How did the keyboard hobby started for you?

[LXXXIX]

I was building my PC a few years ago, and posted it to /r/buildapcforme to see what others thoughts were. Someone made some corrections and thought that I should try a MK.

My first one was a TTeSports Poseidon with MX Brown, and pretty much have been in love with them ever since.

[Wildcard]

Memory's a bit fuzzy, but about 6-7 years ago I came across some old dolch pac's and was wanting to determine how to use the keyboard with a modern computer. After some basic web searches I came across Geekhack and bookmarked it. Through the years I would occasionally come back and would read the helpful wiki and other content. About 5? years ago Ripster and Keyboardlover had their contest for the worlds biggest keyboard expert poll and I created an account to vote for Ripster. Several months later I logged in and saw Ripster had "awarded me" an MX key from a random drawing for winning the poll, and from that point I was hooked at GH. I spent the next several years getting deeper and deeper into my hobby. In the last few years I've been swapping jobs which has really taken all my time away from my hobbies, including keyboards. But from now on, I will always type on 45g silenced Topre boards.

[garage_logician]

I spend a lot of time in front of a keyboard and found myself reminiscing about the keyboards of old.  I started doing some research and quickly discovered that the old keyboards that I missed were mechanical keyboards.  I was also into various ergo boards and was determined to get an ergo mechanical board, but at the time I could not find any.  A while later I ran across the Kinesis and while intrigued I just thought it way to expensive/weird.  So I took a pass.  More time went by and eventually a few more ergo/mechanical keyboards came along but they too were expensive/weird and I was never sure that I would like them.   So, on the fence I stayed. 

Next cam the ErgoDox and I thought that it was finally something I could get used to, but at that time they were a build your own and I had no time to do so.  I also had no idea what kinds of keys I would like anyway.  So, back on the fence. 

Eventually I found that I could no longer stand the thought of using the same crappy keyboards.  I ran across a deal on a Monoprice keyboard, not great but it had Cherry MX switches, black.  I thought what the heck, at the price if I did not like it I would just throw it in the closet.  But I did like it, it was a revelation.  I decided at that point that my craft (software) put me in front of a keyboard for many hours every day and I would no longer use crap.  I ventured off to find the best board for me.   It is a journey that I am still on.   I suspect it is one that one never finishes, so many keyboards and so little time.  LOL

I just moved on from the Monoprice to a CODE with MX clears.  I really love this keyboard but even so I have already ordered a KBP V80 with Matias Quiet clicks.  It is supposed to ship sometime in November, I am anxiously awaiting its arrival.   Even so, I have been very, very tempted to order the Zealio switches and embark on making my own board.  The one thing that I would really like is a bluetooth TKL mechanical, and I know that the only way to get what I want is to build it, but I waver since I am not sure when I would find the time to build it.  Still, a Zealio based TKL with bluetooth is a great desire of mine.

I have been working in software for a long time.  Every time I think of mechanical keyboards I think back to my youth.  I remember when Northgate went out of business and I actually went to their liquidation sale.  There were a few "fanatics" there grabbing up all the keyboards they could get their hands on.  I remember thinking how odd, keyboards were so easy to come across.  What did I know.  LOL   I used the old IBM's, had a Northgate and never even thought twice about it.  Like so many I willingly let them go to move onto the latest and "greatest" and am just now finding my way back out of the rabbit hole.

I am making sure that my kids and wife do not suffer crappy keyboards any more.  I have done my best to educate them about the difference a quality keyboard can make and have made sure that they will have access to great keyboards too.   I have missed the feel of a wonderful mechanical switch, and find my job so much more enjoyable once again.    I have even dug out an old writing project of mine and started to pen some more words.   Is a mechanical keyboard life changing?  Well, you have to be the judge of that.  But I can say for sure that they sure have made my days a lot sunnier and in the end that is all that matters.

