Journey to Mechanical keyboards?

[wsxdr]

Fairly recently I dived into this.

My journey history is,

(own) Topre realforce no-noise, different pressure, 108 key
(own) Happy hacking pro2 type-s
(sold) Corsair rgb strafe cherry blue switch
(sold) Corsair rgb k95 cherry brown switch
(will sell soon) Logitech K810
(will sell soon) Deck Hassium Pro cherry blue switch
(own) Zhuque keyboard (user can swap switch itself easily without soldering) with cherry Red switch, spacebar cherry Silver switch
(bought and waiting to arrival) cherry Clear switch for Zhuque
(bought and waiting to arrival) Topre realforce 87 key, all 55g pressure
(wishlist) Steelseries Apex M800

Maybe I will own only topre's and hhkb, zhuque eventually.

Where this journey end or lead...

But maybe this is also just one time fun?

What is recommended switches?  I haven't experienced green, black, white, silver cherry switches.

[Moistgun]

A lot of people are switching towards linear switches, if they haven't already.

Do you like the red switches?
Maybe you would like black switches? maybe you would like linear with heavier springs?

since you got rid of your blue and brown, maybe you wont like clear?

[keyladding]

Try Greens and embrace the Clicky Side.

[wsxdr]

A lot of people are switching towards linear switches, if they haven't already.

Do you like the red switches?
Maybe you would like black switches? maybe you would like linear with heavier springs?

since you got rid of your blue and brown, maybe you wont like clear?

Yes Blue is just for fun typing, but can't type long, too easily sick.

Brown was also good, but seems occur many mis-typing, so I want to test more pressure brown, Clear.

Red seems most good, I like this most so far than cherry blue or brown.


by the way, why Verification code always when post? Can't I remove it?

[Moistgun]

A lot of people are switching towards linear switches, if they haven't already.

Do you like the red switches?
Maybe you would like black switches? maybe you would like linear with heavier springs?

since you got rid of your blue and brown, maybe you wont like clear?

Yes Blue is just for fun typing, but can't type long, too easily sick.

Brown was also good, but seems occur many mis-typing, so I want to test more pressure brown, Clear.

Red seems most good, I like this most so far than cherry blue or brown.


by the way, why Verification code always when post? Can't I remove it?

If you want more pressure and love red mostly, I suggest trying blacks.  Maybe gateron black.

You have to do a verification code for a while until you have a higher post count.

It's there to discourage spam accounts.

Sent from my local payphone

[Hypersphere]

My own journey has taken me through a great many historical periods, form factors, layouts, switch types, plate/case/pcb mount, keycap materials/profiles/printing methods. Switches have included various terminal linears, foam & foil, Hi-Tek Space Invaders, various Alps/Matias, just about every Cherry mx and clones, beam spring, Model F buckling spring, Model M buckling spring, and Topre 45 and 55g.

Conclusions about favorites:

Form factor: 60% and TKL, but nothing larger than TKL and nothing in-between 60% and TKL.

Layout: HHKB.

Switch: Lubed + Silenced Topre 55g > Lubed + Silenced Topre 45g > IBM Model F Buckling Spring > Blue Alps > Brown Alps > Matias Click> Matias Quiet > Gateron Yellow.

[QuincyJones]

Where this journey end or lead...

it won't lead to you getting a gf, but it will end if you did.

[Tangtawan]

From all Cherry MX Switches I used, Blue, Green, Red, White, Brown, Black. I found myself liking black the most.

[1391406]

My journey started with IBM. Got into Buckling Springs and Capacitive BS, most of the Cherry switches and Alps, and my journey ended with Topre.

[klennkellon]

IBM Model F  Capacitive Buckling Springs. All around superb.

Model M Buckling Springs as a close second.

[Bucake]

i had never actually owned a mechanical keyboard myself, until i wrecked my membrane rubber dome keyboard with a drink in 2014 (just looked up my first post here)
...can't believe i bought so many keyboards in such a short time, what the hell man

and you'll never forget your first,
a non-backlit kbt pure pro with reds and pbt keycaps. thanks qtan5370!

[BucklingSpring]

I'm stuck in a endless loop. I'm to a point I rarely buy new keyboards unless really special.

Use one for a while... switch to few others, return to basic, repeat.

[SBJ]

I recently got a board with Gateron Blues and I ****ing love those. Next will probably be with Gateron Greens.
Gaterons are my new favorite switch, they're so smooth.

[kekman]

next step is gaterons/zealios

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

Try a Model M (or Model F) - classic clicking.

Captcha goes away after 10 posts - 7 more to go ...

[clankgy1]

(own) Razer Blackwidow Ultimate 2016 (popped mechanical cherry)
(broke) Novatouch modding with hyperspheres
(own) White HHKB Pro2 White w/legends
(own) Black HHKB Pro2 Black w/blanks
(keyswap between HHKBs)
(to sell) White HHKB Pro2 with black blanks
(waiting to arrive) Varmilo VA87M (or MR< not sure what difference is) w/White LED and Light Gray PBT Top Legends

I may end up buying a white RF 87U w/55g or RF104 HiPro (since keys are more contrasty).  I wish there was an RF87 HiPro.

[SBJ]

next step is gaterons/zealios

Definitely Zealio's for me as well.
And I'm sure I'll get a Topre board at some point as well. Just not on the priority list at the moment. 

[wsxdr]

next step is gaterons/zealios

Definitely Zealio's for me as well.
And I'm sure I'll get a Topre board at some point as well. Just not on the priority list at the moment. 

What is Zealio? Another china clone of Cherry?

[kekman]

next step is gaterons/zealios

Definitely Zealio's for me as well.
And I'm sure I'll get a Topre board at some point as well. Just not on the priority list at the moment. 

