geekhack
geekhack Community => New Members => Topic started by: Smasher816 on Sun, 19 January 2014, 16:58:25
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Hi everyone! I received my first mechanical keyboard a week ago (when I created this account), but promptly left for a trip. Now that I am back I have finally found the time to say hi I am I high school senior who enjoys spending time at the computer - browsing reddit, playing games, and programming (mostly linux & android). After seeing a few people talk about their new mechanical keyboards I decided to see what all the fuss was about. I then fell down the rabbit hole - finding sites like GeekHack, and learning more than I could ever want to know about keyboards.
From my experience with a switch tester (red, black, brown, blue, clear), I decided that (ergo-)clears were my favorite; however, there were next to no keyboards with them available. I decided to go with browns because I did not enjoy the feel of the linear switches and thought that blues would be too loud for those around me. I figured I might as well also get o-rings because of how much they reduced the sound with the test kit, and if I didn't like them I could always remove them. I also wanted blank key caps because they looked cool and would force me to learn those pesky number row symbols. I ended up deciding to purchase a WASD v2 TKL with MX browns and red o-rings (40A-L). I know I could have gone a different brand but by the time you added on the price of a blank keycap set, a custom function row, and o-rings the price would have been more expensive. The dip switches were a nice feature, and the binary function keys helped show I'm a programming geek. The amazing customer service was just icing on the cake.
When I first got the keyboard my accuracy was horrible (and consequently WPM), however after a few days of typing it has been getting better. I feel that I am not used to such a light switch and will have to adjust. I now sometimes hold shift too long capitalizing two letters at the beginning of the sentence instead of one, though I am not sure why. I have also used some desk liner to fill the bottom of the case which has made the keyboard even quieter. I am now really loving how this thing sounds and feels. I don't miss my old G15 at all (I rarely used the macro keys and only used the screen for the time) and hope to never have to go back to a rubber dome keyboard.
Once these keys start shinning I think I will pick up a blank PBT set which will hopefully reduce the sound even more and also keep the keycaps looking great. I would be interested in trying a HHKB for its mystical topre switches and small form factor, but finding the extra money for another keyboard will be tough. Even though I have no soldering skills, I am very interested in the custom keyboards you guys (and girls) are working so hard to produce. Perhaps I will try my hand at a GHPad as a small programmable extension for my desk. Seeing all this stuff makes me understand how people can have 5+ keyboards and really makes me fear for my wallet. Sorry for such a long post, apparently there is a lot to be said about keyboards.
tl;dr Got a WASD v2 w/ browns. Geekhack has shown me way too much about keyboards.
Here is a picture of my board. Sorry for the potato quality.
(http://i.imgur.com/obQyK6z.jpg)
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Good choice on the blank keys, learning to touch type is more important than which keyboard you use.
Those are some of the nerdiest function keys I've ever seen, I love it. Welcome
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Welcome Smasher. That looks like a board looks like a great choice. Hope you enjoy it!
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Welcome, Smasher!
The nerd factor is very high on your keyboard. Love it.
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Thanks guys. I'm glad your enjoying the keyboard. I guess mechanical+"otaku" (blank)+binary do make it very nerdy :)
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Binary for the function keys, now that's something you don't see everyday :)
Welcome to Geekhack
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Welcome to Geekhack, the binary keys look amazing! Congrats on your customization.
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Welcome to the team.
I love the binary caps!