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Work down preferences

  • Cherry MX mechanical switch - blues or browns
  • tenkeyless or full size
  • lighted keys
  • price - want 2 home and office
  • usb jack on keyboard

and trackball

Candidate keyboards

Unicomp EnduraPro

Cooler Master Storm QuickFire family of mechanicals

solid, affordable, and flexible entry-level option that’ll provide huge bang for your buck

  • Cooler Master QuickFire Rapid-i
  • $132 - CM Storm QuickFire Rapid-i - tenkeyless - backlight - Cherry MX Blue
  • Amazon $80 - CM Storm QuickFire Rapid - Tenkeyless - no backlight - CHERRY MX Blue
  • Amazon $120 - CM Storm QuickFire Rapid-i - Tenkeyless - backlight - Cherry MX blue
  • Amazon $100 - CM Storm QuickFire TK - Compact numeric pad CHERRY MX BLUE Switches and Fully LED Backlit
  • Amazon $105 - CM Storm QuickFire XT - Full Size Mechanical Gaming Keyboard with CHERRY MX Brown Switches
  • Amazon $137 - CM Storm QuickFire XT - Full Size Mechanical Gaming Keyboard with CHERRY MX Blue Switches

Rosewill Apollo

  • Amazon $114 - full size - backlit - Cherry MX blue

Das Keyboard Model S Professional

  • Amazon $136 - Cherry MX Blue
  • Amazon $139 - Cherry MX Brown

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

  • Razer green - tactile clicky 50g

  • Razer orange - tactile silent 45g

  • Amazon $130 - Razer BlackWidow Ultimate - full keyboard - Razer green
  • Amazon $115 - Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Stealth - Razer orange

Misc. keyboards found

Research

ergoemacs.org - keyboards

keyboardco - An introduction to Cherry MX mechanical switches

December 7, 2012 by William Judd

A potted history of Cherry

Linear switches

Cherry MX Red

Conversely, Cherry MX Red switches were only introduced in 2008 and are the most recent switch to be developed by the company. They have a low actuation force, at 45 cN – tied with Brown for the lowest of the four most common switches. Red switches have been marketed as a gaming switch, with the light weighting allowing for more rapid actuation, and have become increasingly common in gaming keyboards.

Tactile, non-clicky switches

Cherry MX Brown

The most popular type of tactile, non-clicky switch is the Cherry MX Brown. This switch was introduced in 1994 as a special ‘ergo soft’ switch, but quickly became one of the most popular switches. Today, the majority of Filco keyboards are sold with Brown switches, as the switch is a good middle-of-the-road option appropriate for both typing and gaming. They are also ideal for typing in office environments, where a clicky switch might annoy some.

Tactile, clicky switches

Cherry MX Blue

The Cherry MX Blue is the most common clicky switch, and was first made available in Filco keyboards in 2007. Blue switches are favoured by typists due to their tactile bump and audible click, but can be less suitable for gaming as the weighting is relatively high – 50 cN – and it is a bit harder to double tap, as the release point is above the actuation point. Blue switches are noticeably louder than other mechanical switches, which are already louder than rubber domes, so these switches can be a bit disruptive in close working conditions.

lifehacker.com - Five Best Mechanical Keyboards

Alan Henry 12/08/13 8:00am

overclock.net - Official Mechanical Keyboard Guide

Manyak Retired Staff 4/13/09 at 4:56am

Fact: Nearly all keyboards sold bundled with computers or at retail stores use rubber domes under their keys. This is the same technology used in cheap TV remotes. They’re made to be as cheap as possible to manufacture in order to maximize profits. Yes, this even includes “high end” keyboards. So why settle for something that is made as cheap as possible?

overclock.net - Common Switch Types

There is no switch perfect for a given task for everyone, only personal favourites and subjective recommendations.

overclock.net - Recommended Mechanical Keyboards

simply a list of suggestions rather than the definitive authority on which mechanical keyboards are good.

Mechanical and Gaming keyboard buying guide

Cherry MX blues

Force Required Medium (50g)

‘Bump’ when pressed? (tactile response) Yes

Noisy? (Clicky) Yes

Actuation and Reset points Not together

The Cherry MX Blue switch is considered the touch typists’ switch. Requiring a moderate 50g of force to press (60g peak force), the Blue switch is finely balanced between accuracy, speed and strain on the fingers. MX Blues have a distinct tactile bump that helps typists know when the keys have been activated. The MX Blue switch has a separate actuation and reset point which makes it more difficult to repeatedly ‘tap’ a single key than other switches, particularly by users used to those other switches although many have no issues. The Cherry MX Blue emits a ‘click’ when pressed.

The Cherry MX Blue feels the most ‘distinct’ compared to typing on a regular rubber dome keyboard. The clicky variant of the Das Professional Model S is an example of a Cherry MX Blue Keyboard (the Das Professional Model S also comes with red and brown switch options.)

Cherry MX browns

Force Required Light (45g)

‘Bump’ when pressed? (tactile response) Yes, light

Noisy? (Clicky) No

Actuation and Reset points Not together but close

The Cherry MX Brown is half way between a gamer’s and typist’s switch. Requiring a force of 45g to depress (55g peak force), the key is not quite as easy to press as the Cherry MX Red. It has a light tactile feedback, strong enough to let touch typists know when they’ve pressed the key but not strong enough to distract gamers from the task at hand. The actuation and reset point are sufficently close that repeated key presses are not a problem. Cherry MX Browns do not emit ‘clicks’ when pressed.

The Logitech G710+ is an example of a Cherry MX Brown Keyboard.

Logitech G710+
  • Amazon $115
  • 100% Cherry MX Brown Mechanical Key Switches
  • back lit keys
  • full size
Rosewill Apollo RK-9100xBBR
  • Amazon $110
  • 100% Cherry MX Brown Mechanical Key Switches
  • back lit keys
  • full size
Max Keyboard Blackbird Tenkeyless (TKL) Cherry MX Backlit Mechanical Keyboard
  • $150
  • TKL

Cherry MX red

Force Required Light (45g)

‘Bump’ when pressed? (tactile response) No

Noisy? (Clicky) No

Actuation and Reset points Same point

The Cherry MX Red switch is a favourite of gamers and typists who enjoy the feel of a ‘lighter’ key. Requiring only 45g of force to depress, the MX Red is perfect for those who need an instant response to their key presses or those who’s fingers tire after long sessions of typing. The Cherry MX red switch does not provide tactile feedback and does not emit ‘clicks’.

The Cherry MX Red option of the Tesoro Durandal G1NL Ultimate is an example of a Cherry MX Red keyboard. (The Durandal Ultimate also comes with a choice of other Cherry switches.)

Rosewill - Apollo RK-9100xBRE
  • Amazon $110
  • Cherry MX red
  • back lit keys
  • full size

CODE 87-Key Mechanical Keyboard - Cherry MX Clear

Rosewill Apollo w/ Cherry MX Brown