Unpopular Keyboard Opinions

[ttzhou]

I have sanded keycaps before. The thing is, PBT keycaps, that have the texture of sweat-worn ABS out of the box, don't exist AFAIK—only with the exception of inner two-part Model M caps.

I'm not sure how sweat-worn you are looking for, but BSP PBT is quite smooth. It's not quite shined ABS smooth, but it lacks the annoying (IMO) grippiness.

[demik]

so you guys are fine with ****ty shiny texture-less abs caps?
not me, thanks. pbt or out the window

Pbt and abs all feel the same to me. Spending 100+ on key caps just for the color is just silly now (to me at least)

[davkol]

I'm not sure how sweat-worn you are looking for, but BSP PBT is quite smooth. It's not quite shined ABS smooth, but it lacks the annoying (IMO) grippiness.

ABS, that's exposed to sweat in the long term, feels quite similar to use of 1000-grit sandpaper, whereas I prefer something like 200 grit, IIRC.

[EscapeVelocity]

This topic is fantastic. LOL!

[Karura]

This topic is fantastic. LOL!

LOL!

[hwood34]

This topic is fantastic. LOL!

LOL!

ROFL!

[Blaise170]

I actually don't mind Peerless switches.

[naokira]

Keyboards with LEDs going through their keycaps is so ****ing ugly. The light should not peek through it or else you end up with **** looking keycaps.

[blahlicus]

heh, are we really doing this?

1. Topre is overrated and a realforce should not be that expensive

2. 40% boards are not practical for day to day use

3. a fullsized board/TKL with numpad is always better if you have the desk space, the thing with mouse distance does not make sense

4. The ergodox is hardly ergonomic

5. Cherry clones are great when priced accordingly

6. Cherry type switches are wobbly

7. Korean customs should not cost $400

8. HHKB is too expensive and has a bad layout, seriously, no Win key?

[sethk_]

heh, are we really doing this?

1. Topre is overrated and a realforce should not be that expensive

2. 40% boards are not practical for day to day use

3. a fullsized board/TKL with numpad is always better if you have the desk space, the thing with mouse distance does not make sense

4. The ergodox is hardly ergonomic

5. Cherry clones are great when priced accordingly

6. Cherry type switches are wobbly

7. Korean customs should not cost $400

8. HHKB is too expensive and has a bad layout, seriously, no Win key?

winkey is over-rated Who needs a dedicated key to replace 2 key codes. Ctrl + Esc gives you winkey. If you need to launch something on the taskbar, use your mouse. Need to lock your PC, its 4 more strokes of an arrow key. Need to swap windows, use alt-tab. Ergodox is ergonomic because when used properly, it lets your elbows rest open, which is more naturally then straight.

[hwood34]

heh, are we really doing this?

1. Topre is overrated and a realforce should not be that expensive

2. 40% boards are not practical for day to day use

3. a fullsized board/TKL with numpad is always better if you have the desk space, the thing with mouse distance does not make sense

4. The ergodox is hardly ergonomic

5. Cherry clones are great when priced accordingly

6. Cherry type switches are wobbly

7. Korean customs should not cost $400

8. HHKB is too expensive and has a bad layout, seriously, no Win key?

winkey is over-rated Who needs a dedicated key to replace 2 key codes. Ctrl + Esc gives you winkey. If you need to launch something on the taskbar, use your mouse. Need to lock your PC, its 4 more strokes of an arrow key. Need to swap windows, use alt-tab. Ergodox is ergonomic because when used properly, it lets your elbows rest open, which is more naturally then straight.

Agree on the winkey, it's mostly useless and can be replaced easily. As for the ergodox, the whole thumb cluster isn't really ideal.

[tbc]

heh, are we really doing this?

1. Topre is overrated and a realforce should not be that expensive

2. 40% boards are not practical for day to day use

3. a fullsized board/TKL with numpad is always better if you have the desk space, the thing with mouse distance does not make sense

4. The ergodox is hardly ergonomic

5. Cherry clones are great when priced accordingly

6. Cherry type switches are wobbly

7. Korean customs should not cost $400

8. HHKB is too expensive and has a bad layout, seriously, no Win key?

winkey is over-rated Who needs a dedicated key to replace 2 key codes. Ctrl + Esc gives you winkey. If you need to launch something on the taskbar, use your mouse. Need to lock your PC, its 4 more strokes of an arrow key. Need to swap windows, use alt-tab. Ergodox is ergonomic because when used properly, it lets your elbows rest open, which is more naturally then straight.

