Looking for a keyboard

[Aenuriel]

Hello,

I am looking for a keaboard with these features:
- a well-built, solid, black or dark grey, simple case (I like the design of the "Topre Type Heaven" or "Ducky Shine 4-5")
- 100%, 95%, 90% or 75% sized
- MX Brown switches
- an ISO layout, but I am okay with ANSI only if I can configure an "alt gr" keycap instead of the "right alt" one
- no backlight, but why not white LEDs if we can see them between the keycaps
- as I want to change the keycaps for a black blank Vortex thick PBT set, I don’t care about the keycaps quality/features, unless if they already are like this

Budget: until 200€ including the keycaps set.

Thank you for your attention,
Aenuriel.

[andrewjoy]

http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/uk-f ... yboard.asp

[seebart]

My Ducky Zero is still for sale, but it's got MX blues.

http://deskthority.net/f-o-r-s-a-l-e-f5 ... ilit=ducky

Welcome to DT btw!

[Muirium]

Nice try, Seebart! But blues are loud, and I didn't see anything about that in the request…

The Filco is the obvious safe choice. There are cheaper options though, especially outside of Keyboard Co. And remember that a backlight doesn't matter if you can turn it off*. You're replacing the caps anyway. Ducky makes solid boards. Even CM, though beware the branding.

I would advise the NovaTouch if it came well equipped out of the box. But it does not, and in Europe they are too expensive. You're better off with MX brown, so long as you know what you're in for.


*The only keyboard I have ever seen where you can't completely shut off the backlight is the Cherry MX Board 6.0 which keeps its Windows keys permanently lit at full blue LED brightness unless you disable them completely. Jeeze Louise…

[andrewjoy]

Novatouch is good but not MX brown.

If your going for an MX costar you may as well go for the best one , the filco.

The keyboard co link is just to show the board you can buy it anywhere

[Aenuriel]

Thank you for your answers.

The ducky zero is a nice option, but I really want MX Brown switches.

What is the best quality between these products?
- Keyed Up Labs ES-87 (but ANSI, so only if I can configure an "alt gr" keycap instead of the "right alt" one, but I love it)
- Filco Majestouch 2
- (Edit:) Filco Ninja
- Ducky Shine 5 (not sure if there is an ISO layout version)
- Ducky One
- Ducky Zero
- Wasd V2
- CM Quickfire TK (seems less well-built but very nice sized)

I like the Filco, but not as much as the unfortunately-ANSI-layout KUL.

[Muirium]

Have you tried MX brown yourself? Or are you hunting for it because of other people's recommendations?

KUL is said to be top notch. I haven't tried one myself, and I think they're difficult to find in Europe. Hypersphere's written about them a couple of times, though:

http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/kul ... t8833.html
http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/bet ... t9012.html

Spoiler: These days he uses Topre pretty much exclusively. MX is often a gateway into better keyboards. It's the one you hear about first, before discovering the classics.

[seebart]

I can only tell you that both Ducky Zero and the Filco Majestouch 2 are very solid in build quality. Mu's right, if you've never tried MX brown you might want to wait before commiting.

[andrewjoy]

Always try before you buy!

[Aenuriel]

I already tried MX Brown and I love it. I however never tried other switches.

[Wilkie]

I have a KUL ES-87 (MX Black) and would recommend it if you planned to replace keycaps and were okay with ANSI. As far as I know, they do not make an ISO version. The board is very sturdy, with a simple, clean design. My only complaint is that the legends on the stock keycaps were noticeable faded within one week of use. KUL acknowledged this problem to me and said they were looking for a new plastics supplier (not sure what this implies about their keycaps plan), but it's been almost a year with no word on that...so, don't hold your breath. If you're okay with ANSI and will be swapping keycaps anyway, it's great.

[Aenuriel]

Do you know if the 2 alt keycaps can be use as different keycaps or not, with ANSI layout?

[andrewjoy]

You mean send different scancodes ? So that they act as different keys in the OS ?

That borders on custom controller territory.

[Aenuriel]

Yes that is what I mean.

So I guess this is not possible with a standard ANSI like the KUL.

[andrewjoy]

Some of the costar made keyboards ( like the filco roswell and so on) all have controllers you can replace.

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Costar_repl ... ontrollers

[Wilkie]

Yes that is what I mean.

So I guess this is not possible with a standard ANSI like the KUL.

If you are using Windows, it seems there is a registry option to remap keys. Scroll down in this discussion to see how people use it and for a link to documentation: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2296 ... to-alt-key

Haven't used it myself.

[andrewjoy]

Oo thats interesting , possibly i can finally get windows to reconise F13 to F24! Considering they are in the standard scanset.

[Aenuriel]

I found the perfect keyboard size: the Duck Lightsaver, which seems not anymore sell.

Is there something I can buy like this keyboard?

[guk]

Red Scarf RS96 parts might be available, look for those on taobao.

[Aenuriel]

Very nice idea, thanks.

I found this:
http://world.taobao.com/item/4331522162 ... rig#detail

There isn’t any large picture, is it this:
http://img04.taobaocdn.com/bao/uploaded ... em_pic.jpg
?

And how can I which switches are there?

Thank you again for your answer.

[Aenuriel]

If someone can help me me with Taobao, it will be very nice.

[Stabilized]

You need to find the products you would like on taobao (google translate), then you need to make an order through a buying site like yoybuy.com or bhiner.com. Do a bit of googling and find one with a good shipping rate, that's what I have done in the past.

Edit: actually if you need to get something that requires contact with the seller (like this might do), your best bet might be to request Qtan on GH to use his buying service: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=32072.0

[Aenuriel]

Hi,

As I don’t find all components for a RS96 (and as $1600 for a mounted one is too expensive), I will build a RS77. I think I found all I need for it, but I ask for your help to check if I need something else and if all of these components are compatible together:
- case:
http://world.taobao.com/item/4132471459 ... 5723fb36c9
- connecting plate:
http://world.taobao.com/item/5211273683 ... 2013.1.0.0
- positioning plate:
http://world.taobao.com/item/5211277620 ... YSg#detail
- a micro-USB / USB cable

And for the keycaps:
- Blank "DSA profile" keycaps:
http://pimpmykeyboard.com/
- MX Brown switches:
http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/ind ... _list&c=43

If you have some tips…

Thank you for your answers.

[gogusrl]

Why is the pcb so expensive ? I understand the case for almost 200$, and the plate at ~25$ is a good price but I don't get the 115$ for the pcb.

[Aenuriel]

Hi and sorry for the late answer,

Maybe the pcb's rarity make it so expensive, isn't it?

[Aenuriel]

I have another question:

Can I mount plate-mounted clips (for costar stabilizers) for an "ISO Enter keycaps" with this type of frame?
http://world.taobao.com/item/4328059428 ... 98d8fc31c5