The Oracle Answers

[The Keyboard Oracle]

What would his righteousness recommend as a wristrest for a Filco Majestouch 2 104key?
I used to use a Microsoft Sidewinder X4 and found the wristrest soothing as I tend to drop my wrists, and I hear that the Steelseries 7G wristrest is also quite comfortable. I am not opposed to soft wristwrests either
Maximum price of $50

The Keyboard Oracle has decided: The Filco leather wristrest for standard keyboards.

[The Keyboard Oracle]

Oh great one, I really want a topre keyboard... but I can't decide which keyboard. Hint, I really like the Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2.

But I'd still like your opinion, of course... oh great one.

The Keyboard Oracle has decided: Your Higher Self is ready for your heart to be light and free, so you must obtain the Happy Hacking Keyboard Pro 2 in order to achieve the required personal and spiritual growth by its superior layout.

[ericbentley]

What would his righteousness recommend as a wristrest for a Filco Majestouch 2 104key?
I used to use a Microsoft Sidewinder X4 and found the wristrest soothing as I tend to drop my wrists, and I hear that the Steelseries 7G wristrest is also quite comfortable. I am not opposed to soft wristwrests either
Maximum price of $50

The Keyboard Oracle has decided: The Filco leather wristrest for standard keyboards.

Oh Great Oracle, I do not wish to offend you in the slightest, but that proposed wristrest is out of said budget
UK£ 36.00 = 55.5516 U.S. dollars, plus tax and shipping
Does the great one have any other prophecies that would match within my price range?

[JBert]

Dear Keyboard Oracle,

I wish to consult you on my forbidden love: the XT layout.

I have a working IBM PC keyboard, but my colleagues won't tolerate its eldritch noises. Is there a somehow-available Cherry MX clone which thee has encountered so that I could type in near-silence?
Modern varieties could be nice, as legacy models appear to be rare and expensive...

[Ascaii]

Dear Keyboard Oracle,

I wish to consult you on my forbidden love: the XT layout.

I have a working IBM PC keyboard, but my colleagues won't tolerate its eldritch noises. Is there a somehow-available Cherry MX clone which thee has encountered so that I could type in near-silence?
Modern varieties could be nice, as legacy models appear to be rare and expensive...

Have you tried to flossmod it?
If you need to make the switch to Cherry, there are a few vintage boards out there, but you need a bit of luck to find them. There is a Variation of a Commodore keyboard that uses cherries and a layout close to xt.

[ajdane]

Oh Great and wise Keyboard Oracle.

I am looking for a keyboard, to help a freind in his search i turn to you o' grandiose one.

The keyboard must be fullsize.
It must be available in ISO (Danish regional is preferred but not really important)
It must have backlighting, (Blue backlight was mentioned but the importance of colour was specified as not being very high)

Now oh great oracle, I am aware of the Razer black widow ultimate. But are there any viable alternatives ?

[dotancohen]

Wisest oracle, I humbly approach thee. I would like a compact layout with real arrow keys, real F-keys, and real Home/End/PgUp/PgDn buttons with Cherry Reds PCB mounted so that I might swap their springs. The Race looks perfect, but it is backlit and I would have to desolder a LED from each keyswitch to open them. Is there a compact layout with Cherry Red or Blue Switches that are PCB mounted with no backlight such that one might swap the springs?

Thank you wise oracle.

[The Keyboard Oracle]

Oh Great Oracle, I do not wish to offend you in the slightest, but that proposed wristrest is out of said budget
UK£ 36.00 = 55.5516 U.S. dollars, plus tax and shipping
Does the great one have any other prophecies that would match within my price range?

The Keyboard Oracle has decided: The Ducky Leather Wrist Rest.

[The Keyboard Oracle]

Oh Great and wise Keyboard Oracle.

I am looking for a keyboard, to help a freind in his search i turn to you o' grandiose one.

The keyboard must be fullsize.
It must be available in ISO (Danish regional is preferred but not really important)
It must have backlighting, (Blue backlight was mentioned but the importance of colour was specified as not being very high)

Now oh great oracle, I am aware of the Razer black widow ultimate. But are there any viable alternatives ?

The Keyboard Oracle has decided: The QPAD MK-85 with Nordic layout.

[The Keyboard Oracle]

Wisest oracle, I humbly approach thee. I would like a compact layout with real arrow keys, real F-keys, and real Home/End/PgUp/PgDn buttons with Cherry Reds PCB mounted so that I might swap their springs. The Race looks perfect, but it is backlit and I would have to desolder a LED from each keyswitch to open them. Is there a compact layout with Cherry Red or Blue Switches that are PCB mounted with no backlight such that one might swap the springs?

