Author Topic: Good keyboards, recommendations. (Read 2115 times)

buchno · « **Reply #20 on:** January 12, 2013, 03:12:12 PM »

Quote from: AceHigh on January 12, 2013, 03:01:20 PM

Anyway I am now looking closer at Qpad designs recommended by MyonMyon which also available in my country. Thanks to everyone for recommendations.

If you understand Swedish, Sweclockers had a pretty comprehensive review of Qpad MK-85 and MK-50:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uemlfoa8l4Y
http://www.sweclockers.com/recension/15007-qpad-mk-85-pro-och-mk-50-pro

AceHigh · « **Reply #21 on:** January 12, 2013, 03:41:07 PM »

Do you think I am a Dane or something? Of course I understand Swedish, SVT was part of my childhood after all.

I see that Qpad actually has multimedia keys from F1-F6 while you hold in alt button. Really useful... hah and macroes for the rest of F buttons, not that I need them. I see the guy in the video also liked MX black, but was positive to MX red.

I don't get one thing, the more expensive MK-85 only gets USB, while the stripped down cheaper MK-50 gets PS/2 and thus full NKR with it. That is weird.

buchno · « **Reply #22 on:** January 12, 2013, 03:50:30 PM »

What was special about the MK-85 was that it had full NKR while still having a USB connection, he stated that pretty clearly :P

AceHigh · « **Reply #23 on:** January 12, 2013, 04:11:38 PM »

Oh, missed that actually. Found a retailer in Norway and ironically the price is the same as Swedish retailers. So I save nothing if I order from webhallen for example... which was unexpected.

xShadow · « **Reply #24 on:** January 12, 2013, 04:19:54 PM »

www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823109191&Tpk=sidewinder

I got the Sidewinder x4 a while ago, for 30 bucks (sale obviously) . It's a damn fine keyboard. Plenty of rollover, media keys, macro keys, etc. I should mention that Microsoft's macro program is also pretty good, and it certainly doesn't seem to miss or skip anything. I just wish they had positioned the macro keys closer to the keyboard keys, because they're really only easily reached by the pinky. Also take care with the media keys: it takes a bit of settings tinkering to get them to work with some media programs (namely my Mediamonkey).

AceHigh · « **Reply #25 on:** January 12, 2013, 04:23:14 PM »

We clearly got two camps here: macro and mechanical.

Just wondering about you macro people, what games do you usually play to make them feel like an important feature?

buchno · « **Reply #26 on:** January 12, 2013, 04:45:01 PM »

I'm not against macro. It's just that I find that I never use them, even when I've spent a lot of time setting them up in AutoHotkey.

AceHigh · « **Reply #27 on:** January 12, 2013, 05:03:49 PM »

I am not against macro either, just indifferent and have it at lowest priority. Just want to know the usage of the people who do find it important to have that function.

Saras · « **Reply #28 on:** January 12, 2013, 05:23:56 PM »

I'm lazy, I used to put message parts on them while writing letters and the like.

Something like:
"
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerilly,
Šarūnas Žukauskas"

Haven't ever used them in games thought.

Southrop · « **Reply #29 on:** January 12, 2013, 06:02:33 PM »

I got myself a G110 on sale (about £30 iirc). This actually comes with 3x12 macro keys on the left. I thought that would come in pretty handy. Half a year later, I haven't even used them....

kitamesume · « **Reply #30 on:** January 12, 2013, 06:09:42 PM »

Quote from: AceHigh on January 12, 2013, 05:03:49 PM

I am not against macro either, just indifferent and have it at lowest priority. Just want to know the usage of the people who do find it important to have that function.

games that require "MIA" messages (DOTA2, HON, LOL), i've put an auto message script saying MIA on team chat, it helps me send split second MIAs when people suddenly teleports to other lanes or something of similar scenario.

games that profits on looped clicks (auto-spam click) at specific speeds if needed, keyboard smash came into mind(managed to get mine at 600+clicks per second, pretty much crashed firefox)...

games that profits on precise pre-programmed sequenced keystrokes, band master or the old O2Jam could be potential games although no idea if they could call this cheating.

ultra-high speed clicks (exceeding native double/triple-click speeds) with a set amount of clicks, specially effective with pistols as a pseudo sub-machine gun.

