Looking To Buy A Mechanical Keyboard For The First Time

[psy_commando]

My crappy HP model 5187 keyboard is beginning to show signs of
wear after at least a good 5-6 years of intensive use. Its the very same
model as this one :

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xU5SDKGyRCg/TD-efJ6DBqI/AAAAAAAADVI/yln569t7UvY/s1600/1.JPG

Most notably, the space bar is getting loose along with several other keys..
And the max number of simultaneous keypresses is around 2-5 and it
varies depending on what keys you press. And I tried that not so
relevant test of pressing both shift keys and typing "THE QUICK BROWN
FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG" and it gave me : "THE UICK O O JUPS OVE THE LY DO" .. And its a P/S2 keyboard..

I was also noticing that fairly often, some letters would not register when I typed too fast.

Anyways.
My fellow programmer friends have mentioned that a mechanical keyboard
is so much better for typing code for a long time. Most of them
mentioning the feedback from the keyboard keys that allows to avoid
pressing each keys all the way down and requiring way less force than a
standard keyboard. I also read that those mechanical keyboards last for a
long while ! The average keyboard like my HP model 5187 that uses
rubber domes has a life expectancy of 15 million keypresses. A
mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX switches last for 50 million
keypresses supposedly. But I'm a bit skeptical about those numbers,
since I'm pretty sure I did more keypresses than that in the time I used
this keyboard.

Another thing about mech keyboards is that
they cost like 5 times as much as regular cheap keyboards. And they're
pretty heavy compared to other keyboards. The one below weights : 1260 g or 2.78 lbs.

But anyways, I looked around to try to find one that might suit me.
I've concluded that Cherry MX Brown switches were the best in my case,
since I want something that won't resound in the entire house, that gives me tactile feedback, and that won't impede my gaming.

So, I found this one sleek keyboard :

http://assets.hardwarezone.com/img/2012/04/trigger.jpg

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823129004

http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=71928&vpn=SGK-6000-GKCM1-US&manufacture=COOLERMASTER

It has 6 keys roll over, and is usb only. But full length
P/S2 mechanical keyboards with Cherry MX Brown switches are pretty
rare, and the other models are ridiculously expansive ! Paying $100 for a
keyboard is already a stretch for me, so I'm not going to go for
anything more expensive than this.

Anyhow, I was wondering if anybody around has any advice to give me ?

[CrypticQuery]

Wait until DZ posts in this thread; if anyone is ridiculously informed when it comes to mechanical keyboards, it is most definitely him.

[Gestalt]

 

http://www.overclock.net/t/491752/mechanical-keyboard-guide

[psy_commando]

 

http://www.overclock.net/t/491752/mechanical-keyboard-guide

Thanks, but I actually learned all I know about mech keyboards on that very same thread on the overclock.net forums 2 days ago. Though I read around that this guide is getting a little obsolete. And its not as good as having an actual mechanical keyboards owners' opinion, tbh.

 

Also, why the laptop thread ? There doesn't seem to be much about mechanical keyboards in there.

Nvm, I skipped too much posts when reading it..

 

However, Cherry MX Blue switches would probably annoy the crap out of the rest of the house, since they're the loudest of the bunch !

I heard that what type of switches fits what types of users vary from person to person. I heard people saying MX Blues are great for gaming and not for typing (which is the opposite of in this guide), and the same with every single other types !

 

[rant]

I totally agree with that comment on Mac keyboards in that laptop thread. And really, what's with people and their obsession over Macs, Apple, and Steve Jobs ? Not only Mac keyboards are annoying as hell to use ( laptop sized keyboards for desktops ? Really ? ), but you pay more for the brand and their crappy EULA ! And you can't even run IOS on a virtual machine without violating their stoopid EULA..

And to top it off, Apple are one of the biggest patent trolls around.. Not that Microsoft are all that much better..

[/rant]

 

 

 Wait until DZ posts in this thread; if anyone is ridiculously informed

when it comes to mechanical keyboards, it is most definitely him.

Really ? Somehow, I'm not surprised..

Is there something he doesn't know anything about ?

[DZComposer]

Cherry MX Blues are not as loud as you would think. I have a Razer Black Widow Ultimate that uses them, and it is nowhere near as loud as the descriptions make it seem. That said, they are noticeable for a distance. Whether or not they would be bothersome depends on the person.

