I've been sporting a Saitek Eclipse for the last 6 years or so on my desktop machines. In the past few weeks, the keyboard has started to act really wonky. The multimedia buttons assigned to controlling volume as well as the backlight intensity have started behaving in different, erratic ways. For instance, the volume down key will randomly send my computer to sleep, the volume up key spits out seemingly random key combinations, and so forth. The only driver I have installed for the keyboard is the standard HID keyboard driver that comes with Windows 7. I have a number of questions:
1) This feels like a problem with the keyboard hardware, given the random nature of the key outputs as well as my attempts to uninstall/reinstall the controlling driver multiple times. I kind of want to check to make sure I'm not missing anything and see if simply getting a new keyboard would fix my problems.
2) In looking for a new keyboard, I'm very interested in acquiring a mechanical one. I've done a fair amount of research but I'm having trouble landing on a particular model. I've never used a mechanical before, and I don't really know from experience how the different switches feel, but from what I've read, it seems like I would lean towards either the Cherry Browns or Blacks. I intend to use this keyboard mostly for gaming, Starcraft and LoL most likely, and I'm also looking for multimedia functions as well (they don't have to be dedicated buttons, but a function key style similar to a laptop would work). I'd love to hear any feedback anyone has about their experiences with the switches/keyboards.
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Steelseries 6Gv2
Thermaltake Meka G1
Zowie Gear Celeritas
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I've tried the SteelSeries and a Das Keyboard, plus a couple others that I can't remember well, and nothing holds a candle to Razer's Ultimate.
The Blackwidow is more compact than most gaming keyboards and uses f-keys with an FN button for volume, media, etc. no bullshit extra media keys. It does have a single column of programmable macro keys along the left side. The cherry blue keys on it are amazing. Wonderful audible AND tactile feedback at the actuation point. Personally, I prefer the blues over all the other cherry varieties. They're great for gaming, and good for typing, if a bit loud. Reminds me of my old mechanical IBM keyboards.
It also has individual led backlights under each key, which is indispensable for me. I can't stand non-backlit keyboards anymore. I seriously can't say enough good things about this board.
It really is very personal, though. It's easy enough to find the SteelSeries and Razer boards in stores to play with, so I'd suggest at least trying to do that first.
One thing to note is that, while the Ultimate does have a special matrix built into the WASD keys, the key rollover limit elsewhere is 2, and it doesn't support PS/2 at all. Though often considered a legacy interface, most good mechanical keyboards support PS/2 to enable the keyboard to support "n-key rollover" (the ability to press as many keys as you like simultaneously and have all of them register) and avoid the often crowded USB bus.
I myself tend to game with the lights on, and I would never really use USB and audio ports in my keyboard, but your needs may be different. Like minor incident says, once you've narrowed down to quality mechanical boards, personal choice is really the biggest factor.
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Oh, and as for n-key rollover, I've not run into an issue yet, but it is worth mentioning. For the record, it handles w+a+shift+space without missing a beat, so most any combo on the left cluster shouldn't be an issue, but if you're playing twister on the right side, you may have problems.
Oh, and I'll never understand why they put the USB port on the keyboard on the right side. So anything you plug into it is hanging over your mouse pad. Meh.
I also never use the audio jacks on a keyboard either, but that's a whole other topic.
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Also, they're cherry blues, which you may not be a fan of since they are definitely louder than most normal keyboards, but I don't think they're like, distractingly loud.
twitch.tv/tehsloth
I own one largely because the modified ANSI layout with big enter keys throws me off, because it's not what I'm used to, on my home or work keyboards, so I wanted a keyboard laid out the way the Das is, and I like the build quality quite a bit. Maybe it's improved since you owned one?
Regardless, it's a quality keyboard, as are many others that are cheaper (and more expensive, for that matter).
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Here is the model I have at home, It's my second favorite keyboard after this. If I could find a mechanical version of that keyboard I would be in typing heaven.
It's too bad that Steelseries went with the goofy key setup around the enter key. Although, I guess I don't really use the right shift key all that much if at all.
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