What Keyboard Are You Using Now?

[jacethesaltsculptor]

I really like buckling springs. But MX Blue seems better.

If the entirety of the keyboards and switches and know-how to make them were to vanish, and the choice were left up to me. I'd pick Cherry Mx blue to disappear and keep buckling springs.

But I'd probably cry myself to sleep that night.

Thankfully we don't have to pick. I myself can't bring myself to get rid of my Ducky Yellow, it's just been too good a performer, even though I'm BS (Both meanings) full time now.

Thanks guys, I notified the person I wouldn't be buying from them. Going to look for an AT layout one, or see if I can get a new-production model.

The new production models are quite pricey starting at 300 and going up, you can get an older AT for that for sure, though make sure you factor in a Soarers converter for it, which will be an additional 40$ from Orihalcon on ebay, or 20$ and same change if you build one yourself.

I recently got an AT for 200 shipped, and that was from r/Mechmarket and it was totally worth it, that aside, keep a good eye out, everything on Ebay for example right now is running 300-400 bucks, for that, I'd just do the reproductions.

Tell me when you start looking and I'll throw a deal your way if I find one then. I keep my ear to the ground on deals for these.

Just joined the community

Welcome! I hope you enjoy your time around here. 

[bigapplepietart]

Black Klippe R2 with:

Brass plate
24K Gold screws
Zeal 67g Rosélios
Zeal stabs, clipped and lubed
GMK WoB, icon mods and CMYW kit
Some cheap Anker USB-C cable (only temporary)

[treeleaf64]

I really like buckling springs. But MX Blue seems better.

If the entirety of the keyboards and switches and know-how to make them were to vanish, and the choice were left up to me. I'd pick Cherry Mx blue to disappear and keep buckling springs.

But I'd probably cry myself to sleep that night.

Thankfully we don't have to pick. I myself can't bring myself to get rid of my Ducky Yellow, it's just been too good a performer, even though I'm BS (Both meanings) full time now.

Thanks guys, I notified the person I wouldn't be buying from them. Going to look for an AT layout one, or see if I can get a new-production model.

The new production models are quite pricey starting at 300 and going up, you can get an older AT for that for sure, though make sure you factor in a Soarers converter for it, which will be an additional 40$ from Orihalcon on ebay, or 20$ and same change if you build one yourself.

I recently got an AT for 200 shipped, and that was from r/Mechmarket and it was totally worth it, that aside, keep a good eye out, everything on Ebay for example right now is running 300-400 bucks, for that, I'd just do the reproductions.

Tell me when you start looking and I'll throw a deal your way if I find one then. I keep my ear to the ground on deals for these.

Just joined the community

Welcome! I hope you enjoy your time around here. 

I bought an AT from an acquaintance for $75. He said that he had it lying in the closet, unused, and wanted to get rid of it.

[Maledicted]

That's fantastic. That's almost half of what I paid for my first one. Congrats.

[jacethesaltsculptor]

I bought an AT from an acquaintance for $75. He said that he had it lying in the closet, unused, and wanted to get rid of it.

 

No-one gets deals like that except you!, Count your lucky stars. You stole it for that price.

Throw up some pics when you get a chance. Everyone loves seeing a good IBM AT.

I can't recommend Orihalcon's converters for them on Ebay enough if you don't already have one.

[Adieu910]

Ducky One 2 with MX Browns and Ducky Ultraviolets keycaps + Varmilo Valentines ABS dyesub spacebar. I love it. Don't bully me pls haha.

[jacethesaltsculptor]

Ducky One 2 with MX Browns and Ducky Ultraviolets keycaps + Varmilo Valentines ABS dyesub spacebar. I love it. Don't bully me pls haha.

My bright yellow keyboard with no legends is the apple of my eye.

I can't hate what I myself am. 

[Maledicted]

Ducky One 2 with MX Browns and Ducky Ultraviolets keycaps + Varmilo Valentines ABS dyesub spacebar. I love it. Don't bully me pls haha.

I would hope that nobody would. People like what they like. Is that it in your signature? Looks cool.

[Adieu910]

Ducky One 2 with MX Browns and Ducky Ultraviolets keycaps + Varmilo Valentines ABS dyesub spacebar. I love it. Don't bully me pls haha.

My bright yellow keyboard with no legends is the apple of my eye.

I can't hate what I myself am. 

