"Solid" mechanical keyboard with ISO-DE layout (100 %)

[ghostdawg187]

Hey guys,

I want to buy my father his first mechanical keyboard for Christmas. He is an old fashioned programmer but has never possessed a mechanical keyboard in his programmer life. So it is time to equip him with a solid full size mechanical keyboard! He turns 60 next year, so he is used to the ISO-DE layout and I don't think that ANSI or ISO-UK would convince him to use such an input device. While searching for an appropriate candidate, which is not too expensive (~ 130 Euros) I have found this one:

IKBC C104 with Cherry MX Brown
https://mykeyboard.eu/catalogue/g104-is ... brown_240/

Do you have some more suggestions? Something which is not too fancy for an reasonable price?

I appreciate also "vintage" suggestions, but without any restoration to be done.

[Myoth]

As much as I'd prefer not saying this, a Model M is probably the best vintage keyboard for him. He's not interested so he won't really care about the feel, but damn he's going to get nostalgic with that huge ass keyboard.


Though you may have to "restore" it, meaning cleaning the caps and the case. As you're German, I advise you to contact Wodan, he has tons of Ms ready to be cleaned to their full glory and they're readily available !

[ghostdawg187]

^^ Ah, I am sorry, I forgot to mention a necessary information: Although he does not need to share his office with some one else, I think that a Model M might be too loud. The walls are very thin, so using the Model M could lead to some disturbing the peace. Moreover, I think that after using several years some cheap rubber dome keyboard the step to a Model M could be too huge and would result in discarding my gift.

[samuelcable]

https://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/ger ... yboard.asp

id reccomend this. it peaks your price range but filco make good keyboards for what they are.

[hansichen]

There are quite a lot of good options on the full-size retail market, eg Filco, Coolermaster, Ducky, Leopold and other companies. I've heard some good things about IKBC as well but I don't have personal experience with them.

Here are two Ducky boards. They have pbt caps which are more durable than standard abs keycaps.
https://www.caseking.de/ducky-one-2-sky ... a-986.html
https://www.caseking.de/ducky-one-white ... a-945.html

Coolermaster: https://geizhals.de/cooler-master-maste ... 93141.html

[hansichen]

https://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/ger ... yboard.asp

id reccomend this. it peaks your price range but filco make good keyboards for what they are.

There is also a cheaper version with legends on the top: https://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/ger ... yboard.asp
Though shipping and the £ might crash the budget.

[kbdfr]

Perhaps a silly remark, but being around the same generation as your dad I think he might prefer a beige keyboard

[samuelcable]

Perhaps a silly remark, but being around the same generation as your dad I think he might prefer a beige keyboard

So a g80-1000

[ghostdawg187]

^^ Thank you all for your help. On the basis of hansichen's comment I have found a good offer for the Ducky ONE keyboard and according to a helpful comment from kbdfr it is beige I hope my dad will like Cherry MX brown switches and he will not discard a mechanical keyboard too soon