[the wizard of oz]

I used to want the Logitech Illuminated, but caught the Apple gear bug recently, so I now own two of their slim aluminium keyboard with number-pad sets

. I like the soft, laptop like keystroke, & the design of course.
 
Previously I had a bamboo keyboard + bamboo mouse set, but the build quality wasn't that good, & lacked special function keys.

 

[dirkpitt45]

I've always found the apple keyboards to be awkward to use. Too flat, I also don't like chiclet style keyboards in general so meh.
 
Logitech illuminated is awesome, along with the mx revolution, don't think I'll be upgrading either for a while. 

 

[the wizard of oz]

Well, since my girlfriend sanely hasn't caught the Apple gear bug, I likely will buy her the Logitech Illuminated, and will then be able to feel the difference. Her old noisy Packard Bell keyboard could do with a replacement all right! I successfully built her a new powerful & nicely silent desktop computer to replace her old, and only the keyboard & monitor need upgrading now. I'd started talking her into a large wide screen Asus LCD monitor, but since I've become accustomed to IPS monitors, I'll try to talk her into another brand that has IPS for cheaper than Apple

...
Mouse-wise we both like Thanko's Silent Mouse EX very much, although I do admit I wish its build quality was more Logitech-like.

 

[MCC]

 
Quote:

I've always found the apple keyboards to be awkward to use. Too flat, I also don't like chiclet style keyboards in general so meh.

Yeah, I don't like chiclet style keyboards that much either. I'm in a class that uses Xcode for iPhone development. I set my Thinkpad in front of the Macs in lab instead of dealing with the aluminum Apple keyboard and unresponsive "mighty mouse". I'd much rather use a slower OSX virtual machine than the real thing if those peripherals are involved.

 

[the wizard of oz]

I must admit I had to look up chiclet-style keyboard, but it ventured an interesting read on computer keyboard technology and got me all interested in Topre products again...

 

[Pine]

Some absolutely beautiful pictures of keyboards up there, gentlemen. 
I've been eyeing mechanical keyboards for a while, and think I want to take the dive. 
I've come down to the Das Silent Model S for its Cherry MX Brown switches. 
It's supplied at NCIX (Which is fairly close to me, in store pickup) but out of stock (I can wait). The reason I've come down to this one is because it uses the Cherry MX Brown Switches, it's fairly priced ($125), and I can get it locally and can even price match it for about $115 (If any of the other online retailers get stock anytime soon). I've looked at Deck Keyboards, Filco Keyboards and a number of other manufacturers, but the Deck keyboards use black/clear switches, and a Filco will run me $40 or so in shipping.So can anybody educate me on my choice? I'm essentially looking for a mechanical keyboard that uses Cherry MX Brown switches and one I can get it into Canada with a reasonable price shipped/picked up (around $150 and under, perhaps). 
 
 If you guys can help, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[NomadicAce]

My personal favorite: http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/customizer.html I own three of them and could not be happier, much better than the daskeyboard in my opinon. Uses the same buckling spring design as the ibm model m...Unicomp bought the rights from ibm/lexmark or something like that.

 

[Pine]

Thanks for the reply. Could you perhaps elaborate on why it's superior to the Das Keyboard? Also, it'll cost me $30 to ship, which is quite a sum. I'm not really a fan of how it looks (however I understand that really isn't what's important). 
Thanks for the information though, I'll definitely consider it.

 

[ohaider]

I have a Filco Tenkeyless w/ Cherry MX Browns. It's a great, tactile keyboard, with a nice balance for typing and gaming, IMO.

~$140 total

 

[Pine]

The Filco with Brown Cherries was something that I wanted, but the $30 or so shipping really pushes me away from it. It sucks how I can't seem to find it anywhere without ridiculous charges just to get it to me. A large point for me considering the Das Silent is because of the availability in Canada (It's out of stock everywhere, but I can wait a bit) and its Cherry MX Brown switches.

