Mechanical Keyboard Club!

[AntonChigurh]

3 minutes ago, Ramen Man said:

Nah not enough to be a batman keyboard, needs more lasers, grabbling hooks, jetpacks, screwdrivers etc.

[GamerDude]

I was at the local tech mall looking to buy another 6TB HDD to  add to my 4 bay HDD enclosure, decided to drop by the KB shop to ask about the Topre RGB board (pretty sure no TKL model was available - only full sized ones - but had to ask to be absolutely sure), they confirmed that no TKL Topre RGB board was available. I then made the mistake of checking out some shiny new boards there when a Mistel RGB board caught my eyes.....mine's an MX Blue model.

I like that it can be split into two parts for a better ergonomic feel....it came with white cables but decided to use my Ducky cable since it'd spare me the hassle of changing cables on the back of my PC.

 

[Ramen Man]

20 hours ago, N1ghtshade said:

Wow, pulling The Fake Filth into this, I can't believe u done this.

[AntonChigurh]

3 hours ago, Ramen Man said:

Wow, pulling The Fake Filth into this, I can't believe u done this.

I did it, so believe it

[JohnYarowy]

K70 (obviously full size) RGB Rapid-Fire with Cherry MX Speed!!! O rings mod soon to come.

[Sylvnix]

I want to share this "Interesting" keyboard I got from I think a local company.
Digital Alliance Meca Z

It's full size & RGB backlit with software to control the lighting & edit some macros
It features easy replaceable switch, the default switch is outemu blues.
and It's also Fully water proof

And it only cost around 68 USD

Here are some images of my personal Meca Z
I replace the switches with cherry mx various colors (red, brown, green, and black)
But I switch the outemu housing with the cherry one, because the led is on the pcb, and the cherry switch interfere with the led.
I also put a gateron clear in the tab key.
Planning on modding this keyboard more.

[dtaflorida]

Nice to see more replacable switch keyboards. Still waiting for the big names to get with the program, but they're too busy swimming in cash, selling $150+ keyboards.

 

I have a Team Wolf Void Ray. Clicky modifiers and quiet alphas is quite nice. 

[minibois]

 

Recently got translucent keycaps for my Coolermaster Masterkeys Pro S (RGB). The amount of light that comes off the keyboard now is pretty high.

[AndyLSB]

great stuff guys ! very nice, i personally have the corsair strafe rgb keyboard with cherry mx brown switches, they obviously are not that loud as the blue switches but they are fairly loud and i love it ! and the lighting effects... they are just amazing.

[Falkentyne]

On ‎3‎/‎2‎/‎2017 at 0:27 PM, Minibois said:

 

Recently got translucent keycaps for my Coolermaster Masterkeys Pro S (RGB). The amount of light that comes off the keyboard now is pretty high.

That looks interesting.  If you want legends and still want things to be bright, you can also try this keycap set, buy the white version:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/IKBC104-Double-shot-Translucidus-Backlit-PBT-Mechanical-Keycap-For-Cherry-Keycool-NOPPOO-PLU-HPE-Ducky-Filco/32521595756.html

 

If you can handle the fonts.  These keycaps will be as bright as the legendary old Ducky YOTG White keycap set (which not only had bright legends, but the entire keycap would glow in the dark).  The new Vortex 126 key white set on mk.kcom is just as bright as the old YOTG set on the legends, but the keycaps don't glow at all nicely

[Guinchard]

So I've been using a Das Keyboard 4 Pro with MX Browns for a few years now and hate to think of using anything less. 

But... I want back lighting! 

Anyone have a suggestion for a comparable professional looking keyboard with white or multi colored back-lighting? (I love the dedicated volume wheel or I would just buy the back-lit Das Keyboard. The Corsair & Razer boards will blow my professional cover with those looks)

 

Thanks!

[Aytex]

3 minutes ago, Guinchard said:

So I've been using a Das Keyboard 4 Pro with MX Browns for a few years now and hate to think of using anything less. 

But... I want back lighting! 

Anyone have a suggestion for a comparable professional looking keyboard with white or multi colored back-lighting? (I love the dedicated volume wheel or I would just buy the back-lit Das Keyboard)

 

Thanks!

Ducky one?

Its got dedicated volume buttons but its not a scroll wheel

[Guinchard]

7 minutes ago, Aytex said:

Ducky one?

Its got dedicated volume buttons but its not a scroll wheel

Very nice, I've never heard of Ducky. Thanks for the recommendation

[Aytex]

1 minute ago, Guinchard said:

Very nice, I've never heard of Ducky. Thanks for the recommendation

Ducky is fairly popular and a well known brand..

Their customer support is iffy but overall makes good keebs.

[Mattr567]

Hmm yes

[Goat1]

I just got a Topre Realforce RGB.. The keys are like nothing I've ever felt. I have a Corsair K70 RGB Browns, Razer Blackwidow Chroma X TE with Greens and they just are not in the same league as the Topre switches. The only thing I wish the Topre had was more light creating options. Its annoying, its like downgrading from the Corsair/Razer lighting apps. Its too bad they don't have a TKL version of this. But I can live without it. It is expensive at $249, but the keys are so good its worth it. After using Topre keys, Cherry switches just feel cheep. Even the Razer greens feel better. The keycaps on the Topre feel so much better also. I never knew what I was missing..

[atomicus]

I hear only good things about Topre, but unfortunately I require a UK ISO layout and Topre seem virtually non-existent in respect to ISO layout boards.

 

What about making yourself, can you buy Topre switches individually? There's loads of the DIY kits available these days, and from YouTube videos I've seen it doesn't seem that hard at all. You just need the PCB, plate, case and switches, then just a case of soldering which doesn't look too difficult. Anyone done this?

