Does this Mechanical keyboard exist?

Depending on what operating system you use, you can always just run some software that will allow you to adjust the volume with a hot key combination. For example, in OSX, I can use my Filco (or CM Storm Rapid) to control the volume by hitting CTL UP/DOWN and I can play and pause with CTL RIGHT. So there are ways around the lack of media keys. Just gotta look for them.

I don't know a ton about each and every mech keyboard since I'm just getting into the mechanical world, but I have been doing enough research to give a little input.

1) First off, the Quickfire Rapid is apparently the best keyboard for the price. All the features you need without all the gimmicky stuff, and it's great build quality as it's essentially a Filco rebrand and made by Costar (which is good).

2) Don't know much about the Noppoo, but I've heard it's a pretty good board. I don't like it's tiny size personally.

3) KBT Race, same opinion as Noppoo. Heard some great things, but I don't like mini-boards, I just want a normal sized TKL personally. But it is built well, and I'm sure the layout you could get used to. (I know I'd rather not, but whatever).

4) HPE and Key Cool, I would most definitely not buy those. If a mech keyboard is $65 total for any switch, red flags are going up in my head. It definitely is lower build quality, to the point where it's not even worth buying. I'm sure it uses Cherry stabilizers so the big keys would feel weird, and my guess would be the soldering and stuff would be pretty sketchy too. Either that or its made by children workers, point being I wouldn't buy something THAT cheap.

If you can find the Quickfire Rapid in-stock, definitely get that one. The branding and stuff is a bit annoying but I don't buy a board based on branding, I buy it to type on. It's a solid board, and I have a Quickfire Rapid w/Reds in the mail personally.

The Rapid w/Reds has a way better color scheme, but if you want Browns I don't really know what to tell ya about that. I guess just wait it out to see if they come in stock, or go with something like a red. What are you going to be using it for anyway? I got Reds because I'm doing mostly gaming, with some typing. That and Browns and Reds are very similar except the tactile bump in the Browns. But while gaming your going to be bottoming out anyway, so the bump is basically useless. I've done a ton of research to see what I would like in a switch and the Red sounds a lot more appealing to me than the Brown, but it's definitely personal preference.
Edited by zorphon - 6/21/12 at 8:14pm