Agree on the winkey, it's mostly useless and can be replaced easily. As for the ergodox, the whole thumb cluster isn't really ideal.

you know, i've seen this complain quite a few times now.

i for one only use my left thumb for 2 btns: space and cmd on os x.  2 keys per thumb on the ergodox is not a problem in the slightest.

are people using their thumbs for more than 2 buttons on a normal keyboard?

[hwood34]

heh, are we really doing this?

1. Topre is overrated and a realforce should not be that expensive

2. 40% boards are not practical for day to day use

3. a fullsized board/TKL with numpad is always better if you have the desk space, the thing with mouse distance does not make sense

4. The ergodox is hardly ergonomic

5. Cherry clones are great when priced accordingly

6. Cherry type switches are wobbly

7. Korean customs should not cost $400

8. HHKB is too expensive and has a bad layout, seriously, no Win key?

winkey is over-rated Who needs a dedicated key to replace 2 key codes. Ctrl + Esc gives you winkey. If you need to launch something on the taskbar, use your mouse. Need to lock your PC, its 4 more strokes of an arrow key. Need to swap windows, use alt-tab. Ergodox is ergonomic because when used properly, it lets your elbows rest open, which is more naturally then straight.

Agree on the winkey, it's mostly useless and can be replaced easily. As for the ergodox, the whole thumb cluster isn't really ideal.

you know, i've seen this complain quite a few times now.

i for one only use my left thumb for 2 btns: space and cmd on os x.  2 keys per thumb on the ergodox is not a problem in the slightest.

are people using their thumbs for more than 2 buttons on a normal keyboard?

Well I think a good ergonomic board would let you make more use of your thumbs by letting you hit keys you couldn't normally hit easily before. I'm not really an ergonomics guy, so that's just my somewhat uneducated opinion I guess )

[Leslieann]

You guys have it wrong.
Winkey is a modifier key similar to the ALt and CTRL keys. The Winkey by itself is a shortcut for the start menu, which actually opens with ctrl-esc. They are not interchangeable. While you can use the Winkey for shortcuts and the start menu, you can't use CTRL-ESC +key  for shortcuts.

Win+e = Windows Explorer
Win+x opens a menu of system functions (dependent on Windows version)
Win+R = run command
Win+d raise or lower a window
And probably 20 others.

I use an Autohotkety script to automatically disable it while gaming (it also converts capslock to shift). Work smarter, not harder.

[demik]

You guys have it wrong.
Winkey is a modifier key similar to the ALt and CTRL keys. The Winkey by itself is a shortcut for the start menu, which actually opens with ctrl-esc. They are not interchangeable. While you can use the Winkey for shortcuts and the start menu, you can't use CTRL-ESC +key  for shortcuts.

Win+e = Windows Explorer
Win+x opens a menu of system functions (dependent on Windows version)
Win+R = run command
Win+d raise or lower a window
And probably 20 others.

I use an Autohotkety script to automatically disable it while gaming (it also converts capslock to shift). Work smarter, not harder.

whoa, haven't seen you post in awhile. glad to have you back.

[Leslieann]

whoa, haven't seen you post in awhile. glad to have you back.

Thanks, just been busy with work.

[bcredbottle]

If I had one wish, I'd wish that ArthurM from Massdrop would unexpectedly step on a rusty nail or a lego every single day for the rest of his life.

[ttzhou]

If I had one wish, I'd wish that ArthurM from Massdrop would unexpectedly step on a rusty nail or a lego every single day for the rest of his life.

did he pour salt in your coffee?

[bcredbottle]

If I had one wish, I'd wish that ArthurM from Massdrop would unexpectedly step on a rusty nail or a lego every single day for the rest of his life.

did he pour salt in your coffee?

I have so much hate in my heart. Only ArthurM's death will slake my bloodlust.

[ander]

We all need to get out more.

[ttzhou]

If I had one wish, I'd wish that ArthurM from Massdrop would unexpectedly step on a rusty nail or a lego every single day for the rest of his life.

did he pour salt in your coffee?

I have so much hate in my heart. Only ArthurM's death will slake my bloodlust.

I can understand this somewhat if you knew this guy in person... but hating folks over the internet?

[JaccoW]

3. a fullsized board/TKL with numpad is always better if you have the desk space, the thing with mouse distance does not make sense

7. Korean customs should not cost $400

3. I can't use a fullsize anymore without getting pain in my wrist. I'll gladly put a numpad to the side though.

7. Hardly an unpopular opinion but more of an unrealistic one. Mechanical Keyboards are still a niche.
Milling large pieces of aluminum costs money. Low yields cost money. Unless you can find many more people (at least 10-100 times more than now) interested in these custom boards, they won't get much cheaper. The economies of scale are simply not available at these numbers.

[bcredbottle]

heh, are we really doing this?

1. Topre is overrated and a realforce should not be that expensive

2. 40% boards are not practical for day to day use

3. a fullsized board/TKL with numpad is always better if you have the desk space, the thing with mouse distance does not make sense

4. The ergodox is hardly ergonomic

5. Cherry clones are great when priced accordingly

6. Cherry type switches are wobbly

7. Korean customs should not cost $400

8. HHKB is too expensive and has a bad layout, seriously, no Win key?

'

Not always better. A lot of people (e.g. me) have RSI in their wrists, shoulders, or back and need a split layout.

[UKKeycaps]

This has probably already been said but I really don't understand the '1337' gamer type boards, the fonts are always terrible and they're covered in garish branding.

[childofthehorn]

8. HHKB is too expensive and has a bad layout, seriously, no Win key?

winkey is over-rated Who needs a dedicated key to replace 2 key codes. Ctrl + Esc gives you winkey. If you need to launch something on the taskbar, use your mouse. Need to lock your PC, its 4 more strokes of an arrow key. Need to swap windows, use alt-tab. Ergodox is ergonomic because when used properly, it lets your elbows rest open, which is more naturally then straight.

1. Some of us use Macs at Work and Linux at Home. On standard keyboards, the Winkey subs for the essential command key in Mac-land. On Linux, the Winkey generally provides your system and program search bar. So given this, the two OS's of choice for the hacker-minded..... How in the heck is the HHKB winkeyless layout making a happy hacker?

2. Once going programmable 60% keyboard for doing programming work, it would be hard to go back as switching and doing everything from a small keyboard with just a few keystrokes is pure heaven.

3. I actually LIKE the Matias Quiet Click switches (as do my coworkers)

4. Topre and similar switches feel like mushing into a silicone ball filled with water (kinda feel like I am penetrating the key somehow and I am a chick).

5. Why are there not more 60%+Numpad combo keyboards and none without the function keys? It would be so slim and useful.

6. Gaterons are the best of the MX style switches at the moment

7. I love SA and Cherry.... hate DSA

8. Why does no one make SA PBT keycaps?? I feel like I constantly have to make a choice!

9. Even thick ABS is not as good as Medium PBT, sorry guys... figure out how to build some real grit into the molds and much will be appreciated.

[wlhlm]

8. Why does no one make SA PBT keycaps?? I feel like I constantly have to make a choice!

Let's see, what this project will bring: http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/hi-profile-pbt-dye-sub-the-time-has-come-t10805.html
 

[EscapeVelocity]

Topre's are no better than the best Rubber Domes.

Alternatively Topre's are amongst the best of Rubber Domes.

[HoffmanMyster]

heh, are we really doing this?

1. Topre is overrated and a realforce should not be that expensive

2. 40% boards are not practical for day to day use

3. a fullsized board/TKL with numpad is always better if you have the desk space, the thing with mouse distance does not make sense

4. The ergodox is hardly ergonomic

5. Cherry clones are great when priced accordingly

6. Cherry type switches are wobbly

7. Korean customs should not cost $400

8. HHKB is too expensive and has a bad layout, seriously, no Win key?

winkey is over-rated Who needs a dedicated key to replace 2 key codes. Ctrl + Esc gives you winkey. If you need to launch something on the taskbar, use your mouse. Need to lock your PC, its 4 more strokes of an arrow key. Need to swap windows, use alt-tab. Ergodox is ergonomic because when used properly, it lets your elbows rest open, which is more naturally then straight.

First of all, this is ridiculous, because of what Leslieann said.  The winkey is a very useful key to have.  HOWEVER, it's also a useless complaint about the HHKB, because the HHKB has dip switches that give you a winkey.  So it doesn't lack one anyway.   

