What Mouse and Keyboard Are You Using Right Now?

An unexpected "blast from the past" moment for me. I found my old Icemat glass mouse pad in a box in my attic today. There was a time when these were the most coveted mouse pads on the market. I probably could sell it for $100 or more. They're damn near impossible to find now.

I know where one is!

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What, pray tell, is the Icemat doing in front of a potato?

Do not mock the Sensei! That's been a heck of a mouse over the years, and a trusted friend of its only friend, the Icemat.

Edit: It is of course used by a potato, in the vernacular of the Kids These Days...
 
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I picked up a Logitech G513 Carbon with the Romer G blue switches. I was at Microcenter playing around with the mechanical keyboards and I have to say, I was impressed by the build quality of the thing as well as its feel. The G513 appealed to me due to its minimalist design. I knew these existed, but hadn't really looked at them. I really didn't expect much from Logitech as I haven't really ever been a fan of their keyboards.
 
I did Blues only once, and said never again. Every keypress sounds like a toothpick breaking.

Perhaps Logitech tuned that down a bit...

Thankfully, no. The Romer G blues sound a lot like Cherry MX or Gateron blues.
 
Cherry MX ... blues

The MX Blues keyboard I have is from Razer. I contribute their 'design' to most of the problem, but the switches on them, while feeling nice, sound obnoxiously like ass.

Best I've used have been MX Browns with damping, but I'm still looking for an actually quiet mech switch that retains the feel.
 
The MX Blues keyboard I have is from Razer. I contribute their 'design' to most of the problem, but the switches on them, while feeling nice, sound obnoxiously like ass.

Best I've used have been MX Browns with damping, but I'm still looking for an actually quiet mech switch that retains the feel.

Not pictured in my photo - the CODE keyboard. Cherry MX Clears, simple white backlighting, no nonsense - just an awesome keyboard. I'd like a dial for volume, but that's the only fault I could site.

Clears - not quite the click feel of the Blues, but a lot less sound. 80% of the feel, in a wild guesstimate. I actually prefer the blues and IBM buckling spring, but dislike getting The Look from coworkers. Thus, the clears. It's a compromise, but not a bad one.

It's hard to find demo units with clears, but if you get a chance, check 'em out.
 
Not pictured in my photo - the CODE keyboard. Cherry MX Clears, simple white backlighting, no nonsense - just an awesome keyboard. I'd like a dial for volume, but that's the only fault I could site.

Not exactly an impulse buy at US$165, but I'll keep my eye on them, thanks :)

Edit: another issue- I killed a custom keyboard from MechanicalKeyboards.com with a very tiny liquid spill; since that point, I've only purchased boards that mount the switches flush so that liquids are kept away from the circuitry by design. Being the 30-something toddler I am, I'll never commit to keeping food and drink away from my desktop.
 
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The MX Blues keyboard I have is from Razer. I contribute their 'design' to most of the problem, but the switches on them, while feeling nice, sound obnoxiously like ass.

Best I've used have been MX Browns with damping, but I'm still looking for an actually quiet mech switch that retains the feel.

I have a Razer with Cherry MX Blues as well as several other keyboards with those same switches, or clones of them. The Razer feels the worst of the blue keyboards I've used. The bad key caps and general build quality have a subtle, but noticeable impact on them. Das Keyboard is way better. I actually like the Gateron blues a bit more than the Cherry. The Romer G's take a little more force to actuate than Cherry or Gateron's, but so far, I like them. Their design removes all the wobble from the keys that you sometimes see from other options. I'm a definite keyboard snob, and this G513 is actually really nice. I didn't expect to like it so much, which is why I bought it locally. That way I could return it inevitably when I didn't like it. It felt nice enough at the store to try out, but I figured I'd find fault with it in short order, which hasn't happened yet. I've got a Logitech headset and mouse, so the software just recognized it and synced the colors to match my other devices, which was nice.

I like MX Browns well enough, but I prefer the audible click. I have had keyboards with browns and blacks. Those were fine keyboards as well, but blues are my preference. I actually like the noise, and even if I didn't, I much prefer the feel of a tactile / clicky keyboard while typing.
 
I've had love affairs of varying lengths with Blues, Browns, Reds, Clears, Greens, and Silver (Speed) switches. All Cherry MX, though I've tried some of the knockoff variants too. They all felt great initially, but I either became sort of bored with them after some months or just wanted to try something new in order to change things up. The only ones that I ever tried where I was just like "This is not going to work for me" were Blacks. I tend to prefer clicky and tactile switches over linear ones, and overall I'd say that I prefer lighter keys over heavier ones, so those two factors made Blacks the worst for me. They just felt fatiguing to type on and offered zero feedback. Cherry Silver/Speed switches don't offer any feedback either, but at least they're light and offer the advantage of a reduced actuation distance. I can see their appeal. But I tend to make way more typos with them because barely laying a finger on them seems to cause them to register.

