My Saitek Eclipse II bit it last night. I do a lot of typing for school, and I was looking for a mechanical keyboard to replace it. It needs to cost less than $100. I know there as a thread about this topic a few months ago, but I couldn't find it.
If anyone is curious, the reason it broke was because a textbook fell off the shelf above my PC, breaking the space-bar and cracking the whole thing across the middle.
Anyway, just like lane loves his M1, I love my daskeyboard silent. You can take a look at this video, it can help.
But my first advice would be: know what you're looking for. Are you looking for a clicky? Tactile? Based on that, you will know what kind of switch your looking for.
Then, pay attention to the layout, some keyboard have funny stuff like shorter backspace or shift keys (personally, I hate that, but some people might not mind). Then, after these two, you won't have much choice, because most mechanical keyboards are sold out or whatever. When I was looking for one, the three ones I considered were the ABS M1, Filco FKBN104M/EB, and daskeyboard pro. The only one available was "the" daskeyboard. It was a little more expensive than the ABS M1 (this one was around $100), and the filco was around $130, like the das.
If you can postpone the purshase, I really think daskayboard is worth the extra bucks. Because compared to most other mechanical keyboards, it doesn't look like it's been stolen in a soviet fallout shelter. It's relatively compact, looks nice, the silent model "sounds" nice, it's pretty sturdy - just like you, I had a misadventure, involving the keyboard and a mechanical engineering book (about three pounds), but everything ended fine.
Whatever your preferences are, make sure the clicky sound won't drive you crazy, especially while typing at night, when tired, doing last minute homework... not that I know what it is. Also, the cherry MX brown have a lighter tactile feedback, but they are very smooth.
That might (will) help you make an informed choice. E: If you scroll down, you'll also have a list of some mechanical keyboard available, with a few specs.
I used to work with a guy who loved mechanical keyboards... In fact he had an ancient beige beast that he'd shuttle back and forth between home & work daily. That thing sounded like a machine gun when he was typing out one of his novella sized emails.
@Forte: The das keyboard has a highgloss finish to it that scratches and dirties easily - they do, however, include a microfiber cloth to clean it. Generally, I think that the mechanical keyboards are pretty durable to physical abuse... but I'm not sure how many keyboards will stand up to a textbook falling on them.
I may consider selling you my spare Das at a discounted price, but I think I'm still to attached to sell it.
ps: anything other then water is super not friendly to mechanical keyboards.
@Forte: Well, it weights around 3 pounds, and it's designed in Austin, TX... should give you an idea of how sturdy it is. "Texas designed, Texas proud" (isn't it what they say?) I don't think a "normal" use would do anything. The only weak point would be the key caps, they're not as thick as I'd expect, but still, it resisted the book fall. If you'd hear the sound when it hit the keyboard, a deep "baoom"... I really thought I killed it, but not even a scratch. Actually the sound may come from the huge steel desktop...
Also, you'll have to clean it almost every day (or ten times a day if you crazy like me and can't stand finger prints on the glossy black).
also, FWIW, mechanical keyboards in general are pretty durable (10,000,000+keystrokes in some instances, and they still feel and behave the same as they do since day 1)
The Das Keyboard switches are also plate-mounted, which, while making them more hard to replace in the event that you DO have to replace them, add a fair bit of durability + life to the keyboard.
ALSO: I'd recommend getting the ultimate if you go for a Das. The lettering on the Das seems to fade after a few months - leaving cluster of keys with warn down lettering, and the less used keys still fine (F-keys, right control, z, x, page up page down).
I stand by my Das, as I know many other Das owners do.
" ALSO: I'd recommend getting the ultimate if you go for a Das. The lettering on the Das seems to fade after a few months - leaving cluster of keys with warn down lettering, and the less used keys still fine (F-keys, right control, z, x, page up page down). "
REALLY???