You guys have it wrong.
Winkey is a modifier key similar to the ALt and CTRL keys. The Winkey by itself is a shortcut for the start menu, which actually opens with ctrl-esc. They are not interchangeable. While you can use the Winkey for shortcuts and the start menu, you can't use CTRL-ESC +key  for shortcuts.

Win+e = Windows Explorer
Win+x opens a menu of system functions (dependent on Windows version)
Win+R = run command
Win+d raise or lower a window
And probably 20 others.

I use an Autohotkety script to automatically disable it while gaming (it also converts capslock to shift). Work smarter, not harder.

All that said, I still love winkeyless boards.  Just reprogram right Alt to winkey and 

[Sent]

All that said, I still love winkeyless boards.  Just reprogram right Alt to winkey and 

^  Hoff is smart.

[sethk_]

All that said, I still love winkeyless boards.  Just reprogram right Alt to winkey and 

^  Hoff is smart.

That's a good idea, I might start putting that on ralt.

[Leslieann]

All that said, I still love winkeyless boards.  Just reprogram right Alt to winkey and 

Oh my!

*runs off to alter keyboard plans*

[Sent]

All that said, I still love winkeyless boards.  Just reprogram right Alt to winkey and 

^  Hoff is smart.

That's a good idea, I might start putting that on ralt.

That and reprogramming caps to ctrl are my two must haves on all my boards.

[HoffmanMyster]

All that said, I still love winkeyless boards.  Just reprogram right Alt to winkey and 

Oh my!

*runs off to alter keyboard plans*

I can't tell if I've scared you away with some sacrilegious practice or convinced you to do the same to your boards!   )

[njbair]

^  Hoff is smart.

Is this an unpopular opinion?

[Leslieann]

I can't tell if I've scared you away with some sacrilegious practice or convinced you to do the same to your boards!   )

Running off to alter mine that way, it's a fantastic solution.

[HoffmanMyster]

^  Hoff is smart.

Is this an unpopular opinion?

I can't tell if I've scared you away with some sacrilegious practice or convinced you to do the same to your boards!   )

Running off to alter mine that way, it's a fantastic solution.

Oh, well great! 

[azhdar]

All that said, I still love winkeyless boards.  Just reprogram right Alt to winkey and 

^  Hoff is smart.

That's a good idea, I might start putting that on ralt.

It's not rAlt, it's called AltGr.

oh I forget dummy english language use like 40 total characters :>

[demik]

shut up frenchie

[sethk_]

All that said, I still love winkeyless boards.  Just reprogram right Alt to winkey and 

^  Hoff is smart.

That's a good idea, I might start putting that on ralt.

It's not rAlt, it's called AltGr.

oh I forget dummy english language use like 40 total characters :>

:<>

[azhdar]

shut up frenchie

Could you please stop insulting my country, it is becoming really hurtfull lately.

All that said, I still love winkeyless boards.  Just reprogram right Alt to winkey and 

^  Hoff is smart.

That's a good idea, I might start putting that on ralt.

It's not rAlt, it's called AltGr.

oh I forget dummy english language use like 40 total characters :>

:<>

:=>

[demik]

[Blaise170]

J'aime la langue. C'est cool.

[Air tree]

VIVA LA FRANCE

[Doyniish]

The Ducky Mini is one of the ugliest keyboards I have ever seen.

[swimmingbird]

The Ducky Mini is one of the ugliest keyboards I have ever seen.

Show Image

I had one for a while - didn't really like it and sold it.

Lack of programmability is a killer.

The mouse functionality however is pretty cool and I'd like to see it on more boards

[bcredbottle]

They keep saying on Reddit that geekhack is a clique-ish place. I just want to know how to A) infiltrate the inner circle a la Mean Girls; and B) get a custom title.

[Herothereu]

I think demik should have been banned in the GH 60 thread, not Glissant.

 

[sethk_]

They keep saying on Reddit that geekhack is a clique-ish place. I just want to know how to A) infiltrate the inner circle a la Mean Girls; and B) get a custom title.

If you PM a mod and ask very nicely you can get a custom title

[asdfjkl36]

My custom title would say something about space cats

[bcredbottle]

They keep saying on Reddit that geekhack is a clique-ish place. I just want to know how to A) infiltrate the inner circle a la Mean Girls; and B) get a custom title.

If you PM a mod and ask very nicely you can get a custom title

Time to grovel