Cherry G80-5000 split ergo keyboard (Cherry MX brown)

[chyros]

I finally give a proper review to a split ergonomic keyboard, which also happens to be a Cherry legend, the G80-5000! And for the first time, we have a look at MX brown . Hope you enjoy the video!

[jerue]

The numlock indicator is there because of the G80-5700, a numpad that was sold as an accessory to the G80-5000. Since it was designed to be paired with the 5000 keyboard, there are no indicators of any kind on the 5700 itself.

Not sure if it was worth noting but there are two versions - the original like you have with the function keys, and a newer one with two Windows GUI keys that have MX "Super Black" switches.

Also, I'm kind of surprised about your thoughts on the 5k switches. Vintage browns are among the best I've used except maybe vintage clears. Were your switches really scratchy? They're not supposed to be...I'll leave it at this, try a modern MX Brown keyboard, then go back and use the 5000...night and day . You could also try to look for an 1838HPU, same switches as the 5000 but a bit more solid and integrated numpad. The split PCB of the 5000 is supposed to make that board have better feeling though

Either way, nice review, glad you at least got to try one

[chyros]

The numlock indicator is there because of the G80-5700, a numpad that was sold as an accessory to the G80-5000. Since it was designed to be paired with the 5000 keyboard, there are no indicators of any kind on the 5700 itself.

Not sure if it was worth noting but there are two versions - the original like you have with the function keys, and a newer one with two Windows GUI keys that have MX "Super Black" switches.

Also, I'm kind of surprised about your thoughts on the 5k switches. Vintage browns are among the best I've used except maybe vintage clears. Were your switches really scratchy? They're not supposed to be...I'll leave it at this, try a modern MX Brown keyboard, then go back and use the 5000...night and day . You could also try to look for an 1838HPU, same switches as the 5000 but a bit more solid and integrated numpad. The split PCB of the 5000 is supposed to make that board have better feeling though

Either way, nice review, glad you at least got to try one

They're not scratchy, scratchiness isn't MX brown's biggest problem IMO. Each type of Cherry switches has their own weaknesses IMO:

-Cherry linears; scratchy, badly weighted
-Cherry tactiles: not tactile at all
-Cherry clickies: not tactile enough, very bad clicky sound

[klennkellon]

Lovely review as usual. Very interesting keyboard.

I don't properly touch type either but I find these ergo boards to be a bit friendlier to my wrists.

Also this review has triggered some people on /r/mechanicalkeyboards lol

[snoopy]

Love your videos 

[chyros]

Lovely review as usual. Very interesting keyboard.

I don't properly touch type either but I find these ergo boards to be a bit friendlier to my wrists.

Also this review has triggered some people on /r/mechanicalkeyboards lol

Haha really? What are they saying? xD

[klennkellon]

Lovely review as usual. Very interesting keyboard.

I don't properly touch type either but I find these ergo boards to be a bit friendlier to my wrists.

Also this review has triggered some people on /r/mechanicalkeyboards lol

Haha really? What are they saying? xD

Two said you were just trolling to cause drama because you said you prefer some rubber domes. Some comments have been removed.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/66ybse/after_watching_this_does_the_community_really/?st=j1u0fvk9&sh=429ebf09

It seems a lot of those comments got downvoted though, and generally people are agreeing that mx browns are indeed crap.

[mrboovn]

Thanks for the review chyros 

[chyros]

Lovely review as usual. Very interesting keyboard.

I don't properly touch type either but I find these ergo boards to be a bit friendlier to my wrists.

Also this review has triggered some people on /r/mechanicalkeyboards lol

Haha really? What are they saying? xD

Two said you were just trolling to cause drama because you said you prefer some rubber domes. Some comments have been removed.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/66ybse/after_watching_this_does_the_community_really/?st=j1u0fvk9&sh=429ebf09

It seems a lot of those comments got downvoted though, and generally people are agreeing that mx browns are indeed crap.

Hahaha that's quite funny actually xD .

There's some pretty astute observations in there, though.

Although it seems most people did pick up on this, I should add that I'm not saying a NORMAL rubber dome board is better than MX brown. It's still a mechanical keyboard, and therefore already a big improvement on basically anything you'll find in a modern office. But I've got some damn tasty rubber boards here that rise far above the norm, and I'd say those definitely feel better than MX brown in my opinion.

[Urbi]

-Cherry linears; scratchy, badly weighted

Is it possible that older Cherry linears (~2005-2006) are made differently? I have several G80-1800s and the newer ones feel horribly scratchy whereas the older ones feel very smooth.

[chyros]

-Cherry linears; scratchy, badly weighted

Is it possible that older Cherry linears (~2005-2006) are made differently? I have several G80-1800s and the newer ones feel horribly scratchy whereas the older ones feel very smooth.

Yes. Older switches are known to be much smoother. This is presumably due to degradation of the moulds, and possibly because of a change of plastics that occurred in the mid 90s.

[Urbi]

-Cherry linears; scratchy, badly weighted

Is it possible that older Cherry linears (~2005-2006) are made differently? I have several G80-1800s and the newer ones feel horribly scratchy whereas the older ones feel very smooth.

[chyros]

I should note that 2005 is not considered vintage for smoothness.