So, about keyboards...

**Dusk** · 12-18-11, 05:26 PM

My G15 is on its last legs. The spacebar and WASD keys are rather loose and losing registration, and it is simply time for it to be replaced.

I've heard mechanical keyboards are one way to go, and it seems like a good idea from many perspectives. Anyone have some suggestions? I saw the Razer BlackWidow, but I know there might be something better out there.

**DancingCorpse** · 12-18-11, 05:42 PM

I really liked my black widow just until this week. When I started playing Tribes Ascend, it did a toll on the space bar (since the main mechanic of the game requires major mashing on it by default), and turns out the holds that keep the sides even didn't hold it together very well under the use. But, some adhesive and that got fixed easily.

Otherwise, I have been very satisfied with the black widow, just don't drop anything heavy on the keys from a goodish height, because some of the keys might double press themselves every time you hit them for a while.

I have been looking at the Corsair K90 if I ever decide to replace the black widow.

Vengeance® K90 Performance MMO Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - Vengeance Gaming Keyboards - Vengeance Gaming

**Rawr** · 12-18-11, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by Dusk

My G15 is on its last legs. The spacebar and WASD keys are rather loose and losing registration, and it is simply time for it to be replaced.

I've heard mechanical keyboards are one way to go, and it seems like a good idea from many perspectives. Anyone have some suggestions? I saw the Razer BlackWidow, but I know there might be something better out there.

Cheap IBM model M is the way to go.

**RhysJD3** · 12-18-11, 06:06 PM

If you liked how the G15 worked, take a look at the G510. I have it and think it's a solid replacement for the original G15.

**RhysJD3** · 12-18-11, 06:14 PM

I was just looking at the corsair that dancing posted. It looks pretty damn nice.

**AetheLove** · 12-18-11, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by Dusk

My G15 is on its last legs. The spacebar and WASD keys are rather loose and losing registration, and it is simply time for it to be replaced.

I've heard mechanical keyboards are one way to go, and it seems like a good idea from many perspectives. Anyone have some suggestions? I saw the Razer BlackWidow, but I know there might be something better out there.

I'm a long-time devotee of mechanical switch keyboards. I use old IBM Model-M types. At least one company still makes them:

Customizer 101

... and there is a used market. A friend has an old Northgate, which he loves. I used to prefer keyboards with the old Alps switches, which I guess someone still makes, but it's been a while.

What I like most about old Model-M keyboards is that you can get them without a fucking "windows" key.

kibner mentioned a few others in another thread about 3 months ago. Cherry, I think, and the Razer BlackWidow (uses Topre switches, which I haven't tried). He uses a Happy Hacker keyboard.

One thing to be sure to check on is that it has n-key rollover; that it isn't limited in the number of keys you can press simultaneously. Some "gaming" keyboards don't do that (which means that the only thing about them which is "gaming" is the cover art).

Another issue is cost. A new Unicomp is $80. Others are over $100. Personally, I think that's a bargain.

My keyboards are old (I bought all of them used), and they just keep working. I haven't bought a new keyboard in a long time because I haven't had to.

kibner may have more recent experience.

Cheers,

AetheLove

**wagass** · 12-18-11, 07:18 PM

I just bought a full mechanical keyboard from elitekeyboards.com. I like it so far, I got the cherry mx brown switches, way easier to type and you only have to press the key like half way for it to register. http://elitekeyboards.com/products.p...&pid=fc500rtab
That is the one I bought. I was looking at the corsair ones but read that not all the keys were mechanical, like the F keys or something.

On newegg the have some on there, rosewill and 'das keyboard' brands and a few others. I went with the one above because of the weight of it, it feels super solid and doesn't slide around for me.

If you search google for cherry mx switches there is a link thEre that describes each type of cherry mx switches ( blue red back etc). http://www.overclock.net/t/491752/me...keyboard-guide

I thought that the brown switches would be quieter than they are, though one of the das keyboards on newegg is labeled as silent, can't remember which switches they use though.

There are lots of reviews for these keyboards, just gotta google for em.

**wagass** · 12-18-11, 07:20 PM

Forgot to add that some of the brands come without the windows key, I wanted it as I use it for shortcuts alot and I never press it on accident.

**Dusk** · 12-18-11, 08:41 PM

Thanks for the help everyone, I needed some opinions.

Originally Posted by DancingCorpse

I really liked my black widow just until this week. When I started playing Tribes Ascend, it did a toll on the space bar (since the main mechanic of the game requires major mashing on it by default), and turns out the holds that keep the sides even didn't hold it together very well under the use. But, some adhesive and that got fixed easily.

Otherwise, I have been very satisfied with the black widow, just don't drop anything heavy on the keys from a goodish height, because some of the keys might double press themselves every time you hit them for a while.

I have been looking at the Corsair K90 if I ever decide to replace the black widow.

Vengeance® K90 Performance MMO Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - Vengeance Gaming Keyboards - Vengeance Gaming

That K90 looks really nice, I think I may have to go with it. Still giving it some thought, simply because its 130 bucks.

**salty99** · 12-18-11, 08:46 PM

anything but the Razor Lycosa. That keyboard was a nightmare. biggest piece of junk I've ever had. On paper it was cool, touch activated backlighing, programmable macros, the whole shabang...

but it had huge driver issues, problems being recognized(had to reset 2-3 times a day), would never register certain keys if it glitched (try figuring out why your passwords are all incorrect after typing them in a dozen times)

but yeah, anything but that one