It is a pleasure to join GH at long last! A few months ago, I upgraded my home computer and finally decided to get rid of the WASD v2, and I have been so impressed with the explosion of options available since Cherry's patent expired.
But I am certainly not new to the pleasure of typing on a quality keyboard (at least relatively speaking). I purchased my first new mechanical keyboard in 2013 (from WASD) but have not sought out the community until recently. Even before being aware of how keyboards worked, I remember snagging my childhood IBM Model M to keep in my closet as I just knew there was something special about the way it felt type on it.
As a natural born tinkerer, I feel I understand the at least the basics of the mechanics involved and the layers that comprise most modern boards. I have a lot of coding experience, so I do feel comfortable with a terminal and C (looking at you, QMK!) and other open source firmware works. But I would really love to try building my own microcontroller and coding firmware for it, just to satisfy my own curiosity.
I have a somewhat generic budget hotswap board for trying a variety of clicky switches and keycaps on the one hand, and on the other I recently acquired some more vintage switches (Ellipse Model F77 Ultra Compact, another Model M circa 1988, and an Apple AEK just to check out Alps switches).
I love the hot swap board with all the modern accoutrements for how beautiful it can look and sometimes sound, and it is certainly more practical for traveling or work.
But there is something about the buckling springs that I just find very satisfying, and currently use that reproduction Model F as my daily driver (and to type this message)!
I am slightly confused as to why I find the Model M somewhat stiff and tiring to type on, but my Kailh Box Navy board is super comfortable, despite what I have read are similar actuation forces. The model F feels the most satisfying to type on of the three. Can anyone help me understand why that could possibly be?
I hope to explore all of these facets of our hobby and more alongside all of you.
Cheers,
Bill
