OCAU Mechanical Keyboard Thread (NO ITEMS FOR SALE HERE USE THE TRADING FORUMS)

[FarZK]

Originally Posted by bubblegoose

How about this one?

Exactly that one

[xok]

Originally Posted by ZJR

So going by that, what is the quietest cherry or non cherry based switch to look for. I hated my balck widow but would give a mechanical another go if I found something quieter and with backlit keys.

I think all the backlit ones are using blues, so i would say no, you won't find something hugely quiet. I don't find the click-clack of the keys is an annoyance to myself, but others around you might rage. I Would still consider getting a mechanical kb with browns, but the quietest is the logitech scissor switch (logitech illuminated uses it)

Originally Posted by bubblegoose

So I have been thinking about getting a mechanical keyboard for a while now, As I am starting to do more and more typing here at work. And there are a few other colleges who have left me in charge of finding a good keyboard for them as their Dell keys have basically worn through, and typing on them is now sloppy, after not even 6 months...

What mechanical keyboard would be best for someone who basically spends all day typing, and also has USB (do they all come with USB these days?)

How about this one?

Fairly certain they all use USB and come with PS/2 adaptors for NKRO (N key rollover, aka mash the entire keyboard and it will still register each individual key)

That keyboard is a decent choice, though I have heard of some quality control issues on the original DasKeyboards, but I can't recall exactly what the fault was. Geekhack.org was a site that I used almost extensively in working out what keyboard I wanted to purchase. I would recommend blues if your colleagues (and yourself) don't mind a pronounced click-clack sounds when you type. I say do it anyway For the price the DKB is a good buy

[Akh-Horus]

I dont find the noise of my blackwidow too bad.......mind you my hearing is reduced these days lol....

[ol-skool]

I couldn't live without a numpad either. I had a Dinovo edge for a while and it used to annoy me when i had to do numbers.

I also couldn't live without a backlit keyboard now, so much better for gaming. If you are just using it for work with a well lit room then obviously you could live without the backlit keys.

[ZJR]

Originally Posted by Akh-Horus

I dont find the noise of my blackwidow too bad.......mind you my hearing is reduced these days lol....

Yeh my wife sits at her rig right next to me in the study and the baby(s) rooms are right next to the study. She rages heaps! My 3 year old also heard the BW while I was on BC2 with my headphones on. So yeh the BW had to go.

[Huggy_Bear64]

Originally Posted by ol-skool

I couldn't live without a numpad either. I had a Dinovo edge for a while and it used to annoy me when i had to do numbers.

I also couldn't live without a backlit keyboard now, so much better for gaming. If you are just using it for work with a well lit room then obviously you could live without the backlit keys.

I have the das keyboard ultimate, the one with blank keycaps, and I find it no different for gaming. I really don't see how backlighting would make any difference

[Rory K]

Originally Posted by ZJR

So going by that, what is the quietest cherry or non cherry based switch to look for. I hated my balck widow but would give a mechanical another go if I found something quieter and with backlit keys.

Quietest mechanical would be Cherry MX Blacks or Reds, since there is no click, only the sound of the key bottoming out. And that can be reduced by getting pads that you put under the keys (I think there was a link a few pages back?).

I have the Das Keyboard Model S Professional Silent (Cherry MX Brown switches) and it's really not that loud.

Originally Posted by bubblegoose

So I have been thinking about getting a mechanical keyboard for a while now, As I am starting to do more and more typing here at work. And there are a few other colleges who have left me in charge of finding a good keyboard for them as their Dell keys have basically worn through, and typing on them is now sloppy, after not even 6 months...

What mechanical keyboard would be best for someone who basically spends all day typing, and also has USB (do they all come with USB these days?)

How about this one?

The general consensus is Blues for typing, Blacks/Reds for gaming and Browns/Clears are the middle ground.

Originally Posted by xok

That keyboard is a decent choice, though I have heard of some quality control issues on the original DasKeyboards, but I can't recall exactly what the fault was. Geekhack.org was a site that I used almost extensively in working out what keyboard I wanted to purchase. I would recommend blues if your colleagues (and yourself) don't mind a pronounced click-clack sounds when you type. I say do it anyway For the price the DKB is a good buy

I'm wondering if you're talking about the issue I had? 4 of my keys didn't work on arrival, so I had to send it back for RMA. Second one works flawlessly (so far )

Originally Posted by ol-skool

I couldn't live without a numpad either. I had a Dinovo edge for a while and it used to annoy me when i had to do numbers.

I also couldn't live without a backlit keyboard now, so much better for gaming. If you are just using it for work with a well lit room then obviously you could live without the backlit keys.

I don't always game, but when I do, I look at the keyboard.
I used to be like you, I couldn't imagine not having a backlit keyboard. But now that I have my Das, I've realised how little I actually look at my keyboard while gaming. And white letters on black keys mean that even with the lights off, the monitor sheds enough light to be able to make each letter out.

But I agree about the numpad. Absolute necessity if you ask me.

EDIT:

Originally Posted by Huggy_Bear64

I have the das keyboard ultimate, the one with blank keycaps, and I find it no different for gaming. I really don't see how backlighting would make any difference

Still, could look pretty cool if the backlight just spilled out around the keys, basically outlining them.

[Huggy_Bear64]

Originally Posted by Rory K

Still, could look pretty cool if the backlight just spilled out around the keys, basically outlining them.

Doesn't sound too hard to do either, just open 'er up and stick some LEDs in there

*gets ideas*

edit: not sure about voiding the warranty on my $150 keyboard though...

[Rory K]

Originally Posted by Huggy_Bear64

Doesn't sound too hard to do either, just open 'er up and stick some LEDs in there

*gets ideas*

edit: not sure about voiding the warranty on my $150 keyboard though...

Pssh, warranties are like bowels. Intended to be voided.

[stenchlord]

Originally Posted by bubblegoose

So I have been thinking about getting a mechanical keyboard for a while now, As I am starting to do more and more typing here at work. And there are a few other colleges who have left me in charge of finding a good keyboard for them as their Dell keys have basically worn through, and typing on them is now sloppy, after not even 6 months...

What mechanical keyboard would be best for someone who basically spends all day typing, and also has USB (do they all come with USB these days?)

How about this one?

MX Blues are what you'd be looking for. Although I would purchase one and then have someone use it so the rest of you can hear what it's like, then compound that sound by the amount of people in the office using the same keyboard. After time you adjust to the keyboard and you should no longer be bottoming out every key you press (you'll still bottom out some of them) and bottoming out the key is probably the loudest sound made by the keys. If the noise is a bit much then perhaps look at the MX Browns.

[dcl]

Originally Posted by dcl

I just noticed that the steelseries page says the 7g does not have a windows button, instead it has a button that allows the F keys to act as media keys. This might be a deal breaker because I tend to use the win key every now and then.

Unless it can be remapped, but I do like my media keys.

Anyone?

[Rory K]

Originally Posted by dcl

Anyone?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=remap+steelseries+key

[stenchlord]

Thought it might be of note that PCCG got into stock some Leopold FC500R Mechanical Keyboards which use the Cherry Red switches.

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...ducts_id=17950

[Akh-Horus]

Originally Posted by stenchlord

Thought it might be of note that PCCG got into stock some Leopold FC500R Mechanical Keyboards which use the Cherry Red switches.

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...ducts_id=17950

Review here compares them to Filco keyboards. Big call. We need personal reviews in this here thread. PCCG thread makes it look good though.

Can we start a mechanical keyboard club yet? Can I has number please?

[stenchlord]

No one seems to care much about it so no real point unless people show interest.