i think rm1xxx region is for the most highend segment for mkb.

the more budget region is around rm3xx-4xx ish....

but considering highend gaming keyboards are around the same region as a budget mkb roughly, your better off getting a mkb which is by far superior.


of course extras like led lighting, better quality keycaps, switch types (topre, cherry mx red, blue, brown....), nkro (or not), will all determine how much extra you will be spending.


The way a beginner mkb buyer should prioritize is firstly the switch being used. Cherry mx red, blue, brown, black; or a Topre...... The reason why cherry mx is so popular because of it's feel as well as it's good pricing and performance. Topres cost more but are considered quality switches, not only because of performance, but also because of less sound when typing.

once that is decided, move onto the next part. keycaps. How good do you want them to be ? Will you be okay with a keycap whos print may wear out after usage whether that be weeks, months or in a year ? If this bothers you, you can incrementally upgrade your option from the cheaper silk screened to laser printed, to the higher end of the spectrum e.g. (double shots or dye sublimated). Yes better quality keycaps specificaly print type, is so that they last long and won't wear out the print, which most cheap quality keycaps do. If you don't want to worry about replacing keycaps in the future, i strongly investing in some good keycaps.

next, will the oily shine effect be too much of a nuisance to you ? can upgrade from abs < PBT or POM

mkb casing, how good do you want it to be ? Plastic or a solid metalic alloy ? the aluminium milled casings i see are heavy but very durable. They are very good. But the hard plastic onces aren't bad either. I personally don't think you can go wrong with either, it's more depending on the quality of the build that matters more. I also suggest you go for a plate mounted mkb, that uses an aluminium plate preferably as it reduces the weight :} You can have other metals, but they most likely will be heavier than aluminium.

nkro, or 6kro ?


other extras that aren't essential but could be useful, as like multimedia function keys using onboard switch e.g. multimedia playback controls like stop/play etc...... and also led lighting ........



So based on what features you want, you can then determine the price based on those features from the available mkb models out there. Once you figure that out, and you realize it's above your budget, you can then work your way downward by what features you can do without, before you come to the mkb that will suit both your needs and budget.



for gaming considerations, the linear cherry mx such as blacks and browns are usually the popular choice. They all have their pros and cons.

1. cherry mx black.
pro - linear
cons - high actuation force required. may be tiring, but gamers tend to mash down on the keys anyway, so may not necessary be too big a deal breaker. but is not as pleasant for casual typing.

2. cherry mx red
pro - linear and very light actuation force required. very pleasant to type one, and probably the fastest actuation response.
cons - probably too light. if your the type that rests your fingers lightly on your keyboard, directly on keycaps, you may from time to time, accidentally, actuate keys without realizing it. their that light ;_;

3. cherry mx blue
pro - can't really think of any. cept that it's clicky, but i don't really think of that as a pro for the gaming segment.
cons - is reported to be unsuitable for quick successive double tapping that is used by some gamers.

4. cherry mx brown
pro - good for both gaming and casual typing
cons - is not linear, some pro gamers may be fussy because of that, as they probably want linear without any feedback that may slow down their actuation responsiveness.


linear switch users i feel, tend to bottom out when pressing on the keys. meaning they press hard and press all the way down. tactile users usually press lightlier, and probably not all the way as they don't need to, because of the tactile feedback.



If i were to recommend a gaming keyboard for a beginner, i strongly suggest the Ducky Shine 3. it gives you the best of both worlds of a bling and mechanical keyboard.



The review
http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/ducky...3_review,1.html


If you want the one with the aluminium casing, that is the more expensive limited edition of the ducky shine 3, which costs more than getting the regular model. You can't go wrong with either one But if you do get one, also consider getting a leather palm rest. I've been using one for many years, and it's very comfortable.



