New Keyboard Advice

jamesriley94

New member
Hi

Interested in getting a new keyboard. Currently have a K90 on my main PC, and looking to get something else for my Prodigy to take to uni.

It must be mechanical. Looking to try different switches to Reds. I don't really play games anymore, so I'm thinking a blue or brown switch would be better, although I don't mind giving blacks ago - can always resell the keyboard after a few months if I don't like it after all...

I'd like it to be backlit, but it isn't a must, but it has to be as cheap as possible really.
There's a few open box ones at Aria and CCL -
http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...+(Cherry+MX+Black)+-+B+Grade+?productId=56118

http://www.cclonline.com/product/11...cklit-Mechanical-Keyboard-Open-Box-/KBD0461X/

So what do you lot think of those? They seem quite a good price to me - and I'm not really looking to spend too much more than that.

Cheers
 
cooler master quickfire tk? that way its small an you dont have to give up the num-pad, i have one myself i think there great
 
stuck in the middle of nowhere, i'd blind purchased a CM QF Rapid Blue. i like it
but still holding out for the CM TK Brown (unavailable). the Blue is way, way too loud.
 
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stuck in the middle of nowhere, i'd blind purchased a CM QF Rapid Blue. i like it
but still holding out for the CM TK Brown (unavailable). the Blue is way, way too loud.

That's kind of one of the reasons I'd like to try blue actually - everyone keeps saying they're really loud, and I just wanna see that for myself in a way.

Someone I know is happy to buy it off me if I don't like it anyway so I may just give the Q-Pad a go.

I've contacted CCL and asked what kind of condition the open box one is in - and why it's open box (returned, refurbished, display model etc...). I think I'll be getting that at some point this week.
 
I absolutely love Blues. They took a little getting used to for gaming but now I prefer them. Since you're just doing typing and no gaming then you should check them out. They're the best for typing IMO. Downside to them is that they're kinda loud. They don't bother me but they drive my wife crazy. Not that annoying the wife is a bad thing. :D
 
I've got the Qpad MK85 pro with red switches and LOVE it.

Browns are the same as blue, same noise i believe but slightly lighter touch i think.

I hear blues are best for typing due to being tactile but I'm happy with reds for typing, very fast and smooth, and awesomely fast for gaming :) lovely and light.
 
I've got the Qpad MK85 pro with red switches and LOVE it.

Browns are the same as blue, same noise i believe but slightly lighter touch i think.

I hear blues are best for typing due to being tactile but I'm happy with reds for typing, very fast and smooth, and awesomely fast for gaming :) lovely and light.

Hmm,
I have reds on my K90, and I agree it is nice to type on. But I do make quite a lot of typos with it as it registers a keystroke with the slightest contact with a key. I believe due to the non-linear design of the browns and blues, this isn't the case.

How do you find the overall build quality of the Q-pad aside from the Switches? As I said in the OP, I am looking at one for £80 with blue switches.
 
I've got the Qpad MK85 pro with red switches and LOVE it.

Browns are the same as blue, same noise i believe but slightly lighter touch i think.

I hear blues are best for typing due to being tactile but I'm happy with reds for typing, very fast and smooth, and awesomely fast for gaming :) lovely and light.

Nah browns are nothing like blues.

Blues are super loud where as browns sound like reds/blacks.

The tactile feedback in Blues is very sharp where as browns are more of a resistive red/black.

PCWorld stock Razer blackwidow (blues) and Logitech G710+ (browns). I'd recommend going in and having a feel for what it's worth.
 
How do you find the overall build quality of the Q-pad aside from the Switches? As I said in the OP, I am looking at one for £80 with blue switches.

Build quality is great, the wrist-rest is nice, i don't normally use one, but the height of normal keys makes me require it really. Well built, good software and stuff. Can assign all keys to macros and a bunch of other stuff (if that's your thing) has 2 full power usb ports and mic/headphone connectors if you want to use them as well.

I've had the keycaps off a few times and they feel well built, however they are the type that wear off the textured surface (they are the ones that show light through so this is a given really) but they can be replaced easily enough.

Comes with a key removing tool, although i hear the metal ones are better mine has been fine and is easy enough to use when I clean it.

Can't really fault it to be honest mate. I went with the 85pro over the 80 because of N-Key rollover via usb (I fly keyboard only in most competitive games so need more than 6 keypresses at once)
 
I've bought the Q-pad 80 now - blue switches and blue backlighting.
It was the clearance one from CCL - which I asked about first and they said it had been a returned item due to a faulty switch, then repaired, so I'd guess it's basically new with the switches all working.

I have a couple of people willing to buy it off me if I don't get on with it, so we'll just see what it's like really.

Considering getting the Ducky off Aria too just to try the black switches as I have buyers anyway, but we'll see.

Cheers for all your help!
 
no worries, hope you like it. I wouldn't mind giving blues a proper try sometime myself actually.
 
No doubt. Reds are probably my 2nd favorite but I like the feel of the Blues. Its not so much that theyre "better" than Reds or any other switch type for that matter, but they just feel so damn cool. Theyre more fun to type on as lame as that sounds. :D
 
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