JamesDonkey - J2 (Non-Hotswap)

If you want a quiet keyboard, you need to get silent switches and replace the "percussive" ones that come with it. There's a whole mythos that's grown up about the noise keyboards make. You can get a set of Outemu silent switches for about $18-$25 depending on the size of your keyboard. * https://www.amazon.com/PAKJEL-Outemu-Pre-Lubed-Mechanical-Keyboard/dp/B0CFF76YRG * https://www.amazon.com/KPREPUBLIC-Tactile-Mechanical-Keyboard-Factory/dp/B0D773KH74 * https://www.amazon.com/KPREPUBLIC-Outemu-Mechanical-Keyboard-Tactile/dp/B0BZ48GW7K * https://www.amazon.com/Metrickeys-Pre-Lubed-Tactile-Mechanical-Keyboard/dp/B0DQQ3T3RH Try one of these keyboards: * [Redragon K717 Pro](https://www.amazon.com/Redragon-K717-Programmable-Mechanical-Dampening/dp/B0DL578X3K) * ($30) * [CIDOO QK61](https://www.amazon.com/MechLands-QK61-Programmable-Swappable-Mechanical/dp/B0D8VMD3P3) * ($60) * [Skyloong GK61 QMK/VIA](https://www.amazon.com/MOLGRIA-Dual-Space-Swappable-Double-Shot-Mechanical/dp/B0CZ9F8P76) * ($54) * [Royal Kludge RK61 QMK/VIA](https://www.amazon.com/RK-ROYAL-KLUDGE-Mechanical-Ultra-Compact/dp/B089GN2KBT) * ($40) * [Womier WK61 Pro](https://www.amazon.com/COSTOM-WK61-PRO-Mechanical-Swappable/dp/B0F5HYHWY8) * ($31) * [Womier VK66 Pro](https://www.amazon.com/Percent-Keyboard-Mechanical-Mounted-Backlit/dp/B0CDC14PL5) * ($39) * [KBDcraft Adam 60%](https://kbdcraft.store/products/adam) * ($70 lego case) * [KBDCraft Lilith 65%](https://kbdcraft.store/products/lilith) ($85 lego case) * [Akko YU01](https://www.amazon.com/Akko-Mechanical-Transparent-Swappable-Bluetooth/dp/B0DJ77MY6V) * ($129) * [XVX M67 Jadestone](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHCRJPR6) * ($47) * [Inland Gaming MK Pro 75](https://www.microcenter.com/product/664376/inland-gaming-mk-pro-75-barebones-keyboard) * ($85 barebones, $100 prebuilt) * [Womier RD75](https://www.amazon.com/Womier-RD75-Pro-Mechanical-Swappable/dp/B0DG82QD1X) ($95 w/ coupon) * [Kiiboom Loop75](https://www.amazon.com/KiiBoom-Loop-75-Structure-Mechanical/dp/B0D62RNXXM) * ($85 w/ coupon) * [Womier WD75](https://womierkeyboard.com/products/womier-wd75) * (wood! $86, $76 without the ugly caps) * [Glencreag WK84](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DYDM9N49) * (wood! $95 w/ coupon) * [Jamesdonkey J2](https://www.amazon.com/JamesDonkey-Wireless-Mechanical-Keyboard-Swappable/dp/B0DQWL5GS7) * (make sure you get the hotswap version) * [Redragon K715](https://www.amazon.com/Redragon-K715-Programmable-Mechanical-Dedicated/dp/B0DKXLDJ24) * ($32.50) * [Royal Kludge RK R65 QMK/VIA](https://www.amazon.com/RK-ROYAL-KLUDGE-R65-Mechanical/dp/B0CNP1BG1W) * (make sure you get the QMK/VIA version, $48 with coupon) * [Royal Kludge RK R75 QMK/VIA](https://www.amazon.com/RK-ROYAL-KLUDGE-R75-Mechanical/dp/B0CWGR5KM9) (make sure you get the QMK/VIA version, $51 with coupon) * [Royal Kludge RK R87 Pro QMK/VIA](https://www.amazon.com/RK-ROYAL-KLUDGE-R87-Pro/dp/B0D5B2LRB5) (hotswap knob(!), $55) * [iLoveBee B87](https://www.amazon.com/iLovBee-Wireless-Mechanical-Bluetooth-Swappable/dp/B0D1XLXGBK) ($51) * [ElecFox Linky87](https://www.elecfox.co/products/linky-87-tkl-customized-mechanical-keyboard-87-keys-wired-wireless-bluetooth-led-gaming-keyboard) ($40) * [Monsgeek M1 v5](https://www.monsgeek.com/product/monsgeek-m1-v5-via-1980s-mechanical-keyboard/) ($95) * [Akko 5075B VIA](https://en.akkogear.com/product/5075b-via) ($60 barebones) * YMDK [YMD75](https://ymdkey.com/collections/75-diy) ($64-$110 diy) and [YMD96](https://ymdkey.com/collections/96-diy) ($60-$142 diy) * [Monsgeek M2 v5 VIA](https://www.monsgeek.com/product/monsgeek-m2-v5-via-mechanical-keyboard) ($120) [More](https://github.com/ArgentStonecutter/keyboards/blob/main/via-boards.md)...

