Keyboard choices, advice please

Mussels · Sep 20, 2010

Inb4 bumblebee and her massive rants on mechanical keyboards, YES IM GOING MECHANICAL.

The current choice is the Razer Black widow ultimate.

It has a list of things i really want.

Black keyboard
Blue LED
Mechanical switches
USB port
USB soundcard built in (for LAN use - not a neccesity)
Easy to use Macro keys
Standard key layout - i HATE keyboards where its altered, or the keys are a different size to normal.
Compact size - keyboards that are three feet wide due to 5 rows of G keys and 12 feet tall due to an LCD are out. this thing has to fit on cramped desks at LAN events.
Media Keys are a must

Things i dont like

Price
Noisy keys - hell they advertise its as loud as a mouse click, that worries me. a lot.
Media keys are controlled through a Fn key. its ok, but i prefer dedicated keys.

So, does anyone have any alternatives that i can buy in australia, that meet my requirements?

edit: G19 is ruled out due to it requiring external power. so please dont suggest it. (yes, i know its not mechanical - but its a similar price range)

Radical_Edward · Sep 20, 2010

Ever look at Deck keyboards?

http://www.deckkeyboards.com/

(I'm not sure if you can get them over there thou.)

PVTCaboose1337 · Sep 20, 2010

I love mechanical keys. I still use a Model M keyboard. I suggest that. The keys are noisy like all mechanical keyboards, but it is worth it. FYI I bet the Razor new mechanical keyboard is noisy! I suggest the Model M with quiettouch. http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/customizer.html

Mussels · Sep 20, 2010

the deck legend ice looks good
http://www.deckkeyboards.com/product_info.php?products_id=96

but even with the Fn key pressed, it has no media controls. media controls are a must have.

i like the sound of tactile keys (that 'thud' out when pressed down far enough) but DONT like the noise the razer promises as a 'feature'

Radical_Edward · Sep 20, 2010

Damn, knew I forgot something you were talking about.

Batou1986 · Sep 20, 2010

I have a Razer Lycosa and it works great but im pretty sure it does not have mechanical keys so it dont fit your bill, but i can attest to its quality.
They take a beating, the key surface don't wear off at all in fact im surprised at the fact i have had no problems whatsoever with this keyboard even the keystroke feels as good as new and the USB port is a full power USB2.0 unlike my old G15.

The software is also much better then logitec's, its simple to use all the features and works perfectly on xp-win7 32 or 64 bit

Mussels · Sep 20, 2010

PVTCaboose1337 said:
I love mechanical keys. I still use a Model M keyboard. I suggest that. The keys are noisy like all mechanical keyboards, but it is worth it. FYI I bet the Razor new mechanical keyboard is noisy! I suggest the Model M with quiettouch. http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/customizer.html

not black, no LED, no media keys?

try harder

batou: to be honest i have a really low opinion of razer. every product i've bought from them from mousepads to mice, has always been very cheaply made and low quality. the black widow only got me to consider razer, because it sounds great apart from the noise problem.

Cold Storm · Sep 20, 2010

Don't know about the keys being Mechanical... but Roccat Valo... I know you love to do "bunch of things" plus Star Craft 2...

Batou1986 · Sep 20, 2010

This is as close to what your looking as your going to get i think, dedicated media keys are going to be hard to find with a mechanical keyboard on this one you hold left shift and its the F keys.
http://www.xarmor-usa.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=1
This place ships world wide http://www.shopblt.com/cgi-bin/shop...011004500003_BDM9830P.shtml&order_id=!ORDERID!

a user review as well http://www.overclock.net/computer-p...bl-mechanical-keyboard-first-impressions.html

Kantastic · Sep 20, 2010

The Razer is the closest thing you'll get to what you want.

Batou1986 said:
This is as close to what your looking as your going to get i think, dedicated media keys are going to be hard to find with a mechanical keyboard on this one you hold left shift and its the F keys.
http://www.xarmor-usa.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=1
This place ships world wide http://www.shopblt.com/cgi-bin/shop...011004500003_BDM9830P.shtml&order_id=!ORDERID!
http://www.xarmor-usa.com/images/detailed/XA-U9BL-top-bl-3x3.jpg

I guess this too, but the Razer's got macro keys.