Clears were a surprising favorite of mine. I didn't expect to love them because they offer more resistance than MX Browns, but they have a really nice tactile bump that offers great feedback. Some people don't like MX Browns because they feel like "dirty Reds". Clears really accentuate that tactile bump and are much quieter than Blues and Greens. Like Dan, I enjoy the audible click and the feedback that Blues provide in most cases but there have been scenarios where that extra noise wasn't desirable (office environments, late night gaming sessions, etc.). So for a long time, Clears were my go-to switches and they are easily in my top 3.

Right now I'm using a keyboard with low profile Blue switches made by Kailh. I can't get away from using this thing. I always liked low profile keyboards because I am really fast on them and the reduced travel feels great on your joints, but for the longest time the only ones that I could find were membrane. Finally, within the last few months some manufacturers have started releasing low profile mechanical keyboards (there is a thread here dedicated to them). Corsair, Cooler Master, Filco, and some others have entered this space with low profile Cherry Red and Silver switches. Ducky supposedly has one in the works that looks awesome, but I've not heard any new info on it in a while. The one I have with low profile Blues is somewhat of a rare bird, as I haven't found too many other keyboards using them but I'm definitely glad that Kailh stepped up to the plate with a clicky low profile switch since I haven't seen one from Cherry yet. I guess it remains to be seen how big of a space in each manufacturer's product line these low profile mechanical boards will occupy.
 
I have a Hexgears X-1 with low-profile Kailh Browns and chicklet-style keys- and the actuation pressure is surprisingly high. Like, I'd take one of the other, lighter, quiet variants instead. These are nothing like the MX Browns I've had on other keyboards. They are stiff.

But I can make anything work, and this thing is so compact that it's whatever.
 
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Using a Glorious Model O glossy at the moment for mouse and a KB Paradise V60 Mini with Cherry MX Clear switches. I'm very pleased with both to be honest. I still prefer clicky switches, however I irritate my husband with the clicking. I was afraid the tactile bump wouldn't be as pronounced like some of the Brown keyboards I've tested but am pleasantly surprised at how well done these are in that regard. Definitely a very comfortable typing experience and work wonderfully in games. And I love these retro key caps as they definitely remind me of growing up in that era of beige everything. If I had one complaint it's that it uses mini USB instead of USB C, but that's just a minor niggle as the board itself is built solidly.
 
Ducky One with Cherry MX - Clear. Logitech g303, Logitech G305, test running a Razer Naga Trinity and Logitech G600 for MMO's.

Always thought an MMO mouse would make things quicker in MMO's, just scared to try. It doesn't help that the MMO mice are the size of dinner plates and I have short fingers.

G600 is coming in soon (I read about the sensor problems after buying it on amazon for $35). I've tried the NAGA and it tracks great, software was easy enough to use. I've been a low sensitivity gamer for decades and always lift my mouse. The NAGA is not made for that. So it has been very frustrating. Hoping the G600 has more of a slanted edge on the right side like / so I can lift it with my pinky easier.
 
Using the smaller Model O- as the primary right now- for my fingertip grip, I find it better than the O a smidgen. I assume that it would work better for those with smaller hands as well.

Also picked up their smaller cloth mousepad, though it is still quite large. They're cheap so I'm not too worried about keeping it clean with washing degrading the surface and I'm finding that I like gaming on it a bit.
 
I just got my Logitech G915 in (black with the clicky option) from Logitech. Apparently it has some of Logi's latest switches in it. Though I normally like Cherry Browns, these switches aren't bad / pretty good. The clicks are decently loud (but not harsh) and the actuation point doesn't require a lot of force to trigger. For reference, this rig was previously setup with a Das 5Q keyboard and before that a Logitech G910 Spark.

While I have a Logitech Lightspeed G903 mouse that I normally use, I'm currently pairing it with my Swiftpoint Z mouse for testing.

If you like super thin keyboard type industrial design, this one might be the keyboard for you. Well crafted of mostly metal, it can work in wired "lightspeed" mode or wireless Bluetooth mode. Typing is comfortable and accurate and other than a simple G logo in the upper left corner, the keyboard is not too "gamey looking" (can easily use this in an office environment if you don't use the blinky rainbow modes). Speaking of RGB and gaming,the keys are very bright and both lights and keys are re-programmable via Logitech software.

The only 2 downsides for me are:
1) Its $$$ price. I've been eyeing this keyboard since it came out but the full price was just too much for me. Buuuut Logitech sent me a 25% off coupon which dropped the price to acceptable enough levels for me to pull the trigger.
2) For whatever reason, Logitech decided to light up just the main keys. The shiftable sub-key on each key is not lit at all. Not even a little. No issues if you're a touch typist but definitely no bueano for hunt and peckers.
 
