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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: kwantz on Sun, 06 June 2010, 22:17:41

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: kwantz on Sun, 06 June 2010, 22:17:41

If you could only have one keyboard to use for the rest of your life, what would it be?  also factor in durability, because this will the only keyboard you will ever get.....

what would it be


me the HHBk, i have never owned a top notch mechanical keyboard... but im going to say this, because of its looks lol. I cant even give a 100% honest answer since i have no experience. except for an old school apply keyboard from when I was a young child. It was a beastly 10 pound keyboard i bet

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: didjamatic on Sun, 06 June 2010, 22:19:02

Northgate Omnikey

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: iMav on Sun, 06 June 2010, 23:06:07

The HHKB Pro 2.  If I could only have one keyboard, it would have to fill all roles.  Home use, portable, work, etc.  

Superior key layout, portable, USB hub, removable cable.

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: spolia optima on Mon, 07 June 2010, 02:02:53

Ibm 1391401

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: kishy on Mon, 07 June 2010, 02:13:03

thirteen-aych-six-seven-oh-five

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: Tr0j4nM4x1mus on Mon, 07 June 2010, 02:13:24

something with cherry switches (cause you can replace them) & double shots cause if it's yer only keyboard ever, not only will the letters never wear off but the keys are way thicker too

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: Half-Saint on Mon, 07 June 2010, 03:33:44

IBM Model M all the way!

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: ch_123 on Mon, 07 June 2010, 05:41:37

It's a tie between the HHKB and the M13.

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 07 June 2010, 08:50:30

I would probably go with the Model M.  The Northgate would last you forever, but I don't think I could live with the ALPS switches.  My G80-1863 would come in at a close second.  The HHKB is nice, but I don't think it could be my only one.

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: bhtooefr on Mon, 07 June 2010, 08:53:10

Existing boards?

Tough, but I'm leaning towards an EnduraPro.

Better would be a 104-key BeSpr board with a TrackPoint IV.

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: Rajagra on Mon, 07 June 2010, 09:20:57

Too easy (http://www.guru-board.com/).

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: kishy on Mon, 07 June 2010, 11:37:37

Quote from: kishy;190480

thirteen-aych-six-seven-oh-five

Just in case anyone failed to figure out what that is...

Quote from: ch_123;190503

...M13

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: bhtooefr on Mon, 07 June 2010, 12:15:30

That's the black M13, right?

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: chimera15 on Mon, 07 June 2010, 12:17:55

Assuming I could get new switches for them when they wear out, siig minitouch's of course.  The layout is perfection. I've already bought a lifetime supply pretty much.  No other fully compact board has the ability to be a chameleon and change switches like the minitouch can.  I have some set with dampers, some set with light springs so the keys almost feel like montereys or blue cherries, and others with stiffer pure white or blue alps.  I can't conceive of a better board than it really.

The one alternative might be a deck with blue cherry's... I suppose that one might hold up longer as well.  I don't really like where the function key is placed on those though, or the non L shaped enter key.

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: kishy on Mon, 07 June 2010, 12:22:46

Quote from: bhtooefr;190538

That's the black M13, right?

Yup. If only those white-on-black keys were still available...

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: JBert on Mon, 07 June 2010, 16:31:22

A hybrid between the model F's mechanism and the guru-board's layout/trackpoint combo. Oh, and it's programming potential.

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: EverythingIBM on Mon, 07 June 2010, 18:42:36

Either a Model F AT or a KB8923.

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: nowsharing on Mon, 07 June 2010, 19:51:44

Quote

talk about SPOOKY girlfriends

And the world's creepiest father-in-law.  Great film.

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: Pixel_Outlaw on Tue, 08 June 2010, 09:09:02

Probably my Lexmark model M. The whole question of how long will USB be around comes into play here too but you did say if it could be used for the rest of my life. I love the detachable 10 foot long cord, perfect for keeping in the pocket or just hanging out with in the library. A keyboard is a friend one keeps at the fingertips!

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: ricercar on Tue, 08 June 2010, 21:13:38

My modded Kinesis Contour Essential, Cherry Browns with Trackpoint, connects with ADB, AT, PS/2, USB compatibility, so I could use it with ANY machine that could power up on that desert island.

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: Harry_Y on Tue, 08 June 2010, 21:22:51

Quote from: didjamatic;190401

Northgate Omnikey

Yes, I should have never gave mine away.

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: Infinite north on Tue, 08 June 2010, 21:37:12

In 2 years your would be trying to open a coconut with the ipad not the other way around.

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: Buckling_Summer on Sat, 19 June 2010, 18:28:40

Quote from: ripster;190644

From the OP....



I'd worry more about looks when it comes to having only one Girl than only one keyboard.

Saw this movie last night - talk about SPOOKY girlfriends.  I liked it.  But I like offbeat movies.

> type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385">[/youtube]

The ending was all the money!

BTW, do the letters on the SIIG wear off ?

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: chimera15 on Sat, 19 June 2010, 21:52:56

Quote from: Buckling_Summer;194788

The ending was all the money!

BTW, do the letters on the SIIG wear off ?

No, they're not double shot, but the coloring goes far down into the key. It would take a lot of wear for them to come off.

You can look at this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-SIIG-MiniTouch-KB1903-Keyboard-Clicky-JKA10032-/200481700764?cmd=ViewItem&pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2eada3fb9c (http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-SIIG-MiniTouch-KB1903-Keyboard-Clicky-JKA10032-/200481700764?cmd=ViewItem&pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2eada3fb9c)

Looks like one of the heaviest used minitouch's I've seen. The keys are shiny, but the lettering's still there.

I've also sanded some yellowed keys I got with one of my kb1903's that was beat up, early from Bob, to try to get rid of the yellowing and make them blanks, and the lettering didn't dissappear till I was far down into the key.

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: gr1m on Sat, 19 June 2010, 22:28:44

Quote from: ripster;191120

In the dessert island scenario other things are far, far, more important.

Show Image

(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d33/Ruckster/Wilson.jpg)

No! WILSOOOOOOOOON!

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: Oqsy on Sun, 20 June 2010, 00:59:05

The parameters of this hypothetical leave too much to interpretation...   I'd go with a NIB 42H1292 freshly bolt modded and internal usb adapter modded with a built in satellite world phone, solar panels for powering both, and a side-mounted case containing a fishing pole, LOTS of hooks and line, a swiss army knife, a magnifying lens, a water distilling apparatus, flares, LOTS of toilet paper, more flares, a backup satellite phone, a shortwave / HAM radio, a few more flares, a first aid kid, and brightly colored key caps to keep my spirits up.

Title: If you could only have one?
Post by: InSanCen on Sun, 20 June 2010, 01:51:22

Black M13. Easy.