which mechanical keyboard ?

[blondeattk]

Looking for a new keyboard at present.

There are a vast array of them on the market and things are complicated by chinese knock off ones that pretend to be good gaming keyboards.

Reckon that 33-45 quid is my price range, which should be enough? AM skeptical i need to pay over 50 quid ....though there some for sale at 90+

So where do I look for advice on how to tell one frm another?

Do I really need programmable keys for everquest?

Nott hat bothered by fancy led backlights and jazz.

Any advice on what I should look for? anyone selling an `old` mechanical/gaming keyboard?

How do I tell what is good and which are pretenders.....etc

[blondeattk]

Imitation Mechanical Keyboard

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WHITE-RAINBOW-BACKLIT-MULTIMEDIA-ERGONOMIC-GAMING-MECHANICAL-LED-LIT-KEYBOARD-/351364816236?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item51cef99d6c

got to be junk at that price, but `imitation mechanical` ?? what?!

[ArumTP]

http://steelseries.com/products/keyboards/steelseries-6gv2

heavy duty basher.

[khanable]

Hard to say because I don't know what switch type you're after nor do I know the currency conversion or where I can even browse boards that are sold locally to you in your currency.

I can say that I've owned nearly a dozen different boards, ranging from $50-300, and I think the best "bang" for the buck in terms of sturdiness, build quality, and price was a Quickfire Rapid with MX blue switches that I picked up on sale for $60. Perhaps you can locate that board locally. Even in the states it typically seems to be sold for $70-80.

I've also tried a $50 Ducky board with ALPS switches. Avoid. Quality is rather meh compared to something like a Quickfire Rapid that wasn't much more expensive.

Good luck

[jarshale]

Real men use Model M's.

http://www.clickykeyboard.com/_ebay/ibm_55323685l-001/ibm_553236475l-001.jpg

[Whiteberry]

Might be a tad outta budget but my RAZR BlackWidow Ultimate has served me well... Paid 130 but I'm sure you could find cheaper if you put effort into it...

[Speedi]

Corsair Vengeance K70 is good. I went through 6 diff mechanical keyboards in about a month. Trying to find one I liked. I finally settled with the Corsair.

[blondeattk]

nor do I know the currency conversion or where I can even browse boards that are sold locally to you in your currency.

says my loc under my username )

second part would be...newcastle

I suspect that fancy/decent keyboards are somewhat overpriced locally. Tend to get stung a bit for good gear in this part of the universe.....why i use ebay alot. which doesnt work well for getting the `feel` of an item!

[Grimjaw]

Might be a tad outta budget but my RAZR BlackWidow Ultimate has served me well... Paid 130 but I'm sure you could find cheaper if you put effort into it...

I use that one also. Blackwidow Ultimate Stealth version though. Even stealth is loud though, I cant imagine what the non-stealth one might sound like.

Got a Razer Naga hex mouse at the same time. matching green glow ~ Even the cords on these things are the highest quality iv ever seen

[blondeattk]

perhaps a poll of these choices would be useful ?

I dont really have the personal exp, to know which one I like.[Cherry MX Brown, sounds good so far]

Common Switch Types
Cherry MX Black and heavier linear MX switches (Click to show)




Cherry MX Brown (Click to show)




Cherry MX Clear and heavier tactile MX switches (Click to show)



Cherry MX Blue and heavier clicky MX switches (Click to show)




Cherry MX Red (Click to show)



Buckling Spring (Click to show)




Black Alps (Click to show)



White Alps (Click to show)



Topre (Click to show)

found a good explanation heree.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OfUAQiIOWQ

[Colgate]

filco majestouch best keyboard i've ever had

[blondeattk]

lol some ubber lookin stuff out there when you look into this further....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Topre-Realforce-87-10th-Anniversary-Edition-30-45-55-Silent-Tenkeyless-Keyboard-/281536389811?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item418ce062b3

mad price!

apart from price, looks like topre vs cherry brown so far.

many folk tried topre?

[khanable]

I didn't like topre. Loved the form factor of a HHKB but just didn't like topre. Settled on a poker as a happy medium with red switches.

Switch type is entirely personal opinion. I would find a store that stocks razer garbage and go see if you can press a few different keys to see what you like.

[blondeattk]

btw just to give you a laff...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHERRY-MY-8000-G81-8000LUVEU-2-BLACK-104-NORMAL-KEYS-PS-2-WIRED-POS-KEYBOARD/261514663295?

this is what i use atmo, has very odd feeling keys, need full push down to activate. should get a key remover and chk if its got a colour of switch. I was sold to me as mechanical, but am not sure it is....was only 20 quid tho....at first i liked the action, but have since found that playing on eq for 4+hrs on this keyboard is very tiring for the hands. (almost like tis thing has cherry black switches...guess)

inthroey i could take this apart, and change all the switches?

edit- seems its membrane according to this....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cherry-Mag-Swipe-POS-Keyboard-/231533975717?

[Mauxe]

I will strongly second the Corsair Vengeance K70.
Awesome keyboard. I am on it 2-4 hrs/day and happy as a clam.
(whatever the heck that even means....)

[Kengo]

I will strongly second the Corsair Vengeance K70.
Awesome keyboard. I am on it 2-4 hrs/day and happy as a clam.
(whatever the heck that even means....)

This. I have two Corsair K70 keyboards, a blue switch for home, brown for work. High quality build, they have cool LEDs, but you can turn them down or off if you prefer. They'll run you around $130 US, so about 76 quid, but I'm really happy with both of them.

You will need to find out what switch you prefer though. There's a huge difference in feel from a red to a blue or black.