Has anyone ever used a mechanical keyboard?

[apoppin]

Can I get a board with MX black switches if I don't use it ONLY for games? Would it be good for typing too? So much quieter.

i just did a review of my first modern mechanical KB - Thermaltake's eSports MEKA Compact KB. $81 at Newegg after a $20 MiR

It is better for gaming than typing. But if you are used to a COMPACT KB i would highly recommend it.

Typists like the other Cherry MX switches since they provide more tactile feedback for them. There is a click on the way down (the actuation point).

Black MX switches bottom out and have a little more resistance - perfect for gamers - but slightly tiring if you type all day.

The Cherry Black MX switch is not quiet compared to a rubber dome KB. But the other advantages make up for the noise. These KBs are more accurate and you will type or game faster when you get used to them.

Now i move my MEKA KB from PC to PC to game. i didn't used to care

 

[CrazyAznDriver]

Are they easier to clean if you get 'stuff' stuck in between the keys :sneaky:?

 

[sdifox]

Are they easier to clean if you get 'stuff' stuck in between the keys :sneaky:?

model M keys have a cap you can pop off and clean.

 

[ManBearPig]

man im torn on this damn mechanical keyboard thing. i might just go for it, i doubt the key noise will really bother me that bad.

 

[gorb]

they really aren't that loud. i don't think blacks or reds are significantly quieter than browns. blues obviously have an audible click but i don't think it's that loud either.

 

[aceO07]

This reminds me I have an old keyboard stashed away collecting dust. I found it out on trash day and picked it up.

I'm currently soaking the keys now. It looks like an IBM keyboard that I had with my IBM PS/1 computer. It says Magitronic on the back.

 

[Ichinisan]

i just did a review of my first modern mechanical KB - Thermaltake's eSports MEKA Compact KB. $81 at Newegg after a $20 MiR

It is better for gaming than typing. But if you are used to a COMPACT KB i would highly recommend it.

Typists like the other Cherry MX switches since they provide more tactile feedback for them. There is a click on the way down (the actuation point).

Black MX switches bottom out and have a little more resistance - perfect for gamers - but slightly tiring if you type all day.

The Cherry Black MX switch is not quiet compared to a rubber dome KB. But the other advantages make up for the noise. These KBs are more accurate and you will type or game faster when you get used to them.

Now i move my MEKA KB from PC to PC to game. i didn't used to care

Those European-style backward L-shaped Enter keys are fucking HORRIBLE.

Trying to use the backslash on any of those keyboards is a horrible experience, especially because they sometimes shorten the Backspace key to make room for it and, other times, the shorten Right-Shift and put it there.

On that particular keyboard, they didn't just mess with Enter and Backslash...they also ruined the FORWARD slash and question mark key! Complete FAIL.

Would. Not. Touch.

 

[apoppin]

Those European-style backward L-shaped Enter keys are fucking HORRIBLE.

Trying to use the backslash on any of those keyboards is a horrible experience, especially because they sometimes shorten the Backspace key to make room for it and, other times, the shorten Right-Shift and put it there.

On that particular keyboard, they didn't just mess with Enter and Backslash...they also ruined the FORWARD slash and question mark key! Complete FAIL.

Would. Not. Touch.

How many typists use a *compact* Keyboard for daily typing? And i mentioned the odd key placement for typists in my review.


It is a GAMING KB that is exactly the same size and almost exactly the same key placement as my Compaq 15" notebook - perfect for LAN parties, not for typing on the go ...
-- and did i mention it's for gaming? Mechanical keys have a distinct advantage for gaming just as they do for typists. Cherry Black MX switches are better suited for gamers than typists, anyway
:whiste:

 

[ManBearPig]

Damn this Microsoft Sidewinder X4 would be perfect were it not for the column of macro keys. I'll never use them and they get in the way! arghhh

 

[Ichinisan]

How many typists use a *compact* Keyboard for daily typing? And i mentioned the odd key placement for typists in my review.


It is a GAMING KB that is exactly the same size and almost exactly the same key placement as my Compaq 15" notebook - perfect for LAN parties, not for typing on the go ...
-- and did i mention it's for gaming? Mechanical keys have a distinct advantage for gaming just as they do for typists. Cherry Black MX switches are better suited for gamers than typists, anyway
:whiste:

Computers are used to accomplish various tasks. I don't think many people want to change keyboards every time they switch from gaming to another task that requires typing. What if you want to type-out a question to another player in-game? You'd spend precious seconds fumbling to get the question mark. Intolerable.

