How do you store your keyboards?

[Special K]

As my keyboard collection grows, one thought I had was how to store them all.  Some members on here have many more keyboards than I do, so I thought I'd ask.  Do you just leave them lying loose on the ground?  Do you stack them all in a box(es)?  Do you have individual boxes for each one?

Right now I have two of mine in keyboard-sized boxes with a foldable top portion.  These were the boxes used by the seller who I bought them from. I'm not sure if you can buy these boxes by themselves; I believe they originally came from etiexpress.com, who sells refurb AT101W's.  My other two unused keyboards are just lying at the bottom of my closet right now.  I'm guessing they would probably collect more dust than if they were in a sealed box.

[rdjack21]

Same as ripster. But I'm thinking I want to build a keyboard rack for my desk for the ones I'm currently using or rotating through. I've been thinking about this for a while now. One of the biggest issues is plugging them into the computer. So I'm thinking of also mounting USB ports and PS/2 ports on the bottom edge of it so I can just plug them in there with out having to run the cables under the desk each time.

[kyamei]

It's actually too small now though....

[rdjack21]

Linux supports hot plugging PS/2 boards. I've been hot plugging them in for years and have not had issues. That does not mean at some point I will not burn up a controller though.

[rdjack21]

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It's actually too small now though....

Nice did you make that yourself?

[D-EJ915]

I have most in my closet, I just have them on the side vertically.

[kyamei]

Nice did you make that yourself?

My father actually did most of the actual work.  I'd probably nail my foot and chop a finger off if I did it myself - me and power tools don't really get along.

[JBert]

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It's actually too small now though....

Caption: "Hmmm, which one am I going to use today..."

[nanu]

Unused crap goes on under-the-bed dollies.

[o2dazone]

In front of my computer
sell the rest

[timw4mail]

I just kind of have them floating around.

[o2dazone]

I just kind of have them floating around.

You should probably store your keyboards if you're in an anti-gravity chamber.
At least put some tie-wraps around the cables or something...

[Shuki]

Right hand side of the nerd closet, except there is now a deck 105 in there as well as a steelseries 6g.

[hyperlinked]

Individual boxes with blue painters tape on the sides and big sharpie labelling.  Then I just stack them in a corner.

I'm disappointed. I thought you might have had some kind of Russian doll setup in which you could pop open a bigger keyboard to reveal a smaller keyboard inside, which would pop open to reveal an even smaller keyboard, which would...

[msiegel]

I'm disappointed. I thought you might have had some kind of Russian doll setup in which you could pop open a bigger keyboard to reveal a smaller keyboard inside, which would pop open to reveal an even smaller keyboard, which would...

XD lol, good one

[clickclack]

hmmm... lesssee...
I keep them in any box that can hold them AND fit into a big black garden trash bag. I keep them in my garage, closets, room, studio, work studio, other work studio, gf house, and umm.... nope I think that's it! =P

[microsoft windows]

I keep all my extra keyboards in a pile crammed on a shelf with a bunch of other junk.

[patrickgeekhack]

I tend to keep mine in their original boxes when they are not in use. For the time being, only my "backup" G80-3000 is in its box. My ABS M1 and my Dell AT101W are at the office. My Customizer is on my secondary computer. My other G80-3000 and my Filco are on my primary computer. I alternate between the two depending on the time of the day. I tend to use the Filco more at night when my baby girl is sleeping. She was never bothered by the blue Cherries in the past, but with my Filco I can keep the doors open and listen to her while my wife is doing something.

[HKEPCLED]

My little storage

[kyamei]

Neat little bags you have there, did you make them yourself or did you buy them somewhere?

[HKEPCLED]

Neat little bags you have there, did you make them yourself or did you buy them somewhere?

US$15 can custom made 100 keyboard bags in http://www.taobao.com (China biggest auctions place like Ebay).

using somekind of recycle bag material.

[wellington1869]

US$15 can custom made 100 keyboard bags in http://www.taobao.com (China biggest auctions place like Ebay).

using somekind of recycle bag material.

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Imav, did you hear that? Geekhack logo'ed keyboard bags?

[wellington1869]

By the way, on this topic, there was also this thread and this thread.

[ironcoder]

US$15 can custom made 100 keyboard bags in http://www.taobao.com (China biggest auctions place like Ebay).

Thanks for the link. If I could read Chinese I would appreciate it even more.

using somekind of recycle bag material.