It's unique. Is yellow your favourite colour?

Ducky One 2 with MX Browns and Ducky Ultraviolets keycaps + Varmilo Valentines ABS dyesub spacebar. I love it. Don't bully me pls haha.

I would hope that nobody would. People like what they like. Is that it in your signature? Looks cool.

Yes it is. After I won the typing contest at a meetup, they kept joking that you can only get 180 wpm on MX Browns or a Ducky.

[treeleaf64]

I bought an AT from an acquaintance for $75. He said that he had it lying in the closet, unused, and wanted to get rid of it.

 

No-one gets deals like that except you!, Count your lucky stars. You stole it for that price.

Throw up some pics when you get a chance. Everyone loves seeing a good IBM AT.

I can't recommend Orihalcon's converters for them on Ebay enough if you don't already have one.

I have a Soarer's converter that I purchased. It should work with the F AT, because that is a 5 pin DIN connection.

[treeleaf64]

Ducky One 2 with MX Browns and Ducky Ultraviolets keycaps + Varmilo Valentines ABS dyesub spacebar. I love it. Don't bully me pls haha.

My bright yellow keyboard with no legends is the apple of my eye.

I can't hate what I myself am. 

It's unique. Is yellow your favourite colour?

Ducky One 2 with MX Browns and Ducky Ultraviolets keycaps + Varmilo Valentines ABS dyesub spacebar. I love it. Don't bully me pls haha.

I would hope that nobody would. People like what they like. Is that it in your signature? Looks cool.

Yes it is. After I won the typing contest at a meetup, they kept joking that you can only get 180 wpm on MX Browns or a Ducky.

It's true. You can get unparalleled WPM using MX Browns. They are speedier than speed switches.

[Sintpinty]

Ducky One 2 with MX Browns and Ducky Ultraviolets keycaps + Varmilo Valentines ABS dyesub spacebar. I love it. Don't bully me pls haha.

My bright yellow keyboard with no legends is the apple of my eye.

I can't hate what I myself am. 

It's unique. Is yellow your favourite colour?

Ducky One 2 with MX Browns and Ducky Ultraviolets keycaps + Varmilo Valentines ABS dyesub spacebar. I love it. Don't bully me pls haha.

I would hope that nobody would. People like what they like. Is that it in your signature? Looks cool.

Yes it is. After I won the typing contest at a meetup, they kept joking that you can only get 180 wpm on MX Browns or a Ducky.

It's true. You can get unparalleled WPM using MX Browns. They are speedier than speed switches.

Browns good

[jacethesaltsculptor]

It's unique. Is yellow your favourite colour?

I got it to match a theme I was going for with my computer at the time, I had noticed that everyone I know that was buying and building their computers, ALWAYS chose either red or blue, rarely green, never white, and somehow even more rarely than that: Purple and Yellow.

I chose yellow and made a theme of it, it lasted for quite awhile, but parts died and I replaced others, so there's only a few yellow parts anymore. My computer glows yellow still, and my microphone is a little yellow. My mouse long since passed from this world, and my ducky is in my closet.

My personal favorite color is green.

[jacethesaltsculptor]

I have a Soarer's converter that I purchased. It should work with the F AT, because that is a 5 pin DIN connection.

Man, you got everything lined up, please return and tell us all what you think of your AT.

[fohat.digs]

Remember, Soarer originally developed the converter so that he could game with his AT keyboard.

[Maledicted]

Yes it is. After I won the typing contest at a meetup, they kept joking that you can only get 180 wpm on MX Browns or a Ducky.

180 wpm, wow. I need to take some of those tests seriously and figure out where I fit. What's the best/most accurate test of this to begin with? I tried one cursorily the other day and it seemed like I spent an inordinate amount of time parsing the text in my mind before typing it, where I would not normally do so when typing naturally.

I have a Soarer's converter that I purchased. It should work with the F AT, because that is a 5 pin DIN connection.

Man, you got everything lined up, please return and tell us all what you think of your AT.

^ This. I like to build my Soarer's converters myself. Cheap conduit boxes work well, with plenty of room to add reset buttons, multiple inputs, even lock lights if you want. I have recently found that guitar pedal/stomp boxes are cheap on Amazon as well, for being made of solid aluminum.

Remember, Soarer originally developed the converter so that he could game with his AT keyboard.

