Unpopular Keyboard Opinions

[Hayte]

Probably super unpopular opinion incoming:

I think mx clone/meme switches are all crap. They are all frankenstein like creations and they feel like it. Since I got a K-Type, I've been hotswapping them like crazy for the past 6 months. Cherrystotles, Zeliostotles, Holy Chickies, Holy Skies and Holy Pandas (I only have 6x Pandas though because holy cow the price).

I have clipped and unclipped Halo clear stems. I hate unclipped holy meme switches. The stem is tall enough to prematurely slam into all non Kailh switch housings. The sensation is like jamming an eraser into a sharp end of a pencil and then slamming the pencil blunt end down onto a desk. Clip the stems and you get a proper sounding bottom out but they never felt consistent (which is to be expected I suppose).

I hate using the Kailh switch housings for anything because Kailh has some problem with measuring things and many of them are extremely ill fitting on a K-Type plate (which has consistency problems but bog standard cherry switch housings mostly fit just fine).

Aristotle meme switches? They are more inconsistent than pre-retooled MX Blues and some of them have that MX Blue rattle from the click jacket rebounding except worse because they are Aristotles. The entire switch may as well be made out of cheese and the stems + click jackets are no different, regardless of the interesting design. If I was to ever go back to clicky switches, I wouldn't use anything remotely similar to MX Blue anyway and the Kailh click bar dream died along with my keycaps so thats a no go too.

I ended up coming full circle and swapped back to lubed, retooled MX Browns. They are better than any of the tactile meme switches I've tried. They don't misbehave with the light spring weight which I need to get through the worst data entry apocalpse days. They bottom out properly and consistently and they also sound good (when lubed anyway since the spring noise is irritating). The tactile event is tiny but I never felt anything about them was unpleasant or offensive. I still type the fastest on MX Browns.

I have come to realize that MX Browns and me are like some kind of perpetually failing but never quite failed marriage. After so many years of thinking theres better elsewhere, I found there really isn't and I keep coming back to my fat, balding faithful man, even if the latest tactile hotness has abs so chiselled they practically snap leaf springs as they slide down their greased up poles.

[Kavik]

Probably super unpopular opinion incoming:

I think mx clone/meme switches are all crap. They are all frankenstein like creations and they feel like it. Since I got a K-Type, I've been hotswapping them like crazy for the past 6 months. Cherrystotles, Zeliostotles, Holy Chickies, Holy Skies and Holy Pandas (I only have 6x Pandas though because holy cow the price).

I have clipped and unclipped Halo clear stems. I hate unclipped holy meme switches. The stem is tall enough to prematurely slam into all non Kailh switch housings. The sensation is like jamming an eraser into a sharp end of a pencil and then slamming the pencil blunt end down onto a desk. Clip the stems and you get a proper sounding bottom out but they never felt consistent (which is to be expected I suppose).

I hate using the Kailh switch housings for anything because Kailh has some problem with measuring things and many of them are extremely ill fitting on a K-Type plate (which has consistency problems but bog standard cherry switch housings mostly fit just fine).

Aristotle meme switches? They are more inconsistent than pre-retooled MX Blues and some of them have that MX Blue rattle from the click jacket rebounding except worse because they are Aristotles. The entire switch may as well be made out of cheese and the stems + click jackets are no different, regardless of the interesting design. If I was to ever go back to clicky switches, I wouldn't use anything remotely similar to MX Blue anyway and the Kailh click bar dream died along with my keycaps so thats a no go too.

I ended up coming full circle and swapped back to lubed, retooled MX Browns. They are better than any of the tactile meme switches I've tried. They don't misbehave with the light spring weight which I need to get through the worst data entry apocalpse days. They bottom out properly and consistently and they also sound good (when lubed anyway since the spring noise is irritating). The tactile event is tiny but I never felt anything about them was unpleasant or offensive. I still type the fastest on MX Browns.

I have come to realize that MX Browns and me are like some kind of perpetually failing but never quite failed marriage. After so many years of thinking theres better elsewhere, I found there really isn't and I keep coming back to my fat, balding faithful man, even if the latest tactile hotness has abs so chiselled they practically snap leaf springs as they slide down their greased up poles.

