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Weedle
May 31, 2006




GMK caps are expensive but also probably the highest-quality ones out there.

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LionArcher
Mar 29, 2010



Only $110 if they get enough people on board! Lol. I can't decided if I want this keycap set or a Race 3 with cherry blues... ugh. Decisions.

The Unlife Aquatic
Jun 17, 2009

Here in my car
I feel safest of all
I can lock all my doors
It's the only way to live
In cars

So expensive, yet so beautiful.

I'm tempted.

surebet
Jan 10, 2013

avatar
specialist



massdrop 101: always check the break points, main sets always(ish) go for the lowest one

$110 for a full (including base, mods, numpad & a shitload of redundancies) is a legit good price, if the design suits you

for example:
https://originative.co/products/hyperfuse-redux

don't buy from originative, they're fucks

surebet
Jan 10, 2013

avatar
specialist


also reminder that you can dip your toe in the world of aftermaket barbie accessories doubleshot caps via tai-hao, including the hilariously loud miami set:


massdrop - direct

another new contender is jtk, which seems to be a cherry doubleshot clone, but i've no idea how good they are:
https://en.zfrontier.com/collections/keysets

all of these (including the gmk sets) are based on a cherry oem profile, with cherry style font. not my personal cup of tea (except that miami set i just have to grab one of these days), but they're solid caps.

gmk is more expensive since you're getting a very low run, 100% custom colorway, versus say tai hao who does a fixed number of sets with just a few new things on their own schedule.

Deviantfish
Jun 25, 2006

P L E A S E
D O N ' T
Grimey Drawer
Also considering that if you get tired of the set, if it was even vaguely in demand you could pretty easily unload it at cost if not more on GH

The Deadly Hume
May 26, 2004

Let's get a little crazy. Let's have some fun.
I should point out that the base set on Nautilus looks very versatile, whereas on a lot of drops if you want to cover a full-size keyboard you pretty much have to get the base set, a modifier set and a numpad set which ends up costing about the same.

So yeah, if you just want to get enough keys for a TKL or 60% there's a bit of excess keys but once the drop opens and the breakpoint pricing kicks in it'll get a bit more reasonable.

Personally I'm done with buying new sets for a while, considering I've got one in transit and another still being nutted out.

OK, keycap porn - this is quite an old image, from not long after I got hooked into this stupid hobby. To begin with I got about three different coloured Tai-Hao sets and cobbled together this monstrosity.


If you've got a standard ANSI set, the Tai-Hao sets are quite suitable to start off with - doubleshot ABS (so they may get a bit shint) and I have to say I did quite like the chunky profile and the way I could put together an eyebleeding layout for not too much cost.

And as has been mentioned above, Tai-Hao have some interesting colour schemes to go with their single colour sets as well.

The Deadly Hume fucked around with this message at 02:26 on Jul 2, 2017

The Unlife Aquatic
Jun 17, 2009

Here in my car
I feel safest of all
I can lock all my doors
It's the only way to live
In cars

The Deadly Hume posted:

I should point out that the base set on this looks very versatile, whereas on a lot of drops if you want to cover a full-size keyboard you pretty much have to get the base set, a modifier set and a numpad set which ends up costing about the same.

So yeah, if you just want to get enough keys for a TKL or 60% there's a bit of excess keys but once the drop opens and the breakpoint pricing kicks in it'll get a bit more reasonable.

Personally I'm done with buying new sets for a while, considering I've got one in transit and another still being nutted out.

OK, keycap porn - this is quite an old image, from not long after I got hooked into this stupid hobby. To begin with I got about three different coloured Tai-Hao sets and cobbled together this monstrosity.


If you've got a standard ANSI set, the Tai-Hao sets are quite suitable to start off with - doubleshot ABS (so they may get a bit shint) and I have to say I did quite like the chunky profile and the way I could put together an eyebleeding layout for not too much cost.

And as has been mentioned above, Tai-Hao have some interesting colour schemes to go with their single colour sets as well.

I call this color scheme "Twin Peaks Hospital Food".

