Well I fell down the custom keyboard world.

BuffetSlayer said:
Ok so a couple of questions. I watched a video of someone typing on the Q6 Max and is seems a bit small side ways (left to right). The guys hands looked a bit cramped. Anyone here with a Q6 that can comment? Might just have been a weird optical angle / trick of the eye and/or the guy had giant hands!

Would be helpful if someone with a Q6 could measure the distance from the left of the caps lock key to the right of the enter key so I can use my current MX Keys for reference (it's about 279mm).

Also, I have noticed a Q6 HE model that is a bit more expensive but uses hall effect switches. Is there any logical reason and tangible benefits provided by hall effect switches over standard mech switches that come on the non HE version?
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HE switches are the new thing, using software you can tweak where along the down travel point is when the key is engaged. Either the very top or very bottom or somewhere in between.

I don't know about the distance of the keys as I don't have a Q6 but only the Q1 and Q2.
 
I'm sure there are people who might find HE switches useful but I'm thinking it isn't something I need. Software based actuation seems fraught with peril if the software glitches or craps out!
 
BuffetSlayer said:
I'm sure there are people who might find HE switches useful but I'm thinking it isn't something I need. Software based actuation seems fraught with peril if the software glitches or craps out!
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It's made for gamers and FPS shooter to be exact so they can engage the key at the earliest of the keypress travel, to shave that millisecond off the trigger/movement. There is more to it too like how it can disengage the last key if it senses the next key press, so you can strafe left/right faster and actually some aspects of it are banned in competitive or even online shooters.

Personally, if it aren't broke, don't fix it is my take on it, speaking as a non-professional FPS player and only use it to type and play basic games.
 
GregI said:
@mrk or anyone else.

Is there a rapid trigger keychron that has F keys plus print screen button in UK layout?
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Q6 HE ISO - although the UK ISO variant is currently out of stock, Swiss and Nordic variants are in stock so if you're planning to change the keycaps (or don't mind the labels being wrong) then I guess go with those as you can assign inputs to whatever you want. From the product page it appears they also now have a web-app config utility (not sure i can link bc competitor rules)

Edit: that's a full size/100% layout, looks like there's also Q5 - 96% (I think), Q3 - TKL/80% and Q1 - 75%
 
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Are the Q boards really worth it over the K? I see that Q is the premium version. K2 HE seems good. F keys plus print screen button for £150. Q3 would be similar to what I want.
 
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BuffetSlayer said:
I'm thinking a normal mech form factor will be the way to go. Much more choice and options for switches and key caps. I can get a wrist rest if needed.

Like the look of that Q6.

Not sure what the difference is between north and south LED lighting.

Hmmm, decisions decisions.
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I'd also recommend looking at the Akko Monsgeek M5 (full size, bare bones, available in ISO) - chuck some Leobog Reaper, Greywood V4, or Akko Creamy Yellows in, plus whatever keycaps tickle your fancy...

Can put the whole thing together for under £120 delivered.

I've just got the 75% M1V5 ISO and it's superb.
 
The K boards are made of folder sheet metal (not sure what kind), I don't think it is milled aluminium, which is what the Q boards are.

A better alternative is actually Lemokey, which is a sub brand from Keychron. It's MUCH closer to the Q series than the K series.

 
Rapid Trigger does feature on Keychron HE boards, also Snap Tap type feature that gives instant strafing. It's in the K2HE I reviewed and as it's HE and uses Keychron Launcher, is part of all of the HE line too.

Q is very much worth it over K for the heft and construction, way thicker and heavier alu, like a tank, though not everyone cares about weight/heft.
 
One thing about RGB.... Everyone's different and this is obviously personal choice, but when I first started with mech keyboards I spent about 10 minutes saying "OOH pretty!" when I saw RGB lighting, and I've never so much as turned it on again since, on any of my keyboards. Part of that is that I've never found an affordable keycap set that worked well with RGB and that I actually liked the sound of. Actually the set that came closest is the set that came with the Q6....
 
