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elmurfudd t1_j9gr9pz wrote

its preference it similar to asking whats the bets ice cream for making a sundae . each persons answer will be different . there is 100% no right or wrong answer here

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pxtran t1_j9grj7a wrote

If you don't really know what you like, you can try buying a switch tester. I think KBDfans probably has one that has a large variety that you could try.

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CREATINE0 t1_j9gswwd wrote

you never can go wrong with gateron yellow pro

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A_Random_Username_0 t1_j9gurgs wrote

The Gateron G Pro that come on the Q8 are actually pretty decent. The amount that Keychron charges to get switches and keycaps compared to barebones isn't that much. Get the G Pro Reds and see what you think. You'll have a set of keycaps that show the stock key mappings as well then. If you want to try tactile switches, you could always add on G Pro Browns for about $20-$25 if you're ordering from Keychron.

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NoOne-NBA- t1_j9gwwzg wrote

The best advice I can give you is to find a keyboard club near you, and attend a meetup, before you ever buy anything.

That will let you test out a bunch of different parts, not just switches.
Testing those things yourself, in finished condition, will allow you to see which items appeal to YOU, rather than trying out a bunch of blind recommendations.
The even better part is you get to test everything out for free because somebody else paid for it.

The first answer you want to have, before you invest in any switches are whether you prefer linear, tactile or clicky switches.
Beyond that, you also have spring weight to consider.

Lighter springs are better for gaming, but can cause typos for a lot of people, especially those with heavy hands.
I'm on the opposite end of that spectrum, where heavier springs cause me to miss letters when I don't press the keys far enough.

In the slightly more advanced category it would be nice to figure out which type of switch you prefer as well.
The different switches all have different feel and sound to them, so what somebody else prefers may not be what you prefer.
Besides the multitude of different MX-style switches you have to choose from, there are also other types of switches completely, like Topre, Alps and buckling spring.
Each switch has its own following.
There are also low-profile switches, which some people prefer to higher profile switches.

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Ahren_with_an_h t1_j9h0sl7 wrote

I got one of those testers with 6 keys, a few linears of varying weight, a tactile, and two clicky. I liked the medium linear. I picked a medium weight linear switch mostly at random because I liked the color, Durock Lupine. I'm very happy with them. At the end of the day it's the hand lubing that makes them feel crazy good. Which one you pick barely matters in the beginning because you haven't developed your taste for this stuff yet.

So get a tester, let it push you in a direction, then just pull the trigger on something. All the recent switches targeting the hobby market are good for one reason or another.

https://xkcd.com/915/

This subreddit is you listening in on the people in the box. You haven't spent years in the mechanical switch box yet. Their opinions won't make sense to you. And when you do have a few years behind you, you'll disagree with most of them anyway. Have fun trying stuff.

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