Advice for a custom Keyboard

[drachnreiter]

Hi guys,

I'm new to keyboard building and could use some advice with my first build. First of all, am I in the right place to ask for keyboard advice here? 

Now my Keyboard criteria:

- budget 100€

- Numpad

- hot-swappable

- not clicky

 

This keyboard is not for gaming, but mostly for typing. I work a lot with numbers, which is why I need a numpad. I am fine with buying a built one and just loobing it or building one myself. I don´t need RGB. Also, some website recommendations for buying switches and other components (with shipping to Germany) would be great. Thanks a lot guys.

[GarlicDeliverySystem]

1 hour ago, drachnreiter said:

First of all, am I in the right place to ask for keyboard advice here?

Yes

1 hour ago, drachnreiter said:

Now my Keyboard criteria:

- budget 100€

- Numpad

- hot-swappable

- not clicky

I assume ISO-DE layout will also be needed, or is the regular US-ANSI layout ok?

 

For true full-size, there are still not that many good options, unfortunately. So you will have much more options by going with TKL or smaller plus an external number pad. However, it would be more expensive simply because you'd be buying two parts.

 

Otherwise, my go to recommendation for full-size is still Keychron, simply because not many others do full-size.

https://keychron.de/collections/keychron-german-iso-keyboards/products/keychron-v6-qmk-custom-mechanical-keyboard-iso-layout-collection

Just make sure you get the correct language version, or change it up with your own keycaps.

Another option would be Monsgeek: https://monsgeek.eu/collections/mg-series

Ducky and GMMK might be options as well, but not the best value. Caseking has some of them in stock nowadays, as well as some switches and keycaps.

https://www.caseking.de/peripherie/eingabegeraete/custom-keyboards/barebones

 

Other good sources in DE (that also ship to the rest of EU):

https://keygem.com/ is based in Aachen

https://oblotzky.industries/

 

Keychron has a german shop (keychron.de) but the stuff is anyway sent from China, so long shipping times. You might also have more luck ordering directly from keychron.com, more things in stock and larger portfolio.

 

And last but not least: amazon.de has some stuff in stock as well, though not always at the best price.

 

Otherwise, there are of course your typical gamer brands and their relatives. As long as they offer hotswap switches you should be fine, but I personally don't think they offer the best value.

 

 

[drachnreiter]

Thank you so much, this is exactly what I needed. I have had a look on the keychron website. Is it reasonable to wait until a keyboard is in stock or does that take ages? 

[GarlicDeliverySystem]

19 hours ago, drachnreiter said:

Is it reasonable to wait until a keyboard is in stock or does that take ages? 

Not sure, never really paid attention to that. But as I said, most stuff is sent from China anyway, so you could just buy from Keychron.com. Some barebones kits and even build ones are available on other stores as well though, so check around a bit. Keygem might have some, even caseking maybe.

[Monkey Dust]

Another vote for Keychron for ISO boards. Shipping from China to the UK took 6 weeks for me, and was really expensive, to Germany could be similar. But if you don't want one of the fancy Q-series boards, you can get the K and K Pro series boards on Amazon much faster. Just make sure you get a hot-swap board, not all K boards are hot-swap.   

[GarlicDeliverySystem]

Keygem does have the Q6 in stock, though only in one color: https://keygem.com/products/keychron-q6-barebone it is way past the 100EUR budget though.

V6 would be the better option for the budget, but there is only the ANSI edition in stock.