fact I thought I would be so overwhelmed with so many alternatives that I would have trouble deciding which one to buy. I was actually expecting to make multiple purchases from different brands

If you're happy with the WASD or XT other than the switches, you could easily buy some loose blues and swap them out. It would be a bit of soldering, but very easy to do compared to some more precise projects. If you're not comfortable, there are many community members who would be willing to help you out.

[Folderol]

Prefer not to touch the internals

As many are suggesting, I will change switch types.

Brown seems like the next logical choice for typists in an office environment

[rowdy]

Some say browns feel like gritty reds, others love browns.

They will certainly be quieter than blues, and with O-rings will be much quieter than blues.

[Nai_Calus]

Yeah, for office use you want browns/clears, you do not want blues. They have a very pronounced CLACK that can and will annoy others near you. Ask my dad, I'm living at home right now and my Monoprice used to drive her nuts. The Code I have now doesn't have that issue.

You mention wanting to stick to the common switches, but I can definitely recommend the Code if you're OK with a stiffer switch than the brown. It's got a great tactile bump and isn't as stiff as you might fear reading the specs. I was wary of clears until I felt them at a meetup and then I had bought a board with them within a week, rofl. If you don't like heavier switches they're probably not for you, but I  like them a lot better than browns.

The Code even ticks pretty much all your boxes - Detachable cable, standard 104 layout, super-minimal, compatible with alternate keysets, backlighting. Single-colour only, white, but it looks good. It's a great keyboard and I love mine.

[rowdy]

Yeah, for office use you want browns/clears, you do not want blues. They have a very pronounced CLACK that can and will annoy others near you. Ask my dad, I'm living at home right now and my Monoprice used to drive her nuts. The Code I have now doesn't have that issue.

You mention wanting to stick to the common switches, but I can definitely recommend the Code if you're OK with a stiffer switch than the brown. It's got a great tactile bump and isn't as stiff as you might fear reading the specs. I was wary of clears until I felt them at a meetup and then I had bought a board with them within a week, rofl. If you don't like heavier switches they're probably not for you, but I  like them a lot better than browns.

The Code even ticks pretty much all your boxes - Detachable cable, standard 104 layout, super-minimal, compatible with alternate keysets, backlighting. Single-colour only, white, but it looks good. It's a great keyboard and I love mine.

There's a lot of good reports of the CODE.  The only negative I've heard is the the first model pinged quite a bit.

[Snowdog993]

What about the Rosewill RK-9000?  I think it is now a V2.  I'm no expert on Cherry MX stuff though.

[Folderol]

There's a lot of good reports of the CODE.  The only negative I've heard is the the first model pinged quite a bit.

I don't know what you mean when you say pinged


I like how minimalistic the Rosewill RK-9000 is but unfortunately would prefer to get a keyboard with some disco lights

[Ludovician]

I don't know what you mean when you say pinged

[Snowdog993]

There's a lot of good reports of the CODE.  The only negative I've heard is the the first model pinged quite a bit.

I don't know what you mean when you say pinged


I like how minimalistic the Rosewill RK-9000 is but unfortunately would prefer to get a keyboard with some disco lights

That meets every requirement you want with the exception of lighting.  I don't know what else to suggest, like I said before I am not an expert on Cherry MX at all.  Now lighting is required.

Edit:Get this one then.

http://www.rosewill.com/products/2614/ProductDetail_Overview.htm

Enjoy!

[njbair]

Ducky Shine 3. And honestly, the backlighting is gimmicky on all these things, other than a little bit for low light situations.

I bought a Shine 3 and was super excited about the backlighting but I barely ever use it now.

[Oobly]

If you can't find a Ducky Shine 3, then the Ducky Shine 4 is a great choice.

Also, you may find the WASD Code with Clears to be a suitable board. Browns are okay, but have quite limited tactility. Clears have a much more pronounced tactile bump and different spring profile. It starts off fairly similar, but gets harder quicker, so after the actuation point it pushes back harder, which can help reduce bottoming out, or at least reduce the impact a little.

I find Blues to have a slightly "plastic" click sound that seems kind of cheap, but they're nice to type on since the click adds more confirmation of actuation than the limited tactility of the Browns, but Browns and Clears are a lot quieter than Blues and Greens.

[zshang]

You can learn to assemble a keyboard by yourself then you can give the nerd series a try