On September 18 2011 21:04 gillon wrote: Do I actually need that tool that I've seen on some stores if I want to change keycaps on my Filco Majestouch? Or can they be removed in any other fashion?
Two paperclips bent into small hooks will work fine. You just need to shimmy them under two opposite corners and pull up. Larger keys like enter, backspace, and shift have metal stabilizers that need to be handled carefully. Check geekhack or YouTube for guides on pulling caps. I've never tried floss, but it sounds genius.
If you're going to be pulling caps often it's definitely worth the money to get a real puller.
On September 18 2011 21:14 Shikyo wrote: So after reading through this thread and checking various links, it appears that Cherry MX Red mechanical switches would suit me the best by far. However, it seems like there's not a lot of keyboards with those. In fact, the only one I managed to find for now is this: http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,fullsize&pid=fc500rrab And it costs over 150 dollars if we include shipping to Finland.
Would there be any european retailers that have relatively cheap Cherry MX Red switch keyboards?
corsair is set to release 2 keyboards that are red switches and ionno what it would retail in finland. But in the US i believe the price was set at 100 and 130, (frankly the 130 one looks like a logitech G keyboard but with mech keys)
don't care for cheery switches in general esp linear switches, i perfer hard membrane or bucking springs or alps switches i like a sharp drop and difference between key pressed and key not pressed, it's probably why i don't care for sanwa seimitsu for arcade stick buttons, although i prefer a sanwa jlf with octo gate but it made it weak i can't muscle though a good old bat top 360 competition stick to play shit like mvc2 in arcades XD you have to put your arm into moving those sticks
On September 18 2011 21:14 Shikyo wrote: So after reading through this thread and checking various links, it appears that Cherry MX Red mechanical switches would suit me the best by far. However, it seems like there's not a lot of keyboards with those. In fact, the only one I managed to find for now is this: http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,fullsize&pid=fc500rrab And it costs over 150 dollars if we include shipping to Finland.
Would there be any european retailers that have relatively cheap Cherry MX Red switch keyboards?
FWIW, at some point in the near future Newegg should have new Rosewills in brown, blue, black, and red switches, likely around the price of a Leopold. No idea if that helps you in Finland. :-/
I heard about Corsair coming out with mechanical keyboard with red switches for 100E (fairly cheap, filco red are like 130 POUNDS). If anyone cound get hands on it can post something? Sorry i wont come up with source, its polish site. photo link
Looking at the thread, I wish that people would read the 15 or so posts before them. Pulling out keys, I've found that without a dedicated keypuller, good options are flathead screwdrivers bent paperclips and generally anything you can get under the key with.
Just like to point out: Do not buy the SteelSeries V6 mechanical keyboard. For some reason, they decided to shorten the right shift key and abandon every other keyboard's design for no reason other than making it annoying to type a question mark. I returned it after a few days of struggling to type regular sentences.
Also the keys seem too close together, so it's very hard to play with.. I ended up getting a Razer Artosa(or something) which has very soft keys and a blue backlight. I'd take this keyboard over a crappy mechanical keyboard any day of the week!~
On September 20 2011 06:23 TortoiseCa wrote: Just like to point out: Do not buy the SteelSeries V6 mechanical keyboard. For some reason, they decided to shorten the right shift key and abandon every other keyboard's design for no reason other than making it annoying to type a question mark. I returned it after a few days of struggling to type regular sentences.
Also the keys seem too close together, so it's very hard to play with.. I ended up getting a Razer Artosa(or something) which has very soft keys and a blue backlight. I'd take this keyboard over a crappy mechanical keyboard any day of the week!~
To each his own, but getting rid of that 6gv2 was a bad idea.
On September 20 2011 06:23 TortoiseCa wrote: Just like to point out: Do not buy the SteelSeries V6 mechanical keyboard. For some reason, they decided to shorten the right shift key and abandon every other keyboard's design for no reason other than making it annoying to type a question mark. I returned it after a few days of struggling to type regular sentences.
Also the keys seem too close together, so it's very hard to play with.. I ended up getting a Razer Artosa(or something) which has very soft keys and a blue backlight. I'd take this keyboard over a crappy mechanical keyboard any day of the week!~
To each his own, but getting rid of that 6gv2 was a bad idea.
No. That's why a lot of people don't buy SteelSeries keyboards, nevermind them having Cherry MX Blacks. They're terrible for typists, which are what most people are. The small backspace key is terrible and the giant enter key messes with the forward and backwards slash placement, so if you also program a bit, you're basically screwed.
As someone pointed out a while back, there's really no benefit to typing with mechanicals unless you touch type extremely fast. For the average user, they'll experience little to no benefit and slight fatigure during the beginning. The benefit of mechanicals is consistent depression and releasing the key immediately after actuation so you can type much more faster. If you bottom out, you won't feel any benefits except the noise indication. Slim profile keyboards are better if you want to bottom out and not be loud, and you'll type and game at exactly the same speeds.
Even if you smash those keys to the bottom, it will feel a million times better than smashing regular membrane keyboard. 6Gv2 has also normal big backspace. Small right shift doesnt bother me, I never even use it. Also I think this is very good to type on, absolute killer in games too. Its personal preference and you cannot say people to not to buy it.
