What are some higher quality current keyboards and mice?

StoleMyOwnCar

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I currently have a Logitech G710+ (brown) and a Logitech G602. I'm not terribly eager to get Logitech again.

- Many of the keycaps on my 710 have utterly shattered
- The rest have gotten rubbed off.
- It has an irregular key size, so I couldn't even replace the keycaps on it properly.
- The gamer keys are nearly useless with where they're at.

- The G602's middle clicker stopped working a long time ago.
- Side buttons are only slightly less useless (they require too much actuation force)
- Randomly goes dead with no warning (software is supposed to tell me but it's unreliable)

So I went to Microcenter looking at keyboards and mice. Daskeyboard was about the only thing that I might have considered, but it got many bad reviews in the reliability department (stops working after ~2 years). There was a K70 with browns, but the keycaps weren't anything to write home about. The spacebar especially looked like it would just shatter on me at some point (yes, I hit keys a little harder than most people). Technically I still have keycaps from a recent Massdrop, but I (intentionally) broke the spacebar into pieces fitting it to this damn keyboard. I guess I could ask them if they could get me another one.

What doesn't help is that it just really feels like all of these keyboards are really overpriced for what they are. I know they're mechanical, but it can't seriously cost them $160+ to make a freaking basic keyboard with cherry switches...

Is there anything out there that's high quality these days? Is it all just flimsy trash? =\
 
Hey, I might be able to give you some advice, and a few links to some decent options. What are some of your preferences? If you can tell me about the following I will get back to you!

Budget

Size (100%, TKL, 75%, 60% etc.)

Layout (ISO enter, etc.)

Switch preference (not just a color if possible, I want to know what you like, clicky, tactile, topre etc.)

LED/RGB/none

Programmability

Case material

Keycap plastic

For mouse, I would like to know more as well.

How you grip

Number of buttons required

Wireless or not

Weight


*edited to add mouse questions*
 
High quality does drive the price up, but there are ways to maximize value. There are many around the same price-points that can vary greatly in terms of quality and other features that are difficult to discern with a cursory glance. As IronDeagle has written, more info will be helpful to make suggestions. Mechanical keyboards have broken into the "gaming mainstream" but are something of an enthusiast niche. If you're really interested in high quality items, it may be worth it to spend the money on something that is both well built and customization friendly for use over the long term.

For keyboards, there are 3 categories of mechanicals

Budget - These are often "no-names" or brands like Rosewill. These will often be the lowest cost and offer mechanical keys typically with a CherryMX or similar style switch. Backlighting is often single color or if RGB it is rarely per-key. ABS keycaps, plastic chassis etc.
Business (Coding or Typing-marketed) and Gaming - These can range from gaming-centric brands like Razer, SteelSeries, and Corsair to those like DECK, DasKeyboard, HHKB and others who focus on the keyboard's benefits for ease and feel of typing. The build quality and price have increased, but the features can vary significantly.
Mech Enthusiasts - InputClub, Massdrop CTRL, ErgoDox EZ or ErgoDoxInfinity, Dygma, Keyboardio, Vortex, many others Boards in this category can vary, but they will typically have higher-end features like like per-key RGB lighting and advance macro/rebinding/layout capability (often controlled both via software and/or hardware), Doubleshot PBT keycaps, and much more. They're also more likely than others to be both based on open source software and have open hardware specs, including listed (and often standard) key size and spacing so that interested users can properly buy replacement (decorative) keysets. In some cases, they are designed to even be able to remove and replace the keyswitches themselves. Highest build quality is present here, given that enthusiasts are are aware of proper materials and not forgiving of corners being cut. Here you will find unique layouts too; not just languages, but ortholinear setups or ergonomic split-optional designs. There are also a number of modular kits where DIY users can assemble and customize as they wish.

Of course, your particular wants and needs will drive what sort of product you'd like, so let us know so we can offer more suggestions
 
I bought my other half the aforementioned Corsair K70 with Brown Switches last week.

She loves it. Not a gamer, just wanted a good keyboard for typing on. She says it's light years on from her old Logitech.
 