Regarding the click-bar switches, there are non-box versions (Kailh Speed Navy, for example) that don't have the oversized cross problem (I believe they're smaller than even the retooled BOX switches).

I haven't tried any of the frankenswitches, but I do think that the hype around certain switches is usually unwarranted. The only switches that ever knocked my socks off were BOX Navy and buckling spring. Everything else has either been out-right crap or somewhat underwhelming.

[Ptolemy]

1. Paying over $100 for a Model M is absolutely ridiculous.(Got mine for 30 at VCF East)
2. Cherry MX Reds are the single worst switch I have ever used.

[frydaja]

1. Paying over $100 for a Model M is absolutely ridiculous.(Got mine for 30 at VCF East)
2. Cherry MX Reds are the single worst switch I have ever used.

Even in this country, in this day and age (where they're stupidly rare), I've seen one for 60 bucks. It was horribly dirty, but Model M for 60 bucks in this country.. that's kinda cheap.

[Justin_aka_OsP_SSJ4]

- Asymmetric keyblockers make keyboards look like they are missing a tooth.
- GB's are given too much slack for mistakes and delays.
- Keycap manufacturers are taking everyone for a ride on pricing.

[Vigrith]

Holy Pandas suck

[jamster]

Aristotle meme switches? They are more inconsistent than pre-retooled MX Blues and some of them have that MX Blue rattle from the click jacket rebounding except worse because they are Aristotles. The entire switch may as well be made out of cheese and the stems + click jackets are no different, regardless of the interesting design. If I was to ever go back to clicky switches, I wouldn't use anything remotely similar to MX Blue anyway and the Kailh click bar dream died along with my keycaps so thats a no go too.

What's a meme switch.

[Gati]

Probably been said before, but I think that GMK is overhyped

[frydaja]

Probably been said before, but I think that GMK is overhyped

I'll take pad printed PBT keycaps over GMK.

[romevi]

Probably been said before, but I think that GMK is overhyped

I like the profile, but that's pretty much it. Well, and they have good colors. But I think the legends are dated and ABS sounds and feels horrible compared to PBT.

[Keycap]

i like mitsumi hybrids more than any mx type switch i've tried

[abrahamstechnology]

I DON'T hate Cherry MY, I just got a Cherry G81-8000 and I seem to really like it for some reason, the increased force helps me not to bottom out and some WD-40 Specialist dry lube makes them very smooth. Typing on it right now.

[mike52787]

every cherry style switch (including all modern clones like kailh) other than vintage black, brown, and clear suck

[sncbraxsc2]

every cherry style switch (including all modern clones like kailh) other than vintage black, brown, and clear suck

no luv for the feelios?

[daerid]

Been a while since I chimed in here.

Current unpopular opinion: Romer-Gs are my favorite switch at the moment. Enough to make me forget about ABS caps

[lakiozoon]

There's nothing I find more useless and ugly than winkeyless keyboards.
Except maybe HHKB 

[romevi]

every cherry style switch (including all modern clones like kailh) other than vintage black, brown, and clear suck

no luv for the feelios?

-ealios, to me, seem more meme than worth getting.

Been a while since I chimed in here.

Current unpopular opinion: Romer-Gs are my favorite switch at the moment. Enough to make me forget about ABS caps

I've heard great things about them, actually.

[limitz]

Let's hear them.

I'll start off.

1. I hate 60% boards, and rarely use my Poker 2. The lack of arrow keys kills me, and I can never be productive or get serious work done on one.

2. I think HHKB boards are overrated, and the layout dumber than a Poker. I think custom MX, HHKB layout boards are just as stupid (Viper, Happy).

3. I think Topre is overrated, and lower quality than MX (despite the higher price) as the board tends to get stiffer over time.

Made this post about 4 years ago when I first got into the hobby, and would like to see if my opinions have changed:

1) I still dislike 60% boards due to the lack of arrow keys. 65% is the lowest I'll do.