The mkb mod group who usually pay alot to mod their keyboard, may go for stuff like in this screenshot below. using a very high quality milled aluminium casing, with either vintage or custom made quality keycaps (which are usually either doubleshots or dye sublimated). They may even opt to mod in led lighting as well. This is the extreme segment group of the mkb modding community

but i think most people, especially beginners would be content with something like the Ducky Shine 3. because at the end of the day, it's the switches you use that matters the most

This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Jan 20 2014, 04:23 PM

cherry mx is a type of branded mechanical switch by Cherry Corp a german company who is famous for making quality mkbs in the past. Cherry mx is their product mechanical switch. There are others by different companies, such as alps..... topre..... buckling springs.......



me personally, i don't like the print to wear out. I wanted something durable and with a good contrast to make out the print. Either double shot or dye sublimated, suited my tastes. Laser with infillings is a cheaper alternative, but not all manufacturers get it done right, so the quality may differ.



plastic quality is mostly to do with resistance to the shine effect due to the oil from your hands and the friction when typing on the keyboard, that creates a shiny oily look, which is made more apparent in a lighted room. Also depending on the plastic type used, if it's the cheaper kind, over time it may have a ugly yellow look :/ using an analogy, you know what happens to certain metals when left out for a very long time ? they rust so it's kinda like that, but is a discoloration.

the plastic type used may also have a different feel and texture.





not all led lighting is equal. the best types have a led for each switch. the cheaper versions use very few leds split across the board to save on costs. also cheap leds don't last long, and you may experience black outs on certain parts of your keyboard. So always read the reviews to check that your getting quality leds if you do opt for backlighting. And if the led does wear out, you may need modding assistance to replace these leds.




Linear switches simply means, there is no feedback bump when your pressing down on the key. tactile switches have a bump... aka the feedback when pressing.... so a lack of any feedback or resistance, is what we term a linear switch. Hence why gamers by majority tend to favor linear switches because of the technically faster response times when actuating.


yeah it's a good product I think their brand is one of the first few that actually tried to provide more choices of switches for the same model of keyboard.

This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Jan 21 2014, 12:10 AM

Knob not required. Using keys with media control, you can adjust volume up or down.




switches are expensive, so like logitech many macro keys will only add to the cost. I honestly think you should omit this no point really.




cherry mx blue is most unsuitable for double tapping. you can refer to other gamers via google to find out the technical term why that is.


clicky is cherry mx blue, which you should avoid because of reason 3.


Ducky Shine 3 = RM 469
https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/2954639

you can look around and see if you can find cheaper, but i think this meets your price point.

i strongly recommend you test try the mkb first. Try and ask the seller if you can open and try typing on the keyboard if possible. You should also compare between Cherry mx brown, blue, red, black...... and if possible the topre too.

Using the knowledge we explained in the thread, other online sources, and your irl experiences, you can then figure out which suits you best.

This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Jan 21 2014, 08:16 PM

your welcome




thats plenty to work with. so can consider the high end segment as well but to my understanding, even if you get the most highend (expensive) keyboards, these tend not to have the media function keys ironically. because they are more about build quality for most part. what some people do is, buy the mkb with the media functions, then mod it (e.g. change the keycaps; maybe even add lighting if it doesn't already; on the extreme side, they may even attempt to buy a frabicated new metalic alloy casing to fit the board in)




definitely. i personally need the numpad, since my gaming such as heroes of newerth, diablo 3 among others requires it. not to mention when your data keying in numbers, numpad is an excellent input source for typing down numbers quickly. But there are people who opt for tenkeyless keyboards because they don't use it, and rather have a lighter keyboard (and coincidentally cheaper because less switches needed).





as gamer, i honestly recommend either Cherry mx red or cherry mx brown.

red especially is most suitable because of it's responsiveness. For casual typing it's also not a burden on your fingers because of it's light springs. However there is a downside, it's too soft, and people who habitually rest their fingers on their keyboard, touching the keys, may accidentally actuate when they didn't intend to.

cherry mx brown is tactile ...... some professionals may not like it because of that (as they do tend to prefer linear for the obvious benefits). But as a moderate gamer, i've found the cherry mx brown but be an all rounder, because i more often just type as often as i game ....... but then again i'm not like those south korean starcraft 2 gamers who are so active on their keyboards. If your the later, then maybe a linear keyboard would be more appropriate. But if your like me, playing casually, and don't want the keys to be too light, or too hard.... brown fits just right :}

yes cherry mx blacks are also a valid option for gamers, especially those that enjoy pressing down hard and all the way every time. This is most common for counter strike type of players. But personally i do not like blacks because they have the strongest springs and will tire out your hands. But if you are muscular maybe they aren't an issue me personally, i got dainty hands kek.



whichever led lighted mkb you get, make sure it's the one that has a led for each switch. Also if you want a RGB led lighting, your only option is the new corsair MKB. But if you don't mind sticking to just one color forever, then you can get Ducky shine 3 or some other brand that does similar.