What doesn't help is that it just really feels like all of these keyboards are really overpriced for what they are. I know they're mechanical, but it can't seriously cost them $160+ to make a freaking basic keyboard with cherry switches...

I haven't tried every brand of MKB, but I've tried (and own) quite a few of them. I would suggest Ducky and Deck, depending on your needs. If you just want a high quality mechanical keyboard and you can do without all of the gamer features like macro keys, etc. then you should take a look at them.

I currently own two Das Keyboards and a K70 RGB, among several others, so I have some basis for comparison. The Das Keyboards are OK. They are both the older style, not the newer Das Keyboard 4 with the volume wheel. They work fine, but that older glossy top panel is a fingerprint magnet and they have some squeak if you pick them up and twist them. They were awesome back in the day when mechanicals were starting to become popular, but I think there are better keyboards available now. The Das Keyboard 4 has an aluminum top panel, not plastic, so it may not have the squeak and flex that mine do.

The Corsair K70 is a great keyboard, but maybe a little overpriced. I have the older one, not the newer LUX, and I've never had any trouble with it. I like how the keys are designed, in that they aren't recessed inside of a case. I would expect its bigger brother, the K95 with the macro keys, to have similar build quality, but that thing was damn near $200 at one time (may be less now). Too much, IMO.

I've had several Ducky keyboards and like them a lot. They used to be somewhat expensive, and some undoubtedly still are, but they have come out with some basic boards that are high quality without breaking the bank. If you don't need or want RGB you can get a great no-frills Ducky with backlighting and PBT keycaps for $110 shipped from mechanicalkeyboards.com...I linked to the blue LED version, but you can also get it in white and possibly other colors. If you don't need or want backlighting, you can get one for even less (around $100).

One that is on my personal wishlist is the Ducky One 2 Horizon. It's not backlit, but blue is my favorite color and I like the SciFi-esque color scheme. I have the TKL version of it with Cherry MX Speed switches that I bought from Commander Shepard, but I do frequently use the numpad so I'm thinking of picking the full size version up at some point.

Finally, there's Deck, who is known for making extremely durable, high quality keyboards. The version I prefer is the Hassium Pro (again, full size, but they do make a TKL variant called the Francium Pro). AFAIK, both models are only available with white and blue LEDs here in the US (I believe Australia got an orange LED version, which looks really cool). The Hassium Pro I linked to is currently $129, but I got mine on sale for about $110 which I thought was a great price. These too use PBT keycaps which is something that I look for because the ABS caps that Corsair and Das (and others) use tend to get shiny after heavy usage and it doesn't look that great. PBT keycaps also lend a different feel when typing, and it's one that I prefer.

There are a WIDE variety of keyboards out there - Xaeos and others touched on some of the other brands and there are so many available that I simply don't have experience with them all. I do own some others, like Filco and Leopold, and hopefully you will post again in this thread and tell us exactly what your requirements are so that we don't suggest models that you may not want to consider in the first place due to their features (or lack thereof).

But yes, high quality mechanical keyboards exist, and they don't have to cost $160+ nor are they all flimsy trash.
 
I've owned and/or used most of the major brands of mech boards and think the best are Deck, Ducky, and Filco. I'm now using a Corsair K65 Rapidfire. It's my first Corsair board and feels quite solid with good performance. I still rank the others higher because their backlighting options are not dependent on software like the Corsair.

MechanicalKeyboards.com is the place to go for the best selection of keyboards. They're very good with returns and questions before/after sales.
 
Been a bit busy lately. Here's the little questionnaire, answers in bold.

Hey, I might be able to give you some advice, and a few links to some decent options. What are some of your preferences? If you can tell me about the following I will get back to you!

Budget

Size (100%, TKL, 75%, 60% etc.)
Prefer 100% I think, though I don't like how wide this logitech keyboard is. I'd prefer to have a numpad if I ever need it, and I use home/end extensively while programming.

Layout (ISO enter, etc.)
Just standard. Some media keys would be nice.

