Mechanical Keyboards...

Discussion in 'Geek Cave: Computers, Tablets, HT, Phones, Games' started by aufmerksam, Oct 1, 2015.

  1. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,923
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Grand Rapids, MI
    Does anyone know where I can source a pair of CherryMx CTRL key caps? The ones on my K63 have snapped off. I don't care if they match the rest well, just need the functionality.

    I think I am going to go for the Unicomp New Model M at my home workstation. I have tried the Tenkeyless for a few years now and while the extra desk space is nice, I miss a dedicated numpad. I will put the K63 back on duty with my HTPC once I get it back online. That's what I got it for originally.
     
  2. Wobbletits

    Wobbletits Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2022
    Likes Received:
    125
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Maryland
  3. OldDude04

    OldDude04 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 17, 2018
    Likes Received:
    1,452
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    United States
    It looks like you can get them directly from Corsair HERE.
     
  4. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,923
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Grand Rapids, MI
    Thanks, that's definitely worth a shot.
     
  5. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Super quick, need a recommendation for a TKL layout mechanical keyboard, easily obtainable, around $120 or less.
     
  6. OldDude04

    OldDude04 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 17, 2018
    Likes Received:
    1,452
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    United States
    The GMMK (Glorious Modular Mechanical Keyboard) is a great board and it's on sale at Amazon right now for $89.99.
     
  7. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,200
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Northwest France
  8. bixby

    bixby Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,987
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Northern Colorado
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2022
  9. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,200
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Northwest France
    I have Akko but I wasn’t sure if it was under $120 since I bought it in France.

    Akko has great color schemes and even Dragonball or Hello Kitty themes. As a Mac user though I don’t like that you can’t reconfigure the win key. I had to switch keys in MacOS settings but even then you have to do it for each different profile
     
  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Thanks. Looks like good recommendations here.
     
  11. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,200
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Northwest France
    The decoration on the underside of keyboards is so weird to me. I’ve never seen an amp or DAC spend so much time under the device
     
  12. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2017
    Likes Received:
    3,026
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Rapallo, Italy
    It's one of the weirder quirks of the hobby
     
  13. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,200
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Northwest France
    It doesn’t stop there either. Special colors for switches and stabilizers. Components that you’ll never see once the keycaps are on. Even inside the case I’ve seen some decoration.

    I feel like this is a consequence of keyboard build streams
     
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 1
    • List
  14. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2017
    Likes Received:
    3,026
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Rapallo, Italy
    The switch color thing is more a side-effect of most switches being limited runs - if you like some specific switch and you're running a gb for some caps, you'll have a much easier time selling those switches you like if they match thematically.

    As for the decorations, some people collect keyboards for the sake of collecting keyboards. I think it's dumb but eh, not my money.
     
  15. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,426
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Officially a Glorious Gaming fan. The pre-built GMMK2 is perfect for me. I was a little nervous about the linear switches since I'm so used to Cherry Browns, but so far so good. Very smooth typing experience.

    I also love the 65% and 96% options. Allowed me to go compact for the first time without sacrificing the arrow keys that you tend to lose on a 60%.

    Solid, well-built, easy, and with options for future changes if the need/desire arises.

    A+ in my book.
     
  16. luckybaer

    luckybaer Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,191
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Missouri
    Looking to clean up desktop and replace existing keyboard saddled with huge, stiff cord <insert joke here>.

    But seriously…

    Keyboard needs to be full-size, wireless, mechanical, available in US (Amazon.com would be great!).

    Use: lots of gaming, so LH side of keyboard gets used disproportionately. Otherwise, light typing.

    Other preferences:
    Backlighting is preferred - haven’t had a keyboard w/o lights in a couple of decades.

    Switches - I don’t mind clicking too much, and like tactile feedback to let me know when key is engaged. Am interested in linear switches, but wonder what those who type a lot think about them (lots of getting used to after being used to tactile feedback?).

    Batteries - Do keyboards come with easily replaced batteries, or are they more like cellphone batteries? I like the idea of plugging in skinny USB cable while keyboard is in use to charge, while being able to go cordless when I want.

    I’d like my mouse to be same brand as keyboard. Onboard software management and products working together are important. Not sure if I weight Mouse or Keyboard as being more important. I have tended to be harder on mice in the past.

    Lots of ignorant questions, but some of these keyboards (like Logitech’s 900 gaming model - can’t remember exact #) are almost the cost of a Modi Multibit, so I want to be real comfortable before pulling the trigger.

    Any recommendations as to what I should be comparing? Any other preferences I need to consider?
     
  17. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,200
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Northwest France
  18. Entropy

    Entropy Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2022
    Likes Received:
    166
    Trophy Points:
    33
    Location:
    Portland OR
    Whoops, Got beaten to the punch. Too lazy to delete it now ;)
    Another edit: If you've read this in the first 5 minutes you might be a little confused. I mixed up some product names, and didn't properly explain everything. Fixed now!

    Keychron is one of your better bets.
    https://www.keychron.com/collection...ss-mechanical-keyboard?variant=39426678325337
    https://www.keychron.com/collection...ss-mechanical-keyboard?variant=39559178682457

    K5 is low profile, k10 is standard profile. I'd go for the full-fat variants with an alu frame, but that spec isn't currently in stock for the k10. The Standard white backlight will work fine, and if you don't think you'll be much into modifying it you could go for the non-hotswap switches, but I typically appreciate hotswap. If you don't know what hotswap is, it's basically a mechanism implemented in some boards that allows you to pull out the switches with a $3 tool (or a pair of generic tools, such as tweezers or a flathead... or long fingernails), and replace them with a range of other switches.

    You might just want to wait for a restock of the k10 if that board interests you. K10 has a 4000 mAh battery (comparable to a phone battery in terms of capacity and style), while the k5 has a 2000 mAh battery. The battery life specs among other things are listed on the site itself.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 1
    • List
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2023
  19. Entropy

    Entropy Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2022
    Likes Received:
    166
    Trophy Points:
    33
    Location:
    Portland OR
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    My Iv-works Av4.
     
  20. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,200
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Northwest France
    KBDfans has a group buy for an ortho keyboard that would look great next to a Teenage Engineering OP-1 in a music production setup

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    My main issue though is that it uses regular MX switches instead of low profile ones. This just looks like a keyboard meant for low profile switches. Although I can see an issue with keycap availability in that case

    A cool mod I can see is someone making a low-profile PCB for this
     

Share This Page