I have spent ridiculous amounts of money on keyboards and mice over the years, most recently with a Glorious GMMK TKL, Razer Viper Ultimate.
I’ve never been able to fully adjust to smaller keyboards such as 60%, and I tend to get annoyed at rechargeable wireless devices.
Anyway, about 3 months ago I picked up the Royal Kludge KR100 - it is a 96% layout RGB hotswap mechanical - I believe it was $73 on Amazon. I got a set of 96% keycaps that I like the looks of, and I definitely feel the 96% has all the benefits of TKL without any of the drawbacks. It has almost the same footprint, but gives you access to the numpad.
This is how it looks:
It has both USBC (with 2 USBA passthroughs), normal wireless, and BT functionality. They come with gateron Cherry style switches, and they accept those types of switches as well as the popular caps.
Another option is the Keychron K4, it is very similar.
Additionally, I’m using a cheap-o Logitech G203 Lightspeed that is around $20. It is lightweight, cheap, and has a rubber cable which I feel is superior to braided which tends to drag.
Just though I’d throw some awareness out there for 96% layouts, which I think don’t get enough praise. I’ve found these budget peripherals to be simpler, less expensive, and get you 90% of the way than their more expensive big brand halo products.
The last 6 months or so my keyboard has been the small Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID. I’d prefer a TKL keyboard if I could get one with Touch ID but they don’t offer that, and I really don’t like full sized keyboards.
Pointing device is the Logitech MX Ergo for the time being. The rubbery coating is starting to go so a replacement is not far off; I’ll probably get the cheaper M575 next time since I’m tired of the MX Ergo’s coating going bad so fast. I used to replace them about once a year but this one’s getting gunky after just 6 months.
logitech g915 tkl for me. The wireless and battery life is by far the best out of the keyboards I’ve used. I charge it maybe once or twice a month. Lowprofile keycaps didn’t take long to get used to. I’ve used Cherry Reds for the longest time, but the brown switches feels a lot better.
Mouse: Razer Viper. Light weight is a plus but it fits my hand better than the g703. Battery life is sorta bad though if you have some form of LED running. Without LED I get about 8 hours. Recently picked up a g604 and it feels amazing for work. My fingers cramp up using those cheap dell mouse that work gives out.
Using a 75%/84 key keyboard the Function keys are directly above the number keys and takes up little space since no numpad.
For Mouse using Razer Naga X miss the tilt wheel mouse but its a very lightweight mouse.
Corsair K55 keyboard. I tried to jump on the mechanical-keyboard hype-train but ultimately came to the conclusion that I simply prefer the feel of a good membrane keyboard. There is more resistance to each key-press such that I can partially rest my fingers on the keys without actually pressing the key. The K55 has been a great membrane keyboard so far.
Logitech G600 mouse. I only use a couple of the function buttons on the side. I mainly use it because it has an actual full-sized ring-finger mouse button as opposed to a little side-button for the ring-finger. I had used a Creative fatal1ty 2020 mouse before that, until I couldn’t find them for sale anymore, and the G600 was the closest I could find. It’s a great mouse overall but the first thing I always do when I get a new one is open it up and take the weights out. There is zero good reason for the extra weight/inertia; I’m really not sure why they put the weights in there except maybe they figure a heavy mouse feels higher quality? The mouse software also sucks.
I ban Logitech since four G502 got button issues after 1 year. G910 keyboard doesn’t even last half year too. Keys are hard to press. Using Corsair K70 Mk.2 Low Profile, Asus ROG Gladius III and Claymore II now. Happy with it.
Logitech G910 keyboard
Logitech G502 Mouse
Logitech Wingman Force 3D joystick
Logitech G27 Racing Wheel w/ stick shift and pedals
PS3/PS4/PS5 controllers via USB or Bluetooth
The keyboard is the first mechanical KB I’ve used. I needed to educate myself on all the different color switch types before purchasing one to see what was best for my usage. In contrast to the average everyday versions, I enjoy the response times and macro functionality. Likewise, with the mouse.
