Cherry G80-5000 split ergo keyboard (Cherry MX brown)

[Chyros]

I finally give a proper review to a split ergonomic keyboard, which also happens to be a Cherry legend, the G80-5000! And for the first time, we have a look at MX brown . Hope you enjoy the video!

[kekstee]

The numlock light you ridicule has a matching PS/2 port on the back of the keyboard for this numpad:
wiki/Cherry_G80-5700

[dokyun]

'Possibly even worse than MX Black' thank you for this sneak shade attack on MX Blacks

[mike52787]

keeping the cherry hate train going. Classic. Also love the fact that you didnt even denote that this board has Vintage MX browns.

[Chyros]

keeping the cherry hate train going. Classic. Also love the fact that you didnt even denote that this board has Vintage MX browns.

Scratchiness is not the biggest problem of the switches. The biggest problem is that they're basically not at all tactile :p . It's honestly one of the crappiest design ideas I've seen in the world of keyboards.

[Laser]

Funny enough, *for me* the MX Brown is the switch I settled to (from the Cherry family), after starting with MX Blues, moving to Clears (even modded to Ergos & Pandas; it's way too tactile!) and also trying MX Blacks. And I avoided the Browns exactly because of the reviews posted on DT and GH forums. A 62-65g MX Brown with a 'trampoline mod' and OEM-tall keycaps was the closest feeling I got to Topres (that yes, I like and use).

[mike52787]

keeping the cherry hate train going. Classic. Also love the fact that you didnt even denote that this board has Vintage MX browns.

Scratchiness is not the biggest problem of the switches. The biggest problem is that they're basically not at all tactile :p . It's honestly one of the crappiest design ideas I've seen in the world of keyboards.

I can get behind that, the tactility is weak and all. but why all the hate on mx blacks and mx clears? 2 damn good switches IMO.I didn't mind your insulting of mx brown as much as the sly mx black diss near the end. you should give plate mount vintage blacks a shot. I bet you will like them alot more than the pcb mount ones you tried.

[Menuhin]

Funny enough, *for me* the MX Brown is the switch I settled to (from the Cherry family), after starting with MX Blues, moving to Clears (even modded to Ergos & Pandas; it's way too tactile!) and also trying MX Blacks. And I avoided the Browns exactly because of the reviews posted on DT and GH forums. A 62-65g MX Brown with a 'trampoline mod' and OEM-tall keycaps was the closest feeling I got to Topres (that yes, I like and use).

You disclosed your identity...

If MX Clears or modded Clears are "way too tactile" for you then I understand why you may like MX browns.
And that is true, the vintage MX browns are highly regarded by most of the MX brown supporters.

But, I don't like MX browns, just personal taste.

I also think Chyros can spare MX blacks on his popular niche keyboard channel - I haven't tried any vintage hall effect switches, but nicely implemented design of MX blacks (e.g. tuned MX blacks or Gaterons) can better than SKCL Green Alps. Also, as @Laser above said MX Clears are "too tactile" for him, MX Clears (and its variants, e.g. Ergos and Zealios) are also better at their tactility, but I agree that they are of a different kind of tactility, i.e. not so higher up like Alps, not so smooth and progressive like Topre. It just happens I am typing on a board with MX Clears - I also like it.

So if you destroy MX browns, I don't care as much But I will speak for the design of MX blacks and MX Clears, not necessarily made by Cherry though.

[need]

Wait, so how exactly does the weak tactility makes Cherry an inferior switch? I can only imagine Alps feel like torture to those who have problems with RSI. Especially when this is an ergonomic keyboard, a weaker tactile switch seems pretty appropriate.

[Laser]

So if you destroy MX browns, I don't care as much But I will speak for the design of MX blacks and MX Clears, not necessarily made by Cherry though.

Well, my problem is this: if reviews destroy MX Browns, people don't buy keyboards with MX Brown switches. So, more such keyboards for me. Hence, wallet unhappy! So, you see my problem

[Daniel Beardsmore]

I know than when I tried MX brown again after MX red, brown felt noticeably different. However, I just dug out my MX brown Filco (banished as a load of keys have gone bad) it just feels linear. It sounds nice though — it's got a softer tone to my Poker II.

Cherry MX blue is an interesting one, because when my other Filco was new I found the tactile peaks to be so sharp as to be borderline painful. It was like the keyboard was stabbing you with each keypress at times. Either I've desensitised to it, or the switches have worn somehow. Now it feels essentially linear.

Yet, each time I start a new working week, my MX red keyboard at work definitely feels linear in comparison.

The Cherry tactile feel is subtle enough that you overlook it readily, yet it's still there and you notice it when it's gone.

My only feeling is that the keys should be a bit heavier. For MX Red, that just means a stiffer spring, like nature white. For blue, maybe making it a bit more tactile (rather than stiffer) would help, but not so tactile that you feel that the keyboard is actively fighting back against you.

I had to wince at the thin bit of plastic in the middle — I realise that it has to be flexible to permit tenting, but even so, it does look like an accident waiting to happen.

[Chyros]

keeping the cherry hate train going. Classic. Also love the fact that you didnt even denote that this board has Vintage MX browns.

Scratchiness is not the biggest problem of the switches. The biggest problem is that they're basically not at all tactile :p . It's honestly one of the crappiest design ideas I've seen in the world of keyboards.

I can get behind that, the tactility is weak and all. but why all the hate on mx blacks and mx clears? 2 damn good switches IMO.I didn't mind your insulting of mx brown as much as the sly mx black diss near the end. you should give plate mount vintage blacks a shot. I bet you will like them alot more than the pcb mount ones you tried.

My problem with linear Cherries is mainly that they are scratchy and badly weighted; blacks are too stiff and reds too light. Vintage MX blacks, as I showed in one of my videos, are noticeably smoother, but they're even stiffer, so they're still not ideal.

Clears are a very specialist switch which I haven't reviewed properly yet, although I have used them for several weeks by now. I still think they are not as tactile as they should be. Even Zealios, which are a noticeable improvement (love to review those sometime), are still not as tactile as I'd want them to be.

[mike52787]

badly weighted

That in my opinion is cherry's biggest fault. I agree that stock blacks are too heavy, however a properly tuned vintage mx black is one of the best linears ever. 60-70g is the sweet spot there. Also, MX clears with a different spring (62-67g) are very nice tactile switches, like zealios, but better. Cherry switches are not great stock, but after some modding they rise to the top of my favorite switch list. No cherry switch can compete with the fantastic tactility of alps, and you really can't expect that with such a design.

[need]

Spring weight is 100% personal preference, it has nothing to do with being inferior/bad. ALL alps feel too heavy for me, hence "badly weighted"..?

[dokyun]

My problem with linear Cherries is mainly that they are scratchy and badly weighted; blacks are too stiff and reds too light. Vintage MX blacks, as I showed in one of my videos, are noticeably smoother, but they're even stiffer, so they're still not ideal.

It's this. My hands fatigue with blacks, and I accidentally actuate reds. A linear Cherry in the 50g range would still be scratchy but at least the lower weight would make up for it.

[Chyros]

Spring weight is 100% personal preference, it has nothing to do with being inferior/bad. ALL alps feel too heavy for me, hence "badly weighted"..?

All switch opinions are just opinions anyway. Some people out there might like scratchy switches, too :p . All I can do is say what I think of them .

[Laser]

As long as it's stated as just that, an opinion, no problem for me

[davkol]

derp