Mechanical Keyboards...

Was it easy to get used to the shorter travel on the keys. A big problem for me on my crappy membrane boards is sometimes a keystroke will not register because I did not crush the key hard enough. My thinking is a tactile feel (eg blue or brown) at least could help train me as to proper force.

Any thoughts form all on whether it is more or less comfortable with a 10 keyless vs full if all you have ever used is a full keyboard?

I only enter numbers occasionally, so loss would not be a big impact if ergonomics is better.

 

I took advantage of a black friday deal and I went with this XD87 kit at kprepublic

https://kprepublic.com/products/xd8...support-underglow-rgb-pcb-programmed-gh80-kle

Besides just wanting to DIY a keyboard, I also wanted something that was ISO compatible (for AZERTY layout) and Mac compatible. This PCB is supposed to be QMK programmable, which takes of some of the native key issues.

Anyway, when it arrives I'll document the process.

 

You might have only used full keyboards, but I'm sure you've also used laptops with have a defacto 65% - 75% layout.

I've mainly used full keyboards and what I don't like is how off-centered the Alpha section is with respect to the whole keyboard. I decided awhile back that I would much rather have tenkeyless + numpad. Especially since the numpad could also be used with a laptop.

I asked on another forum and they do say there is a number of people that use Planck layout seriously for work, 8 hrs a day. The minimalist philosophy is part of it as well as using other functional layers instead of reaching for other keys. I don't know if I feel like memorizing other layers, especially if they aren't labeled on the keys. Preonic however seems pretty interesting. Cannon keys has some cheap minimalist kits in case I just want to try the layout.

https://cannonkeys.com/collections/frontpage

Now just thinking about it, I wonder if anyone makes a full sized or 80% ortho?

 

This is the only full-size ortho I've seen w/ the full 108 keys: https://keeb.io/collections/frontpa...-size-split-ortholinear?variant=8116065271914

I think if I was starting over I might try the mk.ultra Boardwalk/keeb.io Viterbi size. Not too late to start collecting I guess, but the cost of nice switches sure starts to add up...

 

Preonic isn't a whole lot easier than Planck, really. You still only have 12 columns, which means that keys like enter, +/-, and brackets can't go in their usual places. Really, if you're going to use one of these keyboards, getting a layout you're happy with and getting proficient with layers is just the price of entry.

 

If you have a light touch (I seem to because I type faster that way), you might also look into speed switches. I use Kailh Copper on my Whitefoxes. They require only the slightest touch to register a keypress.

IMO, the keyboard should match your style instead of trying to "train" yourself to type differently.

 

Gotta disagree here on the first part, but definitely agree wrt the importance of your layout. Maybe with the non-ideal default Preonic layout that's just based on the Planck's - with a good Preonic layout, you only need one raise/lower layer, which halves the learning curve over the Planck already. My one extra layer is only used for the F keys, -_=+[]{}\|, media keys, home/end, and page up/dn, and I have a ton of room to spare. In the base layer, I have dedicated number, `~, escape, backspace, tab, delete, ' ", and enter keys, all of which I like to have to write software at work and play FPS games at home, and most of which I'd have to give up with a Planck.

Either way, the Preonic's extra row makes a huge difference IME, so much so that IMO it turns the candy-bar ortholinear style into something that's not too difficult at all to learn when coming from a traditional-size standard layout, whereas the Planck seems like something of an endeavor when really hunting down that next level of minimalism that might be a bit too far past the point of diminishing returns for even most serious users.

Do you have any trouble with repeating keypresses with those? I consider myself a light typer too, but just can't get over how good a set of snappy, tactile set of 67gr Zealios feel.

 

Not at all.

 

I picked up this $50 mechanical RGB keyboard with Outemu Brown Switches. Tecware Phantom. It feels pretty good but the keys are slippery as all get out. I have read that PBT keys have a bit more texture and perhaps are less slippery than ABS. Also the tops of these keys seem to be a bit smaller than my crappy Logitech membrane keyboard.

Questions:
1. Will a PBT key cap feel better as far as slickness goes?
2. Are PBT keycaps slightly larger by design or is the size somehow related to the TKL style keyboard?
3. Is there a solid red led or similar keyboard (does not have to be RGB) that uses good sized PBT keys that can be had under $100?

Many thanks keyboard folks!

 

PBT keycaps generally have a less-slick texture, and I definitely prefer them to ABS, especially the ABS keycaps that come with most budget keyboards. At a quick glance, you have a standard layout so can grab a set of PBT shine through caps for $20 or less. I got a set off of Aliexpress for about $13. The size of the tops are related to what profile of keycap you get, OEM and Cherry being the most common. I have a set of DSA keycaps that are shorter than both OEM and Cherry and seem to be a touch wider on the tops, but I don't have the ABS anymore to compare. I think most mechanical keycaps are going to have narrower tops than chiclet/low profile membrane boards.

