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keyboard advice with potential purchase
posted in Hardware
1
#1
tf2pickup.org
0 Frags +

i was thinking of getting a new keyboard and i saw keychron k2 pro which would potentially fit into my needs but i can't find much good feedback about it besides some complaints about very high latencies even on cable, do anybody here has these series and can share some feedback?
i don't mean k normal series, i care about k pro which came out a month or two ago

i wanted to get this one https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-k2-pro-qmk-via-wireless-mechanical-keyboard?variant=40336733700185
planning to put cherry mx silent red and lube it, currently i use this:
https://www.coolermaster.com/catalog/peripheral/keyboards/quick-fire-tk/
with red switches

my goal is to have a compact keyboard which has:
- cherry mx red feeling
- can be wire(less) combo
- has rgb backlight (because why not)
- replaceable switches and normal keycap size so i can get something fancy
- programmable keys
- usb-c detachable cable
- ansi keyboard set (fuck iso)
- 75% size

on top of that i will probably o'rings because i got complaint at work that my keyboard distracts some people with noises while everybody use basic bitch laptop keyboard
i will add that i travel with it monthly so it would be cool if i could have some case in which i can put it in safely

please help

i was thinking of getting a new keyboard and i saw keychron k2 pro which would potentially fit into my needs but i can't find much good feedback about it besides some complaints about very high latencies even on cable, do anybody here has these series and can share some feedback?
i don't mean k normal series, i care about k pro which came out a month or two ago

i wanted to get this one https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-k2-pro-qmk-via-wireless-mechanical-keyboard?variant=40336733700185
planning to put cherry mx silent red and lube it, currently i use this:
https://www.coolermaster.com/catalog/peripheral/keyboards/quick-fire-tk/
with red switches

my goal is to have a compact keyboard which has:
- cherry mx red feeling
- can be wire(less) combo
- has rgb backlight (because why not)
- replaceable switches and normal keycap size so i can get something fancy
- programmable keys
- usb-c detachable cable
- ansi keyboard set (fuck iso)
- 75% size

on top of that i will probably o'rings because i got complaint at work that my keyboard distracts some people with noises while everybody use basic bitch laptop keyboard
i will add that i travel with it monthly so it would be cool if i could have some case in which i can put it in safely

please help
2
#2
-1 Frags +

Don't own the k2 but own the v1 and can therefore only comment on the fact that imo the ABS keycaps and red switches on any Keychron keyboard feel like shit. Then again, this could be said about any ABS keycap and the cherry mx style switches.

If you are going to replace the switches and keycaps anyway then I would get the barebone version of the k2, get any decent PBT keycaps and do some trial and error with different switches and see what you like. There is much more superior stuff out there than "cherry mx red feeling" when it comes to switches. I am personally very satisfied with the Gateron Milky Yellows as they are cheap and well-pre-lubed.

If you care about latency then I would say fuck wireless and get the V1 instead as it's a cheaper and easier layout to match for future modding.

If you want the best "gamer" experience then get the Wooting 60HE as it is arguably the only keyboard on the market that is going to make a difference in your gaming experience.

Any of this is very personal preference/opinion so hard to give any constructive feedback.

Don't own the k2 but own the v1 and can therefore only comment on the fact that imo the[b] ABS keycaps and red switches on any Keychron keyboard feel like shit[/b]. Then again, this could be said about any ABS keycap and the cherry mx style switches.

If you are going to replace the switches and keycaps anyway then I would get the barebone version of the k2, get any decent PBT keycaps and do some trial and error with different switches and see what you like. There is much more superior stuff out there than "cherry mx red feeling" when it comes to switches. I am personally very satisfied with the Gateron Milky Yellows as they are cheap and well-pre-lubed.

If you care about latency then I would say fuck wireless and get the V1 instead as it's a cheaper and easier layout to match for future modding.

If you want the best "gamer" experience then get the Wooting 60HE as it is arguably the only keyboard on the market that is going to make a difference in your gaming experience.

