Unpopular Keyboard Opinions

[HoffmanMyster]

If I have found anything it's that keyboards are more of a journey than anything - there is no end game despite what any one will tell you, there is only the keyboard that you are liking the most right now

But I'm so close to my actual endgame!

[swimmingbird]

If I have found anything it's that keyboards are more of a journey than anything - there is no end game despite what any one will tell you, there is only the keyboard that you are liking the most right now

But I'm so close to my actual endgame!

[tararais]

I think the community was kind of hypocritical from starting at hating clones (Kailh comes to mind) to going to preferring them (Gateron) because of feels. Was it always about feels or did some righteousness turn into preference? =/

[digi]

I think the community was kind of hypocritical from starting at hating clones (Kailh comes to mind) to going to preferring them (Gateron) because of feels. Was it always about feels or did some righteousness turn into preference? =/

I've never been hypocritical, I hate all clones.. Except for Star Wars - Attack of the Clones

[Herothereu]

I think the community was kind of hypocritical from starting at hating clones (Kailh comes to mind) to going to preferring them (Gateron) because of feels. Was it always about feels or did some righteousness turn into preference? =/

Novatouch are GOOD clones.

[swimmingbird]

I think the community was kind of hypocritical from starting at hating clones (Kailh comes to mind) to going to preferring them (Gateron) because of feels. Was it always about feels or did some righteousness turn into preference? =/

I've never been hypocritical, I hate all clones.. Except for Star Wars - Attack of the Clones

bleurgh
such a terrible movie

I don't think it's to do with hating clones per se ... I think it is more to do with the fact that Kailh's are terrible clones/switches and that most people's experience with mx clones was big oems switching to them (often surreptitiously) as a cost cutting measure

[Blaise170]

See people say that Kailhs are terrible but it's really just another opinion. I like Kailhs. If you don't, cool. I also find the community as a whole kind of hypocritical about it too. There has always been an air of elitism when it comes to certain things in this community, just like any other hobby.

[njbair]

See people say that Kailhs are terrible but it's really just another opinion. I like Kailhs. If you don't, cool. I also find the community as a whole kind of hypocritical about it too. There has always been an air of elitism when it comes to certain things in this community, just like any other hobby.

Hypocritical how? It seems the fact that the community has embraced cheaper Gateron switches would disprove your notion that it's about status or elitism.

Not only that, but Zeal has provided incontrovertible photographic evidence that Kalih switch components have inferior surface finish to both Gateron and Cherry.

[hoz]

See people say that Kailhs are terrible but it's really just another opinion. I like Kailhs. If you don't, cool. I also find the community as a whole kind of hypocritical about it too. There has always been an air of elitism when it comes to certain things in this community, just like any other hobby.

i like Gateron's because of their slightly earlier actuation, blues feels awesome combined with heavier springs making them "super ghetto greens", and retail there's hardly any price difference between gateron and cherry stuff, atleast at those shops shipping international.

[swimmingbird]

See people say that Kailhs are terrible but it's really just another opinion. I like Kailhs. If you don't, cool. I also find the community as a whole kind of hypocritical about it too. There has always been an air of elitism when it comes to certain things in this community, just like any other hobby.

I don't think its hypocritical to point out that some things are better than others

[jerue]

Alright, I've got another one.

I don't like the 55g HHKB. Not at all. MUCH prefer the 55g Realforce. Can't speak for a 55g FC660C. So glad I didn't alter my HHKB.

[Air tree]

Alright, I've got another one.

I don't like the 55g HHKB. Not at all. MUCH prefer the 55g Realforce. Can't speak for a 55g FC660C. So glad I didn't alter my HHKB.

Making me want to go out and buy a RF 55g, but I want to save up some cash for that newly produced kishsaver...


I will eventually though, plate mounted topre is making me want to try it more and more after all this talk...

[Emmiya]

I believed the hype surrounding the 'SA' key-profile, and bought the Puls3 set.

I hate typing on it, it feels like a chore, and the keys are way too 'slidy'. But it looks pretty as **** so I won't swap out to a nice DSA set.

[ideus]

I believed the hype surrounding the 'SA' key-profile, and bought the Puls3 set.

I hate typing on it, it feels like a chore, and the keys are way too 'slidy'. But it looks pretty as **** so I won't swap out to a nice DSA set.

