I’ve been looking for a new mechanical keyboard, but every brand that I’ve checked out has some kind of problem with them that kills it for me.

I’m looking for:

  1. Full size
  2. Pre built
  3. Hot-swappable switches
  4. Compatible with third party switches
  5. Backlit
  6. Offline software

The Keychron V6 Ultra 8K seems like it’s exactly what I want, but their software is some asinine online only webapp. There is no offline app from what I could find. I would take an electron app over reaching out to a server to utilize my offline hardware.

I’ve cheched:

  1. Keychron - online only software
  2. Ducky - online only software, not compatible with third party switches
  3. Cherry - Not hot swappable
  4. Topre - Not hot swappable
  5. Chilkey - No full size boards
  6. Wooting - Not compatible with third party switches

I think there’s some others I’ve checked, but there’s too many to list/remember.

Does anyone have input or suggestions? This is the first time I’ve really tried looking through all of the options. Before I just went to Logitech or Corsair and called it a day. At this point, I feel like I’m just gonna stick with a membrane keyboard.

  • Avid Amoeba@lemmy.ca
    14·
    5 days ago

    The VIA software is online only for convenience. It’s open source and you can run it yourself offline or get a pre-packaged desktop version.

    E: Didn’t realize they now have a different software app.

    • BunScientist@lemmy.zipEnglish
      1·
      4 days ago

      they are still compatible with VIA though

      there is some offline VIA app out there but it’s not made by the same team, then there’s the option of reflashing the firmware which doesn’t require internet

  • hdsrob@lemmy.worldEnglish
    8·
    5 days ago

    The Keychron software is only for loading a config to the keyboard, or pulling a config for backup. The entire config lives on the keyboard after that.

    You only have to use it temporarily while making changes to the keyboard, it’s not running or connected beyond that, and isn’t required at all if you don’t want to change anything.

    You can also use VIA (also online but only when needed) with Keychron, but I’ve not had much success lately with it.

    You can also just download the firmware source files, and then modify, build, and install the firmware locally without ever connecting to the internet.

    • HumanDent@lemmy.zipOP
      4·
      5 days ago

      Ty for the feedback!

      My main problems with their software is that it’s Chromium based browsers only and they don’t provide a local workaround when their service eventually stops, either because they go under, they no longer support the keyboard, or some other stupid reason. Then the board is stuck as-is forever for people who don’t know where to look.

      I’ll look into the other options, though.

      • hdsrob@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        2 days ago

        They are QMK based boards: QMK is open source, and can be modified by anyone. All of their boards are in the QMK repository. It’s impossible for their boards to be abandoned.

        https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/tree/master/keyboards/keychron

        So you can always just pull the source for whatever board from the QMK repository, and modify, build, and flash the board directly from your PC.

        In fact you can do that instead of using the web based configuration tool as soon as you get the keyboard if you want.

        They keymaps are separate text files in the firmware, and pretty easy to work on even if you don’t have any development experience.

        The web based configuration tools are a relatively new thing, and just offer a simpler solution for people that don’t want to have to compile the source.

        The Chromium dependency is annoying, but I have a few things that only work in Chromium, and keep a flavor around for those things.

  • Korval@lemmy.today
    2·
    4 days ago

    I have a Cidoo V87 (that one is TKL, but they have all kinds) which I’ve enjoyed a couple of years now. I don’t know if of their models are compatible with Via/QMK, but mine is. The biggest downsides (which aren’t that big to me, but might be to others) are that the LEDs are south-facing and “Via compatibility” for the V87 refers to Via v2–not v3, as far as I can tell.

    Btw, I’m not sure if Cidoo is the brand or a product line. The brand might be Epomaker–both names seem to come up together.

  • orb360@lemmy.ca
    2·
    5 days ago

    Kinesis freestyle edge gaming board. I use the tko, but the freestyle is full size, but split. You can push them together though.

    The keyboard configuration is done by putting the KB into USB drive mode and using their offline software to edit config files on the board.

  • Ugly Bob@sh.itjust.works
    2·
    5 days ago

    Check out UHK (ultimate hacking keyboard). Not quite full size but I have 2 and they have been working for years.

  • nymnympseudonym@piefed.socialEnglish
    2·
    5 days ago

    I swear by Razer Ornata

    Programmable in Linux as well as Windows

    Perfect clickiness, not too loud not too soft, lets me type fast fast fast