New keyboard idea's

[Jing172]

Hey, I have no idea what I'm doing here so I figured I'd ask for help for a semi custom mechanical keyboard. 

 

I recently built our daughter a new blacked out AM5 build for a grad gift. She is really into anime and want to get her a custom keyboard ish. I am just not sure if you can get custom key caps for a standard keyboard or is there a better way to go about this? 

[saintlouisbagels]

She may like anime, but I feel like it's a little tacky to have it plastered on keycaps? Maybe subtle influences are better?

 

Well anyways, state your budget, country, currency, etc.

We also don't recommend gaming keyboards around here due to crappy build quality and the lack of hot-swappable switches. Although admittedly, they're really good recommendations for all-black, heavy RGB setups.

 

Also, does she use NumPad? Full sized keyboards are not popular in the mechanical keyboard world. There are 96% options available, but the majority of keyboards will be 75% or 65%. There are also TKL/80% boards, but I feel like they they've gotten significantly less popular lately.

[tkitch]

Yes, you can get keycaps for anything you want:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=anime+keycaps&crid=6DZTF46YQ9L8&sprefix=anime+keycaps%2Caps%2C86&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

 

As for a full keyboard, a really solid choice is the Montech M-Key.  It comes in (mostly) Black, great feature set, and will work with any standard cherry keycaps.

 

[Jing172]

6 hours ago, saintlouisbagels said:

She may like anime, but I feel like it's a little tacky to have it plastered on keycaps? Maybe subtle influences are better?

 

Well anyways, state your budget, country, currency, etc.

We also don't recommend gaming keyboards around here due to crappy build quality and the lack of hot-swappable switches. Although admittedly, they're really good recommendations for all-black, heavy RGB setups.

 

Also, does she use NumPad? Full sized keyboards are not popular in the mechanical keyboard world. There are 96% options available, but the majority of keyboards will be 75% or 65%. There are also TKL/80% boards, but I feel like they they've gotten significantly less popular lately.

It would be a full size. I have not really set a budget as of yet just trying to get some ideas. What would you recommend for a black option? 

[Jing172]

5 hours ago, tkitch said:

Yes, you can get keycaps for anything you want:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=anime+keycaps&crid=6DZTF46YQ9L8&sprefix=anime+keycaps%2Caps%2C86&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

 

As for a full keyboard, a really solid choice is the Montech M-Key.  It comes in (mostly) Black, great feature set, and will work with any standard cherry keycaps.

 

Thank you for this. Just need to make sure I find a compatible board and switches before I get the caps I guess? 

[saintlouisbagels]

40 minutes ago, Jing172 said:

It would be a full size. I have not really set a budget as of yet just trying to get some ideas. What would you recommend for a black option? 

https://www.amazon.com/Keychron-Mechanical-Hot-Swappable-Programmable-Bluetooth/dp/B0C2KGTD15/

QMK/VIA for remapping keys

RGB backlight

Hot-swappable switches if she decides she doesn't like the mechanical switches or if something prematurely fails

 

I kinda think this looks cool lol
https://www.amazon.com/XVX-Shine-Through-Keycaps-Mechanical/dp/B0CGZR8HKS/

 

Amazon is full of keycap selections. It's probably best if she chooses the exact one she wants. Although $30 isn't all that much of a risk if you really, really want to surprise her.

[tkitch]

1 hour ago, Jing172 said:

Thank you for this. Just need to make sure I find a compatible board and switches before I get the caps I guess? 

most switches support Cherry Keycaps.