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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Kavik on Fri, 10 May 2019, 16:26:10

Title: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: Kavik on Fri, 10 May 2019, 16:26:10
Not your favorite, but the one with the highest build quality.

Mine is definitely my M-65A. It's very sturdy with no fitting issues and a great finish. I can't say that I necessarily like its aesthetics much however unless I'm looking at it from the back.

The only other custom I have is the Moon TKL. Its brass isn't as nice, one of the weight screw holes isn't threaded properly, and it came with the finish slightly scuffed in a place or two. It feels more fragile despite being a chunk of metal.

Everything else I have is OEM or modified OEM. My Models M are probably the sturdiest plastic boards I have.
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: no, the other guy on Fri, 10 May 2019, 16:34:40
My Model F XT, definitely.  :cool:
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: frydaja on Fri, 10 May 2019, 16:47:06
Definitely the Compaq RT101 from '95. Really heavy for a rubberdome (1,2kg), built of sturdy plastic, the cable is quite thick too.
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: nelamvr6 on Fri, 10 May 2019, 16:52:17
My Model F AT
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: XtReeM1337n355 on Fri, 10 May 2019, 16:55:16
TGR 910 with GMK Serika alphas and GMK Olivia modifiers
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: Riverman on Fri, 10 May 2019, 17:59:09
I'd have to say my Cherry MX Board 6.0.  That thing's built like a tank.  It's the complete opposite of just about everything else they make.
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: Sup on Fri, 10 May 2019, 18:10:14
Canoe R1.
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: swangful on Fri, 10 May 2019, 18:15:07
Not your favorite, but the one with the highest build quality.

Mine is definitely my M-65A. It's very sturdy with no fitting issues and a great finish. I can't say that I necessarily like its aesthetics much however unless I'm looking at it from the back.

The only other custom I have is the Moon TKL. Its brass isn't as nice, one of the weight screw holes isn't threaded properly, and it came with the finish is slightly scuffed in a place or two. It feels more fragile despite being a chunk of metal.

Everything else I have is OEM or modified OEM. My Models M are probably the sturdiest plastic boards I have.

Having own/owned both, the m65-a is pretty great overall. I've had issues with the PCB, replaced it myself since jchan never responds. Also scared of the nylon threading being stripped one day.
The moon TKL was and still is my favorite design...but sadly it just sounded too hollow and pingy for me. Finish was pretty lackluster as well like you mentioned about the brass.

my highest quality board is definitely going to be the no2 SS. this board is immaculate. so much so it scares me to even touch it sometimes lol.
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: Sifo on Fri, 10 May 2019, 18:29:11
probably my No. 1
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 10 May 2019, 18:49:00
Probably the pingmaster.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 10 May 2019, 19:07:40
(https://i.imgur.com/fkCmVuP.gif)Ergodox (https://i.imgur.com/fkCmVuP.gif)
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: fanpeople on Fri, 10 May 2019, 19:12:45
Ergodox
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: Kavik on Fri, 10 May 2019, 19:18:02
Not your favorite, but the one with the highest build quality.

Mine is definitely my M-65A. It's very sturdy with no fitting issues and a great finish. I can't say that I necessarily like its aesthetics much however unless I'm looking at it from the back.

The only other custom I have is the Moon TKL. Its brass isn't as nice, one of the weight screw holes isn't threaded properly, and it came with the finish is slightly scuffed in a place or two. It feels more fragile despite being a chunk of metal.

Everything else I have is OEM or modified OEM. My Models M are probably the sturdiest plastic boards I have.

Having own/owned both, the m65-a is pretty great overall. I've had issues with the PCB, replaced it myself since jchan never responds. Also scared of the nylon threading being stripped one day.
The moon TKL was and still is my favorite design...but sadly it just sounded too hollow and pingy for me. Finish was pretty lackluster as well like you mentioned about the brass.

my highest quality board is definitely going to be the no2 SS. this board is immaculate. so much so it scares me to even touch it sometimes lol.

The only issue I've had with the M65-A is that I've zapped it a couple times with static electricity which turns it off and on. Since it's only happened a few times I haven't bothered to ground it.

The Moon is really beautiful, but it's a real pain in the butt to take apart because of the daughterboard. I built mine with Box Navies and Silent Blacks (two plates and PCBs), so I never noticed any ping, but I have heard that from others.

I just looked up the No. 2. Boy, that thing looks nice. That stainless steel price though....
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 10 May 2019, 20:09:01
Model F

Multiple steel plates, and they are all thick. Also, it can be completely dismantled into hundreds of pieces for cleaning and adjustment.
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: Sintpinty on Fri, 10 May 2019, 20:14:34
Mines is defintely my Corsair K63.