As for getting a new keyboard instead of keycaps, I am not familiar with any boards that will give you backlighting and PBT for under $100.

 

@fraggler thanks for the tips. Having been using this backlit keyboard for a few days I am less enamored with backlighting in general. I hate the breathing or moving effects and just have it on a solid red which is good on the eyes at night.

and the Outemu brown switches to me have really little tactile feel. Maybe it is because I am a strong keystroke typist. thinking of making a move to Blue switches and probably Cherry just because they are a standard I suppose.

With that in mind are there any recommended keyboards in the full or tkl variants without backlight that may slot in under $100?

Thanks

 

If you want Cherry Blue with PBT and are ok with a full size and blue backlighting, just found this guy: https://www.amazon.com/TD108-Backli...7&pf_rd_r=VDAN9575JSEJZCM58C0T&qid=1577394456

There are a couple TKL Cherry Blue with PBT, no backlights under $100 from Durgod and iKBC on Amazon. This is for out of the box stuff. You can also consider buying a keyboard with the keys and lighting that you want and order some PBT keycaps. Just make sure you have a standard layout (so no Logitech and Corsair).

So something like this: https://www.amazon.com/HyperX-Alloy...S2TYFNV0T1E6&refRID=7GR6JH3XS2TYFNV0T1E6&th=1 with https://www.amazon.com/HyperX-Doubl...1QP5X24MD05&psc=1&refRID=7JRH0HR3V1QP5X24MD05

 

@fraggler thanks, time to do some research.

I put the Tecware up for sale on eBay if anyone wants a deal a bit lower than new. link.

 

Burrowing deeper down the Rabbit Hole, I picked up an iKBC CD87 TKL Mechanical Keyboard with Cherry MX Clear Switch and PVT keycaps. Better, but till not totally satisfied. So off I went again the local "Buy More" to investigate keyboards once again. What I came away with after trying Apple stuff, Logitech and some desktop bundles is that my fingers like wider shorter travel keys. I especially liked the Apple keyboards.

I have relented and figure I am more of a chiclet type keyboard guy. I found the Logitec MX keyboard to be good, the new Microsoft $50 Bluetooth to be okay, as well as the MS Surface keyboard. But the one that felt really decent was a slim HP BT one with chiclet keys that came with a $699 all in one. Unfortunately it is not sold separately.

I know I am unlikely to find the answer in this thread since it is about mechanicals, but I will ask. Anyone with experience on a chiclet style that may fit the bill?

 

@bixby Lenovo makes better keyboards than most. They make a chicklet style external USB keyboard as part of their ThinkPad branding (I had their pre-chicklet board as my work keyboard for many years).

One thing you will have to check is whether they have a function key swapped with the left control key. This bugs a lot of people unfamiliar with ThinkPads, but you should be able to remap in software.

 

@JustAnotherRando

Hey, thanks for the info.
I used one of the original IBM Thinkpads way way back in the day and indeed it was good to type with. I recently acquired two IBM USB compact thinkpad style keyboards that were used in rack server environment. Circa 2012 and 2013 they are not that great. I believe the most recent Lenovo versions to be even less great.

As for Lenovo standard chiclet style, I tried a few of their bog standard models today at my local electronics emporium and was not impressed.

 

Not sure if you ended up with anything yet, but just found this due to a deal popping up: https://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/mx-keys-wireless-keyboard I was a big fan of the Perfect Stroke keys, especially back in the DiNuvo days, but no idea if they are any good now.

 

@fraggler I relented and gave up on mechanical. Just could not get used to the small keycap sq footage and the slightly wobbly feel of the ones I tried. Went full about face to a slim very short travel island style keys. I think it uses scissor switches. Feels good and is really quiet, not that quiet matters to me. Made by large producer Primax for HP.

All the neg reviews seem to center on the function keys which are default to computer controls and lack of Linux support. Neither apply to me.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FRCL9PD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Edit- I actually tried the MX and liked it but the HP actually felt a bit better and was a bit less $

 

How visible are the stabilizers on a high profile keyboard?

I'm looking at some colored screw-in stabilizers and it seems like they would only be visible for a low profile cases with floating keys.

 

I have the Logitech Craft, which is the swankier version of the MX Keys with a fancy knob that I never use. I actually really like the feel of it as it has a strong tactile bump despite short travel, although I am a heavy typist so it's a bit fatiguing as the landings are rather hard. The MX Keys and Craft are not similar to the Perfect Stroke keyboards though. The latter is a deeper stroke, softer landing, though similar tactile bump.