Which mechanical keyboard should i buy?

tboon wrote:
*Legion* wrote:
but wondering if I will end up missing the numpad for daily activities too much.

You won't. Numpads are just wasted desk space.

I think that if you are asking the question, you probably will miss the numpad.

No, that's just fear of the unknown speaking. Cut it! Cut it off!

As someone who likes roguelikes, it's hard for me to imagine not having a numeric pad.

Malor wrote:

As someone who likes roguelikes, it's hard for me to imagine not having a numeric pad.

I can make do with vi keys when I play on a laptop, but I don't like it. I will always get a numpad keyboard if I have the option. Besides roguelikes, I spend enough time in spreadsheets to warrant it.

Malor wrote:

As someone who likes roguelikes, it's hard for me to imagine not having a numeric pad.

vim or gtfo

My gaming keyboard has cherry clears in it and is basically silent. Just so folk know that brown/red/blue are not the only options here.

Also I have a tenkeyless keyboard but with a programmable layout so I can switch the entire right side of the keyboard to a numpad whenever I need that.

DanB wrote:

My gaming keyboard has cherry clears in it and is basically silent. Just so folk know that brown/red/blue are not the only options here.

Also I have a tenkeyless keyboard but with a programmable layout so I can switch the entire right side of the keyboard to a numpad whenever I need that.

Clears are just slightly stiffer browns.

Thin_J wrote:

Clears are just slightly stiffer browns.

Something something euphemism.

Generic slightly pervy counter

Thin_J wrote:
DanB wrote:

My gaming keyboard has cherry clears in it and is basically silent. Just so folk know that brown/red/blue are not the only options here.

Also I have a tenkeyless keyboard but with a programmable layout so I can switch the entire right side of the keyboard to a numpad whenever I need that.

Clears are just slightly stiffer browns.

I like their stiffness.

BadKen wrote:

Something something euphemism.

I really do like the Clears though, have them on my work keyboard. Browns just bottom out way too easily.

So I gots a K70 RGB (brown) for home, but I wanted a no backlight/no frills cheapo for the office. Something that wouldn't stand out, but had the mechanical response and feel. I spent a lot of time on a rubber dome until I had to finally toss it out of disgust. My fingers were aching and the keys weren't registering properly.

So I bought a dirt cheap Monoprice Select Chinese red switch (Outemii) for $28. They are normally $50, but can be found on sale for $28 every now and then on Monoprice's website. I was actually pleasantly surprised. The switches are much stiffer than the Cherry (more actuation force for the equiv), but it's a mechanical board for $28 that works and looks like office hardware. Keys register at around 40% press and they're crisp. Sound is no more loud than a rubber dome being as they're red switches.

The Cherry and better boards are definitely a more enjoyable experience, but for $28 bucks I am satisfied, the wallet is happy, and people aren't constantly commenting on my "gamer" board at work. Monoprice advertises it as the Gateron switches (which I was hoping to get), but it came with the cheapies. But hey it's swtich based and functional.

I had the same desire for work: no frills, no backlighting, etc. Many of the folks in my office have mechanicals, the clickety clack is unmistakable (I know one of my teammates uses a Rosewill). I looked on Amazon because I have gift money there and price becomes less of an issue. I settled on the Das Keyboard Professional 4 with Cherry Browns (no blank keycaps though). Holy crap this thing is incredible for work, typing is actually enjoyable. I genuinely want to replace my G910 at home with it or the version with Blues. I do more typing than gaming on keyboards these days, which is a weird thought, but I just wanted to share my story.

For another data point, I'm using a Gigabyte Aivia Osmium gaming keyboard with Cherry Red switches, and after several years it is as good as new. Robust, very good key function with moderate noise and good feel. It's been a workhorse for me.

Linear switches are for degenerates.

Linear switches are the future! Today, though, like you don't have to wait however long it is until the actual future arrives. Which will happen in LINEAR time, I might add.

I really need to check this thread more often.

Both switch types have their place.

But seriously tactile switches > linear

I bought the CM Storm Quick Fire XT (or something very much like it) with Cherry MX Reds a few years ago and really liked it. Subsequently, I got a Matias Tactile Pro 4 from my last job and still have it. I like the ALPS-like switches Matias uses more than the Cherry MX Reds. Matias makes Mac and Windows versions of their boards. The keyboards are pretty heavy and look bulky but I like that.

If either of my current boards broke I'd be looking at a CoolerMaster Masterkeys Pro S with MX Browns or a Logitech G Pro Keyboard with their Romer-G switches that is a thousand percent improvement over all the stupidity of the G410.

I'm using a 410 right now and want to replace it just because it looks stupid and is bigger than it needs to be because of all the ridiculous extra plastic framing, but it still functions fine so I'm sitting here with it anyway.

Or I'd just get another Magicforce 68 key. Man I love that thing on my server rig.

Oh god I have a G410 and want the G Pro too, and for the exact same reasons.

I enjoy the G410 board itself, I just want all the stupid extra casing cut off of it.

*Legion* wrote:

Oh god I have a G410 and want the G Pro too, and for the exact same reasons.

I enjoy the G410 board itself, I just want all the stupid extra casing cut off of it.

I also wish I couldn't hear the slightly high pitched spring noise when the keys return. None of the other Romer-G boards do it. They just screwed it up for the one I forked up cash for, of course.