"thereisnourflevel" go figure.

----- outside of games -----

anything that works with "alt+f4", pre-programmed panic button!

pre-programmed sequenced clicks (shift+"?", ctrl+alt+delete, alt+tab), works well on some applications.

retasking buttons or keys, having some of the far buttons nearer your left-hand is quite handy.

and others, i haven't tried using mine's advanced commands yet, theres potential to use the "if" and "equations".

AceHigh · « **Reply #31 on:** January 12, 2013, 06:30:44 PM »

I see, a friend of mine also told that he uses macros when he is gaming... and he is gaming EVE online.

Ok, I see the general type of games that can benefit from macro buttons. Not really the games I play.... well, there was this one called X3. I believe the entire keyboard was assigned to some function. Probably wouldn't hurt to set up some macros there.

JoonasTo · « **Reply #32 on:** January 12, 2013, 07:18:07 PM »

They're handy in games that have certain combinations for actions I've used them for:
-dodges in FPSes
-different commands in RTSes(though macros for mouse keys, not keyboard)
-autobuff macros are handy in RPGs
-special moves in fighting games
-minor stuff in simulators .eg start up sequence of planes etc.

As tiff already said, the macros left of the keyboard are useless, they're too far to use precisely fast.

I prefer mechanical keyboards though. I play hotseat a lot so NKR is necessary for that.
The missing of multimedia keys can be a real pain if you use media players though, you'll find yourself looking for the next button when it doesn't exist. That's why you'll just put it on some useless button and use global hotkeys, scroll lock comes to mind.

xShadow · « **Reply #33 on:** January 12, 2013, 10:47:03 PM »

Well, I didn't necessarily get this Sidewinder for the macro keys. I got it because it didn't have any ghosting, which meant I could frantically run around in Wolfenstein ET without issue... and it also had media keys, which are really a must when you're gaming because alt tabbing is a bitch and a half. You could use an autohotkey script (which I've programmed plenty, mainly to bot in a few games which I didn't care to play much), but that involves sacrificing a key somewhere. Why do that?

That, and it was 30 dollars when I bought it. 30 dollars for a quality gaming keyboard like this is hard to pass up.

Though, I did end up using my macro keys every once in a while. I don't really play it much anymore, but in Maplestory I used it to facilitate using a class that required a lot of key input. No way in hell was I gonna sacrifice my wrist to play that. There's also Dungeon Fighter online. I used it on my summoner to make it easier to multisummon some specific things which required timing. It's also useful in any game that has some kind of shield that blocks AHK (granted they rarely block compiled exe scripts, because they can't tell wtf they are).

Mechanical is nice and all, but I'm not sacrificing the extra features of this keyboard, while paying 2.5-4 times the price.

AceHigh · « **Reply #34 on:** January 12, 2013, 11:54:59 PM »

Ghosting that you were talking about is actually one of the main sells of the mechanical keyboards that we mentioned. In fact I don't like the word "ghosting" because it was a marketing thing in the old days when gaming keyboard were advertised as being able to handle button mashing, but in truth they only supported WASD cluster or had specifications like 6KRO. Note that keyboards that really allow you to press all buttons and they will all register, proudly label them as NKRO instead of "anti ghosting technology" or similar stuff.

However now I am really looking most favourably towards the Qpad - 85. Mechanical, MX red switches and has multimedia keys. It's too bad Filco doesn't.

Tiffanys · « **Reply #35 on:** January 13, 2013, 12:39:39 AM »

Quote from: Tatsujin on January 12, 2013, 02:24:39 PM

Tiffanys, how long have you had the Anansi for? Do the buttons wear out? Are they backlit? Do they get stuck? Do they have rubber-like feeling when you set your fingers on them?

