Mechanical keyboards
Discussion
Jim the Sunderer said:
I dare say this Cherry G80 with Cherry MX Blue switches is better than the Unicomp Model M. Not least because my Model M broke well within the warranty period.
My only regret is not buying one sooner.
Mr Pointy said:
Jim the Sunderer said:
The problem with that keyboard is the size - it's vast & for no good reason. There aren't loads of electronics that need to be housed in there.Mr Happy said:
My razer blackwidow has started failing (dropping keystrokes, double/triple pressing keys etc.) so I'm in the market for a replacement. Has anyone had experience of the Das keyboards - https://www.daskeyboard.com/ ?
I'm currently drawn to the Das Pro 6 with Cherry MX Blues although it doesn't seem to be in stock anywhere at the minute (overclockers are accepting preorders however).
Quoting myself - how uncouth!I'm currently drawn to the Das Pro 6 with Cherry MX Blues although it doesn't seem to be in stock anywhere at the minute (overclockers are accepting preorders however).
I ordered a Das Pro 6 which arrived today, and based on a few mins of typing, the good and the bad so far:
Good:
Key action is superb, the MX blues are nice and clicky but not OTT
Backlighting is nice, multi-level will definitely help in that half-light period between getting dark and needing to turn lights on
Media keys work fine with my MBP
Bad:
Its a smaller chassis but still a full size keyboard, this will take a bit of getting used to
No wrist-rest (although I've never had to use one before) coupled with the short chassis means a bit of change to the hand position to use it comfortably
The risers are threaded rather than fold-out, this is good as you get almost infinite adjustment, but bad as you have to keep tweaking them until they're equal or else you get a wobbly deck.
The OE risers aren't long enough, but it just looks to be M4 or M5 threaded rod so it should be easy enough to cobble something together.
The bit that narks is the risers, a £180 keyboard should come with multiple options for this kind of thing, but c'est la vie (or so is das Lieben). I'll be using it in anger towards the end of the week so we'll see if it lives up to its "pro" moniker then I guess...
I had a das keyboard 3 with MX blues about 14 years ago. The controller died after about 8 years, which was annoying. Colorado being dry as a bone, static shock is a risk for a lot of stuff.
It got replaced with a TKL no name board (blues again) which in turn was replaced with another blue TKL (solid alloy chassis) which in turn, after forays into ergo boards, planks, preonics and the like, has been replaced with a Glorious GMMK TKL.
With everglide crystal violet switches.
And custom keycaps.
What I'm saying is, das keyboard is a gateway drug. Be careful.
It got replaced with a TKL no name board (blues again) which in turn was replaced with another blue TKL (solid alloy chassis) which in turn, after forays into ergo boards, planks, preonics and the like, has been replaced with a Glorious GMMK TKL.
With everglide crystal violet switches.
And custom keycaps.
What I'm saying is, das keyboard is a gateway drug. Be careful.
Just replaced the supplied nasty keyboard on my new PC with a Cherry KC6000.
It's a chiclet keyboard as I prefer a short key action. Seems to be high quality, is nice to use and at 50 quid is good value. I did have to modify it with some stuck on rounds of cork to raise the angle as it doesn't have folding feet.
Subsequently bought a matching Cherry bt mouse which is also a good quality product at a reasonable price, something under 20 quid I think?
Great service from the Keyboard Specialist who answered my Qs v promptly.via email and directed me to the right product. Highly recommended if you want stuff for work/professional use rather than gaming.
It's a chiclet keyboard as I prefer a short key action. Seems to be high quality, is nice to use and at 50 quid is good value. I did have to modify it with some stuck on rounds of cork to raise the angle as it doesn't have folding feet.
Subsequently bought a matching Cherry bt mouse which is also a good quality product at a reasonable price, something under 20 quid I think?
Great service from the Keyboard Specialist who answered my Qs v promptly.via email and directed me to the right product. Highly recommended if you want stuff for work/professional use rather than gaming.
I have two. One for home, one for the office/out of home. At home it’s a Das Keyboard Pro 4 Mac (UK layout). Had this fit at least 6 years. Still going strong (although a few of the keys are starting to wear off the lettering). I really like the big volume wheel too
For out and about I’ve got a Keychron k2 (v2 UK Mac Layout). I’ve had this one about a year. So far no complaints in the office about the noise! The smaller layout took a little getting used to but I’m much happier with this that the supplied Apple keyboard
For out and about I’ve got a Keychron k2 (v2 UK Mac Layout). I’ve had this one about a year. So far no complaints in the office about the noise! The smaller layout took a little getting used to but I’m much happier with this that the supplied Apple keyboard
https://www.keychron.uk/products/keychron-k7-ultra...
I've got it with brown switches, so hopefully not too loud.
I've got it with brown switches, so hopefully not too loud.
Got two myself:
1) IBM Model M originally bought with a PS/2 in 1988. Still works even after all these years, but doesn't play too nicely with a PS2 -> USB Convertor - I tend to lose the "\", which can make Linux/Command Prompt stuff tricky.
2) Corsair K70 with Cherry Brown switches. A lot more sociable than the Model M, a bit quieter, all the keys work and it even has a Windows key which the IBM didn't.
The Corsair has been my daily driver for a couple of years now, and I really struggle to fault it. I'll be surprised if it lasts as long as the IBM one did, but mostly as not many keyboards do
1) IBM Model M originally bought with a PS/2 in 1988. Still works even after all these years, but doesn't play too nicely with a PS2 -> USB Convertor - I tend to lose the "\", which can make Linux/Command Prompt stuff tricky.
2) Corsair K70 with Cherry Brown switches. A lot more sociable than the Model M, a bit quieter, all the keys work and it even has a Windows key which the IBM didn't.
The Corsair has been my daily driver for a couple of years now, and I really struggle to fault it. I'll be surprised if it lasts as long as the IBM one did, but mostly as not many keyboards do
Davie_GLA said:
Thanks. I think you might have got the last one. Let us know how it sounds please.
I got one from a UK stockist: https://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/uk-keychron-k7...bodhi said:
Got two myself:
1) IBM Model M originally bought with a PS/2 in 1988. Still works even after all these years, but doesn't play too nicely with a PS2 -> USB Convertor - I tend to lose the "\", which can make Linux/Command Prompt stuff tricky.
2) Corsair K70 with Cherry Brown switches. A lot more sociable than the Model M, a bit quieter, all the keys work and it even has a Windows key which the IBM didn't.
The Corsair has been my daily driver for a couple of years now, and I really struggle to fault it. I'll be surprised if it lasts as long as the IBM one did, but mostly as not many keyboards do
And I thought my current Apple USB keyboard was doing well at 16 years old! It still works fine, but fancy something smaller, especially for the odd day back in the office.1) IBM Model M originally bought with a PS/2 in 1988. Still works even after all these years, but doesn't play too nicely with a PS2 -> USB Convertor - I tend to lose the "\", which can make Linux/Command Prompt stuff tricky.
2) Corsair K70 with Cherry Brown switches. A lot more sociable than the Model M, a bit quieter, all the keys work and it even has a Windows key which the IBM didn't.
The Corsair has been my daily driver for a couple of years now, and I really struggle to fault it. I'll be surprised if it lasts as long as the IBM one did, but mostly as not many keyboards do
Davie_GLA said:
Where do you source the old ones and what do you use to convert to USB?
I have a "Cable-Tex USB to PS/2 Keyboard Adapter Convertor" bought on Amazon ten years ago to convert my Model M keyboard to USB. It's a bit bulkier than the common/cheap "1 usb to 2 PS/2" converter cables I've seen elsewhere, and it works well.Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff