Two decades back, in my early university days, I first crossed paths with the fascinating world of mechanical keyboards. At a house party, two classmates-turned-close-friends (let's call them Cletus and Egon) were deep in discussion about the merits of various mechanical switch colors. Their conversation, a cryptic blend of typewriter lore and modern tech, piqued my curiosity.
As I listened, I began to understand the allure of mechanical keyboards, which stood in stark contrast to the membrane keyboards I was used to. Each key on a mechanical keyboard is an individual switch, offering not just a different feel but also a level of durability and responsiveness that membrane keyboards can't match. This world, rich with choices from the smooth keystroke to the distinctive sound profiles, promised a more personalized and engaging typing experience. It was an intriguing prospect. I wondered, could replacing my old trusty membrane keyboard with a mechanical one make my daily typing more enjoyable?
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Alas, my enthusiasm took a nosedive when I pondered the perplexing task of choosing switch colors, having never laid hands on a mechanical keyboard. Which was better: the common "linear" switches or their more exotic "tactile" counterparts? As Cletus and Egon delved deeper into their discussion, I found solace in the familiar comfort of my beer can.
Several years later, at Cletus's place, a pecluliarly petite keyboard caught my attention. It was so tiny (and adorable)! Lacking a numpad, function keys, and arrow keys, it was a stark departure from the full-sized keyboards I was used to. I was intrigued! I just had... to... touch it... And so I did. And I hated it! I can't pinpoint exactly why—perhaps it was the key sounds, their heavy feel, or the cramped layout—but something about Cletus's keyboard reaffirmed my preference for the straightforward, full-sized membrane keyboards I was familiar with.
A New Quest Begins
Fast forward to 2023, during Black Week sales, I came across the Razer Blackwidow V3 at a good price. It made my trusty Logitech look downright antiquated. A curious thought entered my mind—perhaps it was time to enhance my home office with new peripherals? Previously, upgrading to a standing desk and an ultrawide display had been a great decision. So, why not a high-quality keyboard? Then I noticed: the Razer Blackwidow wasn't just any keyboard. It was a mechanical model with green switches (a particular hue I didn't remember discussing with Cletus and Egon). Ack! My curiosity was reignited! Was my dislike for Cletus's keyboard just a one-off? Were there mechanical keyboards tailored for my tastes? This led me down a path of exploring mechanical keyboards, a journey far more involved than I first imagined.
Over the last two decades, the world of mechanical keyboards had transformed significantly. I spent several days on an intensive learning spree, exploring YouTube channels like Switch & Click, Hipyo Tech and Consumer Tech Review, as well as delving into r/MechanicalKeyboards and r/BudgetKeebs. My quest was to learn as much as possible about everything from keyboard layouts and switch types to keycap designs and firmware choices. This research journey led me to several key insights:
Embrace the Learning Curve. Picking up a mainstream brand like Razer, Corsair, or SteelSeries would have been easy, but I prefer a deeper dive into research, striving for that perfect mix of quality and affordability. Yet, in the world of mechanical keyboards, "the best" isn't as clear-cut as with other tech products. It's less about specifications and more about the feel of the keyboard and how it suits your typing style.
This insight led me to adjust my strategy. Instead of trying to pinpoint my exact preferences for a custom mechanical keyboard, I opted to start with the basics. It became clear that identifying my "end game" keyboard wasn't the first step; rather, experimenting with any mechanical keyboard to discover my likes and dislikes was the way to go.
Embrace Exploration and Experimentation. I recognized that my first foray into mechanical keyboards was as much about personal discovery as it was about finding the right device. This journey required a hot-swappable keyboard for flexible experimentation, and a budget that allowed for trying different switches and keycap sets. It also meant stepping out of my comfort zone and considering less conventional options.
Historically, I've favored full-sized keyboards, but during my research I began to appreciate the elegance of smaller keyboards. This led me to consider a change. Cletus's keyboard taught me that I prefer having arrow keys, yet I realized I might not need a numpad or F-row keys. My main hesitation concerned the navigation cluster, as I frequently use PgUp/PgDown/Home/End in my work. Ultimately, I decided on a compromise: a keyboard size between the compact 60% and the larger tenkeyless (TKL) models. Choosing a 65% layout was a step outside my comfort zone, allowing me to assess how much I relied on the navigation cluster.
Customizing my keyboard with various keycaps was an appealing aspect of the mechanical keyboard hobby, but it also posed a unique challenge. Previously, I had only used keyboards with the Nordic ISO layout, which has fewer keycap options compared to the more widespread US ANSI layout. Initially, I was inclined towards sticking with the ISO format. However, embracing the spirit of exploration, I decided to experiment with an ANSI layout keyboard, pushing beyond my usual boundaries.
And why stop there? If I was already venturing into unfamiliar territory with ANSI, why not dive deeper and explore alternative keyboard layouts, like Colemak? I'm a proficient touch typist on a QWERTY keyboard, and rarely rely on keycap legends, however, having legends that don't match the keyboard layout I'm using is still a pet peeve of mine, more so if I'm using a keyboard layout that I'm less familiar with. Previously, I've tried using the standard US layout on a Nordic keyboard but found the constant guessing for special characters frustrating. The quest for Colemak-friendly keycaps steered me towards those with a uniform profile, like XDA, ZDA, and DSA, as they provide a cost-effective solution.
Opt for Affordability. Even after narrowing my options to hot-swappable 65% ANSI keyboards, there was still a plethora of choices. Recognizing this purchase as an exploratory step rather than the ultimate goal, I prioritized affordability. The idea was to minimize the financial sting if my choice didn't hit the mark.