I didn't even know that. Makes sense.

[Adieu910]

It's unique. Is yellow your favourite colour?

I got it to match a theme I was going for with my computer at the time, I had noticed that everyone I know that was buying and building their computers, ALWAYS chose either red or blue, rarely green, never white, and somehow even more rarely than that: Purple and Yellow.

I chose yellow and made a theme of it, it lasted for quite awhile, but parts died and I replaced others, so there's only a few yellow parts anymore. My computer glows yellow still, and my microphone is a little yellow. My mouse long since passed from this world, and my ducky is in my closet.

My personal favorite color is green.

Yeah it's hard to coordinate colours. I imagine finding yellow parts is challenging. Maybe you should choose a green theme next.

Yes it is. After I won the typing contest at a meetup, they kept joking that you can only get 180 wpm on MX Browns or a Ducky.

180 wpm, wow. I need to take some of those tests seriously and figure out where I fit. What's the best/most accurate test of this to begin with? I tried one cursorily the other day and it seemed like I spent an inordinate amount of time parsing the text in my mind before typing it, where I would not normally do so when typing naturally.

Whatever you do, don't use typingtest.com. Their penalty for errors is wrong. If you make one mistake, they take off 1 wpm which is actually 5 characters. The most consistent typing test is 10fastfingers.com. It is all right to read the text over before you read it, because the test isn't going to be entirely realistic. Typing fast requires you to read ahead and position your fingers for upcoming words. I often try not to get distracted by the text's content; I just mindlessly type the words or syllables.

[jacethesaltsculptor]

Remember, Soarer originally developed the converter so that he could game with his AT keyboard.

I never knew that, I wonder if he ever checks the forums and just gave up? I'd love to see him back, he's had a huge impact on this hobby.

Yeah it's hard to coordinate colours. I imagine finding yellow parts is challenging. Maybe you should choose a green theme next.

It was a bit of a challenge back then, and I enjoyed the time it was all yellow, I didn't have a ton of people to show it to, so it didn't get a whole lot more than my doting on it.


Truthfully, part of the reason it isn't yellow anymore is more than I've moved on from having to have my setup be "themed" and have gone for more about function. I can't say I'll never return to that, and may very well, but at this point, I'm pretty happy with just upgrading parts to parts with good prices and getting power and ease of use more than the look. (Some yellow peripherals were pretty bad, I got a Sensei gaming mouse in yellow, and I replaced it 4 times on warranty, never again.)

Though honestly nowadays it would be much easier, everything is RGB, I could just set the color and go from there. Finding dedicated Yellow LED's was a challenge back then.

[fohat.digs]

I wonder if he ever checks the forums and just gave up?

I forget how much churn there is on the forum.

Soarer abruptly disappeared off both GH and DT about what? 3 years ago? 5? and has not been heard from since. We fear the worst. Leading up to his disappearance he had been talking about releasing his source code for some months.

[absyrd]

Still my HHKB. But I'm taking classes online and the lockdown browser doesn't let you use function keys. Ruh roh.

[Adieu910]

Yeah it's hard to coordinate colours. I imagine finding yellow parts is challenging. Maybe you should choose a green theme next.

It was a bit of a challenge back then, and I enjoyed the time it was all yellow, I didn't have a ton of people to show it to, so it didn't get a whole lot more than my doting on it.


Truthfully, part of the reason it isn't yellow anymore is more than I've moved on from having to have my setup be "themed" and have gone for more about function. I can't say I'll never return to that, and may very well, but at this point, I'm pretty happy with just upgrading parts to parts with good prices and getting power and ease of use more than the look. (Some yellow peripherals were pretty bad, I got a Sensei gaming mouse in yellow, and I replaced it 4 times on warranty, never again.)

Though honestly nowadays it would be much easier, everything is RGB, I could just set the color and go from there. Finding dedicated Yellow LED's was a challenge back then.
[/quote]

I see. That makes sense. RGB is useful in that case.

[OtherBarry1992]

Currently using a Gon Nerd TKL in a Carbon Fiber case from 1UP. 67g Zealeos and Pulse SA. Love it, been my daily driver for years now. Excuse the messy desk. Also seen is my Ducky Numpad calculator.

[Maledicted]

OtherBarry1992, your image doesn't seem to be functioning.

I am using work keyboard #2, a Das Professional 4 with Kailh Box Navies and YMDK "Dolch" caps.

