Mechanical Keyboards Options

[Alioth]

Who's got one and are you happy with it?
If so, which brand and what type of switches are you rocking out?
What is your main use for it? (gaming, typing, etc)

I've been looking into getting one, but still can't decide on what type of switch I'd prefer. I guess I really need to try before I buy.

[priorax]

Have a Razor Black Widow (Cherry Blues)
Very nice to type on, but doesn't have N-key rollover, so if you type insanely fast, this may be an issue for you.

Use it for gaming (much to the annoyance of people in mumble).

http://ozfortress.com/showthread.php?t=46544
There's a few page discussion there about various keyboards

[oohms]

My favourite are reds... but you really do have to try before you buy (had blacks but i found them far too stiff for long gaming sessions)

[Alioth]

My favourite are reds... but you really do have to try before you buy (had blacks but i found them far too stiff for long gaming sessions)

Reds are up there on my list, thinking about getting a nice little tenkeyless.

[DArenberg]

You know already, Ducky Shine Cherry Brown with red back light full NKRO via PS/2 and I love it.

IMO Blues are awesome for typing but a mech keyboard is clacky enough with out the audible feed back. Blacks I find way too stiff.

The Ducky uses a Cherry Black on the space bar to balance out the power of the thumb would annoy me if the whole board was black.

Browns have the tactile feed back so you can feel the point the press registers. My typing skills are not good enough for Reds although it would be an awesome all in gaming switch I make too many mistakes typing on them as I seem to be not super accurate on them.

My typing speed has easily increased 20% since moving from the Razer Trany and more importantly the wife loves this one too she hated the Razer.

Would love to get my hands on a Topre Real Force but will probably look at a cheaper Leopold due to cost for work when I return after holidays.

Quack Quack!

everything you need to know about Cherries http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Che...ion+Switch+Wiki

[tricky]

Ducky Shine's are awesome and i want one, but lack of blue blacklit (white coming too) stock till later this year is kinda annoying

[R4N]

My favourite are reds... but you really do have to try before you buy (had blacks but i found them far too stiff for long gaming sessions)

Reds are up there on my list, thinking about getting a nice little tenkeyless.

Bought a CM storm quickfire with MX blacks over xmas, a damn fine tenkeyless board, if you are looking for something non backlit and cheap

[DArenberg]

My favourite are reds... but you really do have to try before you buy (had blacks but i found them far too stiff for long gaming sessions)

Reds are up there on my list, thinking about getting a nice little tenkeyless.

Bought a CM storm quickfire with MX blacks over xmas, a damn fine tenkeyless board, if you are looking for something non backlit and cheap

I have been really pleasantly surprised with the build quality and also interactive support of the CM products, I bought myself the Spawn mouse after reading interesting sensor comparisons too have a play with for Xmas and for the $40, brilliant value and so comfortable for a claw style grip .

[priorax]

I have been really pleasantly surprised with the build quality and also interactive support of the CM products, I bought myself the Spawn mouse after reading interesting sensor comparisons too have a play with for Xmas and for the $40, brilliant value and so comfortable for a claw style grip .

I had a CM Sentinel (well, have, but use my g9x instead), the rubber started to rub off after about 4 months of use.

[lolkpro]

I'm another advocate for the Razer Blackwidow Ultimate. By far the best keyboard I've personally tried. But then again I haven't used a Ducky yet..

[Alioth]

http://www.mrinterface.com/simulators
:3

Ended up getting Ducky Shine with green LEDs and Cherry MX Brown switches which I'm using at work. I like it a lot but still plan on getting a tenkeyless with MX Reds for a bit of gaming and maybe another Ducky with MX Blues for general usage.

[The Red Comet]

Noppoo Choc Pro. Not too expensive for a full layout keyboard. MX blues, nice red backlight. It's amazing. I love it. Only thing I don't like is that it makes my mouse look cheaper... Waiting for that TTesports level 10 mouse to come out now :/

[DArenberg]

Noppoo Choc Pro. Not too expensive for a full layout keyboard. MX blues, nice red backlight. It's amazing. I love it. Only thing I don't like is that it makes my mouse look cheaper... Waiting for that TTesports level 10 mouse to come out now :/

Looks nice I don't know a lot about Noppoo.

