Mechanical Keyboards

What the hell is wrong with the mechanical keyboard manufacturers? I just returned a Razer BlackWidow Ultimate because of the idiotic choice of key font, the upside-down keys (numbers above the symbols) and the lack of full backlighting (only the numbers are backlit, not the symbols). I figured that I would be able to find a good backlit mechanical keyboard. Boy was I wrong.

Looking around, it looks like I won't have a problem finding a good "normal" mechanical keyboard. That is, a standard layout, standard font, etc. It seems that as soon as you add a backlight, you have to fuck something up:

• Standard layout, upside-down numbers
• Normal numbers, upside-down punctuation (<>?:"{})
• Normal numbers, normal punctuation, weird font
• Normal font, side-by-side numbers/symbols (what the hell??)
• Normal numbers, normal punctuation, normal font <-- DOES NOT EXIST WITH A BACKLIGHT

Forget even trying to throw a USB port in there... :mad-new: (missing the *banging-head-on-a-brick-wall* smilie)

 

haha i agree 100% i had to settle for a non mechanical backlit keyboard Saitek Eclipse (v1) for the normal layout numbers font and punctuation.

 

I currently use a Microsoft Sidewinder X6. May not be mechanical but it's a damn good keyboard.

 

Steelseries 7G here, one of the best keyboards I've ever used.

 

I use an IBM Model M from 1986. No windows key, but eh, it's heaven to type on.

 

Uh...

The craptastic model that came with my machine. It's a PS2 model...

I have a Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 V1.0 but it is currently pulling duty on my Xbox...

Also have bit of a weird one. Ione Scorpius-P6. USB model. Laptop styled keyboard with a almost completely useless touchpad on the side. Nice enough for typing but a bit small for my hands. Not to mention the odd shaped mouse pad. Wasted $21 on it. Should have gone for the other model for $24...

 

I know Monoprice put out a mechanical a little while ago. Never really looked into it.

 

I'm using some ancient model M rip-off made by vtech, it's gorgeous to type with but I worry that if I use it too much i will break it.
I was using a Saitek eclipse model 2 until some of the keys randomly stopped working, don't know what to do with it now, it seems too good to throw away but it's not really much good to use when certain keys work intermittently.

 

open the sucker up, give it a good clean slap it back together and see if it works if not, mount it on the wall with a power supply so it lights up, for art / decoration

 

I opened it and cleaned it twice, I think it's just dead, the wall mounting is a good idea though, I might just do that .

 

Going to sound like a total idiot right now but what's a mechanical keyboard?

 

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/mechanical-keyboard-work-technology-explained/

 

Side-by-side number/symbol keys. One of the most idiotic usability decisions you can make for a keyboard.

 

Thanks. Probably should have googled it myself. Never even knew they existed. Probably used one before and never even realised it. A keyboard is a keyboard to me. Rarely comes across one I don't like much.

 

^^ I hate the stupid font on my Razer keyboard, just ordered some replacement keycaps for it to try and tidy it up. Ive spent the last week trying to help my flatmate try and find a mechanical keyboard he likes. almost impossible as he would like a brown switch one as he hates how loud my blue switch one is. although i would never fully got back to a membrane keyboard my 2nd 'quiet' keyboard is a standard mac one(my flatmates complained that my keyboard kept them awake)...

 

I actually talked to one of the people at WASD Keyboards and got an explanation on why the backlit keyboards always have messed up keys. Apparently the Cherry MX switches used have accommodations for the LED's, but only at the top of the switch.