deskthority

Hiya guys! I am pretty new here, and new to the world of mechanical keyboards and am having a little bit of trouble trying to buy my very first mech keyboard. The reason for it being so difficult is because I am awaiting money from selling books, so that means I don't have much money so it will be a pretty big commitment for some time when I choose a keyboard.

My choices for a keyboard are:
- Leopold Tenkeyless (Brown/Red $112 with shipping)
- Ducky DK9087G2 Pro (Red $101 free shipping)
- Ducky DK9087G2 Pro TKL Chinese version (Brown $101 free shipping)

I have a question for the Ducky keyboards:
1 - The Capslock Key is backlit so does that affect me replacing them with blank black caps?
2 - Is there a difference with the Chinese version besides the different keycaps?

Lastly, should I get the Brown switch as a starter switch or go for the linear Reds? I am a pretty light touch-typer even when typing fast, but I might benefit from having that tactile bump...So many great options but so hard to find where to start!

1. well, without the window for the led it's hard to make out if it's on or off
2. the chinese version is most likely simply ANSI/US layout with some additional chinese symbols on the keycaps - so yeah, just caps.

i choose the ducky dk1087xm (green) as my starter kb because it was the cheapest - i guess though that if you really like colorful caps you should stick with cherry keys :>

dondy wrote:1. well, without the window for the led it's hard to make out if it's on or off
2. the chinese version is most likely simply ANSI/US layout with some additional chinese symbols on the keycaps - so yeah, just caps.

i choose the ducky dk1087xm (green) as my starter kb because it was the cheapest - i guess though that if you really like colorful caps you should stick with cherry keys :>

Holy crap that keyboard is cheap (price), did you like it?

Thanks for the answers for the questions. I wanna also switch capslock with ctrl, would that be possible even with the LED?

i still like it despite two things: the chinese symbols on the caps are annoying because i don't understand them and it's pretty hard to find keycaps for ALPS-type switches. also i would probably go with the linear (black) alps-types now, but that might just be out of curiousity.

the base price is really nice but the shipping pushed the total price up to around 60 euros (including customs fee) - which may or may not ruin the price for you.

you can always switch keys using a software solution, there are plentiful ressources for that. this can be a minor annoyance though when you switch systems often. i would suggest that when you have a mechanical kb you should maybe first try to use ctrl with the palm of the hand - it works very well for me.

Thanks dondy!

Gah! So Cash4Books.com took off a book due to water damage. I found a Leopold FC660M for 65.30 but the bid ends soon! It has cherry mx red switches. Should I go ahead and buy it as a first time mechanical keyboard or should I just skip it and wait for money from anything?

i don't think anyone can help you with that decision

also, i don't know that much about general prices.

dondy wrote:i don't think anyone can help you with that decision

also, i don't know that much about general prices.

womp

There's always a risk, when buying without trying, that you'll hate the switch you get. I heard Cherry MX brown was a good starter switch, but it's actually my least favourite of the entire MX lineup. Brown is tactile, but it's a very faint and uncertain tactility. To my taste, at any rate. I much prefer clear for tactile, and blue overall. Red is a nice switch too, but people often say it's too light for them. You've got to be careful how you rest your hands on a keyboard full of reds, they're sensitive that way! But I do love them over MX black.

I'd save a little bit more before you jump in. Ducky's flagship Shine 3 is coming out soon (announcement is in a week or so I think) and that ought to shake things up a bit. New stock means price reductions for the old stuff, at the very least.

What do you really think of back lights? The translucent key caps they require (to look their best, anyway) typically reduce your choices for replacements, and also rule out PBT: the harder wearing plastic better caps are often made of.

So I ended up jumping the gun because I know I'm not gonna get money for a long while...plus I kinda like the look of fc660m in Cherry MX Reds and the apparent only way that I will what switch I like is to try different ones. I'm probably going to get a MX Brown when I get enough money for a Filco Majestouch-2. Slow but steady I guess XD

Edit: One thing I don't care for is backlight. I used to when I Was all into the Blackwidow and The corsair K90...Then I went tenkeyless and thought...hmmm...what would make me look less of a jerk when I break it out in the library lol. So I decided tenkeyless with no backlighting.

