Hello,
I’m UnFocused from New Orleans and I’ve been using mechanical keyboards since 1982 and have only very recently purchased my second rubber dome keyboard.
I’ve been using computers since 1982 when I bought myself a Texas Instruments TI-99/4A. It was the earlier silver & black version. These machines had keyboards from a few different manufactures, and I have no idea which one I had.
I learned how to touch type on an IBM Selectric typewriter around this time and I grew to hate the absolutely insane layout of the TI’s keyboard.
After the TI, I moved on to an Apple //e in late 1984. I believe it had SMK vintage linear switches. I no longer have my original //e, but I have stacks of others with the same switch.
I replaced the //e with a IIgs in 1987. I’m fairly certain that its keyboard had orange Alps. I no longer have that system either, but the IIgs I have now has a keyboard with orange Alps. I didn’t know anything about keyboards then, but I do remember that I really enjoyed typing on that one.
I moved on from Apple computers to the PC world 1989 when I built myself an AT clone with a screaming fast 80286 running at 20MHz (this was an AMD chip). I got a Focus FK-2001 with blue Alps with that computer. I kept the Focus until less than a month ago when I sold it (thus my username of UnFocused).
I don’t remember why, but I bought a Maxi-Switch rubber dome keyboard around 1992 and stopped using Focus. I still have that Maxi-Switch and it’s really good for a rubber dome. I used that keyboard until 1999 when I discovered IBM Model M keyboards.
My first Model M (from 1987) was from a used computer shop. It’s now with Phosphor Glow for some TLC. I wound up with nine Model M keyboards (down to five now) and used them at both work and home. I was an absolute Model M snob and didn’t think any keyboard could ever compare to the majesty of the mighty M. This led me to do some very, very, very stupid things like giving away a SGI granite keyboard. And throwing away a completely functioning WYSE terminal and keyboard with MX Black switches. This was 2003-ish and I simply didn’t know any better.
I eventually got tired of the Model M’s size at home and wound up getting a QFR with MX Blues in 2012 after doing a bunch of reading (lurking here) and other places. That keyboard was great for a while, but I came to really hate the high pitched sound of MX Blue switches.
The keyboard I currently use the most at home is a KUL ES-87 with MX Clear switches and Dolch DSA keycaps. I got this board in January and since then things have spiraled a tiny bit out of control….
There’s the Model F (AT) that I got in early March and modified with a Teensy.
There’s one of my Model M keyboards from 1995 with one of Phosphor Glow’s controllers.
There’s the KBP V80 with Matias Quiet Click switches that I used for a month and am now trying to sell.
There’s the Hakko soldering station I bought to eventually build a custom keyboard. My first real project with the Hakko will be removing the MX Blue switches from my QFR and replacing them with some interesting MX clone switches I got for free. From what I’ve read, they’re called Taiwan jet axis and they’re linear.
And then there’s the second rubber dome keyboard I’ve ever owned… a Realforce 87U 55g.