Is Pulse a flat design or a countered one?

[HoffmanMyster]

I believed the hype surrounding the 'SA' key-profile, and bought the Puls3 set.

I hate typing on it, it feels like a chore, and the keys are way too 'slidy'. But it looks pretty as **** so I won't swap out to a nice DSA set.

Is Pulse a flat design or a countered one?

It's contoured.

[ideus]

I believed the hype surrounding the 'SA' key-profile, and bought the Puls3 set.

I hate typing on it, it feels like a chore, and the keys are way too 'slidy'. But it looks pretty as **** so I won't swap out to a nice DSA set.

Is Pulse a flat design or a countered one?

It's contoured.

It is bad to know contoured SA does not have a nice typing feeling.

[dante]

Were all the vintage (terminal) SA style keycaps flat?  Or were some of the contoured?

[HoffmanMyster]

I believed the hype surrounding the 'SA' key-profile, and bought the Puls3 set.

I hate typing on it, it feels like a chore, and the keys are way too 'slidy'. But it looks pretty as **** so I won't swap out to a nice DSA set.

Is Pulse a flat design or a countered one?

It's contoured.

It is bad to know contoured SA does not have a nice typing feeling.

Well that's one person's opinion... I can name you quite a few people who love it.

[swimmingbird]

I believed the hype surrounding the 'SA' key-profile, and bought the Puls3 set.

I hate typing on it, it feels like a chore, and the keys are way too 'slidy'. But it looks pretty as **** so I won't swap out to a nice DSA set.

Is Pulse a flat design or a countered one?

It's contoured.

It is bad to know contoured SA does not have a nice typing feeling.

Well that's one person's opinion... I can name you quite a few people who love it.

I really enjoy SA but I could understand why some people might not

[nubbinator]

I don't get the SA circlejerk.

[livingspeedbump]

I believed the hype surrounding the 'SA' key-profile, and bought the Puls3 set.

I hate typing on it, it feels like a chore, and the keys are way too 'slidy'. But it looks pretty as **** so I won't swap out to a nice DSA set.

Is Pulse a flat design or a countered one?

It's contoured.

It is bad to know contoured SA does not have a nice typing feeling.

Well that's one person's opinion... I can name you quite a few people who love it.

Me. Hate all R3, love contoured. 

[swimmingbird]

I believed the hype surrounding the 'SA' key-profile, and bought the Puls3 set.

I hate typing on it, it feels like a chore, and the keys are way too 'slidy'. But it looks pretty as **** so I won't swap out to a nice DSA set.

Is Pulse a flat design or a countered one?

It's contoured.

It is bad to know contoured SA does not have a nice typing feeling.

Well that's one person's opinion... I can name you quite a few people who love it.

Me. Hate all R3, love contoured. 

Andy I am so freaking excited for Jukebox already!

[Niomosy]

This one seems unpopular... I like the Romer-G switches.  The board Logitech put it in sucks but I actually liked typing on the switches.  I just wish Logitech would put them in a better keyboard.

[swimmingbird]

This one seems unpopular... I like the Romer-G switches.  The board Logitech put it in sucks but I actually liked typing on the switches.  I just wish Logitech would put them in a better keyboard.

I'm pretty sure Bro really likes the Romer G switches

[njbair]

I want to be careful here because I know a few keycap makers, and I like them and love their work. But I think the word artisan is pretentious. And I would even be totally okay to replace it with the keycap artist, or keycap maker, or keycap designer. Artisan just sounds like a buzzword to me. And while we're on the subject, craft in this context is almost as cheesy-sounding as artisan.

[jonathanyu]

most artisan keycaps look horrible

[TopreFan333]

I want to be careful here because I know a few keycap makers, and I like them and love their work. But I think the word artisan is pretentious. And I would even be totally okay to replace it with the keycap artist, or keycap maker, or keycap designer. Artisan just sounds like a buzzword to me. And while we're on the subject, craft in this context is almost as cheesy-sounding as artisan.

But they're not really keycaps, they're mostly just sh*tty looking toys that people fasten to their keyboards.

[ika]

60% keyboards are literally a waste of time. And if you don't think hiding functionality behind layers on a 60% loses you any time, you weren't efficient enough in the first place.

[Steezus]

60% keyboards are literally a waste of time. And if you don't think hiding functionality behind layers on a 60% loses you any time, you weren't efficient enough in the first place.