At work right now, a Logitech K540 and Anywhere MX 2 on a G440 mousepad.

At home, a Logitech G413 and G903 on a Powerplay mousepad. Interested in a G915 but can't justify that $$$ since I want only red lighting… and the mousepad is wired. Having to plug in the mousepad kind of undermines the benefit of a wireless keyboard. As it is now the G413's passthrough USB port works very well for connecting the Powerplay.
 
Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum RGB (with the older G logo) and Corsair K70 LUX RGB. The K70 is great since you can change the colors for WASD, shift, CTRL, numbers, etc. The G502 game profiles is a nice touch as well. Somewhat useful, but by no means necessary.
 
I'm using a Corsair K68 RGB + Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0. I've been through a lot of mice and always go back to the IEM3.0.
 
Just realized they released the Pro version of the IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0 with upgraded switches, RGB lighting, 1000MHz response time, and a dope sensor. I'm glad Microsoft is catering to the gamers who live and die by the classic version and released a gem for us. This mouse has inspired so many other mice. Razer, SteelSeries, and Zowie are three that immediately come to mind who have released mice inspired by the IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0 design.
 
Doesn't look too bad spec-wise, care to make a comparison based on your priorities?

I'm liking the O- quite a bit, personally, though I did go for the matte white version ;)

Really happy with my O- also. I didn't think I'd ever go back to a wired mouse after using Logitech's awesome wireless tech, but here I am. With a zillion mice available, I mean there might be something else out there that I'd like better...I just don't care to look. :)
 
I like the Razer's size most of all. It's between the regular O and O-. I like the feel of the Razer's switches, too. I still like my O- and will use it for my laptop, but the Razer is now my full-time desktop mouse.
 
I've tried 4 of the 6 "ultralights" (MM710/ Model O-/ Model O/ Viper), and I do like the Viper the most thus far, with the MM710 second. I didn't expect to like the Viper so much, but the excellent mouse wheel and overall shape worked best for me. I like the rubberized sides as well, as it reminds me of my Castor though it isn't as textured.

I've yet to try the Ultralight2 though, which will be next as it's been sitting in front of me for awhile now.
 
Anyone have a particularly good/bad opinion of the Logitech G613? Wireless is a must for me, so don't go there :)

It launched at $150 but is now $80 at a bunch of different retailers. I'm looking for something that functions for gaming, but am also simply looking for something for writing, too. It has a layout that I like and seems to have all the features I want.
 
Anyone have a particularly good/bad opinion of the Logitech G613? Wireless is a must for me, so don't go there :)

It launched at $150 but is now $80 at a bunch of different retailers. I'm looking for something that functions for gaming, but am also simply looking for something for writing, too. It has a layout that I like and seems to have all the features I want.

Highly recommend trying locally if you can, and buying locally in case of return.

Switches are extremely personal, you need to decide that one 'in person', but otherwise, the lack of backlighting is the only thing that would really turn me off on that one. I require white backlightng. But if you don't, that price is hard to argue with.
 
I've got a Logitech G900 next to my G903. It cost less than the wireless charging mat for the G903. It's the same mouse basically, so now if the battery dies I just switch mice.
 
Anne pro 2 with gateron browns came today, Logitech g602.
Tap layer arrow keys really works for me, other 60% keyboards I feel crippled without it.

Corsair strafe started to 4x strike keys, and I’m tired of red switches.
 
So far so good with the G613. There are a few key placement quirks I need to adjust to (and an odd metallic noise to it), but overall I like it.
I plan to put it through its paces in Borderlands this evening, so I'll see how I like it as a gaming device.
 
After a week with my G613 I've grown to like it, but I hate those G keys on the far left. I repeatedly keep hitting them when I want to hit Esc, Tab, etc. You have to run GHub resident all of the time to re-map/disable them as well. If I were more adventurous I'd look into removing them.
 
Alright, changed it up a little from the above.

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Still using the Ducky One with green switches and white LED's, but have now switched my G502 for one of the relaunched MX518's, but custom weight modded.

The 101g was WAY too light for me, so I modded it up to 185g.

Wound up liking this combo enough that I first bought a second Ducky One, this time with Clear switches and added O-rings for quieter open office work use, and later bought a second MX518 modding it the same way also for work.
 
Ducky One/2 tenkeyless
Qisan number pad
Razer Viper wireless mouse
My ship: the Normandy

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Any thoughts to share on the Viper wireless vs. wired? I'm normally not a huge fan of charging docks since you can't use the mouse when they're charging unlike Logitech's solution, but considering the battery life of that one, I doubt it's a big deal. How long does it take to charge (assuming you've had to do so)?
 
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