How do you convince people to go mechanical?

[False_Dmitry_II]

It seems ridiculously hard.

I got my dad to buy a model m, and he's using it, but he simply wanted a spare for his rubber dome board in general. I also had it in hand and said I'd just sell it online if he didn't buy it because I had three. He still says that he doesn't care what keyboard that he's using, and when asked what he thinks of the model m he just says, "it's loud"...

One of my friends only vaguely knows about them and has used a few of mine while here. I even handed him my dell at101w that I don't care about anymore, and he just hasn't plugged it in.

On a semi-related note, what's the cheapest black tactile/clicky board out there? If the worldwide shopping links wiki has all possible boards in it, I bet it'd be one of the addesso cherry blues.

[RAICHU]

Just show them these pictures. Works every time. :biggrin1:

[speakeasy]

You don't. That's how.

Technological evangelism is annoying. Let people use what they like. You can kindly suggest that they try new things, but if they don't take to mechanical keyboards then maybe rubber domes suit them just fine.

[jdreamer]

I gave up. It's their loss anyway.

[What is X?]

My dad constantly complains about how loud my model m is

[Brodie337]

Beat them with an IBM aircraft carrier until they give in.

[strum4h]

Well my dad convinced me the second he let me use his filco.

[Scarzy]

None of my friends understand why I use the 'heavy old piece of junk' that is known to us as a model m.

Its just not easy to do, I don't understand how people can find it weird that I like to think about what I am using every day and how to improve on my user experience. The normal view of millions of people is undereducated in my eyes, hopefully though as costs of mechanicals decrease they can become more common. We've already seen this in the gaming scene with the introduction of good gaming mechanicals, but I don't know how many people will actually go for this alternative.

[Brummell]

Why would I care what anyone else uses?  Why would anyone care what I use?  

When asked I offer my opinion, otherwise I figure that people are smart enough to use what they like.  In fact, being in a position to steer technology decisions at my company, I strongly encourage people to use what they like, as long as their choices are supportable.  Most people get domes because they're cheap and they don't care.

[HaveANiceDay]

When someone asks me about my keyboard(like, why it's tenkeyless), I tell them.
If they are still interested, we talk about it. If not, it's cool too.

Wanting to use a specific keyboard is a mindset. I type, and when I do it I want the experience to be something specific. For others, the typing may be a chore. Something they inevitably have to do to produce a result they care about.

For me it's something like "the way is the goal".

[.XL]

I've convinced a few friends to swith by letting them borrow my Mx Brown for a few days. Most non-mech board using people are really taken aback when they hear their keyboard make loud noises. They equate that to old tech or bad tech. They equate quietness and lights with new tech.

If you want to turn someone to mech boards, let them borrow an MX Brown or MX Black for a few days. Once they really use the keyboard they'll be able to make up their MHD. Some don't likely, most do. Tell them the price after they tell you they like it! This is where most people (outside of gamers) will turn away.

Oh, and ten keyless is a big conversation starter. I've gotten a friend to borrow mine just because its a ten keyless. Many people will find they love the size as well as the feel and they'll he more willing to spend $100 for a keyboard.

[theferenc]

I usually let people poke at my HHKB. They all love it. Then I hand them a Model M. They almost all love it.

Then I tell them relative pricing, and most end up with a Model M. This is how I converted almost my entire office. Though one guy did get a brown Filco tenkeyless.

Oh, and in my office, layout is quite important (most of us were using sun keyboards at one point or another), so the HHKB and modded IBMs are definitely the way to go for us. Except that filco user. Weirdo.

[rustybarnacle]

I don't go nuts trying to convince people, but my keyboards do tend to be a bit of a conversation piece at the office.  A blank keyboard stands out, especially when some less savvy person tries to sit down at my machine and do something.  But as others have said, you can't just convert everyone by beating them over the head.  Let them try out the keyboard, and see if they like it.  A lot of people will bawk at the cost, but I will just give them the old mattress salesperson argument "But you spend X number of hours using it!  You should have a good one!"

[chel-]

You don't. That's how.