2) No change in opinion here either. They look good, but the HHKB takes away the modifiers keys for the pinky to hit (like L/R Ctrl), it makes typing more frustrating, and simply keyboard shortcuts aren't available anymore (Ctrl + T for new Tab in Chrome)

3) I've softened on this one. I think Topre feels fine, just different. I own Topre boards, just don't use them due to poor keyset compatibility, and lack of custom keyboard options.

I think I'll add one:

4) -ealios are way overpriced and overhyped. The price is way too high per switch considering its just a Gateron custom, and I don't feel like you get what you pay for. I've tried 3 different rounds of different Zealios, and I could feel and hear the inconsistencies per switch. I think I needed roughly 100+ switches to get 84 consistent ones in sound. Very disappointed.

[frydaja]

CoolerMaster Masterkeys Lite L is the best value-for-money keyboard you can buy new. At least the mouseless variant that's sold in Europe and maybe somewhere else. Easy to dissassemble, 100% compatible with aftermarket keycaps (kinda useful if you hate the stock keycaps), stock keycaps are doubleshot and the keyfeel isn't half bad either (very soft bottom and not that tactile, but it's frictionless and has some actual travel distance). If you hate backlighting, just turn it off. Boom, you now have blanks.

The only thing that kinda ruins the keyboard is the keycaps' texture, or lack thereof. The case is also spraypainted, so the corners will get ugly if you'll carry that thing around.

The combo variant is stupidly expensive unless you need the mouse. Backup mouse is nice, but the mouseless version costs literally half the combo's price.


/EDIT:

4) -ealios are way overpriced and overhyped. The price is way too high per switch considering its just a Gateron custom, and I don't feel like you get what you pay for. I've tried 3 different rounds of different Zealios, and I could feel and hear the inconsistencies per switch. I think I needed roughly 100+ switches to get 84 consistent ones in sound. Very disappointed.

I'll throw in mine:
The closest thing to Zealios I've tried are MX Browns, so my opionion of those purple things is: To me, Browns feel like slightly heavier Reds when typing. Given that Zealios share the same tactility principle as Browns, I'd guess you could get away with retooled Blacks and the typing experience would be almost the same.


And another opinion I just thought of now: Sound-wise, I prefer MX switches to nearly anything. That said, they're loud and the keyfeel is still awful - and along with inavaliability of any other keyboard switch (other than Romer-Gs and clones) and price in this second-world country is the reason why I still use rubberdomes. I'm sorry, but I can't justify paying 120-150$ for a keyboard that has painted keycaps and comes only with switches I don't like, even if it's otherwise perfect, aesthetics, stab and form factor wise.

[Kavik]

4) -ealios are way overpriced and overhyped. The price is way too high per switch considering its just a Gateron custom, and I don't feel like you get what you pay for. I've tried 3 different rounds of different Zealios, and I could feel and hear the inconsistencies per switch. I think I needed roughly 100+ switches to get 84 consistent ones in sound. Very disappointed.

I'll throw in mine:
The closest thing to Zealios I've tried are MX Browns, so my opionion of those purple things is: To me, Browns feel like slightly heavier Reds when typing. Given that Zealios share the same tactility principle as Browns, I'd guess you could get away with retooled Blacks and the typing experience would be almost the same.

The bump on Zealios is much more pronounced than MX Browns. Zealios definitely do not feel like linears, but they don't feel tactile enough for me, which I think is partly because they are so smooth, causing less resistance. IMO, the tactility in Zealios is just enough to break up the finger fatigue that linears give me (e.g., heavy linears with SA keycaps are unbearable), but it doesn't actually feel like a resistance my finger must overcome as with a rubber dome or BOX Royal. I'm not sure if I'd say Zealios disappointed me, but I don't think I will use them in any future builds. Royals are good, but they are a little tiring and have that "click" issue, which isn't a huge deal IMO, but it is there.

[Gampela]

Mx hhkb boards with 7u spacebar just look weird.

The recent hhkb-like board from RAMA that I keep seeing on r/mk looks even weirder with that disproportionate forehead.

Edit. Actually, the only place 7u spacebar looks good on is wkl tenkeyless. But those seem very impractical. Thank you, I feel better already.