CGrieves said:
One thing about RGB.... Everyone's different and this is obviously personal choice, but when I first started with mech keyboards I spent about 10 minutes saying "OOH pretty!" when I saw RGB lighting, and I've never so much as turned it on again since, on any of my keyboards. Part of that is that I've never found an affordable keycap set that worked well with RGB and that I actually liked the sound of. Actually the set that came closest is the set that came with the Q6....
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Yeah, of all the boards I've built in the last 6/7 years now I've never really cared about RGB, at least not enough to actively find keycaps that support quality RGB.

The only board I ever use it on now is my Wooting 60HE and that's so I can tell which profile I'm using (no RGB means the standard 'typing' profile and red means 'gaming' actuation points for instant key responses). Otherwise I've never really felt a need to use any sort of RGB on any of my keyboards.
 
I like RGB, but not for the dynamic light effects (although I do have my KB setup to change on keypress before going back to static purple), the main benefit is being able to change colour schemes (or try others out) without having to buy loads of new kit.
It also should make things cheaper as you only need one SKU rather than having different colour lighting options (though obviously that saving never filters down to us consumers)
 
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So my Q6 Max arrived today.

My heart sank when I opened the delivery box to see a US layout keyboard on the front of the keyboard box. There was a suspicious sticker on the cellophane that had been stuck over the area on the box where the barcode is.and I thought maybe I'd been stung with some mis-selling.

Anyway, removed the cellophane and opened the box with some trepidation and phew - it's UK layout!

I've been working today and so only got it unpacked and connected at the end of my day Got it up and running via cable connection .

Took me 10 mins or so to figure out the Json file requirements for the web based config tool. Haven't done anything on that other than set a static backlight.

I opted for the banana switches as I figured they would reduce errors by being a bit stiffer to actuate.

Not really the case! I'm misfiring all over the shop in the 15 mins I've used it :p

But even in 15 mins I felt a slight improvement. It's such a different profile to my MX Keys and I was surprised that the key cap surface area seems a bit smaller per key than the concave square shaped keys on the MX Keys. Much less forgiving for my sausage fingers!

This thing is chonky and weighs a ton. Feels good to type on. Super happy so far and reckon it will be great once I have gotten used to typing on it.
 
BuffetSlayer said:
So my Q6 Max arrived today.

My heart sank when I opened the delivery box to see a US layout keyboard on the front of the keyboard box. There was a suspicious sticker on the cellophane that had been stuck over the area on the box where the barcode is.and I thought maybe I'd been stung with some mis-selling.

Anyway, removed the cellophane and opened the box with some trepidation and phew - it's UK layout!

I've been working today and so only got it unpacked and connected at the end of my day Got it up and running via cable connection .

Took me 10 mins or so to figure out the Json file requirements for the web based config tool. Haven't done anything on that other than set a static backlight.

I opted for the banana switches as I figured they would reduce errors by being a bit stiffer to actuate.

Not really the case! I'm misfiring all over the shop in the 15 mins I've used it :p

But even in 15 mins I felt a slight improvement. It's such a different profile to my MX Keys and I was surprised that the key cap surface area seems a bit smaller per key than the concave square shaped keys on the MX Keys. Much less forgiving for my sausage fingers!

This thing is chonky and weighs a ton. Feels good to type on. Super happy so far and reckon it will be great once I have gotten used to typing on it.
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Don't feel you are locked down to the switches (feel) and keycaps (look and feel). Swap them out as your pleased. Either to get a fresh feeling keyboard or for the lolz.

If you get new keycaps remember to look for one with an ISO Enter key and a £ key for Number 3 if you can. I can never find a set with the £ key so I just have to remember it....My £ key has # on it instead.
 
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I'm wanting a change from my Corsair strafe RGB MK2 with MX silent red's.

Been looking at this one -

Keychron Q3 Max Wireless Mechanical Keyboard TKL

Any recommendations? What switches should I go for? Browns, reds or banana's (lol)

I'm thinking I could fit some MX silent red switches to most commonly used gaming keys.
 
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