Greetings,
Introduction:
I ran across a link to this forum, while reading a thread at xtremesystems, some time ago, and have been reading the the reviews, wiki, and posts here since then. Given my general lack of satisfaction with my current keyboards, the greater lack of satisfaction with the keyboards I find available at local stores, and the fact that I am spending a rather large sum on a new computing solution, I though it was time that I acquire a new keyboard more to my liking (rather that is my excuse, as given the amount of time I have spent lurking here, I think I may be developing a new obsession).
Lead to question:
Currently I have been looking at keyboards, and of keyboards currently in production, the following three are the ones that I have found particularly interesting.
For buckling spring:
The Unicomp 122 Key Emulator/Terminal
IBM 6110668 (Do these all use capacitative switches?)
For Blue Cherry MX:
The FILCO Majestouch Tactile Click 104-key NKRO
For Topre
Topre Realforce 103UB (I would prefer if this came in a 55g model)
What I think I would like most is a 122 key keyboard (maybe more like quadibloc's 133 key idea), high resistance, tactile, and clicky, with N-key rollover (using a PS/2 port), with black body, black keys, and black key labels (like bhtooefr's Zaphodian Unicomp idea). Though I do not know what I want for keycaps, definitely two parts, either injection molded plastic or metal (but which metals). I am thinking of trying to make this but...
Questions:
What mechanical keyboards are currently available with N-key rollover? From what I have read only the FILCO offers N-key rollover without issues.
What is it about the "Happy Hacking" keyboards that is supposed to make hackers happy?
Are there any clickly ALPS keyboards currently out there other than the FILCO Zero?
What are interesting keyboard to look at, particularly full size (or larger) clicky keyboards? (Excluding those at Elitekeyboards and Unicomp's pckeyboards)
Is there a way, all be it laborious and fairly expensive, to modify a buckling spring keyboard as to make it gain N-key rollover?
What are good resources if I were, say, interested in constructing my own keyboard?
Closing:
Thanks
Edit:
I do programming, and writing. A little gaming but more strategy than FPS.