Yet another Keyboard thread

[ipaine]

Ok so I thought about hijacking one of the others but decided against it.

First I have looked through all of these threads:

Best high-end full size gaming keyboard?

Hi fellows, What are recommending as the best full size high-end gaming keyboard for FPS? I read some reviews, but they are all over the place! Thank you, CG :)

hardwarecanucks.com

Mountain Everest Max arrived - comments

The Everest Max (black with MX Browns) arrived today and I set it up. I know my initial impression of the ASUS ROG Strix II 96 Wireless was positive and over time I ended up buying this... but I think this one is a keeper! :) I have the say even though I wasn't able to get used to the 96 layout...

hardwarecanucks.com

Its finally time... new KB time.

I've been using a DeCK 82 for over ten years. It's a 75% -sized mechanical that predates a lot of standards, which is one of the reasons why it doesn't feel any better even with TWO thick rubber O rings as spacers on each key. So, I'm finally in the market for a new one. Doesn't *have* to be a...

hardwarecanucks.com

Recommendation on a new Mech keyboard

Hey guys, I don't know too much about keyboards but I do like mechanical keyboards. I been using an old chinese branded keyboard from Dierya for like 5 years now, and it works great. Has brown otermu switches. It was my first mech keyboard, so budget keyboard as I didnt know if i wanted to...

hardwarecanucks.com

I think the perfect 104 key keyboard just doesn't exist for me...

My Corsair K70 Lux keyboard that I've had for 6 years has started acting up. I think it's the original K70 Lux, not the v2 but what I liked about it, other than the solid metal frame, was the 100% vanilla 104 key layout, no Fn key fuckery for things I don't use and never have. After 30 years I'm...

hardwarecanucks.com

Ok so I am currently typing on my Corsair K95 Platinum and it has been a really good keyboard for me, but was looking for a change and since it does not have swappable switches I needed to find something else. So I have bought a Keychron V6 Max, and well, good and bad.

First the good. The typing on it is so much quieter and nicer than the K95. It has the Gateron Jupiter Red Linear switches and oh is it ever nice. Seriously big improvement from the K95. It also has bluetooth, wifi and usb which covers what I need. So as a core typing experience it is very nice.

Now the bad, or maybe just bad for me? It has 4 macro keys but they are above the numpad and I played with them but it just feels wrong. I need them to be on the left side so that I can easily use the macro keys and the mouse, just works better on the left like my K95. I think this is going to be my biggest issue overall. Then the other sort of bad thing, the south facing RGB. Quite frankly I don't see how this is looked at as an improvement at all. My K95 is significantly brighter and just looks much nicer. I have tried some keycaps that I bought for shine through, as well as the keycaps from my K95, and even at max brightness they are way dimmer. I have to see what I am typing in low light. The just are not very visible at all, completely interior to the K95.

So what am I actually looking for? Well I want a keyboard that to be honest is almost just like my K95, full size with macro keys on the left, but with hot-swappable switches and it needs at the least bluetooth as I have to be able to easily connect to my work laptop with it. It also needs to be able to store everything in keyboard memory and not require software to be installed.

Suggestions are welcomed. I think I almost for sure would have gone with the Mountain Everest max, but no wifi/bluetooth. Have also been looking at the Keychron Lemokey L3 since it does have the macros on the left, but then doesn't have a numbpad so I would have to get one separately. So anyone know of one that has all that I want? Layout just like K95, but with bluetooth and hot swappable switches.

 

[Shadowarez]

sounds like keyboards are becoming the next monitor holy grail search for the right specs as in it has this but not this spec or feature seems very likely these companies intentionally do this to differentiate themselves. good luck i settled for my Corsair Rapid Fire Cherry MKII awhile ago sure it died 3x in the 4 yrs i had it but Corsair have been 100% amazing in sending me a new one everytime iv had a issue.

 

[Lysrin]

I likely said in one of those threads that I'm an Everest Max guy now. But as you said, hard stop for your use case if you absolutely have to have wireless. It is a great option for all your other requirements I think though. And my numpad/macro keys are attached to the left side of mine giving me the mousing space of the TKL and the full keyboard layout and key spacing.

