Your first keyboard! A thread for sharing your humble beginnings

[f32h80fsd08h34r5]

Keytronic Q03601QLPS2 in beige.

This is what I believe to be the same as keyboard that we got with our first family computer in 1992.

It is a rubber dome keyboard, but it's actually quite a good one. I'm a big fan of Topre and this doesn't give the same sensation or sound as that, but as far as membrane keyboards go, it's pretty good. Sounds alright, feels decent, and actually has a pretty nice overall build. The keycaps in particular seem solid with crisp legends. The keystrokes actually feel rather heavy, probably around 50g or a bit more. Certainly heavier than HHKB or 87U 45g Topres or 45g Cherry MX. The weighting is surprisingly close to the Model M with buckling springs. I'll see how this changes as the keyboard breaks in.

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Super cool!

We had something similar on our first family computer, I wonder if it's in the attic somewhere...

[Altis]

Keytronic Q03601QLPS2 in beige.

This is what I believe to be the same as keyboard that we got with our first family computer in 1992.

It is a rubber dome keyboard, but it's actually quite a good one. I'm a big fan of Topre and this doesn't give the same sensation or sound as that, but as far as membrane keyboards go, it's pretty good. Sounds alright, feels decent, and actually has a pretty nice overall build. The keycaps in particular seem solid with crisp legends. The keystrokes actually feel rather heavy, probably around 50g or a bit more. Certainly heavier than HHKB or 87U 45g Topres or 45g Cherry MX. The weighting is surprisingly close to the Model M with buckling springs. I'll see how this changes as the keyboard breaks in.

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Super cool!

We had something similar on our first family computer, I wonder if it's in the attic somewhere...

Thanks! Yeah, have a look. I was pretty bummed to find the whole thing had been taken to the electronics recycle, keyboard included.

This Keytronic keyboard has a ton of tactility for a rubber dome, and is actually quite a heavy switch, too. Definitely not your everyday membrane board. I have come across a few other Keytronics that are a bit newer but similar style, and they all felt a little softer and considerably lighter.

Wrote up a 44 page lab report with it last week.

[☭]

[jdcarpe]

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Needs more ☭, comrade.





И добро пожаловать в Geekhack!

[mogo]

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Welcome to GH, comrade. That's not a bad start as all. Pretty tasteful as far as "gamer" boards go, in my opinion.

[☭]

Needs more ☭, comrade.

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И добро пожаловать в Geekhack!

Funny story, I actually owned this at some point.

[davkol]

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Needs more ☭, comrade.

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И добро пожаловать в Geekhack!

Promotion of totalitarian regimes and mass murder is rather imbalanced on keyboard forums.

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[Blaise170]

Recently had a discussion about this and thought we could use a thread here! I realize that some people's first keyboard was mechanical, but not everyone. I started on my first PC, a Compaq Deskpro EP/SB (Windows 95, Pentium II) with a decent rubber dome keyboard. Not my image, but the same keyboard:



My first mechanical was a Thermaltake Poseidon Z with Brown Kailhs.

[BobCarltheThird]

No pictures because I'm not home but my first board was a Ducky TKL with RGB backlighting and MX browns. Kind of regret not getting it with clears unfortunately.

[SpAmRaY]

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=91055.msg2474703.msg#2474703

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Blaise170]

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=91055.msg2474703.msg#2474703

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Great. 

[ander]

Great thread idea, Blaise.

My first keyboard? I typed on lots of typewriters, both manual and electric. Including IBM Selectrics, the only typewriters I can think about and swoon—and they had awesome keys too, of course:





And they were built by geniuses... What a concept, that spherical typing element!

But I take it you mean computer keyboards. That'd be the one built into my Radio Shack Model III, which I believe had linear Alps SKCC Cream switches:





I didn't have the floppy drives—which, at $400 or so each (in '70s dollars!) were only for wealthy folks. I saved the programs I wrote on cassette tape, and watched the asterisk flash on the display as it located each stored listing. And when it got cold, we rubbed two sticks together and make a fire.

Then, after mushing along on RDs and membranes for 30 years, like everyone else, my first modern mechanical was a Corsair Vengeance K70 with Cherry MX Reds:





I don't even remember how I learned MKs had made a comeback, or why I choose that one. I thought the metal case was awesome, though—and the K70 was the very first board with the free-floating key design that looked so futuristic, and made it so easy to keep clean. (Many manufacturers subsequently copied that look.) Then I got another K70 with MX Browns.

Then I got on here and got all snobby about boards you could find in big-box stores... Oh well. It's fun thinking about those first days of pulse-pounding geekdom. Maybe some of you experienced the same feeling when you found out about arcade-game emulation.