The Deadly Hume
May 26, 2004

Let's get a little crazy. Let's have some fun.

The Unlife Aquatic posted:

I call this color scheme "Twin Peaks Hospital Food".
Nah it's called Werder Bremen 2005

The Deadly Hume
May 26, 2004

Let's get a little crazy. Let's have some fun.
Just noticed some people call their mechanical keyboards "clackers", gah. They don't know what that sounds like to an Australian.

The Unlife Aquatic
Jun 17, 2009

Here in my car
I feel safest of all
I can lock all my doors
It's the only way to live
In cars

The Deadly Hume posted:

Just noticed some people call their mechanical keyboards "clackers", gah. They don't know what that sounds like to an Australian.

It sounds like the name of a horror movie monster.

"Don't go near the vent! The clackers will get you!"

Weedle
May 31, 2006




The Deadly Hume posted:

I should point out that the base set on Nautilus looks very versatile, whereas on a lot of drops if you want to cover a full-size keyboard you pretty much have to get the base set, a modifier set and a numpad set which ends up costing about the same.

So yeah, if you just want to get enough keys for a TKL or 60% there's a bit of excess keys but once the drop opens and the breakpoint pricing kicks in it'll get a bit more reasonable.

Personally I'm done with buying new sets for a while, considering I've got one in transit and another still being nutted out.

OK, keycap porn - this is quite an old image, from not long after I got hooked into this stupid hobby. To begin with I got about three different coloured Tai-Hao sets and cobbled together this monstrosity.


If you've got a standard ANSI set, the Tai-Hao sets are quite suitable to start off with - doubleshot ABS (so they may get a bit shint) and I have to say I did quite like the chunky profile and the way I could put together an eyebleeding layout for not too much cost.

And as has been mentioned above, Tai-Hao have some interesting colour schemes to go with their single colour sets as well.

Not all Tai Hao sets are ABS; Hawaii, Miami, Sunshine and I think a few others are PBT.

NTRabbit
Aug 15, 2012

i wear this armour to protect myself from the histrionics of hysterical women

bitches




The Unlife Aquatic posted:

It sounds like the name of a horror movie monster.

"Don't go near the vent! The clackers will get you!"

My clacker sure is a horrow show mate

surebet
Jan 10, 2013

avatar
specialist


dear keebthread, what's the current market looking like for budget minded topre? my sister's office needs to get to get a few new boards and while they enjoy the mechanical goodness their previous it guy bestowed upon them, but since their walls are apparently made out of old newspaper and tape, the higher pitched snapping of keys returning to battery is becoming an issue.

looking for deeper, thumpier sounds via topre, but i'm not really familiar with their stuff

Nondescript Van
May 2, 2007

Gats N Party Hats :toot:
well, if they like pink https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1635

or https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1434

topre clones are labeled as electrocapacitive switch boards. I've never used one so ymmv.

surebet
Jan 10, 2013

avatar
specialist


Nondescript Van posted:

well, if they like pink

i have a miami set i've been meaning to sneak on someone's board while they're not looking

chippy
Aug 16, 2006

OK I DON'T GET IT
What's the quality on the Tao Hao PBT caps like? Compared to Vortex, for example. Also, what is the "Nano anti-biosis Anti-Bacterial coating" (http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_30560.html)? Does it affect the feel of them, or start wearing off after or a while, or anything like that?

Basically putting decent caps on my CODE has made me realise that my old Filco needs a facelift.

Josh Lyman
May 24, 2009


I find myself wanting to pull up Notepad and MSPaint on short order all the time to where Win > N > Enter and Win > P > Enter isn't quick enough.

And then I remembered my amazing awesome Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000 keyboard has 5 programmable shortcut keys which can, among other things, launch applications.