it's ok to "jump the gun" - one has to try out the switches one way or another anyways i guess; on a positive note, at least you can't blame me

also, the fc660m looks more than decent, though i'm not so sure red mx would be for me - i'd rather have something like mx blacks right now - something with more resistance

i don't think i would go into a library with my clicky/tactile xm alps - my gf can hear and wakes up from me typing from the floor above...

dondy wrote:it's ok to "jump the gun" - one has to try out the switches one way or another anyways i guess; on a positive note, at least you can't blame me

also, the fc660m looks more than decent, though i'm not so sure red mx would be for me - i'd rather have something like mx blacks right now - something with more resistance

i don't think i would go into a library with my clicky/tactile xm alps - my gf can hear and wakes up from me typing from the floor above...

Damn you those have to be loud... Yeah my brother wouldn't like that since I sleep in the room next to his. I have this eerie feeling that I am going to like reds. Might be because I usually don't like my first option when I get it. We'll see. After I buy a new laptop, I will most likely have a huge collection of keyboards XD

from what i've read a buckling spring keyboard is pretty loud, they're also fairly heavy (IBM Model M) and have a detachable cable so you could throw it defensively if your brother tries to start a riot because of the noise

just kidding, i wouldn't throw a IBM Model M >.>...

dondy wrote:from what i've read a buckling spring keyboard is pretty loud, they're also fairly heavy (IBM Model M) and have a detachable cable so you could throw it defensively if your brother tries to start a riot because of the noise

just kidding, i wouldn't throw a IBM Model M >.>...

Haha. I've been trying to find a Model M at thrift stores in my area. My laptop and combination desktop that my dad bought for our house doesn't use a ps/2 adapter or any other input besides USB

i don't think the ps2-to-usb adapter is a big problem, they are plentifull and fairly cheap (there's a thread with a list of them somewhere here

Ah, Model M! Now you're talking. Don't forget Unicomp if you want a new one. It's the most keyboard for the money, in both a hefty good and a why am I in the 1980s? kind of way.

If only they ever started making TKLs or smaller…

Muirium wrote:Ah, Model M! Now you're talking. Don't forget Unicomp if you want a new one. It's the most keyboard for the money, in both a hefty good and a why am I in the 1980s? kind of way.

If only they ever started making TKLs or smaller…

If they did...I would pee my pants

And then promptly complete your order before getting a change of clothes. Join the club!

Muirium wrote:And then promptly complete your order before getting a change of clothes. Join the club!

nope! all safe!

Better safe than sorry.

Fortunately, what Unicomp fails to start, devious keyboard hackers are trying to accomplish! It's early days yet, but experiments are in progress.

I'll be acutely interested in home build buckling spring projects once they get to the point I can order a kit and get soldering. Or, you know, just buy a goddamn keyboard. But this is a start.

Definitely not impossible to do. If I ever get into making my won TKL boards, my goal would be to make a buckling spring 60% board with PBT keys. That would be a dream.

TimIsABat wrote:Definitely not impossible to do. If I ever get into making my won TKL boards, my goal would be to make a buckling spring 60% board with PBT keys. That would be a dream.

Add spherical PBT caps to your description and a programmable controller, and I am very interested to ever hear how that goes. Add Bluetooth and you will have to fight me off your prototype.

I used a Model F XT many years ago in my school computer lab, and miss that sound and feel. All these years, I've been using POS rubber dome boards. I have a couple of Apple Pro Keyboards, which are pretty nice. I use one of them with my HP Windows box. I also have a fancy wireless Logitech MK710 that has the nice extra hotkeys and media keys.

Somehow, I had the itching for the old Model F XT. Recently, I came across someone selling a couple of Model M's on Craigslist, and I picked them up for $20 each. They were in very good condition, but I had to clean up the crud under the keys. I decided to sell one, but kept a 42H1292. After cleaning all the shit under the keys, removing and washing the keycaps, and a thorough scrub of the exterior, I'm back in the mid '90s. It looks brand new. I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for a great find. I've been inspired by many of you to visit some thrift shops and see if there's any good stuff there.

I haven't tried any of the other listed mechanical keyboards, but the Model M is nice to type on.

The IBM Model M is the Ford Model T of keyboards. Well, if cars hadn't gotten any better, and we valued used cars over trashy new ones! Anyway, it's a legend. It'll run for decades, and everyone knows what you're talking about.

Not a bad place to start!