Looking for keyboard suggestions

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cpmackenzi

cpmackenzi

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Jul 11, 2014
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I edit books for a living, and I game a fair amount. I'm using an old membrane keyboard, and I think it's time to upgrade soon. I don't know anything about the high-end keyboards and am looking for advice.

Editing keystrokes are often focused in the lower right corner: punctuation keys, plus right Ctrl and directional arrows. Right side of spacebar used more than center/left, and I read about one keyboard having a spacebar that doesn't input well when you're using it offcentered. I need a full keyboard with Numpad due to my editing.

For gaming, I'm all over the board. Master of Orion, Civ 5, XCOM don't really need important keystrokes. But I also play Tomb Raider and some FPS (Fallout 4, DOOM).

From what I'm reading, I think I'll prefer some resistance to the keys, so Cherry MX Brown seems the way to go. I've also seen the mecha membrane keyboard from Razer Ornata Chroma -- any thoughts on that one?

I won't spend much over $100 on a keyboard. I don't care about the RGB color schemes -- a solid backlit color is fine, or no backlight. I see no point in paying $150 for a RGB when I can get the same function at $90 for one color.

Two keyboards I'm considering based on my own research are the Logitech G610 Orion Brown, and the Corsair STRAFE Cherry MX Brown. I was considering the Rosewill RK-9300BR until I read a lot of reviews about the USB connector being poor. Any other suggestions are welcome. My local Best Buy does not have high-end keyboards on display to try myself, so I'm going to have to just pick one and see how it goes.
 
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velocityg4
I couldn't say for the Corsair. I only buy Logitech Keyboards and Mice. I have done so for the last 10 to 15 years. I've never had one fail on me. They always work great. I only end up replacing them because they start looking so worn after years of use.

Although it is not mechanical. My 6 year old MK700/MK710 keystrokes are nearly as firm as they were new. I can feel a slight difference between my right and left Ctrl key. I almost never use the left. I'm happy with the level of resistance it provides. Which I would consider moderately firm.

I couldn't say how great it is for gaming. I use an XBOX 360 controller for most games. Games were I use the keyboard are slow paced like Total War games or simulators.
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velocityg4

velocityg4

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I couldn't say for the Corsair. I only buy Logitech Keyboards and Mice. I have done so for the last 10 to 15 years. I've never had one fail on me. They always work great. I only end up replacing them because they start looking so worn after years of use.

Although it is not mechanical. My 6 year old MK700/MK710 keystrokes are nearly as firm as they were new. I can feel a slight difference between my right and left Ctrl key. I almost never use the left. I'm happy with the level of resistance it provides. Which I would consider moderately firm.

I couldn't say how great it is for gaming. I use an XBOX 360 controller for most games. Games were I use the keyboard are slow paced like Total War games or simulators.
 
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cpmackenzi

cpmackenzi

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Thanks for the reply. I think I'm looking to stay with wired keyboard and mouse. I used to use Logitech too, but found a keyboard and mouse style that I liked, so I have bought two of those over the last six years instead.

That said, my current top pick looks like the Logitech G610. If I was buying today, that'd probably be the way I go.

For mice, which I'll upgrade a bit later, I'm considering Logitech's G Pro and the G203. But honestly, I'm more leaning toward the Razer DeathAdder Essential.
 
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cpmackenzi

cpmackenzi

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New development. I'm realizing as I look that the bottom row of keys, particularly the Ctrl key, is usually angled upward on most new keyboards. My old keyboard is a GE keyboard 98056 v2 (https://www.overstock.com/Electronics/General-Electric-Multimedia-Keyboard-And-Optical-Mouse/7969322/product.html). The bottom row of keys slopes downward, as opposed to having a sharp edge at the bottom of the key.

Given how I do my editing work, that's comfortable to me, and I worry that the sharper edges of the G610 and others I've looked at will hurt my thumb, given how much I use Ctrl in my editing typing.

Can anyone offer a keyboard with a sloped, soft edge to the bottom of the keyboard? It seems many ergonomic split keyboards have the softer keys, but I'm looking for a regular keyboard.

UPDATE: My Best Buy has one singular fancy gaming keyboard, the BlackWidow Chroma V2. It has more of an edge to the Ctrl key than my current keyboard, but it's not super sharp. It may be less of an issue than I fear, but if there's a mechanical keyboard with a downward sloping bottom row, I'd love to find it.
 
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cpmackenzi

cpmackenzi

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Update: I went with the Logitech G610 Brown. I simply turned the Ctrl key around so that it slants downward, and this makes it much easier on my thumb for my editing work. Overall I like the feel, and it's a bit lighter touch than my old membrane keyboard.
 
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