As for the least quality? The HP KU 0316. Frick that thing.
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: tp4tissue on Sat, 11 May 2019, 16:05:30
Ergodox

/Hyperventilate
/Cold Sweat
/Manic Eyed
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Sat, 11 May 2019, 16:32:01
Ergodox

/Hyperventilate
/Cold Sweat
/Manic Eyed

I almost had an ergodox once.  I had most of the parts besides a case but I sold them.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: chyros on Sat, 11 May 2019, 16:57:11
Took me about 2 microseconds to think of the correct answer.


This thing is utterly without equal.
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: frydaja on Sat, 11 May 2019, 19:32:11
Took me about 2 microseconds to think of the correct answer.


This thing is utterly without equal.


IBM F107? Evil banking computer keyboard made more evil? Not overkill enough?
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: tron on Sat, 11 May 2019, 20:47:33
This version of the 3278 is built like a tank  :p
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: Sintpinty on Sat, 11 May 2019, 21:02:54
Took me about 2 microseconds to think of the correct answer.


This thing is utterly without equal.

In general, what do beamsprings feel like?

i'm guessing they're your favourite switch besides Alps.
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: Kavik on Sun, 12 May 2019, 01:20:46
Took me about 2 microseconds to think of the correct answer.


This thing is utterly without equal.

In general, what do beamsprings feel like?

i'm guessing they're your favourite switch besides Alps.

It's like poking the popped safety button of a mason jar's lid with a ten foot pole... at least based its activation mechanism.Idk I've never used one. I'd like to know too.
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: nelamvr6 on Sun, 12 May 2019, 09:51:19
All you have to do is watch Thomas' excellent video: 
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: Sintpinty on Sun, 12 May 2019, 12:45:25
 


(https://i.imgur.com/fkCmVuP.gif)Ergodox (https://i.imgur.com/fkCmVuP.gif)

Ergodox? Why
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: swedishpiehole on Sun, 12 May 2019, 16:08:02
I don't have it yet, but I expect the new Model F keyboard I preordered to beat everything else I own. Currently the boards I own that are the highest quality are my Tex Yoda II and my own build with a Revo One enameled case, brass plate, 1uphse PCB, T1 switches, and GMK WoB keycaps.
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 12 May 2019, 22:01:33
My HHKB and RealForce are pretty well made, but my Model M keyboards are around 30 years old.

I'll get back to you in another 25 years or so to see how the Thorpe boards are going.

Maybe.
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: octovert on Mon, 13 May 2019, 14:09:19
Amazingly I think it's my noppoo choc mini - only because the thing never looked high quality in the first place.  The ****ty pad printing on the keys was super uneven when i first got it out of the box.  It has a weird squished layout that's definitely ugly. The keys appear to be made of some poorly recycled PBT garbage. It has a funky spacebar that you can never replace because it's just exactly the wrong size.  And yet, i've absolutely punished the thing daily, for years. They keys don't shine. I am a heavy, bottom-out-like-i-want-to-perforate-the-desk typer (typist?) and yet, it soldiers on. It's survived two kids, a divorce, moving across several countries, and many more homes, and it still quietly does its job, with the board feeling only better than it did on day one. It's a marvel of understatement.

Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: ranker on Mon, 13 May 2019, 14:39:08
I don't know the model of it, but my highest quality keyboard overall is a Korean aluminum case that fits Filco and came with stickers and documentation that had Kbdmod as the company.  All the screws and screw holes and overall fit and finish is perfection, nothing moves around even if I shake it in every direction upside down, and the finish/paint/coating whatever it is a nice texture and pretty durable.  I don't know what it's called but I got it in 2014 here.
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: abrahamstechnology on Mon, 13 May 2019, 21:44:12
My Wyse WY-60, which isn't in service at the moment as I am attempting to mod it to use SMK switches.
Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: jamster on Mon, 13 May 2019, 22:55:26
1986 Model M, and a couple of other old Model M boards.

Title: Re: What Is The Highest Quality Keyboard You Have?
Post by: HPE1000 on Mon, 13 May 2019, 23:07:25
I don't know the model of it, but my highest quality keyboard overall is a Korean aluminum case that fits Filco and came with stickers and documentation that had Kbdmod as the company.  All the screws and screw holes and overall fit and finish is perfection, nothing moves around even if I shake it in every direction upside down, and the finish/paint/coating whatever it is a nice texture and pretty durable.  I don't know what it's called but I got it in 2014 here.
Nice, I always wanted one of those cases. That is the one that the front edge has a pretty significant chamfer, like the KMAC Happy, right?