Any of this is very personal preference/opinion so hard to give any constructive feedback.
3
#3
1 Frags +

just get the gmmk pro kit and build one. it’s all hotswap so you’re not limited to cherry switches.

https://www.gloriousgaming.com/products/glorious-gmmk-pro-75-barebone-black

this meets all of your criteria and has a rotary encoder.

silent alpaca switches as to not bother coworkers: https://www.primekb.com/products/silent-alpaca-linears

just get the gmmk pro kit and build one. it’s all hotswap so you’re not limited to cherry switches.

https://www.gloriousgaming.com/products/glorious-gmmk-pro-75-barebone-black

this meets all of your criteria and has a rotary encoder.

silent alpaca switches as to not bother coworkers: https://www.primekb.com/products/silent-alpaca-linears
4
#4
0 Frags +

As chiefdog pointed out, there are significantly better options than cherry red switches. Never mind that keychron doesn't even sell actual mx reds and uses their own version.

The barebones they offer doesn't seem terrible, as $100 for an aluminum case, plate and PCB is a pretty good price. That being said, a keycap kit that will actually have all the weirdly sized keys a keychron board uses will likely be incredibly cheap feeling or cost more than the barebones keyboard on its own.

I think unless you absolutely love this format, you are better off finding either a tkl or 60% or something will do you a lot of favors in terms of keycap compatibility. Also looking into more types of linear switches beyond the surface level of just "reds" as their is a lot of options available to do so. In general, the build you outlined seems very bizarre, and although I can understand why you'd want it, I can't help but feel there is more to this all than you're missing. Paying for o rings, keyboard lube, new switches and keycaps, all for the ideal goal of creating a default mx red keyboard is like spending $300+ for a $70 keyboard (in terms of feel, visually and build quality wise what you're getting is much better ofc)

As chiefdog pointed out, there are significantly better options than cherry red switches. Never mind that keychron doesn't even sell actual mx reds and uses their own version.

The barebones they offer doesn't seem terrible, as $100 for an aluminum case, plate and PCB is a pretty good price. That being said, a keycap kit that will actually have all the weirdly sized keys a keychron board uses will likely be incredibly cheap feeling or cost more than the barebones keyboard on its own.

I think unless you absolutely love this format, you are better off finding either a tkl or 60% or something will do you a lot of favors in terms of keycap compatibility. Also looking into more types of linear switches beyond the surface level of just "reds" as their is a lot of options available to do so. In general, the build you outlined seems very bizarre, and although I can understand why you'd want it, I can't help but feel there is more to this all than you're missing. Paying for o rings, keyboard lube, new switches and keycaps, all for the ideal goal of creating a default mx red keyboard is like spending $300+ for a $70 keyboard (in terms of feel, visually and build quality wise what you're getting is much better ofc)
5
#5
0 Frags +
chiefdogThen again, this could be said about any ABS keycap and the cherry mx style switches.

These are some of the most common misconceptions about mechanical keyboards.

1. nearly all readily available mechanical switches are "cherry mx style." You get some variation in switchmakers adding stabilization boxes around the stem, but they all operate almost exactly the same way, with the same major parts. Cherry actually makes some great fucking switches. With a little TLC (Lubing/filming/springswapping/etc.) can result in some very smooth and very enjoyable switches. This can be said about most """"cherry mx style"""" switches. There are tons of different switch manufacturers that, without any modification, feel pretty shitty. This leads to people incorrectly attributing shittiness to Cherry switches.

2. Nothing is inherently wrong with ABS keycaps. There are cheap ABS keycaps that are made from thin molds and have laser etched legends, so over time the legends will fade with use. The best keycaps money can buy are doubleshot ABS keycaps (GMK), which will never fade, but will shine over time. Some people prefer not to have shiny keycaps, and so PBT is a good alternative. Dye sublimated PBT keycaps will still shine, it just takes way fucking longer.

tldr: prebuilt keyboards are shit because they're cheaply made, custom stuff is pretty accessible for slightly more money, and endless customizability. customs continue to become cheaper and more readily available, and so you're not going to be spending that much more money for something that you won't have to replace in a year.

here's a pic of one of my first custom keyboards, with "cherry style switches" and ABS keycaps:

Show Content
[quote=chiefdog]Then again, this could be said about any ABS keycap and the cherry mx style switches.[/quote]

These are some of the most common misconceptions about mechanical keyboards.

