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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: portbaron on Fri, 27 April 2018, 02:26:13

Title: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: portbaron on Fri, 27 April 2018, 02:26:13
Let's say you have a shameful number of keyboards, how often do you switch them out? Do you stick to one switch type, use different ones for different tasks, or use everything?
I try to use 1 to 2 per week and alternate switches. Part of the fun for me is remastering each type (although I do have overall favorites). Of course the OS color scheme changes to match the keyboards.
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: davkol on Fri, 27 April 2018, 03:20:30
I don't rotate keyboards. I do use different keyboards for different tasks or under different circumstances.

typing at my desk
otherwise (typing on top of my laptop or on my thighs in an armchair, playing old games with rigid/expansive control schemes)

I use almost any other keyboard only for typing tests for fun every now and then.
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: thokir on Fri, 27 April 2018, 03:21:39
I have multiple boards with different layouts and completely different switches.
Right now I am typing on my planck with vintage blacks, probably gonna keep it on my desk for a week or two, maybe a month. When I feel like 'oh, I have to use one of my other boards' I'll look at them and then decide which one I'd like to use next. Sometimes I switch between two boards for a couple of months, sometimes I circle through them twice in a month.
The only thing that happens on regular basis for me is sticking to the planck a bit longer than to the other boards.
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 27 April 2018, 07:17:37
When my main work board get gross and dirty I buy a new one.

At home I just rotate them in and out trying new  keycaps or switches or layouts.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: pixelpusher on Fri, 27 April 2018, 07:50:54
I switch out keyboards about every 3-4 days.  Pull out full size when I can,  it it’s not that often. 
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 27 April 2018, 08:50:06
Ridiculous..


You buy a keyboard.

Get bored

Buy a NEW keyboard.

Old keyboard goes on the shelf (FOREVER).


That's the system.. !!




How often do divorced men go back to their first wives.. ~Almost Never
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: Blaise170 on Fri, 27 April 2018, 10:41:17
The keyboards get boring because they don't contain enough veggies tp4
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: killyou on Fri, 27 April 2018, 11:31:18
I have one holtited Pok3r, I buy and sell switches every once in couple of months to try different ones. Sometime I buy used keyboards to check them out just to use for couple of weeks and sell them. I only keep one at the moment although I'd like to have 2 so I don't have to switch switches : 1 - tactile, 2 - clicky and maybe 3 - silent tactile.
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: zslane on Fri, 27 April 2018, 12:03:13
For desktop PCs I use either a Topre Realforce RGB or a Norbatouch with a Plum numpad attached. For my iPad I use a Plum Nano 75. So the only switch I use is of the Topre EC design. In all cases keycaps are either SA or MT3.

I have three of each of the aforementioned keyboards, and many different keycap sets available to put on them. I rotate keyboards roughly every 4-6 months based on when I get tired of a particular keycap set.
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: Blaise170 on Fri, 27 April 2018, 12:20:39
My collection of keyboards has shrunk considerably since even one month ago, but I still have probably 20+ laying around. Some of them I just keep as a collector's item (e.g. Kentucky Wildcats Model M with Buckling Springs), some I think are really nice but aren't converted for modern use (e.g. NEC PC-9801 with NEC White Oval switches), and some are just waiting their turn to be sold (e.g. multiple NEC PC-9801V with NEC Oval switches of varying colors). Then others I actually use (e.g. Matias Laptop Pro with Matias Quiet Click switches) and some are being built which I don't even have yet (e.g. Massdrop CTRL with Halo White switches).

So in some sense, I have keyboards which will never be rotated in. Though my favorite of the bunch is probably the UK Model M since it was my favorite team growing up. I haven't gotten around to documenting it yet, but here is someone else's image of it.

(https://i.imgur.com/YSADb0A.jpg)
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: Puddsy on Fri, 27 April 2018, 12:41:45
use mira until i get bored then switch to weaven for a day
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 27 April 2018, 14:02:49
Quote from: Blaise170 on Fri, 27 April 2018, 10:41:17
The keyboards get boring because they don't contain enough veggies tp4

Tp4 @ Maximum Veggie.

Only Ergodox... Forever...
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: ScottPaladin on Fri, 27 April 2018, 15:14:19
There's no system; it's chaos.

As I'm heading off to work, I look at the collection and think "what can I get away with today?" If I'm lazy or timid, I go for the stickerbombed Jailhouse Blues 60%. If I'm feeling bold, HP46010A or Pingmaster, maybe model M. If I just give a f**k, Thickbar MX Navy board.
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: killyou on Fri, 27 April 2018, 15:55:12
Quote from: ScottPaladin on Fri, 27 April 2018, 15:14:19
There's no system; it's chaos.

