Poll: Lets have a frendly chat about keyboards.

[veloper]

A normal keyboard has more than enough keys anyway, so no additional buttons for me. For comfort I even went the other way with a 10-keyless keyboard, so the left hand on the WASD is a bit closer to the mouse hand.

Gaming keyboards go in the plastic crap category, but mechanical keyboards are nice.

I'm currently using a Ducky Shine with brown cherry switches. The bright LEDs under the keys are an unnecessary frill, but I got it for the same price as a regular Ducky, so why not.
The Ducky is pleasant to the touch and I'd recommend this one, or one with black cherry switches, for people who like a bit more resistance when they press a key.

 

[Scars Unseen]

I also use a Ducky keyboard, though mine is a 1008 model I won in a contest over on Overclock.net. Cherry MX browns on a pleasantly weighted base. Best keyboard I've ever owned, and I'll probably buy another Ducky keyboard whenever I need to replace this one.

 

[Yopaz]

Logitech media keyboard here. I got it because it was cheap rather than for its functions, but I DO love the sound wheel on it. I can adjust the sound by using a wheel on top and I can change songs with keys for that. It also got a button for opening up the Windows calculator (I use that one more than you'd think). So I prefer the cheap functional keyboard. Always wired though. ALWAYS.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Title says it all, tell me about your keyboard and why you like it.
So yea tell me about your tappy thingy you use to make the computer do computery things and lets try to keep the friendly
shall we

You forgot "I own a laptop and use the built-in keyboard"

Which is what I would have voted for did the option exist.

I suppose that technically counts as "cheap and functional" but we laptop gamers do like to feel included as well.

 

[Auberon]

As of now, it's normal HP keyboard. I expect to pick up a proper gaming one with mechanical keys for summer though.

 

[snowpuppy]

The same one I have had for years. One of the legs broke, but blu-tac fixed that right up.

 

[Tuesday Night Fever]

I use a Razer Blackwidow and it is a beauty.

I use a Black Widow too. I've had mine for slightly over a year now, and it was my first mechanical keyboard as well. I picked it up for like 75% off during an Amazon Christmas sale, and holy crap was that a steal. I love mine so much I don't think I could go back to a standard keyboard for gaming. Hell, I don't even like using the keyboards at work anymore (standard Dell keyboards that came with the computers) and would totally take my own keyboard in if it weren't for one little problem...

...Good lord you're right about how loud the keys are. Easily the loudest keyboard I've ever owned or used.

 

[The White Hunter]

Mine is a fairly standard SteelSeries USB keyboard. Nice and robust, with only three little white lights for the Num, Caps and Scroll lock indicators. The only drawback to it is the small left-hand Shift key. I don't think there's any software that came with it.[footnote]If there is, I've already lost it.[/footnote]

Take advantage of your small left shift and bind \ to things in games?

OT: Coolermaster CM Storm Quickfire TK.

Compact since it has the numpad and center blocvk integrated witha num lock switch, which works cuz space is ata premium and it just lets me maximise my space without losing functionality. It's brown switches and a white backlight, but otherwise it's pretty simple, clean and functional above all. Durable and comfy to use.

 

[Padwolf]

I use a Razer Blackwidow and it is a beauty.

I use a Black Widow too. I've had mine for slightly over a year now, and it was my first mechanical keyboard as well. I picked it up for like 75% off during an Amazon Christmas sale, and holy crap was that a steal. I love mine so much I don't think I could go back to a standard keyboard for gaming. Hell, I don't even like using the keyboards at work anymore (standard Dell keyboards that came with the computers) and would totally take my own keyboard in if it weren't for one little problem...

...Good lord you're right about how loud the keys are. Easily the loudest keyboard I've ever owned or used.

I feel the same way, when I go to visit my parents and I can't take the blackwidow with me because of suitcase space I have to go back to a little microsoft keyboard and I find it's so sluggish!

 

[-Dragmire-]

I have a Logitech MX 5500.

Spoiler

It's a good keyboard but I mostly got it for the mouse which is unfortunate because, while I adored the feel of the mouse, some of the side buttons would misalign from the springs underneath causing it to get stuck and it would lose connection enough for the scroll wheel to stop working.

I've since got a near identical stand alone mouse with better side buttons and no connection issues though I now have to buy batteries for it(a lot of them, I use my mouse quite a bit) but it's still worth it for the feel. I haven't changed my keyboard at all, it's served me well for the past 4-5 years.