I've been using a KVM to connect to my main PC and work laptop and the Everest does keep all my settings, including the macro key set up, even though the Everest software is not installed on the work laptop. When I switch PCs, it does a load thing with the RGB lighting, like a wave one side to the other same as when I turn on my main PC, and then comes back to it's previous state, colour, etc.

So if you went the KVM route, it could work with your laptop and check off a few more of your requirements, minus the wireless of course. You would have to install the software at least initially to set up the keyboard.

Just one more pitch for the Everest Max, just in case

I also thought Drop might offer something that would suit you, but I couldn't find anything there with macro keys. Good luck with the search! I have spent too much money on keyboards lol but I'm pretty happy now. That should leave more money available to buy games I may never get to play!

 

[clshades]

Everest max for sure. I love mine.

 

[Marzipan]

why hot get a macro pad for the left side and not worry about the ones in a bad spot? not only will you have the convenience of preferred placement, but you're likely to get 3 or 4x the number of keys you can macro.

 

[ipaine]

I've been using a KVM to connect to my main PC and work laptop and the Everest does keep all my settings, including the macro key set up, even though the Everest software is not installed on the work laptop. When I switch PCs, it does a load thing with the RGB lighting, like a wave one side to the other same as when I turn on my main PC, and then comes back to it's previous state, colour, etc.

So if you went the KVM route, it could work with your laptop and check off a few more of your requirements, minus the wireless of course. You would have to install the software at least initially to set up the keyboard.

So I'm currently using a kvm, but ever since the switch to my current mobo/cpu it sometimes likes to mess around with all my usb when switching. So it will decide to drop and reattach my 4 bay usb enclosure, any thumb drives, and webcam. This needless to say just messes with things and not everything comes back properly. Drives me crazy.

Honestly the Everest max is still super high up on the list and if they had been easily available over black fri/cyber mon, then I might have just done it and lived with the kvm/usb nonsense. And the rgb is bright enough looks like.

But damn that price hurts, well it really hurts with the exchange rate. The Keychron only cost $165, but that Everest is $247 usd, so $346 cdn, over twice the price.

why hot get a macro pad for the left side and not worry about the ones in a bad spot? not only will you have the convenience of preferred placement, but you're likely to get 3 or 4x the number of keys you can macro.

Have been looking at this as well. I'm thinking it will most likely be the option I choose. I mean I only sometimes use the macros during non work hours, so getting a small 3/4/9 key macro pad is something that makes sense.


So $30-60 on a macropad, or $350 on another keyboard. So who's betting I end up doing both or some stupid shit like that?

 

[sswilson]

So $30-60 on a macropad, or $350 on another keyboard. So who's betting I end up doing both or some stupid shit like that?

You know you wanna........

 

[Marzipan]

@ipaine here's something to bedazzle your eyes with!

Apple Touch Bar turns into a $119 standalone gadget — Flexbar features a 10-inch aluminum body with a 2K AMOLED display that communicates with a USB-C cable

This little gadget solves everything that went wrong with Apple's implementation.

www.tomshardware.com

 

[ipaine]

Honestly going down this rabbit hole has not been fun at all.

I hate that the Keychron V6 max is so nice to type on, because with everything else and the south-facing rgb crap (see rants) I am almost ready to just return it.

Maybe just cave and go to the Logitech G915, since it has everything I need. Not that the typing is great like it is on the Keychron, but hell at least it does everything else. Or maybe just ignore the KVM issues I get and go with the Everest Max or something.

@Lysrin You got the Everest Max, did you get that through their site or through someone else like Amazon?

 

[Caldezar]

South facing LED's are usually in place due to cherry switch interference with norths.

If the left macros aren't critical, I'd suggest taking a look at the 'ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96'. Specifically the model with the pre-lubed NX Snow switches. I know everyone is on the train of custom keyboards, but this one is absolutely amazing. Far and away the best keyboard I've ever typed on. Plus switches are hot swappable, board is dampened with heavy silicone, and wireless performance is stupid good.

You're in Edmonton, so you're welcome to swing by and give it a test run.

Review for details: