Best cheap keyboards?

Kneeboard

02 Dec 2020, 01:07

Keybug wrote:
01 Dec 2020, 22:54
Get one of those Hexgears hot-swappable keyboards from AliExpress and have a great time trying out different switches. People often sell leftover switches for cheap. If you can get around 30-40 of one kind, that's enough to put them on the letter keys and really get a feel for them to find out what you like.

I can sell you a BTC-5100 Mini (German layout) if you want one. Shipping from Germany, though.

I also have a ton of Futaba clickies boards you can have for a tenner each. There may be some others I could throw in for another tenner, like vintage MX blue.
I have been thinking about getting a hot swappable board and actually bought a switch tester for BOX switches and was thinking about testing them and then maybe getting a board. On the topic of the BTC and Futaba's that sounds like a great deal. I've heard so much about BTC's they sound fantastic and I've actually wanted a Futaba for a while. Only problem was I could never even find them on places like eBay let alone afford them XD I should be able to buy them sometime this week or in a worse case next week but hopefully that doesn't happen. Same with the M122 mentioned above :D

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hellothere

02 Dec 2020, 19:15

Keybug wrote:
01 Dec 2020, 22:54
Get one of those Hexgears hot-swappable keyboards from AliExpress and have a great time trying out different switches. People often sell leftover switches for cheap. If you can get around 30-40 of one kind, that's enough to put them on the letter keys and really get a feel for them to find out what you like.
IMO, this is definitely the better way to test. When I was testing the box switches, I started with an order of 30 or 40* and replaced the switches on a couple otherwise unused keyboards. If you get a hot swap keyboard that supports Kailh switches -- this is really important as some only support Outemu or something else that's esoteric -- that'd really make your life much easier.

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*Looks like novelkeys.xyz is now selling Jade and Navy Thick Clicks only in quantities of 70/90/110.

Kneeboard

02 Dec 2020, 23:54

hellothere wrote:
02 Dec 2020, 19:15
Keybug wrote:
01 Dec 2020, 22:54
Get one of those Hexgears hot-swappable keyboards from AliExpress and have a great time trying out different switches. People often sell leftover switches for cheap. If you can get around 30-40 of one kind, that's enough to put them on the letter keys and really get a feel for them to find out what you like.
IMO, this is definitely the better way to test. When I was testing the box switches, I started with an order of 30 or 40* and replaced the switches on a couple otherwise unused keyboards. If you get a hot swap keyboard that supports Kailh switches -- this is really important as some only support Outemu or something else that's esoteric -- that'd really make your life much easier.

========

*Looks like novelkeys.xyz is now selling Jade and Navy Thick Clicks only in quantities of 70/90/110.
I might go and get some of the Jade's or Navy's soon.
I also managed to get one of those super cheap hot-swappable boards and got it on quite a good discount as well so it was under 10 pounds :D

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