Switch preference (not just a color if possible, I want to know what you like, clicky, tactile, topre etc.)
Currently using browns and never really had an big issue with rubber domes to be frank. I like these browns though so I guess I prefer some response/confirmation when I press in. I don't like reds. Blues are a bit too clacky and feel more like a typewriter. Tbh though I'd kinda prefer these browns had less resistance. Tactile but just slightly easier to press in, dunno if there's a switch like that.

Always wanted to try Topre but I don't think there was ever a keyboard that didn't cost an an arm and a leg that had them to even try. Plus they didn't have media keys. Nor did they have NKRO (afaik). =\

LED/RGB/none
Don't give a crap. I don't look while I type. Not even at the number row. Programming has also taught me the position of roughly every fringe key lol.

Programmability
I like the macro abilities of the logitech software but honestly I can always hook in a logitech keyboard if I need that. I'd like some media keys. Past that it's totally optional. Wouldn't mind it (as long as it can't get away of standard typing), but don't need it.

Case material
Don't care.

Keycap plastic
Needs to be matte, needs to be durable. The more grippy the better. I kinda like slightly wider keys, maybe it's just me but I noticed the keys on the Corsair board seemed kind of "thin".

For mouse, I would like to know more as well.

How you grip
I thought I was palm but looking at my grip while I play Diablo, it looks like a mixture between Claw and Palm. My fingers aren't quite perpendicular to the buttons. more like 30-45 degree angle. But the entire hand isn't just resting on the mouse either. FYI I'm not even sure if this is comfortable for a lot of people, because my fingers can bend over 90 degrees backward... On my left hand I can touch the fingertips to the back of my hand. I have ridiculously flexible fingers...

Number of buttons required
Not a strong preference, but 6 or so. Preferably ones that are actually usable, without too high of an actuation force.

Wireless or not
Prefer wireless, but... not sure if that many people make high quality wireless mice besides logitech, who makes wireless mice that are only high quality for the first few months...

Weight
Not sure really. Obviously using 2 AA batteries this G602 is rather heavy, but I've never monitored any KDA or anything with it vs some of my ligher mice.

*edited to add mouse questions*



Some of those look good, but I can't for the life of me figure out why Ducky decided to make Volume Up/Down their media keys... Like no pause, no next/past track? I listen to a lot of music while playing or doing roughly anything. But the Ducky is priced well for having (supposedly) nice keycaps. I type very hard so it's kind of important that the keys don't shatter, that's about it.
 
It sounds like you would probably love a lot of the boards out there! I will focus on stuff that hasn't already been linked, as they have a lot of good options here already.

As far as a tactile with lower actuation force than MX browns, I would say you should try out Topre if you can. They are really really smooth, and average out as about 5g lower than MX browns. You are right though, they can be hard to find for less than an arm. Some of the models do feature NKRO, but most are 6KRO. Any older PS2 board should be NKRO, and the Realfore RGB is NKRO . Honestly, I was a MK nut before buying my Topre board, and since then I have saved so much by simply being happy with it. It seems like people who have a preference for the high force clicky type switches are the ones who don't like topre as much. They want to feel like they are launching a satellite with every stroke I guess!

The Type Heaven is usually the most affordable Topre board, at around $150, but they can be hard to find outside of the used market.

The Realforce 104 is probably the best match for your needs, but it will be around $200-240, unless you get it used. There is a like new on Amazon for $209. (this is the 6KRO model)
https://www.amazon.com/Topre-Realfo...&ie=UTF8&qid=1524659624&sr=1-1&keywords=topre

Interestingly, the Realforce RGB 104 is actually available for pre-order on mechanicalkeyboards.com, and is a loooot cheaper than it often is, at $225 with free shipping. If you didn't like it, you could probably sell it for at least $260.
https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=3913

The GMMK full size is a great board that comes with a lot of features for the price. It has an aluminum face plate, full NKRO, and you can assign any of the keys as a macro. if you think you might be interested in trying out other switches. It is modular, so you can hot-swap switches without soldering! I would advise that you get it un-assembled, and choose the Kailh Pro Purple switches, or perhaps the Kailh Box Browns. The Purples have been very well received in the MK community, and have been favorably compared to Zealios. Both are considered to be a lot smoother than MX browns.
https://www.pcgamingrace.com/products/gmmk-full-customized?variant=7402980802618

