Mechanical Keyboards

I'm currently using a MX Keys, as its very quiet and I can get away with tapping away while on zoom presentations and things.

IBM model M can be heard through space and time, so sadly the satisfying thunky keys have been relegated for the time being.

Yeah they look nice but I'm an accountant so really need the number pad!
I do like the slightly offset, compact setup of the Leopold's though - hopefully they'll be available again soon.

What a cool thread!

+1 for filco

Recommendation for cheaper, tkl, wireless/ bluetooth?

Just took delivery of @gillies k2 and have had it stolen by my 7-year old, so need a replacement for that! (He was just using his chromebook keyboard so it’s a massive upgrade for him that he’s loving)

Recommendation for cheaper, tkl, wireless/ bluetooth?

Can't find anything for under £100 really.

Later in the year I'll be getting another Filco Majestouch 2 as a backup (but a wired one this time: https://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/uk-filco-ninja-majestouch-2-s-tenkeyless-nkr-silent-soft-linear-action-keyboard.asp). Cherry MX Silent Red is a requirement for me as I can't be doing with noise of anything else.

So I'm also looking out if anyone else can find something cheaper. The closest I found (under £100) were made by Xtrfy.

bonus that they shine through! now do the arrow keys too!

Yeah, done that already and looks great :)

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Ok, new computer needs a new keyboard.

I'm being brave and switching to Windows from Mac.
I use the numpad quite a bit.
I play PUBG a fair bit.
I think I'd like speed silver switches but not essential.
I use DaVinci Resolve daily.

I don't really want to get their mechanical keyboard: https://www.scan.co.uk/products/davinci-resolve-editor-keyboard

(though I might get their speed editor:)
https://www.proav.co.uk/blackmagic-design-davinci-resolve-speed-editor

I currently use a Mac whatever in space grey with numpad.

I'm looking at dropping numpad and going TKL (or potentially picking up a Tenkey as well) or something like an 1800 compact.

What brands should I be looking at?

OTP, I'm tempted by wireless but suspect anything short of Logitech lightspeed stuff won't be up to much when it comes to games and they look a bit... buttony.. for my tastes. The wired Pro X seems better but still a bit RGB.

Custom, no idea where to start. Tried WASD and looked at ducky/keychron. Others?

still very pleased with my Durgod Taurus K320

How do you find no numpad at that size? Did you ever use one much before you got that? I feel I'd use one still but they're such chonkers and if I got a TKL the size isn't that much of a stretch. Particularly if there's a gap between numbers and function keys to guide my fingers a bit (there's no gap on the apple one I use hence me preferring to numpad it for banking stuff as I find I make fewer errors).

I just got bought a standing desk so I'll need to be using a keyboard again rather than my laptop's one, my current mechanical keyboard, a Razer black widow, is the loudest thing in the world so I've bought a new one that will have Cherry Reds (or equivalent) that I can put o-rings under to reduce the travel. Gone for some cheap as fuck ebay special that apparently isn't completely plastic and the switches are Cherry clones, they've got a photo of the board and the connections look exactly the same so if/when the existing switches turn out to be shit I can just replace them. I need some Mac key caps though or I'm going to forget which button is which.

I have a TKL and I have not missed the numpad at all. Most of my typing is coding or emails.

It helps that I touch type (>130wpm) and don't look down at all (blank keycaps too). I can find the arrow keys and PgUp/PgDn/etc by feel almost straight away anyway.

For me the order of importance for looking for a keyboard (highest to lowest):-

features (bluetooth)
layout (full, tkl, 60% or 65% compact)
switches (Has to be Cherry MX Silent for me otherwise I'd drive myself, wife and daughter nuts with the noise)
keycaps (PBT ideally)

Keycaps would be higher up the list but they can be replaced at any time, so they end up bottom. You can't just replace all of the switches or change the format after you've bought the keyboard.

I'd be interested in trying out all of the different switches, at the moment I know that it has to be Cherry MX Red Silent as that's all that I trust is quiet enough. Maybe I should buy one of those testing boards and then sell it on around the forum after trying it out.

I'll be buying a wired Filco Majestouch 2 (Cherry MX Red Silent) with blank or front-printed keycaps as a spare soon.

This is all really useful, thanks.

Would like bluetooth because cables (turning into chrisbmx) but would feel aggrieved if it went janky mid-game.

I'm turning our guest bedroom into the office which is suitably far from anywhere in the house so not really bothered by noise (though if I was on open-mic that's something to consider).

Spotted and quite like the aesthetics of this: https://en.varmilo.com/keyboardproscenium/subject_product_detailed?subjectid=261 (red/UK)

I dont enter enough numbers on a daily basis to make it worth my while. I also just got one of these for work, which has been a total game changer for my wrist comfort:

but its pretty much the size of a numpad, so my wirsts would be much wider if I still had one.

if you do go TKL I would also recommend one of these:
https://www.pcgamingrace.com/products/glorious-padded-keyboard-wrist-rest-stealth-edition

it was pretty much the only pad I could find that was minimal on logos and all black. Again its been a great help for my wrists as even with the kick stand feet thing at the black flat, my board is still quite high off the desk with MX browns.

selling your rainbow sherbet ones ? :)

Hadn’t planned on selling but if you’re interested...

Big discounts on Keychron K2v2 here

Went all Gundam with the Dragon. £60 all in.

(From watch thread)

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I don't even really remember ordering it but I bought a ducky tuxedo with cherry red silent the other night as it was basically the only thing readily in stock.

So far it's taking some getting used to in terms of size. Hopefully that'll come. This is after about 15 years using low profile mac keyboards.

Build is lovely. Sound is lovely. But it's very high. Currently typing with it on my lap is easier than having it on a desk.

I think the backspace key will wear out fastest based on current usage.

Insta joy having a print screen button that works. Would love a way to just save a screen straight to the desktop rather than opening up something to paste it in. But small victories first.

Windows key + PrntScr should save a file in Pictures > Screenshots

Just back into bootcamp for a bit so will try this later but that sounds perfect, thanks. I've been using windows+w (possibly?) which allows me to do snippets and save them but it's a bit convoluted.

Typing getting better though I notice that my thumb rests on the space bar and it's quite sensitive so there are sp o r a dic spaces in my work. I'll get there.

Might be worth getting one of those wrist wrests like what Spatr posted earlier

Yep. Thinking so.