Suggestions from a CM Storm QuickFire

[Vistance]

So I bought a CM Storm QuickFire with blues about two weeks ago, I've been using it and started out loving it. Then I grew to just kinda like it. Then it started to annoy me, and finally I unhooked it and put my Logitech G15 back in. Interesting things I've noted - my G15 feels DISGUSTINGLY mushy now. I really liked the crispness the QuickFire had. However I had a problem with typos on the QuickFire and now switching back I think I know what the problem is - the QuickFire has very tall keys OR it has a very pronounced arc that makes the upper row keys noticeably taller than the lower ones, so much so that I make more typos. I'm on my G15 now and while I dislike the mushy feel I'm making minimal typos, which I find more important.

Here's something curious, on my G15 I have to turn up the keyboard repeat speed or it seems to delete words with backspace slowly. But on the QuickFire I had to turn it down because it was going too fast - why is this? I think while I enjoy the crispness of the blues, I dislike the clicky nature - by that I mean the release point. So I think blues/browns are out of the question for me, I just don't like the feel. I noticed while playing some games I'd accidentally depress say the A key and start turning and I didn't even notice I had done it until I saw myself moving that way in-game (I literally thought there was lag or an error in the game).

So being I'm not spending over $100 we'll toss out the idea of the fancy Topre keys or the others that aren't obtainable and just go to red vs black I'm guessing. Now I hated my Alps Black keyboard I had - far too stiff and I did not like it. But I'm kinda afraid the reds will be SO light that I'll have even more accidental depressions. Do you guys think my problem stems more from the design of the QuickFire or of the Blue/Brown switch design? I kind of dislike feeling that click as I type as it doesn't do much for me other than make me feel like in some way I'm breaking the keyboard as I depress the key far enough to activate it.

Previously I wanted to have a tenkeyless but now I have learned that I CANNOT comfortably use my mouse on the same tray as my keyboard (It caused severe hand pain that lasted for several days even after I put my mouse back where I always had it) but I will still consider tenkeyless (though my preference now lies with a full sized keyboard). I like the idea of the WASD Keyboards, though a tad over my desired price (I bought the QuickFire for $70 after shipping so that's quite okay by me). I'd rather not buy another keyboard and return it, so do you all think given what I've said above that I'd be better off with a red or black switch? Also can anyone recommend a keyboard that doesn't have such tall keys or such a prominent arc? Or is that basically not going to happen?

EDIT: Ok after looking at some more information, maybe it's just blues I don't like. That the release point is above the actuation point. I kinda think reds will make me do more typos, and I use this keyboard for typing AND gaming so I don't know that I want the stiffness of blacks. I am curious though, why are Cherry Reds more expensive on EVERY keyboard? Literally all keyboards with cherry reds cost more than all the other switch types. Why so?

So then maybe the switch for me is Cherry Brown switches? Thoughts - anyone?

[JBert]

It's not as if you can't write on blacks. I tend to use clears for programming and writing - and they're even stiffer. It's mainly a habit, you just need to build those typing muscles.

The main advantage of blacks though is that they do come on quite some keyboards and might be cheaper than reds. Browns can be somewhat harder to find on mid-range keyboards in the US, and they are deemed "scratchy".

But seriously though, this forum is not meant to talk about your personal issues. If you want to try different key switches, check the Try before you buy forum.

[rodtang]

This was one hell of a ramble, you could always get a set of same row key caps, making the keyboard "flat".

[Vistance]

You know this issue recurs on some forums for me and I never understand it. A forum is a place for a discussion and expression of thoughts. Just because most people don't do it, what's wrong if someone chooses to exercise that? I tend to be more in-depth and thorough about most things. I know all the pre-existing guides about mechanical keyboards - those steered me to blues and I'm trying to determine without just buying a keyboard of each type if I should try blacks or browns now. I'm sharing personal insight in the hopes that it can bring on a helpful suggestion, since I'm no keyboard specialist.