Technological evangelism is annoying. Let people use what they like. You can kindly suggest that they try new things, but if they don't take to mechanical keyboards then maybe rubber domes suit them just fine.

Agreed. Evangelism of any kind is annoying imo and its often futile. Some people simply don't need a mechanical keyboard.

[patrickgeekhack]

I don't try to convince anyone to change their keyboards. When people asked me questions about my keyboards, I give them answers. What I don't like is they start telling me that I am crazy to spend that much on keyboards or why I have a keyboard with blank keycaps.

[NimbleRabit]

I've never tried to convert anybody else to mechanical keyboards, but I've definitely had people hound me about spending so much on a keyboard when the discussion comes up.

[Brummell]

My boss asked me once why I thought I had to spend so much on a keyboard.  I asked him why he thought he had to drive a BMW when a Chevy would get him there just fine.  

Never heard about it again.

[False_Dmitry_II]

Hrm, I can see why showing browns would be a good starter. Especially with the usual 'it has to be black and pretty, etc' mindset. Too bad I like clicky.

But yeah, the fact that you use something like a keyboard alot is a reason I think it's important. People will buy $200-300 graphics cards, then $60 games one after another, and then spend... $4 on the keyboard they use to interface with it all. Sort of like how I feel about at least halfway decent surround sound systems. It seems silly to spend alot on a big TV, then a bluray player only to use ...built in speakers.

[patrickgeekhack]

My boss asked me once why I thought I had to spend so much on a keyboard.  I asked him why he thought he had to drive a BMW when a Chevy would get him there just fine.  

Never heard about it again.

I like to use this strategy too. I find something that the person really cares about on which he/she spent on high-end units. If the person likes cameras, I would ask him why buy an expensive SLR when a point-and-shoot cheap camera does the same thing: take pictures.

[.XL]

My boss asked me once why I thought I had to spend so much on a keyboard.  I asked him why he thought he had to drive a BMW when a Chevy would get him there just fine.  

Never heard about it again.

I pitch my keyboard as the Aston Martin of the keyboard world. I tell them to tap the body to see how hard it is, feel the separate keys, understand the actuation point, and let them feel how heavy it is. It helps a lot of there's a regular rubber dome around to show them the difference.

But you'll always encounter two types of people: those who would rather not spend so much on a keyboard (understandable) and those who buy something pointless, like an iPad, yet think a good quality keyboard isn't worth the money. The latter I'll never understand.

Also, I've got a ghetto clears MX11800 that I show to people...when I tell them it's a ~15 year old keyboard and still works fantastic, they begin to understand the value in a good quality keyboard. I feel like monitors, keyboards, speakers, and mice should last through multiple builds. It saves you money in the long run if you buy quality peripherals the first time.

[Magna224]

I gave my friend one of my more sturdy cherry G80's with clear switches to try. Ill see if it works.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

I know we're not in the memegenerator thread, but this pretty much sums it up for my acquaintances & how they get into mechanicals:

]

I've lost three boards like this.

[Chobopants]

Since getting my Leo Blue Tenkeyless in the office (3 days ago!) people have already bought:

- 2 HHKB (one lite, one pro)
- 1 Blackwidow
- 1 Filco Brown Tenkeyless

My goal is to get the entire engineering team on mechanicals eventually. It helps that I'm typing on blues so they KNOW what's up.

[False_Dmitry_II]

To the guy who keeps losing boards, I can see how that'd be annoying. Keep a few $4 rubber domes in boxes to stop it? As far as that goes, I'd never let any of my friends get away with it for long. I'd let them have it for long enough that they really want to keep using one, then either do something to their computer (as simple as unplugging the power on the inside, if they're computer illiterate enough) or straight up walk over and unplug it and leave. Or offer to let them buy it from me for what I paid after doing one of these instead of getting it back.

I feel like monitors, keyboards, speakers, and mice should last through multiple builds. It saves you money in the long run if you buy quality peripherals the first time.

