geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Karura on Wed, 01 October 2014, 19:15:15

Title: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: Karura on Wed, 01 October 2014, 19:15:15
Alright, I enjoy asking the hard questions, so here goes:

How many keyboards do you feel is the right amount for you, and what's your reasoning behind it?

I already have 4 keyboards, but only actually switch between two myself, since the other two were given to family to use.

Realistically, one keyboard is all we need, but on a hobbyist's perspective, how many keyboards would you ideally have?

Let's hear your thoughts :)
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: E TwentyNine on Wed, 01 October 2014, 19:21:52
One of each.
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: wes1099 on Wed, 01 October 2014, 19:35:41
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: demik on Wed, 01 October 2014, 19:38:21
N+1 is the rule

where N is the amount you currently own.
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: Elocutive on Wed, 01 October 2014, 19:43:23
I think for me it is however many I would actually use and enjoy. So I would say one buckling spring, one model F, one cherry mx blue, one ergo clear, one 62g reds, one 45g topre, and one 55g topre. So no such thang as too many  :p
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: Puddsy on Wed, 01 October 2014, 19:47:09
I'm at 12 and still going

so probably 53

Actually, how many does HaaTa own now?
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: Smasher816 on Wed, 01 October 2014, 20:14:47
I'm at 12 and still going

so probably 53

Actually, how many does HaaTa own now?

I believe I heard the number 200+ thrown around at keycon.
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: RED-404 on Wed, 01 October 2014, 20:36:13
 Tip: Learn how to build a proper arching tunnel out of keyboards. Keyboardslides and cave-ins can be dangerous. For tunnel lighting you can use USB hubs and backlit keyboards.
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: Sent on Wed, 01 October 2014, 21:41:42
N+1 is the rule

where N is the amount you currently own.

Pretty much this.  I came back and said I was limiting myself to two boards and no topre.  Within a month and a half I had three boards on order plus working on getting a HHKB. :rolleyes:
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: PointyFox on Wed, 01 October 2014, 21:47:31
As many keyboards as computers.
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: The_Beast on Wed, 01 October 2014, 21:56:57
N+1 is the rule

where N is the amount you currently own.

This is what I came here to say!
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: HoffmanMyster on Wed, 01 October 2014, 21:59:20
As many as will physically fit in my house plus 20.
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: mogo on Wed, 01 October 2014, 22:05:21
T... "too many?"
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: NotAPrune on Wed, 01 October 2014, 23:02:57
Code: [Select]

KeyboardDesire = 1
CurrentKeyboardNumber = 0

while(True)
{
    BuyAnotherKeyboard(CurrentKeyboardNumber);
    KeyboardDesire = KeyboardDesire++
    //Check for keyboard satisfaction.
    if(KeyboardDesire - CurrentKeyboardNumber == 0)
    {
          Break;
    }
}

I think this is how it works for most of us? Excuse my poor attempt, I'm not really a programmer! :P
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: GL1TCH3D on Wed, 01 October 2014, 23:53:32
I've really been trying to limit myself to 2... one for portable use and one as a daily driver but I know I most likely won't be able to stick to that =(

I've been trying to stay away from topre because of the much faster degradation over time of topre compared to the other mechanical switch types available on the market (mainly cherry mx)


Meanwhile alps are fairly difficult to find in TKL (basically a kingsaver) and I dislike heavier switches (which can be considered a godsend) so I don't really like typing on buckling switch or similar switch types
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Wed, 01 October 2014, 23:55:33
As many as will physically fit in my house plus 20.
Get on my level....ran out of keyboard space.....getting new house. ;) :D
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: munch on Wed, 01 October 2014, 23:57:58
one is too many, you nerds need to go outside...

just kidding sorry I am the worst! uh, I think when you take up too much space with keyboards in your home... physically, not just because your wife thinks they're ugly.
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: Karura on Wed, 01 October 2014, 23:58:57
As many as will physically fit in my house plus 20.
Get on my level....ran out of keyboard space.....getting new house. ;) :D

Damn... I thought building an extra PC for my Model M was already crazy enough.
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: hashbaz on Thu, 02 October 2014, 00:00:01

Came in here to make this post. ^^

N+1 is the rule

where N is the amount you currently own.

This is what it boils down to in practice for most of us. :D
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: blackbox on Thu, 02 October 2014, 00:07:34
I buy most keyboards because i need them. So one for work one as dailydriver home. one for my server at home. I have one on dispaly (maltron) and I want to get a tkl for edc.
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: tjcaustin on Thu, 02 October 2014, 00:16:22
1 more than computers you own.
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: Oobly on Thu, 02 October 2014, 00:35:39
All of them +1.
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: Sneaky Potato on Thu, 02 October 2014, 02:25:41
I think it really just depends on your goals when it comes to keyboards as a hobby.