[NewbieOneKenobi]

It started here, several years ago. Perhaps if you check out threads started by me, the first one. This is perhaps not it, but close, within 10 days of my registration. I'm not sure this was the first place I heard about mech boards, but it definitely was the place I got involved, also due to the wonderful community atmosphere not met in any other place really. There are nice forums, and there are geek forums, but geek forums where people are nice to one another are a great rarity. And here everything is about the collaborative spirit, not even blacks vs blues or whatever can change that. There's no idiotic political correctness, so people don't use the kind of artificially restrained language that stands out and kills the atmosphere, but nobody's ever mean to anybody else. And that's really conducive to developing a new hobby.

[OperationT]

Summary:

- I spend almost all of my awake time programming, so I thought I should invest into a better typing experience. I WOULDN'T HAVE BELIEVED what a long journey I just opened myself to at that moment.

- Upon initial research, I couldn't believe a keyboard could go for $150+. I researched my switch and concluded with MX Clears. Bought the WASD Code for $180 with shipping. A day prior to looking into mechs, I wouldn't believe I'd spend even close to $100 for a keyboard!

- Keyboard arrives. Super excited, but was underwhelmed by the dissimilarity to others' keyboard sounds on YouTube that I was captivated by.

- Couldn't believe I'd even consider spending more money to chase after the sound/feel I was so captivated by.

- Bought thick PBT caps to improve sound. Got interested in SA profile caps afterwards and started looking into those GBs.  Took my board apart to install dampening mat to get rid of ping which didn't work. Didn't believe I spent 6 hours taking apart a keyboard and slicing a thick foam into a perfect fitting mat. This is crazy.

- Still unsatisfied. Started to consider Ergo Clear mod. Was interested, but never thought I'd get to it within a year's time. A month passes, and each day I dream about that perfect typing experience and sound. "This is nuts", I told myself, thinking I've lost my mind. Yet..

- Yesterday, I just bought all the equipment/parts necessary for the Ergo Clear mod + lubing, including soldering equipment. I even learnt online how to solder/de-solder. I might've racked up near $1000 up to this date and spent hundreds of hours looking at keyboard-stuff online ever since buying the WASD Code 2 months ago.

- I can't believe all this has happened. Somebody tell me I'm not the only crazy one. I'm chasing relentlessly after a keyboard I've never personally typed on, due to seeing some dude's online video who typed on a keyboard that sounded really nice!? This is nuts.

[SamirD]

Somebody tell me I'm not the only crazy one. I'm chasing relentlessly after a keyboard I've never personally typed on, due to seeing some dude's online video who typed on a keyboard that sounded really nice!? This is nuts.

You're not the only crazy one, lol.  There's thousands of us around the world.  Welcome to the club!  (You can never leave...hehe).

[blueangel2323]

Summary:

- I spend almost all of my awake time programming, so I thought I should invest into a better typing experience. I WOULDN'T HAVE BELIEVED what a long journey I just opened myself to at that moment.

- Upon initial research, I couldn't believe a keyboard could go for $150+. I researched my switch and concluded with MX Clears. Bought the WASD Code for $180 with shipping. A day prior to looking into mechs, I wouldn't believe I'd spend even close to $100 for a keyboard!

- Keyboard arrives. Super excited, but was underwhelmed by the dissimilarity to others' keyboard sounds on YouTube that I was captivated by.

- Couldn't believe I'd even consider spending more money to chase after the sound/feel I was so captivated by.

- Bought thick PBT caps to improve sound. Got interested in SA profile caps afterwards and started looking into those GBs.  Took my board apart to install dampening mat to get rid of ping which didn't work. Didn't believe I spent 6 hours taking apart a keyboard and slicing a thick foam into a perfect fitting mat. This is crazy.

- Still unsatisfied. Started to consider Ergo Clear mod. Was interested, but never thought I'd get to it within a year's time. A month passes, and each day I dream about that perfect typing experience and sound. "This is nuts", I told myself, thinking I've lost my mind. Yet..

- Yesterday, I just bought all the equipment/parts necessary for the Ergo Clear mod + lubing, including soldering equipment. I even learnt online how to solder/de-solder. I might've racked up near $1000 up to this date and spent hundreds of hours looking at keyboard-stuff online ever since buying the WASD Code 2 months ago.

- I can't believe all this has happened. Somebody tell me I'm not the only crazy one. I'm chasing relentlessly after a keyboard I've never personally typed on, due to seeing some dude's online video who typed on a keyboard that sounded really nice!? This is nuts.

