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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: kidanime3d on Sat, 06 December 2014, 14:36:13

Title: Do Mechanical Keyboards Change A lot?
Post by: kidanime3d on Sat, 06 December 2014, 14:36:13

Hey GH,

I remember a while back on a LTT video that one of the best MKs was the IBM Model Ms.  My question is do MK really change that much?  Surely some standard keys, good switches, decent fn layer, programmability and you are done right? 

Title: Re: Do Mechanical Keyboards Change A lot?
Post by: Findecanor on Sat, 06 December 2014, 14:39:30

I don't understand the question.

Title: Re: Do Mechanical Keyboards Change A lot?
Post by: intelli78 on Sat, 06 December 2014, 14:50:29

You are right, keyboards can't change that much. Still, that doesn't mean there aren't innovations. For example, CM with the Novatouch. That was something that hadn't been done before. Logitech just came out with a new switch (Romer-G). Unicomp's TKL board is still pending. New Cherry RGB switches. Etc.

Title: Re: Do Mechanical Keyboards Change A lot?
Post by: kidanime3d on Sat, 06 December 2014, 15:47:37

Quote from: intelli78 on Sat, 06 December 2014, 14:50:29

You are right, keyboards can't change that much. Still, that doesn't mean there aren't innovations. For example, CM with the Novatouch. That was something that hadn't been done before. Logitech just came out with a new switch (Romer-G). Unicomp's TKL board is still pending. New Cherry RGB switches. Etc.

Yes quite a few innovations around.  Had a look at the Romer-G, quite cool.   

Title: Re: Do Mechanical Keyboards Change A lot?
Post by: faceyourfaces on Sat, 06 December 2014, 17:36:25

Quote from: intelli78 on Sat, 06 December 2014, 14:50:29

Unicomp's TKL board is still pending.

I'm not sure I would call that an innovation.

Title: Re: Do Mechanical Keyboards Change A lot?
Post by: Puddsy on Sat, 06 December 2014, 17:53:42

Whatever those new switches are from Kailh look pretty innovative. Depends on if they're any good or not.

Title: Re: Do Mechanical Keyboards Change A lot?
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 07 December 2014, 03:46:52

Since the Model M the layout of a standard keyboard has not changed much, if at all.

60% and 75% make some compromises to fit the extra functions in.

Apart from that, a new switch every few years or so, user-replaceable keycaps, user-replaceable cable, and you're good to go for another 10 years.

Title: Re: Do Mechanical Keyboards Change A lot?
Post by: Altis on Sun, 07 December 2014, 23:24:28

For me, one of the things that allowed me to get into mechanical keyboards was that they don't really change much over time. My 1990 Model M works like a charm and is missing only the Windows/Menu keys.

You can get all kinds of layouts and such but I think they'll be functional and compatible for many years to come.