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Mechanical keyboards
Anome
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
My boyfriend's birthday is coming up and I know he wants to get a mechanical keyboard in the near future. I know nothing about mechanical keyboards except that I would like to get him one. What makes one good? What brands/models would you recommend? The only one I have seen in stores so far (Logitech I think) was about $150 which I don't mind paying if it's worth it, but I wouldn't want to go much higher.
If it matters, the games he plays most are Warsow (an FPS that I don't think a lot of people play) and Tetris (which he is actually good enough at that keyboard matters, it's crazy to watch).
The keyboard he currently uses is some model of Razer and he really hates it because sometimes, it will randomly start typing sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss until you unplug it and plug it back in and probably other reasons. He's had enough Razer products fail him in the past that he knows he doesn't want another.
If it matters, the games he plays most are Warsow (an FPS that I don't think a lot of people play) and Tetris (which he is actually good enough at that keyboard matters, it's crazy to watch).
The keyboard he currently uses is some model of Razer and he really hates it because sometimes, it will randomly start typing sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss until you unplug it and plug it back in and probably other reasons. He's had enough Razer products fail him in the past that he knows he doesn't want another.
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http://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/153955/mechanical-keyboard#latest
I personally have a Das Keyboard Ultimate. Maybe not perfect for gaming as it has Blues and is hella loud, but I like it anyway. That thread will tell you everything you need to know and more. I think a lot of it comes down to what he'll like putting his fingers all over. I tried three keyboards that were also Blues, but liked the Das best for some reason.
PS/2 is still better though.
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it also has what are known as black switches on the keys, which don't make the clickity clack of the blue switches, and I like that I don,t have to hear that noise
Plus the Ultimate is totally blank so it looks hella cool.
Of the mechanical keyboards I own...
Unicomp - buckling springs were just too loud for me. Replaced it with a...
Das Keyboard Professional Silent - liked the Cherry brown switches used for the keys, but eventually the length started to annoy me. Replaced it with a...
Leopold Tenkeyless with Cherry brown switches - this is my work keyboard. For anyone who does not use the number pad on a regular basis, a tenkeyless keyboard (basically a keyboard without the number pad) is far superior than a full sized keyboard. Your arms just don't move nearly as far when reaching for the mouse. Liked tenkeyless enough to get...
Noppoo Choc Mini with Cherry brown switches - this is my home keyboard. Even smaller than a tenkeyless, this keyboard still has all the navigation keys, just in a tighter layout format.
If I had to do it all over again, I would have 2 Noppoo Choc Minis with brown switches (1 for work, 1 for home).
If you're willing to throw down $150, then the keyboard you should buy is the SteelSeries 7G. Its a beast. I've had it for about two and a half years and had not a single problem with it.
PROS:
Its quieter than other mechanicals as it doesnt 'click' but its still louder than rubber dome keyboards.
It weighs 3.5 lbs. Its reinforced by a steel plate, and the plastic has metal components in it to further strengthen it. SteelSeries advertises that the keyboard was made to be banged on in a rage, but goes on to say "Don't hit your stuff." I've smashed mine several times and the worst thats happened is the ALT key went flying but it went right back in. I don't play games seriously anymore and getting emotional was a factor in that decision. In all its a hoss that will punch you back.
I've used other "gaming" keyboards like the Razer Lycosa, (which is an awful piece of hardware and should never be bought by anyone ever, and might be the current model you say he has now). The markings on the keys on the Lycosa quickly faded and then I had these ugly marks where the letters used to be. The SS 7G looks like a regular keyboard from the outside, and the only wear that i've noticed over 2+ years of every day use is the WASD and LSHIFT keys are slightly faded.
Its got PS/2 input. SteelSeries even recommends using the PS/2 input as it allows you to press every key simultaneously and they will all register. USB input allows only 6 keys to be pressed at the same time, and are subject to a response time linked to polling rate. A lot of gaming keyboards claim to have a 1000hz polling rate, which refers to the USB response time. If you got the 7G and wanted to use the USB input you would have to use a 3rd party program to overclock your USB. If he has a Microsoft mouse he might already be familiar with this. Using the PS/2 input avoids all that and gives faster than USB input.
No windows key. The windows key is replaced by a SteelSeries key that lets you use the F1-F6 keys for easy media player use.
CONS:
I still double click the 'a' key when typing. Keys register slightly before a full press, which gives a better gaming response, but can be sort of annoying when youre typing at first. It takes a couple weeks to get used to a mechanical keyboard as they just feel a bit different.
The LEDs for Num/Caps/Scroll indicators are very bright. I live in a dorm and sometimes I turn NumLock off at night to turn the LED off.
Its not fancy looking. The only PRO to the Razer Lycosa was it was gorgeous. It just doesn't work. The 7G looks like a black keyboard.
OVERALL:
Since the game I got this for, QuakeLive, is very similar to Warsow, I can say that this keyboard made me more comfortable in the game. I will never use another keyboard ever for the rest of my life as long as this one is available. If this keyboard was stolen, I would not feel complete until I got a new one.
I use space to jump, even in Quake 3 Promode (the type of movement warsow is based on), and while i consistently destroyed the spacebar in cheaper keyboards, this spacebar is still just as good as the day i got it.
In the pictures the 7G looks like it has this huge wrist plate. This is just a piece of plastic that doesn't even attach to the keyboard itself. I play with the keyboard near the edge of the table, so having that piece of plastic would've been a pain.
I know this post sounds like a commercial for SteelSeries, but I am truly in love with this keyboard. For 2-3 years I was keyboard shopping after going through several, and since I got this one I have not even considered looking at other keyboards. Like I said before, after using this keyboard, there will not be another keyboard I use for years. And when this keyboard finally dies, I will probably replace it with another 7G
STEAM!
First, Steelseries keyboards use Cherry switches, which is a very common switch manufacturer among mechanical keyboards.
Second, nearly all mechanical keyboards labeled as NKRO (N-key rollover, meaning at least 10 key presses can be recognized at once) provide a USB to PS/2 converter.
Third, they use pad printing on their keys, again like most mechanical keyboards. They just happen to use thicker ink, but again, that's fairly common among mechanical keyboard makers, since their target audience demands more quality.
Basically, Steelseries mechanical keyboards are fairly typical of other mechanical keyboards, like Ducky, Das, Noppoo, Leopold, and Filco.
I've own Steelseries mice for 5 years, currently the Sensei mice, so I like the brand, but holy cow, the prior post sounded like it came straight from their marketing department. It's not like we've been talking about a Topre keyboard, which is definitely a step up from a Cherry switch keyboard (Topre's tend to cost about $300).
The 7G is very expensive, and most likely overpriced compared to what else is out there
STEAM!