I don't have a one. I'm using a Logitech G11 right now. If I got a new one I'd probably get it though, barring finding a mechanical that has similar macro button placement.

I also have the SteelSeries WoW Cataclysm mouse, which I do not recommend by the way. The button placement on it is great, which is why I got it over a Naga (or the Logitech version of the Naga which exists now that didn't then), but the macro software is just utter shit. You can't do pretty much anything except their pre-programmed commands almost exclusively tailored to WoW which amazingly happen to work in some other games, but not in others. But yeah, I'd never ever get another SteelSeries mouse.

Quote from: AceHigh on January 12, 2013, 04:23:14 PM

We clearly got two camps here: macro and mechanical.

Just wondering about you macro people, what games do you usually play to make them feel like an important feature?

I'd do macro+mechanical.

What games, hmm... Well, the reason I bought it was because of Age of Conan which required like insane combinations all the time. Though, I imagine it's useful similarly in other games like that. Albeit, I'd say the Anansi would be useful... ones with them to the left, not so much as they aren't easily reachable. One row directly next to the shift/ctrl keys might be usable, I dunno. But I definitely think the Anansi placement would be more practical in gaming situations.

Vindictus it was useful on too (for Fiona), although... I ended up assigning some random key to my mouse instead and making an autohotkey script for that key since my keyboard macro keys are too far away and my mouse macro software sucks ass.

Quote from: mgz on January 12, 2013, 12:32:58 PM

razer makes nothing but shit
all of their products are shit

Show me another keyboard that has the same or similar macro button placement as the Anansi then.

AceHigh · « **Reply #36 on:** January 13, 2013, 02:31:41 AM »

Quote from: Tiffanys on January 13, 2013, 12:39:39 AM

I'd do macro+mechanical.

I have seen several, but none with a placement that would satisfy you. Also some of those keyboards... random "gamer" companies jumping on mechanical keyboards making this weird mix of quality switches packed in shitty plastic.

mgz · « **Reply #37 on:** January 13, 2013, 04:08:35 AM »

Quote from: AceHigh on January 12, 2013, 04:23:14 PM

We clearly got two camps here: macro and mechanical.

Just wondering about you macro people, what games do you usually play to make them feel like an important feature?

using macros and such on the reg will usually be more of the RPG players and stuff like that

PC gamers that play fps often have little to no need for macros and use simple scripts in their stead when permitted.

I played wow for a while but was never big into macros as im a clicker.

I played fps hardcore competitively and never had any problems being in competition with some of the best players in the world without using a mechanical keyboard. NKRO again usually not the biggest deal as you get 6 keys with a usb based kb if memory serves.

I still recommend avoiding all razer products like the plague everything i have ever purchased from that company has been utter garbage. I have never been huge on macroing so i have always been picky on my keyboard layout for where the buttons are how comfortable i can use my retarded ass key layout i like to use

which for fps involved having most of the keys from the spacebar to the right bound to something cuz i need me some space around my movement keys thanks to large hands.

MyonMyon · « **Reply #38 on:** January 13, 2013, 08:50:14 AM »

Razer's mice have been good enough for me but I'd recommend strongly against the blackwidow. I've never heard anything good about it and it does not even have a real NKRO like other mechanical keyboards. Only the WASD area works without the ghosting effect.

da3dsoul · « **Reply #39 on:** January 13, 2013, 02:54:55 PM »

mgz, the only reason would take anything you're saying to heart, is because 3 other people said the same thing first, and without spewing profanity every four words. Also, the mere tone for which you speak of an entire group, which consists of many different areas and types of people, discredits any reliability for your words and simply makes you sound like a troll. So sorry, much offense was intended, but I consider making such types of people feel stupid a form of stress release
As for everything else, I get that my Electra's aren't the greatest audio device out there. As for keyboards, I have a Razer Lycosa that has made me happy for quite a while (good two years). If you're insistant on macro keys, I would go for the Blackwidow or Deathstalker, if you're mgz, I would check out the Logitech G13, which is the G15 without the expensive LCD.