backlit mechanical tenkeyless?

R

Ruahrc

Limp Gawd
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Mar 8, 2009
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After building up a new PC I am also considering upgrading my keyboard. Right now it's a logitech wireless KB... going on 10 years now. I love this keyboard (wireless, very simple design with no extra BS keys, and the batteries literally last forever... like 2 years per set) but recently I have noticed maybe some of the limitations. Maybe it's because I have better PC hardware that is more responsive or maybe it's just psychological, but sometimes when playing star trek online I get in a situation where my character keeps strafing to the left/right etc. as if the "a" or "d" key was held down. Not sure if it is lag or a problem with the game (I don't really notice it in other games) or what but maybe it's time for me to retire the KB along with the rest of my old hardware.

I am a believer in the concept of spending good money on a quality input device since the input is such a major part of the computing experience. That said I think I would enjoy a mechanical keyboard. I'd also benefit from a tenkeyless version for this computer since the desk it's on has this keyboard tray, and as it is now my keyboard has to hang a little off the left side to accomodate the mousepad. If I had a tenkeyless it would right just right on the keyboard tray. Since this is a gaming PC I don't really need the numberpad. I do my real work on another computer.

However it doesn't seem like they offer wireless tenkeyless mechanical keyboards, so I might have to retrograde to a wired KB. Since I'd be stuck with wired anyways, I thought maybe it would be cool to get a backlit tenkeyless, if any are available? The only backlit mechanical I could find is the Razer BWU, but if it comes down to it I'd rather have tenkeyless than backlit.

So I am strongly leaning towards the Leopold tenkeyless with Cherry MX brown's from elitekeyboards.com. From reading the mechanical keyboard sticky thread I think the browns will have a good compromise between tactile response and noise, and gaming vs typing "feel". I don't play many fast paced games so I'm not looking for extreme response times or fast key action. I would like something reasonably quiet and with a good feel. With that in mind, the browns are probably the safest bet?

Lastly, how long is the USB cable that comes with the Leopold tenkeyless? The standard 6-footer or is it longer?
 
The leopold cable is pretty short IMO. I couldn't say how short, but it was shorter than my Logitech G15 which it replaced.

The brown switches will probably be what you want. I have blues and like them well enough and the noise does not bother me.
 
The Leopold I'm looking at uses a standard usb mini cable so it can be as long as you want.
 
HeavensCloud said:
The Leopold I'm looking at uses a standard usb mini cable so it can be as long as you want.
Click to expand...

Right, but the one they included is not very long. If you didn't have an extra and you needed more length it's an extra few dollars for a cable.
 
I use a Filco tenkeyless (browns) and love it. I'd love even more a backlit tenkeyless, but there aren't at the moment. Our best chance for one probably lies with Corsair (see their keyboard thread below). They've entered the keyboard market and are about to release a couple of mech boards. Lots of people, including me, have requested a backlit tenkeyless and the response from Corsair has been quite positive. Here's to hoping they produce one in the very near future.
 
I have a TKL Deck 82-Key backlit mechanical. There's also a TKL Poker backlit board now.
Ducky will have tenkeyless backlit boards in December.
 
I forgot about the Deck 82 tenkeyless. Its black switches didn't work for me.

I didn't know Ducky was releasing a backlit tenkeyless. Might make a nice Christmas present to myself.
 
The Ducky Shine is tenkeyless and backlit but has MX Black keys only. If that suits you then great. However if you can wait a bit, they are supposed to be releasing a Brown and Blue version as well.
 
cmdrdredd said:
The Ducky Shine is tenkeyless and backlit but has MX Black keys only. If that suits you then great. However if you can wait a bit, they are supposed to be releasing a Brown and Blue version as well.
Click to expand...
I'll wait for the Brown. Hope it's white lighting.
 
Argh. One problem I can see myself having is problems with the color of the backlight. Almost to the point that I'd need it to be multicolored LEDs so I can get it to match my Razer Mamba 2012. Also brightness control on these products always seems a little lacking. Most LED products I see for PCs are just way too bright, even on the lowest setting.

Maybe I should just order a non-BL Leopold, it's not like I ever game in pitch black anyways...?
 
Went ahead and ordered a leopold tenkeyless with brown switches. Felt vain and also threw in the lavender WASD keycaps :). Will look forward to it arriving!
 
hehe for more keycaps WASDkeyboards.com has a variety of sets you can order. You can get any color for any key you want with any text you want on it. SO you could have a yellow delete key that says "&*^&^#!!" instead of "delete". Whatever.
 
Elitekeyboards's preorder for tenkeyless reds and clears is up, might be an interesting option for a gaming board.
 
having trouble finding good info on the supposed Ducky backlit tenkeyless

supposedly it is the 1087, but I find conflicting information, and not a lot of that.

Anybody have the straight story?
 
There is no tenkeyless Ducky Shine, it doesn't exist. And theres been no rumors or news of them ever making one. Hopes and dreams from many but that doesn't get you very far.
 
I'm blanking on the name at the moment, but there's a Japanese kit that makes exactly what you're looking for. I don't think its HappyHacking, but its very similar. They've even made a bamboo/wood keycapped, mech switch, BACKLIT, TKL version in the past but as you may expect from 1) a niche product like this and 2) Japanese manufacturing, its expensive as hell. (Note: Not the $5000 Wajima laquer HHKB version. That's different, awesome, but not backlit)
 
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There's a Noppoo TKL fully backlit available.

Also from the same place is the semi backlit KBC Poker.

