What is your first keyboard? Is its layout your favorite one until now?

[rxc92]

Went from 80% (arrow keys in the numpad) to TKL, then FC660, then 60%. TKL is still my favorite, followed by the FC660 (67%?) then 60% and full size. As I get older my hands and wrists appreciate the shorter keyboards, but not having F and arrow keys is a bother! An FC660 layout with F keys would be perfect for me.

[marksen]

i mean i know your profile said "weird funny old guy" but i thought that meant you were like 40. im glad i didnt have to type on typewriters lol

If I say that the first keyboard that I gave my heart and soul to was the one supplied with a VT220, how weird, how funny, and how old would that be?

[transeurasian]

i dont even remember my first ever keyboard at all

[zlobin356]

My first keyboard was membrane lowprofile keyboard, first mechanical keyboard was a cheap 60% board with BSUN blue's. My favorite layouts: WKL TKL, 60Tsangan, 60HHKB, 75compact

[garynguyen]

I dont remember my first keyboard, but my first mechanical keyboard is Ducky One 2 rific. Then I tried Leopold, Keychron, FL-Esports

My first custom keyboard is Keychron Q2 - still use it daily for working. However, my favorite layout now is TKL, I have my Sunset 80 as my endgame keeb at this moment.

TKL is the most "balanced" layout to me. Not too big but not too small. Provides full functionality but not anything redundant.

I totally agree, I tried full size, 96% (1800 compact), TKL, 75% and 65%, I see TKL and 75% are the most balanced layout for both working and gaming. I just change to 75% with Wind Z75 and feel comfortable with it.

[TWX]

My first keyboard at home would have come with the Packard Bell XT.  One of these:

I probably used most at home a Gateway 2000 'Anykey' battleship keyboard.  It was rubberdome but had a nice feel regardless and was macro programmable.  Doing forums the left side function keys were programmed for bold etc.

Right now I'm not sure.  I use a laptop for personal stuff, or even a phone, but for work I'm still working out what I like.

[atarione]

1st keyboard was on my Commodor C64,  1st pc keyboard was whatever Compaq included with my K6II 400 pc.. as I recall it was crap.

1st keyboard I bought was a keytronic fullsized membrane keyboard that vaguely looked like a model m but wasn't.

1st Mechanical keyboard was a WASD V1 fullsize mx brown keyboard

and the format I prefer is TKL 87key for sure... I mostly use a Filco MT2 TKL w/ mx-reds.

oh yeah.. I found this.. I have the compaq still (I can't tell what keyboard is hooked up to it), and my P3 1Ghz and my first MS ergo keyboard (I used these for a long time most of the 2000s probably)..  this photo circa 2002.. and yes my cable managements skill are amazing, they are not that much better now honestly. 

My Filco is nearly a decade old I have bought a few keyboards since then most recently a GMK67 but I keep going back to the Filco as I really like it. 

[mohawk1367]

1st keyboard was on my Commodor C64,  1st pc keyboard was whatever Compaq included with my K6II 400 pc.. as I recall it was crap.

1st keyboard I bought was a keytronic fullsized membrane keyboard that vaguely looked like a model m but wasn't.

1st Mechanical keyboard was a WASD V1 fullsize mx brown keyboard

and the format I prefer is TKL 87key for sure... I mostly use a Filco MT2 TKL w/ mx-reds.

oh yeah.. I found this.. I have the compaq still (I can't tell what keyboard is hooked up to it), and my P3 1Ghz and my first MS ergo keyboard (I used these for a long time most of the 2000s probably)..  this photo circa 2002.. and yes my cable managements skill are amazing, they are not that much better now honestly. 

My Filco is nearly a decade old I have bought a few keyboards since then most recently a GMK67 but I keep going back to the Filco as I really like it.

i too have the keytronic faux-m. its a good poor-man's variable topre imo

[chyros]

Selectric II typewriters in high school keyboarding class

In my typing class in 1968, we were assigned to manual typewriters for the first half to learn "proper technique" that is - holding the hands a couple of inches above the keys and thrusting the finger down with a flick of the wrist to generate enough force to actuate the key mechanism. It resembled a heron striking a frog.

After we had mastered that we were allowed to move up to the Selectrics at the back of the room for training on the modern typewriters that would be the future standard.

i mean i know your profile said "weird funny old guy" but i thought that meant you were like 40. im glad i didnt have to type on typewriters lol

I'm only 36 and whenever I'm at keyboard meetups I out-age almost everyone by a factor of 2 or 3 xD .

[mohawk1367]

Selectric II typewriters in high school keyboarding class

In my typing class in 1968, we were assigned to manual typewriters for the first half to learn "proper technique" that is - holding the hands a couple of inches above the keys and thrusting the finger down with a flick of the wrist to generate enough force to actuate the key mechanism. It resembled a heron striking a frog.

