Mechanical Keyboards

Several threads have recently awakened a wannabe keyboard snob in me: What keyboard do you use? and Fruit Dealer's Keyboard. Both led me to lurking geekhack keyboard forums, and the Giant Mechanical Keyboard Guide. I learned about the different kinds of switches and whatnot. I became more fascinated with a whole keyboard world I was unaware of. So I decided to dive in.

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As far away from the Rosewill logo as possible

I just bought the Rosewill RK-9000 from ChiefValue for $75. It was gonna be the first mechanical switch keyboard I used so I didn't want to spend too much on it, and it's awesome! I thought I would dislike the louder blue MX switches but I actually like the clicky sound and feel. The durable and heavy feel of the whole assembly is great. It feels so awesomely solid.

It's for the full price of $84.99 now with no coupon code.

I'm definitely going to use mech keyboards from now on. With my next purchase being something with brown switches, possibly the Majestouch Tactile Touch NKRO.

(whenever FruitDealer's fans let up)

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alffla Hong Kong. October 14 2010 01:57. Posts 20254

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wow 90 USD. pretty steep price for a keyboard D:

but i've never used a mechanical keyboard before i bet its so cool.

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scottyyy United Kingdom. October 14 2010 01:57. Posts 720

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How is it for gaming? i.e holding down buttons for a long period of time and spamming.

I honestly have no idea about mechanical keyboards, but for some reason I like the clicking sound. o.o

Last edit: 2010-10-14 01:57:55

leetchaos United States. October 14 2010 01:58. Posts 395

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It's honestly giving me an aneurysm trying to decide which switch I want. If Starcraft was the only game I played it would be easy, but I type all day and play FPS games quite often too. So many conflicting options and I can't even tell which fits me better because I have to buy it to see.

Last edit: 2010-10-14 01:59:48

kuresuti October 14 2010 02:02. Posts 847

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I very recently experienced problems with "ghosting" and am looking for a new keyboard with 6-key rollover, that guide was excellent. Just to clarify, if I would get one with NKRL that means I can press as many as required, right?

john7kfc United States. October 14 2010 02:03. Posts 316

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On October 14 2010 01:58 leetchaos wrote:
It's honestly giving me an aneurysm trying to decide which switch I want. If Starcraft was the only game I played it would be easy, but I type all day and play FPS games quite often too. So many conflicting options and I can't even tell which fits me better because I have to buy it to see.

I would suggest brown switches for all around gaming and use. Black switches would be more for FPS because you would be pressing down all the way anyways, and Blues are more for typing and RTS spamming.

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john7kfc United States. October 14 2010 02:05. Posts 316

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On October 14 2010 02:02 kuresuti wrote:
I very recently experienced problems with "ghosting" and am looking for a new keyboard with 6-key rollover, that guide was excellent. Just to clarify, if I would get one with NKRL that means I can press as many as required, right?

Yes, with PS2 connector. I think the max for USB is 6 keys + 4 modifiers.

Last edit: 2010-10-14 03:15:17

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SayaSP Laos. October 14 2010 02:07. Posts 5478

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ps2 connector is so awesome

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semantics October 14 2010 02:21. Posts 8553

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You have 6 fingers? on your left or right hand?

On October 14 2010 02:07 SayaSP wrote:
ps2 connector is so awesome

except you can't hot plug it without causing some dmg to the keyboard =p

On October 14 2010 02:05 john7kfc wrote:

Show nested quote +

Yes, with PS2 connector. I think the max for USB is 6 keys + 2 modifiers.

It's actually 6+4 mods

Cheap keyboards generally are 4+2 but hell they cost 10 bucks and work. They also generally use common key holds so 4+2 isn't guaranteed for the whole keyboard. Maybe only the left side or in clusters around the keyboard that make sense.

short of being a stenographer or using a brail keyboard who types in cords very few people more full nkro

Last edit: 2010-10-14 02:28:46

kuresuti October 14 2010 02:29. Posts 847

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I want to play Stepmania with six panels >.<

EDIT: I think I have a cap of 3 keys right now, and it doesn't work to play with at all.

