First time mechanical keyboard user here. Decided to get one to use at work where I do plenty of typing and programming.

Tried out blues, blacks and browns at the shop. My impressions:
Brown - Expected it to have a very nice tactile click that can be felt, but disappointingly, it's not as prominent as I expected. Abit disappointed as I expected to like these the most.
Black - Very smooth. Feels weird at first, but after awhile I started to like the nice feel of it. Very quiet too.
Blue - The audible click is indeed loud, but if used in an environment which is not quiet, its not as bad as you think. Very nice sound and excellent tactile feedback. Feels great for typing.

None of the shops here in Sim Lim had reds or clears, so, of course I ended up with blues.

Took a CM Storm Quick Fire, very happy with it so far. Also, the tenkeyless format is really nice and space saving.

Who know if there is still any people out there playing retro arcade/fighting games which support multiple(2) players to play on same PC? 4 hands mean 6KRO surely not enough, LOL.

@Akiyo
Most cherry switches(except blue), be it tactile or linear are having no problem with quick double tapping.

Cherry MX Blue itself on its other hand are "naturally" not very suitable for double tapping due to it's double mechanism to actuation(for normal typing which doesn't require quick double tapping of same key, it is perfectly fine). Though, not all ppl are sensitive enough to notice the "limitation" and some ppl still gaming happily on blue(they are blinded by excitements and clicky sound of blue) , same logic like those razer fanboi blinded by razer's bling bling(LOL a little off topic).

As a Razer BWU owner(and hater too), i will suggest better avoid it. It isn't really a solid build for a mechanical keyboard and some many are having certain defects right out of box(where as others are razer fanboi which is too blind to notice them...). Only get them if you are allowed to try and check them + finitely 1to1 exchange them, LOL...

This post has been edited by Human10: Nov 28 2011, 11:46 PM

Seems like Razer doesnt exactly have a good quality check on their products. My Imperator out of box defect was a almost severed USB cable - the part where it connects into the mouse have its fiber weave bent badly and almost coming off.

Hm... i'll have to reconsider then, because as of now, Blackwidow is the easiest obtainable, plus, its MX Black. (Edit: Opps, meant to type MX Blue)

But aside from natural defect, is it decent? I mean, the keys themselves uses the Cherry MX Black design right? Can they even be lacking in that department?

Oh, and a question to Brown users: Does Tactile actually matters? I mean, the bump tells you that you can release your key earlier, but dont you usually bottom out your key, regardless of switch type?

This post has been edited by Akiyo: Nov 29 2011, 12:31 AM

Bro(or Sis?), Razer BW AFAIK don't have MX Black variant(normal/ultimate/DA2/Battlefied are blue, stealth is brown).
Apart from built quality, it's next low points are glossy surface(fingerprint/oily magnet), not solid(can flex), improper fitted switches(some is slanting left/right and some is high and low), 2KRO, left shift squeking and some others.

Normal out of box defects are pinging(defect in switches) and inter-lapping of some keycaps(normally around c/v/x/left alt/space).

If you are a DIY modder, you can mod them all and make Raze BWU a quite decent board(except the 2KRO part).(though if I am modding, I will go for Rapoo V7 which is like a TKL(tenkeyless) version of BW)

Tactile(bump) mean you will experience a sudden increase in oppose force to indicate to you that the switch is actuating(exclude blue). For more experienced typist(or also those who bottom out the switch all the time), it doesn't really matter apart from personal preference..

This post has been edited by Human10: Nov 29 2011, 12:37 AM

Sis, actually. Yeah, meant to type Blue. But slightly worried about Blue's double tappability.

2KRO? You serious? I am coming for mechanical keyboards for one most important factor, and thats NKRO.

I am thinking of going for Steel Series now. Steel Series are MX Black only, right? Any good Steel Series recommendation? Personal experience with Steel Series would be nice, and what about their price tag? Do they overprice their stuff like Razer because of their gamer-target? That and, if i want to buy them, is online shipping available in malaysia? (As in, from within malaysia to malaysia, i am not buying a keyboard at 400 something and pay another 150 just for safe shipping)

This post has been edited by Akiyo: Nov 29 2011, 12:35 AM

Steelseries = black only(for the time being till their limited MX red edition reach).
Steelseries in Malaysia is also seriously overpriced(in europe/US they are often having offer and really cheap/worth). Though, it is also because they are experienced company and also their product(mostly) are quite good quality.
Online shopping? You can find them at lowyat(though the price is somehow overpriced if you don't nego with them, labelled price is RM550). There is a sample for you to try out in viewnet lowyat.

In short, SS = acceptable quality but high price tag. You can get similar quality/feature stuffs like Leopold at much cheaper price.