I feel most people start out as users. With those people, keyboards are a quest to find the perfect one that feels and looks the best to them, or suits their particular needs the best for work/school/gaming/etc.

Then there are are collectors and tinkerers, and I feel that keyboard enthusiasts either fall into one or the other once they've found the keyboard(s) that they like and suit their needs.

Personally, I own four keyboards. My first was a QFR because I didn't know anything about keyboards, then a Poker II for customization and thick ptb caps, and finally two HHKB's: a standard pro II and a type-s. The latter two are my personal favorites and daily drivers. Unfortunately I've never been much of a tinkerer and I've started to look at handmade keycaps and stuff like that, which are the beginning symptoms of me becoming a collector. Somebody help me before I get in too deep.
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: jameslr on Thu, 02 October 2014, 08:17:27
I keep myself at 4 keyboards maximum. If I want another I have to sell one or give it away to a family member that would appreciate it. I have 3 PCs at my desk, and 1 spare keyboard to rotate in place of another for variety.
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: demik on Thu, 02 October 2014, 08:23:42

Came in here to make this post. ^^

N+1 is the rule

where N is the amount you currently own.

This is what it boils down to in practice for most of us. :D

I miss your sig ;_;
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: PadawanGeek on Thu, 02 October 2014, 08:25:15
N+1 is the rule

where N is the amount you currently own.
Dang, you've nailed it! :))

I currently have 29 with a Ducky YoTH already reserved and prepaid......and yet am on the lookout for the next in the horizon. ;)
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Thu, 02 October 2014, 08:27:37
Wait, you can pre-order a Ducky Year of the Horse board?? Is that on MK.com?
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: fohat.digs on Thu, 02 October 2014, 08:45:10
This is probably too many.
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: PadawanGeek on Thu, 02 October 2014, 08:48:08
Wait, you can pre-order a Ducky Year of the Horse board?? Is that on MK.com?
Nope, I'm in Asia, preordered and prepaid the local distributor of Ducky. They'll call me as soon as it arrives.....
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Thu, 02 October 2014, 08:48:34
Damn I was so excited. Thanks for the info.
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: Grim Fandango on Thu, 02 October 2014, 08:49:03
For me personally, every keyboard that is not hooked up to a computer ready to be used is one too many.

I have 4 nice keyboards. Two at home and two at work. I have sold any that I do not use.
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: Melvang on Thu, 02 October 2014, 09:08:07
This is probably too many.

I think that might be microsoft windows's closet.
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: Fragil1ty on Thu, 02 October 2014, 09:54:58
Alright, I enjoy asking the hard questions, so here goes:

How many keyboards do you feel is the right amount for you, and what's your reasoning behind it?

I already have 4 keyboards, but only actually switch between two myself, since the other two were given to family to use.

Realistically, one keyboard is all we need, but on a hobbyist's perspective, how many keyboards would you ideally have?

Let's hear your thoughts :)


I used to have around 5 keyboards, including the one that I was using at that time.


I personally think that having above 5 keyboards is 'too many', you never get to use them all on a frequent basis. I did in-fact make a big mistake regarding my keyboards, I started giving them away to my friends, for either free because their old keyboards were dying and what not or because they wanted to buy a new keyboard and so on.


This then caused me to go from having 5 keyboards to having literally, 1. This then causes problems when your current keyboard breaks, so then you're forced to go out and spend more money on a new KB when you didn't even want to do that in the first place.


Learn from the best kids, do NOT sell your keyboards if you don't have too.


I actually sold a rare (white) KC84 /w Browns (non-backlit). THEY DONT EVEN MAKE THEM NO MORE. (with cherry, I mean).
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: onseki on Fri, 03 October 2014, 02:59:01
The good thing about keyboards is that they lay flat and don't take up a lot of space, so however many you have room for  :D
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: StylinGreymon on Fri, 03 October 2014, 03:12:10
I will have 3 soon enough, but I find that is too many for me.
Ideally want to have one main and one backup.

My problem is owning too many sets of keycaps.
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: Coreda on Fri, 03 October 2014, 03:55:42
This would work well as a spinoff from the 'you know you are a geek when...' topic  ;)

'You know you have too many boards when...'
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: minority on Fri, 03 October 2014, 06:43:26
Code: [Select]

KeyboardDesire = 1
CurrentKeyboardNumber = 0

while(True)
{
    BuyAnotherKeyboard(CurrentKeyboardNumber);
    KeyboardDesire = KeyboardDesire++
    //Check for keyboard satisfaction.
    if(KeyboardDesire - CurrentKeyboardNumber == 0)
    {
          Break;
    }
}

I think this is how it works for most of us? Excuse my poor attempt, I'm not really a programmer! :P
err: Function BuyAnotherKeyboard() Not Defined
Title: Re: How many keyboards is too many?
Post by: mouse.the.lucky.dog on Sat, 04 October 2014, 02:15:13
As many keyboards as computers.
+1 or 2 for when one breaks.