keyboard advice (is grimesy around? ^_^)

[mukdore]

Hey,

a while ago i asked for advice on some perifs that i was looking for but couldn't give a proper explanation of what i was after now i have done some reaserch hoping someone will help.

the main thing im after is a mechanical keyboard have a few things im looking for in one and any advice from anyone is very welcome

mechanical keyboard : budget £120


Essencal items

cherry MX Red or blue switches
full numpad and arrow keys
backlit of some sort (jsut for teh pretty lights *_*)


wanted items~
preferably mutiple settings for the lights
audio and USB passsthough
the "forward facing keys (as in the letters on the front of the keys rather than the top)

anyone got any suggestions im looking to order this on wednessday/thursday



so farm been looking at the Coolmasters (although no backlights that i have seen for that sort of budget) and the razor set (mainly the blackwiddow ultimate)

 

[tom_gr7]

you could look at ducky kb's too.

although, i think you may struggle to get front facing keys AND backlighting.

The Cm storm kb's are a very good choice. The new Trigger Z would be a good option.

 

[mukdore]

havent been able to find any duckys under 150 in the uk >.<

and yeah thats whati was thinking i mean i really want the backlighting, but the front facing keys look awsome >.< would love to hear from someone who has had/tryed one


and havent had a look at the trigger, ill edit the post in a few mins after i look

was also wondering just how loud blues are if anyone knows

EDIT::

looking at the trigger Z it looks ok but not quite what i was looking for , after something was an intresting shape or design although i did see the quickfire ultimate witch looks cool on that site

 

[Grimezy]

Based on your criteria I'd say my own personal keyboard would be a good shout; Aivia Osmium.

Cherry red keys, Blue backlighting (adjustable brightness), usb + audio runthrough, nicely located volume control, very thick braided cable, built like a brick. Currently just under £100. Just had a look at the Amazon reviews and there's a few stand-out ones that really slate it even though the rest are 5 stars. I personally have had no issues with quality though so don't know if they're minority cases and just that more people haven't bothered posting their own positive reviews (I swore to myself that I'd do one because of the lack of reviews yet couldn't be bothered once it had arrived!).

If you're not sure on the Osmium, a Corsair K70 would be my second recommendation. Always thought the corsair boards looked sleek and understated and I have friends with them who speak highly of them.

 

[mukdore]

yeah i saw a thread about the aivia osmium, and it does look good, im really really torn between that one and the ducky shine LED ultimate 3, the the performance from different makes all that noticeable to a user who hasent had a mechanical keyboard before even that noticeable?

 

[bigben]

Not sure about the shine 3, but shine 2 doesn't have audio pass through.

 

[Grimezy]

Duckys aren't necessarily better built, they just offer more features that are very appealing like custom backlighting (rather than just being to increase the intensity on the Osmium). The Ducky can do all sorts of tricks but whether these effect day to day performance I can't personally say. I'd love a Ducky but I honestly don't think it'd be worth the upgrade from my Osmium as the actual typing feel will be almost identical assuming they're both Cherry Red keys. From a rubber switch board, both the aivia and the ducky will make the world of difference though.

Really when it gets into that sort of money it comes down to what you prefer the look of most and what feels right in your gut. It's very difficult to read how something like a keyboard performs as it's individual preference and reviews only go so far. I had similar dilemma when recently buying my Corsair SP2500 speakers. I read endless threads about similar products like Aego M 2.1's and Klipsch ProMedia 2.1's, etc etc. Nobody could give a definite answer on what was the best product and the Corsair's were about £40 more expensive than the others. My brain was telling me maybe I should go for the cheaper alternatives but my gut wanted me to get the SP2500's. They just suited my setup a lot more and I knew they'd been made for gaming which is realistically going to be the majority of their use on my rig. So I took the extra £40 hit (when you're spending that sort of money it's a small price to pay anyway) and went for the Corsairs and don't regret it one bit.

So what I'm trying to say is you probably already have a favourite but you're trying to find other opinions to support that decision. I think the fact you have a £120 budget yet you're still hung up on the Ducky which is far more expensive than that budget shows that you already know what you want, the only thing in your way is money. Typing-wise there won't be a lot in it between the two, if you prefer the look of the Ducky though you'd better get saving A keyboard is for life, not Christmas. I'm seeing Duckys on that very popular shopping website for £150 which isn't too far over your budget though

 

[mukdore]

haha yeah just wondering just been looking and think if found a game changer, the noise level from the osmium compared to other reds is a decent amount quieter, and since ill be using it in an office aswell i think i better go for that to save me from the lynching ill get if i get a noisy keyboard xD and tbh the ducky after really lookin in to it i think that i was/am on the hype train xD i think that what it will come down to is when i get get the money who can send it me fastest xD and the osmium has a MUCH nicer wrist support, and as i have joint problems that will be very beneficial to me, so i think what ill do for now is get myself the osmium and then when i have get my partner a computer ill pass get a ducky, and see if i like it and ill keep the one that i like the most

but thanks so much for all of the hel[ from everyone on this website <3

 

