Cherry G84-4420LUBEU-0 for $24.71

[SamirD]

Ran into another deal.  The specs say mechanical switches good for 20m, but it doesn't say which type of switch--red/brown/etc.  Still for a compact mechanical keyboard with a built-in trackball, it's a pretty good deal considering it usually goes for $100+

http://www.provantage.com/cherry-g84-4420lubeu-0~7CHER0LR.htm

[unoab]

these should be the cherry ML switches
http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_ML

its a low travel tactile switch and they feel nice but some people say they are a bit scratchy.  I like the ML4100 I have, but the short right shift drives me nuts, this one looks better except for that ISO enter (not my cup of tea), but still half tempting to buy and mod with one of those cheap BT modules for a slim media center keyboard.

[SamirD]

Yeah, it seems that most of the discounted ones I'm finding are the ml switches.  I haven't tried them myself, but if they're this cheap, it's definitely not a bad deal.

[unoab]

Well I would say they are definitely worth it in the $20-30 range, and technically ML switches were the switches that brought me to EB.  I had found one in a recycling/trash bin at work, and from there wanted to find a board like that (tactile and compact) but without that mini right shift to mess me up (I kept hitting up or end which is to the right of it in the middle of sentences), so enter the vast world of mechanical boards.... I have not found an exit since..

[SamirD]

So the ML was your 'gateway switch' lol.  For me it was the model M and wondering if I was alone in my adoration of its simplicity of getting the job done, day-in, day-out for decades on end.

[unoab]

Well.. half ML, half IBM thinkpad keyboards, both played a part in luring me here.

[Karura]

Definitely not a great deal.

ML feels a lot worse than MX and really is not worth much in terms of desirability.

Also the keycaps aren't very useful either. This is an average deal at the very best, and that is only if you like ML switches.

Pardon my bluntness but there are quite a few "great deals" posted here lately that I feel are quite misleading, and hope no one ends up disappointed with their purchase.

[SamirD]

Pardon my bluntness but there are quite a few "great deals" posted here lately that I feel are quite misleading, and hope no one ends up disappointed with their purchase.

I'm basing the deal based on the original price/what you can usually get it for.  If someone does like the ML switches, this would be a good deal for them.