Looking for a new Keyboard

phongle123 · October 20, 2016

Hi, I am looking for a new keyboard and would like some advice.

Most particularly, I am looking at the CM Storm Rapidfire TK - Brown Switch. I like the small factor of a tenkeyless but it also has a num pad. I believe it is the only one of its kind in the tenkeyless keyboards and it also has the Arrow keys and Home, End, Delete keys integrated into the numpad saving space. While there are other TKL keyboards in the market this is the only one that has the num pad. My current keyboard's length is 22.6 inches and this keyboard is 14.9 inches. So this keyboard is only 65% the size of my current keyboard which will help since I am using both the KB and the Mouse on the same surface.

The keyboard I currently have is a Clear Switch which is just a heavier Brown Switch and I am used to the tactile feedback feel. I have never used a red and I am a little stuck between either the brown or the red. I don't type a lot but I do a moderate amount of typing especially in game.

1) Is this KB okay or suggest your own keyboard

2) Brown or Red Switch

3) Any additional tips. Thanks!

Swiftyx5 · October 20, 2016

1) Yes this is a good keyboard (some applications don't support the lay over of having the with the arrows keys, home and delete on the numpad) If you really use your numpad, but want the extra space then it's a good buy

2) A brown switch will be similar in feedback to a clear think of it like this a brown switch isn't going to give you the sharp click of lets say a blue but you will feel every key press of individual keys. Red switches from my experience are really good for button mashing or spamming of keys, the linear feedback doesn't restrict you when pressing keys, to elaborate you can't really distinguish pressing individual keys versus another because there is no feedback, this is good for games but for typing can lead to many mistakes because you can't quite accurately determine each key you type.

3) I would recommend staying away from Kailh switch kb's because I own a thermaltake poseidon Z rgb (along with a host of others) and the consistency from each switch can vary and I can notice that in my kb.