As I'm heading off to work, I look at the collection and think "what can I get away with today?" If I'm lazy or timid, I go for the stickerbombed Jailhouse Blues 60%. If I'm feeling bold, HP46010A or Pingmaster, maybe model M. If I just give a f**k, Thickbar MX Navy board.
Constant jackhammering out of your cubicle must be pleasant to other co-workers  :thumb:
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: Sup on Fri, 27 April 2018, 17:47:15
I just rotate when i feel like it at the moment i love typing with the Filco. But maybe later i want to use Topre again or go back to my keyboard with box switches so yeah this is also kind of a preference.
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: terrpn on Fri, 27 April 2018, 18:15:06
I have way too many keyboards, so I usually just grab one with a different switch vs aesthetics............

I go back and forth; BS, cherry, alps, space invader, clones, Fujitsu rubber dome/mechanical, SMK and so on...........

(http://www.toomuchisnotenough.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/cropped-TMINE-3.jpg)
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: losing_ctrl on Sat, 28 April 2018, 12:03:39
I keep around 5 - 6 keyboards in my cubicle at work.  I keep them in a file cabinet drawer and swapping out is easy - just unplug, put keyboard in drawer, take another keyboard out, plug in and off I go.  I usually change keyboards a couple times a day. Although there are some days where I use the same keyboard all day, those are pretty rare.  Currently at work I'm keeping two Topres (45g uniform silenced and 55g 87Us), three Leopolds (FC660M, FC660C, FC900R), and one Matias (FK302 Quiet Pro PC).  I work in a very quiet office, so I find myself using the Matias Quiet Pro and the silenced Topre 87U the most, as they are by far the quietest. This seems sort of ridiculous that I do this.  But I do enjoy variety in my switches and keyboards, so this is my setup for now.
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: portbaron on Sat, 28 April 2018, 12:36:43
Quote from: losing_ctrl on Sat, 28 April 2018, 12:03:39
I usually change keyboards a couple times a day.
Lol this is pretty awesome.
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: ramencup on Sat, 28 April 2018, 12:54:57
Since I only have two keebs:

Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: Photoelectric on Sat, 28 April 2018, 13:02:43
I used to rotate keyboards, then I sold most of them and used one for over 2 years straight, but now I have more keyboard kits to put together again.  As with most of my keyboards, I assemble or modify them exactly to taste to enjoy typing on them, and if there's one I don't like for some reason--I don't keep it for long.  So switching them up is never anything like "finally I'm going to type on X switch again", because there are multiple switch types I'm perfectly happy using--it's more like "I want to look at something different on my desk and change things up for a bit".  I also don't really like the [re]learning curve of changing from one switch or layout or keycap profile to another, which can take a week or so.  For instance I'm typing on XDA PBT right now, and initially it was super awkward after using Cherry profile, but now it's okay--took a while to get used to.  Otherwise I can be indefinitely content with just my LZ-GH and Cherry profile.
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: madhias on Sat, 28 April 2018, 13:55:59
I am rotating 3 boards, when I feel like I have to clean the one I am using. For example now I cleaned my HHKB (completely disassemble), and use now my SSK, and later on my Realforce. Every board about 3-6 months.

But what I do not like is switching from HHKB to another layout or coming back to the HHKB.
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: invariance on Sat, 28 April 2018, 22:32:35
1st of each month.
Just need another 9 boards


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: nogoodnames444 on Wed, 02 May 2018, 00:28:34
I switch my keyboards every couple of hours or even minutes
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: romevi on Tue, 14 May 2019, 22:20:26
6 months.
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 14 May 2019, 22:27:11
Quote from: SpAmRaY on Fri, 27 April 2018, 07:17:37
When my main work board get gross and dirty I buy a new one.

At home I just rotate them in and out trying new  keycaps or switches or layouts.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Truth

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: pixelpusher on Wed, 15 May 2019, 09:29:26
I generally keep 2 or 3 on my desk at a time.  Those boards rotate out about every week.  Whenever I build a new board or get new switches, I use them for a week at least.  My minivan keeps making it onto the desk though.  I think I just enjoy the challenge of trying to use it for all of my work tasks. 
Title: Re: What is your system for rotating keyboards/switches?
Post by: Sintpinty on Wed, 15 May 2019, 14:22:37
Sadly, i use membrane for schoolwork...

But mechanical for gaming.

Am getting new keycaps soon  ;D , g20 or flat for about 30 keys.