[bigben]

A keyboard is for life, not Christmas.

lol

I had similar dilemma when recently buying my Corsair SP2500 speakers. I read endless threads about similar products like Aego M 2.1's and Klipsch ProMedia 2.1's, etc etc. Nobody could give a definite answer on what was the best product and the Corsair's were about £40 more expensive than the others. My brain was telling me maybe I should go for the cheaper alternatives but my gut wanted me to get the SP2500's. They just suited my setup a lot more and I knew they'd been made for gaming which is realistically going to be the majority of their use on my rig. So I took the extra £40 hit (when you're spending that sort of money it's a small price to pay anyway) and went for the Corsairs and don't regret it one bit.

I've had way too many bad experiences choosing cheaper options. The way I always look at it is "if I'm gonna spend £144 on a pair of Klipsch ProMedia speakers, I may as well blow the extra £36 and make sure I'm definitely happy" (that's how my £700 pc ended up £1200...). The amount of cheap crap I've bought because they had good reviews is awful - before I got my £90 Bose speakers I'd wasted about £80 getting a £30 and a £50 set of Logitech speakers that both had 5 star reviews on the internet.

By the way, why on earth are you going to be using your speakers for gaming? That's what headsets are for?

 

[Grimezy]

By the way, why on earth are you going to be using your speakers for gaming? That's what headsets are for?

Naw mate, not when choppers fly over head and make my house rumble. Or when I fire a tank shell and feel the thud through my body It's not necessarily for competitive gaming, it's more just for immersion and the fact I don't always like using headphones x)

Watch out Mukdore, the osmium is still pretty noisy when you bottom out (press the key all the way down). If it's for in an office you may want to look at some 'O-rings'.

 

[mukdore]

ahhhh meh ill get them next month they can deal with the urge to kill me for the next month

 

[mukdore]

ok, that is one Aivia Osmium ordered, here tomorrow when i get back from work and have ahd a little play on it ill give feed back thanks for the help again

 

[Grimezy]

Good luck It will take a bit of getting used to! The idea is you finish your key-stroke before it hits the bottom of the keyboard... Something that my heavy fingers have never mastered!

They're awesome to game on though

 

[tom_gr7]

i tend to bottom out most of the keys, although, it doesn't really matter as the keys are so light to press. And you get that lovely tap, tap, tap tap,

 

[steaky360]

I keep trying to get used to 'not' bottoming out keys, but then I go back to using my work laptop/keyboard and fall back in the trap of just doing it 'because i always have'. I still mash the space bar with all the force my thumb can muster (for some reason... maybe the space bar must die)...

EDIT: Also, I totally back up grimezy and the SP2500s they are EPIC. I rarely use my headset because I simply miss the sound coming out the corsair speakers. I've got the bass speaker below my computer desk in front of my legs (potentially a poor position but it doesn't matter) its always interesting when playing games because you can feel the air being pushed around from the sub.

 

[bigben]

EDIT: Also, I totally back up grimezy and the SP2500s they are EPIC. I rarely use my headset because I simply miss the sound coming out the corsair speakers. I've got the bass speaker below my computer desk in front of my legs (potentially a poor position but it doesn't matter) its always interesting when playing games because you can feel the air being pushed around from the sub.

I really need to stop coming on these forums. Cost me so much money...

 

[Grimezy]

I really need to stop coming on these forums. Cost me so much money...

Just wait till you fire a tank shell and feel your whole body thud, worth every penny

 

[bigben]

Her indoors is gonna kill me...

 

[mukdore]

i tend to bottom out most of the keys, although, it doesn't really matter as the keys are so light to press. And you get that lovely tap, tap, tap tap,

Yeah jsut getting used to that tap tap tap ii love it everyone else in the hhouse dosent , and oh god its so hard to not bottom out any press at all....

daymn you can type so fast on these things you have tto slow your self down 0.o my fingers are tripping over themselves 0.o this is really nice feel

 

[tom_gr7]

Her indoors is gonna kill me...

lol, been there... it will pass....

or you could try a distraction purchase... a pair of shoes? a new handbag? fancy dinner out? - (she will see through this) you may even have to go to primark...... dun dun duuuuuunnnnn

Yeah jsut getting used to that tap tap tap ii love it everyone else in the hhouse dosent , and oh god its so hard to not bottom out any press at all....

daymn you can type so fast on these things you have tto slow your self down 0.o my fingers are tripping over themselves 0.o this is really nice feel

hahah yeah, one of the best purchases i have made PC wise! Typing is really enjoyable now. Until I get to work and have to use that horrible dell thing.