On September 20 2011 09:04 FinBenton wrote: Even if you smash those keys to the bottom, it will feel a million times better than smashing regular membrane keyboard. 6Gv2 has also normal big backspace. Small right shift doesnt bother me, I never even use it. Also I think this is very good to type on, absolute killer in games too. Its personal preference and you cannot say people to not to buy it.
I can recommend people who like typing not to buy it. Or people who like programming or coding. I didn't mention the right shift, I mentioned the forwards or backwards slash (can never remember which is which), which is in a ridiculous position. I also mentioned the pointlessness of Black keys for typists who want to type faster, because bottoming out slows you down considerably. And that I said SteelSeries meant that I was also talking about the 7G, which has an even more terrible keyboard layout and Black switches. I never bothered mentioning games because they're "supposedly" great game keys, though I've heard many top gamers from other games still prefer Browns and Blues for games.
Actually comparing a mechanical keyboard with a rubber dome for typing or gaming purposes is no contest, mechanical hands down. Layouts are personal preference and can be learned. That said, the larger enter key and the "?" placement did factor into my decision of which board to purchase.
If you don't like the sound of bottoming out:
I just ordered this baby, Choc Mini but with MX browns
I also mentioned the pointlessness of Black keys for typists who want to type faster, because bottoming out slows you down considerably.
I don't see how bottoming out is relevant as the actuation point for blacks is the same 2mm. They only require more force than browns and blues click(not actuation) IBM Model M's or other buckling springs are often heavier still but are revered as great typing switches.
I also mentioned the pointlessness of Black keys for typists who want to type faster, because bottoming out slows you down considerably.
I don't see how bottoming out is relevant as the actuation point for blacks is the same 2mm. They only require more force than browns and blues click(not actuation) IBM Model M's or other buckling springs are often heavier still but are revered as great typing switches.
Because you don't know when you've actuated the switch. The good thing about Blues and Browns are that you'll know when you've hit the key by feeling, sound and the screen, less so for Browns. With Blacks, you have to pay attention to the screen only, or rely on bottoming out because you don't know exactly when the key has actuated.
People like Reds because they are very light, and people like buckling springs and topres because they have a unique and very nice feel to them.
Large backspaces are infinitely better than small backspaces in everyway possible; there's no argument against that.
And it's apparently you've never used the \ when it's been moved beside a smaller right shift. It's hugely inefficient, and just a stupid design.
However, it's a keyboard (and switch) that is meant for gaming, and gaming alone, so they shouldn't find any need for using the \ key I guess.
My personal opinion is that Blacks feel too soft like rubber domes, and while they have that mechanical-y click, it's nowhere near as prominent as Blues and Browns.
No. That's why a lot of people don't buy SteelSeries keyboards, nevermind them having Cherry MX Blacks. They're terrible for typists, which are what most people are. The small backspace key is terrible and the giant enter key messes with the forward and backwards slash placement, so if you also program a bit, you're basically screwed.
As someone pointed out a while back, there's really no benefit to typing with mechanicals unless you touch type extremely fast. For the average user, they'll experience little to no benefit and slight fatigure during the beginning. The benefit of mechanicals is consistent depression and releasing the key immediately after actuation so you can type much more faster. If you bottom out, you won't feel any benefits except the noise indication. Slim profile keyboards are better if you want to bottom out and not be loud, and you'll type and game at exactly the same speeds.
Well, he should have known the key layout was different before purchasing if he wanted a keyboard for typing. Steelseries isn't exactly IBM. They market their products towards gamers.
Layout aside, from a physics-standpoint MX Blacks are still better than rubber domes because they don't require bottoming out, taking the pressure off of ur fingers still. MX Blues and other tactile switches put the pressure into the switch, which gives. Many people actually prefer typing on MX Black switches vs. buckling spring or MX Browns, or whatever because they like the feel, not necessarily because they type really fast.
Mechanical switches are not about making you faster or a better gamer. They're about relieving the stress on ur fingers and wrists, along with giving you a certain feel when you type. Please read the OP and the links for more information.
On September 20 2011 13:22 Blisse wrote: Because you don't know when you've actuated the switch. The good thing about Blues and Browns are that you'll know when you've hit the key by feeling, sound and the screen, less so for Browns. With Blacks, you have to pay attention to the screen only, or rely on bottoming out because you don't know exactly when the key has actuated.
People like Reds because they are very light, and people like buckling springs and topres because they have a unique and very nice feel to them.
Large backspaces are infinitely better than small backspaces in everyway possible; there's no argument against that.
And it's apparently you've never used the \ when it's been moved beside a smaller right shift. It's hugely inefficient, and just a stupid design.
However, it's a keyboard (and switch) that is meant for gaming, and gaming alone, so they shouldn't find any need for using the \ key I guess.
My personal opinion is that Blacks feel too soft like rubber domes, and while they have that mechanical-y click, it's nowhere near as prominent as Blues and Browns.
The stiff, linear actuation of black switches make it easy not to bottom out, which can allow you to type faster. Once you get used to it, there's no real issue with knowing whether or not you've triggered the keys.
I don't really like blacks for typing, but not because they lack tactile feedback -- I dislike them because they're so stiff. Reds, which are also linear but lighter, are fantastic for typing. I love 'em.
I'm willing to sell my mint Leopold mx red to someone in the US for a little cheaper than elitekeyboards. I seem to prefer membrane keyboards or sometimes mx blue. : P