Sooo good now! If only this keyboard were available with mechanical switches.

redeyes
Sep 14, 2002

by Fluffdaddy


I got this "iKBC C104 PBT Full Size Mechanical Gaming Keyboard with Cherry MX Brown Switch, Black"

Has browns and really nice fonts. Probably the nicest keyboard i've used yet. 90 bux


Browns have no high pitched click.. more a thunk. Very satisfying. Reminds me of the old Commodore keyboards.

redeyes fucked around with this message at 01:01 on Jul 3, 2017

chippy
Aug 16, 2006

OK I DON'T GET IT

redeyes posted:



I got this "iKBC C104 PBT Full Size Mechanical Gaming Keyboard with Cherry MX Brown Switch, Black"

Has browns and really nice fonts. Probably the nicest keyboard i've used yet. 90 bux


Browns have no high pitched click.. more a thunk. Very satisfying. Reminds me of the old Commodore keyboards.

If you ever get a chance to try Clears, try them out and see what you think. Combined with PBT keycaps, they give the most satisfying 'thunk*' I've come across so far.

*can we try and popularise the term 'handfeel' and see how far we get with it!?

NTRabbit
Aug 15, 2012

i wear this armour to protect myself from the histrionics of hysterical women

bitches




This 2016 model CODE fitted with 2015 Cherry Blues and 2017 PBT caps manages to achieve the same handfeel as a vintage IBM, for a fraction of the auction price. Certainly a kintner worth following the produce of in future.

singe
Aug 24, 2008

I want to ride my bicycle.
So I know nothing about the keyboards.

What's the quietest keyboard that doesn't require a lot of pressure for key action. I currently have the k750, but I don't really like how hard I have to press for each key. I sort of like the logitech thin illuminated keyboard I had in the past, although I've never used any mechanical keyboards (mostly scissor switches?) so I don't know what color switches I should get if I go that route (Red?). Currently, I'm leaning towards the surface keyboard, but I've read mixed things about it.

chippy
Aug 16, 2006

OK I DON'T GET IT

nice

chippy
Aug 16, 2006

OK I DON'T GET IT

chippy posted:

What is the "Nano anti-biosis Anti-Bacterial coating" (http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_30560.html)? Does it affect the feel of them, or start wearing off after or a while, or anything like that?


OK, so a bit of research seems to indicate that everyone hates this coating and it makes the caps feel horrible. Yet Tao Hao caps are pretty popular in this thread and I don't remember seeing anyone complaining about the coating. What's the deal here? Is it not as bad as everyone makes out?

leper khan
Dec 28, 2010
Honest to god thinks Half Life 2 is a bad game. But at least he likes Monster Hunter.

singe posted:

So I know nothing about the keyboards.

What's the quietest keyboard that doesn't require a lot of pressure for key action. I currently have the k750, but I don't really like how hard I have to press for each key. I sort of like the logitech thin illuminated keyboard I had in the past, although I've never used any mechanical keyboards (mostly scissor switches?) so I don't know what color switches I should get if I go that route (Red?). Currently, I'm leaning towards the surface keyboard, but I've read mixed things about it.

45g topres will be light while still being tactile.

https://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=topre_keyboards,rftenkeyless&pid=rf_se19e0

Nondescript Van
May 2, 2007

Gats N Party Hats :toot:

chippy posted:

OK, so a bit of research seems to indicate that everyone hates this coating and it makes the caps feel horrible. Yet Tao Hao caps are pretty popular in this thread and I don't remember seeing anyone complaining about the coating. What's the deal here? Is it not as bad as everyone makes out?

The coating is crappy but not a big deal for me. They just get dirtier faster. I believe you can remove the coating with soap and water but not 100% on that. I don't know if they do it on all sets anymore as a lot of nerds complained so some searching around may turn up a set without the coating.

leper khan
Dec 28, 2010
Honest to god thinks Half Life 2 is a bad game. But at least he likes Monster Hunter.
I want to ruin my wallet with fancy colored caps for my µTron and HHKB Pro JP.

Where do I get overly expensive topre caps tia.

Weedle
May 31, 2006




chippy posted:

OK, so a bit of research seems to indicate that everyone hates this coating and it makes the caps feel horrible. Yet Tao Hao caps are pretty popular in this thread and I don't remember seeing anyone complaining about the coating. What's the deal here? Is it not as bad as everyone makes out?

The one I got from Massdrop earlier this year did not have the coating. Apparently the organizer of the group buy specifically requested that it not be applied due to the negative reaction from customers on a previous group buy.

Constellation I
Apr 3, 2005
I'm a sucker, a little fucker.
Keyboard pics time.

Here's the weeb board. The keycaps cost almost 4 times as much as the keyboard but I really enjoy typing on this cheap mech. Pretty drat good board for $36 CAD. I'd say it's the best bang for the buck at the moment (mostly metal construction, hotswappable switches and comes with Outemu Blues) Homeless man's K-Type?




Another good bang for your buck keyboard (wireless via bluetooth, RGB, $100 CAD). Anne Pro with Gateron Browns. Keycaps are DSA HC Granite.




EDIT: I'm an idiot and have my ' [ ] and - keys upside down. Fixed that up now.

Constellation I fucked around with this message at 20:27 on Jul 3, 2017

The Unlife Aquatic
Jun 17, 2009

Here in my car
I feel safest of all
I can lock all my doors
It's the only way to live
In cars
That DSA Granite set is loving gorgeous.

teethgrinder
Oct 9, 2002

drat I want a poker with that

TWBalls
Apr 16, 2003
My medication never lies

chippy posted:

OK, so a bit of research seems to indicate that everyone hates this coating and it makes the caps feel horrible. Yet Tao Hao caps are pretty popular in this thread and I don't remember seeing anyone complaining about the coating. What's the deal here? Is it not as bad as everyone makes out?

I bought this set:
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/tai-hao-purple-pbt-doubleshot-keycap-set

I seem to recall asking in the last thread about them before buying and someone mentioned that they've improved the coating process. Someone said that the prior process felt gross/sticky and would attract dirt. I haven't felt that on mine. They feel quite nice. If I had been smart, I would have gotten both of my codes together and tried the Vortex & the Tao Hao side by side, but was lazy about taking my work keyboard home. At any rate, I've swapped both keysets with the Tao Hao sets and they've been great for me.

***edit***
Oh, duh. It says it right there on the page:

quote:

We heard your complaints about the stickiness of Tai-Hao’s doubleshot PBT keycaps, so we took your feedback and acted on it. Now, we’re happy to introduce the same doubleshot PBT keycaps, this time in new colors with a considerably thinner layer of scratch-resistant coating. It still kills 99.9 percent of germs, and the keys still don the two-tone design you love—but this version retains the slightly gritty feel of the original PBT plastic. Compatible with Cherry MX switches, they're sculpted in OEM profile just like before.

evil_bunnY
Apr 2, 2003

Constellation I posted:

Keycaps are DSA HC Granite.


Those are pretty yeahbooyy.

Deviantfish
Jun 25, 2006

P L E A S E
D O N ' T
Grimey Drawer

leper khan posted:

I want to ruin my wallet with fancy colored caps for my µTron and HHKB Pro JP.

Where do I get overly expensive topre caps tia.

Topre-stem aftermarket keysets by and large don't exist. You could get a set of Topre HiPro (similar to SP SA profile) caps, which would involve you buying a HiPro and stripping off the caps, or occasional novelties/artisan caps here and there. The other alternative would be to buy sliders to replace the Topre ones, which is kind of a pain in the rear end. Sliders are of rather variable quality too, the cheap ones will wobble and be lovely

surebet
Jan 10, 2013

avatar
specialist


NTRabbit posted:

This 2016 model CODE fitted with 2015 Cherry Blues and 2017 PBT caps manages to achieve the same handfeel as a vintage IBM, for a fraction of the auction price. Certainly a kintner worth following the produce of in future.

:psyduck:

chippy posted:

What's the quality on the Tao Hao PBT caps like? Compared to Vortex, for example. Also, what is the "Nano anti-biosis Anti-Bacterial coating" (http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_30560.html)? Does it affect the feel of them, or start wearing off after or a while, or anything like that?

Basically putting decent caps on my CODE has made me realise that my old Filco needs a facelift.

tai hao is basically the "good enough" of the caps world; they're actual doubleshots without the signature plastics/gmk price tag, so just for that i like them.

where i take issue is the modern legends, since i like my stuff vintage or at least vintage looking, preferably in an SA profile, but that may very well not be your case and that's just as fine.

if the coating bothers you, have a look at this: https://imgur.com/a/FodAg

your link is rather expensive, depending on where you live check out the following:
https://shop.tai-hao.com/
https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/
https://www.massdrop.com/mechanical-keyboards

singe posted:

So I know nothing about the keyboards.

What's the quietest keyboard that doesn't require a lot of pressure for key action. I currently have the k750, but I don't really like how hard I have to press for each key. I sort of like the logitech thin illuminated keyboard I had in the past, although I've never used any mechanical keyboards (mostly scissor switches?) so I don't know what color switches I should get if I go that route (Red?). Currently, I'm leaning towards the surface keyboard, but I've read mixed things about it.

for the lightest of the light, check out mx speeds, which are basically an mx red with a shorter actuation point (1.2mm vs 2mm). both are 45g switches.

you probably have some options in topre in 45g as well. i think i saw some 30g switches somewhere, but topre isn't my specialty.

backup plan would be a complete tear down of a keyboard you like to replace whatever springs are in the switches with something lighter, but that's somewhat labor intensive.

surebet
Jan 10, 2013

avatar
specialist


leper khan posted:

I want to ruin my wallet with fancy colored caps for my µTron and HHKB Pro JP.

Where do I get overly expensive topre caps tia.

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Topre-to-MX-adapter-Topre-change-into-MX-switch/2230037_32748140639.html


umph

i prefer the original color mods, but one of my keeb regrets is passing on a cheap granite set last year. looks good!

dirby
Sep 21, 2004


Helping goons with math
1. I have a relatively cheap Cherry Blue keyboard (probably this one). I already had got it replaced under warranty when the E key started dying, and now, much later, the T key doesn't work consistently. It's a problem with the switch itself. What can be done besides replacing the whole keyboard? Is there a way to open/clean/replace the switch under the T keycap?

2. I have a Cherry Brown keyboard for general use that works well for most things, but for certain high speed/precision gaming it feels too slow to react, at least when releasing the keys. Would Red switches/some other kind of keys fix this, or am I just bad at games?

NewFatMike
Jun 11, 2015

I have a little bit of a peculiar question: I have a handful of keyboards coming in with a variety of switches. I more or less have to review them and I'm not totally sure where to start.

Are there common construction shortcuts different manufacturers might take?

Are there common issues or pain points with relatively unknown manufacturers?

And I guess the same goes for mice if anyone knows anything there. Pointing towards more technical/tough reviewers than hardware Canucks might also help since they're the only ones I know reviewing in the peripheral space.

Thank you thread!

Ultimate Mango
Jan 18, 2005

Hey OP, thanks for the new thread. I really liked the CODE several years ago and ended up getting two of them. Love the Cherry Clears and backlighting. And promptly forgot about the keyboard thread and Massdrop and the fantasy of making an Ergodox.

And now a new thread and a new OP and I see I can get a keyboard with Cherry Clears or Cherry Milky(!) and color changing LED surround lights and key lighting that is responsive or does cool poo poo all the time. drat, it's a good time to like keyboards. Too bad my CODES will last longer than I will.

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The Unlife Aquatic
Jun 17, 2009

Here in my car
I feel safest of all
I can lock all my doors
It's the only way to live
In cars

Ultimate Mango posted:

Hey OP, thanks for the new thread. I really liked the CODE several years ago and ended up getting two of them. Love the Cherry Clears and backlighting. And promptly forgot about the keyboard thread and Massdrop and the fantasy of making an Ergodox.

And now a new thread and a new OP and I see I can get a keyboard with Cherry Clears or Cherry Milky(!) and color changing LED surround lights and key lighting that is responsive or does cool poo poo all the time. drat, it's a good time to like keyboards. Too bad my CODES will last longer than I will.

Thank you, I put a lot of work into this but there's still so much I can do.

There's always custom keycaps to feed your habit!

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