Does Anyone Here Use Mechanical Keyboards?

[SpecTP]

I have a 60% poker HHKB, but I don't use it all that often. Even when I'm coding, I like to use TKL layouts. There's a new keyboard manufacturer that started on Kickstarter. They're shipping commercially now. https://wooting.nl/us/. The keyboard have some very nice features like swappable switches and analog input. They're also using new 'flaretech' switches. I'm looking forward to picking one up. I've been playing around with a Novatouch electro-capacitive keyboard but I think the actuation is too light for my tastes.

[Dickkooty2]

Yes. I have a family of mechanical keyboards:

][/

 

 

The Hermes Baby. Upper - 1934, 1939

Lower - 1949, 1964

 

They show the mechanical and styling progression of this iconic Swiss portable design.

More keyboards and other stuff ...

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/326334-the-hermes-baby-what-a-great-design/?p=3927111

[SSD]

This set of reviews of mechanical keyboards may interest people:

 

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/our-favorite-mechanical-keyboards/

[amberleadavis]

Thank you for the review.

[SpecTP]

This set of reviews of mechanical keyboards may interest people:

 

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/our-favorite-mechanical-keyboards/

 

I don't know why folks promote the WASD Code keyboards that much. The one I have has a very annoying 'ping' sound coming from the switch. Others have reported the issue on geekhack. You don't notice it right away, but when you do, it becomes really annoying. I've tried adding dampeners but it doesn't help.

[tonybelding]

As the Cherry switches' patents are already expired, some companies started to make clones. Gateron is simply the best one to the moment, in a way some people are saying they are better than Cherry. I don't have any complaints.

 

Based on my own testing, my top favorite switches right now are Kaihua/Kailh, followed by Outemu, followed by Cherry (and Cherry is still quite good). I don't care much for Gateron; they seem slightly loose and rattly to me.

 

When it comes to Cherry "clones", most of them are actually very close in sound and feeling, as long as you are comparing like-to-like, i.e. red to red, brown to brown, blue to blue. You can put them side-by-side on a tester and tell there's a subtle difference, but if you build a whole keyboard and type on it, you'll never be able to tell what brand the switches are.

 

The new Kailh BOX switches, though, are pretty sweet. They are dust and moisture resistant, and they have a new mechanism that feels and sounds quite a bit different, but very appealing to me. I've got a bag of BOX white (clicky) switches here just waiting for the rest of the components to arrive. They have a sharp double-click, and they're pretty fun to play with.

[3nding]

I have been for 6 months! After getting into vintage typewriters I thought it might as well be practical and enjoyable to have my main typing instrument give me a similar kind of tactile and auditory feedback so I purchased a cheap blue switch (not real Mx Blues, but I can't tell the difference after comparing it to a keyboard with real Mx blues) Tomoko keyboard off of Amazon for like 40-50$. Nothing fancy on it, no flashy backlighting or anything, but I can say I am really really satisfied with it.

 

Maybe I got lucky, but I don't feel this keyboard is in any way significantly inferior to the more expensive ones I have tried, unless you want backlit keys off course.

 

It is advertised as being "spill proof" and I even tested that feature by accident by spilling a glass of water on it. Unplugged it right away, wiped it and let it drain itself and it was fine!

Edited October 3, 2017 by 3nding

[SSD]

I'd be happy if someone would re-create the Apple Extended ADB keyboard as a USB 3 and/or Bluetooth keyboard.

[tonybelding]

I'd be happy if someone would re-create the Apple Extended ADB keyboard as a USB 3 and/or Bluetooth keyboard.

 

Have you looked at the Matias? http://matias.ca/tactilepro/

 

And they also have a Bluetooth version, although it uses the compact layout and their quiet switches instead of the clicky ones. http://matias.ca/laptoppro/mac/

 

As far as I know, Matias is the only company now producing ALPS style switches. I have the Mini Tactile Pro, and it's my weapon of choice for TypeRacer.com. I can type very fast and confidently on it, I guess because of the strong tactile and audible feedback.

[Ghost Plane]

I finally broke down and got a wired DasKeyboard for my MAC with cherry brown keys. So glad I did.

[amberleadavis]

@Ghost you type a LOT - is the keyboard that amazing?

[Ghost Plane]

It’s better than the flat chiclet Keys, but still not up to the standards of the old Selectric typrewriters or early IBM keyboards. Combined with a bead-filled wrist rest, I’m noticing the backs of my hands last longer.

[SpecTP]

speaking of IBM Selectric, I built this keyboard with MX blacks and SA keycaps.

 

[gregamckinney]

speaking of IBM Selectric, I built this keyboard with MX blacks and SA keycaps.

 

 

SUPER cool!

 

greg

[pajaro]

As someone who typed term papers and worked as a court reporter using IBM Selectrics and that IBM of my dad's with the bigger font for transcripts, I feel very strongly that the best thing to happen to the typist was the word processor. Before that software came along, I wrote my own basic word processor to use on a mainframe.

Edited October 5, 2017 by pajaro

[mulrich]

I must be missing something about mechanical keyboards. I remember many years ago being thrilled when apple released a USB version of their laptop keyboard and have been using one ever since. I spend a fair amount of time typing throughout the day for my job and have very few complaints about my keyboard (I don't have a lot of experience with their most recent super flat keyboard so my opinion on that is mixed). Next time I come across a mechanical keyboard I'll make sure to give it a try to see what I'm missing.

[3nding]

I must be missing something about mechanical keyboards. I remember many years ago being thrilled when apple released a USB version of their laptop keyboard and have been using one ever since. I spend a fair amount of time typing throughout the day for my job and have very few complaints about my keyboard (I don't have a lot of experience with their most recent super flat keyboard so my opinion on that is mixed). Next time I come across a mechanical keyboard I'll make sure to give it a try to see what I'm missing.

 

I have to say that's exactly how I felt before using one. Never had any problem with the membrane keyboards I used before getting a mechanical keyboard but since I bought one I couldn't imagine myself doing without it. It just makes typing things so much more pleasant and rewarding because of the sensory feedback (plus it's got an old school typewriter feel and sound which makes you reconnect with icons of the past).

[tonybelding]

Finally got the parts I was waiting on. . .

http://zobeid.zapto.org/image/keeb/Zo64-03.jpg

 

http://zobeid.zapto.org/image/keeb/Zo64-05.jpg

 

Never mind the ugly keycaps, they are temporary. I have something much better on the way.

 

I used Kailh BOX white switches, and they feel and sound fantastic. They may be sprung a bit lightly for my hands, though. Next time I'll go for the pale blue switches with slightly heavier springs.

[amberleadavis]

Very nerdy. I love it.

[RoyalBlueNotebooks]

Yes, present! Even though I prefer the tenkyeless layout since I don't use the numpad, I have two full-sized mechanical keyboards.

One is a Filco in JIS (which I'm trying to sell by the way), and one is my trusty, good old Cherry G80-3000. Mine comes from a lifetime in an office environment so the switches are very smooth by years of use.

The layout is in German but I don't mind since I touch type, I don't look down to the keys while I type. Love mechanical keyboard, I'm never going back to membrane keyboards.