After we had mastered that we were allowed to move up to the Selectrics at the back of the room for training on the modern typewriters that would be the future standard.

i mean i know your profile said "weird funny old guy" but i thought that meant you were like 40. im glad i didnt have to type on typewriters lol

I'm only 36 and whenever I'm at keyboard meetups I out-age almost everyone by a factor of 2 or 3 xD .

never been to a meetup (hopefully this year) but i joined the Deskthority discord server at like 16 or 17 and people thought i was young for some reason

[Neongreen]

Keychron K4 96%

I like the look of TKL but I need F row and numpad for my job.
The cramped layout is unpopular with people but I like how symmetric it looks, and I learned new hand positions not to accidentally hit other keys.

[wjrii]

Keychron K4 96%

I like the look of TKL but I need F row and numpad for my job.
The cramped layout is unpopular with people but I like how symmetric it looks, and I learned new hand positions not to accidentally hit other keys.

The only issue I really have with that type of layout is that I like to be able to find the arrow keys by feel, whether that means a gap or locating them in the corner. A blocker or otherwise making some space is nice, but a little dab of Bondic on the down arrow, or just something to replicate a decent homing key, is almost as good.

[nomodeset]

My first keyboard was a Nightfox it was about 6 years ago. I still remember that around 300 euro's after taxes and whatnot was pretty darn expensive for me. And fun fact I'm actually typing this message on it! I revived it last week with some new switches stabs and a new keycap set!

[TomahawkLabs]

My first keyboard was a TKL. Due to my job duties, having a 10 key is very useful and I am not a fan of layers so I have been maining a full size keyboard at both work and home. Home is a GMMK full size and at work is a hand wired Apple AEK2. It's such a stark contrast in keycap feel/height, but I can't decide what I like more.

I like the SA profile keycaps, but I love the feel of the alps switches. Maybe one day we will get an SA profile for Alps.

[AJM]

If I ignore my first home computer (Amstrad/Schneider CPC464), my first separate keyboard was the one of the Amstrad/Schneider PC1512. It was a clone of the IBM PC/XT keyboard, but weirder.
The IBM PC/XT layout is still my favourite layout.

[mohawk1367]

My first keyboard was a TKL. Due to my job duties, having a 10 key is very useful and I am not a fan of layers so I have been maining a full size keyboard at both work and home. Home is a GMMK full size and at work is a hand wired Apple AEK2. It's such a stark contrast in keycap feel/height, but I can't decide what I like more.

I like the SA profile keycaps, but I love the feel of the alps switches. Maybe one day we will get an SA profile for Alps.

you can get some taller caps off alps typewriters but you wont get a full kit. i have canon typewriter caps on my CA66

[sarahn27]

Mine was a Drop Enter. Now I've realized that I don't like TKL's because I rarely use the cluster of keys on the right side. But it was a great entry level keyboard.

[FOURRINGS]

I've just joined the community and started about 1,5yrs ago... going through Chinese suppliers I found a CNC shop that was able to give me free samples after I massaged them a little.

Then game me an Aluminium, Red anodised KYUU for my first Keyboard.

LOVE IT!!

I had to find a PCB for it, but found one and now very happy with my first... this then broke the damn for the 100 other keyboards I immediately went and purchased.

Now I regret my life decisions LOL

Thanks for the read.
Keep Clacking (or Thocking)
FR.

[TheSoulhunter]

The first was either of these two...


*Images stolen via Google Image Search

I got them both in 1989/1990 form my uncle (along with a thousand pirated games) when he switched to a i486 PC.
And no, nowadays I prefer HHKB or or US TKL layout. But I guess the C64 is not too far off from that form factor...

[YALE70]

My first was a wireless HP 5187. It's just a cheap mid-2000s multimedia keyboard but it has some of the better rubber domes I've used. Still have it and the computer it came with.

Then my first mech was a BlackWidow V3 with clucky greens. Hated how it felt. Might sound ridiculous but I honestly liked the Ornata it replaced way more for typing. Eventually replaced it with a Unicomp - the rest is history.

[Tomakoe]

First nice custom of mine was the Saka68. I remember how long the wait was since it was a group buy order in 2020 at the peak of the pandemic, and orders were fulfilled in 2022. I've loved it since. The 68% profile is very nice for gaming, and I really do like the 4-key cluster in the top right. It's not my favorite, though. I've been using an NK87 as my main board for about a year or two now. Absolutely in love with the form factor.

[aptivaboy]

IBM Model M, the Father of All Keyboards. We used them in high school business classes in the 1980s. I still type on two, one for work, one for home. I have Model Ms from IBM, Lexmark, and Unicomp, as well as a questionable Model M semiclone from IBM/Ambra. I'd like to try a Model F at some point, but they're rare and relatively pricy. 

[fohat.digs]

IBM Model M, the Father of All Keyboards.

The generally accepted nickname of the Model M is "The One True Keyboard"

Its predecessor, the Model F is indeed significantly nicer to use, and the M was created to drastically reduce the cost of manufacture and selling price.