Question HE or not HE keyboard? Which pruduct? Please recommend

[kisserik93]

Hello!

I have posted on the forum before, but I still haven't been able to decide what to get, so I’m doing one last round.

I’d like to buy a keyboard with the following considerations:

• Sound: It shouldn’t be too loud.
• Layout: ISO
• Switch: LinearSize: 75% or largerIt should be hot-swappableIt should have backlighting.

What’s important to know is that I’ve had a Fnatic Streak keyboard so far, and while I was satisfied with it, I’m looking for something better.

I’m not a big gamer, I mostly play single-player games in my free time, but primarily,
I would use the keyboard for gaming, browsing, and everyday tasks.
I’m considering whether I should get a HE keyboard, but I’m unsure if there are any downsides to using them for everyday tasks when I’m not gaming. Let’s talk a bit about that too.

The ones I’ve found and liked so far:

HE Keyboards:

• Wooting 80HE
• Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro

Regular Keyboards:

• Zoom75
• Zoom75 TIGA
• Qwertykeys EVO80
• Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Pro
• Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro

What do you think? Am I on the right track? Which keyboard should I choose? Feel free to recommend one that isn’t on my list either.

Thank you very much!

 

[Lutfij]

Happy New Year!

I’m not a big gamer, I mostly play single-player games in my free time, but primarily,
I would use the keyboard for gaming, browsing, and everyday tasks.
I’m considering whether I should get a HE keyboard, but I’m unsure if there are any downsides to using them for everyday tasks when I’m not gaming. Let’s talk a bit about that too.
This tells me that you should invest in a customizable mechanical keyboard and not look into the HE switches, which are IMHO beneficial to those in the competitive arena.

I personally use a Keychron Q1 with Gateron Pro Red Switches and the first thing I did after buying it 2 years ago is replace the keycaps to something that you can come across on AliExpress, that's it. I've been typing on it since then and I've also played hours of 20 Minutes Till Dawn. I'm yet to grow tired of the switches that came stock with the keyboard but I have tubs worth of Kiwi(tactile) and Tangerine(linear) switches stowed away in the event I would want to mod the keyboard. I say mod since I can swap out the switches to my desire, when and how I like them swapped.

As a beginner into the modding scene, you might want to try and get your feet wet first instead of going off to the deep end.

Lastly, typing, sound and design/aesthetics are all personal preferences, we may advise you to buy x or y but you will need to try them out yourself. Do you have access to a store near you that deals with keyboard that you can type and test while at the store?

 

[tecmo34]

@Lutfij has provided sound advice. As someone that has nearly 20 keyboards with a mixture of HE, liner, tactile and clicky switches; feel and sound are a preference to the user.

If you are just getting into the hobby or looking for your first true custom keyboard, I would spend some time looking at reviews on these keyboards or others to see how they sound, switches used, etc. if you can't get hands on. You have some really good boards listed, so you have done some research.

There is one board I would look to add to your list, which is the Shortcut Studio Bridge 75. It is very similar to the Rainy75 but I think it a little better than the Rainy75 and offers a great budget / starter keyboard. I'm typing on the HE version, as I type now.