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Noobie after some advice...

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Hi there - was hoping the community could offer some help. I want to get a mechanic keyboard, but there are so many to choose from... I've been reading about Cherry MX (and out of their options, Brown keys sound like what'd suit me best - as I understand they have no audible click, positive tactile feedback, and are mid-placed between gaming-fast, and typing-comfortable.)
It seems like Cherry MX might be the slightly over-priced mainstream choice however, and for my first foray into mech keys I was hoping someone could suggest a cheaper, similar alternative - thanks for any advice.
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Targent
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WindForce
0
Sep 8, 2016
Get the corsair strafe or k70
Targent
13
Sep 6, 2016
Thanks a lot Makami. I think I might give ASCI a try. I've seen the Keycool drop on here. The Keycool switches sound similar to MX Cherry. The description also mentions Kailh switches. My only concern is that Keycool Browns need the same actuation force as MX blacks. I was hoping for a little less (based admittedly purely on theoretical research).
Makami
4236
Sep 6, 2016
TargentHi,
just keep in mind that there will be tax and maybe a fee, don't know about the UK, on top. In Germany we've to pay 19% tax, no fee, on top. From my experience at MD the Keycool Hero 84 won't reach the needed people to drop for $69.99, it would be around €100 anyway in the end after shipping and tax, and in regard of that, the posted Ducky One mks above are the MUCH better keyboards.
Cheers
Targent
13
Sep 5, 2016
Thanks. From my prior research I had thought a Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro S RGB Cherry MX Brown Mechanical Keyboard - TKL Size.
It's the cheapest I could find with brown switches and non-red back light.
But without prior experience, £100 seems a lot before I know whether I like it.
I had (perhaps naively) thought there might be a cheaper option I could use as a trial first (around £50-60).
Makami
4236
Sep 5, 2016
TargentHi,
in Germany the advice for newbies is often the Cherry MX Board 3.0 for ~ €60, we've allmost every week good deals for Coolermaster mks around €70 - €90, depending on model at http://www.zackzack.de/html/index.html, but this won't help you.
Something around €100 is a "normal" pricerange to look for genuine Cherrys, i've no idea about possibilities/deals in the UK, but i like to shop at http://www.keyboardco.com/, i've gotten my Filco Minila there, good reliable english business.
You might get lucky looking at Ebay or https://www.reddit.com/r/mechmarket/search?q=%22EU%22+NOT+%22CA%22+NOT+%22US%22+NOT+%22AU%22&sort=new&restrict_sr=on&t=all to find something for a better price.
The need for ISO-UK is limiting you, it's the same for my german mates insisting on ISO-DE, the wider freedom of possibilities is starting to go ANSI mks and use something like http://eurkey.steffen.bruentjen.eu/start.html?lang=en. I love it for years by now and won't switch back to ISO, but i understand it's not possible for everyone depending on needs, work whatever.
Good luck to find something pleasing you!
Makami
4236
Sep 5, 2016
Ty lsb. Got to walk my dogs now and might try to help you later, but i won't spend any time without a budget given! Coolermaster is a good starting point to look for quality/price ratio in Europe at Amazon UK for example. Prebuild Gaterons aren't given here and other knockoff switches, flooding us from China, well, don't think i would recommend that, but there should be a lot to read at Amazon too.
Edit: Starting points to look might be: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_nr_p_n_availability_1?rh=n%3A300703%2Ck%3Amechanical+keyboard%2Cp_72%3A184318031%2Cp_n_availability%3A181444031&keywords=mechanical+keyboard&ie=UTF8&qid=1473098258
If you find something you like, we shall give you an opinion.
http://geizhals.at/?cat=kb&xf=7008_UKalone~7009_mechanisch~8375_MX-Brown&asuch=&bpmax=&v=k&hloc=uk&plz=&dist=&mail=
Without second thought i would take a Ducky One, but that's just me.
Targent
13
Sep 5, 2016
Hi Makami - thanks for the guidance - greatly appreciated. Yes, I'm in the UK and so a UK-layout is pretty important. I'm not sure about whether I'd be able to get a worthwhile feel from a switchtester.
I'm after a fullsize or TKL board. I'm happy to buy from anywhere. My final keyboard would ideally have "any-colour-other-than-red" backlighting - if that means full RGB, then that's what I'd go for.
To begin with, I'm after a budget keyboard that might closely match Cherry MX brown switches.I'dlike to give mechanical keyboards a go before committing more money to get the one I end up using for my up-coming new PC build.
Thanks a lot for any further help.
TargentMakami is a great resource! I definitely agree, switch testers arent really worth the cost in most cases. You really need to type on a keyboard to decide if you really like it, but I think youll notice a big difference with any keyboard that you decide to get over a standard dome keyboard.
WASD makes some really great keyboards, the CODE is their backlit model with white LEDS. http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/mechanical-keyboard.html
Massdrop has them quite often as well. Great solid keyboards with some good layout options. They also have many MX switches to pick from, including browns.
Massdrop occasionally has some cheaper keyboards as well, though not sure how many of them have the ISO layout you need, but if you just want to test the waters a cheaper keyboard to play around with before committing to something more expensive may be just what you need.
If you have any questions on keyboards you find, want to know if they are a good deal, etc please post them up here and we can look at them for you!
Makami
4236
Sep 5, 2016
Hello Targent,
looking at your profile i found out you're from the UK, which has an impact at options given, modelwise and layout. MDs community is international and we can't know if you depend on local market or willing to import. Therefore people let us know where you live and what you need.
Forget about judging by reading about switches, it won't work! Gaming and typing does work well with all switches and is only preference/liking. Heaven for me might be hell for you, visit local shops to try different switchtypes or get yourself a switchtester here at MD, Ebay ... to get some impressions.
Which size would you like to get, 100%/fullsize, 80%/tkl, 75%/Whitefox, Race or 60%/Poker. ISO-UK or ANSI layout? Extras, dedicated Mediakeys, (RGB)backlight ... Budget?
Should be enough for the beginning, and good luck.
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