Lateralus already advised the Ducky board I would have linked here, but I will say that the Das 4 seems a lot better than older models. I haven't owned one, but I have played with one before, and it seemed pretty good.
https://www.amazon.com/Das-Keyboard...&ie=UTF8&qid=1524656980&sr=1-7&keywords=topre

As far as a mouse, you are right, it can be hard to find a good wireless mouse that isn't made by logitech and falling apart quickly, though the G903 seems to be the "best" wireless gaming mouse. I will look some more!
 
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There's also Varmilo. A bit more on the mid-upper side of price range, but minimalistic style, solid construction, authentic Cherry MX (some can be found with Gateron MX, but rare atm), PBT caps stock (Step Sculpture 2 profile, similar to Cherry/GMK), just works, and normally easy enough to find online at reputable places.
 
Corsair is making a new wireless gaming mouse that caught my eye but it must be pretty new because I can't find any reviews. It checks all the boxes of high dpi optical sensor(not sure about acceleration) , 1 ms response time, switches rated for 50m clicks, and I like that it has an optional pinky rest.

Best(worst) Buy carries it so I might go out and at least see how it fits my hand but I think I'm going wait for some reviews even if I like the fit.
 
Corsair is making a new wireless gaming mouse that caught my eye but it must be pretty new because I can't find any reviews. It checks all the boxes of high dpi optical sensor(not sure about acceleration) , 1 ms response time, switches rated for 50m clicks, and I like that it has an optional pinky rest.

Best(worst) Buy carries it so I might go out and at least see how it fits my hand but I think I'm going wait for some reviews even if I like the fit.

Looks like a proprietary optical sensor (Pixart PMW 3367) related to the PMW 3366. No testing info yet from what I see, but supposedly has incremental steps of 1 instead of 50 (PMW 3366)(likely scaled in the FW instead of true stepping). As for the PMW 3366, there shouldn't be any smoothing, but other PMW 336x iterations normally display some at greater than 1600 cpi.
 
I use a ducky 10 keyless. note the keycaps are trash and will need to be replaced with heavy use. some of the leds have also gone out. but the mechanicals are solid. for a mouse I use (and abuse the hell out of) a g900. it has been really solid, no issues,
 
I personally love Final Mouse as a company, they make good products. Keyboards are hard and I think that is just really on personal preference once you start getting into full customs.
 
So I've been looking through the suggestions.
The GMMK full size is a great board that comes with a lot of features for the price. It has an aluminum face plate, full NKRO, and you can assign any of the keys as a macro. if you think you might be interested in trying out other switches. It is modular, so you can hot-swap switches without soldering! I would advise that you get it un-assembled, and choose the Kailh Pro Purple switches, or perhaps the Kailh Box Browns. The Purples have been very well received in the MK community, and have been favorably compared to Zealios. Both are considered to be a lot smoother than MX browns.
https://www.pcgamingrace.com/products/gmmk-full-customized?variant=7402980802618

Looks interesting, but unfortunately a lot of its switches seem to have even higher actuation force than browns...? I have to pay THEM 10$ for a freaking test board to see if I'd like their product. >_>;

Interestingly, the Realforce RGB 104 is actually available for pre-order on mechanicalkeyboards.com, and is a loooot cheaper than it often is, at $225 with free shipping. If you didn't like it, you could probably sell it for at least $260.
https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=3913
So I didn't care for preordering this, but it looks like it is in stock for about 250 now. Which is hella high, but worth it if it's actually any good.

Issues:
- I haven't ever tried a topre switch, and I have no idea how to even try it. I don't want to pay out the arse for something I haven't tried...
- I feel like I'm paying extra for a useless RGB feature because they don't have a single other modern NKRO product...
- Mechanicalkeyboards site return policy actually freaking sucks, so it's not like I can even try it... (lol restocking fee, seriously? On a keyboard... no thanks, won't be going there to try anything)
- Apparently the warranty actually really sucks. Like maybe ASUS level sucks.