60% isn't necessarily about efficiency but about portability, the multiple layers just makes it more efficient than a 60% without any.

[ika]

60% keyboards are literally a waste of time. And if you don't think hiding functionality behind layers on a 60% loses you any time, you weren't efficient enough in the first place.

60% isn't necessarily about efficiency but about portability, the multiple layers just makes it more efficient than a 60% without any.

I'd be willing to bet you most 60% users don't even move their keyboards. A lot of people get 60%s because it "looks neater" or "it's minimalist" or some other bull****. They save a couple of inches from losing the nav keys and in return lose potential savings of MINUTES of their days.

[nubbinator]

60% keyboards are literally a waste of time. And if you don't think hiding functionality behind layers on a 60% loses you any time, you weren't efficient enough in the first place.

60% isn't necessarily about efficiency but about portability, the multiple layers just makes it more efficient than a 60% without any.

I'd be willing to bet you most 60% users don't even move their keyboards. A lot of people get 60%s because it "looks neater" or "it's minimalist" or some other bull****. They save a couple of inches from losing the nav keys and in return lose potential savings of MINUTES of their days.

I prefer 60% for ergonomics.  The numpad forces me to have my mouse way off in bum****ville and a tenkeyless is mostly useless since the main keys I would use on a TKL are the arrow keys and Delete.  There's just so much wasted space on a TKL.

[ika]

oh I just realized the OP was a complaint about 60% keyboards... I need to be more original. uhhhmmmm uhhmmmm

I like typing on MX Browns. And I like to bottom out. And I'm pretty sure I type faster on OEM profile vs Cherry/DCS profile.

[blueangel2323]

most artisan keycaps look horrible

I have to agree with this one. But I'm someone who never understood the gaming aesthetic on computer hardware, including keyboards. To me, keycaps are supposed to be functional and ergonomic, and hopefully look classy while doing it. Why are we spending money to put weird shapes on our keyboards that look completely out of place amongst the other keys, and are an ergonomic nightmare to actually use?

60% keyboards are literally a waste of time. And if you don't think hiding functionality behind layers on a 60% loses you any time, you weren't efficient enough in the first place.

I almost never use the function keys, so I wouldn't miss having that row if I had a 60% keyboard. However I can't see how people could live without the arrow keys, Delete, and Home. I use those all the time. More than I use caps lock, Ctrl, Windows, menu key, or Alt. In fact, I would prefer having a second set of arrow keys to the left of the keyboard as well. Everything else (Print screen, scroll lock, pause, insert, page up and down) I could live without.

[Shaussman]

The thing with 60%s is that I feel like I use a lot of keys more then I realize. It even makes me a bit hesitant to get a 10kl board because I like the numpad for quite a bit of my number entry. Overall, though, for any reasonable desk you don't need to give up the functionality of a larger keyboard to gain another 2-3" of space. It's just not worth it. 

I probably should downgrade to something smaller because I've been having some wrist pain lately... My stupid school desk has been ruining my mouse position and it's absolutely brutal on both arms

[Dernubenfrieken]

most artisan keycaps look horrible

I have to agree with this one. But I'm someone who never understood the gaming aesthetic on computer hardware, including keyboards. To me, keycaps are supposed to be functional and ergonomic, and hopefully look classy while doing it. Why are we spending money to put weird shapes on our keyboards that look completely out of place amongst the other keys, and are an ergonomic nightmare to actually use?

I feel the same way, personally my favorite sculpted keys are the boombox ones from Keycollective. Slick and cool, and fits the aesthetics I like. Just wish I had topre...
It does kind of baffle me that the same people that hate any type of futuristic looking fonts, will also put a robot, an ogre and a space marine on their keyboard and be proud of it.

I did just buy some HKP from the sale, but those are for my gamepad project, which is supposed to be bright, loud and gamer-esque.

[HoffmanMyster]

most artisan keycaps look horrible

I have to agree with this one. But I'm someone who never understood the gaming aesthetic on computer hardware, including keyboards. To me, keycaps are supposed to be functional and ergonomic, and hopefully look classy while doing it. Why are we spending money to put weird shapes on our keyboards that look completely out of place amongst the other keys, and are an ergonomic nightmare to actually use?

