Cherry MX Black, Brown, or Blue? And what keyboard?

I ABHOR my current Microsoft membrane keyboard. It's just garbage to type on, and I will die if I don't get a real keyboard soon LOL

I found this awesome guide to switch types:
Mechanical Keyboard Guide

Sounds like I want either MX Blue, Brown, or Black.

Black has no point I guess where you know it's registered, no "click". I'm not sure how similar that makes it to membrane keyboards, or if it still has SOME click, or what. I actually had a Dell membrane keyboard that was excellent, 100x better than this garbage I'm on now, so MAYBE a black would actually cut it for me.

Blue is supposedly "best for typing", loudest I guess, and with the most feedback? Brown is sort of a compromise, and I thought maybe I should start with brown to see if that works for me. I'm more worried about it feeling good to type on then how it is for games. I love games, but I figure that'll be "good enough" regardless probably.

And any thoughts on a good brand?

The Das Keyboards lack media keys, which I would like-I like volume up/down + play/pause if possible. So too do the Rosewill keyboards, which otherwise look like very nice no nonsense keyboards.

I'd prefer a USB hub too, but it's not crucial.

Razer's stuff looks like it has all kinds of issues from reviews, or it might be perfect, and SteelSeries I guess has a weird keyboard layout and no Windows key on the left.

Any thoughts?

 

Which type of switches you'll prefer is something very subjective, so if you can try before buying, do so.

The blacks do not have a tactile bump or audible click that tells you when they key has been actuated, that being said, they feel so different than a membrane keyboard, it's surprising. They aren't called linear switches for nothing.

As i said in another thread earlier, i prefer long typing sessions on the browns since i can hit the keys very lightly. Think of hitting your keys as lightly as you can on a chicklet keyboard (maybe, even more lightly), but with a much better feeling to it.

The new corsair mechanical keyboards look great, but i haven't tried one myself.

Regarding the blues, if you want to drive your office buddies nuts with the noise, blues are the way to go. In other words, if there are going to be people around often when you're typing, i'd avoid the blue switches.

Mastershroom has put his impressions of the black widow ultimate here, i will do so soon too for the mionix zibal 60 and the razer black widow ultimate stealth edition.

 

Great! THanks so much for the feedback. I'm actually in a super load like 70db or slightly more environment, so I'm not sure if it matters if I have blue in terms of noise, but...maybe I should just start off with browns.

I hadn't heard about Corsair's keyboards...I *think* want to skip them because they use MX Reds? And the Reds to me sound worse than the Blacks, and I'm already iffy about the Blacks since I think I want some tactile feedback.

OH man, that Razor Black Widow Stealth keyboard you're going to review sounds like it MIGHT be good for me, if it's using browns and has media keys and whatnot.

 

I'm a sucker for the classics. I use the Das Keyboard Ultimate with Cheery MX Blues. I absolutely love it. They're only of the best if not the best providers of mechanical keyboards out there in terms of build quality in my opinion. I would recommend either Das or Steelseries when it comes to keyboards.

Razer I would be hesistant of, the black widow had a bunch of build quality issues and overall Razer build quality can be pretty hit or miss.

Corsair is fairly new to the game in terms of mechanical keyboards so I'd hunt for reviews on them.

The Browns and Blacks are worth trying because keyboard "feel" is pretty subjective as tijo said. Unfortunately, not too many big box computer stores carry a lot of mechanical keyboards for you to compare in person. Blacks and Reds are more "gaming" oriented while Browns and Blues are aimed more to just provide excellent feel for typing.

 

Dang, Das Keyboard was what I started my search with. My only worry is they lack media keys, which I would prefer, so I can adjust audio inside a game or the like.

Thanks so much though! And yeah, it's so annoying...all you can find in stores is millions of expensive (for what they are) but horrible quality membrane wireless keyboards. I don't really want either.

I've had some REALLY good membrane keyboards from Dell in the past, but nothing beats the mechanical Dell I had 15 years ago...but it's PS/2 only, and no media keys.

I literally can't type a single sentence on this Microsoft board without a mistake. I don't know how people stand them.

 

I've only used Blue switches so far, and I'm quite pleased, though I can definitely see how the noise would drive others nuts. From what I've read, it seems that the Brown switches still have tactile feedback like the Blues, but without clicking like the Blacks.

 

Haha, I reassign the Insert/Home/End/PgUp/PgDn to Back/Forward/Play-Pause/Vol-up/Vol-down in the registry.

It works for me but I guess it depends how much you care for those keys.