 

[Riverwolf]

If it clicks as I type, I'm happy with it. My favorite keyboards, then, are those old keyboards from the 90s that don't even work on modern computers without a PS/2 to USB adapter, since I LOVE the sound they make (managed to snag one from a thrift store for 10 bucks, which I use on my CLI-only Linux work computer running Ubuntu Server 13.10, itself an ex-Windows XP computer from 10 years ago). I've heard the sound of Apple II and IBM 5150 keyboards in videos and REALLY want to try them out at some point (I love old, outdated computers. ^_^ Shame my C64 crashes 30 seconds into startup. )

When it comes to gaming keyboards, I've acquired a Corsair gaming keyboard, can't figure out how to program the 6 programmable keys (nor do I see much need to, since the kinds of games I play use the default keys very well), and while those aren't really points against it but simply my preferred style, THE KEYBOARD DOESN'T WORK ON THE STARTUP BIOS!!!! If I want to boot into Windows (I'm a Linux/Windows dual-booter) or mess around in the BIOS settings for whatever reason, I literally have to plug another keyboard in to do anything. REALLY frustrating. But beyond that, I haven't really noticed much difference between it and other keyboards I have which aren't designed for gaming. It clicks as I type (^_^), is responsive, the buttons work, it can keep up with my fairly quick typing speed, etc.

BTW, what are mechanical switches? Are those keyboards that attempt to recreate the feel of using an Altair 8800? If so, I want one.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

I use a Razer Blackwidow and it is a beauty.

Easily the loudest keyboard I've ever owned or used.

Reporting for duty to back up my mechanical brethren. I used to think it wasn't that big of a deal but since having one for over a year now it feels clunky as hell going back to a non mechanical keyboard. I will admit to the people NOT using the keyboard it is load and obnoxious, but holy hell is it a satisfying feeling having those keys click away like a minigun, typed a 5 page paper on this badboy last night and it was glorious.

 

[Ragsnstitches]

Cheap and functional (relatively, one can hardly call Logitech cheap). I play very few games that would require more then the standard affair and I'm not competitive enough to need uber precision and customisation. A basic keyboard gives me all the flexibility I need and I have other peripherals to satisfy other demands.

Speaking of which, I'm in need of a new one. Some keys are sticking on this one.

I'd be more picky about the mouse I use, though the one I currently have is a cheap wireless mouse and it does fine by me as long as I don't require high precision.

 

[Bravo Company]

I have the steelseries apex, its pretty and has a shit load of programmable buttons, but I don't find myself using them for anything except launching applications that are nifty to have on hand (calculator) or being lazy in games. I have one of my buttons set to hold down shift for a couple seconds then hold ctrl for a couple seconds for when I play warframe.


I have no preference for membrane or mechanical boards, I like my membrane board because it is quieter.

A gaming keyboard really isn't necessary, however, a gaming mouse makes a HUGE difference.

 

[The_Lost_King]

Well, I play laptop so I guess cheap and affordable. I know if I did play on a desktop that is what I would use. I don't feel the need to spend rediculous amounts of money on Mice, Keyboards, or headphones.Plus I'm a highschooler w/ no job so I don't have the money for expensive mice, keyboards and headphones.

 

[Tuesday Night Fever]

A gaming keyboard really isn't necessary, however, a gaming mouse makes a HUGE difference.

Totally agreed. I mean, I love my gaming keyboard and all, but a gaming mouse definitely makes more of a difference.

I've been using a Logitech G500 mouse for probably like four or five years now, and I just love the damn thing. It has a perfect shape and design to fit my hand comfortably, it has adjustable weight (I prefer a heavy mouse over a light one), adjustable movement and scrolling sensitivities, and a few extra buttons that I can bind that a regular mouse wouldn't have. I actually bought a second one about a year ago when it was on sale on Amazon, just so that when my current one dies I'll have a backup (just in case they don't make them anymore).

I tried a 2014 Razer Naga gaming mouse recently, and it just wasn't the same as my trusty G500. I used the Naga for only two weeks or so before switching back.

 

[Avaholic03]

My keyboard doesn't really fall into any of the categories in the poll, but I guess it's closest to "cheap and functional". It's a Logitech Wave, so it's a little more comfortable than a normal keyboard, and a little more expensive. It's got a few programmable keys, but it's not really designed as a gaming keyboard. It works for gaming, although I don't really play games that require twitch reactions or extreme speed/precision. I really don't see the advantage of a mechanical keyboard unless you do play those kinds of games...and my keys are a whole hell of a lot quieter.

 

[Bravo Company]

A gaming keyboard really isn't necessary, however, a gaming mouse makes a HUGE difference.