What is Zealio? Another china clone of Cherry?

custom switch made by forum member, zealios.

produced by gateron im pretty sure. they're a moderate weighted switch from 62-78 iirc with tactile bump, similar to ergo clears but imo smoother

and theres nothing wrong with chinese clones, im in fact more inclined to say that the majority of them feel better than cherry at a portion of the cost

[lee+]

I can't say it was a journey for me.  My first keyboard was mechanical all the way through.  The keys were at one end of little levers the other end  of which had types attached to them.  Pressing a lever down at the end with the key would move the type towards a piece of paper.  The paper was held within a sideways moving carriage, behind a ribbon.  When you were sufficiently skilled in pushing down the keys, the lever would smash the type against the ribbon so that it would a print of a letter on the paper, and the carriage would move sideways to make room for the next letter.  When you weren't entirely skillfull, the imprint could be anything from way too thin up to making a hole into the paper --- or it would never hit the paper because either the levers would get entangled with each other, or your fingers would get stuck between the keys.

So talk about typing skills.

It was a fascinating contraption that didn't require any electricity at all.  Can you even imagine?

[supamesican]

If you've only used topre and mx switches you are REALLY missing out. Buckling springs, even unicomp's, are the best thing there are in my book. Alps/clones are also really good. Dont limit yourself.

I started with a unicomp model m and love it, then got an hhbk for work, an alps clone for my back up pc, and a model f for my main pc. I may try cherry again some time but every time I try a friend's cherry board I never like them. I think I'ma get a model f 122 key an matias apls clone next.

[dante]

I'm stuck in a endless loop. I'm to a point I rarely buy new keyboards unless really special.

^

[rowdy]

next step is gaterons/zealios

Definitely Zealio's for me as well.
And I'm sure I'll get a Topre board at some point as well. Just not on the priority list at the moment. 

What is Zealio? Another china clone of Cherry?

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=69590.0

[zephyr11]

interesting!

I have the zhuquq board too, and loving it as a base unit. stock keycaps are not great, but the fact that I can swapout key switches without soldering is superb!

had othemu browns, on gateron browns now, and maybe i'll love to try something else. but don't know what else is decent.

[ThoughtArtist]

Don't be afraid of MX Clears. People ruin them by switching out springs which is a shame since the synergy between the bump and spring is what makes their design so good.

[mkb03]

hmmm, mechanical keyboards last much longer than membrane keyboards, but most people seem to switch their keyboard model much faster. 

[rowdy]

Don't be afraid of MX Clears. People ruin them by switching out springs which is a shame since the synergy between the bump and spring is what makes their design so good.

That, and the ping!

[Data]

I was searching for ergonomic keyboards, trying to find something better than the Microsoft offerings but not as damn ugly as the Maltron and Kinesis.  I stumbled on the ErgoDox, which led me here, then I tripped right over it and fell in the bottomless pit.  Been falling ever since.  If only my bank account was as equally bottomless...

[wsxdr]

I uploaded review video about 4 keyboards, K95, HHKB, Topre, Logitech. Also typing part too included.

Here it is.

[klennkellon]

i had never actually owned a mechanical keyboard myself, until i wrecked my membrane rubber dome keyboard with a drink in 2014 (just looked up my first post here)
...can't believe i bought so many keyboards in such a short time, what the hell man

and you'll never forget your first,
a non-backlit kbt pure pro with reds and pbt keycaps. thanks qtan5370!

My first was a G1 BlackWidow with MX Blues. I miss it sometimes.

[Ziggy4H]

I started with a back-lit Azio MGK1 with Cherry MX Blues. It was the cheapest back-lit keyboard in PC Microcenter and started when I built my first "gaming" computer. I really wanted to join the club. I now own 3 mechanical keyboards and 5 sets of custom keycaps not including the Sterling Silver ones that I made for myself. This journey is something of a heroin addicting saying I just want a taste and waking up 5 days later in an opium den. It is a rough journey but I feel fine... No Really.

[dante]

If you think keyboards are addictive - wait until you get into shoes.

[Ziggy4H]

If you think keyboards are addictive - wait until you get into shoes.

I was never a big fan of shoes. I have a few pair but watches and jewelry... That's the bug seller for me. Doesn't help that I make the stuff.

[chyros]

If you think keyboards are addictive - wait until you get into shoes.

What's the point in shoes? You just wear them. Are shows clicky? ARE THEY?!

[dante]

If you think keyboards are addictive - wait until you get into shoes.

What's the point in shoes? You just wear them. Are shows clicky? ARE THEY?!

[QuincyJones]

If you think keyboards are addictive - wait until you get into shoes.

What's the point in shoes? You just wear them. Are shows clicky? ARE THEY?!

Bah - it's amazing what they can do with CGI nowadays

[klennkellon]

tactile feedback with every step!

[zephyr11]

If you think keyboards are addictive - wait until you get into shoes.

both are just as bad, I've come had my run-in with shoes for the last 20years. it has exploded now, and it is much easier to access shoes, then mech kb, or could be that I just know shoes better, can't decide.

 

[ander]

I started with a back-lit Azio MGK1 with Cherry MX Blues. It was the cheapest back-lit keyboard in PC Microcenter and started when I built my first "gaming" computer. I really wanted to join the club. I now own 3 mechanical keyboards and 5 sets of custom keycaps not including the Sterling Silver ones that I made for myself. This journey is something of a heroin addicting saying I just want a taste and waking up 5 days later in an opium den...

Ziggy: Sorry to post to an older thread, but I had to tell you how I LOL'd when I read your "opium den" metaphor. I've shared it with other keeb-heads and it never fails to bring a laugh and an eye-roll of recognition.