Just got my proper replacement #Keyboard in the mail. I'd been using a HyperX with Blue switches (clicky), but it broke, so I grabbed a Corsair with Red switches (linear, non-tactile), which I immediately didn't like. ~10 days later, my #Keychron Q3 pro SE arrived with Banana switches (tactile, no click). I also ordered a bunch of Blues, thinking I'd want to go back to those, but now I'm not so sure. These Banana switches are kinda nice. I'll have to install the sound mod and reconsider.
After making the #mechanicalkeyboards migration a few weeks back, decided the Glorious Brown wooden wrist rest would be the perfect next step. Not sure if I need one, but it looks nice and feels pretty good although it arrived like an hour or so before my work day ended. #keychron#keychronk2#standingdesk
I ordered a bunch of keyboards to try out. I’m trying out some formatting here, so sorry if it looks like trash.
##KeyChron: One thing I didn’t realize about these keyboards is that you can switch between bluetooth devices using different keys on the keyboard. This was a big plus for the GF, since she hasn’t been able to find a good keyboard that can do that. She is now probably taking a K5 Pro, even after throwing shade at me for buying a bunch of keyboards to test.
K10 (Gateron Brown switches)This thing is fairly hefty, but reasonable. It’s bulkier than I like, but others may like it plenty fine. It’s keys are hot swappable. I used the brown switches that came with it. While the noise doesn’t bother me that much, the GF, we’ll just say she has feelings about this… This keyboard isn’t SUPER loud, it’s just a little louder than all the others I tried, it also a little higher pitch sound to it compared to the others I used.
K10 Pro (K Pro Brown switches)This keyboard is big, and heavy. It’s 3.5 pounds (1588 grams or something like that.) It’s big, not a fan. I tried to use it, but it just feels to bulky. I could probably get used to it and it would probably really great if I actually was responsible and got a wrist rest, but that’s not the only factor. I really don’t like frames the cover the key switches. They just make cleaning annoying. Aside from bulk I do actually really like this keyboard. They have dampening foam to reduce noise, which the GF loves. The brown switches that come with it are fine, the key caps are also fine. I’d honestly probably get different switches and keys if I went with this keyboard, but that’s an option. They switches are hotswappable and you can get a barebones model for just that. I really don’t like the frame though.
K5 Pro (Red and Brown switch variants)I’m going to start saying that I went into trying these keyboards expecting to hate them because they were low profile. I was wrong. I don’t love them, but they aren’t nearly as bad as I thought they would be.
These keyboards are fairly light, they’re thin, and they feel pretty decent to type on, I don’t like how short the stroke is, but I can live with it. I honestly don’t hear much of a difference between the red and brown switches, which was surprising, but they do feel very different. The reds have more of a springy feel that you feel a pronounced difference in tension as you press them down, which wasn’t nearly as pronounced in standard red switches in my opinion. I suspect that will become less pronounced as they wear in. The brown switches have a little actuation point to go over as one would expect, but doesn’t have that pronounced spring tension. Personally I prefer the brown switches. I like that actuation feeling.
DasKeyboard
DasKeyboard 6 Pro (MX Brown Switches)Honestly, I didn’t really do much with this keyboard. I typed a bit and didn’t like the sound or feel, the switches aren’t hot swappable, and it has that frame covering the switches so I put it away. Others might like the switches and keys just fine, just wasn’t for me. I also don’t like the built in media buttons, built in media keys aren’t a make or break, but them being tiny built in ones like that aren’t a plus to me. I do however like the big ole knob. That could theoretically be programmed to something other than volume, which would be a positive if I’m doing something in like CAD or video editing or something that I don’t do ALL that often. It does appear to have a USB-C hub, which I think is great. Still the frame, sound, and feel of the keyboard just wasn’t for me, and it doesn’t have hot-swappable keys and another big negative.
Notes about all keyboards:
Every one of the keyboards felt very well made and all seemed to have a decent attention to detail from the short period of time I spent with each of them. The packaging for each keyboard was what I would expect for a keyboard. There is foam around the keyboard separating it from the accessories and protecting the sides of the keyboard. All the Keychron keyboards were wrapped in a protective film dust cove, I’m guessing anti-static as well but maybe not? All the KeyChron keyboards had plastic cover over the keys is on all the keyboards to protect them, except the K10 Pro? Maybe I wasn’t the first person to get the keyboard? The DasKeyboard also didn’t have a plastic keycover. Honestly, I don’t think the plastic key covers are all that necessary, but I’m not shipping expert. In any case, I don’t really have anything negative to say about any of these keyboards, they’re all really great quality. You just need to try them to see where your preferences are in the feel department.