 

Huh, I didn't even know you could do that, let alone just by adjusting that in the registry! HMMMMMMM.... I don't think I've EVER used scroll lock of pause for anything, save for hitting them accidentally :-D

 

Hehe exactly, the only times I use them is by mistake.

You can google "SharpKeys", really handy for quick reassignment and you can quickly change it back if you ever charge your mind.

 

Which leads me to this question: Is the MX Cherry Red good enough in terms of noise, feel and comfort to be used a keyboard for daily typing uses as well as gaming? In other words, is the Red the best compromise for an user who games and types a lot? Or you are looking at a Brown to be the compromise.

 

I think if you're going full pelt in terms of typing it's pretty hard to feel the tactile feedback of the browns in comparison to the reds, and any tactility you're getting as a result of the brown action is kind of moot if you consider where it comes in the keystroke. Therefore as I said before I don't really think anything other than a red makes much sense as a gaming-leaning general purpose keyboard, with the browns an acceptable substitute.

As I've also said before I feel both are inferior to a Sidewinder in terms of a similar utility 'daily' but that's partially a matter of how you like a key to break and land, as well as of course how leet you consider a mechanical keyboard is (I don't particularly).

At this point in time I think if you're determined to buy a mech, I'm quite inclined to recommend the Corsairs - the K60 and the K90. As mechs they have the features that I would find (relatively) desirable in a mech - red switches, NKRO (not to crazy levels but certainly >6KRO) over USB. As a general-purpose keyboard rather than a pure-gaming one, I *much* prefer the K90 for the additional features, along with the ergonomics of the effective key height plus the full-length wristrest, and media controls. Not all the keys are mech however - the home cluster and the function / macro keys are dome (and the dome action is "OK" - i.e. Logitech level, not Sidewinder level). As a result the only thing that annoys me about this keyboard is the jarring difference in feel (I like to feel *either* a mech or a dome, not both at the same time) when you reach for Esc, Pgup.down and the Fkeys, but it's something you can get used to. Of course I don't really have an opinion about the reliability yet but general build quality appears to be as good as any Filco/Leopold I've encountered, though I don't think both have the keyswitches mounted in the same way.

 

Huh...I am so confused... Okay, I thought brown was a sort of "midway" point between black and blue. Blue provides the "click", and resistance, black is just a smooth motion, so it seems like it would be worse for typing.

My understanding was brown provided a click, but less than blue, so sort of a halfway point.

And my understanding was that red was sort of a "worse black", that also has no click, and less resistance than black?

So I THOUGHT Until reading that that the order for typing (generally speaking) would be:

red < black < brown < blue

So I'm screwed up about that?

 

No, brown doesn't provide a click. Brown provides a bump - it's almost purely tactile, there's virtually no additional acoustic component, especially at typing speeds. And as I said, for the purposes of typing that bump is almost irrelevant compared to a red once you're acclimatised to a mech.

Part of the problem of this whole asking other people about mechs I've noticed is that these enthusiasts (mech enthusiasts - seriously, this has to be the nerdiest of the nerd, we need cooler hobbies to offset this nerd level) often have one and not the others and give you their assumptions about how they perceive things to be based on what they've read. The unrealistic comments about the Topres for example from people who've clearly never owned one, or have just got their first $300 keyboard and are blinded to its various deficiencies, are a case in point.

My approach as usual, once I started hunting for a comfortable, usable keyboard in a serious manner, was to buy all the candidates I lined up at once and try them out. I figured since it's something I spend a huge amount of time at, I might as well try out all the potential top candidates as it would be worth picking anything regardless of cost. And the result was surprising to me.

I like to think I've been clear in what I have, and what I know. I've owned / own (not used a friend's, tried somewhere, etc):
- Razer BlackWidow Ultimate
- Filco black°/brown°/red°/blue° TKL°/full° + numpads°
- Noppoo Choc Mini brown
- Leopold brown/blue/red TKL/full
- Topre Realforce variable°/45g°/55g 103°/TKL°
- Corsair K60° / K90°*
(I also own Mac-specific ALPS mechs)

*What I'd recommend right now for people really wanting a mech
° What I own now

And once again, my main daily, general-purpose keyboards:
- Microsoft Sidewinder X4/X6

And that was the surprise, that objectively speaking all the mechs fell down in some ergonomic or utility aspect and what I considered the most usable and the most comfortable for me was the keyboards I'd already been using at home. Which means that I've effectively thrown several thousand dollars in the trash, since none of the mechanicals qualify as my optimum 'daily' - and I ended up with quite a lot more expensive keyboards than I know what to do with in the end. But it's experience for me and again for me, it's better than wondering.