I have mine for about three months now, and I've been typing quite a lot (a couple papers, a few reports...), and for now, no sign of fading whatsoever, but... now I'm beginning to worry.
@MAGZine: Actually, looking with a LED flashlight, the C, B and M kind of look a little darker, but I'll rub a bit of isopropanol and that'll be gone... (I hope so)
@Forte: Not all keys can be removed, for instance, the space bar, shift (any large key), some have two switches (e.g. the space bar) other have a funny mounting bracket making it really hard to remove without any damage. But all other keys caps - letters, numbers, F keys, ctrl, alt, cmd - can be removed very easily. There's a tool that makes it really easy, but I'm not sure whether it came with the keyboard or the spare Linux/Mac OS key caps.
By the way, I double checked, the key printing is laser etched, so, it should fade.
And if you have a coupon, go for it, you won't regret it.
Looks like I'm rezzing an old topic as opposed to starting a new one! That's okay right?
Anyone have backlit mechanical keyboard recommendations? Everything about the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Stealth Edition (...names these days...) keyboards seem awesome EXCEPT.... the font. It looks goofy.
I saw a Ducky keyboard that looked good but they appear to be on backorder AND they'd have to be imported.
@MackieG: Did you try Tankguys? That's where I got my ducky mechanical and I'm pretty sure they have the light up ones now. If the browns switches are what you want, they are out of stock unfortunately :(
@Skytylz: :/ Brown was what I was looking for actually. I'll check back with Tankguys every so often to see when they get them back in stock. How are you liking the Ducky?
If you want a decent well built backlit mechanical keyboard then the Ducky Shines are going to be the best "budget" ones you're going to get. i.e. they don't sacrifice quality control or build quality in pursuit of "bling". They are well worth the money and you will not be displeased with them, they are excellent pieces of equipment.
The BlackWidow is an OK keyboard but I and many others have found Razer's quality control to be utterly pointless, the amount of Razer gear I've had to RMA or throw out (due to them claiming it's a software issue and refusing to replace)... Having said that I have got a Razer Carcharias headset which has been fantastic, the rest of their gear though (Arctosa, Mamba, Lycosa, Copperhead, Deathadder...) I've replaced due to their fail QC. It's very much touch and go, I have a few friends with the BW Ultimate and they're all quite happy except one who has complained that the keys are wearing off already despite only being two months old.
As for the MK front, I've had experience with quite a few myself. I'm currently typing on my Filco Majestouch Ninja TKL with Red switches, I also own a DasKeyboard Model S Professional with Blue switches and I've got a Leopold FC500R with Black switches laying in a cupboard somewhere. I've happily used friends brown switch keyboards and found them just as great to type on, I've also used the Topre Realforce keyboards and their conic springs which have been an absolute joy to type on.
What made you want to choose the Brown switches? Have you had any experience with any of them before?
If anyone is curious, the reason it broke was because a textbook fell off the shelf above my PC, breaking the space-bar and cracking the whole thing across the middle.
Anyway, just like lane loves his M1, I love my daskeyboard silent. You can take a look at this video, it can help.
But my first advice would be: know what you're looking for. Are you looking for a clicky? Tactile?
Based on that, you will know what kind of switch your looking for.
Then, pay attention to the layout, some keyboard have funny stuff like shorter backspace or shift keys (personally, I hate that, but some people might not mind). Then, after these two, you won't have much choice, because most mechanical keyboards are sold out or whatever. When I was looking for one, the three ones I considered were the ABS M1, Filco FKBN104M/EB, and daskeyboard pro. The only one available was "the" daskeyboard. It was a little more expensive than the ABS M1 (this one was around $100), and the filco was around $130, like the das.
If you can postpone the purshase, I really think daskayboard is worth the extra bucks. Because compared to most other mechanical keyboards, it doesn't look like it's been stolen in a soviet fallout shelter. It's relatively compact, looks nice, the silent model "sounds" nice, it's pretty sturdy - just like you, I had a misadventure, involving the keyboard and a mechanical engineering book (about three pounds), but everything ended fine.
