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How do they compare to the ~ $150 WASD mechanical keyboards?

http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/i...

http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/i...

"Select OS Key" -> Linux Tux

I think it also exists for the other keyboard types they sell.

I thought this article is a really good outline on mechanical keyboards (at least the Cherry MX ones). Mechanical switches don't have to be loud and heavily tactile; something like a Cherry MX Red or Cherry MX Brown is probably well worth you looking at (I'd buy a Brown if/when I have spare funds). You can also get dampeners to make them even quieter. But, even if you choose a switch type, you still have a lot of choices. I would suggest making a list of what you want (as "critical", "want", "might be nice", "don't care", "no way!") - a few ideas:

• Media buttons?
• Backlighting? Brightness options? Specific keys only (e.g. WASD)? Colours?
• Numeric keypad?
• Preferred layout style (lots of subtle variations here, more than you would expect, and unless you're used to it, can get really annoying - I have a work laptop that doesn't have the Windows "menu" key on it anywhere - and it's quite a surprise how annoying that is).
• Keypress depth of travel/keypress force required (you'd probably have to go into a store and experiment to work these out)
• Slope.
• Extra features (e.g. alternative key sets, programmable macros, application-specific macros, extra buttons)

You could always go nuts and get something like the "Ultimate Hacking Keyboard"! (Worth looking at just to get an idea of some of the more creative ideas in keyboard design).

I've been using a keyboard from wasd keyboards with cherry MX switches for the past couple of years and have been extremely happy with it. Sole downside is no usb input (so if you use a wired mouse it takes up another usb slot on your computer). http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/

You could also get them without backlighting if you go to WASD Keyboards directly.
Without backlighting you could get fully custom printing.
However, I have heard (said) that the WASD Keyboards' keyboards are louder than others in its class, so you may want sound dampening O-rings that also available from them.

If you are lucky, you may also find some left-over stock of Ducky G2 Pro with Cherry MX Clear. I have one, and I recommend them.
If you don't need the numeric keypad, a KUL ES-87 might also be a good choice.
BTW. all of the above support swapping Win/Command and Alt/Option if you use Mac.

All I want is keys laid out in columns like the Fingerworks or the Truly Ergonomic. That one change is minor, easy to adjust to, and afterwards greatly more comfortable.

Well that's not all I want. I also want it split and I want mechanical keys. I also want it backlit and I refuse to have a keyboard with a number pad. I guess there's a lot I want. I haven't found all those in one keyboard yet but today I'm happily using the Truly Ergonomic. I'm interested in the CODE 87-key keyboard but they are sold out. I recently bought a KeyCool 87 and it's pretty good but not columnar and not split.

Get a set of O-ring switch dampeners since it sounds like you're bottoming out your keystrokes. This should reduce the noise level. See the video at the bottom of that page for a great comparison of modded and unmodded keyboards and switch types.