Final thoughts.
If the K10 and K10 Pro weren’t so bulky and didn’t have that annoying frame, I’d probably just go with them, but they are BEASTS of keyboards. In the end, of the keyboards I tried out,
I’ll likely just go with the K5 Pro with Brown switches for the time being. The primary reason being that there is no frame covering the switches making it easy for me to deal with my OCD of cleaning the damn keyboard way too damn much, The fact that I can use USB-C or Bluetooth to multiple devices, and it’s very linux friendly/easily programmable. I’m again not in love with the low profile, but it’s certainly not as off putting as I had originally thought. The brown switches are also acceptable as far as that goes.
In the end, I may just do exactly what I was hoping not I wouldn’t have to do, build my own keyboard. I felt like I was going to go down that rabbit hole anyway, but I have a million hobbies, so I was hoping to save my wallet from another one.
Thanks everyone for your input. I do really appreciate everyone’s input it was really helpful. Sounds like I have a rabbit hole to start going down with DIY keyboards, at least for a short while anyway.
Oh wow, these black optical switches on my #Keychron are wonderful. I should have switched them out a long time ago instead of messing with the plunger springs (removing the spring from the plunger is a way to make red switches less sensitive).
This is super frustrating...I guess the #Keychron low-profile keyboards have stabilizers for their larger keys that are just slightly off-position from standard MX keycaps. So anything other than Keychron caps don't work for space bar, enter, etc.
One of the benefits of the global twitter/x outage is I finally had a good reason to stop looking at it finally. Fired up #Mastodon instead for #retrocomputing news goodness.
Thursday work day is done.
Working on AmigaOS 4 beta testing program for the upcoming A1222 system instead. Also got a new cool #Keychron#Q6 Pro #mechanical#keyboard with red switches as a Xmas present for my Mac Pro after the Mac keyboard stopped responding to inputs! I love the keyboard - feels great to type on.
Best keyboard you can buy for $35 USD. This $35 keyboard ended up costing me $225 USD cause it was so good I bought its bigger cousin, the Q5 Pro.
I bought this to have as a spare USB keeb for occasional use spinning up new machines and it impressed me that much, and I am not that big into keyboards but the quality and comfort are over the top.
My #Keychron K4 keyboard does not have a Print Screen button, so I can't do any SysRq calls 😔
In order to forcefully reboot my computer I have to physically get up and press down the power button for 5 seconds, like an animal.
Just got my #Logitech MX Keys Mini tonite, which is replacing my scuffed #Keychron K2 and it's absolutely perfect ; - ; All's left for this setup to be perfect is a black #Apple Magic Trackpad and all will be set :akko_listen:
Have long been tempted to replace my #Keychron mechanical keyboard with one that gives the feel of a laptop keyboard, preferably small, clean looking, and quiet.
The #Apple Magic keyboard was one of the obvious options, but I've recently taken a closer look at #Logitech's MX Keys Mini and fell in love with it immediately with how it looks/sounds/feels - has a lot more colour options too, and can connect to up to 3 devices via Bluetooth.
Was supposed to save this month but ended up picking one in Graphite for ~RM300 on #Shopee. I definitely also have my eyes on an Apple Magic Trackpad too ideally in Black (if they work well on #Linux that is, which I assume they do), but the stock White one is insanely expensive at RM489, while the Black version is somehow RM80 more expensive at RM569. I think I'll forever postpone that purchase.
Two weeks after I switched from an #Azerty#Logitech K800 keyboard to a #Qwerty#Keychron K4 one, I'm still struggling 😅
Still only at 68 words-per-minute, and that's a test without a lot of special characters even.
#Keychron K7, 68 Keys Ultra-Slim Wireless Bluetooth/Wired Mechanical Keyboard with Low-Profile Gateron Mechanical Brown Switch, RGB LED Backlit Compatible with Mac Windows - $56.40 - down from $94 when you clip the 40% off coupon.
Full Size Mechanical keyboard recommendations.
Hi All,...