Perhaps I cursed myself by ever buying a mechanical keyboard - I never had a problem with my G15 or other membrane keyboards until I used this mechanical one for all this time now. Forgive me if I thought a forum was a welcome place for being in-depth about a specific subject matter. Maybe I'll just deal with squishy membrane keyboards and not recommend mechanical keyboards to anyone, not like they're worth their exorbitant costs. Thanks for helping me decide to stick with membrane keyboards, helped me in a roundabout way. Maybe I'll try mechanical keyboards when they get over themselves and start costing real world prices and not $100+. Can't help but feel a strong hipster vibe come off of mechanical keyboards, maybe I'll try again when they're mainstream.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

I guess one reason why Twitter is so popular is that most people today can't seem to deal with anything longer than one sentence ;-)

First up, you don't need to hold backspace to delete several words. Just hold ctrl+shift and tap left arrow once for each word, then press backspace once to remove the selection. Granted, if it's a lot of words, you'll have a similar issue with keystroke repeat with left arrow. The only difference that I'm aware of is between typematic keypresses on PC/AT and PS/2 (the keyboard is responsible for sending auto-repeated keypresses), and USB where the OS is responsible. One of your boards wasn't on PS/2 was it?

In terms of finding an ideal switch — I do have to concur that your post was too much of ramble, in that it's very hard to glean what you're actually desiring. I hear you about the curse, but I was cursing cheap keyboards for years before I learnt about quality keyboards and cursed myself. Some people will find a perfect switch, maybe even on the first try, while other fusspots like me will never fully settle. It's well known that we're lacking a lot of possible force curves in extant product ranges; this is one reason why Matias Corp have invested two years' effort in designing a new switch, and why we're hoping that Cherry will start producing official Ergo Clear switches (which probably won't happen). I'd also like to see Matias sell plain tactile switches, as I love the sound of noisy Alps switches like the black, but need a higher quality feel (black Alps were lousy — try vintage blue Alps and you'll be blown away by the light, silky feel and precise, firm tactility). Then there's the switches that are gone forever, such as beam spring and capacitive buckling spring; you'll only get these in old vintage boards from the 70s and early 80s.

Finding satisfaction in something so hopelessly difficult to understand as keyfeel, is not easy. There's no obvious option like you have with monitors (just get an IPS panel and be happy).

Finally, you do realise that the reason why cheap keyboards are cheap, is because they're cheap? If you won't pay, you won't get. The issue is not the cost—$149 for years of quality input is nothing—but the number of keyboards you need to buy before you find The One™. For many people here, that's part of the fun! (I need more keyboards!!!)

[JBert]

You know this issue recurs on some forums for me and I never understand it. A forum is a place for a discussion and expression of thoughts. Just because most people don't do it, what's wrong if someone chooses to exercise that? I tend to be more in-depth and thorough about most things. I know all the pre-existing guides about mechanical keyboards - those steered me to blues and I'm trying to determine without just buying a keyboard of each type if I should try blacks or browns now. I'm sharing personal insight in the hopes that it can bring on a helpful suggestion, since I'm no keyboard specialist.

When re-reading my previous post I have to concur that it was needlessly grumpy.


You do have to look at it from the other side as well though. I'm not against long discussions of new keyboards, switches and so on, it's just that quite a lot of these "what should I buy" posts appear. Most of the topics like these are monologues where people explain what they have tried, and others interject ideas of what to buy, ad nauseum. There's no lasting discussion going on or a new exchange of ideas, it's the same situation over again where someone wants to bypass becoming a keyboard expert by reading and trying, and it gets tiring.

We used to have an active The Oracle Answers topic, but I guess it's partially abandoned now that the Keyboard Oracle is on a pelgrimage.

I pointed you to the "Try before you buy" forum exactly because you can try to get on the "switch testers" list - a means of trying out virtually any switch without having to buy a keyboard of every type. Other than that I can't see how we can be of any help by telling you what each switch does. To try with an example, I could tell you how the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican in Rome looks, but until you actually went there and had a look at the real thing, what does my exposition matter? It's nothing compared to the real thing. You are the only one who can decide what to get and then buy it.

[hanshotfirst]

We used to have an active The Oracle Answers topic, but I guess it's partially abandoned now that the Keyboard Oracle is on a pelgrimage.

To the temple of Yag Po Tshor Ba 'Phrul 'Khor? According to my Tibetan friend, that actually translates to temple of mechanical keyboards. (or literally mechanical machines). We need our Oracle back!!