[dblack]

My first mech was a Razer board, i dont know which. Like many others Im here because of PC gaming. At some point I saw a youtube video about the HHKB and it compelled me to buy one and that lead me here; just doing random research about the board and how to mod it.

[Sup]

Poker II with Cherry MX Black switches.

[UnFocused]

My first mechanical keyboard was built into my first computer: a TI-99/4A that I bought in 1981 or 1982. I've had lots of computers and keyboards since then, but the only non-mechanical I've ever owned is a Maxi-Switch rubber dome / membrane that I bought in 1992 (and still have).

I used IBM Model M keyboards everywhere exclusively from around 1998 to 2012 when I discovered the mechanical keyboard scene and bought a QFR with MX blues (I now HATE MX switches with click jackets).

[Kyi195]

My first keyboard was some off-brand PS/2 membrane board that my parents gave me when I got the hand-me-down computer.  After that my first mech board was an old Model M I grabbed while working my first job in surplus.  Still have that sitting around in my closet actually.  My current mech board is a KBP V60 Mini with clears and a new cap set.  I hopped on the whitefox drop but I haven't finished putting it together due to being busy.  Gonna put 67g Zealios in it and then give the V60 to my friend.

My first mechanical keyboard was built into my first computer: a TI-99/4A that I bought in 1981 or 1982.

Duude, my grandpa gave me my uncle's old Ti-99/4A.  I don't have all the cables to get it running though and I don't really know what I'd do with it once I do get it running so it's kinda just sitting in my closet atm.  Might just set it on a shelf somewhere when I move out and keep it as a decoration piece.

[davkol]

Probably this, BTC rubber dome (over PCB) with discrete MX-mount sliders, branded as Packard Bell. I still use some of the keycaps.



Perhaps there was something else before it, but I can't remember.

[blackriver]

First official mech was a Black Widow tournament ed. Shortly there after I got my first respectable board which was an OLKB Planck.

[BobCarltheThird]

First official mech was a Black Widow tournament ed. Shortly there after I got my first respectable board which was an OLKB Planck.

That's one big jump! How long did it take for you to get used to it?

[blackriver]

Well the planck was also the board I learned to touch type on, but after only a couple weeks I was pretty proficent with layers and the ortholiner layout. I actually really don’t like the ortho layout anymore, but the planck does hold a special place in my heart.

[Kyi195]

My first mechanical was a Thermaltake Poseidon Z with Brown Kailhs.

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My mom used to talk about how much she enjoyed mech boards when she started using computers and so I saved up a bunch (back when I had a poor-paying job) and got her one of these with MX browns off NewEgg and she loves it!  Would have taken it to work but she bottoms out when she types and so says it's too loud.

[f32h80fsd08h34r5]

My mom used to talk about how much she enjoyed mech boards when she started using computers and so I saved up a bunch (back when I had a poor-paying job) and got her one of these with MX browns off NewEgg and she loves it!  Would have taken it to work but she bottoms out when she types and so says it's too loud.

Dude when I got my first job I spent sooo much $$$$ on keyboard stuff.

[Blaise170]

It would be rather embarrassing to say how much I've spent on keyboards that I could have saved up instead.  )

[Kyi195]

It would be rather embarrassing to say how much I've spent on keyboards that I could have saved up instead.  )

My mom used to talk about how much she enjoyed mech boards when she started using computers and so I saved up a bunch (back when I had a poor-paying job) and got her one of these with MX browns off NewEgg and she loves it!  Would have taken it to work but she bottoms out when she types and so says it's too loud.

Dude when I got my first job I spent sooo much $$$$ on keyboard stuff.

Honestly.  I still use my V60 as my daily at home.  Sadly stuck with a Dell chicklet kb at work but I'm in the slow process of putting together a 40% for fun to use there.  But after that I'm going to have three boards.  the V60 which will be going to a friend, a WhiteFox that I still haven't gotten around to putting together, and that JD40.  And just between those, I'm going to be way more into it than I need.  And my mom just discovered artisan caps so it'll be interesting to see if she actually goes for anything.

[f32h80fsd08h34r5]

Honestly.  I still use my V60 as my daily at home.  Sadly stuck with a Dell chicklet kb at work but I'm in the slow process of putting together a 40% for fun to use there.  But after that I'm going to have three boards.  the V60 which will be going to a friend, a WhiteFox that I still haven't gotten around to putting together, and that JD40.  And just between those, I'm going to be way more into it than I need.  And my mom just discovered artisan caps so it'll be interesting to see if she actually goes for anything.

Have you ever tried 40% before this? They are really cool! but it took me a while to be able to use one to any degree of efficiency...