Exactly. They don't even have to be gotten all at once either, at random times I'm upgrading things like the case (It's a giant HAF 922 now, this thing's awesome) and hard drives and the rest of it. The only time its a bunch at once anymore is the CPU/mobo/RAM combo (if a drop in CPU thing can't be done), the graphics card is done in between stuff too. For someone starting, they can begin with cheap crap peripherals and upgrade them over the next year or two before any main ones need to happen.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

To the guy who keeps losing boards, I can see how that'd be annoying. Keep a few $4 rubber domes in boxes to stop it? As far as that goes, I'd never let any of my friends get away with it for long. I'd let them have it for long enough that they really want to keep using one, then either do something to their computer (as simple as unplugging the power on the inside, if they're computer illiterate enough) or straight up walk over and unplug it and leave. Or offer to let them buy it from me for what I paid after doing one of these instead of getting it back.

Siblings & Dad took the boards. If I try to take them back, I get whinging and whining about how I have more than one keyboard (uh, yeah, I need at least 3 - one for desktop, one for work, one for use with laptop docked to HDTV).

Right now I will have enough (once my Leopold arrives - Otaku Filco just came back recently from EK RMA, and my RK-9000) to be able to meet my needs. I essentially bought them because Dad stole the ABS M1 & my brothers stole my non-NKRO Filco & Blackwidow.

Why I'm kind enough to let them get away with it, I'm not sure.

How I lost my first:

[Tony]

95% people are using rubber dome keyboards and happy with that. Do not disturb them.

The rest 5% are already Geekhackers or going to be. They will find information here by googling. You can't convince anyone unless he/she is ready.

[BucklingSpring]

You can't convince anyone unless he/she is ready.

Well for a good chunk, you just tell them they don't need a mechanical keyboard. Then next thing you know... they own one.

[Thinkpad Fan]

Those who are not touch typists will never "get it" because one key at a time does not show anyone the advantage of a mechanical.

But anyone who touch types will appreciate the difference if they just give it a chance.  One of the young guys (25) at my work thought I was nuts to lug in a 1990 Model M with adapter and plug it in to our new Dell Tower at our shared desk.  About the third day (we rotate 12 hr shifts at the same desk) he said "You know, that thing really is Better!"  I'm not sure he will buy one, but he likes and respects the Model M now, and I'll bet he will always use it when I have it available at work from now on!  But the Admin in the next office believes that she has to have an ergonomic board to prevent carple tunnel, so she wouldn't consider a "straight board".  TPF

[theferenc]

Those who are not touch typists will never "get it" because one key at a time does not show anyone the advantage of a mechanical.

But anyone who touch types will appreciate the difference if they just give it a chance.  One of the young guys (25) at my work thought I was nuts to lug in a 1990 Model M with adapter and plug it in to our new Dell Tower at our shared desk.  About the third day (we rotate 12 hr shifts at the same desk) he said "You know, that thing really is Better!"  I'm not sure he will buy one, but he likes and respects the Model M now, and I'll bet he will always use it when I have it available at work from now on!  But the Admin in the next office believes that she has to have an ergonomic board to prevent carple tunnel, so she wouldn't consider a "straight board".  TPF

So she should get a kinesis. Which is mechanical. See how that works?

[Lanx]

my fiancee jumped on my computer one day (she never does) and she is confounded by my custom board. She touch types, but since i split my keyboard (she hates split keyboards) she was so off put she had to look down. My keys actually are mis-labeled i use reversed arrow keys for the top row to create a ghetto kinesis concave feeling, she went bonkers trying to search, then i told her to just hop on the HTPC for a few mins instead.
She uses ml4100's since it's nice small and cute so it's not mechanical.

But short gist, if you want your keyboards to not be stolen get the blank kind. Or just make the keyboard really whacky.

[RebelExtrm02]

You let them use a mechanical keyboard for 15 minutes then hand them back their rubber dome and watch them **** up on it repeatedly after that. lol

And I want to be a  product evangelist for a tech company. It's a real position. I know a guy who is one for microsoft. It sounds fun.

[keyboardlover]

You tell them "use a mechanical keyboard" and if they don't do it, you threaten to hurt them.

What??

[godofdeath]

with force

[trievalot]

with force

REALforce?

[Ascaii]

REALforce?

XD