Keyboard kaos

I have a keyboard conundrum.

I am typing this on a Logitech K750 wireless solar-powered keyboard. It’s got low travel, laptop-style keys, but they still have more travel than, for example, the keyboard on the current-gen MacBook Pro. It’s pretty quiet to type on. My main complaint is that there’s no tenkeyless version. I’d prefer that so I can move the mouse closer to the keyboard, as I don’t use the numeric keypad all that often. Also, it’s got a glossy surface around the keys, which is reflective and mildly annoying. Still, it’s pretty good.

But I miss the mechanical keyboard I was using previously, a Das with blue switches–the noisiest ones you can get, pretty much. But it felt very nice to type on. I’d thought about getting a tenkeyless version (not from Das, they don’t make one), but after trying out the WASD six-key tester that includes all six popular switch types, I finally decided a tenkeyless with red switches would be a better choice. The red switches would offer the benefits of mechanical keys, but without the loud clicking and with less force required for actuation. Win-win.

I ordered the Cooler Master Masterkeys S with red switches and it arrived today from Amazon.

The keyboard works fine, but I was immediately surprised at how much noise it still makes despite having “quiet” keys. There’s no distinctive blue switch CLACK but it still definitely makes a distinctly unquiet click when keys are pressed. Also, the sound makes the keys seem weirdly hollow. I’m not sure I like it.

I’m thinking a tenkeyless with blue switches may be the best choice after all.

BUT…I just tried testing the six red o-rings that came with the WASD tester on the Cooler Master keyboard and I like the results enough in terms of noise reduction that I’ve ordered a full set of o-rings. I should have them in a few days and I’ll see if they do the job. If not I’ll consider exchanging it for the blue switch version or maybe go for a custom-designed WASD keyboard, which, while pricey, would definitely say ME. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing.

Anyway, I now have a whole pile of keyboards:

  • Das mechanical with blue switches
  • Filco mechanical with brown switches (tenkeyless)
  • Cooler Master mechanical with red switches (tenkeyless)
  • Logitech K750 scissor switch keyboard
  • Another solar-powered Logitech designed for Macs/iOS devices (no keypad but not tenkeyless, either)
  • Yet another Logitech low travel keyboard, the K380–but not solar-powered!
  • A Corsair gaming keyboard with mechanical switches that I hated so much I don’t remember the details, but it disabled the Windows key by default and you had to run a macro to enable it. It also weighed 100 pounds.
  • Probably a few others I’m forgetting

I may need professional help. Or maybe another keyboard.