Drop + OLKB Preonic Keyboard MX Kit V3 Discussions | Drop

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Drop + OLKB Preonic Keyboard MX Kit V3

Mech Keys

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ntwedten

Jul 21, 2018

I am interested in trying this, but I am afraid it will be difficult to learn.
Otherwise I have thought about trying a Night Fox from Kono.
I have tried a mechanical keyboard before before and I did not care for it. It was a Leopold TKL with browns. The key strike distance was too far and not smooth enough. I am used to thin Apple keyboards, and I use the bottom left modifiers constantly.
Should I go for it, or something else, or stick with what I use now?

Jul 21, 2018

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konstantin

Jul 22, 2018

ntwedtenBrowns are pretty bad switches, so I'd say you haven't really gotten a good taste of mechanical keyboards yet (even though Leopold does make good boards). NightFox is cool — as a matter of fact, guess what I'm typing this on right now — but it's slightly overpriced for what you get, and the only switches it comes with are a bit weird and aren't everyone's cup of tea (I really like them, though). The stock keycaps are amazing, however, and I find the case anodization very good too. Furthermore, you can flash it with QMK, which is excellent. On the downside, the stabilizers it comes with are pretty bad. With all of that said, I have to add that I love the heck out of this board and can say that, in my case, it was worth the money. I'd say Preonic's two main advantages over the NightFox are: price and switch choices (both now in the drop, and later on due to the hotswap sockets). The main disadvantage I guess is the layout. I can't say how easy it is to get used to, as Preonic will likely be my first ortho board too (I've used an ErgoDox before, but not for very long). But I do use my fair share of different small layouts, and I can say that, once I got used to them all, switching between them became subconscious and effortless. There are a few keys missing from the Preonic base layer that are usually present on most small keyboards, but I guess that's part of getting used to it, and you can also program it however you like. Finally, I doubt the Preonic keycaps will be as nice and sleek as the ones on the NightFox.
Have you considered the WhiteFox? It's a bit more competitively priced and you get more switch choices than with the NightFox. Also, check out the Clueboard (a USB-C version should be coming out near the end of the summer). Truth be told, though, I would say that any of these keyboards are a great choice for a pre-assembled, metal case, fully programmable mechanical keyboard with a small footprint.
If you have any more questions (or maybe need a recommendation for switches), I'd be happy to help. Always like to see new people getting into the community.

Jul 22, 2018

ntwedten

Jul 22, 2018

konstantinI would definitely be interested in switch recommendations.
USB-C is a requirement, arrow keys are a requirement, and I won’t buy anything with a windows logo on it. :)
I like the NightFox because it’s dark in color, maybe less apt to get dirty, but $20 more for that does seem silly. In the long run that doesn’t seem like a huge price difference.
I can solder, but I am short on free time, and many DIY solutions cost more than pre assembled.

Jul 22, 2018

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