Mechanical vs. Non-Mechanical for gaming (College Edition)

[Jelokin1]

So I am looking at getting a new keyboard for gaming. I am looking at the razer blackwidow vs. the Arctosa.

What is the huge difference between the two kinds of keyboards besides teh switches? Also will the blackwidow be to loud? I will have a roommate who will want to occasionally sleep.

Thanks!

 

[VulgarDisplay]

The razer arctosa is by far the cheapest piece of junk I have ever used. It's pretty sad that the mass produced hp keybaord I'm using at work right now has less flex in it than the Arctosa. I can't comment on the blackwidow, but whatever you do steer clear of the arctosa.

if you are going to be looking at a non-mechanical as well logitech's keyboards blow razer build quality out of the water.

 

[vbuggy]

Or I'd get the Razer-style that's pretty decent - Microsoft's X6 or X4. I actually prefer these to mechanicals (and I'm awash in Topre's, Filco's, etc).

 

[chubbyfatazn]

The Black Widow uses Cherry blues, which are tactile and clicky. If you're not looking to make as much noise (but still quite a racket), consider tactile and nonclicky switches such as the Cherry browns. I use a Cherry brown keyboard and can keep it down if I try.

That said, the Black Widow is not a bad keyboard to start out with. I know Best Buy and Frys stock them, so if you can head over to one of them you can try out the keyboard for yourself. There's a punch out on the box that exposes the up/down/left/right keys. The difference between mechanical and non-mechanical is awesome if you're at your computer a lot.

Don't know anything about the Arcosa, sorry. Go to geekhack.org for more information.

 

[Karstein]

Don't get the Arctosa. I used to use a Tarantula which I loved, but the build quality of the Arctosa is dire. Probably the main issue it has is that keys will randomly stop working and you have to unplug/replug to get them working again.

If you are considering membrane, consider a different keyboard. As for mechanical boards, I love my 7G but the Cherry blacks are noisy. I don't have experience (at least recent) with browns so I can't comment on those.

 

[chubbyfatazn]

I love my 7G but the Cherry blacks are noisy. I don't have experience (at least recent) with browns so I can't comment on those.

Hell, all Cherrys are noisy. That's part of the charm Not as noisy as buckling springs, but it's pleasing to hear the clacks (at least to me).

 

[Fes69]

I have a Black-Widow Ultimate, this thing simply revolutionized the way I play ! It's one of the best things I bought in the past 2 years ! If noise is an issue, Razer just released a Stealth Version of Both blackwidow (regular and ULtimate) ! That might work perfectly for you and your roomate !

 

[Remobz]

I have a Black-Widow Ultimate, this thing simply revolutionized the way I play ! It's one of the best things I bought in the past 2 years ! If noise is an issue, Razer just released a Stealth Version of Both blackwidow (regular and ULtimate) ! That might work perfectly for you and your roomate !

Really?

 

[Magic Carpet]

I like mechanical... mostly because they are very easy to disassemble and clean.

 

[chubbyfatazn]

Really?

It still uses Cherry browns... not exactly quiet. You lose the clicky sound, but it's still quite a racket if you type quickly. Actuation force is less than the blues, but I'm a heavy-handed typer so that's not an issue for me.

I love my keyboard, the only other thing I use is a Thinkpad keyboard and even that can't really compare.

 

[vbuggy]

I like mechanical... mostly because they are very easy to disassemble and clean.

It's not necessarily an exclusive. You can pull off all the keys on a Sidewinder as well.

 

[technocog]

I know it's not one you listed but I've been using Corsair's Vengeance K90. It was my first mechanical keyboard and I have been nothing but pleased.