Keychron keyboard discussion

[transmaster]

The Gateron Greens, and the Box Pinks are mostly sold out right now. I like what you said about the Box Pinks.

Update Just ordered a set of Box Pinks from Amazon.

KPREPUBLIC Kailh Box Pink

The BOX Pink switches feature a midsized clickbar. The clickbar is right in between the clickbar of the BOX Whites and the BOX Jades. The creates a decent sized tactile bump that is more defined than the BOX Whites and more rounded than the BOX Jades. BOX Pink - Clicky | 3.6mm Travel | 65g ...

a.co

 

[transmaster]

found these: https://a.co/d/4cWSGMj

 

[xraydoc]

I'm definitely seeing that. I like the lack clacky sound that the browns offer. I'm not sure if cherry reds would be better. I think I'll see about buying some and if they sound ok, I'll switch

Gateron and Cherry Reds are very light, so be aware. Makes them good for gaming but potentially less so for typing if you're a home-key finger rester.

 

[transmaster]

For years I purchased gaming keyboards thinking they were the best out there. When mechanicals started to become available again I found that cheap mechanicals were much better for typing. These cheap keyboards were not satisfactory for various reasons. Now I will be able to tune up just the type of keyboard I used back in the 1980's. Plus I can do something I always thought about but could not do it. Using difference switches. softer switches on the number pad, and "F" keys harder switches on the alphanumeric keys and harder still on the shift, caps, command keys, and the space bar.

 

[transmaster]

OK I am typing on the Box Pinks. I already like the heavier keystrokes I feel like I have more control. These Box Pink do not have the break action of the old Unicom IBM keyboards. But for the $38 bucks I spend it was money well spent.

 

[Sienek]

Hello,
I'm looking for a Keychron keyboard to my MacBook pro. Mostly typying, viewing websites etc, no gaming. My budget is 100$. I was thinking about Keychron K3 Pro with brown switches. What do You think?

 

[dotnet]

I

Gateron and Cherry Reds are very light, so be aware. Makes them good for gaming but potentially less so for typing if you're a home-key finger rester.

I’m a finger rester. As much as a like the typing feel of the baby kangaroos, they don’t offer much resistance to resting fingers. So, I ordered a set of Gateron greens, which according to their specs should offer a fair bit more resistance.

Unfortunately, the greens are disappointing. They only offer slightly more resistance, but the typing feel is very inferior to the baby kangaroos. The click sensation is very light and the click sound is more of a sizzle, very high pitched. But worst of all, they have substantial stem wobble. I’m not sure whether I got fakes, but a quick search suggested that Gateron switches are not usually faked because of their low price.

After a lot of reading, Youtube watching and studying of actuation force graphs I now have a set of Kailh white owl box switches on order. I’ll let you all know how that turns out 🙂

I can always go back to the baby kangaroos, which are really good, IMO.

 

[transmaster]

It is so nice to have choices. I am so far it liking these Box Pinks. They feel somewhat syrupy because of their increased downforce. Now I don't have to be so careful typing with my fingers resting on the keys.

The only trouble I had with the switch out was at first learning how to get the switches out, the tool that came with the keychron was no help. then it was getting the new switches seated, figured that out. I didn't get 2 of the switches in straight and bent one of the pins. The way these Box Pinks came packed was not good. all jumbled in a sealed plastic bag made for some bend pins, easy to fix. I suppose there is a price to pay for how cheap these switches are. I will now add to my drawer of discharged earphones, a drawer for discarded key switches😉

 

[transmaster]

Looking at the Baby Kangaroo. They have this video, 😍 That is the sound of the old IBM keyboard.

 

[dotnet]

Looking at the Baby Kangaroo. They have this video, 😍 That is the sound of the old IBM keyboard.

That’s the sound of the keyboard, the switches make no sound by themselves. But they feel nice and are sturdy.

I find these sound test videos kind of pointless. They don’t convey how keyboards actually sound in reality, and most of the time they use different keyboards with different weights, damping, etc. from the one I’ve got.

 

[transmaster]

That’s the sound of the keyboard, the switches make no sound by themselves. But they feel nice and are sturdy.

I find these sound test videos kind of pointless. They don’t convey how keyboards actually sound in reality, and most of the time they use different keyboards with different weights, damping, etc. from the one I’ve got.

They did mention something about different "plates". I am new to this type of keyboard the "plate" is what the switches mount on?

 

[xraydoc]

They did mention something about different "plates". I am new to this type of keyboard the "plate" is what the switches mount on?

The switches mount on the PCB + the plate. The plate is basically the grid that goes over the PCB, giving each switch a place to lock in on. Since the switches are in contact with the plate (and PCB), the plate material can change the acoustics. I've not bothered to get in to changing this out. Not worth it for me.

 

[dotnet]

The switches mount on the PCB + the plate. The plate is basically the grid that goes over the PCB, giving each switch a place to lock in on. Since the switches are in contact with the plate (and PCB), the plate material can change the acoustics.

Yep, and there can be additional plates and damping layers underneath. The plates and PCB can be suspended or mounted in the keyboard case in various ways. All this determines the typing sound.

I've not bothered to get in to changing this out. Not worth it for me.

Yes, none of this is meant to be customisable, as far as I’ve seen. You buy the keyboard constructed the way it is, then choose switches and keycaps. The latter can apparently also affect the sound, but I haven’t played with that.

 

[xraydoc]

Yes, none of this is meant to be customisable, as far as I’ve seen. You buy the keyboard constructed the way it is, then choose switches and keycaps. The latter can apparently also affect the sound, but I haven’t played with that.

Oh, plates are very customizable on many of the higher-end keyboards. The plates on the Keychron Q series can definitely be swapped for different materials like brass, steel, aluminum, plastic - Keychron even sells some in different materials for some of the Q models and 3rd parties sell others.

Plate foam (goes between plate and PCB) can also alter sound depending on the material.

Switches and keycaps also impact the sound. Thick PBT keycaps give a deeper but muted sound and thinner ABS keycaps are bit more bright but can be hollow.

I've swapped switches and keycaps on many of my keyboards. I've added/changed case foam and done a few other minor tweaks to several of mine. I'm not really all that in to swapping plates, plate foam, stabilizers or disassembling and hand-lubricating key switches (though adding some extra dielectric grease to rattling stabilizers is simple to do). Too much of a cost of diminishing returns for me.

 

[xraydoc]

Looking at the Baby Kangaroo. They have this video, 😍 That is the sound of the old IBM keyboard.

I have these on my Keychron Q12 that I use on my Mac. I really, really love them. I replaced the keycaps on my Q12 with some thick PBT OEM-profile keycaps and the combo feels and sounds amazing IMHO.

They have, I believe, a 60g activation weight, so they're not too light for me. My typing accuracy (which isn't all that good to begin with, to be honest) is better than it was on the stock Gateron Browns. But I went from an accurate 55 WMP to an accurate 65 WMP, so a statistically significant improvement for me. Same improvement in accuracy going from old Cherry Blues to the new Kailh Box Pink on my keyboard at work.

 

[transmaster]

I have these on my Keychron Q12 that I use on my Mac. I really, really love them. I replaced the keycaps on my Q12 with some thick PBT OEM-profile keycaps and the combo feels and sounds amazing IMHO.

They have, I believe, a 60g activation weight, so they're not too light for me. My typing accuracy (which isn't all that good to begin with, to be honest) is better than it was on the stock Gateron Browns. But I went from an accurate 55 WMP to an accurate 65 WMP, so a statistically significant improvement for me. Same improvement in accuracy going from old Cherry Blues to the new Kailh Box Pink on my keyboard at work.

I am noticing that as well. I still have my bad habits interchanging it is and if are a constant exasperation. But I make less mistakes if I watch what I am typing and not the keyboard.

 

[dotnet]

Can anyone suggest keycap sets with shine-through legends that work well with the south-facing LEDs on Keychron keyboards? I checked out the Glorious Aura V2 caps online, but it seems like the legends hardly light up with south-facing LEDs.

 

[transmaster]

 

[JTK Awesome]

Unsuccessfully started a thread about this… thinking about some CODE V3 custom keyboards from WASD. Keychrons are like Honda Civics - inexpensive, well-made, easy to mod - and now I’m ready for a Cadillac: premium materials, lots of keycap options, and real Cherry switches (including MX Greens)

Custom Printed Keyboards - WASD Keyboards

Custom Printed Keyboards

www.wasdkeyboards.com

 

[transmaster]

Unsuccessfully started a thread about this… thinking about some CODE V3 custom keyboards from WASD. Keychrons are like Honda Civics - inexpensive, well-made, easy to mod - and now I’m ready for a Cadillac: premium materials, lots of keycap options, and real Cherry switches (including MX Greens)

Custom Printed Keyboards - WASD Keyboards

Custom Printed Keyboards

www.wasdkeyboards.com

Groan don't get me started. You want to know my dream keyboard.

 

[Lyoha]

I got a K4 Pro in January. I tried a number of different switches: the Keychron Pro brown switches it came with, Gateron milky yellows, Box Jades, Neapolitan Ice Cream, and Boba U4t. I settled on the last ones. I did put a Box Jade and cherry profile key with a transparent indicator on the caps lock key, so I can detect if I accidentally press it and I can see if it’s on or off. I’ve also rearranged a couple keys with VIA to make it work more to my liking.

 

[transmaster]

I use my number pad all the of time. unless I am manually entering a passcode I rarely use the number keys on the main keyboard.

 

[dotnet]

After a lot of reading, Youtube watching and studying of actuation force graphs I now have a set of Kailh white owl box switches on order. I’ll let you all know how that turns out 🙂

The white owls are installed, and I love them. They are exactly what I expect a clicky switch to be. The Gateron greens are really pathetic in comparison – whispy click sound and mushy feel. The white owls have a clear, meaty click sound and, most importantly, a very satisfying click feel.

 

[xraydoc]

The white owls are installed, and I love them. They are exactly what I expect a clicky switch to be. The Gateron greens are really pathetic in comparison – whispy click sound and mushy feel. The white owls have a clear, meaty click sound and, most importantly, a very satisfying click feel.

70g is pretty heavy for a switch, yes? I've not personally tried a switch that heavy. My Kailh Box Pinks are supposedly 65g, and they're great to be honest, but hard to know if going heavier would be uncomfortable.

 

[dotnet]

70g is pretty heavy for a switch, yes? I've not personally tried a switch that heavy. My Kailh Box Pinks are supposedly 65g, and they're great to be honest, but hard to know if going heavier would be uncomfortable.

I don’t think you’d feel much of a difference between 65g and 70g, to be honest. But yes, at 70g the white owl box switches are the heaviest I’ve tried. There are not the heaviest they have, though, the jade and navy box switches are even heavier, at 75g and 95g, respectively.

Like I said, I’m a finger rester, I need switches that can carry my casually resting fingers without going off 🙂

Unlike with chiclet scissor switches, these mechanical switches and their sculpted keycaps have a dynamic element to the key action, due to the key travel and the vertical finger travel required to get from one key to another. You can’t really just glide from key to key and give it a kiss of a press, so to speak. There is a more forceful dynamic action that makes the switch weight you need to overcome pretty moot as far as effort is concerned, but crucial for tactile feedback.