Mechanical Keyboard recommendations?
- Thread starter Subnated
- Start date
I had my eye on the Mionix Zibal 60, but is there a cheaper, better keyboard out there? That's why I ask.
Well most mechanical keyboards are ODM'd by Costar. Including the Mionix as far as I know. It boils down to materials used to make the major components and keycaps.
In regards to what makes it better...
I personally dislike backlighting as it's pretty pointless. Especially if you're a touch typist. Then there's the technologies used to do the backlighting. There's a dissipating sheet with just a few LEDs or each key has an LED soldered into it. Either way, it's just one more thing that'll be a pain in the ass, or expensive to fix, should it go wrong.
I prefer the simplicity of the Filco and similarly designed keyboards.
In regards to what makes it better...
I personally dislike backlighting as it's pretty pointless. Especially if you're a touch typist. Then there's the technologies used to do the backlighting. There's a dissipating sheet with just a few LEDs or each key has an LED soldered into it. Either way, it's just one more thing that'll be a pain in the ass, or expensive to fix, should it go wrong.
I prefer the simplicity of the Filco and similarly designed keyboards.
Just a heads up that Linus has done an unboxing of the Mionix. Thumbs up for USB hubs and audio ports on the 'board. Judging by the lighting display at the end of the video and the fact it toggles, it would appear that each key has an LED in it, as opposed to a few strategically placed LEDs and a scatter membrane that refracts the light (which gives uneven illumination).
What type of gaming are you going to be doing on the keyboard. If you are more inclined to MMO or RTS, then perhaps a keyboard with Macro keys would be better, though they only offer 2 key rollover, which is a disadvantage. For FPS games, the steel series 6Gv2 or the Q pad MK-80 are the 2 choices i would recommend. Each has good points, SS has Black switches and is built to withstand an earthquake, the MK-80 has back lit keys and blue switches, so you choose based upon what key type you like. Both are around the £100 or less and are available now. The Zowie keyboard is also another good choice.
Many people will tell you which switch you should get, but you really have to use the keyboard to decide which is best for you. Browns, Blacks and Blues all have good and bad points, i know a lot of people don't like the noise of the blue switch, so browns or blacks are typically the next step from a non mech keyboard.
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