[frydaja]

The bump on Zealios is much more pronounced than MX Browns. Zealios definitely do not feel like linears, but they don't feel tactile enough for me, which I think is partly because they are so smooth, causing less resistance.

Maybe the same case is with my Masterkeys Lite L - it's definitely less tactile than, say, a Compaq KB9963, but maybe it's the frictionless travel.

[ArchDill]

The word "keeb" is stupid and annoying.

[no, the other guy]

That's actually a quite popular opinion.

[zslane]

The world does not need yet another custom sub-full-size keyboard case. I think we’ve done 60-65% and TKL cases to death now, and it is time to try something different and challenging: custom full-size 104/108 alu cases. Oh, and be a doll and offer them in white; silver/gray is equivalent to not even trying.

[abrahamstechnology]

The world does not need yet another custom sub-full-size keyboard case. I think we’ve done 60-65% and TKL cases to death now, and it is time to try something different and challenging: custom full-size 104/108 alu cases. Oh, and be a doll and offer them in white; silver/gray is equivalent to not even trying.

Completely agree!

[NegaYouDontKn0wMe]

Probably super unpopular opinion incoming:

I think mx clone/meme switches are all crap. They are all frankenstein like creations and they feel like it. Since I got a K-Type, I've been hotswapping them like crazy for the past 6 months. Cherrystotles, Zeliostotles, Holy Chickies, Holy Skies and Holy Pandas (I only have 6x Pandas though because holy cow the price).

I have clipped and unclipped Halo clear stems. I hate unclipped holy meme switches. The stem is tall enough to prematurely slam into all non Kailh switch housings. The sensation is like jamming an eraser into a sharp end of a pencil and then slamming the pencil blunt end down onto a desk. Clip the stems and you get a proper sounding bottom out but they never felt consistent (which is to be expected I suppose).

I hate using the Kailh switch housings for anything because Kailh has some problem with measuring things and many of them are extremely ill fitting on a K-Type plate (which has consistency problems but bog standard cherry switch housings mostly fit just fine).

Aristotle meme switches? They are more inconsistent than pre-retooled MX Blues and some of them have that MX Blue rattle from the click jacket rebounding except worse because they are Aristotles. The entire switch may as well be made out of cheese and the stems + click jackets are no different, regardless of the interesting design. If I was to ever go back to clicky switches, I wouldn't use anything remotely similar to MX Blue anyway and the Kailh click bar dream died along with my keycaps so thats a no go too.

I ended up coming full circle and swapped back to lubed, retooled MX Browns. They are better than any of the tactile meme switches I've tried. They don't misbehave with the light spring weight which I need to get through the worst data entry apocalpse days. They bottom out properly and consistently and they also sound good (when lubed anyway since the spring noise is irritating). The tactile event is tiny but I never felt anything about them was unpleasant or offensive. I still type the fastest on MX Browns.

I have come to realize that MX Browns and me are like some kind of perpetually failing but never quite failed marriage. After so many years of thinking theres better elsewhere, I found there really isn't and I keep coming back to my fat, balding faithful man, even if the latest tactile hotness has abs so chiselled they practically snap leaf springs as they slide down their greased up poles.

where could i get one of those Meme switch keyboards for cheap?

[mattlach]

I hate 60% boards, and rarely use my Poker 2. The lack of arrow keys kills me, and I can never be productive or get serious work done on one.

I'm with you on this.   Not only do I insist on arrow keys, but I will also never buy a keyboard without a full numerical section on the right.

All 104 keys or I'm not buying under any circumstance.

[mattlach]

Here is one:

I think all Cherry switches are too light and not clicky enough.   Even the Greens.   I want heavier and clickier keys!

[no, the other guy]

If Planck keyboards were horses, a good cowboy would have to shoot them.

[xtrafrood]

If Planck keyboards were horses, a good cowboy would have to shoot them.

dang

[TheGlyph]

The world does not need yet another custom sub-full-size keyboard case. I think we’ve done 60-65% and TKL cases to death now, and it is time to try something different and challenging: custom full-size 104/108 alu cases. Oh, and be a doll and offer them in white; silver/gray is equivalent to not even trying.

Full size hyyype!