Last edit: 2010-10-14 02:29:56

leetchaos United States. October 14 2010 02:47. Posts 395

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On October 14 2010 02:21 semantics wrote:
Cheap keyboards generally are 4+2 but hell they cost 10 bucks and work. They also generally use common key holds so 4+2 isn't guaranteed for the whole keyboard. Maybe only the left side or in clusters around the keyboard that make sense.

short of being a stenographer or using a brail keyboard who types in cords very few people more full nkro

I've used cheap keyboards that blocked some fairly common key combos used in Counter Strike and it was very annoying. Obviously mechanical keyboards are not cheap, but none of the retailers I've seen give any good info about whether or not their Non-NKRO boards are designed with games that are heavy on the left side in mind. It's not really worth the risk (or %15 price difference) to me on an already expensive keyboard to find out down the road I can't do such-and-such combo that a game needs.

Just my thoughts.

Last edit: 2010-10-14 02:50:25

john7kfc United States. October 14 2010 03:14. Posts 316

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On October 14 2010 02:47 leetchaos wrote:

Show nested quote +

I agree.

I mostly play SC so NKRO is not important to me. But FYI: the Rosewill RK-9000 has NKRO.

On October 14 2010 02:29 kuresuti wrote:
I want to play Stepmania with six panels >.<

EDIT: I think I have a cap of 3 keys right now, and it doesn't work to play with at all.

Get one with NKRO for sure.

On October 14 2010 02:21 semantics wrote:
It's actually 6+4 mods

Fixed. Thanks.

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gillon Sweden. October 14 2010 05:38. Posts 1418

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I've got a 7G and I'm looking to get a keyboard with MX browns instead. Would you say that a Majestouch would be a good choice?

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Thrawn1324 United States. October 14 2010 05:50. Posts 66

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A friend of my is going nutz over the razor mech keyboard. I use cheep keyboard because I break them when I hulk-rage(1-2 times a year) which would suck on a $90 keyboard designed to last 3-5 years minimum.

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gillon Sweden. October 14 2010 06:08. Posts 1418

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On October 14 2010 05:50 Thrawn1324 wrote:
A friend of my is going nutz over the razor mech keyboard. I use cheep keyboard because I break them when I hulk-rage(1-2 times a year) which would suck on a $90 keyboard designed to last 3-5 years minimum.

More like 15-20 years.

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floor exercise Canada. October 14 2010 06:23. Posts 5503

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That keyboard is really good, it's the equivalent to the Filco Majestouch NKRO board in all but name and in the way the letters are printed on the keys. You could even use the replacement keys from elitekeyboards if you wanted the different colored escape key or wasd keys.

So you basically got the $140 filco board for half price.

If they ever bring down the price to $84 on newegg.ca I know I am going to impulse buy it. It's 99 right now, and I know it's only $15 but with the dollar being near parity it angers me

Last edit: 2010-10-14 06:25:34

Floydian United Kingdom. October 14 2010 06:28. Posts 371

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I just bought a filco majestouch with brown switches. It's awesome!

FragKrag United States. October 14 2010 07:21. Posts 11068

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at $85 you are better off with something like a Filco or Majestouch (or even a venerable Cherry G80)

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john7kfc United States. October 14 2010 07:35. Posts 316

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On October 14 2010 05:38 gillon wrote:
I've got a 7G and I'm looking to get a keyboard with MX browns instead. Would you say that a Majestouch would be a good choice?

Yup, this would be my choice if it was in stock: Majestouch Tactile Touch

If you are of the hulk rage tendency, I would shy away from mech keyboards. They are durable but not hulk rage durable. The razer mech keyboard uses the same switch as the one I bought AFAIK.

On October 14 2010 07:21 FragKrag wrote:
at $85 you are better off with something like a Filco or Majestouch (or even a venerable Cherry G80)

There was a coupon that made it $75. Compared to the Flico equivalent:Majestouch Tactile Click NKRO it was a $60 savings. Hard to pass up for a cheapo like me.