 

You actually like typing on those Sidewinders better?

Ugh...my 3000 is just such GARBAGE I have a hard time believing I could like a Microsoft keyboard.

From the videos, it SOUNDS like browns are giving you the same type of feedback, just slightly quieter than blues?

Geez...it's so important, and so hard to actually try this stuff!

I almost feel like buying Rosewills in Blue, Brown, and Black to try them all out (seems like I wouldn't like Red as well if it's like Black but doesn't need as much force?)

$300 for a keyboard I liked would be worth it LOL

 

So you've tried one Microsoft keyboard and hate the rest?

Read that back to yourself considering everything we've been writing about so far and consider how incredibly dumb that is.

It's just like buying a bottom-of-the-heap HP notebook, having it suck, and saying all HP's suck.

Come to think of it, oh yeah, that happens all the time here... which of course doesn't make it any less dumber.

 

Seems to me that the sidewinders were designed with quality in mind, i don't own one, but from the opinions i've seen and reviews, they do indeed seem to be of good quality. The sidewinders are usually in stock at stores like best buy, so that's one keyboard you could try first hand too, you might be able to try a standard black widow as well, but for the other mechs, they are rather hard to find in stores.

Vogel is right about the browns, at higher typing speeds, the tactile bump isn't very pronounced. Having both black and browns, i can see why the reds would be similar to the browns. Given that they offer less resistance than the blacks, you'd be able to hit the keys lightly enough to avoid bottoming them out all them time. This is coming from someone who never tried the reds so take that for what it is: a guesstimate.

I can say this though, having tried the logitech mx 3200, razer lycosa and my two mech extensively enough, i do indeed prefer the mechs to the former two.
The K90 does indeed look nice, but i'd only consider it if the marco keys and palm rest are detachable from the keyboard for tight spaces.

 

I am incredibly biased, but I think if you are going to buy a mech board, then there is little reason to look further than Filco, Leopold, or Ducky.

My current baby to illustrate my obvious bias. Cherry browns with ninja'd white caps on a black case. Blues were way too loud, although I think I liked their feel the most. Blacks feel incredibly tough to depress and can cause considerable fatigue [in me]. Browns are a bit too soft, and reds are even worse. That said, browns with an O ring mod fit the bill best for me with being incredibly quiet and reducing key stroke travel.

 

No Media keys has so many work arounds, sharpkeys works, or there is autohotkey scrips, also most media players allow you to set your own hotkey commands. For a person that is listening to music 95% of the time I am on my computer I have not yet had a problem with with the Das for this reason.

Super subjective. Some people type on reds and it immediately becomes there favorite switch they can type super fast and enjoy the light press.

Others however say the press is far too light, and Reds are over rated.

I feel that the big problem is bottoming out, thus with the o-ring mod that I use on all my mech keyboards I feel reds will be great for typing & gaming and I wont have to worry about bottom out.

I like reds but its so different typing on linear after using tactile for so long. For gaming its natural but for typing it takes some getting used to.

MX Red Typing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIXk3Ayok_A

 

Truest words you'll read on the forum. Unfortunately there is no good way to test a variety of switches. At the end of the day, just buy one and pysch yourself up that you will love it. You'll go through a 3-5 day period where you think you hate it, and then as you begin to get acclimated to the nuances....realizing how much you hammer the spacebar, finding out you can "feel" the key depress with some switches, seeing the infinite amount of adjustment that a scissor switch can never offer...

well, then you'll fall in love.

 

Well one good way is try to get in on one of the geekhack doner boards I think they have 2 or 3 that they send to each other and its basically a keypad/keyboard with one or more of all the switches on it so you can see the ones you like best.

I bought my 2nd Das 2nd hand from somebody that was a GH member local to me and he was nice enough to bring a few keyboards for me to try out, even got to try ergo clears.

BTW I think Das is right up there with Filco & Ducky and the like as far as build quality and they are fair priced. The only flaw is the glossy case that nobody will neglect to mention. I dont get fingerprints and stuff on it as the keys are not glossy and I only touch the keys but dust does show on the case easy.

However its like 15 seconds to wipe it off once in a while so its not a big deal like many make it out to be. Its a nice strong plate mounted keyboard with a standard layout, higher than average quality stock key caps and its avalible in blue/brown printed/blank

I have I printed w/ blue and a blank w/brown and I quite like blank keys now because of that keyboard so I have some blank white pbt keys for my poker w/reds on the way.