Mussels · Sep 20, 2010

Batou1986 said:
This is as close to what your looking as your going to get i think, dedicated media keys are going to be hard to find with a mechanical keyboard on this one you hold left shift and its the F keys.
http://www.xarmor-usa.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=1
This place ships world wide http://www.shopblt.com/cgi-bin/shop...011004500003_BDM9830P.shtml&order_id=!ORDERID!
http://www.xarmor-usa.com/images/detailed/XA-U9BL-top-bl-3x3.jpg

a user review as well http://www.overclock.net/computer-p...bl-mechanical-keyboard-first-impressions.html

that one looks like quite a good alternative, only thing i dont see mentioned is if its noisy or not - i guess i'd better watch the vid

so that people know, by noisy i know that my current keyboard aint exactly silent - i just dont want it to sound like a damn typewriter.

edit: lol i'm getting sick of hearing first LED backlit mechanical keyboard... every brand says that >.<

would the noise on the Xarmor be similar to the razer? cause it doesn't sound too loud.

BondExtreme · Sep 20, 2010

Holy crap! Is that BlackWidow Ultimate a brand new keyboard?! :O I don't think I have seen that one until now.

Mussels · Sep 20, 2010

BondExtreme said:
Holy crap! Is that BlackWidow Ultimate a brand new keyboard?! :O I don't think I have seen that one until now.

yeah, its being released early next month.

if i cant find better before it comes out, i'll just get it.

BondExtreme · Sep 20, 2010

Mussels said:
yeah, its being released early next month.

if i cant find better before it comes out, i'll just get it.

Yeah wow! Thanks for the info. I have been looking for a new keyboard too for a long time.. I am also a little picky. Most of all, I need extra macro keys on the side, a bright back light, black keyboard, gaming mode and just in general an actual GOOD design and it's been very difficult to find one. But this new BlackWidow looks very promising actually. One of the best I have seen so far.

Btw, Mussels, in your first post, you misspelled the keyboard in your link. Just saying.

Deleted member 67555 · Sep 20, 2010

I know you want mechanical but I like the Logitech Black Illuminated keyboard myself
It's a lot like the Razor Lycosa but without the problems Logitech 920-000914 Black 106 Normal Keys USB Wire...

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System Name	Rainbow Sparkles (Power efficient, <350W gaming load)
Processor	Ryzen R7 5800x3D (Undervolted, 4.45GHz all core)
Motherboard	Asus x570-F (BIOS Modded)
Cooling	Alphacool Apex UV - Alphacool Eisblock XPX Aurora + EK Quantum ARGB 3090 w/ active backplate
Memory	2x32GB DDR4 3600 Corsair Vengeance RGB @3866 C18-22-22-22-42 TRFC704 (1.4V Hynix MJR - SoC 1.15V)
Video Card(s)	Galax RTX 3090 SG 24GB: Underclocked to 1700Mhz 0.750v (375W down to 250W))
Storage	2TB WD SN850 NVME + 1TB Sasmsung 970 Pro NVME + 1TB Intel 6000P NVME USB 3.2
Display(s)	Phillips 32 32M1N5800A (4k144), LG 32" (4K60) \| Gigabyte G32QC (2k165) \| Phillips 328m6fjrmb (2K144)
Case	Fractal Design R6
Audio Device(s)	Logitech G560 \| Corsair Void pro RGB \|Blue Yeti mic
Power Supply	Fractal Ion+ 2 860W (Platinum) (This thing is God-tier. Silent and TINY)
Mouse	Logitech G Pro wireless + Steelseries Prisma XL
Keyboard	Razer Huntsman TE ( Sexy white keycaps)
VR HMD	Oculus Rift S + Quest 2
Software	Windows 11 pro x64 (Yes, it's genuinely a good OS) OpenRGB - ditch the branded bloatware!
Benchmark Scores	Nyooom.

System Name	GLaDOS
Processor	AMD FX-9590 X8 4.7GHz
Motherboard	ASUS Sabertooth 990FX
Cooling	Corsair H80i v2
Memory	Corsair Vengeance 24GB (2x8GB, 2x4GB) DDR3 1600 MHz
Video Card(s)	ASUS ROG-STRIX-RX580-O8G-GAMINGOC
Storage	WD Blue 3D NAND 1TB Internal PC SSD
Display(s)	2 Acer S231HL 23" LED backlit LCD's on a Dual LCD stand
Case	Corsair iCUE 220T RGB Airflow
Audio Device(s)	Onboard - Corsair Void Pro Wireless
Power Supply	Corsair 850HXi 850W
Mouse	Corsair Sabre RGB
Keyboard	Corsair K70 LUX RGB
Software	Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit

Keyboard choices, advice please

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

Radical_Edward

PVTCaboose1337

Graphical Hacker

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

Radical_Edward

Batou1986

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

Cold Storm

Battosai

Batou1986

Kantastic

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

BondExtreme

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

BondExtreme

Deleted member 67555

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