Unfortunately Consumer Retorts has linked that particular bag to the spontaneous combustion of the Cherry keyboard in the other thread here on geekhack. Something about the fumes given off by the recycled material used in the bags coming from those monkey suits they wore at that nuclear plant...If you have any of these bags you need to call the nearest toxic waste disposal company NOW. And say goodbye to those keyboards.

[microsoft windows]

They might still work but they won't have the nicest cosmetics.

Boy, I wonder if that spacebar tastes like bacon as much as it looks like it.

[ironcoder]

Homer Simpson: "Mmmmmmmmm bacon!"

[Rajagra]

"Butter up that bacon, boy!!"

[maxlugar]

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It's actually too small now though....

Nice collection and cool storage shelves.
Where's your original IBM PC AT 84-key Model F big feller?

You initially stated you had no interest in trying one of the original real buckling spring keyboards, but I distinctly remember in a later post you said something about being open to try all the various types of keyboards.

If you never try something new, you never know what your missing.    No other keyboard has awesome mechanical action of the 84-key PC AT keyboard.  The Model M is very good, but pales in comparison.

[lowpoly]

It's actually too small now though....

Removing every second shelf (at least some) and storing the boards vertically in those would give you a lot more room.

[microsoft windows]

Wouldn't it be the same amount of room since it's in the same cupboard?

Personally, I'd say that throwing the keyboards in a big pile on one shelf would solve your spacial issues. That's what I do.

[D-EJ915]

Wouldn't it be the same amount of room since it's in the same cupboard?

Personally, I'd say that throwing the keyboards in a big pile on one shelf would solve your spacial issues. That's what I do.

no there is a lot of airspace in it right now, with his solution less airspace would exist

[pfink]

I got a load of these boxes delivered today:

http://www.uline.com/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?model=S-6496&ref=5612

A Model M fits in them snugly. They're pretty sturdy so they should stack nicely.

[wellington1869]

Nice boxes, would be great for shipping/storing.

I still like my "book cover" method for storage. Its the closest thing to a "keyboard sock" (which I'm still waiting for imav to knit for us).

I like those cheap chinese ones too. They're the right price.

[kyamei]

Nice collection and cool storage shelves.
Where's your original IBM PC AT 84-key Model F big feller?

You initially stated you had no interest in trying one of the original real buckling spring keyboards, but I distinctly remember in a later post you said something about being open to try all the various types of keyboards.

If you never try something new, you never know what your missing.    No other keyboard has awesome mechanical action of the 84-key PC AT keyboard.  The Model M is very good, but pales in comparison.

Well I'm not out to waste money, and I know for a fact that I will never use a Model F for its layout/size/style no matter how good the switches are.  The other part of it would be the fact that Model F lovers argued that it should have been grouped together with regular buckling springs in the switch poll which would indicate that it is not so drastically different from a Model M.  Buckling springs rank quite low on my list of favorite switches so I really have no desire to try an F.  If it were cheap, I'd probably try one, but its not (especially after factoring in the shipping fee to Hawaii).

Removing every second shelf (at least some) and storing the boards vertically in those would give you a lot more room.

I did think about doing it that way at first, but the point of making the cabinet was to have the boards siting neatly and not leaning against each other or piled on top of each other.

[D-EJ915]

you could glue some pegs into holes to hold the keyboards upright

[maxlugar]

Well I'm not out to waste money, and I know for a fact that I will never use a Model F for its layout/size/style no matter how good the switches are.  The other part of it would be the fact that Model F lovers argued that it should have been grouped together with regular buckling springs in the switch poll which would indicate that it is not so drastically different from a Model M.  Buckling springs rank quite low on my list of favorite switches so I really have no desire to try an F.  If it were cheap, I'd probably try one, but its not (especially after factoring in the shipping fee to Hawaii).

Lumping Model F Buckling Springs, especially the PC AT 84-key together with the Model Ms makes no sense and was really done to skew the results of the switch poll.  

The orginal IBM PC AT 84-key Model F is considered to be the finest keyboard ever produced by Sandy and is highly ranked by many of the Japanese keyboard sites.  It is like no other keyboard.  My only complaint is that the space bar is too stiff - especially if you switch between the PC AT 84-key and the HHKB Pro 2 and Topre Realforce 87 as I've been doing recently.