[Sintpinty]

OtherBarry1992, your image doesn't seem to be functioning.

I am using work keyboard #2, a Das Professional 4 with Kailh Box Navies and YMDK "Dolch" caps.

(Attachment Link)

My school most likely won't allow mech keebs for work

[Maledicted]

OtherBarry1992, your image doesn't seem to be functioning.

I am using work keyboard #2, a Das Professional 4 with Kailh Box Navies and YMDK "Dolch" caps.

(Attachment Link)

My school most likely won't allow mech keebs for work

Then they're heretics.

[flurryvelvet]

A ZK-4 with Outemu Blues (and the standard ones, although I'm really hungry for the low-travel ones)

[Sintpinty]

A ZK-4 with Outemu Blues (and the standard ones, although I'm really hungry for the low-travel ones)

I need a clicky switch

[Maledicted]

A ZK-4 with Outemu Blues (and the standard ones, although I'm really hungry for the low-travel ones)

I need a clicky switch

Boards with Outemus are super cheap, probably feel better than Cherry MX anyway. Grab one.

[Sintpinty]

A ZK-4 with Outemu Blues (and the standard ones, although I'm really hungry for the low-travel ones)

I need a clicky switch

Boards with Outemus are super cheap, probably feel better than Cherry MX anyway. Grab one.

Kahils are the worst feeling blues

[Maledicted]

Kahils are the worst feeling blues

I wouldn't know myself. When I see the generic "blue switch" descriptions, and the obviously Chinese boards, the only time I have bothered to try to figure out what type of knockoff it is is if I am looking around for a dirt cheap hot swap board and want to make sure it doesn't have Outemus in it because of the slightly different pin specs. Pretty sure my AK33's switches say Ajazz on them, lol, so I have no idea offhand who actually made those.

Addendum: Alright, I took the 5 minutes of effort to compare some Chinesium blue switches to the real deal. I have at least one board with Outemu blues, and not sure on that Ajazz AK33. They apparently used to have "Zorro" switches, maybe the newer ones are just the same switches with the Ajazz name slapped on them instead. It would make sense, since whatever is in the board feels pretty terrible even in comparison to the real deal Cherries. The very tactility itself feels like it is up for reinterpretation with each press and has even more of that signature rattle than Cherry. They're also more gritty than Cherries. The Outemu's on the other hand, for being literally the bottom-of-the-barrel switch on Amazon right now, are surprisingly smooth with crisp tactility, certainly much better than Cherry MX. Almost makes me wish I had some run-of-the-mill Kailh and Gateron blues to compare against, even if I don't care for anything MX-like at all anymore.

[RoboticRager]

Corsair K70 lux rgb with Cherry MX reds

[Ckeeb]

A Filco in office

[Maledicted]

Corsair K70 lux rgb with Cherry MX reds

Nice 

Classy yet industrial-looking boards.

[Sup]

Lubrigrante R2 Wildcard with GMK Skidata.

65G TX Cherry MX silent lubed with 3204.

[OtherBarry1992]

OtherBarry1992, your image doesn't seem to be functioning.

I am using work keyboard #2, a Das Professional 4 with Kailh Box Navies and YMDK "Dolch" caps.

Working now?

[Sintpinty]

Kahils are the worst feeling blues

I wouldn't know myself. When I see the generic "blue switch" descriptions, and the obviously Chinese boards, the only time I have bothered to try to figure out what type of knockoff it is is if I am looking around for a dirt cheap hot swap board and want to make sure it doesn't have Outemus in it because of the slightly different pin specs. Pretty sure my AK33's switches say Ajazz on them, lol, so I have no idea offhand who actually made those.

Addendum: Alright, I took the 5 minutes of effort to compare some Chinesium blue switches to the real deal. I have at least one board with Outemu blues, and not sure on that Ajazz AK33. They apparently used to have "Zorro" switches, maybe the newer ones are just the same switches with the Ajazz name slapped on them instead. It would make sense, since whatever is in the board feels pretty terrible even in comparison to the real deal Cherries. The very tactility itself feels like it is up for reinterpretation with each press and has even more of that signature rattle than Cherry. They're also more gritty than Cherries. The Outemu's on the other hand, for being literally the bottom-of-the-barrel switch on Amazon right now, are surprisingly smooth with crisp tactility, certainly much better than Cherry MX. Almost makes me wish I had some run-of-the-mill Kailh and Gateron blues to compare against, even if I don't care for anything MX-like at all anymore.

