2 years ago I started using an Azio Cascade 75% mechanical keyboard with brown switches, and immediately fell in love with the feel and improved accuracy over the membrane keyboards (those that come with your PC, or come from big box retailers). After a lot of deliberation, research and a little begging (of which I am ashamed) from the wife, I was able to make what I considered a major investment and upgrade, and bought a Keychron Q6 Ultra 8k polling rate wireless with LED backlighting.

I chose the model with red linear switches and dark body and keys. At twice the price point, I have VERY high expectations of this keyboard. So far, it has delivered in all areas. The key throw is buttery smooth and the switches won't cause my wife to become enraged at 2 in the morning when I'm still workking on things. Some people don't care for the key caps that come with it. Myself, I actually like them. THey let your finger tips slide right into the center of the key for a clean stroke every time. For something I plan on using for years, I think this was a good investment, and I highly recommend you go to a Micro Center (who happens to carry this brand) and try out the Q6 Ultra 8k or the Q6 Ultra HE (magnetic contacts instead of switches). Going any lower and I've heard that the keyboard could provide some flex, especially in the corners. Yes, these are tanks at ~5lbs, but there is 0 flex, the keyboard stays where you left it, and it reminds you how much you've been missing out on all these years.

That's my $0.02, FWIW. :)

-Winzlo

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Re: Hardware keyboard upgrades
By: Winzlo to All on Tue Apr 14 2026 21:09:06

2 years ago I started using an Azio Cascade 75% mechanical keyboard...

How was it 75% mechanical?

...immediately fell in love with the feel and improved accuracy over the membrane keyboards...

Membrane keyboards suuuuuck. I have to use those at work (cheap bastards); I hate'em. If you do a lot of typing, a quality keyboard is essential. I didn't really get this until I leveled up. I bought a Nexius Moda Pro with the blue (clicky) switches; the feel reminds me of the original IBM PC keyboard. I bought it on Amazon for 70 bucks and I love it (and no groveling required<G>). Solid, silver aluminum body with white keys and body trim; it's gorgeous. This thing's "hefty hefty hefty", yet despite having a 104-key layout, it doesn't take up a lot of space. I've had it for a few years and it's still rock solid.

I highly recommend you go to a Micro Center (who happens to carry this brand) and try out the Q6 Ultra 8k...

You can also get it on Amazon for the same price: $240.

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Winzlo wrote to All <=-

I chose the model with red linear switches and dark body and keys. At twice the price point, I have VERY high expectations of this keyboard.
So far, it has delivered in all areas. The key throw is buttery smooth and the switches won't cause my wife to become enraged at 2 in the
morning when I'm still workking on things.

I thought browns were the quiet switches? I'd love a mechanical
keyboard but my home office is open to our living room. Right now, I'm
using a Logitech MX keyboard, which has laptop-type keys, but is
surprisingly tactile.





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Re: Hardware keyboard upgrades
By: Mortar to All on Wed Apr 15 2026 11:28 am

...immediately fell in love with the feel and improved accuracy
over the membrane keyboards...

Membrane keyboards suuuuuck. I have to use those at work (cheap

never had a logitech g510 keyboard, i see.

I highly recommend you go to a Micro Center (who happens to carry
this brand) and try out the Q6 Ultra 8k...

You can also get it on Amazon for the same price: $240.

that is a doofy looking keyboard.
i bet you guys can't even type of fast as me.


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Re: Re: Hardware keyboard upgrades
By: poindexter FORTRAN to Winzlo on Wed Apr 15 2026 06:51 am

Winzlo wrote to All <=-

I chose the model with red linear switches and dark body and keys.
At twice the price point, I have VERY high expectations
of this keyboard. So far, it has delivered in all areas. The key
throw is buttery smooth and the switches won't cause my wife to
become enraged at 2 in the morning when I'm still workking on things.