The Model Ms are fine buckling spring keyboards, I have more than a dozen in my collection, but they do not even rank in my top 3 keyboards.  After the PC AT 84-key, I really like the Topre switches, the original complicated ALPS, and recently, even the Cherry Blues on my Filco.

I'm not a philantrophist kyamei, but you tempt me to send you an orginal IBM PC AT 84-key (at not cost to you) so you can try it out for yourself and provide us with a review.  Of course, I would arrange to have it shipped back to me when you are done testing it  :smile:

I guess I enjoy challenges, especially when they involve things I am passionate about.

[maxlugar]

I also have no interest in buying the Model F these days.

Anything bigger than a Model M Mini is too big and clunky for my tastes.  And yes, I've definitely tried bigger keyboards.

Yeah, yeah, rip, you've already been officially tagged as a Model F hater so there's probably no hope for you.  Kyamei on the other hand may be still young and open to new experiences (as long as there is no signficant out-of-pocket cost lol)

I intentionally make the distinction between the original PC AT 84-key keyboard and the PC/XT keyboard also known as the Model F. Many people lump the PC AT keyboard in with the Model F, but that is not how IBM identifed the keyboards.  A PC AT 84-key in good condition blows everything else away.   Amazingly, the typing Nirvana (described as euporia on Sandy's site) is worth the trade-off for the clunky footprint and awkward key layout for many who have tried it.

I'm not trying to convert everybody (or anybody), just trying to get the staunch opponents to try it because ITS NOT LIKE A MODEL M or Unicomp!

[kyamei]

The main issue I have with the F is the fact that I justify all my keyboard purchases by the fact that they will be used (or have a chance at being used).  The F is something that has no chance at being my used as a primary board on any of my computers primarily due to size/layout/style.

[JBert]

I intentionally make the distinction between the original PC AT 84-key keyboard and the PC/XT keyboard also known as the Model F. Many people lump the PC AT keyboard in with the Model F, but that is not how IBM identifed the keyboards.  A PC AT 84-key in good condition blows everything else away.   Amazingly, the typing Nirvana (described as euporia on Sandy's site) is worth the trade-off for the clunky footprint and awkward key layout for many who have tried it.

I know you want to keep the model F and M separated - after all, they do use a slightly different design.

I still can't follow the division between XT and AT though. Maybe we should continue this in a new thread, but I would still like to know what you think is so different in the XT and AT except for their layout.
I think the key mechanism is basically the same, hence the keyboards should feel the same if they are of similar age.

[clickclack]

I know you want to keep the model F and M separated - after all, they do use a slightly different design.

I still can't follow the division between XT and AT though. Maybe we should continue this in a new thread, but I would still like to know what you think is so different in the XT and AT except for their layout.
I think the key mechanism is basically the same, hence the keyboards should feel the same if they are of similar age.

The AT seems to take as much force as a model M to depress the switches or more. The XT seems a bit more pingy and takes less effort to depress the keyswitches.
I am basing this off of-
2x model F AT boards
4x model F XT boards (one board has a slightly different color in parts and requires slightly more effort to depress the keyswitch, I do not know yet if it takes the same effort at the AT board yet)
2x model M (grey label) boards
3x model M (blue label) boards

If I ignore the layout, I really like the XT almost as much at the M (maybe more...maybe) and I actually dislike the AT.
There is also a spring vibration in the F boards that I do not care for. A vibration that lasts after the keypress. The M does not have this that I have noticed.
The switch feel and sound seem a bit more crude in the F boards, but are still really, really nice. The M feels and sounds more refined (but less robust). But you could take out a rioting crowd with the F's. It's a barbaric and brute board =D

[microsoft windows]

The Model M could withstand just about anyhting a computer user could throw at it except coffee.

[msiegel]

i wonder if the model m's rubber mat dampens spring vibrations

[Special K]

I got a load of these boxes delivered today:

http://www.uline.com/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?model=S-6496&ref=5612

A Model M fits in them snugly. They're pretty sturdy so they should stack nicely.

Awesome, those look like the two keyboard boxes I have now.  Unfortunately it looks like the minimum order is 25.  I don't have that many keyboards.

[timw4mail]

The switch feel and sound seem a bit more crude in the F boards, but are still really, really nice.

I'd say the opposite, because I find the sound and feel of the Model F to be more refined than the Model M.

[itlnstln]

I think I've exhausted the possibilities of modding the Buckling Springs on a M. My conclusion is IBM already perfected it as far as it can go.