I never tried it with gaming, but I've been using a Poker 2 at work for several years now. (Brown Switches). Losing the F-row, numpad, and arrow keys took some getting used to (especially the arrow keys), but the desk space gained... I don't think I'll ever go back.

I vastly prefer this 60% keyboard over my full size Das Ultimate at home, debating grabbing a tenkeyless or something. Maybe in linear switches this time.

Hello Hivemind! I seek a quiet mechanical keyboard. I'm leaning toward MX Browns or Rohmer-Gs. Would any of you fine folk like to recommend a board to check out? Ideally in the sub$100 range, but that's not a huge sticking point.

Skiptron wrote:

Hello Hivemind! I seek a quiet mechanical keyboard. I'm leaning toward MX Browns or Rohmer-Gs. Would any of you fine folk like to recommend a board to check out? Ideally in the sub$100 range, but that's not a huge sticking point.

What kind of size do you want? Full-size, no numpad, crazy small? I personally haven't found Browns to be all that quiet, because I tend to bang on the keys like a gorilla. You might want to consider MX Clears, since the heavier spring makes it harder to bottom out. There's also the new MX Silent, but they're pricey and apparently a bit mushy, which turns off some people.

Hello Hivemind! I seek a quiet mechanical keyboard.

You could consider a Topre keyboard. They're not mechanicals, but rather the best rubber domes on the market, with an excellent long-term feel.

At first, they're kinda nasty and uncomfortable, like every other rubber dome keyboard, but after about a month, they break in and get super comfortable. They end up making this characteristic 'thwock' sound, quite unobtrusive. They're particularly good for long-term production typing, as the springs under the domes give your fingers a little bounceback, so that they stay more comfortable for longer periods. (I don't typically notice for at least a half-hour; it takes quite awhile for this to add up.)

Upsides: super durable (capacitative sensors), extremely spill resistant (solid sheet of rubber over the electronics), comfortable, and quiet. Downsides: expensive, first couple weeks in particular rather suck.

The cheapest option is the Topre Type Heaven, about $165 on Amazon right now; you can sometimes find them for $150. You can also get more expensive models, starting at around $250, which have variable-force keystrokes (lighter on the edges, stronger in the middle), and higher-quality plastic on the keys. I have one of the more expensive ones, and they are extremely well-made; like with the old Model M keyboards, you could probably use one as a weapon, it's so solid. But if you don't already know you like Topre switches, that's a heck of a lot of money to risk.

Thanks for the info friends.

A bit more info: I'm looking for atleast a num pad and F keys. I don't need macro keys, media controllers, that stupid F*ing phone doc, or 400M backlighting colors. The Topre sounds intriguing. I agree that $250 is some serious cash to throw down on something I might like.

I'm open to MX Clear's as well, I'm a fairly heavy typer, so that might be a good thing.

I just wish there was a decent physical location to go and try all these fancy switches out.

If topre interests you but the price doesn't consider Plum. Goes on sale via Massdrop every so often. Topre-clones.

The Rantopad MXX is a decent starter board, cheap but and uses cherry clones (Gaterons, considered by many to be superior to Cherry). Cooler Master's Quickfire Rapid is the gold star "starter board", as long as you can handle its horrific font. Magicforce is also good but be aware they don't use Cherry switches.

The KUL ES-87 is a great board, built like a no-frills tank. it can dip below $100 but I think stock is low right now. Ducky One or Zero can work for you too.
Edit: DOH. Those all don't have numpads. Um for full size no frills:

Ducky One or Zero: they have full size options

Cooler Master Quickfire XT

Leopolds: a tad over $100 but these are fantastic boards. The fc980M has a very interesting layout.

Rosewill boards are good. Or they were anyway, not sure anymore.

If there's a Fry's around they tend to have quite a few keyboards out for trying. Best Buy sometimes does to but not that many.

Craigslist may have some used boards depending on where you live. The mechmarket subreddit CAN be a good source of cheap boards but it's definitely "enthusiast class". If you think $250 is a lot for a board just wait. Sometimes people pay that much for just keycaps over there.

Tricky option: my first board was a Das Ultimate I bought off eBay NEW for $60. People freak out over blank keycaps (I just bought a cheapo replacement set).

I just wish there was a decent physical location to go and try all these fancy switches out.

The Microcenter that's closest to me has a MASSIVE keyboard section, with every Cherry keycap in stock on one board or another. They had a big pile of Ducky Zeros (about $85) in every key variety when I was last in.

They're not everywhere in the country, but if you've got one reasonably nearby, they're one of the better retail resources.

I don't like Fry's as well, even though their stores are much larger, but they're the next-best option I know of.

You can buy a switch tester on amazon but obviously not the same thing.

Malor wrote:

The Microcenter that's closest to me has a MASSIVE keyboard section, with every Cherry keycap in stock on one board or another. They had a big pile of Ducky Zeros (about $85) in every key variety when I was last in.

They're not everywhere in the country, but if you've got one reasonably nearby, they're one of the better retail resources.

I've got a Microcenter near me, but their keyboard aisle is basically just a wall of razor boards with Cherry Red's. I think a Ducky or leopold may be a good place to start my hunt. I've got a Razor BlackWidow (?) with Red's right now, and the clacking is finally getting to me. I'll check out my local CL as well.

Thanks for all the recommendations, I appreciate the help.