How are artisan caps an ergonomic nightmare?  Some of them are big and bulky, but have you ever put a Clack on a board?  Feels amazing to type on.  Bro's gamer sets are similar.

[Dernubenfrieken]

most artisan keycaps look horrible

I have to agree with this one. But I'm someone who never understood the gaming aesthetic on computer hardware, including keyboards. To me, keycaps are supposed to be functional and ergonomic, and hopefully look classy while doing it. Why are we spending money to put weird shapes on our keyboards that look completely out of place amongst the other keys, and are an ergonomic nightmare to actually use?

How are artisan caps an ergonomic nightmare?  Some of them are big and bulky, but have you ever put a Clack on a board?  Feels amazing to type on.  Bro's gamer sets are similar.

By artisans, he means sculpted caps, not blanks/vents/gamersets/etc.

[CPTBadAss]

I want to be careful here because I know a few keycap makers, and I like them and love their work. But I think the word artisan is pretentious. And I would even be totally okay to replace it with the keycap artist, or keycap maker, or keycap designer. Artisan just sounds like a buzzword to me. And while we're on the subject, craft in this context is almost as cheesy-sounding as artisan.

I've been calling them novelty caps and continue to call em novelties even after that super weird announcement from the admin team that we're calling them artisans for some reason. Also MX compatible lol.

most artisan keycaps look horrible

Yup, I been saying that since Day 1. It's only getting worse. So many people trying to cash in on making keycaps to take advantage of the hype. And people snapping 'em up without doing any research. Just want to be hypebeasts and part of some weird exclusive club.

Edit: I will say that the upside of all these new novelty caps is that people are actually making stuff now. It's always good to see people making stuff instead of just treating the site like it's a classifieds/group buy site with a cool side-forum.

[HoffmanMyster]

most artisan keycaps look horrible

I have to agree with this one. But I'm someone who never understood the gaming aesthetic on computer hardware, including keyboards. To me, keycaps are supposed to be functional and ergonomic, and hopefully look classy while doing it. Why are we spending money to put weird shapes on our keyboards that look completely out of place amongst the other keys, and are an ergonomic nightmare to actually use?

How are artisan caps an ergonomic nightmare?  Some of them are big and bulky, but have you ever put a Clack on a board?  Feels amazing to type on.  Bro's gamer sets are similar.

By artisans, he means sculpted caps, not blanks/vents/gamersets/etc.

Well I was primarily referring to Clack Skulls, which are sculpted, but that's a good clarification.  Also, gamer sets are "sculpted" in my opinion. 

I want to be careful here because I know a few keycap makers, and I like them and love their work. But I think the word artisan is pretentious. And I would even be totally okay to replace it with the keycap artist, or keycap maker, or keycap designer. Artisan just sounds like a buzzword to me. And while we're on the subject, craft in this context is almost as cheesy-sounding as artisan.

I've been calling them novelty caps and continue to call em novelties even after that super weird announcement from the admin team that we're calling them artisans for some reason. Also MX compatible lol.

I wasn't on the team when that decision was made, but that was a forum-structure distinction that makes sense.  It led to the artisan subforum and a place for makers/crafters to sell things without being proper vendors.  It's not meant to be a buzzword or anything like that.  It's just what we call someone who makes things and sells them at that scale. 

And it led to a good (IMO) distinction between novelty keys (geekhack keys from SP, etc) and artisan keys (handmade/sculpted by members).

[sth]

most artisan keycaps look horrible

I have to agree with this one. But I'm someone who never understood the gaming aesthetic on computer hardware, including keyboards. To me, keycaps are supposed to be functional and ergonomic, and hopefully look classy while doing it. Why are we spending money to put weird shapes on our keyboards that look completely out of place amongst the other keys, and are an ergonomic nightmare to actually use?

How are artisan caps an ergonomic nightmare?  Some of them are big and bulky, but have you ever put a Clack on a board?  Feels amazing to type on.  Bro's gamer sets are similar.

By artisans, he means sculpted caps, not blanks/vents/gamersets/etc.

Well I was primarily referring to Clack Skulls, which are sculpted, but that's a good clarification.  Also, gamer sets are "sculpted" in my opinion. 

I want to be careful here because I know a few keycap makers, and I like them and love their work. But I think the word artisan is pretentious. And I would even be totally okay to replace it with the keycap artist, or keycap maker, or keycap designer. Artisan just sounds like a buzzword to me. And while we're on the subject, craft in this context is almost as cheesy-sounding as artisan.

