Peripherals Mechanical Keyboards

Krikkit,

I can't get hold of any second hand browns I have asked about and no one i know has any.

http://www.qwerkeys.co.uk/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=67&product_id=59

this is likely the cheapest place to get them. If you want those and want me to do it it's no thing and I can get it sorted for you, just send me your board, will only take an evening so should be able to get your board back to you fairly quickly.

 

Right. Payday tomorrow, think I need to get into the whole mech game.

I think that I want browns as a start, not totally sure I need the tenkeys (at home at least but I do at work, that's for sure) - recommend me a board (which isn't pink and white, Nick) which isn't nightmare pricey (and not the CM that LennyRhys has discovered doesn't work on boot).

ANSI is fine by me - I cut my computing teeth on that layout

 

How much would you spend?

 

That's the problem. I'm not totally sure yet! I've been looking at some Filco boards at TheKeyboardCo, which seem pretty decent - so why not around the £120 mark for now

EDIT - perhaps one of these: http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/filco-majestouch-2-tenkeyless-nkr-usa-keyboards.asp

 

Just buy that - it's the most hassle free decent TKL that you can get really. By hassle free - I mean, you could probably get a board of equivalent quality for less, but that involves importing and waiting. If you want to import and wait you could get something like a Keycool 87 (newest version has full compatible space bar) KBT Oni (my favourite board) - or of course a Ducky board, G2 pro is awesome board and very flashy. If you want a ducky with ANSI that is likely to be an import (though I am not ducky pro so that might not be true )

 

I do like the look of the Oni - the problem is the faff with import (and I don't even know where to star there i.e. who/where to get it from!)

Do you reckon the Oni is a better board, Margon?

Perhaps I'll have a lash at the Filco for starters, then get a full board with blues for work, just to p*ss off the office

 

The Filco boards are amazing but the key caps are horrible.

 

Playing neatly into my desire to buy new caps. Hmm. *rubs chin*

Probably the Filco then for convenience.

 

It's a common problem but only with some motherboards (some TK users have no problem getting into BIOS), and CM claim that it's related to NKRO and 6KRO. They recommend changing the mode to 6KRO but it makes no difference for me; the board is still not recognised until after POST.

To be honest it's a very minor quibble... overclocking gurus tend to have on standby a cheap USB keyboard for overclocking, and I have one so that's fine.

 

It's waiting for you Sam...

Seriously though, consider the tenkeys carefully. If you need them for work and you are ever likely to work from home you will miss them. Sure you can buy a separate keypad but it's not as aesthetically pleasing imho.

 

I have actually never seen inside a filco, so I couldn't really compare. I do know though, that the Oni has a very decent pcb - it also has full support for pcb switches (which have additional support pins) which means it has decent mod potential (like half plates etc.). It's a two side printed pcb too - but I reckon a filco probably is as well.

Oni is more minimal though, about the most minimal board out there - has only 1 LED under capslock, but not through the switch, which is nice. And it comes stock with nice pbt caps. Only major gripe with the Oni is no Ps/2 over usb support

 

I really really love that board, but not sure I can justify dropping the best part of a ton fifty on keyboards at the moment.

DAMN YOU NICK. Maybe I'll wait a couple of weeks and see how I resist the temptation of buying other things and have a go at that. I can always get a TKL board later for fun. Oh dear - am I sucked in already?

I was keen for a Shine, but it seems that backlit keys causes issues for buying caps...

EDIT: Nick - are you some sort of 'Ducky Rep'?

 

Lol I get that a lot. I have no link to Ducky at all, I've just owned boards from quite few manufacturers (including Filco) and Ducky came out on top for me. They sometimes get overlooked in discussions so I chime in. I work for a Christmas hamper company for my sins Though I'd far rather be a Ducky rep.

The Shine II has very nice coated ABS caps as standard, but you're right in that buying replacement caps will almost always be a compromise. The G2 Pro (I use the TKL version) is much more straightforward from a keycap perspective since it's exactly the same form factor as Filco.

Just for illustration, I spent nearly £1000 on keyboards in the past 15 months, but I managed to reap the majority of that back selling them on again. It's how we paupers roll

The whole Shirty/Ducky thing has become a slight in-joke on the forum now, and I'm happy to oblige.

 

I have a logitech numberpad to the left of my TKL board, it makes so much more sense for it to be there.

 

FWIW - with backlit boards I prefer underglow rather than the LEDs shining through the caps, so for me, aftermarket caps make life better with backlit board.

Shirty - do you have a full set of ISO caps that you were selling once apon a time? did I imagine that, or are they sold? I imagine they are sold.

 

Margon I sold the ninja ISO set with the Zero a few months back. You got a project in mind?

 

Ha - I knew that really, was just perpetuating the joke. I'm sad like that.

So - we're back at the Ducky I almost bought from Nick earlier in the year. Hmmm.

Filco or Ducky? That's the question. Then getting in on buying some caps. Oh no. What have I become?

 

well I got an ISO cherry board with ds caps which I have put on my ISO board, but now the cherry looks sad so I think I am going to put them back on the cherry and use that board at home for a bit, but then I still need a set of ISO caps for my work board #

I want those lovely white ducky pbt caps.

 

If you're going to replace the caps anyway then seriously consider a CM Storm Quickfire Rapid with browns. It's a much cheaper chassis which looks almost identical to the Filco/Ducky TKLs.

Unless you need backlighting.

 

I can get a hold of a full boards worth of brown switch via a G80-8113 for like $50. Even with shipping from USA I imagine it would still be a great deal cheaper than buying switches from qwerkeys.