Mechanical Keyboard

Hi. Since there wasn't too much topics about this I thought I'd create one. Anybody suggest a mechanical switch keyboard? I know about the Tactile Pro but it seems to expensive for me. Any other alternatives under $100? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

Unicomp Customizer ($69)
http://www.pckeyboards.com
I have one of these, and the key travel is great. The plastic is cheaper feeling than the old IBM/Lexmark keyboards though. Which is a little odd considering Unicomp was born when the workers bought out the IBM/Lexmark factory.

SteelSeries 6G ($120)
http://www.steelseries.com/int/products/keyboards
It should be quieter, though, and has more modern electronics. I haven't used on yet, but plan on buying one. From my experience with the company, I expect the build quality to be better. I think it and it's more expensive 7G cousin (which can have all keys pressed simultaneously and still register) use Cherry keyswitches, but I'm not sure.

Avant Stellar ($189)
from Ergonomic Resources
Avant Prime ($149)
from Ergonomic Resources
These use Alps keyswitches, which used to compete closely with IBM mechanicals back in the day. Some people preferred them, I think because they were a little quieter and not quite as hard to press. You should do some research, because I'm really not sure. A cheaper option for Alps would be, I think, a used Dell Quiet Key. Another alternative would be a Matias Tactile Pro, which is a third party recreation of the old Mac keyboards before they started sucking.

Cherry (various)
You'll have to do some searching for these. Cherry tends to target it's mechanical keyboards towards POS systems, so they tend to have things like trackballs, tons of customizable keys on a huge footprint, and magnetic strip readers. They do have some more standard full size and compact offerings, though. I'm really not sure about build quality, but I expect tank-like to be accurate.

Then of course there are all the used old IBM keyboards you can grab on Ebay, and sometimes brick and mortar shops will have a collection. I know Data Soft in Flagstaff used to have a few dozen, if all else fails.

 

How about the DAS Keyboard II?

Its a USB keyboard with gold-plated and clicky high-end mechanical key switches and blank keys for $79.95.

Look on the web for some review...

 

I saw that too when I was searching, but as much as I hate to admit it, I'm not that good a touch typist yet.

To the other poster. I found a lot of cherry keyboards though I'm not sure which is the right one. I'll look at your other suggestions though, thanks.

 

The build quality on the Cherry boards is outstanding, at least on the mechanical switch boards- they do make membrane keyboards as well. The easiest way to tell is the part#- if it starts with G80-, it's got MX switches, G84- boards have ML low-profile switches. G81, G82, G83, G85 and G86 boards are membrane. Some of the model numbers will tell you as well- if it starts with MX, it uses (shockingly) MX switches, ML means ML switches, and MY means membrane sheet contacts.

I've got a couple MX-8100 (G80-8113) POS boards, with 120 keys, a built-in touchpad and a credit card reader. The footprint is actually slightly smaller than a standard keyboard (18.5 x 8.5 inches)- the keys are closer to the right and left edges, and are arranged a bit funky to make room for the touchpad. They've got full n-key rollever (I've verified it for 40+ simultaneous keystrokes) and 13 extra re-programmable keys, as well as allowing re-programming of 45 other keys (everything except the QWERTY section)

I also know people who have the ML-4100 (83-key) board, and are very happy/impressed with it.

 

Personally I think ebay is the best choice for these things. Not only do you get the "real deal" so to speak, it's also much cheaper than buying something new. I got a 1995 unit for $14 and it simply kills the similarly priced Microsoft keyboard I had before; screw it that it doesn't have a Windows key

I hear the DAS units are real nice, though. But I prefer letters on my keys, thank you very much.

 

The Das Keyboard looks awesome! Rep+

 

IBM Model M, deploy!

 

eLx: If you're willing to try it, I'd strongly encourage you to get a Das Keyboard. Not a good touch typist? All the more reason to pick it up; you'll find that a blank keyboard will turn you into a good touch typist in short order. The build quality is exquisite.

 

Yeah, maybe I'll think about it. Might be easy after a while.

 

I use a Das Keyboard II and I absolutely love it . . . it was the best money I spent in a long time. It really helped my typing skills. Here's a post I made about the Das Keyboard II:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=2965069&postcount=403

I second the eBay idea for a mechanical board. That is what I would have done if I wasn't after improving my typing skills (the blank keys were part of the deal for me with the Das). A used Dell QuietKey is an excellent idea, they are great keyboards. IBM Model Ms are another choice although I'm not sure how much they go for.

 

I've also found the Scorpius M10 in my search for a mechanical keyboard(I ended up getting a $20 logitech though, cause I couldn't wait to test out my pc.

 

I got an old Dell QuietKey from a friend today for free, it is such a good keyboard. Not quite as good as my Das Keyboard II but it has a similar feel/sound, mechanical switches provide the best typing experience. If I wasn't after the blankness of the Das I would be using one of these.

 

i found the ABS mechanical keyboard from newegg.com, and its cheaper than DAS keyboard.
From the review on newegg shows it's heavy, great response and the CLACK" like the classic IBM model-M.

 

sjdragon

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