I've been calling them novelty caps and continue to call em novelties even after that super weird announcement from the admin team that we're calling them artisans for some reason. Also MX compatible lol.

I wasn't on the team when that decision was made, but that was a forum-structure distinction that makes sense.  It led to the artisan subforum and a place for makers/crafters to sell things without being proper vendors.  It's not meant to be a buzzword or anything like that.  It's just what we call someone who makes things and sells them at that scale. 

And it led to a good (IMO) distinction between novelty keys (geekhack keys from SP, etc) and artisan keys (handmade/sculpted by members).

homemade novelty caps

[njbair]

Also MX compatible lol.

You lost me here.

[CPTBadAss]

Also MX compatible lol.

You lost me here.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=56405.0

I still don't get this thread at all. At the time, there was debate where the community wasn't sure if they'd like to call the new Kailh and Gateron switches MX-clones or any other term. For some reason, this thread was made and we're supposed to call them MX-compatible.

[jonathanyu]

Also MX compatible lol.

You lost me here.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=56405.0

I still don't get this thread at all. At the time, there was debate where the community wasn't sure if they'd like to call the new Kailh and Gateron switches MX-clones or any other term. For some reason, this thread was made and we're supposed to call them MX-compatible.

I still call them fake cherry mx

[njbair]

Also MX compatible lol.

You lost me here.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=56405.0

I still don't get this thread at all. At the time, there was debate where the community wasn't sure if they'd like to call the new Kailh and Gateron switches MX-clones or any other term. For some reason, this thread was made and we're supposed to call them MX-compatible.

I still call them fake cherry mx

I call Cherry MX, "gritty Gaterons"

[Niomosy]

This one seems unpopular... I like the Romer-G switches.  The board Logitech put it in sucks but I actually liked typing on the switches.  I just wish Logitech would put them in a better keyboard.

I'm pretty sure Bro really likes the Romer G switches

Hey, there's at least two of us!

[hwood34]

I still call them fake cherry mx

I call Cherry MX, "gritty Gaterons"

tru

Also MX compatible lol.

You lost me here.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=56405.0

I still don't get this thread at all. At the time, there was debate where the community wasn't sure if they'd like to call the new Kailh and Gateron switches MX-clones or any other term. For some reason, this thread was made and we're supposed to call them MX-compatible.

Yeah, like we can't just call them what they are, we have to think of a new name for all of them.

[swimmingbird]

Also MX compatible lol.

You lost me here.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=56405.0

I still don't get this thread at all. At the time, there was debate where the community wasn't sure if they'd like to call the new Kailh and Gateron switches MX-clones or any other term. For some reason, this thread was made and we're supposed to call them MX-compatible.

I still call them fake cherry mx

I call Cherry MX, "gritty Gaterons"

Don't you mean "gritteh gats"  )

[HoffmanMyster]

Also MX compatible lol.

You lost me here.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=56405.0

I still don't get this thread at all. At the time, there was debate where the community wasn't sure if they'd like to call the new Kailh and Gateron switches MX-clones or any other term. For some reason, this thread was made and we're supposed to call them MX-compatible.

Yeah, like we can't just call them what they are, we have to think of a new name for all of them.

I don't know if you were around at the time, but there was a *lot* of argument surrounding what we should call them.  I think the announcement was really more to get everyone to stop focusing on what to call them and start focusing on how they actually felt. 

[hwood34]

Also MX compatible lol.

You lost me here.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=56405.0

I still don't get this thread at all. At the time, there was debate where the community wasn't sure if they'd like to call the new Kailh and Gateron switches MX-clones or any other term. For some reason, this thread was made and we're supposed to call them MX-compatible.

Yeah, like we can't just call them what they are, we have to think of a new name for all of them.

I don't know if you were around at the time, but there was a *lot* of argument surrounding what we should call them.  I think the announcement was really more to get everyone to stop focusing on what to call them and start focusing on how they actually felt.

Yeah, since Kailh starting popping up like early 2014? But that makes sense, and to their credit it did pretty much stop conversation on it, whether people called it what they asked or just stuck with mx clone once and for all.

[jonathanyu]

"skeleton style" keyboards look horrible.