There's a group buy going on at geekhack for a KBT Race which is similar to a Noppoo Choco Mini but fully backlit.

KBT Pure is coming in the near future, which is basically a fully backlit Poker.

Another backlit board is the CM Storm from the same manufacturer as Filco.

Leopold is NOT backlit! Great board though, will get one myself after I get all my double shot caps ordered.
 
Most people who buy mechanical keyboards can type and don't need backlit keys. Why do you need them?
 
looks cool ?

why do we mod cases, or put rims on our cars, or wear clothes?
 
I've got one of the Deck 82's (tenkeyless and tiny) backlit in green :D I love it. Looks like they're still selling the 82, only in "Ice" backlight color, which looks pretty sweet too. Shame the OP doesn't like the MX Blacks it comes with though....
 
100inch said:
Most people who buy mechanical keyboards can type and don't need backlit keys. Why do you need them?
Click to expand...

I type on a Filco Otaku every day. I don't even need the lettering on my board.

However, when gaming it's nice to have a board with visible keys because one hand on the board isn't as intuitive as touch typing with both. Back lighting is awesome for gaming.
 
i'll take the looks of Filco Otaku any day over a tacky light-up keyboard.

people should just learn where the keys are. it doesn't take much gaming/typing to know where they keys are. if you have been looking down for years to find keys while gaming its time for a change. it's not something some one should choose a gaming-keyboard for. people are choosing cheap light-up mechanical keyboards over quality ones because they have lights. its a shame.
 
No, some of us are holding out for a quality backlit tenkeyless with cherry browns

this post was written on rubber domes
 
jojo69 said:
No, some of us are holding out for a quality backlit tenkeyless with cherry browns

this post was written on rubber domes
Click to expand...

Are you prepared to pay 150 dollars? cause thats how much it will probably cost, there is a premium to pay. Its either that, or sacrificing quality for lights.
 
Yes, there is also a premium for nice aluminum rims, a stylin' tie, or getting your shoes shined.
 
100inch said:
Are you prepared to pay 150 dollars? cause thats how much it will probably cost, there is a premium to pay. Its either that, or sacrificing quality for lights.
Click to expand...

Why are you in this thread? The OP, and a lot of other people, have the money and want to buy what they want to buy. Why do you care what they type on?

As an example,
As pointless as it seems to you to buy a mechanical backlit keyboard for $150 is it, to us,
not nearly as pointless and useless as the responses you have posted in this thread.
 
PoorBehavior said:
Why are you in this thread? The OP, and a lot of other people, have the money and want to buy what they want to buy. Why do you care what they type on?

As an example,
As pointless as it seems to you to buy a mechanical backlit keyboard for $150 is it, to us,
not nearly as pointless and useless as the responses you have posted in this thread.
Click to expand...


I was providing information. I don't think you fully read or got the point of any of my posts. The point of my 150 dollar post was to ask him if he realized how much backlit mechanical keyboards cost that are on par with the quality keyboards.

If some one wants to spend extra money on a backlit keyboard its their option. The problem is they are buying mechanical keyboards and have a budget.

Most of the people that want mechanical keyboards with lights on them tend to sacrifice quality for the lights. They should be aware that they are doing this and consider the alternatives.


I was steering people away from buying cheaper mechanical keyboards because they have lights on them.

Most of the people who buy backlit keyboards are doing it so they can see where the keys are. That's the reason they started to make backlit keyboards. I asked them to consider the reason why they need a backlit keyboard. If they aren't hard-headed they could consider whether they want to learn to type or to buy a cheaper mechanical keyboard with lights or go for the higher quality keyboard at the same price without lights.


Buying a mechanical keyboard with the necessity that it has lights on it is actually pretty funny most places and there is a reason for that.
 
100inch said:
I was providing information. I don't think you fully read or got the point of any of my posts. The point of my 150 dollar post was to ask him if he realized how much backlit mechanical keyboards cost that are on par with the quality keyboards.

Buying a mechanical keyboard with the necessity that it has lights on it is actually pretty funny most places and there is a reason for that.
Click to expand...

Brother, I got your point and I appreciate a more polite response than I gave you but at the end of the day it is not all about practicality, some people just like a little bling in their lives and considering we only get one shot at this life thing I think we need to recognize that paying a little more for a putting a smile on our face is ok.
 
100inch said:
i'll take the looks of Filco Otaku any day over a tacky light-up keyboard.

people should just learn where the keys are. it doesn't take much gaming/typing to know where they keys are. if you have been looking down for years to find keys while gaming its time for a change. it's not something some one should choose a gaming-keyboard for. people are choosing cheap light-up mechanical keyboards over quality ones because they have lights. its a shame.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure you can be so quick to judge though. Some people don't need the backlights persay but like the appearance, or like the option when they feel lazy.

Also, while I know where every key on the keyboard is, for me it's the jumping between them that is the hardest. If my hands are on the home row it's no problem but when I have the WASD hand position and I need to jump over and hit F7, or "O" without looking, it's hard to be as accurate. It's not about not knowing the layout, but rather not having the muscle memory to know exactly how far to move my hand to reach the required key without looking, especially when your hand is in a suboptimal position (i.e. left hand on WASD and right hand on mouse, and needing to jump across the KB with your left hand to hit keys on the other side). That's also probably why some people order custom color keycaps to space out around the keyboard, so they can better localize themselves using their peripheral vision.
 
Although not backlit I have the Leopold 10 keyless as well. With the Cherry MX black. Good solid board. Good price too. I got the lavender keys but just put them on R and S. I love it. Will never go back to a non-mechanical.
 
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