Keyboard help! by JustBudah September 23, 2015 at 6:09 AM UTC

If you need help with picking switches:

Red: 45g, Linear. Mostly for gaming as it's very easy to double and triple tap with Reds.
Browns: 45g, Tactile. Good for a mix between gaming and typing. There are complaints about the tactile feedback being weak, though.
Blues: 50g, Clicky. Good for typing, TERRIBLE IF PEOPLE AROUND YOU HATE NOISE. Blues are extremely noisy.
Black (less common, as it was invented in the 1980s or so): 60g, Linear. Some budget companies still use Blacks since they're cheap, but generally they're harder to use.
Green (even less common): 80g, Clicky. Blues, but much harder. Most people don't like this switch because it's so heavy.
Whites: (really rare): 55g, Tactile. People generally use this for the stronger tactile feedback.

There's also Grey, but that's getting into the realm of basically nonexistent switches.

Here's what I would pick for Cherry MX (assuming you have that type of money):
Budget: CM Storm Quickfire Rapid. Reds and Blues are $70-80, and Browns are $80-90.
Tenkeyless (no numpad): Corsair K65 for Reds ($90), and CM Storm Quickfire Rapid for Browns and Blues.
Full size: This is where the debate gets heated. I'd pick Corsair K70 ($120) or Corsair Strafe ($110) if you want good quality at the cheapest rate for full size keyboards.
Best keyboard (at a big price): Ducky Shine 4, as of right now ($150-160). However, I'd wait for the Ducky Shine 5 to come out first, and then decide.
MMOs: Corsair K95 ($130? I haven't checked this one that much), probably, or maybe even K70.
Browns at the best price: Logitech G710+ ($80-90). Good keyboard, and goes on sale every once a while at least. The reason browns have their own category is simply because lots of people like browns, so they're really expensive generally.

If you need more help on this, don't be afraid to ask!
-Milki

If you need help with picking switches:

Red: 45g, Linear. Mostly for gaming as it's very easy to double and triple tap with Reds.
Browns: 45g, Tactile. Good for a mix between gaming and typing. There are complaints about the tactile feedback being weak, though.
Blues: 50g, Clicky. Good for typing, TERRIBLE IF PEOPLE AROUND YOU HATE NOISE. Blues are extremely noisy.
Black (less common, as it was invented in the 1980s or so): 60g, Linear. Some budget companies still use Blacks since they're cheap, but generally they're harder to use.
Green (even less common): 80g, Clicky. Blues, but much harder. Most people don't like this switch because it's so heavy.
Whites: (really rare): 55g, Tactile. People generally use this for the stronger tactile feedback.

There's also Grey, but that's getting into the realm of basically nonexistent switches.

Here's what I would pick for Cherry MX (assuming you have that type of money):
Budget: CM Storm Quickfire Rapid. Reds and Blues are $70-80, and Browns are $80-90.
Tenkeyless (no numpad): Corsair K65 for Reds ($90), and CM Storm Quickfire Rapid for Browns and Blues.
Full size: This is where the debate gets heated. I'd pick Corsair K70 ($120) or Corsair Strafe ($110) if you want good quality at the cheapest rate for full size keyboards.
Best keyboard (at a big price): Ducky Shine 4, as of right now ($150-160). However, I'd wait for the Ducky Shine 5 to come out first, and then decide.
MMOs: Corsair K95 ($130? I haven't checked this one that much), probably, or maybe even K70.
Browns at the best price: Logitech G710+ ($80-90). Good keyboard, and goes on sale every once a while at least. The reason browns have their own category is simply because lots of people like browns, so they're really expensive generally.

If you need more help on this, don't be afraid to ask!
-Milki

Yes thank you someone who agrees with me for once.

What keyboard do you have? Btw, check this keyboard out, I honestly think this is the best gaming keyboard out there, apart from the software. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s9HizT2soY

Its basically the Razer BlackWidow Chroma combined ith the almighty Corsair K70 RGB with a couple of cool features. Its less money too!

The mouse and headset suck imo

@Sevo It appears to be more expensive than the K70 RGB.

@Emmaye Agrees with you in which category?

@ImRaging Only use Das if you're limited on USBs, need it for work, or really love that volume knob. It's more expensive than other keyboards that are decently similar.

The thing that I like about them is that they have a mac edition.

Ew, mac? PC Master Race is very true in the world of mechanical keyboards.

The thing is, you'll generally pay a lot for a keyboard already, and then pay for the correct layout of keycaps for Mac. This can send your purchase completely overboard, especially for Corsair keyboards.

So, I need to know a few things before I can give a good recommendation:

• What's your budget? (This is the most important; I prefer this is the one you answered if you only want to answer one.)
• Any switches you think you will not like? (Buy a switch tester off amazon for cheap if you're not sure about some switches.)
• Any special things you want on it? (e.g. RGB lights, dedicated media controls, tenkeyless/full size, etc.)
• Do you own a Windows computer and will use a mechanical keyboard mostly on Windows, or will you mostly use the mechanical keyboard on a Mac?

I'm here and idek what a mechanical keyboard is. Would someone care to explain for me?

You probably use either a laptop kind of keyboard, or a keyboard with big keys. Those kind of keyboards basically have a rubber dome and a stick kind of thing on the key caps to push it ll the way down, and then the key will register. Mechanical keys are a seperate mechanism for every single key, with different features. The most common type of mechanical and arguably the best are the ones from Cherry. 