I'm kind of leaning towards the GMMK, but I'll need to do research on its warranty services as well. Frankly I'm not sure if I care too much about the ability to key swap, because I think I'd be using it in one configuration 99.9% of the time.

As for mice, I really hate that Logitech seems like the only real option these days... outside of Razer and maybe Corsair I guess. I just don't really like Razer much because they've always felt cheap and overpriced (lol gamer branding).
 
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Ducky keyboards. And you call it a decade.
Mice, gets complicated; are you a "gamer"? You're stuck with plastic, so forget "good" and focus on function, what macros they can incorporate, how many side buttons, rates, etc. Are you a normal person? Still complicated, looks, feel, leftie or not, etc.

But keyboards? Ducky. And you call it a decade.
(a minor note that care needs be taken when ordering; region specific caps and all)
 
Has anyone had experience with the Razer BlackWidow X Tournament ? The design appeals to me and it appears the stepped up their quality game for this one
 
I'm using a Logitech 910 modified spectrum it was a spark I tried a Razer Ornata for a few weeks but found it unbearable due to pressing the keys in Kingdomcome deliverance for horse riding it could be from not using a proper wrist rest. So I'm back to mechanical just because the keys can be pressed softer. Corsair's are good I have one K70 and K70 Lux the K95 looks good but it's reviews are maginal.
 
I'm using a Corsair K95 RGB Platinum /w brown switches and Logitech G703 myself - both feel very high quality, and the G703 is surprisingly very responsive and accurate for a wireless mouse.
 
If you go with the GMMK you can just get it raw with no switches or keycaps for like $50 w/ coupon. I did this and added PBT doubleshots, authentic cherry stabs, and Zelios 67g switches for around $200. Made it exactly how I wanted. I actually like a heavier actuation force. Gateron and Cherry MX browns were too light for my liking. If you want to test keys.. there is a 49key tester on ebay with pretty much every key you would need on it. TBH also I'd go with the TKL.. for some reason the full size doesn't have removable cable and the stabs were rattly. I had no issues with the TKL but changed out the stabs anyway since I had them.
 
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there is a 49key tester on ebay with pretty much every key you would need on it.

Still doesn't have Topre... =\ Also comes from China, how can I be assured that the switches are legitimate? Kind of wish it also had some of those optical switches (like on the Bloody board or whatever), so I could sample them. Sigh.

For now I just decided to get these; should be here after they ship:
https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1330

It's a stopgap solution, but it's fairly inexpensive, and at least reusable. One of the few key solutions that will fit on the Logitech G710, so it'll fit any board I do or do not decide to get. After my home key and my End key shattered again, I need at least something for now.

both feel very high quality,

It always feels good until it breaks. Unless something has changed, most of these gaming keyboards are still sporting ABS caps. ABS sucks. I pressed in the spacebar on the Corsair offerings at the store like 2-3 times and it just felt extremely cheap.

Ducky would have been a good solution, but I've come to the conclusion that none of these other boards seem to be using drastically different switch offerings. Frankly I don't think my G710 is outright defective yet (key word yet I suppose). The only one I was considering is GMMK... but just looking at the specs I don't like how all of the switches require more actuation force, whereas I was only looking for less than or equal to. Topre was a heavy consideration, but it just seems like a risky gamble. Only place to get it is that mechanicakeyboards site, and their returns freaking suck. I'm out at least like 34$ (0.1*250+9 per their return policy) plus shipping. Bleh.
 
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If you really want a high-end production keyboard, I would encourage you to take a look at Leopold. While they do not follow the trend of gaming keyboards with flashy aesthetics, the materials, components, electronics, attention to detail and build quality are second to none, and where other brands have been compromising on quality, Leopold has been constantly upgrading their keyboards over the years through the addition of internal sound dampening mats, tuned stabilizers, thick 1.5mm PBT keycaps and now thick 1.5mm double-shot PBT on PBT keycaps (look out of the PD suffix for those). All of this provides for one of the best out of the box typing experiences before having to dive into the world of tuning and custom keyboards.
 
