The search for the perfect keyboard

I type a lot between my job and writing I do on my free time, and at some point decided that I wanted a better keyboard. I thought I would write this just in case my journey can be of some use to someone else.

My work keyboard is the worst of the two I use – it’s the standard Crapboard Deluxe that came with the desktop, with its patented mushy typing experience. The one I use at home is a MS Comfort Desktop 5000, and while it is certainly better than my work keyboard, I’ve always felt I could do better.

What I wanted was something that had light keys, a standard layout and was relatively quiet. I don’t need backlighting or macro keys or even media keys; I have on rare occasions used the volume controls on my keyboard at home, but any other extra keys are completely wasted on me.

I started my search online, and saw mechanical keyboards mentioned a lot (if you don’t know what a mechanical keyboard is, or how it is different than the standard keyboards of today, here is a good intro: link). I have paid absolutely no attention to the design of the various keyboards I’ve used since I had my first computer in the early 80’s (yes, I’m that old), so at first didn’t know my Cherry MX’s from my Topres. Keyboards with Topre switches are rarer and more expensive, so I decided to try the Cherry switches. I want to reduce the noise as much as possible, so Cherry MX Blues were out of the question, and since I’d be using the keyboard for typing, I narrowed down my choices to the brown or the red switches.

And that brings me to my first mini-review:

Ducky DK9008G2 PBT (Cherry MX Red)

I saw a lot of positive comments regarding the quality of Ducky keyboards, and I had read that PBT keycaps are a little better than the standard ABS used on most keyboards. I chose the red switches, figuring that since I normally bottom out the keys when I type, I might as well ignore the tactile feedback given by the browns. Besides, they didn’t have one with browns . . .

Build Quality:

I must say I was impressed by how well this board was made. It was very solid feeling; if you happen to be typing at your desk when the zombie apocalypse comes, no worries, this thing could bash some zombie heads. And likely you’d still be able to type with it afterwards.

The surface of the keys felt great too, with a slight roughness to them. The only complaint I have is the space bar; I had read that with PBT keyboards the space bar was still ABS, but I was surprised at how cheap the spacebar was on the Ducky. It seemed flimsier than the spacebar on the cheap keyboard I had at work. The other thing was the cable – not really a complaint, but the cable detaches from the keyboard and connects to the board via a micro usb port. My keyboard is on a movable tray that I adjust a lot as I switch between sitting and standing quite often during the day, and I worried that movement of the cable would pull it out of the keyboard or even weaken the plug on the board. Luckily Ducky provides a channel that the cable locks into so that likely would not have been a problem (which is why I don’t consider it a complaint).

Typing:

Luckily I was prepared for the noise of the mechanical keyboard and had bought a set of o-rings. Without them, the sound of the keys bottoming out is very annoying (at least to me it was); with the o-rings it was better but still louder than a standard, membrane style keyboard.

The feel of the keys was quite good, but the travel is definitely longer than I’m used to. However the typing experience brings me to my second complaint, the spacebar . . . again. When it comes to mechanical keyboards, you not only need to choose between switch types, you need to choose between stabilizers (the mechanism on larger keys that makes the whole key go down so that, for example, when you press one side of the space bar, the whole thing moves). The Ducky board uses Cherry stabilizers. I had read that Cherry stabilizers were a little stiffer than Costar (the other popular kind), but I didn’t realize how significant of a difference it was. The space bar on the Ducky was horrible, and seriously slowed me down while typing because if felt so stiff compared to the rest of the keys.

So I returned the Ducky, and now I’m on to my second mini-review:

Rosewill RK-9000BR (Cherry MX Brown)

I did not like the long travel of the reds, so went with the browns, which give a bump when the switch activates partway down. Several people online had said that one could get used to only pressing the key until you felt the bump, decreasing how far you have to press the keys and greatly increasing typing speed.

Build quality:

Like the Ducky, the Rosewill was very solid. This one has ABS keycaps, so the keycaps did not feel quite as good as the PBT caps on the Ducky, but were still much better than a standard keyboard. However, the spacebar was better quality on the Rosewill.

This keyboard had the detachable cable as well, but this time there was no channel to lock the cable into place. Instead it just plugged into a micro usb port on the back of the board. I have no doubt that over time the cable would have started to pull out when moving the keyboard tray.

Typing:

Again the movement of the keys was very smooth, and this board had the Costar stabilizers, which meant that the spacebar felt just as good. However, the tactile feedback that the brown switches are supposed to provide was barely noticeable. If I pressed the key slowly, and paid attention, I could discern the faintest tick. If anyone can feel it while typing at full speed they have much more sensitive fingers than I. No doubt I would have gotten used to the longer travel on the keys, but I felt it would slow me down, which would defeat the whole point.

So I returned it. Next I’m going to go on a drive to look at #3 (to be continued . . . )

 

I know you don't want the sound of Cherry MX blues but they're my favorite switch to type on, followed by brown. I use MX browns for my desktop since I game on it and type, and don't like blues for gaming.

