While custom keyboards may not be the richs' hobby, price of recent lunchbox-looking clones has been inflated (but not much innovation) and we have to be considerate in making choices. I haven't tested enough options to find my taste, and when something 'better' is announced on budget~mid market I'm leaned towards it, only to be disappointed afterwards and postponing the purchase. Learning jargons, opinions, and characteristics of board will guide me to a better purchase, but I feel like running in circles after weeks have passed. The common answer to finding preference would be switch testers and just trying out with "You can resell it without losing money anyway", but I'm not willing to go through all the hassle, nor I have time for it. I'm not asking for a recommendation, but this is one example: Kara looks promising when thinking about portability and brand name, but not experiencing aluminum case would be regretful later(multiple boards are a luxury). The search probably comes down to a wise question, "What am I looking for?"
Now let us proceed, when do you feel like hopping on the GB will be satisfying on the long run? What are the main aspects for you to consider to make a wise decision?
I think a hint is in the bolded part above.
If your timeframe for trying to decide things is
weeks, then it's probably some big degree of hardwired hunter/gatherer instinct involved here, rather than just 'finding a nice keyboard to type on.'
They're just... keyboards. You already have a perfectly functional keyboard, probably more than one. There's no
logical reason to feel rushed or pressured about this, about a tool that should easily last you the next five or ten or more years.
Another way of doing it is to view keyboards as a multi year learning experience. You buy one that is probably okay, use it for a year, figure your preferences a bit finer, then consider what you'd like to change. It's not like the new keyboard is going to stop you from typing, it's not like you have to immediately rush out and replace it if you dislike anything about it (you've always got your previous keyboard as a fallback anyway).
Decide whether you are in this for the long term typing experience... if you are, then there is no rush. You will be typing on one board or another for the rest of your life. Or whether you are in this because there is this new world of interesting, complicated gadgets to find out about and spend money on. If you are wedded to the latter, it's going to be more stress and more money, but if you also find satisfaction in that process, then that's fine too.