Looking for the right keyboard under $120 CAD

J_tyo · Apr 25, 2016

Hello! I've been searching for a new keyboard to go with my new setup. There a couple things that I want specifically but seem to be hard to find within a budget.

I've been looking for a board with:
-Under $120
-Cherry red switches
-Rgb or blue backlighting
-Preferably Ten keyless
-Macros
-Media keys aren't important
-Doesn't look like ass

Thanks for the help in advance

gondo · Apr 25, 2016

I've gone through many keyboards over the years. A couple of thoughts:

- Microsoft has off an on made some nice gaming designs with their sidewinder designs. They seem to make them then stop making them for a few years, then get back in the game. I've owned many and they are always unreliable.
- Logitech used to be just as bad as Microsoft for reliability. Lately they've improved their game and I wouldn't hesitate to use one.
- Razer, the standard and original gaming specific brand, is also very unreliable.
- I myself, or others I know, have had reliability issues with the many PC brands of the past 10 years such as Corsair, Coolermaster, etc.... Their keyboards/Mice are just not as good as peripheral specific brands such as logitech.
- The one brand that claims to have the best reliability on the market, and I have had very good luck with them is Steel Series. I'm sticking with them until things change. If I still had my store it's the only brand of keyboard/mice I'd stock.

The SteelSeries MX500 is a blue backlit Cherry Red keyboard. Claimed to be built like a tank. Under $100. Don't be turned off by the minimal layout...it lacks stupid media keys, but all keys are macro capable. You can turn any key or Fkey into a macro. This is nice since you can turn the F key for example into a macro where it's within easy reach.

A second device I must recommend is the Logitech G13 gameboard. I bought mine for under $50 and it's great. You may not use it for every game, but for those that you do it's awesome. And for the price it can't be beat.

J_tyo · Apr 26, 2016

gondo :

I've gone through many keyboards over the years. A couple of thoughts:

- Microsoft has off an on made some nice gaming designs with their sidewinder designs. They seem to make them then stop making them for a few years, then get back in the game. I've owned many and they are always unreliable.
- Logitech used to be just as bad as Microsoft for reliability. Lately they've improved their game and I wouldn't hesitate to use one.
- Razer, the standard and original gaming specific brand, is also very unreliable.
- I myself, or others I know, have had reliability issues with the many PC brands of the past 10 years such as Corsair, Coolermaster, etc.... Their keyboards/Mice are just not as good as peripheral specific brands such as logitech.
- The one brand that claims to have the best reliability on the market, and I have had very good luck with them is Steel Series. I'm sticking with them until things change. If I still had my store it's the only brand of keyboard/mice I'd stock.

The SteelSeries MX500 is a blue backlit Cherry Red keyboard. Claimed to be built like a tank. Under $100. Don't be turned off by the minimal layout...it lacks stupid media keys, but all keys are macro capable. You can turn any key or Fkey into a macro. This is nice since you can turn the F key for example into a macro where it's within easy reach.

A second device I must recommend is the Logitech G13 gameboard. I bought mine for under $50 and it's great. You may not use it for every game, but for those that you do it's awesome. And for the price it can't be beat.

Thanks for the reply. That Steelseries MX500 is a really nice looking board. The minimalist design is pretty nice. It's a shame that it isn't ten keyless but It should be fine. I'll be picking up this board soon, cheers!

gondo · Apr 26, 2016

I actually love the standard layout. I love having the numpad for calculator, spreadsheet, etc... I also love it when the 6 keys (ins, home, del, end ,pg up down) above the cursors are in a 2 by 3 wide grid. Not the stupid 3 tall layout with the big del key.

Having a numpad is actually useful in some games for controlling aircraft. you can use wasd simultaneously with the numpad for a double yoke aircraft design.

However if you want something tiny for transporting to a lan then that's a different story.

J_tyo · Apr 26, 2016

gondo :

It's more of a matter of having the deskspace. Trying to keep a clunky drawing tablet and standard sized keyboard is extremely uncomfortable so I want a board that fits on the desk nicely along with the tablet.

gondo · Apr 26, 2016

You should add a gaming keypad plus a big gaming mouse

That's why ditched the computer desk and installed a piece of countertop along the wall and made a custom 6 ft wide desk.

It's funny shopping for a keyboard turns into a conversation about requiring a new desk. Honestly though an $80 piece of laminated countertop from home depot makes the best desk. I just screwed a couple of steel arms to the wall and put the countertop on that for a floating desk without cabinet. Computer fits nicely underneath. Drilled a few holes and put some plastic hole fillers to pass cables for $2 each. Makes the best $100 desk. Would cost over $500 to buy something not even close to being as good. NOw I have room for all the mice, keyboards, and tablets I want.

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Looking for the right keyboard under $120 CAD

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