Mechanical keys actuate at about half the key press, so you dont have to push it all the way down. They are heavier though, which is why a little minority of the world doesent like mechanical keys, but about 99% of people do. 

There are 3 types of mechanical keys:

-Linear- This is a smooth keypress, so its ideal for gaming

-Tactile bump- this has a bump to let you know where the key is registered

-Click AND tactile bump- the click is when the key is registered as well, along with a tactile bump.

Mechanical keyboards are A LOT more expensive too. But the feeling is very worth it if you have the money. These make you faster in gaming, typing, and deliver an overall incredible typing experience. 

Here are the different keys

Mx Blues- Clicky, tactile bump, 50g of actuation force (best for typing)

Mx Browns- Tactile bump, 45g of actuation force (best for typing and gaming

Mx reds- Linear, 45g of actuation force (best for gaming)

Mx blacks- Linear, 60g of actuation force (most people dont like this xD)

It all matters of preference, I like blues because of the tactile bump and the click. But I cant get it since 1 its too expensive and 2 it will make my family want to KILL me from the noise =P. Mechanical keys also make A LOT more noise.

You're forgetting a lot.

#1. Topre; switch that is arguably better than MX; however, this happens to run in the $200 range or so.

#2. Greens, Whites, Greys, Dark Greys: lesser known switches, but still exist (especially Greens)

#3. Lower budget options, such as Kailh, Greetech, and Gateron.

#4. MX Silent exclusive on the Corsair STRAFE RGB.

#5. Blacks are still popular (in fact, I think someone from Cherry mentioned they tend to use Blacks at work)

Corrections:

1. Mechanical switches are generally lighter (Membrane/Rubber dome goes at about 80g.)

2. Laptops tend to have membrane AFAIK, not rubber dome (yes, those are different things.)

And @OP:

The keyboard I'd go for is just full-on Ducky, as long as you don't need macros; you seem to be able to afford a Ducky Shine 4. 

However, because of the imminent release of the Ducky Shine 5 (which appears to be at the end of October), I'd wait a little.

I would add more, but I think it got a little too complicated xD. Just the basics for now :P

And what about Romer-Gs? They are my FAVORITE.

And the ones SteelSeries made. I forgot the name xd.

Romer-Gs? AFAIK they feel more like membrane, which is why people don't like them.

SteelSeries made the QK1s, but I don't know what they're like.

This may seem weird, but I like the feel of high end membrane xP like the Corsair Raptor K40, or the CM Storm Devestator, which I bought, and love. That's why Romer-Gs are perfect for me, because the feel is membrane but it acts as mechanical. I don't like the key caps though, but for gaming and gaming only they are INCREDIBLE. I know this because they have one in my local Canada Computers xD that place is like heaven for me lol

It all depends on what type of switch you want, but some suggestions off the top of my head are

CM Storm Quickfire Rapid http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VDLVD4/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=31K8U2YH0CW4G&coli...

Das Model S http://www.amazon.com/Das-Keyboard-Professional-Model-DASK3PROMS1MACCLI/dp/B003ZG9T62/ref=sr_1_1?s=p...


If you need more suggestions, feel free to add me on skype: biixerv.

I have the CM Storm Quickfire Rapid Cherry MX Blues. Recommended if you like clickyness and if you are relatively reserved from others (in case they don't like the noise).

You probably use either a laptop kind of keyboard, or a keyboard with big keys. Those kind of keyboards basically have a rubber dome and a stick kind of thing on the key caps to push it ll the way down, and then the key will register. Mechanical keys are a seperate mechanism for every single key, with different features. The most common type of mechanical and arguably the best are the ones from Cherry. 

Mechanical keys actuate at about half the key press, so you dont have to push it all the way down. They are heavier though, which is why a little minority of the world doesent like mechanical keys, but about 99% of people do. 

There are 3 types of mechanical keys:

-Linear- This is a smooth keypress, so its ideal for gaming

-Tactile bump- this has a bump to let you know where the key is registered

-Click AND tactile bump- the click is when the key is registered as well, along with a tactile bump.

Mechanical keyboards are A LOT more expensive too. But the feeling is very worth it if you have the money. These make you faster in gaming, typing, and deliver an overall incredible typing experience. 

Here are the different keys

Mx Blues- Clicky, tactile bump, 50g of actuation force (best for typing)

Mx Browns- Tactile bump, 45g of actuation force (best for typing and gaming

Mx reds- Linear, 45g of actuation force (best for gaming)

Mx blacks- Linear, 60g of actuation force (most people dont like this xD)

It all matters of preference, I like blues because of the tactile bump and the click. But I cant get it since 1 its too expensive and 2 it will make my family want to KILL me from the noise =P. Mechanical keys also make A LOT more noise.

Bump, since I heard that I could get a cheaper keyboard; please leave your suggestions down below. If it's cheap and good, let me know.

At the end it really matters what you are willing to sacrifice on a keyboard. You have to choose what kind of person you are. A gamer (which type?) or something else (like an accountant). Just tell me what you are and I'll keep suggestions going. It's 
the long road to take, but at the end, looking at your options is the best way to go.

I would say that I am a gamer.