Can anyone recommend a good keyboard brand? I’m looking for one that’s comfortable and has color and character and not boring. I saw some keyboards from a brand called Yunzii but I’ve read some mixed reviews on them. I also want to make sure I get a keyboard that doesn’t collect or share data, since everything collects data now. Doesn’t have to wireless, wired works.

  • CalcProgrammer1 ( CalcProgrammer1@lemmy.today ) 
    13·
    2 months ago

    Keychron is my current preference. Open source firmware (QMK/ZMK), excellent build quality, highly customizable, and their stock QMK/ZMK firmware works with their web-based Keychron Launcher in any Chromium-based browser or you can use any other app that supports the VIA protocol. Keychron also has their own per-key RGB extension to the VIA protocol and I’ve recently added support for it in OpenRGB, so my Keychron keyboards sync with all my other lights. The only problem is their firmware has a limitation on the lighting configuration where each key has to be the same brightness in per-key RGB mode. I’ve opened a PR on their GitHub to fix it and flashed custom builds to my Keychron Q2 (QMK) and Keychron Q6 Ultra 8K (ZMK).

  • Romkslrqusz ( Romkslrqusz@lemmy.zip ) 
    5·
    2 months ago

    With a mechanical keyboard, you can get a set of keycaps to suit your preferred aesthetic- including pudding caps to let RGB lighting do the styling.

    Been a big fan of Keychron for quite some time now.

    On the cheap end of the spectrum, I have several $30 RedDragon mechanical keyboards that are still going strong after 5+ years of daily use.

  • Wahots ( Wahots@pawb.social ) 
    4·
    2 months ago

    GMMK keyboards allow any colors and pretty much any switches as everything is modular. However, their new keyboards don’t appear to be as good as their old ones. If you can find a GMMK or GMMK2, those are the good ones.

  • mystic-macaroni ( wuphysics87@lemmy.ml ) 
    4·
    2 months ago

    I use a 40% keychron with low profile brown switches. I use qmk to set caps to control, left alt + hjkl to arrow keys (vim everywhere!) And right alt to escape. I have two. One for home and one for work. Best hardware purchase I’ve ever made. Highly recommend!

      • joelle_ether ( joeljoelle@piefed.blahaj.zone ) English
        2·
        2 months ago

        It’s a great synth! I love that Korg kind of does their own thing they have made some really cool stuff lately, yeah Moogs are nice, they have made some cheaper ones but even those like the sub37 are well over $1k, what do you make with it if you don’t mind me asking?

        • Jentu ( Jentu@lemmy.ml ) English
          2·
          2 months ago

          what do you make with it if you don’t mind me asking?

          A bunch of trash 😅 but if you’re interested, I made a bunch of stuff earlier this year when I was less busy (essentially, the challenge was to make a whole song every week of the year, which I failed to keep up with haha)

          https://weeklybeats.com/jentu

          A lot of it is with software synths, but I did use my hardware synths like the minilogue, Dirtywave M8, and Roland SC-88 on a few songs.

          Generally, you can find me on streaming services and Bandcamp under Jentu if you like any of it. I mostly just make music for myself without really caring much how it is received.

          Do you make music too?

  • ne0phyte ( ne0phyte@feddit.org ) 
    3·
    2 months ago

    I bought a PFU Happy Hacking Keyboard Pro 2 about 14 years ago and that’s what I am still using to this day. I did buy a another HHKB Hybrid Type-S a few months ago for my work setup though.

    10-15 years ago I was big into keyboards. I even designed (PCB, case, etc) a custom 40% keyboard back then. The HHKB killed the hobby for me. It is surprisingly durable and by now I’m much slower on bigger keyboards. I honestly see myself using this till I die. At least this specific physical layout and mapping.

    https://happyhackingkb.com/

  • SatyrSack ( SatyrSack@quokk.au ) English
    3·
    2 months ago

    You need to set a budget if you want a good recommendation. Because if you can afford a Svalboard, that is absolutely the peak keyboard experience.

    A tier lower than that would be the Bastard Keyboards Charybdis. Here is literally mine.

    https://quokk.au/c/ergomechkeyboards/p/676194/blacked-out-charybdis

    The Bastard Keyboards Scylla is even cheaper, if you don’t want the integrated trackball of the Charybdis.

    Regardless, check out the community for more ergonomic keyboard suggestions: !ergomechkeyboards@lemmy.world

    If you don’t need something that’s ergonomic, Keychron is the go-to for cheap-yet-quality mechanical keyboards.

  • cdzero ( cdzero@lemmy.ml ) 
    3·
    2 months ago

    A lot of love in here for Keychron. I bought one and really disliked it. I changed the switches and it got a bit better but I still wouldn’t go with them again. I just don’t like the feel.

    I’ve also got an Epomaker which is fantastic.

  • Jentu ( Jentu@lemmy.ml ) English
    2·
    2 months ago

    I have a Wobkey Rainy 75 and it’s by far the best keyboard I’ve ever bought/used. That being said, don’t go out of your way to buy one since they have gotten far more expensive than when I bought mine AND support for it has been very difficult. Yeah this was one of the many Kickstarter keyboards that was sent to a bunch of keyboard reviewers and they hyped it up massively, which I got swept up in. I’m just glad my keyboard was actually delivered at the end of the day.

    I had a used keychron for a long time and loved it except for the non-swappable clicky switches. Highly recommend them.

  • iByteABit ( iByteABit@lemmy.ml ) 
    2·
    2 months ago

    I use both Keychron and Durgod and I’m very happy with both (I wouldn’t call my Durgod colorful since that’s not my taste, but maybe they have options that would be your style)