This is a video illustration of how south korean professional starcraft 2 gamers use their mkbs......


I believe this guy is using a cherry mx blue because of the clicky action.




This is a leopold FC700r. It's tenkeyless, and I think it's got either black of brown switches. Can't tell



bottomline..... professional gamers won't hit as high as apm if you were to use a rubberdome versus the mechanical keyboard

Here are the facts of what keyboards pro gamers use
http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft2/Pro_gear



This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Jan 23 2014, 08:13 PM

example of what

well Deck Legend is supposedly highend, but it doesn't have media functions that Ducky keyboards do.




This is a kmac


http://www.overclock.net/t/1236288/kmac-ke...nia-attic-craft

awesome build quality, especially the custom alloy casing, keycaps and even led lighting. But i reckon it doesn't have media keys and it was this i was referring to. Personally i like being able to pause/stop/play music with media keys on the keyboard. to me it's very convenient



if that wasn't clear enough, here is another example, the topre realforce 103ub. This is the ferrari or mkbs, but unfortunately does not have media keys even though you pay alot for it. Maybe the newer Topres have changed, but i haven't really looked into it.




Another example is the hardcore modding a razer mkb into a super badass mkb. and seeing as the razer black widow has media keys, i suspect it retained that even after he did this mod.

http://www.damngeeky.com/2013/01/21/8450/d...g-keyboard.html







the review
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7685/hands-o...boards-and-more


The review
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=41048.0



This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Jan 23 2014, 09:15 PM

does this keyboard have media keys ? like stop/pause/play for music/videos

i did see mkbs similar to that irl. the metalic alloy casing is very high quality. even the mini usb connector is superior to my duckys.



This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Jan 23 2014, 09:18 PM

this is exactly the thing i wanted to highlight to Y.J.S

he may get those types of higher end quality keyboard, but that does not guarantee media keys, if he wants that

i like quality builds, but i also like having features that i use as well. and taking into account my budget/bang for bucks, i decided on the ducky dk9008 gen2 limited edition at the time. Of course better mkbs came out later, but i'm content with what i have now ^-^;;

i tend to favor the classic look of the cherry corp double shots and dye sublimated keys; but even i think the corsair cherry corp rgb led lighting system is pretty cool

This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Jan 23 2014, 09:31 PM

yes led do break down. but you should understand diff mkb brand use different quality led. and that affects their reliability and how long they last.

it's important to read the reviews to understand what quality led lighting your getting.


I had a logitech g15 rubberdome back in the day, with the cheapest led lighting. it grew very dim over time, and looked awful, dim here, slightly bright there.. ugh...

honestly, i don't know either. i only know the basic, and my limited experience with a low quality led lighted keyboard.

maybe the other senseis that do own a more modern led lighted keyboard for each individual switches, like e.g. ducky etc can assist you.


but what i do know is, if you are unsure what color you would like, this is why the corsair rgb is the best, because you can have any color you want anytime. it has tons of led lighting effects supposedly comparable to the duckys, and it's open source software for future modding.

led life time .... not sure.... i didn't want to find out, so i opted for the vintage look less hassle for me.


instead of having led lighting on keyboard, i have a small led light plugged into the wall in the corner of my work study


or a classic desk lamp like this would also be classy


This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Jan 23 2014, 11:15 PM

didn't notice they have a new model and seems it has media keys too !

the deck cassium uses a unique double shot keycaps that also works well for led lighted keyboards




http://www.mechkb.com/products/deck-hassiu...anical-keyboard






it seems to me that the deck hassium quality is much better than the ducky shine 3..... but what i am not sure is, whether the hassium is comparable to ducky shine 3's led lighting modes ? i am aware the older deck legend could adjust the light brightness, but not sure if it can do the advance modes like strobbing etc that the ducky shine 3 has managed to do perfectly.