 

I like to recommend the Das Keyboard. They are full length, and available with MX Blues or MX Browns. Dowside, though, is the Das is not backlit. The Das is full n-key rollover when the PS/2 adapter is used.

 

http://www.daskeyboard.com/model-s-professional/

 

It's a little more than what you want to spend, but if you can scrape-together an extra $30, this keyboard is worth it.

[psy_commando]

Hmm.. I looked at the DasKeyboards before, but the glossy finish, and entirely black casing kinda annoys me. Glossy surfaces get dirty really fast, it might get a little annoying. And, I like the contrast between the keys and casing on the CM Trigger. Also, the main reason I wanted to go for the Storm Trigger is that there are lots of sales on NCIX and I could save some money which I'm pretty short on. But I'll think about it.

 

Thanks for the suggestions !

 

EDIT: I found it on NCIX http://www.ncix.com/products/?tab=1&sku=75029

[Sideways]

DZ uses the same keyboard I use - the Razer Blackwidow Ultimate. It's a really great keyboard. Something about hearing the keys click makes me giddy. It glows very bright green, and you can adjust the backlighting, or turn it off completly. The thing is quite heavy and uses 2 USB ports, plus a green and pink 3.5MM audio and microphone plugs. . One of them is a USB passthrough for the USB slot on the right side of the keyboard, along with the audio and microphone jacks. I don't exactly care for how the keys that control the audio are set up, my old keyboard (Logitech G11) had seperate keys, this uses the function keys. Not a big issue though.

[psy_commando]

Sorry for not updating this in a while. I had lots of crap to deal with lately.

In the end, I couldn't put more money than what I had planned.. And I got "strongly encouraged" to make a choice pretty soon, and my keyboard was becoming annoying.. And  NCIX made a sale, so I was able to get the CMStorm Trigger itself for like $88. I got it the very next business days ! ( Which is why NCIX is awesome )

 

I haven't had much time with it yet, but I like it ! It was a little annoying to set it up because, it was really unclear whether you needed drivers or not. I thought at first the top cover was aluminum, but its just plastic Its not a big deal though. The back lighting works great and is controlled with functions keys. The media keys works great and out of the box. Though I miss having to press only one button with my HP keyboard.. And the palm rest is awesome.

The keys are very responsive and I can type much faster with this keyboard (though I still make a lot of typos). Its slightly louder than my old keyboard but not by much. And I'm still pressing the keys all the way down even if I try not to XD

 

And the advantage with the 6 keys rollover over usb is that its within the standard, so Linux shouldn't have any problem with it ! And I went for USB over P/S-2 because they're slowly phasing out P/S-2, even though its much more suitable for keyboards. So I didn't think paying extra to get a P/S-2 compatible Keyboard would pay off in the long run.  

 

The BlackWidow was another of my potential choices, I think I'd have taken it over the DasKeyboard. But I heard bad things about Razer, however I heard absolutely nothing about Coolermaster, which is pretty much just as worrisome XD

 

But still, thanks a lot for the suggestions !

 

However, now my MX518 is not working very well. I'm lucky I guess..   It began a little before I bought the keyboard this weekend. Its the right click that sometimes click as it should, double click, or just do nothing at all.. Its supposedly a pretty common problem with this model. I'd like to avoid buying another mouse, given that right now I'm pretty much broke. But besides cleaning the switches, is there any solution anybody has found to be working ? I can't find anything constructive online .. 

[DZComposer]

PS/2 is actually making a comeback, precisely because of the resurgence of high-end keyboards. All high-end mobos now come with them. Even the Optiplex Dells my workplace buys have started coming with PS/2 ports again (they hadn't for almost 10 years). Until the USB keyboard spec is rewritten to support full n-key rollover PS/2 will stick around.

As far as Razer, so long as you don't install their shitty software, it will be fine. I will never use anotehr Razer mouse again, though.

I really really wish Das Keyboard would make a backlit version. I'd be all over that.

As far as Cooler Master, I've used their products before, though only their cases (their HAF cases are freaking amazing) and CPU coolers. Seem to be of decent quality. Can't vouch for their keyboards, though, as I have never used them. But I can assure you that they are not a fly-by-night white box component maker. Given how well-know Cooler Master is in the PC Gaming scene, I'm surprised you haven't heard of them.

[Sideways]

Dude, this post is from 2013. Watch your dates before you post.