Thank you wise oracle.

The Keyboard Oracle has decided: The Noppoo Choc Mini and the Keycool 84.

[The Keyboard Oracle]

I wish to consult you on my forbidden love: the XT layout.

I have a working IBM PC keyboard, but my colleagues won't tolerate its eldritch noises. Is there a somehow-available Cherry MX clone which thee has encountered so that I could type in near-silence?
Modern varieties could be nice, as legacy models appear to be rare and expensive...

The Keyboard Oracle has decided: The DYTCOM Model K-150L.

[Joe221]

Oh Great Oracle, my question isn't about the keyboard but the lowly keys. I am but a noob here and this is my first question. I hope your greatness will set me on my course. I have a Tesoro Durandal with backlighting, it is possessed of the switches of the Brown Cherries. I am wishing to duplicate a special feature of my dear departed Logitech Wave (of the original and truest version). It possessed by virtue of a great magic, dual identity key markings. The Windows key also possessed the Option and the Alt key was inscribed by the Command (of Saint Steve). I have searched high and low and have not found these special possessed key markings, nary even a thought that they might even be backlightable. Is that even a word O great one? In your travels have you ever spied such a wonder? Not including an old Kensington variant that had similar keys too.
Thank you my Oracle.

Joe

[lcrouane]

Dear Guru,

First time poster, first time reader. I am looking for a Gaming Keyboard that has the following:

1. Cherry MX Red (Brown at a push) Switches
2. Backlighting
3. Programmable Keys (Pref. Macro Keys)
4. At least 6NKRO Over USB
5. Excellent Build Quality

I have in mind the ttMeka G-UNIT, CM Storm Trigger and MK-85 Pro. I owned a BWU on Friday for around 1 day and now it is on the way back to the supplier. Budget is up to £130, I live in the UK so ISO layout too.

I am at your mercy.

[tadbitnerdy]

The Keyboard Oracle has decided: The Noppoo Choc Mini and the Keycool 84.

I believe the Choc Mini is plate mount. I have one.

-Tad

[The Keyboard Oracle]

I have searched high and low and have not found these special possessed key markings, nary even a thought that they might even be backlightable. Is that even a word O great one? In your travels have you ever spied such a wonder?

The Keyboard Oracle has decided: The Oracle is not aware of those specific markings on backlit Cherry MX compatible keycaps. Perhaps Deck can provide you with an acceptable compromise.

[dotancohen]

The Keyboard Oracle has decided: The Noppoo Choc Mini and the Keycool 84.

I believe the Choc Mini is plate mount. I have one.

-Tad

Yes, this is why I did not go with the Choc. I also don't like how the Function keys are lined up with the Number keys. Ideally, all the keys would be lined up (grid) _except_ the Function keys.

[JBert]

I have a working IBM PC keyboard, but my colleagues won't tolerate its eldritch noises. Is there a somehow-available Cherry MX clone which thee has encountered so that I could type in near-silence?
Modern varieties could be nice, as legacy models appear to be rare and expensive...

Have you tried to flossmod it?
If you need to make the switch to Cherry, there are a few vintage boards out there, but you need a bit of luck to find them. There is a Variation of a Commodore keyboard that uses cherries and a layout close to xt.

Thanks for the tip about the Commodore keyboard, o keyboard prophet.

I was watching one on ncbound10's Ebay store while gathering the money, sadly someone snatched it before I could buy it.

[theGagne]

Oh great Oracle,

I am looking for an extremely cheap mechanical keyboard, for under $50/USD. I am ok with a used keyboard, don't mind beige, but need it to be quiet (MX Browns?). I may be interested in modding it down the road. I have not used a mechanical keyboard before except for buckling springs (which are too loud).

I have seen the Compaq MX 11800 as an option, are there any others to compare it to in that price range?

[Eyemento]

Almighty Oracle,

Please enlighten my path, must have: 87-key layout, Cherry MX Browns, keyboard must be black of color, rather cheap.
Preferred: Key lightning.

Thank you Oracle.

[Tykrael]

Hi Oh Almighty Oracle,

I've been looking for so long that i don't remember when i started.

Here a my requirements
mac & french layout (i spend most of my developpement time on mac OS)
backlit if possible
Cherry MX switch red/brown or blue
If i have to move keycaps around it's not a problem.