 

[ohaider]

Quote:

The Filco with Brown Cherries was something that I wanted, but the $30 or so shipping really pushes me away from it. It sucks how I can't seem to find it anywhere without ridiculous charges just to get it to me. A large point for me considering the Das Silent is because of the availability in Canada (It's out of stock everywhere, but I can wait a bit) and its Cherry MX Brown switches.

Yikes. That's pretty expensive for shipping. If I recall the shipping for mine was just a little over $10, but the board is solid as a rock and worth the investment over a rubber dome.(Minus the Realforce boards.)
 
Since you said you could wait for the Das, you probably should. If you want a board now just go for the Filco - you won't regret it

.
 
On a side note, I wasn't aware that Das had boards with cherry browns.
 

 

[Pine]

Yeah, I'd have to wait for the Das since it's out of stock at local retailers, where it's around $120. Only the Das Silent Model S keyboards used Cherry Browns. I probably won't for a Filco either, since they'll also charge me 30 bucks for shipping to Canada (and I also wouldn't be getting it any time soon if I did go for it, it's out of stock). 
 
I think I'll wait for a Das to become available...out of curiosity, do you think the Filco and Das are any different?

 

[NomadicAce]

I really like the response of the keys when i press them, (I play the piano as a hobby) and every time I type on this keyboard it is just wonderful. They do require a bit of force though and are quite loud (referring to the buckling spring model)
 
The daskeyboard really is nice and I enjoyed typing on it for the year and a half that I did. My major complaints: glossy finish super dust magnet, lettering on my keys seemed to fade, but I seem to be in little company here. Overall the tactile response was just not that magical for me like it was on the ibm model m (so I found my replacement in the unicomp because it is a clone).
 
I would suggest trying to find people near you with keyboards you are interested in, but I understand that to be a difficult task. The feel of actual typing is a personal phenomenon. 
 
sorry I am really bad at giving reviews and such. if you have to pay 30 dollars shipping for everything else the das is indeed a great keyboard and probably worth it since you can get it locally.

 

[Pine]

Well, what d'ya know, I also play Piano as a hobby. 
As for finding people near me with these keyboards, it's a bit difficult, because I wouldn't even know where to look, and nobody I know owns is enough of an enthusiast to own a mechanical keyboard. On a side note, I really love what the Razer Black Widow looks like. I hear it uses MX Blue switches which I don't think I'd like at all, however, and it probably won't be of the build quality of a mechanical keyboard from a dedicated manufacturer. 
Anyway, I think I'll just wait a bit for the Das to be in stock somewhere near me. 
You guys have been a great help, thanks. I'm open to any more advice by the way 

 
Edit: I'm using a roll-out tray under my desk for my current thick rubber dome keyboard, and the thickness really bothers me because my hands hit the top of the desk a lot. I'm a bit worried, as I've just discovered the Model S is also very thick (about 24mm). This might pose a problem for me. I really love how the Black Widow looks, and it's really unfortunate how it uses MX Blue switches which are apparently quite annoying when gaming; However, it is made by Razer, a gaming company, and by that fact shouldn't the Black Widow be a great gaming keyboard? Maybe the Black Widow uses some other type of switch. I think I'll wait for the Black Widow to come out and for some reviews before really deciding, though. Basically, it's really difficult to decide on a keyboard. 
 
Last edit, read me first: So basically, this is what's up. All guns are pointed to the Das Silent Model S. I love the glossy finish and Cherry Browns. It is very thick, but I think I can live with that. I'll wait for the Razer BlackWidow to come out to see if it uses different Cherry Blue switches, in which case I might consider it. Thanks for all your help guys, still open to advice.

 

[mralexosborn]

What keyboard to get for under $80? Christmas gift for me, BTW. 
 
I was thinking Razer Black Widow. I know Blues are not ideal for gaming but won't they be a 100% improvement over my PoS spillproof keyboard? I mean a mechanical for $80, what a deal!