1. nearly all readily available mechanical switches are "cherry mx style." You get some variation in switchmakers adding stabilization boxes around the stem, but they all operate almost exactly the same way, with the same major parts. Cherry actually makes some great fucking switches. With a little TLC (Lubing/filming/springswapping/etc.) can result in some very smooth and very enjoyable switches. This can be said about most """"cherry mx style"""" switches. There are tons of different switch manufacturers that, without any modification, feel pretty shitty. This leads to people incorrectly attributing shittiness to Cherry switches.

2.[b] Nothing is inherently wrong with ABS keycaps[/b]. There are cheap ABS keycaps that are made from thin molds and have laser etched legends, so over time the legends will fade with use. The best keycaps money can buy are doubleshot ABS keycaps (GMK), which will never fade, but will shine over time. Some people prefer not to have shiny keycaps, and so PBT is a good alternative. Dye sublimated PBT keycaps will still shine, it just takes way fucking longer.

tldr: prebuilt keyboards are shit because they're cheaply made, custom stuff is pretty accessible for slightly more money, and endless customizability. customs continue to become cheaper and more readily available, and so you're not going to be spending [i]that[/i] much more money for something that you won't have to replace in a year.

here's a pic of one of my first custom keyboards, with "cherry style switches" and ABS keycaps:
[spoiler][img]https://i.imgur.com/uJv5bXX.jpg[/img][/spoiler]
6
#6
0 Frags +

Nice picture.

maraudeR Some people prefer not to have shiny keycaps, and so PBT is a good alternative. Dye sublimated PBT keycaps will still shine, it just takes way fucking longer.

I think the keywords here are "some people" and "prefer". It is all personal preference, as I pointed out, so no point in arguing. I personally hate ABS and any keyboard with them is a piece of junk but that's just me.

maraudeR With a little TLC (Lubing/filming/springswapping/etc.) can result in some very smooth and very enjoyable switches. This can be said about most """"cherry mx style"""" switches. There are tons of different switch manufacturers that, without any modification, feel pretty shitty. This leads to people incorrectly attributing shittiness to Cherry switches.

True but the point I was trying to make was that don't get cherry just for the sake of cherry. There are a lot of great cheap pre-lubed switches out there non-cherry.

OP asked for feedback so I shared some from my own personal experience with Keychron switches and keycaps.

Nice picture.

[quote=maraudeR] Some people prefer not to have shiny keycaps, and so PBT is a good alternative. Dye sublimated PBT keycaps will still shine, it just takes way fucking longer. [/quote]

I think the keywords here are "some people" and "prefer". It is all personal preference, as I pointed out, so no point in arguing. I personally hate ABS and any keyboard with them is a piece of junk but that's just me.

[quote=maraudeR] With a little TLC (Lubing/filming/springswapping/etc.) can result in some very smooth and very enjoyable switches. This can be said about most """"cherry mx style"""" switches. There are tons of different switch manufacturers that, without any modification, feel pretty shitty. This leads to people incorrectly attributing shittiness to Cherry switches.[/quote]

True but the point I was trying to make was that don't get cherry just for the sake of cherry. There are a lot of great cheap pre-lubed switches out there non-cherry.

OP asked for feedback so I shared some from my own personal experience with Keychron switches and keycaps.
7
#7
2 Frags +

https://en.akkogear.com/product/spongebob-3098s-mechanical-keyboard/
beast

https://en.akkogear.com/product/spongebob-3098s-mechanical-keyboard/
beast
8
#8
0 Frags +
diemoshttps://en.akkogear.com/product/spongebob-3098s-mechanical-keyboard/
beast

looks cool + 1800 is nice

[quote=diemos]https://en.akkogear.com/product/spongebob-3098s-mechanical-keyboard/
beast[/quote]

looks cool + 1800 is nice
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