I've NEVER seen a notebook that messed-up the placement of the ForwardSlash/QuestionMark key. I don't recall any other keyboard (compact or not) that has done it.

...and my criticisms could have been avoided while keeping the same shape. Shorten the right side of the Right-Shift to make room for ArrowUp. Leave QuestionMark where it belongs. Use a normal, rectangle Enter key and put Backslash where it belongs, restoring Backspace to its full rectangle shape.

I know, one of the lovers of tiny Backspace keys and L-shaped Enter keys will contradict me...but they're fools!

[edit]
Reading your review now...

[edit again]
Man. If I were you, I'd return it and get the G1 without hesitation. Who cares if it's bigger? It's actually usable!

[edit again]
Scratch that. I'd return it. The G1 doesn't have the left Windows key, which I use ALL THE TIME for productivity-enhancing shortcuts like [Win]+[R], [Win]+[D], [Win]+[+], [Win]+[-], [Win]+[Esc], [Win]+[M], [Win]+[E], [Win]+[Alt]+[Enter], ...

For productivity reasons, I usually have my left hand on the keyboard when I'm using the mouse with my right, so I can't just use the other [Win] key.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

i had a razer black widow ultimate for less than 24 hours. the keys were way too soft, the font was moronic and the whole thing was poorly constructed.

i like the feel of notebook-type scissor actions, but my enermax aurora was not strong enough to take the beating from 1st person shooters. i won't even attempt it on my logitech dinovo egde.

 

[Locut0s]

Das Keyboard Ultimate.

Look it up.

:thumbsup: only I'm using the Professional here.

 

[ShawnD1]

Those European-style backward L-shaped Enter keys are fucking HORRIBLE.

Trying to use the backslash on any of those keyboards is a horrible experience, especially because they sometimes shorten the Backspace key to make room for it and, other times, the shorten Right-Shift and put it there.

I'm using one of those right now. Backspace is the size of a letter key but the rest looks fairly normal. The smaller backspace doesn't bother me too much since hitting the wrong key ("\" left of the backspace) is immediately corrected when I backspace. No problem.

What kills me is the piece of crap keyboard that came with my gf's HP. The shift keys are only the size of a letter key. On a normal keyboard, the right shift key is as wide as 2 letter keys. When I type a symbole like < or ? or ! I put my right ring finger on the left side of the right shift key. On my gf's keyboard, my ring finger lands on "/" every time. That's the only keyboard I have ever seen that is different like that.

Another one is keyboards with stupid keys that shouldn't exist in the first place. Earlier I said my last keyboard had sticky/slow keys that made typing slow as hell and filled with errors. That same piece of shit keyboard also has Sleep and Power buttons above the arrow keys, right under the Delete and End keys. You can see where this is going. Delete and End are very common keys to press. There have been a couple instances where I would accidentally hit the Power button and it would shut down the computer. What really puts the icing on this cake of shit is the fact that it's a plug and play keyboard; those Power and Sleep buttons work even if no software is installed. There doesn't seem to be any way to turn them off other than rip the keys off and cut out the connection points.

 

[BoomerD]

Not only have I used mechanical keyboards over the years...I've even used <gasp> manual typewriters...type too fast and the gawd-damned key-typebars would jam up..

 

[Locut0s]

Are they easier to clean if you get 'stuff' stuck in between the keys :sneaky:?

Yuu need the Jizzle.

 

[Locut0s]

I have a Das Keyboard Professional and a Das Keyboard Silent. I really like them both, and after typing on them I'd describe the feel of typing on a cheap keyboard as "mush." It's like my hands are cold and I can't feel anything.

Between the two I'd definitely get the Silent. I don't see any advantage to the non-silent version unless you're trying to impress people with how cool your keyboard sounds (it doesn't sound cool; my wife hates it). They both have a good feel.

I'd never try to use the non-silent version in a cubicle, but I think the Silent would be fine. It's louder than a typical keyboard, but not by much. The switches are silent, but you still hear a light thud from the keys hitting the end of their range of motion.

I wasn't aware of how loud the professional was going to be till I got it. Love the keyboard but yeah it's not quiet. lol.

 

[ManBearPig]

Umm anyone wanna lend me a keyboard with brown switches? :awe:

Im trying to find a good gaming keyboard so there's no lag, but most all of them have macros or non standard key sizes!