This one isn't hotswap, so I would not recommend it. There was also a $20 hotswap one a few hours ago but I can't find it now.

i just picked up the original keyboard in your description for $12.99. Not hot swap, but will be my first ever mechanical keyboard going from apple magic keyboard (scissor switch) to red switches. For the price, im happy and if i enjoy this then I will probably end up diving deeper into the hobby

A point to note is that it was on a Prime Day deal, but still - I'm super happy and look forward to delivery

I managed to get the original one he mentioned (non hotswap) for $12.99 on a Prime Day deal before it sold out

JamesDonkey is a Keychron brand. The only "warranty" is Amazon's 30 day return policy as Keychron has just about abandoned post sales support, but seeing as it's only the price of a decent lunch, I personally feel it's worth taking a risk, which this purchase is, but is should be for each to decide the cost/value proposition.

Not sure if this is allowed here but I bought one of these JamesDonkey J2 keyboards a couple weeks ago and I really like it. JamesDonkey appears to be a Keychron value brand - linux actually detected it as a keychron. It's wildly exceeded my expectations and ruined membrane keyboards for me forever. I'm not advertising, I thought it was a steal when I paid full price for it. At 50% off it's such a steal that I needed to tell someone. Search for this listing on Amazon.com: # J2 75% Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, Gasket 82 Keys Tri-Mode BT5.1/USB-C/2.4GHz RGB Backlit with Custom Knob Super Banana Switch, PTB Keycap, QMK/VIA for Win/Linux/Mac - White EDIT: From the comments: this is for a better hot-swappable version available for $20. It's even better than the one I posted about and it is the one I'm typing on right now. I thought it was a steal when I bought it for $60CAD. [https://www.amazon.com/JamesDonkey-Wireless-Mechanical-Keyboard-Swappable/dp/B0DQWL5GS7](https://www.amazon.com/JamesDonkey-Wireless-Mechanical-Keyboard-Swappable/dp/B0DQWL5GS7)

That's the exact keyboard I'm typing on right now. I'm a noob when it comes to mechanical keyboards but for that price I should buy one for every member of my family.

$12.99 is 10% the cost of my last logitech keyboard that only lasted 4 years and which I liked only 10% as much as this one. I have literally no idea why they are selling for this low a price.

My first mechanical keyboard (and the one I am using today) was a JamesDonkey J2 80% that I bought new on sale for $30. All I wanted was a simple keyboard with a volume knob and shine-through legends (backlit keys), which proved surprisingly hard to find, but once I found it I was in love with it immediately. Went back to my previous membrane keyboard less than a week later and my fingers threw up. The challenge with these things for a newcomer is the wild range of options available, but as long as you get a keyboard with hot-swappable switches you can customize them to your heart's desire. Gamer RGB fireworks are a pretty standard feature which are neat for about 5 seconds, then we turn them off. I do appreciate being able to choose both the brightness and the color of my legends. (You'll probably want a keyboard with North Facing LEDS if you're doing shine through legends)

JamesDonkey J2 with super banana switches. It's a budget 75% hot swappable keyboard that works wired, wireless, and bluetooth, with north facing LEDs and came with shinethrough keycaps, I paid $30 for it and I like at least 3 times more than my logitech MX keys membrane keyboard that cost 3 times as much and only lasted 4 years before it wore out.

Do they have any semblance of customer support? Amazon doesn't offer a protection plan unfortunately and the jamesdonkey website no longer exists

Agreed 100%. I already ordered it lol - it's just unfortunate that Amazon doesn't offer a protection plan. I see a lot about how Keychron doesn't honor their warranty etc but are they officially there for jamesdonkey as well or would they just say "oh that's not us sorry"? On a different note, is there a numpad with qmk/via for under $25?

I don’t see why you wouldn’t. It’s a steal for sure.

This is insane! How many of these dang things am I gonna have to buy?!

I use it nightly…. https://preview.redd.it/551exg5phcbf1.jpeg?width=5712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=57a1b61de03610da6ea3121abc9792840626749b

Jamesdonkey J2 or save up for an actual keychron instead of the budget label. They make THE budget keyboards. They punch way above what they cost.