Oh please oracle give me a way out of this chiclet keyboard of hell

[damorgue]

Oh Oracle
I am looking for a small ISO board, think 40% pure poker, race etc size but since there seem to be none in ISO, I will attempt to make my own. What is a cheap board that would be relatively easy to cut and retrace? Case and caps do not matter as I can pick my won and have my own case made. It needs to be fully ISO, with the small shift. I have G80-8200LPDUS which is almost ISO.

Thanks

[The Keyboard Oracle]

I am looking for a Gaming Keyboard that has the following:

1. Cherry MX Red (Brown at a push) Switches
2. Backlighting
3. Programmable Keys (Pref. Macro Keys)
4. At least 6NKRO Over USB
5. Excellent Build Quality

I have in mind the ttMeka G-UNIT, CM Storm Trigger and MK-85 Pro. I owned a BWU on Friday for around 1 day and now it is on the way back to the supplier. Budget is up to £130, I live in the UK so ISO layout too.

The Keyboard Oracle has decided: The CM Storm Trigger.

[The Keyboard Oracle]

I am looking for an extremely cheap mechanical keyboard, for under $50/USD. I am ok with a used keyboard, don't mind beige, but need it to be quiet (MX Browns?). I may be interested in modding it down the road. I have not used a mechanical keyboard before except for buckling springs (which are too loud).

I have seen the Compaq MX 11800 as an option, are there any others to compare it to in that price range?

The Keyboard Oracle has decided: The Rapoo V7.

[The Keyboard Oracle]

Please enlighten my path, must have: 87-key layout, Cherry MX Browns, keyboard must be black of color, rather cheap.
Preferred: Key lightning.

The Keyboard Oracle has decided: The Keycool 87LED.

[The Keyboard Oracle]

I've been looking for so long that i don't remember when i started.

Here a my requirements
mac & french layout (i spend most of my developpement time on mac OS)
backlit if possible
Cherry MX switch red/brown or blue
If i have to move keycaps around it's not a problem.

Oh please oracle give me a way out of this chiclet keyboard of hell

The Keyboard Oracle has decided: Drop the Mac requirement to get some keyboard options, then remap some keys in your OS - it is not ideal, but much better than chiclet hell.

[pingbat]

Oh Mighty Oracle,

In my quest to achieve enlightenment I have been led to the mighty altar of APL. The ancient writings on the walls of this temple are difficult to decrypt and harder to reproduce with my mortal input device. Where should I go in search of a tool worthy of A Programming Language?

I feel that Cherry APL doubleshots would quench the anger of the gods but such things elude me. Perhaps you have another path for me to follow. Please lead me to salvation.

Your humble servant.

[Mindkilla123]

All Powerful Oracle,

Through my acquisition of a true mechanical keyboard, I have grown hungry for a new board with special requirements.
-Must have Cherry Brown switches
-Must be TKL
-Must use Costar stabilizers
-Must be in ANSI format
-Must be cheaper than $150

I also have another question- is there somewhere that I can find windows key replacements for cheap ($10 or so) that are in the portal design (One end entering the portal, One end exiting), are in the dark gray color and has the circle engravement in the keycap?

I am a 'Merican if that changes things.

[lcrouane]

I am looking for a Gaming Keyboard that has the following:

1. Cherry MX Red (Brown at a push) Switches
2. Backlighting
3. Programmable Keys (Pref. Macro Keys)
4. At least 6NKRO Over USB
5. Excellent Build Quality

I have in mind the ttMeka G-UNIT, CM Storm Trigger and MK-85 Pro. I owned a BWU on Friday for around 1 day and now it is on the way back to the supplier. Budget is up to £130, I live in the UK so ISO layout too.

The Keyboard Oracle has decided: The CM Storm Trigger.

Thank you Oracle, on order now

[The Keyboard Oracle]

I am looking for a small ISO board, think 40% pure poker, race etc size but since there seem to be none in ISO, I will attempt to make my own. What is a cheap board that would be relatively easy to cut and retrace? Case and caps do not matter as I can pick my won and have my own case made. It needs to be fully ISO, with the small shift. I have G80-8200LPDUS which is almost ISO.

The Keyboard Oracle has decided: The G80-1000 and G80-1501 have been successfully cut by other deskthority members.

[The Keyboard Oracle]

In my quest to achieve enlightenment I have been led to the mighty altar of APL. The ancient writings on the walls of this temple are difficult to decrypt and harder to reproduce with my mortal input device. Where should I go in search of a tool worthy of A Programming Language?

I feel that Cherry APL doubleshots would quench the anger of the gods but such things elude me. Perhaps you have another path for me to follow. Please lead me to salvation.

The Keyboard Oracle has decided: The mechanical keyboard of your choice plus APL keyboard stickers on front of the keycaps, such as these.