Need suggestions for mechanical keyboard.

I'm not interested in paying more than $100 for a mechanical keyboard. Also, I think the Cherry Brown switch is my preference. Backlight is also important for low-light times.

Here is what I found so far:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126299

 

I would highly recommend getting a key tester with each of the common mx keys on it to try out before buying a full keyboard. Originally I was planning on going with the cherry mx brown keys but didn't like their feel when I tried it. In the end the mx blue switches were the best feeling for me.

Are you looking at a full size or a TKL option?

 

That helps a lot, but I'm pretty certain i want the browns. I get some wrist pains occassionally from keyboard use and the browns seem like that perfect in-between.

What is a TKL? The keyboard I want needs to fit within roughly a 20' by 7' space as that is all the room i have for one on my desk.

 

ha.. yeah... funny how small typos can make huge differences

 

just came down to my office and found the switch tester that I bought from WASD, I'm not sure if the brown switch in it is defective of not but it feels mushy to me and is the big reason I went with blue switches for a more crisp feel. I thought I left it in my office in FL but I can mail it to you if you want to try it out. Or if you want to wait a few weeks I'll be back in Daytona and able to run it down to you, for that mater I could bring my Das keyboard with blue switches and let you try it out as well.
TKL is Ten KeyLess, it removes the number pad from the keyboard to allow it to fit in smaller spaces. A side benefit that I find is placing the mouse closer to the center in a more comfortable place. Currently I'm using a Das Keyboard 4 professional, while I like the sleep button and volume knob, I'm seriously considering retiring it to my second computer and buying a Das 4c TKL board along with a separate mechanical numpad. While Val sold me on Das Keyboards and I'm a big fan, the lack of lighting is probably a deal breaker for you.
Thermaltake has some inexpensive mechanical lighted boards, Ducky's Shine series (now in version 5) seems to be a very popular mechanical board with lighting but it is a bit more expensive and nearly impossible to try before you buy.

 

thanks for the input, MH. i suppose if i'm serious about investing in a mechanical keyboard, it would be smarter to try your key tester first. i'm actually in Cocoa now (about an hour south of Daytona) so I suppose mailing would be easier... if you are comfortable with that. That being said, it might be more convenient if we manage to coordinate a meet up in Daytona; I need to go back up for some other business. That way we wouldn't have to mess will the mail. However, that is assuming we can coordinate a time that is convenient for both of us. Maybe I could buy you a beer or two for your trouble? There's a local brewery that's definitely worth checking out.

we can discuss details in a pm.

 

Magnus, just saw this tester on massdrop, quite a few more types of switch compared to the wasd switch tester I have.