Whatever your preferences are, make sure the clicky sound won't drive you crazy, especially while typing at night, when tired, doing last minute homework... not that I know what it is. Also, the cherry MX brown have a lighter tactile feedback, but they are very smooth.
That might (will) help you make an informed choice.
E: If you scroll down, you'll also have a list of some mechanical keyboard available, with a few specs.
I may consider selling you my spare Das at a discounted price, but I think I'm still to attached to sell it.
ps: anything other then water is super not friendly to mechanical keyboards.
I don't think a "normal" use would do anything. The only weak point would be the key caps, they're not as thick as I'd expect, but still, it resisted the book fall. If you'd hear the sound when it hit the keyboard, a deep "baoom"... I really thought I killed it, but not even a scratch. Actually the sound may come from the huge steel desktop...
Also, you'll have to clean it almost every day (or ten times a day if you crazy like me and can't stand finger prints on the glossy black).
The Das Keyboard switches are also plate-mounted, which, while making them more hard to replace in the event that you DO have to replace them, add a fair bit of durability + life to the keyboard.
ALSO: I'd recommend getting the ultimate if you go for a Das. The lettering on the Das seems to fade after a few months - leaving cluster of keys with warn down lettering, and the less used keys still fine (F-keys, right control, z, x, page up page down).
I stand by my Das, as I know many other Das owners do.
REALLY???
I have mine for about three months now, and I've been typing quite a lot (a couple papers, a few reports...), and for now, no sign of fading whatsoever, but... now I'm beginning to worry.
By the way, I double checked, the key printing is laser etched, so, it should fade.
And if you have a coupon, go for it, you won't regret it.
thats some wicked durability,
BLAME <shippingcompany>!
That's the coupon thing, it brought you bad luck.
On a more serious tone, keep us up to date (regarding the replacement).
Is it broken or just popped off?
Looks like I'm rezzing an old topic as opposed to starting a new one! That's okay right?
Anyone have backlit mechanical keyboard recommendations? Everything about the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Stealth Edition (...names these days...) keyboards seem awesome EXCEPT.... the font. It looks goofy.
I saw a Ducky keyboard that looked good but they appear to be on backorder AND they'd have to be imported.
@MackieG: Did you try Tankguys? That's where I got my ducky mechanical and I'm pretty sure they have the light up ones now. If the browns switches are what you want, they are out of stock unfortunately :(
@Skytylz: :/ Brown was what I was looking for actually. I'll check back with Tankguys every so often to see when they get them back in stock. How are you liking the Ducky?
If you want a decent well built backlit mechanical keyboard then the Ducky Shines are going to be the best "budget" ones you're going to get. i.e. they don't sacrifice quality control or build quality in pursuit of "bling". They are well worth the money and you will not be displeased with them, they are excellent pieces of equipment.
The BlackWidow is an OK keyboard but I and many others have found Razer's quality control to be utterly pointless, the amount of Razer gear I've had to RMA or throw out (due to them claiming it's a software issue and refusing to replace)... Having said that I have got a Razer Carcharias headset which has been fantastic, the rest of their gear though (Arctosa, Mamba, Lycosa, Copperhead, Deathadder...) I've replaced due to their fail QC. It's very much touch and go, I have a few friends with the BW Ultimate and they're all quite happy except one who has complained that the keys are wearing off already despite only being two months old.
As for the MK front, I've had experience with quite a few myself. I'm currently typing on my Filco Majestouch Ninja TKL with Red switches, I also own a DasKeyboard Model S Professional with Blue switches and I've got a Leopold FC500R with Black switches laying in a cupboard somewhere. I've happily used friends brown switch keyboards and found them just as great to type on, I've also used the Topre Realforce keyboards and their conic springs which have been an absolute joy to type on.
What made you want to choose the Brown switches? Have you had any experience with any of them before?