Hm... Thing is, I dont mind the branding, as long it works the way it should. But its availability is a huge concern. If Leopold is good, i would buy it too, but where to buy?

/hint look at ahem, ahem, TS's siggy
/end hit


BTW, are you a notebook/desktop user. Leopold will be a perfect choice if you use notebook as it support 18KRO over USB(which is very very decent).

This post has been edited by Human10: Nov 29 2011, 12:49 AM

lol, exactly after i posted my post, i went to google and found TS's Leopold Mechanical Keyboard FC500R Series. Now i feel like a dumb XD

So, how does Leopold Mechanical Keyboard FC500R Series hold up? It has MX Black as far as i am concerned, and its a little under 400, compared to SS.

Like I mentioned, Leopold's keyboard is quite decent for their quality(on par with premium mech kb brand like FILCO) and this statement is agreed by most keyboard professionals/collectors.
The price is also more affordable than most other brand. I personally feel that it is worth as Leopold at MY is priced quite good comparing to foreign country(where other brands normally will be priced more expensive in Malaysia) + the sale now come with free full blank keycaps(which you can fetch at least RM30 if you sell them, LOL).
Solid built and feature wise it offer the rare USB 18KRO.

As you are a girl, I not sure if you will find black switch too hard/stiff. Brown/Red will be more suggestible if you are not that strong(I personally find all of them(except red cause I don't own them) acceptable.

This post has been edited by Human10: Nov 29 2011, 12:57 AM

Leopold is gaining alot of points now XD.

From the looks of it, can i assume when you say you own All of the except Red, you mean you have Leopolds in MX Black Blue and Brown, right?

Does the FC500R have PS/2 or its USB only? And for USB thats 18KRO, is it 18 any KRO or like razer's fake 6KRO which, in some cases, even a two key combination causes a roll over? and is the FC500R NKRO on PS/2?

Hm... finger strength wise, i am not too confident. I am a frequent double tapper and Black seems to suit me, albeit the higher actuation force. Then again, i am pretty used to Lycosa's sticky rubber dome crap now.

But it seems that MX Brown can double tap at high speed too if i learn to touch type without bottoming out every time i tap, right?

Edit: Aww, brown's sold out. Hows the comparison between Blue and Black?

This post has been edited by Akiyo: Nov 29 2011, 01:04 AM

LOL I don't own any Leopold(but we normally assume board having same switch will have almost same feeling). I tried black and own brown and blue.

Not sure if Leopold support PS/2 but it's USB 18KRO is real 18KRO(minimum is 18 random keys).

Normal rubber dome = a little stiffer than brown/blue.

Blue = good for typist but having certain issues* if you need to quick double tapping same keys. It is the only clicky Cherry MX switch(apart from Green which will not be discussed further here). Tactile.
Black = linear and some gamers(FPS) like them very much. Maybe tiring for prolonged usage due to it stiffer nature.
Red = almost like lighter version of Black(lighter than brown)

This post has been edited by Human10: Nov 29 2011, 01:11 AM

want to buy mechanical keyboard for portable and gaming use, any recommendation ?

Real portable = KBC Poker.
Gaming use = LOL I don't know. What features you looking for?

This post has been edited by Human10: Nov 29 2011, 01:10 AM

From OP, i saw it says Red is pretty obselete and is bad for gaming and typing, how is that so, and why is it still sold in Leopold and upcoming SS keyboard?

What keyboard do you own?

i want to use it for my lappy actually, asus n55s laptop keyboard always make me typo

i play fifa, crysis, saint row, bf3 and mw3

If you are not looking for any bling bling/special features like macro, NKRO or multimedia keys, KBC poker should be OK.

how much ?

ou, god thanks human10 for helping out fellow members here, my place was raining and thunder like crazy, main power jump off like 4 to 6 times, i straight go take a nap and don't want turn back on.

Finally the crazy weather stopped, and i'm online to check back the forum.

Cherry MX Red is not bad for gaming and typing. it's just that, some player considers them too soft.
Just like Cherry MX Black, which people considers them too hard.

It's really depends on personal tatse. Leopold do support NKRO in PS/2. and 16+KRO in USB.

@human10 thanks alot for supporting new members here. btw, i do use the keyboard to play alot emulation game with friends, 2 fella share 1 keyboard, NKRO is best, because my friend can't cheat to win me(he hold 3 key block my key input on membrane keyboard previously, cbcbcb)

This post has been edited by Cyclonechuah: Nov 29 2011, 01:21 AM

Thanks human =3

Yay, Cyclone's here!

Can i have a personal opinion from you on Black and Red, instead of public's general opinion?

Edit: I am still choking on funds for now, but my gamer friend who's been watching my post so far is interested in getting a Leopold from you. LOL

This post has been edited by Akiyo: Nov 29 2011, 01:25 AM