 

Just a note to the OP: if you are a student and are considering the Das Keyboard, be sure to go for their Education Discount Program. Send a request to Information & Sales here and they'll send you an email that specifies:

If you buy a new Ultimate S, that adds up to about a $30 discount, for a ~$103 final price.

 

Yeah I was looking at between the Cherry Reds and the Browns. Blue is too loud and I have tried Blacks in-person on the Deck Legend and they were awful for my feel. However it looks like I am preferring the Browns because I tend to type more on a keyboard than using it for gaming and for me, practicality for the things I do most (general typing) overcomes the practicality for things I don't do most (gaming).

I am super tempted of getting the Rosewill (Filco) Brown Keyboard when money permits...

I would seriously commit to that deal if it wasn't for their use of glossy acrylic. I am starting to flat out refusing to buy anything with a good, notable amount of said plastics being used.

 

Not that I say its a good fix, but somebody did remove the case (pretty easy to do) and used fine sandpaper w/ wet sanding and made his Das into matte

Only thing that looked bad was the logo was half visible after he did it. Id probably have done something with that.

This person did a paint job and it looks like it came out well:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1121770/deglossed-das-keyboard

Good thing w/ paint is you can do any color you want if your going to go that far.

 

ALPS are mechanical too, right? I discovered this site that supposedly simulates what it sounds like to type on various keyboards...to cool!

Keyboard Simulators | www.MRinterface.com

And I think I found my favorite keyboard ever on there:

Dell AT101 Keyboard Simulator

This guy ^, which uses ALPS it turns out. Dell used to just INCLUDE these with your system 15 years ago! Now I spend $50 and have a keyboard that physically hurts, all this stupid membrane stuff.

Interestingly, that Dell, which I don't consider loud, to me doesn't sound any quieter than the Blue or Black Cherry switches.

Oh man, if I could just get that Dell with USB + media controls, I'd pay $400 for it. I kid you not. I LOVE that, just no USB, and lack of media controls is super impractical.

Anything else use those ALPS switches? I already know I love them...

Actually, Matias does:
Matias Tactile Pro 3

But it's in a Macintosh layout. Seems like it LOOKS like Apple's last gen keyboard, which was membrane I think, but way better than this Microsoft I've got...that with ALPS switches would probably be a nice board.

My current plan is to go to Best Buy tonight, see if they have ANY mechanical boards at all...MAYBE they'll have a Razer with Blue switches, and maybe I can try/buy it...

If not... I don't know. I THINK I want brown or blue. After hearing that Dell versus the Razer and Das Keyboard, I THINK I'm going to be just fine with brown, and maybe with blue (although I think the Razer does sound slightly louder than my Dell did, but then I work in a loud environment).

I guess I should try the Razer if I think I like the switches...sounds like they hopefully fixed problems with it, and it's got both USB hubs and more importantly, media keys. The Steelseries does too, but it uses Black switches only, and I think I want that bump...I think.

The Razer looks gimmicky, I'm a little worried about quality control, a little worried if the physical keys are ideal (frankly, looking at all these keyboards, nothing looks as good to me as that Dell...), but...

EDIT: Heehee...if only someone sold like a USB external thing with just media controls on it...would certainly be possible to design that! I really just need volume up/down, that's the only 100% critical thing. I know you guys have mentioned registry programs, but I'm kind of nervous about doing that.

So wish Das Keyboard just had some volume controls on it!

 

PgUp/PgDn are some useless useless buttons when you have a mouse

 

They do have the Blackwidow Ultimate at Best Buy, and the packaging has the arrow keys exposed so you can press them and get a feel for their tactile response and click.

 

just cant get a feel for the sticking space bar, and shift keys

id honestly never recommend the razer keyboard they may get a lemon and not know it and assume thats how all mech keyboards are.

 

Yeah, that's one of my biggest worries with them.

Though from Master's experience, maybe they have it fixed?

I think Cherry Blacks, and thus SteelSeries is out (why can't they have some browns or blues!)

That pretty much leaves Das Keyboard or Rosewell, both of which LOOK like really nice keyboards, but.... *sigh* I even looked at that Griffin giant dial thing that can control volume....but it doesn't work in Windows 7.

 

Which keyboard was the one shown with the white caps and colored caps, with red cherry mx switches? link me

 

KBC Poker its a super small formfactor (40%) you can find them on ebay, and a few other places.