I think you could probably order new keycaps from logitech / there are sellers of replacements on amazon / ebay ~$40~ ish


My keyboard for the last 4yrs is a Filco MT2 TKL it is awesome and will accept pretty much any standard keycaps .. it has Costar rather than Cherry stabilizers (imho cherry stabilizers are the NO) ... The stock keycaps on the filco are ~ok but not that great I put Vortex PBT double shots on and that is a excellent combination that I'm well pleased with.

mouseKeyboard.jpg
 
Because of the heavy investment that a good mech keyboard requires, you really need to 'try it' before you consider buying one. And unfortunately there's only two ways to try one, neither which is too easy:

- go to a keyboard meetup. These are getting more frequent. There's one in Milwaukee next sunday that should have 100+ keyboards there: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=93833.0
- purchase a keyboard used. These may not be in pristine condition, but many times will be perfectly fine for trying out to see if you like them. And if you don't, it's relatively easy to get your original purchase price back when you sell it since they hold value pretty well.
 
Because of the heavy investment that a good mech keyboard requires, you really need to 'try it' before you consider buying one. And unfortunately there's only two ways to try one, neither which is too easy:

- go to a keyboard meetup. These are getting more frequent. There's one in Milwaukee next sunday that should have 100+ keyboards there: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=93833.0
- purchase a keyboard used. These may not be in pristine condition, but many times will be perfectly fine for trying out to see if you like them. And if you don't, it's relatively easy to get your original purchase price back when you sell it since they hold value pretty well.

People do the same thing with headphones!
 
I must say I ordered a Das 4 Pro to replace my aging Das Professionals from 2011 and the quality has tanked considerably in 8 years. The Das 4 Pro was mushy and had no feedback. The keys felt terribly cheap and numb. Needless to say I sent it back.

I went through this thread for some ideas for replacements and ended up with a Ducky One 2 Skyline and I must say I'm impressed as hell. It blows the Das away in pretty much every category and is cheaper by quite a margin.

Good thread!
 
Das boards are definitely overpriced IMO. That's disappointing to hear that the 4 Pro is worse in quality than the older ones, as I expected the opposite. I give them credit for being one of the original mechanical keyboard manufacturers and helping to make them popular among enthusiasts, but there are tons of great options now (with many being less expensive). They need to up their game instead of riding on their name...and while I was mildly interested in the 4 Pro, I have no interest in the 5Q at all.

Good to hear about your experience with Ducky - I have liked all of mine as well. (y)
 
I must say I ordered a Das 4 Pro to replace my aging Das Professionals from 2011 and the quality has tanked considerably in 8 years. The Das 4 Pro was mushy and had no feedback. The keys felt terribly cheap and numb. Needless to say I sent it back.

I went through this thread for some ideas for replacements and ended up with a Ducky One 2 Skyline and I must say I'm impressed as hell. It blows the Das away in pretty much every category and is cheaper by quite a margin.

Good thread!
Great to hear about the Ducky. What was some of the biggest differences from your old Das since they're both blue switches?
 
Great to hear about the Ducky. What was some of the biggest differences from your old Das since they're both blue switches?

I had the browns. Mainly the key caps and the feel of the larger keys are a big upgrade. The stabilizers that Das use are really flimsy and don't lend to a solid feel for the larger keys. The action and feel when you bottom out the keys on the Ducky is much more solid and pleasant feeling and sounding too.
 
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Just letting everyone know that one of the few "modern" ergonomic split-type keyboards is planning to launch this Fall - www.dygma.com

Crowdfunded, it has a number of features including open source software + firmware, ergonomic "split" style with angling/tenting and integrated wrist rests, a novel approach to macro/additional keys that don't take up any more room (it splits the space bar into 4 keys and since many users typically only use a limited part of the space bar they can use 1-3 of them for other functions! In addition, they add 3 low profile keys beneath the space bar for even more options. This is one of the most useful macro-key type setups I've seen to date given that unlike some others that place the keys way out to the sides or whatnot, these are accessible for normal gaming/productivity hand placement and key combos!), RGB per-key and underbody lighting, no-solder swappable switches, Choice of 7 switch types from Kailh and Cherry, PBT doubleshot keycaps (for US and UK English layouts), and more.

