** The Official OcUK Mechanical Keyboard Thread **

[Ryan-3]

It's either the QPAD keyboards, or the "Ducky DK9008 Shine II UK English Version Blue LED", which I know of at £128 (don't know about customs included into the price though, was just a fast add of keyboard and postage cost).

I'm now used to the US layout. My only small problem is the pound sign. I can't get one, and having a tkl makes it worse

 

[jaybee]

It's either the QPAD keyboards, or the "Ducky DK9008 Shine II UK English Version Blue LED", which I know of at £128 (don't know about customs included into the price though, was just a fast add of keyboard and postage cost).

I'm now used to the US layout. My only small problem is the pound sign. I can't get one, and having a tkl makes it worse

Mail in trust for the details please.
I think I know where you mean but not sure.
If I end up buying in from the US then I will see if anyone else on here wants to save on postage and duty and what not and we can setup a group buy if anyone is up for it.

EDIT: Yeah think I found the site. It was the one I thought it was. Postage is steeep. That's why I mentioned a potential group buy from that site. Starts to become attractive if a few get together and share postage.

 

[jaybee]

Just had a thought about the qpads. If they do have a concave "arc'd" profile, is it possible that it is the actual keys ONLY that are angled off, rather than the actual position of the switches underneath? Would be good if you could check Hargi, as that has potential as the keys could be swapped out for "flats" and it could work nicely for me.

 

[hargi]

Jaybee will post pics when it arrives don't understand what you mean about the keys or the switched but will do my best. I was same this is my first mech keyboard and in my job I go from mac us layout to normal uk version to some others so layout wasn't to much of an issue. And was stressing between which version to get and would have ended up going round and round in circles.
Would like a choc mini may have a look when I'm next in the USA or if someone's over there.

 

[jaybee]

Jaybee will post pics when it arrives don't understand what you mean about the keys or the switched but will do my best. I was same this is my first mech keyboard and in my job I go from mac us layout to normal uk version to some others so layout wasn't to much of an issue. And was stressing between which version to get and would have ended up going round and round in circles.
Would like a choc mini may have a look when I'm next in the USA or if someone's over there.

I will post a pic of what I mean in a sec... hang on

 

[jaybee]

So in the below pics of a keyboards profile side on:

1: I don't mind if the keyboard slopes downwards or remains totally flat in line with the desk, so long as the overall angle that the keys are presented all match. i.e. Their faces are all at the same angle relative to the board underneath.

2: Example of a concave profile where the keys angle change from top row to bottom row to attempt to be "ergonomic" for the user. The shape of this profile I am calling concave in that it attempts to arc the keys inwards towards the middle row.

3: Some keyboards actually do this. The one I am typing on at home right now as a backup to the one I broke does this. It's even worse than number 2 above. So it's again an arc/curved/concave shaped profile, accept the last row falls away on an opposite curve. All in the name of being "ergonomic".


The above examples are slightly exagerated. The QPAD might be more subtle. What I was getting at, is that I wonder if the actual switches underneath the keys follow this profile shape in the actual angle they are soldered to the board underneath, or if it's simply the keys that are shaped in this way and they all slot onto a "normal" downward profile shape as in example number 1.

Does this explain what I mean?

EDIT: So basically with the QPAD, if it matches the shape of profile 2 below (middle pic), when you take the keys off and look at the bare switches, do they follow the same profile? i.e. The naked switches, are they angled in this way too, or like in example number 1, all parrellel to the board underneath at the same angle?

 

[nathanjohnz]

I want to buy a keyboard for playing games. Please tell me which one is the best keyboard for playing games?

 

[Yaayuh!]

Turns out the spacebar on the 6G V2 is different... doesn't look like I'll be able to get a white replacement.

 

[hargi]

Its arrived Jaybee,

It looks to be the number 2 profile above.

Took keys off and it looks like this

keys look like this

 

[jaybee]

Its arrived Jaybee,

It looks to be the number 2 profile above.

