any keyboard to try after the Customizer 105?

[davidc]

I am very grateful to this forum because it was due to information I got here that I bought a Unicomp Customizer 105.  I would never have heard of it otherwise. This is a great keyboard to type on - so much better that the laptop-like ones I have used before and without the ringing of the G80-3000 I had before.

As I like the Unicomp Customizer so much I wondered if there are any other keyboards I would probably like too.

Thanks for any advice.

[bigpook]

Well that depends. I like the BS keys too. And while they are my favorite, I do like the blue cherries and the HHKB and the black alps.....
If you like the customizer 105 and have no complaints with it then maybe you should call it done : )

Take the red pill and  go down the rabbit hole, there is no going back though ! : )

Sometimes taking the blue pill is the better path. At least your wallet will appreciate it ; )

[kyamei]

Sometimes taking the blue pill is the better path. At least your wallet will appreciate it ; )

We all know this is impossible.

[bigpook]

We all know this is impossible.

Well yes, that is true. Now that that is out of the way....

This is purely my opinion, ymmv, caveat, caveat, caveat.

Your next keyboard should be something at the other end of the spectrum.
What you have now is clicky and noisy, which is a good thing, but there are some other ideas that should be sampled.
There is more to life than vanilla ice cream. So I would suggest a HHKB Pro 2 or a Realforce. Its a different feel then the BS keys that you are using now, but the Topre keys have an interesting feel to them and the HHKB and Realforce are QUALITY keyboards. Yes, they are expensive, but you chose the red pill remember?

Play with that for awhile.

Then its on to the cherries. There are black, blue and brown that I know of. I have used the blue and browns myself and actually like both of them, so get at least one keyboard with each of these. Other members here will give you more details on the cherry switches over time.

Play with these for awhile.

Now its on to the alps.

I have a filco tenless that came with white xm's that I changed out to black alps that I got out of a NIB Dell AT101W that I got off of e-bay.
There are other members here that will give you more details on the alps switches, but if you can, get a Dell AT101W as a starter.

You are already quite a bit of the way down the rabbit hole, but thats ok, you may even have seen some of us on your trip down the tube.
Its all good.

This is just the start. But its a pretty good start, but your collection isn't quite finished yet. Like most journeys, its not so much the destination that matters some times, but more the actual trip there.

[davidc]

Thanks very much for all this info and suggestions.  That'll keep me busy.  I don't know what the differences are in sound and feel of all the different keyboards.  I'll look around the forum for this.

[wheel83]

I'd recommend getting an older IBM Model M 1391401 in good condition.  I prefer it a little bit to Unicomp.  Although Unicomp makes a fine product.

[FKSSR]

I agree with going to another end of the spectrum, but I think you can start "cheap" and work your way up to more expensive stuff.  Try a Dell AT101W or a G80-3000 with blue cherries (~$70 w/ shipping - you can find info around the forum).

[davidc]

I agree with going to another end of the spectrum, but I think you can start "cheap" and work your way up to more expensive stuff.  Try a Dell AT101W or a G80-3000 with blue cherries (~$70 w/ shipping - you can find info around the forum).

Thanks very much for all these suggestions.  Lots to think about.  

How do I know if a G80-3000 has blue cherries and will it ring like the one I had before?

[itlnstln]

I went down a different path.  I went from BS to clicky Alps to non-clicky Alps to brown Cherrys.  As I progressed, I went lighter and less clicky instead of way across to the other end of the spectrum.  Maybe in another 6 months or so, I will get some type of Topre-based 'board.  I might circle back and check out a blue Cherry 'board in the future, too.

[FKSSR]

How do I know if a G80-3000 has blue cherries and will it ring like the one I had before?

Oh I didn't know you already had a G80-3000 w/ blue cherries.  If yours rang, I would think it was likely that board.  I didn't notice the ring, but it was too high-pitched of a click for me.  I also don't notice a ring in my Model M like some people do.

You can also try for a Compaq MX-11800 w/ brown cherries, if you haven't tried those.  Search in the Marketplace forum.  There is usually one or two for sale in there.  You can get one for pretty cheap and can resell it for about the same price (if not the exact same price), if you don't like it.

[itlnstln]

I have an MX-11800 I am planning on selling ($30 + shipping), davidc.  PM me if you're interested.

[FKSSR]

I was hoping you'd chime in itlnstln, but I didn't want to just point you out in my post.

Anyway, davidc, I think that is a good route to go.  It will give you a cheap way to check out a very different switch.

[MANISH7]

How do I know if a G80-3000 has blue cherries and will it ring like the one I had before?

My ears were itching with the ringing of the blue cherries I tried at Microcenter

[MANISH7]

the size of the keyboard.  I am amazed how much more ergonomic

i agree with this. another option is a $20 mouse bridge. my mouse is next to the backspace key - even closer than what a mini would allow. of course whenever i need the covered keys i just easily slide the mouse bridge a few cms.