This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Jan 23 2014, 11:22 PM

the sidewinder x4 is a pretty good keyboard in the rubber dome category because it has nkro.

however you can still upgrade to a mkb and experience better quality





Deck Hassium Pro the double shot PBT Keyboard will arrive next week at Xtreme Solution.
Xtreme Solution is the Sole Distributor for Deck Hassium Pro.

Deck Hassium Pro Blue LED Brown switch, BLUE LED, Double shot
PBT keycap,USB interface, Brown switch, US layout. - $229

Deck Hassium Pro Blue LED Blue switch, BLUE LED, Double shot
PBT keycap,USB interface, Brown switch, US layout. - $229

Deck Hassium Pro White LED Blue switch, White LED, Double shot PBT keycap,USB interface, Blue switch, US layout. - $229

Deck Hassium Pro White LED Brown switch, White LED, Double shot
PBT keycap,USB interface, Brown switch, US layout. - $229


Source:
http://forums.vr-zone.com/hardware-depot/2...ium-87-key.html




a few things to note .....

- yes there is red cherry mx switch for the Hassium.
- some people dislike the font used (be sure that you are okay with it first)




i also saw a modified version which another shop is selling


http://www.mechkb.com/blog/news/introducin...o-apac-edition/




it has 4 led colors (not sure whether this applies to the original as well or not)



the APAC review
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=53503.0


there was a question isn't remodelling the deck hassium from pbt to abs, and from double shot keycaps to laser etched, defeat the reason for getting a deck keyboard ? (a legitimate question)


This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Jan 24 2014, 08:41 AM

i vote for storm quickfire

what is wrong with the armageddon ? i saw the youtube, didn't see nothing too major. is it the pricing is more expensive than a comparable alternative ?

ah... ty for the explanation senseis

gong xi fatt chai

i'm pretty much anti rubberdome. but i do recognize the cheaper general ones have their uses in terms of pricing; and there is definitely a solid case for getting one, especially when you want to prioritize other computer components before the keyboard. but what i am against is the higher end segment for rubberdome keyboards, whos pricing is already in the same pricing bracket as some mkbs. I don't think they even compare in quality and experience; so if they are in the same price bracket why get rubberdome ? i experienced this personally when i had the Logitech G15 v1. But i guess my situation was different, because back then there was no ducky or filco mkbs with many choices of switches to choose from.

the situation then was one where mkb had already dwindled in production in favor of the cheaper rubber dome keyboards. it was only in the recent years that it has made a come back in popularity and demand so now the situation is, rubberdome so called highend now has to fight against some mkbs that are now out there. Already some of the brands like razer, corsair, steelseries..etc... has gone mechanical. Only Logitech seems to not want to join the club :/ not sure why.

Anyhow, in the long run, for me personally the mkb solved my long running issue with my fingers tiring out because of constant typing ..... even the leather palm rest helped with that. when i mean tire, my fingers hurt like hell x_x;

i don't travel much. but if i did, at most i'd only bring my laptop.

if i really wanted to bring my mkb along often, i'd get a 10 keyless because it's less heavy, and smaller to carry in a bag.

however i would also then avoid the heavier solid metalic mkb casings, because those i've tested are very heavy.

logitech highend keyboards still use rubberdome .....

razer highend now also have mechanical keyboards


that said, having tried the razer black widow, i feel that there are better brand alternatives that has similar features for better value, e.g. Ducky Shine 3 or others ......

i guess what you should be stating first is your budget. If the budget is not high enough, you may need to just get a rubberdome. but i wouldn't recommend spending much on so called highend rubber dome keyboards for gaming. Just get the cheapest reliable rubberdome, if your budget is below that of a budget mechanical keyboard.

Cause no point really, wasting money otherwise that is my honest opinion.

Ducky Shine 3 Rubber Duck Yellow Limited Edition (Mx Blue) = RM529 (Preorder Now! ETA December 2013)
https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/2142065


to find cheaper, you'll have to search yourself. i found one via google