Took keys off and it looks like this

keys look like this

Argh! That's a very helpful thing you did there. Thanks so much.
So do the actual switches arc like I said or do you think the curve is all done by the shape of the keys? It looks like the switch angles might all be the same but the switch height might be increasing towards the space bar row.
ta

 

[hargi]

I cant tell to be sure but I think its the keys that are making it curved the switches look to all be the same angle. But dont hold me to it

 

[Biohazard]

It's clearly the keys.

 

[Ryan-3]

Not sure you will be able to get that due to the nature all of the keys are made. They all fit (near enough to) the original Cherry profile for the keys. The escape key is a shallower profile to the `, 1, 2 ,etc. keys on my keyboard (as shown in the pic), but they will all follow the natural curve.

Such as the profile on my Filco:

I've also put some new keys on it too.

Sorry about the awful photo's, the iPhone 4 camera appears to be getting even worse, but I've attempted to rescue everyone's eyes with Photoshop

 

[jaybee]

Hmm ok. Well the Corsair and Razer boards I tried did not appear to do that at all. They seemed flat. Maybe they do and it won't be an issue. Will go check those boards now actually....

Well I ordered a QPAD MK-80 with brown switches from OCUK for £89.99. I doubt I will like it with standard keys above so I need to decide if I am going to buy a full set of UK 105 key caps, or import a Ducky Shine II. How much is a full set of UK key caps that suit backlit keyboards and are flat is the next question. If this ends up adding up to the cost of just buying a Ducky Shine II, I'll just get the Ducky. It's £149 in the UK though. To import can be done for £128 but that assumes no custom charges which might bring it up to £150 anyway.

Bit of a farse this to get a brown switched mechanical backlit keyboard in the UK.

EDIT: On closer inspection from a google image search, some of the side on shots of the Corsair K90, Razer Ultimate and even the Ducky Shine II, appear to show a slight key profile curve. I think we can come to the conclusion that I'm a moron and never noticed it in use on them. In fact they felt ace. So hopefully the QPAD feels good, it just looks slightly more pronounced on the QPAD. We'll see.

 

[starmanwarz]

I think it's time to replace my MS x6 sidewinder with a mechanical keyboard.I like my keyboard but I want to try mechanical since I never had one.

The problem is that there are 100's on the market and it is really confusing with all these switches and features.

I want a keyboard mainly for gaming,backlit keys (not a must) and I would prefer it to be without a numpad due to lack of space.

So far I came up with the CM Storm quickfire rapid red which has everything I want and the Razer Blackwidow tournament edition which unfortunately doesn't have backlit keys.

Any suggestions?

 

[jaybee]

I think it's time to replace my MS x6 sidewinder with a mechanical keyboard.I like my keyboard but I want to try mechanical since I never had one.

The problem is that there are 100's on the market and it is really confusing with all these switches and features.

I want a keyboard mainly for gaming,backlit keys (not a must) and I would prefer it to be without a numpad due to lack of space.

So far I came up with the CM Storm quickfire rapid red which has everything I want and the Razer Blackwidow tournament edition which unfortunately doesn't have backlit keys.

Any suggestions?

Well first decide if you definitely want backlit or not, as that changes everything. Keyboards without a numpad are called "Tenkeyless" as they do away with the ten number keys. Just thought I would mention this to aid search strings.

I didn't think the CM Storm Quickfire Rapid was backlit?


You should look at the "Ducky Shine II DK9087". This is probably the best tenkeyless backlit keyboard around, available in the UK for £105. See THIS post from earlier in the thread too.

 

[starmanwarz]

Sorry,I was talking about the CM TK version,seems like their newest product.

I think I want backlit,can't do without it.

These keyboards come with different switches, which would you recommend for gaming? I don't mind if they are too loud.

 

[jaybee]

Sorry,I was talking about the CM TK version,seems like their newest product.

I think I want backlit,can't do without it.

These keyboards come with different switches, which would you recommend for gaming? I don't mind if they are too loud.

It's been discussed hugely throughout this thread, but I appreciate it's very long. If you scroll back a couple of pages there is a summary but basically the main 4 types are:

Tactile Feedback Type:

Blue - clicky, tactile feel with bump, good for typists

Brown - supposedly the same as blues without audible click (ever so slightly
softer force required to actuate the key)




Linear Travel Feeling of keys:

Red - Softer to press. Linear travel.

Black - Stiffer to press. Linear travel.




Most people seem to feel that Linear type keys are best for gaming. Most new keyboards coming out that are mechanical and being aimed at gamers, feature Cherry MX RED switch type. Some people claim reds to be too soft to press, others prefer them, some find they make more errors when typing with reds. Bla bla bla.
You really need to try a few out if possible. If you can't find a PC retail chain that stocks some mech gaming keyboards then order one of each online and use Distance Selling Regs to send 3 of the 4 back after carefully trying them out.

Personally I am about to take delivery of a QPAD MK-80 Brown switch type. I love the tactile feedback of the blues, but don't want the noise. I will game and type on it. I find even blues fine for gaming personally in terms of feel.

 

[starmanwarz]

Very helpful post, thanks.

Trying them out is not an option.

From what you have said Red or maybe Blue are the best options for me.

I think the CM TK suits me best, now I have to decide about the switches.

 

[jaybee]

I just received my QPAD MK-80 with Blue Backlight and Cherry MX Brown switches. I would have liked to have got a backlight that was...well...anything different to blue frankly! lol. I like the Razer Green...but hey ho. As I have waffled earlier in this thread my reason for choosing this keyboard was because it was the only UK Keyboard I could get with Brown switches that was backlit, with a normal UK layout and no silly additions all for under £90.

Anyway cut to the chase...how does it feel?

Well...I have now tried all the switches. I stand by that blacks are totally not for me. To stiff. I think I made the best choice. I prefer the browns over the reds as I like the tactile feel and shorter key stroke. I do find I bottom them out quite a bit though so will need to practice making my key strokes lighter. Do I prefer them to blues? Well the blues I have only tried on the Razer Ultimate and they felt awesome to me. I don't know if this is because this was in a store and had been "worn in", but the blues on the Razer felt if anything easier/lighter to press each key than the browns on my QPAD. (Do mechanical keyboards wear in? I didn't think they did).

But the browns should be slightly softer than the blues everywhere I read. I definitely like a softer key press. The browns on the QPAD feel very quick and lovely to type on. To be honest the noise is still quite high on it though as I think I am bottoming out quite a bit. The main thing is the spacebar. I think I am going to have to put an O-ring under that to dampen the noise. It seems to make a loud "thwack" much more than any other key. If I try to press it lightly, it feels like I haven't actuated it. The spacebar does feel almost like it's harder to press and/or has ever so lightly less of a travel. Whatever it is, it bottoms out with a louder clack which might get annoying.

Blues would have annoyed me even more with the clicking so browns I am positive were the right choice.


In terms of the actual QPAD keyboard. Built VERY well. No bigger than it needs to be around the keys so quite a compact chassis. It has a considerable weight to it (as do all mechanical keyboards so I read) and has a finish of which you can only really tell in person that is really nice, a slightly rubberised Matt black kind of finish. The accompanying wrist wrest is also well built with a nice finish. I thought it would be a bit plasticy but no. Good build quality.

Haven't tried the backlight as haven't plugged in yet. Will try later and post pics.
As for my obsession that it would be too much of a profile curve inwards towards the middle row. It's a non issue. Feels fine, although as I say the spacebar above feels different. I took off the keys and checked the angle of the switches and I can say for future reference that they are all on completely straight and at the same angle. So the concave key profile is just that, done purely by the shape of the key caps themselves.

The lead is a bit chunky as it has audio and USB which is a bit meh as I don't require it as a hub personally, but good to have the option I suppose.

It's super well built for me personally though. Just need to get used to the browns and see how I get on with the spacebar. I might experiment with O-ring dampers on the whole board, but not if it affects the feel in a negative way.