I know because i did typing for 30 minutes with them on a logitech g board. They feel nothing compared to mx blues

[Maledicted]

OtherBarry1992, your image doesn't seem to be functioning.

I am using work keyboard #2, a Das Professional 4 with Kailh Box Navies and YMDK "Dolch" caps.

Working now?

Show Image

It is, very nice. You obviously put some planning into that aesthetic. The carbon fiber looks great with the caps.

I know because i did typing for 30 minutes with them on a logitech g board. They feel nothing compared to mx blues

Cherry MX blues already feel pretty bad compared to most of the competition though. If they're as bad as those Ajazz ones I have, that would be pretty sad. I'm now looking at that board as a prime candidate for the next board to be gutted and given the gift of Kailh box jades.

[phinix]

Just cleaned it up and put back together. My first typing on Model M after 26 years....

[Techno Trousers]

Nice and clean Model M! Those were built to last.

[Maledicted]

Nice and clean Model M! Those were built to last.

... besides the membranes ... and the plastic rivets. Still cool old boards though.

[Techno Trousers]

Sure, they were built to last 40 years, not the 200 years of the Model F!

[Maledicted]

Sure, they were built to last 40 years, not the 200 years of the Model F!

You think a Model F will only last 200 years? That sounds like a challenge! It is a shame that none of us will be around to see the first of them die of age-related problems.

I would argue, although it is more appropriate for the "unpopular opinions" thread, that the Model M is not a particularly robust design for those reasons, even compared to most modern mechanical keyboards. Sure, the cheap chinesium ones probably wouldn't survive the same sorts of direct physical abuse to the casing, but the switches should all at least feel the same, even if it is broken in half. And even the cheapest of the cheap chinesium boards don't deal with fragile membranes.

[Sintpinty]

Sure, they were built to last 40 years, not the 200 years of the Model F!

You think a Model F will only last 200 years? That sounds like a challenge! It is a shame that none of us will be around to see the first of them die of age-related problems.

I would argue, although it is more appropriate for the "unpopular opinions" thread, that the Model M is not a particularly robust design for those reasons, even compared to most modern mechanical keyboards. Sure, the cheap chinesium ones probably wouldn't survive the same sorts of direct physical abuse to the casing, but the switches should all at least feel the same, even if it is broken in half. And even the cheapest of the cheap chinesium boards don't deal with fragile membranes.

200 years for a keyboard? huh?

[Maledicted]

200 years for a keyboard? huh?

We were (mostly) joking. The Model F doesn't have much that can go wrong with it though.

[Sintpinty]

200 years for a keyboard? huh?

We were (mostly) joking. The Model F doesn't have much that can go wrong with it though.

oh ok

[bahamot]

Still using poker on FMJ aluminium case

[Maledicted]

[ Specified attachment is not available ]

[Techno Trousers]

Damn I really need to finally do that full ANSI and alt key mod to my F AT and get it into the keyboard rotation.

[Maledicted]

Damn I really need to finally do that full ANSI and alt key mod to my F AT and get it into the keyboard rotation.

That's still tempting, but between my F ATs, DC-2014s, K-151Ls, etc, and forcing myself to use them at work for a short period, it wasn't too tough to become relatively accustomed to the AT layout.

I would rather not modify an original F AT. It felt weird to me even just putting box jades into a Unitek K-151L. I have at least one of Ellipse's new ones on order though (for now). Do you have an F-122? They're easier to adapt without breaking out power tools.

The only compromise I couldn't make, which many don't even seem to care about, is the lack of a Windows key. Working with teachers, in a school, it is nice to be able to demonstrate the helpful hotkeys that incorporate it, so that I don't have to try to show them how to navigate 3-4+ menus and submenus otherwise. They usually have a hard enough time remembering they can just hit Windows key + P to fix their display settings when docking and undocking their laptops as it is. Those hotkeys are just really nice anyway, especially with the ones they added with Windows 8 + 10.

I got some of those usb foot pedals for that and mapped them to the windows key. Works pretty nicely.

[keeboardwarrior]

THE60 with lubed Milky Gateron Yellows, lubed GMK stabs and SA Quartz keyset