The whole board has been designed with enthusiasts, gaming etc.. in mind and Dygma's team has been really good about communication and taking user feedback/concerns under advisement. Awhile ago I knew I needed at least one more keyboard to add to my Corsair K70 RGB and I chose the Raise instead of many other more conventional boards because it looked like it was trying to do something a little different yet in the right way; looking forward to its arrival!
 
I had the browns. Mainly the key caps and the feel of the larger keys are a big upgrade. The stabilizers that Das use are really flimsy and don't lend to a solid feel for the larger keys. The action and feel when you bottom out the keys on the Ducky is much more solid and pleasant feeling and sounding too.
Ah yes, browns to blues will do that to you. :D I have blues in my secondhand Das, so it's not too bad, although it could feel a little 'tighter'.

There's a lot of innovation coming out with the small batch mechanical keyboards, some of which will make it to the mainstream like no solder switch replacement--I see that as a game changer to make things even more confusing for new buyers. :D
 
No, i went brown to brown so it is an apples to apples comparison.
Ah, I thought for some reason you switched to blues on the ducky. My bad. :oops:

I've got one Ducky with greens and it's a solid board with what seems to be tighter tolerances. At least enough that you can feel it.
 
I have been a long term "Buckling Spring" only fanatic. You know, IBM Model F, Model M and their descendants in Unicomp.

They still have my favorite key feel, but I/m currently doing a new PC build for my fiance. The 27" iMac I bought for her 4 years ago when she needed a computer died suddenly. Turns out having a mac wasn't as important for her as I had thought, so this time we are doing a PC build.

I still wanted to make it sleek and stylish and in a color scheme she would like (she definitely would not have liked the whole, black gaming tower with a window, deal)

So, brushed aluminum compact Streacom case, and some white peripherals were the way to go. I wanted to set her up with an entry level mechanical keyboard to really wow her and make her wonder how she ever typed for all those years on the terrible Mac keyboard.

So, I did some googling, and found the white Ducky One 2 with white LED backlighting from Mechanicalkeyboards.com for only $109. I populated it with brown switches as my best guess for her preferences (no time for a key tester!)

It just arrived today, and this keyboard is REALLY impressive. Key feel is great!. Fit and finish is perfect, and it is very very solid, and while I'm not an LED fan, I was really impressed with all the lighting effects. I was expecting just a dim white backlighting for typing in the dark, but it has all these special effects that are crazy.

I definitely recommend this keyboard (based on my 5 minutes with it) It has me considering one for work, where I can't use a buuckling spring due to the noise it would create in th eopen office environment.
 
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That's an awesome price for a new Ducky. I'm surprised you liked the browns though coming from BS. Are you going to order your Ducky with blues? If so, I'd be interested in what you think. The only switches I like after BS seem to be greens.
 
That's an awesome price for a new Ducky. I'm surprised you liked the browns though coming from BS. Are you going to order your Ducky with blues? If so, I'd be interested in what you think. The only switches I like after BS seem to be greens.

I haven't decided yet.

My liking it was based on knowing that browns would be different than what I'm used to, but it wasn't for me.

I'd probably like blues better but for a open office board, I wonder if the blues would be too loud.
 
I bought the Topre Type Heaven and, while it is okay, it cannot compare to the Realforce Topre in feel, imo. I now use the Topre Realforce 87U which is the best keyboard I've tried.

I did own a Unicomp keyboard. It arrived with something rattling inside and the workmanship seemed a little 'rough'. It stopped working after a year. It's better to buy a real IBM keyboard if you want to own a buckling spring in my humble opinion.
 
I'd probably like blues better but for a open office board, I wonder if the blues would be too loud.
It really depends on your office and how open/closed it is. Blues will be quieter than a Model M for sure--at least all the blue boards I have are. (y)
 
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