Since this thread started I have got a hold of a HHKB pro 2, which is now my main work board, love the Topre Real Force switches quite a bit different to the Cherries.

I do not miss the the arrow keys and the Ctrl in place of the caps lock is just genius.

[Kinjeto]

The links I find reliable ever since Geekhack shutdown is moving: (also if you don't take the time to poke around its your own fault.)

http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessag...topic_id=260143
http://www.overclock.net/t/491752/mechanical-keyboard-guide
http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/2329609

As to what do I currently use:
This is what I'm currently using/have access to:
Keyboard:- DUCKYGK9008 - Brown Switch / Razer Blackwidow Ultimate
I've also got the Steelseries 7G and the FILCO Brownswitch. Im not a big fan of APS Caps cause they tend to shine over. The PBT ones just in my experience are better so its all good.


This is where Ripster ended up for the time being while they work out Geekhack it has a lot of obscure model keyboards if you're interested:
http://deskthority.net/wiki/Main_Page
http://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/- Ripster moved found his way to Reddit.


With the AUD doing what its doing... (as this time of writing jumping up and down like crazy so near the end of the year or when the Aussie dollar is high is a good time to invest in a mechanical keyboard.)

http://www.elitekeyboards.com/products.php?lang=en

http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/index.php - I really liked this one. Eventually I'll get a red or brown ducky shine from them + a wrist rest. (Currently have the Ducky GK9008v2)

http://mechanicalkeyboards.com.au

Course PC Case Gear has all the Ducky Shines amongst other keyboards. But No Paypal. So yeah.
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_p...;cPath=113_1276

These guys do special mechanical keyboards made to order so I think you can select your switches on each key not sure:
http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/

[Kinjeto]

Noppoo Choc Pro. Not too expensive for a full layout keyboard. MX blues, nice red backlight. It's amazing. I love it. Only thing I don't like is that it makes my mouse look cheaper... Waiting for that TTesports level 10 mouse to come out now :/

Looks nice I don't know a lot about Noppoo.

Since this thread started I have got a hold of a HHKB pro 2, which is now my main work board, love the Topre Real Force switches quite a bit different to the Cherries.

I do not miss the the arrow keys and the Ctrl in place of the caps lock is just genius.

Also do you find the Razer eXactmat to be rough on your mouse skates? Just a query. Just cause I used the mouse mat back in 2006 and it had a habit of scratching the mice.

The picture is outdated by a few years but you'd just replace the keyboard with Ducky G9008v2:


Also about that mice mat:

[DArenberg]

I have had no issues with it using the G5 2006 Version the skates are pretty darn tough, It gets used more now because it is obviously a metal mat, which gives me a reasonable surface for working on when I'm out and about and it does not fold or get crushed in the lap top bag.

For play time at the moment I am using the Steel Series Qck+ (A Christmas gift) , due to my latest mouse choice being an Optical Sensor driven CM Spawn.

My next mat which I have been choosing for a while will probably be an Artisan HAYABUSA XSOFT Large.

[oohms]

I spilt a tiny amount of V in my mechanical keyboard and it totally fucked 3 keys... i tried some electrical clean & lube but still no joy

Back to my rubber dome awesomesause keyboard i suppose

[Zardoz]

Just posted on Facebook about this - I should have looked at our own forums first!

I'm in the market for a keyboard. So many choices! I want media keys, though.

[DArenberg]

Just posted on Facebook about this - I should have looked at our own forums first!

I'm in the market for a keyboard. So many choices! I want media keys, though.

HAHA yep you should!

I can really see you with one of these even has those media keys http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_p...oducts_id=20691

Pccase gear really have stepped up to the mark in the Australian market with a range of Mechs. I know since the start of this topic Alioth has bought a second Ducky, a year of the Dragon with Red Switches that he loves.

Only need to go overseas these days for the real exotics or WASD (http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/) which I will do for shits and giggles at some point, come on who doesn't want a one of a kind custom.

[Tibor]

Got myself a Black Widow Ultimate a while back, pretty happy with it. Although it has ruined me for other keyboards. We have shitty microsoft keyboards at work and i cant type on them anymore. Probably would of got a ducky, but I got an impulse to spend money and bought the Widow from work.