I thought browns were the quiet switches? I'd love a mechanical
keyboard but my home office is open to our living room. Right now,
I'm using a Logitech MX keyboard, which has laptop-type keys, but
is surprisingly tactile.

i used to have a closet full of model m's.
i typed on them a long time before going for something modern.
downstairs neighbors would complain about my loud typing.

i wish i would have saved them. they are selling for hundreds on ebay.


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Re: Re: Hardware keyboard upgrades
By: poindexter FORTRAN to Winzlo on Wed Apr 15 2026 06:51 am

I thought browns were the quiet switches? I'd love a mechanical
keyboard but my home office is open to our living room. Right now, I'm
using a Logitech MX keyboard, which has laptop-type keys, but is
surprisingly tactile.

I think you may have hit on something. Keyboards at their various price points use differing build materials and switch manufacturers. I am very suprised at how quiet these are, but I am a very light typer and laptop keyboards are what I'm used to as well (well, Apple keyboards, which utilize the same concepts). I'm definitly sold on the reds/linear switches. Who knows if brand X reds are supposed to be the same as brand Y reds, that would be interesting to discover.

I also find that the key caps fit my finger tips extremely well, so that can make a big difference too. Personal taste is, well, personal. :) Just thought I'd share my experience, having come from Apple "flat" keyboards to a cheap $99 Azio Cascade to this - it's like re-discovering how to type for me. May not be as profound for others, though.

This is also not the most expensive keyboard you can buy either. But, if you want a taste of that kind of qualify without paying 2x the price, this is one heck of a good value.

-Winzlo

þ The Down-Lo BBS þ bbs.winzlo.com

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MRO wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

i used to have a closet full of model m's.
i typed on them a long time before going for something modern.
downstairs neighbors would complain about my loud typing.

i wish i would have saved them. they are selling for hundreds on ebay.

I had a model M I took as a lovely parting gift from my first job, and
a space-saver model I bought on Ebay. Sold the space-saver, I still
have the Model M, 30-someodd years later. I'll haul it out every once
in a while when no one's home. :)



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Mortar wrote to All <=-

Membrane keyboards suuuuuck. I have to use those at work (cheap bastards); I hate'em.

I have a tech thrift shop near me - they have some awesome specials
every once in a while - I picked up an IBM-branded Thinkpad external
keyboard (it's the keyboard from a T4x series laptop with the
trackpoint and trackpad, in an enclosure with USB cable)

But, in the same bin, they'll have a yellowing old membrane keyboard.
I'll press a couple of keys and remember why I hated old Compaq
computers in the '90s.

What I do miss were the Dell QuietKey keyboards. Nice feel, they were
still cheap OEM keyboards (when cheap OEM keyboards were nice).

I'm using a Logitech MX keys keyboard - very little travel, but just
enough - and quiet. Feels like an old Thinkpad keyboard, which I liked.




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Re: Hardware keyboard upgrades
By: Mortar to All on Wed Apr 15 2026 11:28 am

Membrane keyboards suuuuuck.

I've thought about buying a mechanical keyboard but haven't yet. I'm still using a membrane keyboard. I do like playing PC games, and I use my PC for software developmeng & typing other things as well (and I touch-type), and can't say I've had a problem with membrane keyboards. I'm currently using a Logitech K200 keyboard, which I like; it's a fairly standard keyboard with some extra helper keys (for things like controlling computer volume & launching certain applications such as the calculator, etc.).

That said, I've always heard good things about mechanical keyboards. I'm just not sure I feel like I can justify the extra expense right now. Also I'd like to find one that's quiet, as I don't really like loud keyboards.

Nightfox

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Hey Nightfox!

On Thu, Apr 16 2026 16:29:03 -0500, you wrote:

That said, I've always heard good things about mechanical
keyboards. I'm just not sure I feel like I can justify the extra
expense right now. Also I'd like to find one that's quiet, as I
don't really like loud keyboards.

... Spends 1k+ on a GPU, scoffs at a $200 keyboard. :D

Regards,
Nick

... Sarcasm, because beating people up is illegal.
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