Is this a good first keyboard?

[nathanak21]

I am planning on getting one of the compaq MX 11800. I will probably mod and paint it. Is this a good keyboard for $35?

[Daniel Beaver]

Yes, it is. Go for it.

[nathanak21]

what makes keyboards better than others? because I can mod this for different switches if I want. If I end up doing that then this may be my first and last mech keyboard

[webwit]

If I end up doing that then this may be my first and last mech keyboard

Next year...

[thegunner100]

Is that your IBM collection?

[fossala]

No it's HaaTa's If I remember.

[webwit]

Not mine...
http://deskthority.net/photos-videos-f8 ... t2591.html

My Model M collection is like this:

[thebeargentile]

If I end up doing that then this may be my first and last mech keyboard

Next year...


Exactly. I bought my "first and last mechanical keyboard", a WASD, a few months ago, and have since picked up a Filco, an 87U, and am ordering a Kinesis Advantage for work. As a typing enhancement, they're awesome, but God help you if it turns into a hobby. Like Pringles, once you pop, the fun don't stop!

[codehead]

Yes, my Keyboard Love Story describes this "road to nowhere" pretty much... Each of us are on different paths but going along the same road...

My path is about the pursuit for performance, not about collecting. But the end result is quite the same

[nathanak21]

Ok I gotcha. I guess what I meant to say is will this be a good keyboard to put alot of work and time into?

[modulor]

My first cherry was a G80-11900, and based on my experience I'd say it's a good choice.

[nathanak21]

My first cherry was a G80-11900, and based on my experience I'd say it's a good choice.

Are you saying to buy the compaq? Its made by cherry right?

[Findecanor]

It is made by Cherry, yes. It is a Cherry G80-11800 in a slightly different hue (all of them?) with the Compaq logo on it.
However, do you like the layout and look of the keyboard?

[modulor]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that it's essentially the same board, just with a track pad instead of a track ball. Cherry is the manufacturer of the Compaq board so it's the same quality, and being that the switches are PCB mounted, it's easy to mod them.

[IvanIvanovich]

11800 is ok, but the layout is a little odd. If you are not in a hurry there are often better model of g80 for similar price on ebay. Just need to keep the search often and you will get one. I would try and go for something like an 1800 or 3000 personally for layout reasons, also keep your eye for the letters after then number, like 3000H**/S** would be better to get if possible as the keycap is better than the L models.

[nathanak21]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that it's essentially the same board, just with a track pad instead of a track ball. Cherry is the manufacturer of the Compaq board so it's the same quality, and being that the switches are PCB mounted, it's easy to mod them.

So the cherry branded board is easier to mod? And I do kinda like the layout. Im more of a gamer than a typer. I like how it is short.

[nathanak21]

Are POS keyboards compatible with modern pcs?

[nathanak21]

Is the MX8100 POS Keyboard a good choice? I like how it looks and if I can bind the pos keys then it would be great.

[nathanak21]

and what are mx gold crosspoint key switches? never heard of them and only saw something on geekhack

[ripster]

Yeah, that was this:
http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?1564 ... -Contacts/

It's "contacts" if you want to get technical.

[nathanak21]

so what switches does that one use?

[modulor]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that it's essentially the same board, just with a track pad instead of a track ball. Cherry is the manufacturer of the Compaq board so it's the same quality, and being that the switches are PCB mounted, it's easy to mod them.

So the cherry branded board is easier to mod? And I do kinda like the layout. Im more of a gamer than a typer. I like how it is short.

Both are made by Cherry, so they are of the same quality and build. The size and layout are exactly the same, with the exception that the 11800 doesn't have Windows keys and has 1.5 unit modifier keys instead. The 11900 model has a touchpad in place of the trackball that's on the 11800, and the 11900 has linear mx black switches, while the 11800 has tactile mx brown switches. While switch preference is highly debatable, I'd say for gaming the 11800 would be good because it doesn't have Windows keys.

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_G80-11900
http://deskthority.net/wiki/G80-11800

[Kurk]

So the cherry branded board is easier to mod? And I do kinda like the layout. Im more of a gamer than a typer. I like how it is short.

Like modulor said.
And if you're a FPS gamer then these boards might not be the right thing for you. They don't have
NKRO but you they do register 3 keys of the TabQWERASDFZXCV cluster + modifier simultaneously.

However, both keyboards are perfect for editing posts and thus preventing thread cluttering

[Charlie_Brown_MX]

However, both keyboards are perfect for editing posts and thus preventing thread cluttering

Do they help prevent starting multiple threads asking the same question?

1. http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/i-j ... t3302.html
2. http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/ple ... t3271.html

[nathanak21]

like I said in that thread, sorry, im new here, im only 13, and its been a rough couple days for me

[phetto]

Thats a really nice keyboard! Way better than Razer Blackwidow, it used to be a 13 year olds choice.

Nice that you have some taste in boards!

[nathanak21]

Yea. I like to read up and know my choices.

[nathanak21]

I went ahead and jumped on a deal for a Cherry MX8100 / G80-8963LUBUS. It uses mx brown and has a lot of keys to macro. Thank you guys for all your input.

[nathanak21]

What do you guys think?

[IvanIvanovich]

I've had several of those, or the 8113 which is the same thing. They are a pretty good board. I prefer the 3190/8200 though as I do not like the touchpads. Now you just need to get some different stem and spring so you can try all the MX for cheap and decide which you want to go with.