Totally agreed. I mean, I love my gaming keyboard and all, but a gaming mouse definitely makes more of a difference.

I've been using a Logitech G500 mouse for probably like four or five years now, and I just love the damn thing. It has a perfect shape and design to fit my hand comfortably, it has adjustable weight (I prefer a heavy mouse over a light one), adjustable movement and scrolling sensitivities, and a few extra buttons that I can bind that a regular mouse wouldn't have. I actually bought a second one about a year ago when it was on sale on Amazon, just so that when my current one dies I'll have a backup (just in case they don't make them anymore).

I tried a 2014 Razer Naga gaming mouse recently, and it just wasn't the same as my trusty G500. I used the Naga for only two weeks or so before switching back.

Unlike all my other gaming friends, I really don't like the old version of the Naga or the 2014 version. I've been using a logitech G600 for over a year and its just....game changing. The higher DPI and additional buttons just make a world of difference for me regardless of what game I play. For MMOs I can't have a shit load of other buttons for abilities that wouldn't be as convenient to access, and in shooters my hands never leave WASD for changing weapons or anything.

 

[RevRaptor]

If it clicks as I type, I'm happy with it. My favorite keyboards, then, are those old keyboards from the 90s that don't even work on modern computers without a PS/2 to USB adapter, since I LOVE the sound they make (managed to snag one from a thrift store for 10 bucks, which I use on my CLI-only Linux work computer running Ubuntu Server 13.10, itself an ex-Windows XP computer from 10 years ago). I've heard the sound of Apple II and IBM 5150 keyboards in videos and REALLY want to try them out at some point (I love old, outdated computers. ^_^ Shame my C64 crashes 30 seconds into startup. )

When it comes to gaming keyboards, I've acquired a Corsair gaming keyboard, can't figure out how to program the 6 programmable keys (nor do I see much need to, since the kinds of games I play use the default keys very well), and while those aren't really points against it but simply my preferred style, THE KEYBOARD DOESN'T WORK ON THE STARTUP BIOS!!!! If I want to boot into Windows (I'm a Linux/Windows dual-booter) or mess around in the BIOS settings for whatever reason, I literally have to plug another keyboard in to do anything. REALLY frustrating. But beyond that, I haven't really noticed much difference between it and other keyboards I have which aren't designed for gaming. It clicks as I type (^_^), is responsive, the buttons work, it can keep up with my fairly quick typing speed, etc.

BTW, what are mechanical switches? Are those keyboards that attempt to recreate the feel of using an Altair 8800? If so, I want one.

Mechanical switches are the ones that click as you type
Well not all clicky keyboards have mechanical keys but as a general rule if you like the feel of older keyboards then mechanical switches are they way to go.
you can even buy a demo unit to find out what ones you prefer.

Spoiler

 

[Riverwolf]

If it clicks as I type, I'm happy with it. My favorite keyboards, then, are those old keyboards from the 90s that don't even work on modern computers without a PS/2 to USB adapter, since I LOVE the sound they make (managed to snag one from a thrift store for 10 bucks, which I use on my CLI-only Linux work computer running Ubuntu Server 13.10, itself an ex-Windows XP computer from 10 years ago). I've heard the sound of Apple II and IBM 5150 keyboards in videos and REALLY want to try them out at some point (I love old, outdated computers. ^_^ Shame my C64 crashes 30 seconds into startup. )

When it comes to gaming keyboards, I've acquired a Corsair gaming keyboard, can't figure out how to program the 6 programmable keys (nor do I see much need to, since the kinds of games I play use the default keys very well), and while those aren't really points against it but simply my preferred style, THE KEYBOARD DOESN'T WORK ON THE STARTUP BIOS!!!! If I want to boot into Windows (I'm a Linux/Windows dual-booter) or mess around in the BIOS settings for whatever reason, I literally have to plug another keyboard in to do anything. REALLY frustrating. But beyond that, I haven't really noticed much difference between it and other keyboards I have which aren't designed for gaming. It clicks as I type (^_^), is responsive, the buttons work, it can keep up with my fairly quick typing speed, etc.

BTW, what are mechanical switches? Are those keyboards that attempt to recreate the feel of using an Altair 8800? If so, I want one.

Mechanical switches are the ones that click as you type
Well not all clicky keyboards have mechanical keys but as a general rule if you like the feel of older keyboards then mechanical switches are they way to go.
you can even buy a demo unit to find out what ones you prefer.

Spoiler

Okay, then. Thanks, now I know how to vote.

Gaming keyboard with mechanical switches, simply because of the key lights. That makes it SO much easier to type at night.