[Kyi195]

Honestly.  I still use my V60 as my daily at home.  Sadly stuck with a Dell chicklet kb at work but I'm in the slow process of putting together a 40% for fun to use there.  But after that I'm going to have three boards.  the V60 which will be going to a friend, a WhiteFox that I still haven't gotten around to putting together, and that JD40.  And just between those, I'm going to be way more into it than I need.  And my mom just discovered artisan caps so it'll be interesting to see if she actually goes for anything.

Have you ever tried 40% before this? They are really cool! but it took me a while to be able to use one to any degree of efficiency...

Not yet, it'll be my first 40% ever which is funny since they were what got me into mech boards!.  I'm trying to pay attention to how I type and I'm using that to set up all the function layers.  It will be interesting typing with it though.  I was really just wanting to cut a buncha space off my keyboard space.  Might bring my numpad in for the times when I'm connected to various computers since their naming schemes are all number-based.

[f32h80fsd08h34r5]

Honestly.  I still use my V60 as my daily at home.  Sadly stuck with a Dell chicklet kb at work but I'm in the slow process of putting together a 40% for fun to use there.  But after that I'm going to have three boards.  the V60 which will be going to a friend, a WhiteFox that I still haven't gotten around to putting together, and that JD40.  And just between those, I'm going to be way more into it than I need.  And my mom just discovered artisan caps so it'll be interesting to see if she actually goes for anything.

Have you ever tried 40% before this? They are really cool! but it took me a while to be able to use one to any degree of efficiency...

Not yet, it'll be my first 40% ever which is funny since they were what got me into mech boards!.  I'm trying to pay attention to how I type and I'm using that to set up all the function layers.  It will be interesting typing with it though.  I was really just wanting to cut a buncha space off my keyboard space.  Might bring my numpad in for the times when I'm connected to various computers since their naming schemes are all number-based.

This is my JD40! The bottom left 3 keys are CTRL, WIN and ALT. And the "| \" on the right is the quotation mark key. (These are the only keys of which the keycap does not reflect the actual layer 1 function of the key) Everything else is under a easy to use function layer. I really love this layout.



oh and the sadster is backspace, appropriately

[Kyi195]

Honestly.  I still use my V60 as my daily at home.  Sadly stuck with a Dell chicklet kb at work but I'm in the slow process of putting together a 40% for fun to use there.  But after that I'm going to have three boards.  the V60 which will be going to a friend, a WhiteFox that I still haven't gotten around to putting together, and that JD40.  And just between those, I'm going to be way more into it than I need.  And my mom just discovered artisan caps so it'll be interesting to see if she actually goes for anything.

Have you ever tried 40% before this? They are really cool! but it took me a while to be able to use one to any degree of efficiency...

Not yet, it'll be my first 40% ever which is funny since they were what got me into mech boards!.  I'm trying to pay attention to how I type and I'm using that to set up all the function layers.  It will be interesting typing with it though.  I was really just wanting to cut a buncha space off my keyboard space.  Might bring my numpad in for the times when I'm connected to various computers since their naming schemes are all number-based.

This is my JD40! The bottom left 3 keys are CTRL, WIN and ALT. And the "| \" on the right is the quotation mark key. (These are the only keys of which the keycap does not reflect the actual layer 1 function of the key) Everything else is under a easy to use function layer. I really love this layout.

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oh and the sadster is backspace, appropriately

Nice!  I was gonna try to get a novelty for the Backspace that says "F#$K" or something overall just decided to hop onto the Pulse SA drop goin on on MD right now and use those for it.  I'm gonna use this setup but I'm probably just going to drop blanks on the "\" on the left and the meta key.  Beyond that the 40S child kit seemed to have everything I needed.  Also after looking at how I type and use the keyboard at work I don't really think I need much more than one layer so the only difference between Meta and Fn is that the top row is either number of function keys.

[iaso]

First keyboard? Probably some ****ty OEM board that came with the 286 my parents bought me.

First mech keyboard (that I knew off, I wasn't always aware of any differences). A CoolerMaster Pro L with MX Browns. Still have it, but the browns are now Box Jades and the keycaps are now nice PBT caps. The case and the pcb are solid.

[thealeinman]

I found the Model M I learned on from when I was 4 or 5 the other day sorting through grandpas trash electronic pile, good keys bad circuit board but I used the cable and alot of the other parts to make my 122 model m work flawlessly so it lives on.

[silverpanda94]

My first keyboard ever was a Dell branded Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro that came with my family's Dell XPS T700r.  I still have it to this day.


My first mech board was a 2013 Razer Blackwidow Ultimate with Cherry MX Blue switches.  Horrendous gamer font and all.

And my current board is a Topre Realforce RGB with a set of EnjoyPBT Hiragana dye-sublimed keycaps.