Cherry Brown vs Cherry Clear (Gaming)

[Vittra]

Hi everyone!

I came upon this site yesterday in my new found quest to better myself in getting a mechanical keyboard. My G15 Rev1 is no more, and I can't justify putting the money down for another membrane now that my eyes have been opened to alternate possibilities.

I've been overwhelmed by this excellent resource of information in regards to just how much variety and subtleties exists within such keyboards, and I think I've come to the quick realization that to come upon just one great keyboard for multipurpose use may be a pipe dream.. but I've still got to start somewhere!

Ultimately, it seems like the elusive Cherry Red would be the perfect board for someone serious about gaming, but the song and dance required to find one isn't so appealing. Black has been axed from my choices as well - Linear seems the way to go, but I'm not interested in the heavy keys cherry mx black would provide - I suspect they'd becoming fatiguing, and I prefer lighter keystrokes when actually typing, so that could pose a problem.

This has brought me to my current Brown vs Clear struggle, or in specific, I've narrowed it down to the Filco Majestouch Tactile Touch (NKROFKBN104M/EB) vs the Deck Legend Tactile. Searching through the threads, I've seen the browns mentioned as pretty good for gaming, so I'm heavily leaning towards the Filco - but I'm still curious about the Deck Legend Tactile. Has anyone has used them with gaming and if so, what their thoughts are on them?

[JBert]

The right answer is "it depends" even though that doesn't help you decide.

Both are good, yet the main difference is force and distance before activation. You could have more accidental keypresses on browns compared to clears, yet browns might be more to your liking if you "type lightly".

I know Mike2h has a Deck keyboard. However, I'm afraid he doesn't have a Cherry brown keyboard to compare it with.

[AndrewZorn]

brown is very light

[timw4mail]

If you are looking for light, and nearly linear, browns are definitely the way to go. On the other hand, the clears have a much more prominent tactile point.

[JBert]

Do the clears also have the same kind of "friction" as the browns, only more pronounced? (I would guess that's the way the Cherries create tactility.)

[timw4mail]

Do the clears also have the same kind of "friction" as the browns, only more pronounced? (I would guess that's the way the Cherries create tactility.)

Yeah, pretty much. Really, it's the resistance against a metal leaf, but I guess part of that is friction.

[itlnstln]

See here for an explanation on Cherry technology: http://park16.wakwak.com/~ex4/kb/tech_cherry_mx.htm

[ch_123]

Yeah, pretty much. Really, it's the resistance against a metal leaf, but I guess part of that is friction.

Do you actually own a clear Cherry board?

[timw4mail]

Do you actually own a clear Cherry board?

My Cherry brown board has two "clear" switches.

[ch_123]

That's odd... For the spacebar?

[jkkhop]

Had the Filco Tactile Touch board and didn't like it for gaming, which I mainly bought it for. For typing it's a decent switch, just a bit too light.

Then I got a Filco Linear with Blacks and so far I'm very satisfied with it's performance in gaming AND typing.

[timw4mail]

That's odd... For the spacebar?

No, for two of the programmable keys. It came with one, and I modded in another. It came with a regular gray switch in the spacebar, which I replaced with a black switch.

[Vittra]

Thanks for the info and posts all.

I did a total 360 and ended up going with the Majestouch Linear Force NKRO   FKBN104ML/EB. We'll see how that goes! If they end up being too heavy, I'll probably spring for a board with Cherry MX Brown's next.

[mike2h]

i absolutely love my clears. imo the pressure needed to actuate them is perfect- not to lite(like my wifes black alps) & not to heavy like the mx blacks apparently are.. though from all reports the clears use the black spring.
something that i found tiring on my previous pos kb's was having to constantly monitor my finger pressure as they lay on the keys. with this kb i dont have to think about it- they are resting at what is a natural pressure for me & just a lite 'flick' actuates the key. im still learning & have to conciously think not to push all the way down, but the kb is making it very easy t olearn not to do that.
anyway for somebody that is gaming & typing i dont think you can go wrong with clear switches. not that i have much experience to base that on. lol.
one other thing that may matter to no one but me. the excellent white backlighting of the keys makes them extremely easy to read(for us pathetic non touch typers) under any lighting conditions. this alone has helped my typing speed. & it looks way cool to. everybody likes it, even people that dont care about the whole light/mod thing. if these kbs werent so expensive i could sell a bunch of the white backlit vers.

[gmorf33]

anyone know of any clear switch keyboards in the $100-$150 price point?

[fuzzybyte]

Does FILCO or any other vendor have tenkeyless boards with clear switches?

[JBert]

anyone know of any clear switch keyboards in the $100-$150 price point?