MX Clears are not supposed to be "clicky" switches if that is the sound you are after. Do you know keyboard you were hearing in the YouTube video? MX Blues and Greens are the only "loud" MX switches. Other types like Alps and buckling springs all have their own unique sounds.

[OperationT]

MX Clears are not supposed to be "clicky" switches if that is the sound you are after. Do you know keyboard you were hearing in the YouTube video? MX Blues and Greens are the only "loud" MX switches. Other types like Alps and buckling springs all have their own unique sounds.

Yeah I'm completely aware of the different switches. The keyboard sound that I liked a lot came from an board with a lubed 62g Ergo Clear mod with Prenumbra SA profile keycaps, as well the same thing but with PBT OEM profile caps. I really liked the deep thock sound of that keyboard bottoming-out (especially from the one with SA profile caps), and when it returns from the upstroke. Here is the keyboard (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz5zcRogFfg)

When I said I didn't like the sound of my stock WASD Code w/ MX Clears, it was due to the prominent ping as well as the thin ABS keycaps. I've since replaced the keycaps with thicker PBT cherry profile caps that has improved the sound by having a deeper bottom-out sound, but still has the ping, and not deep enough of sound at bottoming out.

Next on my list is the Ergo Clear mod with lube, surely to eliminate the ping based on what I've read (due to lighter spring, as well as a lubed spring). However, I don't know if the mod alone will produce a deeper and more solid bottoming-out sound. If not, I think the SA profile caps might do just that(?)

[henz]

I bought a gen 1 ducky shine in early 2012 was happy at the time and thought i would never get another keyboard again, after about 2 years of heavy use i noticed alot of wear and tear on around 30% of the keycaps, the abs shinethrough caps had lost its protective coating it looked seriously ugly but i did not think more about it at the time.

2-3 months later i started working at a new company, i asked my boss if i could get a mech for work and he said yes ,  I spent like 3 weeks researching what i wanted and ways to minimize sound. A particular site had alot of reoccurrence. Where i would read about o-rings, filcos and wasds . I then decided to get a CM storm QF XT, got some nice pbt ducky blanks for it and was happier than ever. I quickly noticed that i needed to get a new one at home. So i ordered a WASD v2 with clears. After these shenanigans i was hooked on gh.

Ass hoff describes there is this line, if you decide to cross it, all other purchases are ok . My line was the CTRL alt 60% GB(my introduction to the GB world)

[tararais]

I bought a gen 1 ducky shine in early 2012 was happy at the time and thought i would never get another keyboard again, after about 2 years of heavy use i noticed alot of wear and tear on around 30% of the keycaps, the abs shinethrough caps had lost its protective coating it looked seriously ugly but i did not think more about it at the time.

2-3 months later i started working at a new company, i asked my boss if i could get a mech for work and he said yes ,  I spent like 3 weeks researching what i wanted and ways to minimize sound. A particular site had alot of reoccurrence. Where i would read about o-rings, filcos and wasds . I then decided to get a CM storm QF XT, got some nice pbt ducky blanks for it and was happier than ever. I quickly noticed that i needed to get a new one at home. So i ordered a WASD v2 with clears. After these shenanigans i was hooked on gh.

Ass hoff describes there is this line, if you decide to cross it, all other purchases are ok . My line was the CTRL alt 60% GB(my introduction to the GB world)

   
 
Or a GON, huehue. 

[henz]

I bought a gen 1 ducky shine in early 2012 was happy at the time and thought i would never get another keyboard again, after about 2 years of heavy use i noticed alot of wear and tear on around 30% of the keycaps, the abs shinethrough caps had lost its protective coating it looked seriously ugly but i did not think more about it at the time.

2-3 months later i started working at a new company, i asked my boss if i could get a mech for work and he said yes ,  I spent like 3 weeks researching what i wanted and ways to minimize sound. A particular site had alot of reoccurrence. Where i would read about o-rings, filcos and wasds . I then decided to get a CM storm QF XT, got some nice pbt ducky blanks for it and was happier than ever. I quickly noticed that i needed to get a new one at home. So i ordered a WASD v2 with clears. After these shenanigans i was hooked on gh.