Have you looked into Topre keyboards?

 

The only Topre keyboards I can find are too expensive, so they got ruled out from the start unfortunately.

 

They are very expensive.

Have you thought about trying MX clear switches? They're similar to MX brown with a heavier activation point. They feel sharper than an MX brown switch, don't bottom out as easily, and don't have the loud click of an MX blue. If you o-ring them you might get most of the feel of the MX blue without all of the sound. Availability is low and prices are high unfortunately.

 

I have heard about the clears, but I know they would be too heavy for me. I liked the light feel of the reds, just not the long travel and lack of feedback.

I've read that some put the springs from the browns in the clear switches (ergo clears they call them I think); would be interesting to try a keyboard set up like that.

 

Well, I braved the Northwest rain and traffic to go to a store that has a decent selection of keyboards in stock (better than I’ve seen at other stores around here). Which brings me to mini-review #3: SIIG USB Premium Aluminum Keyboard

This keyboard does not use mechanical switches, but scissor switches, like what is used in a lot of laptops. I like the lightness and short travel of the keyboard on my laptop, so I figured this one was worth looking into.

The build quality was pretty good – it felt surprisingly heavy for how thin it was. The keys themselves were a bit uninspiring though. They were light, and had short travel, but made a cheap, plastic sound when typing.

So I came back empty-handed, and the search for the perfect keyboard continues . . .

 

I understand why people jump towards Topre - because of the 'leet' (bwahaha) price, but unless you're a trained typist these confer ZERO advantages over a decent dome keyboard, especially as the feedback is pretty much identical (in fact, the return is slower than some domes). And the way mech enthusiasts slobber over these as some sort of Holy Grail points definitively at how they evaluate keyboards.

Perfect keyboard for me? A good short-travel dome. Or for typing only, a well built scissor in the Logitech vein (since these are often 2-3KRO). I have Topre, Filco, etc but I have domes on all my heaviest-use systems.

 

Read my post again. Keyword: TOPRE.

Glad you like your blues. I too have tonnes of Filco's - but in all switches. I can tolerate reds (without the laughable O-ring mod), but give me a decent short-travel dome or scissor over them any day.

I agree for Cherrys certainly, since they don't necessarily give trained typists a definitive advantage. You just need to be a geek with sense of nostalgia and possibly a fair bit of purchase justification as well. Not having the latter, I can spend the several thousand so far on mechs that I've done over the last ~3 years that my curiosity regarding them was re-piqued, and say they're largely a waste of time if you're after quantifiable results.

But as a hobbyist, it's often more than just results: It's about what you like. And clicky keys which will be more likely to result in RSI over extended use (and you don't even think about it because you're in your 20's) due both to the switch action and the way they affect keyboard design are what a lot of people seem to like.

For me for example, I spent >10 years hammering on Cherrys, ALPS and buckling-springs during the 80's and 90's - and I'm all too aware of the ergonomic issues they present, both as user and employer. And as I alluded to before, nostalgia seems to have made that conveniently disappear for a lot of people.

 

Short Travel MX Red are the end of my search. I type all day long and type fastest and easiest on them.

When I have to use other peoples keyboards I cant stand the extra pressure and feedback on the keys, slows me down and takes more effort.

The perfect keyboard is not just the switch or technology its the layout as well, and I ended up going with a 60% keyboard (no arrow keys or numberpad) because it frees up space for me to have a larger mouse surface to use my tripple monitor setup and have room to keep a piece of paper on the other side to take notes and write down things as needed and still have a phone near as well.

I almost never need to use the arrow keys and when I do they are built in with a function key, the number pad also not needed since I type using the numbers above the letters.

So in short, my perfect keyboard was personalized to my needs and typing capabilities and would not necessarily be the same for anybody else.

 

I loved the feel of the reds, just not the longer travel (although they were better with the o-rings). It's completely subjective though.

And I agree that layout is important as well. I have to have the number pad because I do a lot of numerical data entry, otherwise I would have considered the smaller boards.

 

Yeah I do a ton of numerical entry, but I type just as fast on the upper numbers as a do a 10 key. Since often I have alpha and numerical data mixed it was faster for me to learn how to type that way.

 

I went with a 60% board for the same reasons, but in the end I realized I was using the function and ancillary (home, page up, page down, delete, etc) much more than I realized. As such, I've swapped it out for a standard-layout tenkeyless. I personally prefer the MX Brown switches for typing because I find the Blues to be obnoxiously loud. I also prefer having o-rings on the keys because it shortens travel and makes things quieter for my wife and co-workers.

As far as Topre switches, the only board with those worth trying is the Happy Hacking Keyboard and only then for its programmer-friendly layout. Even the Leopold FC660C, which is the least expensive new Topre board and a non-standard 60% layout, is way too expensive for what it offers.