That, or they limited it's potential as much as they could.
 
I'm a glass-half-empty kind of guy.  Well, not really, but I thought I would add that.

[timw4mail]

That, or they limited it's potential as much as they could.
 
I'm a glass-half-empty kind of guy.  Well, not really, but I thought I would add that.

Well, IBM was the bastion of propreitariousness.

[itlnstln]

Then again, who would have ever guessed that anyone would have wanted to mod their keyboard back then, anyway? That, and it's not like the average keyboard manufacturer built their products with modders in mind. It's still not the case today.  Hell, they don't even build their keyboards with typists in mind.

[timw4mail]

Then again, who would have ever guessed that anyone would have wanted to mod their keyboard back then, anyway? That, and it's not like the average keyboard manufacturer built their products with modders in mind. It's still not the case today.  Hell, they don't even build their keyboards with typists in mind.

Seems like they still build keyboards with typewriters in mind, doesn't it?

[JBert]

Then again, who would have ever guessed that anyone would have wanted to mod their keyboard back then, anyway? That, and it's not like the average keyboard manufacturer built their products with modders in mind. It's still not the case today.  Hell, they don't even build their keyboards with typists in mind.

The single exception would be the Ergodex DX1, probably the only customizable keyboard in the world.

Now if they only made one the size of large keyboard with at least 84 keys and mechanical keyswitches...

Seems like they still build keyboards with typewriters in mind, doesn't it?

That's because they don't know any better.


Anyway, this should go in the ergonomics thread!

[maxlugar]

The AT seems to take as much force as a model M to depress the switches or more. The XT seems a bit more pingy and takes less effort to depress the keyswitches.
I am basing this off of-
2x model F AT boards
4x model F XT boards (one board has a slightly different color in parts and requires slightly more effort to depress the keyswitch, I do not know yet if it takes the same effort at the AT board yet)
2x model M (grey label) boards
3x model M (blue label) boards

If I ignore the layout, I really like the XT almost as much at the M (maybe more...maybe) and I actually dislike the AT.
There is also a spring vibration in the F boards that I do not care for. A vibration that lasts after the keypress. The M does not have this that I have noticed.
The switch feel and sound seem a bit more crude in the F boards, but are still really, really nice. The M feels and sounds more refined (but less robust). But you could take out a rioting crowd with the F's. It's a barbaric and brute board =D

Actually there are real differences between the PC/XT Model F and the 84-key PC AT keyboards.  Having gone through a dozen or so PC/XT Model F boards, I've decided to keep only one for the sake of nostalgia. The 84-key PC AT keyboards have smoother key action than the PC XT keyboards (yes, it's a fact JBert) and a layout to which most touch typists can easily adapt.  The 84-key PC AT keyboard has the most glorious mechanical action of any keyboard ever produced.

The PC/XT keyboard layout cannot be ignored if the intent is to use the keyboard for any practical purpose.  That layout is absolutely worthless to touch typists in the US.  PC/XT Model F fans will need to buy a dedicated XT to AT converter, more evidence of it's worthlessness to most people.

I have seven PC AT 84-key boards.   They do require slightly more force for the key presses than the PC/XT Model Fs, but definitlely less force than the Model Ms.  I have easily validated this fact multiple times using the ripometer.

My Model M collection is up to around 15 or 16 ranging from an early Jan 1986 production model 1390120 to several NIB Lexmark made keyboards.  While there is always a subjective component to everyone's reviews, most people who have typed side-by-side on an 84-key PC AT keyboard in good condition and a Model M find the Model M experience dull in comparison.  Um, actually the Model M falls flat on it's face when compared to the 84-key PC AT keyboard.  

The Model M uses an ingeniously simple mechanism (the buckling spring) with membrane technology.  The fact that the Model M was cost engineered to improve IBM's profit margins on sales of bundled systems has been well documented on this forum.

So either you have crappy 84-key PC AT keyboards in poor condition, are not a touch typist, or have personal preferences that differ from many of us.

Out of all the hundreds of excellent keyboards produced over the years in the US and Japan, the original IBM PC AT 84-key keyboard (with buckling springs over capacitive contact key switches) is the most venerated keyboard on the Japanese and Korean keyboard fan sites.

So go ahead and keep trash talking the King of Keyboards pal.  You are actually doing me a personal favor because the fewer people seeking the King of Keyboards, the more for me