I also highly recommend the KBC Race its just a bit larger but also has a backlight if your into a reduced size keyboard.

For full size without ten key I want to try the CM Storm Quickfire, it comes w/ reds as well as an option.

 

Anyone try these yet?

Truly Ergonomic Keyboard

 

Very interesting find. Would be very interested if anyone has tried it. The concept looks interesting but I can't help but think that using one of those keyboards would you screw you up for every normal keyboard you try to use after it.

 

I've tried variations thereof - Maltrons, etc and I have to say while some may work better for some, I think the only real solution to staving off RSI is to rotate multiple different types of keyboards that you get on well with.

 

Weeeeeeell, my Best Buy trip resolved nothing. They had two Razers, but none on display.

From the four buttons sticking through the packaging...well, they didn't feel that great. Seemed like they didn't actuate completely straight...though maybe just because the plastic packaging was rubbing against them?

At any rate, looking at it didn't help me at all. I don't THINK I liked it, but can't even really say for sure. And if I didn't like it, I can't say it was because of the Cherry Blues...no clue if I'd like browns better, though I THINK I do want a kind of definite point where they're being activated, which even this N80 notebook keyboard I'm typing on has, so I don't THINK I want the blacks or reds... :-/

 

I have owned various mechanicals over the years:

Apple extended (with white alps)

Matias 3 (white alps but not quite as nice as the Apple ones)

IBM models (various, including the orignal ones from IBM pre lexmark cira 1984) (buckling spring)

ABS keyboard using black alps I think (similar to cherry blues though slightly better feeling to me)

pckeyboard.com (bought out lexmark/IBM molds, buckling spring)

das keyobard (cherry blues -- really didnt like these -- they dont actuate right -- they require high force but quickly flatten out)

My favorite are the buckling spring IBMs followed by the pckeyboard.com ones. IF you don't mind the sound, I still think the buckling spring ones followed by the white Alps keyboards have the best feel if you like a nice click plus knowledge that you have actually pressed the key.

Very personal obviously. If they made a truly modern looking keyboard with buckling springs I would buy it in heartbeat.

Followed by the white alps keyboards.

I have not tried cherry reds, browns or topre switches. Though I suspect I would like the reds or maybe the browns.

 

I liked that Apple Extended (desktop bus?) keyboard too, and loved my Dell keyboard from the 90s, which I think also used ALPS switches.

I liked the IBM keyboard I had from the 80s, although I think I liked the Dell even more.

Do you know of or can you recommend anything sold now with switches like that Apple/Dell one? Or IBM-like?

Seems like everything except that Matias (which doesn't help me since I mostly use Windows) uses Cherry switches or membrane. And I do really want volume controls so I can adjust that in game.

 

You've bought into this hook, line and sinker, haven't you

Unicomp seems to be the next one to look at if you're determined to drive anyone you live with mad.

 

Me? Well I know for sure I LOVE Dell's old 90's keyboard that it turns out uses Alps, and I liked Apple's extended one that also did from back then. I've used a Dell and an Apple that I thought were okay for membrane keyboards, but I still like those Alps ones 10x better. I mean I know there's tons of variability for membrane stuff even, but I do know I CAN like a mechanical keyboard much better.

I guess the ALPS switches now are clones, and the only one I'm aware of is that Macintosh-only Matias one. If I used a Mac I'd probably try it.

 

The only widely sold fake alps are the Matias's.

I usually buy New Old Stock on Ebay -- hence my apple keyboard is like 19 years old but new -- and I love the feel -- compromise was that it is spanish -- so some of the keys are a little different -- you can see them on ebay for about $35 once in awhile (the model number is m3501 in case you are curious).

Apple Extended Keyboard II M3501 Made in USA Working | eBay

Like the poster above said -- Unicomp sells the IBM Model M replicas as they bought the IBM/Lexmark's factory molds and patents for this keyboard -- I have had them and they are as close to the IBMs as you can get (they are not perfect but very, very good) -- goto Unicomp.

Orignal IBMs:

1988 IBM model M (1391401) Made by IBM + long cable

If you want the Dell ones (its an dell at101w for the model number by the way) -- there are plenty on Ebay though rarely new:

VINTAGE DELL WHITE CLICKY KEYBOARD CLEAN PS/2 ALPS KEYS IBM HP Model AT101W | eBay

I think the new Dell ones on ebay are now pricier they used to sell for like $20 before even for new ones:

Dell PS/2 Keyboard M#AT101W Black Sliders | eBay

 

This one that I use has Cherry mx black and marketed for gamers with a backlight.