It’s amazing we have such contrasting experiences with those exact Logitech models. I’m going on four years of using them without issue.
My joystick is OOOOLD. So old that the rubber shield between the stick and base is disintegrated, and the servos are so worn out that the stick can’t stay centered, forming a substantial dead zone. I use it mainly for my flight sim games, but keeping the plane steady is next to impossible with that dead zone. Flight Sim 2020 has adjustments for such a thing, but it cuts into the cushion room I need for smoother flight control. I haven’t bought a new one yet because I was considering investing in Logitech’s Yoke System with rudder pedals (it’s pretty pricey).
My racing wheel I use for my racing games and trucking simulators (ATS, ETS2, Snowrunner)
I use the ScpToolKit drivers to get Playstation controllers to work in Windows for all other games.
Logitech G502 LightSpeed mouse
Logitech PowerPlay mouse charging mat
Logitech G613 keyboard
The mouse and charging mat are really nice. The keyboard is mediocre, but I wanted something with wireless over USB and with Bluetooth. I can easily toggle it between PC and phone with a simple button press, which is really nice. I might get a nicer wireless keyboard in the future with a similar feature set, but if I stick with Logitech the key switches probably won’t be especially amazing regardless.
Oh yeah, I got Logitech G903 mouse and G610 keyboard as well. Also comes with button issues. I use Logitech all the way until that generation.
I got Xbox One X and PS5 Dual Sense controller too.
I also use Xbox one controllers exclusively for PC gaming (for titles that benefit from controller). Native support in almost every game I have tried. Ps4 controller is a lot more hit or miss with support in games.
Cherry is well known for their mechanical keyboard switches, but they make other products as well. I use a Cherry Stream keyboard, which has scissor switches. They have a short travel distance, like a membrane keyboard, but without the mushy feel.
For the mouse, I like them as lightweight as possible. Current favorite is a Logitech G302, followed closely by the G203. I have tried several others like the Naga and the G600, but the extra buttons are not worth the reduced precision from the weight to me.
My first exposure to mech keyboards was in the former half of the 2010s buying a WASD v1 full keyboard, with the latter half being where I started taking interest mech boards it as a hobby. In 2015 I picked up an HHKB Pro 2 for the office and by 2018 I had participated in my first keyboard group buys. Then the pandemic happened and I like many others I took it up as a hobby in earnest.
So now I have several keyboards that I rotate out and tweak when the itch strikes. Currently my work machine is equipped with an HHKB Pro Classic 3 transplanted into a Norbauer Heavy Grail enamel-painted aluminum aftermarket case which has a gray dimpled texture like that found on classic high end film cameras. It’s very nice to use.
HHKB Pro 3 with aftermarket Heavy Grail case
On my gaming setup I’m using The Mark 65 hotswap keyboard from Boardsource built with Ajazz Diced Fruit Peaches, which are nice lightweight factory-lubed linear switches that work nicely for gaming. I like them because they’re affordable and I’m too lazy to open switches and lube them myself like a lot of keyboard hobbyists do.
The Mark 65
For pointing devices, I’ve mostly been using trackballs since some point during WotLK because regular mice were starting to bother my wrist. For many years I used Logitech Trackman Marbles which were great, except their switches would inevitably wear out and start double and triple-clicking and they lacked a scroll wheel. After getting tired of wearing through Trackman Marbles I bought a Kensington trackball which was ok, but had an odd scrolling mechanism after which for several years I used a CST L-trac which had decent ergonomics, decent scroll wheel, and excellent durability.
Now on my work setup I use a GameBall trackball and on my gaming setup a Logitech G604 Lightspeed. Since the bulk of my computing is on my work setup I can get away with a regular mouse for gaming only without making my wrist angry.
Using a new Corsair K100 optical-mechanical keyboard and several year old Logitech G502 mouse that’s still trucking along. Keyboard isn’t bad, I dislike all the purely mechanical keyboards due to the racket they make at 3AM playing Fury, this one is a bit quieter. Absolutely loathed a Razer Chromata which I had to use for a bit.