[TuCZnak]

75% is the best layout and deserves more love, as compact as 60% yet you're not missing any keys apart from numpad, pause/break and scroll lock.

[Telstar]

75% is the best layout and deserves more love.

yes, but with iso option.

[TuCZnak]

75% is the best layout and deserves more love.

yes, but with iso option.

ISO > ANSI is not an unpopular opinion, it's the objective truth 

[no, the other guy]

An unpopular truth in Damnerica though. I couldn't type on those Japanese-penis-sized Enter keys.

[nguyenhimself]

Unpopular opinion:

I can’t believe this thread is allowed to exist. It stands against of the very spirit of this forum.

The whole point of this hobby, this forum, of getting a custom keyboard, is to finally have a keyboard *just for you*. Everything from the case to the switch and layout and keycaps and etc was decided by you to satisfy you and you alone.

Which is to say, who are you to come in and look down on other people for not liking things that you like? OF COURSE something that was designed from the get go to fit someone’s personal preferences would not be for you. That’s the whole point of building a custom keyboard.

In other words, stop being so judgmental, jeez.

[blawb]

Full size hyyype!

But then I have to move my hand sooooo far to get to my mouse

[Doluded]

Unpopular opinion:

I can’t believe this thread is allowed to exist. It stands against of the very spirit of this forum.

The whole point of this hobby, this forum, of getting a custom keyboard, is to finally have a keyboard *just for you*. Everything from the case to the switch and layout and keycaps and etc was decided by you to satisfy you and you alone.

Which is to say, who are you to come in and look down on other people for not liking things that you like? OF COURSE something that was designed from the get go to fit someone’s personal preferences would not be for you. That’s the whole point of building a custom keyboard.

In other words, stop being so judgmental, jeez.

no u

[Findecanor]

I can’t believe this thread is allowed to exist. It stands against of the very spirit of this forum.
...
Which is to say, who are you to come in and look down on other people for not liking things that you like?

Nah. You misunderstand. The point of this thread is to speak your mind and not be judgemental against those who speak their minds.
... And to see that there are other people who have the same opinions as you, when you thought that your opinion was unusual.
Even if people don't criticise you, there is still some groupthink on the forum because some people simply post more, show more, and/or are louder than others, making some preferences look more "valid" than others.

[fanpeople]

keyboards are a waste of money

[Sdhebert]

This looks like fun.

1. Real Cherry switches are scratchy crap. All of them. And brown is awful.

2. The only good Halo switches are ones that are dismantled and put into other switches.

3. Xda is like typing directly on a desk surface. Why do people do this to themselves?

4. DSA is overrated.

5. EnjoyPBT is vastly underrated.

[ollir_]

Unpopular opinion:

I can’t believe this thread is allowed to exist. It stands against of the very spirit of this forum.

The whole point of this hobby, this forum, of getting a custom keyboard, is to finally have a keyboard *just for you*. Everything from the case to the switch and layout and keycaps and etc was decided by you to satisfy you and you alone.

Which is to say, who are you to come in and look down on other people for not liking things that you like? OF COURSE something that was designed from the get go to fit someone’s personal preferences would not be for you. That’s the whole point of building a custom keyboard.

In other words, stop being so judgmental, jeez.

This hobby is not about building custom keyboards alone. Thanks for remembering us old farts who just want to ride on the most kick ass vintage boards they can get their hands on and then talk crap about sh**ty modern switches that are typed on by d*ckfingers with asses for ears who think MX blues sound good and there's some character to MX browns.

On a more serious note, I think this thread is a good way to let some steam out and vent a bit if there's something one finds frustrating about the trends of the hobby or the community or whatever it is that's bugging one at the moment.

[Doluded]

Unpopular opinion:

I can’t believe this thread is allowed to exist. It stands against of the very spirit of this forum.

The whole point of this hobby, this forum, of getting a custom keyboard, is to finally have a keyboard *just for you*. Everything from the case to the switch and layout and keycaps and etc was decided by you to satisfy you and you alone.

Which is to say, who are you to come in and look down on other people for not liking things that you like? OF COURSE something that was designed from the get go to fit someone’s personal preferences would not be for you. That’s the whole point of building a custom keyboard.