Only Cherry makes them AFAIK, but these should be rather easy to come by as a NIB item on the German Ebay.

[keyb_gr]

Only Cherry makes them AFAIK, but these should be rather easy to come by as a NIB item on the German Ebay.

Did a quick check and found a few offers for German layout ones (G80-3000LQCDE), but none in US layout (G80-3000LQCEU). The latter in light grey (-0) is listed in a few online shops, but several of these seem to be rather questionable. I'd guess they haven't been made in a while (usually these are manufactured in batches, one type at a time, so it may take a few months between two runs of the same type).

[Retox]

If you can find a tg3 bl82 on ebay, some of them have clear switches... I have one and personally I love it.

[Zamorph]

elitekeyboards sells leopolds around 113 usd

[Clickey]

Ergo Clears have the best of both worlds. Most people will find clears too stiff.

[N8N]

Does FILCO or any other vendor have tenkeyless boards with clear switches?

Leopold just shipped a run of them to EK.  I have one... it's nice.  Only quibble I have with it is the Cherry stabilizers.

[themadreason]

I don't own one of these, but here is one of the only clear switch offerings that I have seen.  http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,tenkeyless  They are asian, and exclusively imported by this web site.  Good luck searching for others.  Let me know if you find something good.

[Harlequin]

anyone know of any clear switch keyboards in the $100-$150 price point?

Leopold has clear switch keyboard.

Leopold FC200R.

[Gfresh404]

Thanks for the info and posts all.

I did a total 360 and ended up going with the Majestouch Linear Force NKRO   FKBN104ML/EB. We'll see how that goes! If they end up being too heavy, I'll probably spring for a board with Cherry MX Brown's next.

How did you end up liking the blacks? I think that's actually what I'm going to be switching to. The reds are too light imo for RTS gaming, although great for FPS gaming.

And I think you mean a 180

[jpm804]

Ergo Clears have the best of both worlds. Most people will find clears too stiff.

^  this... I had clears and found them a little stiff for me. Then tried ergo clears and found it to be nice a compromise between a brown and clears.

[Autolyze]

Did nobody notice that this is an undead thread? A twice undead thread even? Surely the users looking for clears back in '09 and '10 have found them or have moved on to spending their money and time on more sane things than keyboards.

To contribute: Does anyone have thoughts on ergo clears compared to browns in terms of bottoming out?

[Skoobs]

Did nobody notice that this is an undead thread? A twice undead thread even? Surely the users looking for clears back in '09 and '10 have found them or have moved on to spending their money and time on more sane things than keyboards.

To contribute: Does anyone have thoughts on ergo clears compared to browns in terms of bottoming out?

but the thread is still relevant for people who want to find out about clears, like myself. and apparently you as well.

to answer your question:

Ergo Clear: Brown spring + Clear stem = Ergo Clear. A popular mod to act a bit more tactility to the Cherry Brown, though not as tactile as the Blue.

found here:

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Cherry+Corporation+Switch+Wiki

[Kick]

Thanks for the info and posts all.

I did a total 360 and ended up going with the Majestouch Linear Force NKRO   FKBN104ML/EB. We'll see how that goes! If they end up being too heavy, I'll probably spring for a board with Cherry MX Brown's next.

You do realize that doing a total 360 means you're back at the same spot right?

Anyways, I love the clears in comparison to ergo clears and reds. I like the bump and the noise isn't bad

[Tycn]

Could you explain why you prefer the real Clears? How are you finding the actuation force?

[Autolyze]

to answer your question:

found here:

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Cherry+Corporation+Switch+Wiki

I know what ergo clears are, but does anyone actually find that they're an improvement over browns in terms of not bottoming out? I haven't used them, although I don't imagine that they would make a significant difference.

Could you explain why you prefer the real Clears? How are you finding the actuation force?

Your fingers will really feel the extra force required when you're coming from lighter switches. You feel it far more once you pass the actuation point though, so they're much easier to type on quietly without trying. I'm not sure if I really prefer one over the other for general use.

[Tycn]

Yeah, I type on buckling springs and always bottom out but the 100g of clears is crazy. Sounds like like not bottoming out is the only real way to go which shouldn't be too difficult for typing due to the way the force ramps up but seems like it could be disruptive for gaming.

Really liked the tactility though from my impressions with a single switch, in contrast to browns which I've never been much of a fan of.

[Chobopants]

I just got my Leopold Clears on Tuesday and I LOVE them. The force required really feels just about right, my complaints about Cherry stabs are gone on this stiffer switch (felt like crap on blues), the board is REALLY quiet, and the tactile bump feels just right. Always super noticeable but not in the way. Might just be my favorite switch now.