Ass hoff describes there is this line, if you decide to cross it, all other purchases are ok . My line was the CTRL alt 60% GB(my introduction to the GB world)

   
 
Or a GON, huehue. 

I bought the ctrl alt in summer 2014(recieved it recently) my gon TKL was the first korean sweetness in my hand Hope you like it brah.

[tararais]

I bought a gen 1 ducky shine in early 2012 was happy at the time and thought i would never get another keyboard again, after about 2 years of heavy use i noticed alot of wear and tear on around 30% of the keycaps, the abs shinethrough caps had lost its protective coating it looked seriously ugly but i did not think more about it at the time.

2-3 months later i started working at a new company, i asked my boss if i could get a mech for work and he said yes ,  I spent like 3 weeks researching what i wanted and ways to minimize sound. A particular site had alot of reoccurrence. Where i would read about o-rings, filcos and wasds . I then decided to get a CM storm QF XT, got some nice pbt ducky blanks for it and was happier than ever. I quickly noticed that i needed to get a new one at home. So i ordered a WASD v2 with clears. After these shenanigans i was hooked on gh.

Ass hoff describes there is this line, if you decide to cross it, all other purchases are ok . My line was the CTRL alt 60% GB(my introduction to the GB world)

   
 
Or a GON, huehue. 

I bought the ctrl alt in summer 2014(recieved it recently) my gon TKL was the first korean sweetness in my hand Hope you like it brah.

 
 
It will be lovely, and the Raindrop set should be incredible also. Thanks!

[Dongulator]

ez..I was watching SC2 on stream and heard my favorite SC/SC2 play Boxer played with MX Reds. I did a little investigation and just fell in love.

[Wuzadi]

When i first built my desktop all of my buddies kept raving about these mechanical keyboards. I tried out reds for my first switch since I got a cheap one used. I almost hated mechs all together, since I assumed at the time they must have all felt that way lol. That's how I realized linear wasn't for me Eventually tried out blues, then whites, and then landed on clears as my go to switch .

[richfiles]

I believe in go big, or go home. 

I've known of mechanical keyboards for most of my life, just never had one. I've been a DIYer since childhood, so I decided, when I got sick of my membrane keyboards crapping out on me, that I'd just BUILD my own. I kinda like semi compact layouts, but don't like giving up functionality, keys, or dealing with a ton of hidden layers. I also like keyboards with minimal borders, and open edges. I had a modified Apple A1048. I had removed the clear plastic shell to make it into a very nicely compact "skeletal" design.



Sadly (or gladly???  ), it has seen better days, and I decided it was time to FIIIINALY go mechanical. At first, I was considering buying a full-size mechanical, and fitting an extended memory Apple //c Alps SKCM Amber (Taxi Yellow)  keyboard module into the Kerbal Space Program cockpit style controller I'm building into my desk, but I changed my mind. I decided I wanted to make the tiny (almost 60%) //c keyboard into a portable bluetooth unit, and save the cockpit panels for flight controls and readouts. I wanted to retain ALL my frequently used keys, including navigation, but I wanted to setup something a little more compact than a traditional full size, or even a standard TKL. I like my number pad, but wanted it to be something I could set aside when I didn't need it. Since 5x6 number pads are pretty straight forward to make, I decided I'd I focus on modifying the 75% configuration to my own personal tastes. I do love the 75% keyboard a lot, but I just wanted a few more keys. By just adding one more column to the right, I get to use stock Right shift and stock modifier sizes. I even had 0.25u to spare in the modifier row, so I even got to make my keyboard with a single slightly wider modifier, to make it very Macintosh like.


I was part of the Danger Zone SA keycap set on Massdrop, purchasing a good number of the child packs, because why not!  I came up with this render for my final keyboard. I'll also add a separate number pad. I had the idea of adding magnets to the right side of the keyboard ad the left side of the number pad so I can snap them together or apart. Maybe? I haven't decided yet if that is either a total awesome thing, or just asking to suck up screws of small things I work on at my desk!  )