In other words, stop being so judgmental, jeez.

This hobby is not about building custom keyboards alone. Thanks for remembering us old farts who just want to ride on the most kick ass vintage boards they can get their hands on and then talk crap about sh**ty modern switches that are typed on by d*ckfingers with asses for ears who think MX blues sound good and there's some character to MX browns.

On a more serious note, I think this thread is a good way to let some steam out and vent a bit if there's something one finds frustrating about the trends of the hobby or the community or whatever it is that's bugging one at the moment.

Yah MX blues suck cock. Razer greens tho? Mmmmmmmmmmm that’s some good ****.

[Telstar]

Yah MX blues suck cock. Razer greens tho? Mmmmmmmmmmm that’s some good ****.

they are about the same. perhaps you meant the purples.

[frydaja]

After throwing my Masterkeys Lite L in a box and spending some time with a QF TK with MX Browns, I can say....



.... browns are actually really good.

Also - an ideal spacebar should sound like an earthquake, not like bubble wrap.

[Gampela]

I really dislike it when keyboards use different sized modifier keys on each side of the spacebar. Like for example 1.25u mods on the left and 1.5u on the right. For me it's a horrific eyesore.

[the_ambyguous]

Probably super unpopular opinion incoming:

I think mx clone/meme switches are all crap. They are all frankenstein like creations and they feel like it. Since I got a K-Type, I've been hotswapping them like crazy for the past 6 months. Cherrystotles, Zeliostotles, Holy Chickies, Holy Skies and Holy Pandas (I only have 6x Pandas though because holy cow the price).

I have clipped and unclipped Halo clear stems. I hate unclipped holy meme switches. The stem is tall enough to prematurely slam into all non Kailh switch housings. The sensation is like jamming an eraser into a sharp end of a pencil and then slamming the pencil blunt end down onto a desk. Clip the stems and you get a proper sounding bottom out but they never felt consistent (which is to be expected I suppose).

I hate using the Kailh switch housings for anything because Kailh has some problem with measuring things and many of them are extremely ill fitting on a K-Type plate (which has consistency problems but bog standard cherry switch housings mostly fit just fine).

Aristotle meme switches? They are more inconsistent than pre-retooled MX Blues and some of them have that MX Blue rattle from the click jacket rebounding except worse because they are Aristotles. The entire switch may as well be made out of cheese and the stems + click jackets are no different, regardless of the interesting design. If I was to ever go back to clicky switches, I wouldn't use anything remotely similar to MX Blue anyway and the Kailh click bar dream died along with my keycaps so thats a no go too.

I ended up coming full circle and swapped back to lubed, retooled MX Browns. They are better than any of the tactile meme switches I've tried. They don't misbehave with the light spring weight which I need to get through the worst data entry apocalpse days. They bottom out properly and consistently and they also sound good (when lubed anyway since the spring noise is irritating). The tactile event is tiny but I never felt anything about them was unpleasant or offensive. I still type the fastest on MX Browns.

I have come to realize that MX Browns and me are like some kind of perpetually failing but never quite failed marriage. After so many years of thinking theres better elsewhere, I found there really isn't and I keep coming back to my fat, balding faithful man, even if the latest tactile hotness has abs so chiselled they practically snap leaf springs as they slide down their greased up poles.

I think I've found your problem. You haven't tried Alps

[jamster]

The whole point of this hobby, this forum, of getting a custom keyboard, is to finally have a keyboard *just for you*. Everything from the case to the switch and layout and keycaps and etc was decided by you to satisfy you and you alone.

Which is to say, who are you to come in and look down on other people for not liking things that you like? OF COURSE something that was designed from the get go to fit someone’s personal preferences would not be for you. That’s the whole point of building a custom keyboard.

Did I miss the giant banner that says "Geekhack, custom keyboard enthusiasts"?

Damn, should I take my Realforce and Model Ms off my signature because they miss the whole point of this hobby and this forum?

[no, the other guy]

Damn, should I take my Realforce and Model Ms off my signature because they miss the whole point of this hobby and this forum?

Also, no Alps!