[iFreilicht]

36 minutes ago, atomicus said:

I hear only good things about Topre, but unfortunately I require a UK ISO layout and Topre seem virtually non-existent in respect to ISO layout boards.

 

What about making yourself, can you buy Topre switches individually? There's loads of the DIY kits available these days, and from YouTube videos I've seen it doesn't seem that hard at all. You just need the PCB, plate, case and switches, then just a case of soldering which doesn't look too difficult. Anyone done this?

Forget about it. Topre is using capacitive switches that consist of a rubber dome and a conical spring. The rubber domes of Topre boards are molded in a single sheet, I don't know of a single DIY kit that is available for them. Someone is designing a custom Topre board right now similar to the Dactyl, but to make that you have to get an existing Topre board, slice it up completely and use the domes and springs from that to form the switches, a very tedious process. Building with contact switches like the ones used in other mechanical keyboards is much, much easier.

 

There is the HHKB JP, which is ISO, but if you wanted the ISO UK layout instead of ISO JP, you'd have to get new keycaps as well and a Hasu controller to re-programm the board. I would really consider moving to ANSI, the HHKB is designed around that specifically, and having backspace/delete right over enter is quite helpful.

[atomicus]

2 hours ago, iFreilicht said:

Forget about it. Topre is using capacitive switches that consist of a rubber dome and a conical spring. The rubber domes of Topre boards are molded in a single sheet, I don't know of a single DIY kit that is available for them. Someone is designing a custom Topre board right now similar to the Dactyl, but to make that you have to get an existing Topre board, slice it up completely and use the domes and springs from that to form the switches, a very tedious process. Building with contact switches like the ones used in other mechanical keyboards is much, much easier.

 

There is the HHKB JP, which is ISO, but if you wanted the ISO UK layout instead of ISO JP, you'd have to get new keycaps as well and a Hasu controller to re-programm the board. I would really consider moving to ANSI, the HHKB is designed around that specifically, and having backspace/delete right over enter is quite helpful.

 

In respect to ANSI boards, is there something like the Topre that is in TKL format? Or is that really a standalone product in a class of its own? I want silence (as much as is possible) and RGB.

[Artemiis]

Just ordered my Planck from Massdrop, getting 2 actually! First one has; a black case, MX compatible plate, Cherry MX Blue switches, and mixed XDA PBT blanks (beige alphas and black mods), and the 2nd one has; a silver case, MX compatible plate, Zealios 65g switches, and XDA PBT blanks. Super excited to make my Planks! Too bad the waits on Massdrop are months long.. there's still 11 more days to join the drop PLUS a 3-month wait after the drop ends! Estimated ship date isn't until June 26th  Oh well still excited to retire this old pos Corsair k70 LUX (cherry mx browns)! I've been waiting for a Redscarf RevB or RevC and a Whitefox drop forever now.. I missed out on the last Redscarf because I was away from home.. I would pick up either in an instant even after ordering my Plancks. i really wanted to go from a full-size to a 65% then to a 40%/ortholinear.. But oh well, jumping with 2 feet in I suppose! Can't wait! 

[Guest]

Got a G710+ for 60 CAD used. So far liking it very much

I also done some modding with it

Spoiler

 

[iFreilicht]

6 hours ago, atomicus said:

 

In respect to ANSI boards, is there something like the Topre that is in TKL format? Or is that really a standalone product in a class of its own? I want silence (as much as is possible) and RGB.

So far the only RGB Topre board is the Realforce RGB, which is full-size, but I fully expect Realforce to release a TKL version of that at some point. If you want to know when you'd have to shoot them an email and see if they're willing to give out any information.

[iFreilicht]

5 hours ago, Artemiis said:

Just ordered my Planck from Massdrop, getting 2 actually! First one has; a black case, MX compatible plate, Cherry MX Blue switches, and mixed XDA PBT blanks (beige alphas and black mods), and the 2nd one has; a silver case, MX compatible plate, Zealios 65g switches, and XDA PBT blanks. Super excited to make my Planks! Too bad the waits on Massdrop are months long.. there's still 11 more days to join the drop PLUS a 3-month wait after the drop ends! Estimated ship date isn't until June 26th  Oh well still excited to retire this old pos Corsair k70 LUX (cherry mx browns)! I've been waiting for a Redscarf RevB or RevC and a Whitefox drop forever now.. I missed out on the last Redscarf because I was away from home.. I would pick up either in an instant even after ordering my Plancks. i really wanted to go from a full-size to a 65% then to a 40%/ortholinear.. But oh well, jumping with 2 feet in I suppose! Can't wait! 

There is a GB right now for the Sentraq S65-X, so if you're still waiting for a 65%, that might be a good chance to get one

[atomicus]

On 3/17/2017 at 7:42 AM, iFreilicht said:

There is a GB right now for the Sentraq S65-X, so if you're still waiting for a 65%, that might be a good chance to get one

 

That looks pretty good. I definitely prefer the arrow keys which you don't get on 60%... well, I know there is a way to still use them, but I prefer dedicated arrows like that Sentraq. I've never soldered before, is that tricky? Would it be possible to use this as an ISO UK board? I'd also like to know if the switches are PCB or plate mounted, and what difference that makes... I've seen switches available with both options, but I don't understand what it means.

 

I'm a bit confused by some of the options. It says it includes LED backlighting, but it has White LED's as an option? I've also no idea what the spring options are and if I'd need those. And what are the SIP sockets? 

 

Sorry if these are dumb questions, I'm new to this keyboard thing lol!

[Bananasplit_00]

whats the loudest key switch that you can get? i have blue switches in the one i take to schook(because i cant stand the laptop keyboard lol) and i feel like its not anoying people enough so whats a louder switch?