Recommendations for a no-frills WHITE mechanical keyboard

[crumbworks]

The ways my eyes work, black writing on white backgrounds is easier. It's how my eyes operate (I don't have great low-light vision) and it's also why "night mode" sites are hell to read.

 

It's also why despite every other aspect of my rig being black (as is the norm these days), my keyboard is white. It's much easier for me to see and track the keys (when I do happen to look down)

 

Back in the mid 2000s, I got a basic wired PS/2 keyboard. A simple full-sized white membrane keyboard for $10.99. No extra buttons like power, sleep, browser, etc. Nothing fancy --- no bells, no whistles.

 

It did the trick, so went back and bought 2 backups (I mean, $11 is nothing). This is back when finding peripherals in white/beige was still easy.

 

Fast forward to 2019, and the last of those keyboards is starting to give out a bit... and of course, nothing is white/beige anymore.

 

I want to look into a mechanical keyboard to replace it (preferably with tactile non-clicky switches like MX Browns, or the equivalent) but I'm looking for it to be:

• White
• Full size (no mini / 90% / tenkeyless)
• Standard key layout (as in, takes no liberties with key placement or size from the normal layout)
• A backlight is entirely optional (if its white, I likely won't need it as I always have plenty of lights on)
• Preferably with as little fancy "stuff" as possible -- I don't need programmable macro keys, USB charging ports, or any "gamer" features
  • I'd be okay with volume up / down / mute.... but even that I can easily go without

 

What can you recommend? Please and thank you!

[Cyracus]

https://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/wireless-solar-keyboard-k750-mac?crid=27

I have this in black, great keyboard, runs for months without a real recharge (not a problem if regularly exposed to sunlight), granted it's wireless and $60, and I don't know what mx browns (or any of those fancy switches feel like lol) but it's not loud and it's easy to determine when you've made a keystroke. I know it says mac, but doesn't matter with any of the other "mac" keyboards I've used from Logitech on pcs. If nothing else it's an option

[Uviouv]

I want something similar. I hate all the rgb keyboards. Buy idk where to find a nice mechanical keyboard that doesn't  scream " 13 year old gamer".

[Enderman]

Ducky ONE white, the V2 version they released, but that one has a bit of black on the bottom.

[crumbworks]

5 minutes ago, Enderman said:

Ducky ONE white, the V2 version they released, but that one has a bit of black on the bottom.

Holy crap that may be the winner. It checks all my boxes, and I like Ducky. I don't care about black on the bottom lol. When am I ever looking at the bottom of my keyboard?

[LukeLinusFanFic]

The ducky is always a good choice, but you can always buy a regular keyboard and replace the keycaps if it doesn't pan out

[Enderman]

5 hours ago, crumbworks said:

Holy crap that may be the winner. It checks all my boxes, and I like Ducky. I don't care about black on the bottom lol. When am I ever looking at the bottom of my keyboard?

Idk i have the original one and it's great but if i switch to the 2 then the black would be visible on the front edge:

 

[crumbworks]

10 hours ago, Enderman said:

Idk i have the original one and it's great but if i switch to the 2 then the black would be visible on the front edge

For aesthetics, you're right. But my reason for white is because my eyes don't track well on black keyboards, so it's no issue at all.

[Enderman]

23 minutes ago, crumbworks said:

For aesthetics, you're right. But my reason for white is because my eyes don't track well on black keyboards, so it's no issue at all.

Then yeah get the V2

[Dayglorange]

I know its kind of over-the-top, but I'm a giant Corsair fangirl so I always have to push a recommendation for them The K70 RGB MK.2 SE is actually the board I'm considering for an all-white build I want to do eventually. Its super sleek and clean looking, plus I particularly love Corsair's volume scroll wheel and I don't think I could buy a board without one again...

[crumbworks]

2 hours ago, Dayglorange said:

The K70 RGB MK.2 SE is actually the board I'm considering for an all-white build I want to do eventually.

Nothing wrong with recommending Corsair -- I love their products!

 

I saw that one too, but I don't like the Cherry MX Speed switches. Is that SE board available with other switches?

[b emoji]

1 hour ago, crumbworks said:

Nothing wrong with recommending Corsair -- I love their products!

 

I saw that one too, but I don't like the Cherry MX Speed switches. Is that SE board available with other switches?

I would discourage against getting corsair boards, they have some of the worst stabilizers I've ever tried (worse than k type bad)

[Heisenbrock]

I bought my son the Redragon K550W for Christmas and so far it's been a great keyboard.  MX-Brown equivilevent switches, full size, backlit.  It does have some "extra" features, but for under $70, this keyboard seems like it might fit your needs.

 

You can check it out here.

 

[Dayglorange]

On 2/17/2019 at 7:20 PM, crumbworks said:

Nothing wrong with recommending Corsair -- I love their products!

 

I saw that one too, but I don't like the Cherry MX Speed switches. Is that SE board available with other switches?

I'm not sure - I checked the Corsair website, but didn't see anything. I know they offer some of their other keyboards with various different switch types. If they do have another version of the SE white board it might not be in production anymore.

[crumbworks]

On 2/15/2019 at 11:22 PM, Enderman said:

Ducky ONE white, the V2 version they released, but that one has a bit of black on the bottom.

Thanks again Enderman! I love it!

 

(this was before I swapped out the Enter and Space to achieve white keycap uniformity)

 

[Enderman]

45 minutes ago, crumbworks said:

Thanks again Enderman! I love it!

 

(this was before I swapped out the Enter and Space to achieve white keycap uniformity)

Nice!

 

I love mine too

$300 of peripherals for my white mouse and keyboard but worth it