 

[0roo0roo]

ii'm sure many folks had this cheap one.
i didn't really miss it... i didn't even know the difference when I had it. i went straight to ms ergo splitty kb.

 

[kamikazekyle]

Mmm, mech keyboards.

I own a Filco Tenkeyless with Cherry MX Blues, a Filco Tenkey with Cherry MX Reds, a Topre Realforce 86U with the varied key weights, another keyboard with Cherry Blacks from Steelseries, and an older Matais with Alps switches of some sort. I also had a Filco Tenkey with Browns at my last job.

Out of the bunch, I bounce back and forth between the Topre and Filco Red, with the red being my main squeeze at the moment. I flip over the Topre from time to time if I'm going to have to do a bunch of typing on membrane keyboards at work as the Topre uses capacitive switches, so it needs a full bottomout unlike the reds which actuate much higher and don't need bottoming out. The Topre shines if you're going to be bottoming out on the keys/have a heavy keystroke or still want something of a membrane-ish feel. It's also pretty quiet, with only a deep and gentle "thunk" sound. If I can get a flow going, then the reds come in to shine since you don't have to bottom out on the keystrokes, and they feel lighter and speedier than the blues or browns while still maintaining tactile response. But if I've been typing on membrane keyboards a lot, then I fumble pretty bad with the reds keyboard as my fingers are too used to banging on keys with all their might.

I don't like the Cherry Black switches at all. They're very, very stiff and it feels like I'm banging away at a membrane keyboard. The blues are fine -- a bit stiff feeling after breaking in but they're loud when I'm in 100 WPM mode. Not as loud as an IBM M or anything, but loud enough that I don't want to use them after my girlfriend goes to sleep in the room next to the office. The Alps in the Matais keyboard are freakishly loud, and feel just like an old Model M. The board probably weighs close to the original xbox, so it makes a wonderful office self defense tool.

Last I heard, reds are exceedingly hard to find nowadays. About the next best thing would be browns. Little louder and more tactile. Topre Realforces hover around rediculous prices and some people don't consider them mechanical keyboards in the traditional sense. I still hold that reds are the best overall, but barring that I'd say go with browns if you're going to get a newer keyboard. Or, you can grab a cherry blue based keyboard from a location (online/retail) with good return policies and give that a shot. I think Best Buy should sell the Razor and Microsoft cherry blue based keyboards, so they might have them on display.

 

[MajorMullet]

I have a Filco Ninja Majestouch 2 and I love it. Mine has brown switches.

I bought it thinking I would use it on my gaming PC, but I loved typing on it so much that I moved it to my work PC just so I could type on it more. My gaming PC still has my old Saitek Eclipse (original version with the external macro pad) and I'm pining for a replacement.

There is a noticeable difference in feel when moving from the mechanical back to the membrane board. The membrane feels so "squishy".

The MX blues I tried at the store seemed like they would be way too loud. I don't find the browns to be that bad though.

 

[jhansman]

Just replaced my 10-yr. old Focus 2001 (Alps switches) with a WASD semi-custom http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index..../wasd-v1-semi-custom-mechanical-keyboard.html. It took me a long time to finally order, but I'm glad I did. Got it with the blue Cherry switches, and while it's taking some time to get used to, I really like it. It has a smaller footprint, about the same weight, and the keys have just the right amount of resistance and click. I would have preferred an L-shaped Enter key, but other than that, it's a winner.

 

[Zap]

this is the one I use at home:

http://www.abs.com/Products/ProductDetail.aspx?ID=9

Hey, that's what I'm typing on right now! Keys seemed to have a slight break-in period for me because they were kind of sticking if not hit directly center, but kind of wore in.

The printing on commonly used keys have wore off on mine.

The greatest keyboard ever devised:

That's a favorite of mine too. I like using them for my LAN party rig because my headphones don't have volume control.

In fact, I just ordered the Bluetooth version from Geeks.

I compare most computer keyboards as being similar to a non-weighted synthesizer keyboard, whereas the old IBM or the new Matias as being more akin to a real piano keyboard.

That's a great analogy!

ii'm sure many folks had this cheap one.
i didn't really miss it... i didn't even know the difference when I had it. i went straight to ms ergo splitty kb.

Yup, I had a Focus 2001, and also migrated to a MS Natural, then a MS Natural Elite, then back to a Focus 2001 (newer one, didn't keep old one), then to some cheap ass Monorail branded one that was made by NMB.