Mechanical Keyboard Choice.

Dervious

Dervious

Dervious

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I`ve narrowed it down to MX Brown switches with LED back lighting (preferably white). It'll be used mostly for typing. I use an XBOX controller for what little gaming I do.

I`ve waited for the K70 RGB (not stuck with just one colour !), but it seems that there are a fair few problems with the product. Maybe Corsair will sort it, but given the reports of LED failure on the non-RGB K70s, I'm starting to look elsewhere.

I like the look of the following keyboards......

CM Storm Quick Fire Rapid-i

Ducky TKL Zero Shine Blue LED (I could live with blue LEDs, I think)

Ducky Zero Zone Blue LED (Still can't decide if I need the Numpad or not)

Ducky keyboards seem to get a lot of praise around here, but I do like the look of the CM Rapid-i (especially the white LEDs).

I want a good quality keyboard that is reliable and will last. I`ve read reports of textured keys wearing out (certain CM boards ?) and a few other issues with certain makes/models. I'd expect to have to replace a £10-£30 keyboard after a couple of years (this Microsoft wireless model is suffering from worn out lettering after about 2 years moderate use). I suppose that's fair enough, but if I'm going to spend ~£100, I expect a bit more quality.

I'd appreciate any recommendations.
 
CM Storm Quick Fire Rapid-i only comes in browns in the UK.
Ducky Zero is there budget end (thats why they are "cheap" for ducky products) and there "quality" is apparently not that good compared to the more expensive ones.
 
MatsyLR said:
CM Storm Quick Fire Rapid-i only comes in browns in the UK.
Ducky Zero is there budget end (thats why they are "cheap" for ducky products) and there "quality" is apparently not that good compared to the more expensive ones.
Click to expand...

The fact that the CM Storm is only available in browns is not a problem.

Would the CM be a better choice than a Ducky Zero ?

Is the CM Rapid-i a decent keyboard ? The reviews of seen seem favourable, but it would be useful to know how they are after a few month's use.
 
Dervious said:
The fact that the CM Storm is only available in browns is not a problem.

Would the CM be a better choice than a Ducky Zero ?

Is the CM Rapid-i a decent keyboard ? The reviews of seen seem favourable, but it would be useful to know how they are after a few month's use.
Click to expand...

the CM is basically a re-branded Filco as far as I'm aware. So quality is excellent.
I would say the CM is better than the Zero myself purely due to quality problems.
 
Geez, I was looking at the exact same keyboards last night and trying to decide between.

I wish the CM Storm Quick Fire-I had cherry mx blues over here, thats pretty much the only thing stopping me ordering one right now.

The Shine 4's look nice but I really want to try a TKL board this time around.

I've had a ducky 9008GT2 with browns in the blue and grey colour scheme and the quality is fantastic.

I'm still stumped now trying to decide. Perhaps an import would be worth it
 
Evian said:
I've had the Corsair K70 red led's since release nothing wrong with it.
Click to expand...

With brown switches ? Good keyboard ?

I do like the design of the K70. I'm not sure I want red LED's though, and I`ve read reports of LED failures (maybe it doesn't affect the red LEDs so much).

I would go for the K70, if the LED's aren't likely to fail, and I could convince myself to choose red !
 
sh33pst3r said:
I'm still stumped now trying to decide.
Click to expand...

+1 :D

I wish the K70 RGB was "sorted". That would solve the colour choice issue.

However, it's £140 and that's about £40+ more than plenty of other models to choose from.

The CM Rapid-i seems very tempting.

:confused:

And don't start me thinking about blue switches ! I`ve tried and really like the feel of them, and to a degree the noise they make. However, the noise might start to get annoying after a while. Browns seem like a decent compromise.
 
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r3d zombie said:
Logitech G710+ Brown switches/ white backlight?
Click to expand...

Maybe.

I`ve been into a large store and pressed the keys on one of those a few times. The looks of that model are a little "loud", but I could live with it, I suppose. Maybe I'm doing a bit too much research, but I`ve read reports of breaking keycaps on the G710+.
 
Dervious said:
Maybe.

I`ve been into a large store and pressed the keys on one of those a few times. The looks of that model are a little "loud", but I could live with it, I suppose. Maybe I'm doing a bit too much research, but I`ve read reports of breaking keycaps on the G710+.
Click to expand...

you think thats loud, look up the G910!!. ;)
 
r3d zombie said:
you think thats loud, look up the G910!!. ;)
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I wish Logitech would tone down their keyboards. I'm sure they are good quality, but it all seems a bit 'boyracer' style. I love the look of Corsair's K70 RGB from an atheistic perspective, I just wish the software was fixed!
 
Dervious said:
With brown switches ? Good keyboard ?

I do like the design of the K70. I'm not sure I want red LED's though, and I`ve read reports of LED failures (maybe it doesn't affect the red LEDs so much).

I would go for the K70, if the LED's aren't likely to fail, and I could convince myself to choose red !
Click to expand...

I have a CM Storm QFR-i with cherry mx browns and ducky white engraved PBT keycaps. The keyboard is really good and i recommend purchasing it. I got it over a ducky because it was cheaper and the build quality of both Ducky and CM Storm are similar. I got the keycaps because they look cool and give a nicer typing experience with a thicker keycap, that being said i'm sure the standard keycaps aren't that bad.
 
KlueD said:
I have a CM Storm QFR-i with cherry mx browns and ducky white engraved PBT keycaps. The keyboard is really good and i recommend purchasing it. I got it over a ducky because it was cheaper and the build quality of both Ducky and CM Storm are similar. I got the keycaps because they look cool and give a nicer typing experience with a thicker keycap, that being said i'm sure the standard keycaps aren't that bad.
Click to expand...

I take it that the replacement keycaps don't let the LED backlight through (apart from around the edges) ?

Thanks for the recommendation, btw. I am tempted !
 
As much as I try, I can't help be think that the K70 RGB is the best choice.

It's got a NumPad. It's got a wrist wrest. I can choose the backlight colour I want (not quite 16.8million colours yet though). And the design is quite nice (not too OTT).

I suppose it can be returned if they don't sort it.

It seems that choosing a (decent) keyboard might be one of the hardest decisions to make as far as PC components go.
 
Despite my misgivings, I`ve ordered one !

If the issues aren't sorted, it'll go back. At least I'll have had time to decide if I like brown switches.

I do hope it behaves reasonably well when it arrives.
 
Dervious said:
Despite my misgivings, I`ve ordered one !

If the issues aren't sorted, it'll go back. At least I'll have had time to decide if I like brown switches.

I do hope it behaves reasonably well when it arrives.
Click to expand...

I have the MX Red's on my K70, I had a Ducky shine 2 at the same time as my K70 for comparison, I preferred the K70 more, So I kept it. Post how you find the keyboard you receive. ;)
 
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