I set an informal budget of around $50, a reasonable amount that wouldn’t cause regret if the keyboard didn't meet my expectations. CSpending over $100 on a single keyboard seemed too much for this initial exploratory phase. This mindful budgeting led me away from expensive switches and keycaps, focusing instead on finding functional and affordable components.
Prioritize Essentials over Extras. RGB lights, QMK/VIA support, knobs, Bluetooth connectivity, 2.4 GHz connectivity, 5G connectivity, scented keycaps... I decided that most features (beyond hot-swap sockets) are luxuries, not necessities. This approach would help me focus on finding a decent-quality keyboard at a reasonable cost, avoiding unnecessary extras.
That said, I did have a preference for a wireless keyboard to maintain a clean desk. Since I find Bluetooth a bit annoying to work with on Linux, I specifically leaned towards 2.4 GHz support. While I was ready to skip the frills, wireless functionality was a factor in my search for the ideal keyboard.
With these considerations, my final wishlist looked as follows:
- 65% keyboard size: A balance between compactness and functionality, this size seemed promising for a tidy desk while keeping essential keys.
- US ANSI layout: Deciding to move away from my usual Nordic ISO, I chose the more common and versatile ANSI layout.
- 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity: A preference for a seamless, cable-free setup.
- Uniform keycap profile (XDA, ZDA, DSA): This choice offered the flexibility to try different layouts, like Colemak, without being limited by keycap shape.
- Budget range: $50-100 for the full keyboard: Setting this range aimed at a wise, cost-effective choice, minimizing regret if the keyboard didn’t fully meet my needs.
The Purge
With my wishlist in hand, I began searching for the ideal mechanical keyboard. After some research, I narrowed my choices down to these four models:
- Keychron K6 Pro: Attractive for its QMK support and reasonable price.
- Akko 3068b: Received positive reviews, especially for its pre-lubed switches.
- Zouya GMK67: Appeared to offer great value for its price.
- Royal Kludge RK68: A well-rounded pre-built keyboard at an affordable price.
Further narrowing my options, I ruled out the Keychron K6 Pro, primarily because finding an ANSI variant locally at a reasonable price proved challenging. Additionally, the lack of 2.4 GHz support and the (in my humble opinion) less appealing design of Keychron keyboards factored into my decision.
The Akko 3068b similarly got disqualified due to my inability to get my hands on an ANSI variant at a decent price. It seems only ISO variants are available in Europe, and importing an ANSI variant would have been too expensive. It's quite likely I would have gone for this particular board if I had been able to buy it at a good price, given the overall good reviews it has been getting.
The final stage of my keyboard selection process boiled down to a choice between the Zouya GMK67 and the Royal Kludge RK68, each with its own set of appealing features and minor drawbacks.
The Zouya GMK67 initially seemed like a ideal entry-level custom keyboard, boasting features like gasket mount, tri-mode connectivity, south-facing LEDs and even a knob! At $40 on sale, this seemed like the perfect starter keyboard—it ticked all my boxes, and more. Except... it's ugly. The bezels are way too thick for my taste, and make the keyboard like an old bread basket C64. Not an aesthetic I'm particularly into.
Then there was the Royal Kludge RK68 (a.k.a. RK837/G68). Confusing model naming aside, recent revisions of this board seemed very promising according to reviews. It seemed to have resolved past issues like poor stabilizers, and much like the GMK67 it seemed to fit all my requirements. Of course, unlike the GMK67, it did not offer any fancy extras (it's tray mounted, has north-facing LEDs and has no knob). However, at the same $40 price tag, the RK68 offered a fully pre-built keyboard complete with switches and keycaps. Notably, its design appealed to me much more than the GMK67's.
Ultimately, I couldn't decide between the GMK67 and RK68 and ended up buying both for around $120, including Gateron Pro 3.0 Yellows and PBT XDA keycaps for the GMK67. The GMK67, despite its less appealing looks, seemed like the sensible choice for its features, but adding the RK68 seemed like a valuable opportunity to be able to do side-by-side comparisons of different features (e.g., different mounting styles, switches and keycap profiles). In retrospect, I ponder whether diversifying my choices further, perhaps opting for an RK71 or RK84, would have given me a broader perspective on the 65% layout.
Reflections and Revelations
Having spent a few weeks with both keyboards, I can confidently say that both the RK68 and the GMK67 have far exceeded my expectations. Typing on them is a sheer delight, and the audible feedback from each keystroke is surprisingly satisfying. It seems that Cletus's keyboard was merely an unfortunate misfit in my mechanical keyboard journey. Today, I proudly identify as a mechanical keyboard enthusiast, leaving behind the world of membrane keyboards.
I'm still eagerly waiting for the XDA keycaps I purchased to arrive. In the meantime, I have the GMK67 loaded up with a set of Glorious PBT keycaps that I managed to pick up cheaply.
Adjusting to the ANSI layout presented its challenges initially, especially during coding sessions where pausing to recall the placement of special characters was common. However, my typing speed is gradually returning to its former glory. Fuly diving into Colemak is still on my to-do list, though; my current typing speed hovers around 15 WPM, and I definitely need to spend some more time practicing before I feel comfortable switching for work.
I'm also finding the 65% layout quite workable. I did actually borrow Cletus's keyboard (which turned out to be a Vortex Pok3r) for a few days just to try it out. I found myself looking for the arrow keys and navigation keys constantly; I haven't had nearly the same problems with the 65% keyboards (even though Home and End both require Fn-key combinations). I'm still curious to try other layouts (in particular an F-rowless TKL like the TKD Cycle7 or the Qwertykeys Neo70), but I don't see myself looking for another full-sized keyboard any time soon.
Stay tuned for a more comprehensive breakdown of my experiences with both the RK68 and the GMK67.
And yes, I have already started contemplating my next purchase...