Mionix Zibal 60 - Iluminated Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - Mionix? - Light-Years Ahead Of The Game - Ultimate Gaming Experience

I wanted to get the das keyboard at first but couldn't find a reseller on where I am so I ended up with the zibal 60 (another option were ducky keyboards with red cherry mx switches)

 

I would consider that to be a ergonomic keyboard first and foremost, that coincidentally happens to be mechanical.

And come to think of it, I don't actually know of any keyboard nerds that prefer ergonomic keyboards. Everyone I know who uses an ergonomic keyboard tends to be someone who really doesn't care about keyboard hardware or computer hardware at all.

Check out this recent article about Rosewill mechanical keyboards on PCPerspective (pcper.com)

The article starts off with a YouTube video, and has written discussion about the differences in Cherry MX Blue, Black, Brown, and Red keyswitches. Incredibly helpful stuff.


Most mechanical keyboards use Cherry MX Blue or Cherry MX Black keyswitches.

The general rule of thumb is that Cherry MX Blue keyswitches have a "click" feel to them at the actuation point for tactile feedback, giving better tactile feedback for typing.

Cherry MX Black keyswitches are linear in their movement, which is preferred for gaming. The idea behind this is that a gamer can "train" themselves to intuitively know the activation point during the smooth keystroke, and therefore "train" their hands to spam game commands more efficiently.

Some people say that if you're raiding in World of Warcraft, you can train your hands to spam abilities (e.g. spamming 111111111111 to cast Fireball) only the 2mm it takes to actuate / unactuate a keystroke, instead of the default of the full 5mm of keystroke motion. Other people say that if you're buying a keyboard so that you can spam more efficiently in WoW, then you have issues.

 

I've noticed that too...

I've never been 100% sure whether they actually are ergonomic or not either...

And thanks for that article!

I found one on the Razer Blackwidow with Blue Switches too:

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Mechanical Keyboard Review - Mechanically superior? Just mechanical? | PC Perspective

 

Can you guys believe I STILL Haven't ordered one? LOL

Thanks for the link minutiae!

I think I need to just go through the hassle of ordering a Razer ultimate with Brown switches from their store, as I think browns are my best bet, and I really need hardware media keys, so....that's the only choice *sigh*

 

I have Browns and Blues. Blues are too clicky for me (whaaaa?), so I prefer Browns. In reality, I most likely prefer Reds, but I haven't had a chance to try them quite yet.

I also have a Topre switch keyboard, which is awesome.

 

What's Topre switch?

My understanding is Black and Red are twins, with red needing less force than black. I think there's a twin to brown? White maybe? And it needs more force than brown, but is similarly clicky.

I know I liked Alps *sigh*

 

It's not technically a switch - it's a rubber dome with a spring, where that spring is part of the electrical circuit that signals key actuation. You can change either the spring or the actuation point.

I would say it's not a great gaming keyboard because the return is quite slow - it's slower than a Sidewinder for sure. But the key feel is arguably better than any Cherry, partly because of the lack of a hard landing. But it's utterly overrated, mainly because it's the most expensive type of 'mechanical' currently on the market and obviously that is keyboard-geek cred.

 

My fav switch type is the Reds, I type very well with them and for gaming its so natural.

Also it really gives you something different than a rubber dome key can by completely taking away that tactile bump. As much as I like my blues & browns and feel they are better than any membrane keyboard I have used, they are still technically similar, but the reds (and blacks) definitely offer you something completely different and thus may warrant a mechanical keyboard purchase more if your interested in a linear switch like that.

 

I FINALLY bought a keyboard! LOL

Got a Razer Ultimate Stealth from Razer because it's the only MX Brown keyboard with media controls, soooooo yeah. Super skeptical, but we'll see.

Microsoft's sidewinder boards are really that much better than their 3000? If this one doesn't work, maybe I'll try what's supposedly a good membrane board next...

 

Cool, let us know how you like it.

 

Only MX Brown w/ media?? So not true.

Only overpriced mainstream keyboard with media keys? I'd take that.

Of all the mech keyboards I have owned, Razer is the only one I did not keep. It was junk.

The very first BW Stealth youtube video that I looked at somebody had the same problem I did with sticking keys.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl__y9EIBEU&feature=related

He removed his key and filed it down to fix it, but I was not willing to do that I sent mine back because no other keyboard I owned had that problem and you can see how much play the keys have. I don't know why the BW keys have so much wobble/play to them but something about them is unstable.