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Offline sandman0248

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 4
Need help rationalizing
« on: Sun, 10 July 2011, 11:02:12 »
I need keyboard-related rationalization help, and I figured who better to assist than the fine folks at Geekhack?

I recently bought two keyboards for home, thinking I'd try them both, keep the one I liked better and return the other. One is a Matias Tactile Pro 3 and the other is a Unicomp SpaceSaver M. After spending a day with each, I quickly boxed up the Unicomp and named the TP3 the winner. I just fell in love with the rattle and weight of the keys. It's got such a great feel to it. The Unicomp felt just a little too stiff.

Well, it's been a couple week now and I have yet to RMA the Unicomp. It's been sitting in its box, quietly begging to be allowed one more shot. So I obliged. I've been using the Unicomp all morning, and now I don't really want to send it back. But I know I'm keeping the TP3, there's no question there.

So now I have two keyboards for my home machine, but obviously I only need one. Why would I want to keep both? Loads of you have multiple keyboards, but I can't find any good reasons to have more than one at a time. Unless my fingers just get into different moods and demand a little typing variety...?

Help!!!
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Mac nerd. Budding mechanical keyboard enthusiast. Keyboards actively used, in order of preference: Matias Tactile Pro 3; Filco Ninja Majestouch-2 Extended (Cherry MX Brown) in all of its pinging glory; Unicomp SpaceSaver M

Offline N8N

  • Posts: 795
Need help rationalizing
« Reply #1 on: Sun, 10 July 2011, 11:05:06 »
"because I like it."

you're welcome :)

Edit: everyone should have a Model M on the shelf anyway.  I suspect that it will still be a functional input device after we're all extinct and the cockroaches have taken over the world.  That, and I like having at least two decent keyboards around so that when the daily driver craps the bed I don't have to drive to the store and pay $30 for a rubber dome POS until I can order a proper replacement.  (I don't know how common keyboard failures are w/ mechanical boards, but my roommate was using my Model M for about a week and a half while waiting for a warranty replacement on his nearly new Microsoft ergonomic whatevertheheck.  He was pissed because he couldn't log into his computer, not realizing that the reason it wasn't accepting his password was because his keyboard was messing up...)
« Last Edit: Sun, 10 July 2011, 11:08:42 by N8N »
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Filco Majestouch-2 with Cherry Corp. doubleshot keys - Leopold Tenkeyless Tactile Force with Wyse doubleshots - Silicon Graphics 9500900 - WASD V1 - IBM Model M 52G9658 - Noppoo Choc Pro with Cherry lasered PBT keycaps - Wyse 900866-01 - Cherry G80-8200LPBUS/07 - Dell AT101W - several Cherry G81s (future doubleshot donors) (order of current preference) (dang I have too many keyboards, I really only need two)

Offline IvanIvanovich

  • Mr. Silk Underwear
  • Posts: 8199
  • Location: USA
Need help rationalizing
« Reply #2 on: Sun, 10 July 2011, 11:06:25 »
Congratulations on starting your collection. You could always get another computer to justify it's existence.
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Offline theferenc

  • Posts: 1327
Need help rationalizing
« Reply #3 on: Sun, 10 July 2011, 11:26:35 »
I second the second computer idea. After all, no input device should be unused.

Oh, and another reason: Model Ms, even the SpaceSaver from Unicomp, make great home invasion defense tools. It's a security thing.
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HHKB Pro 2 -- Custom UNIX layout Unicomp Customizer 101 -- IBM Model M 1391401 (modded to UNIX layout) -- IBM 1397000 (also UNIX layout) -- SSK in UNIX layout -- Model F 122 key in UNIX layout (Soarer USB "native")
 
CST L-TracX trackball -- Kensington Expert Mouse trackball

Offline eyesnine

  • Posts: 99
Need help rationalizing
« Reply #4 on: Sun, 10 July 2011, 11:37:50 »
Everyone should have a back up keyboard, just in case of a spill or other mishap.
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Offline Ascaii

  • Posts: 415
  • Location: Berlin, Germany
Need help rationalizing
« Reply #5 on: Sun, 10 July 2011, 11:37:55 »
also, if you ever have to open your window you can use it as a paper weight to stop stuff from flying around. Personally I currently have 4 keyboards that I use on my main pc, I like to rotate between them, so I never get sick of any^^. I use a model M, a cherry blue access, a cherry brown 8200, and a cherry black 1800 depending on the task at hand and how im feeling that day.
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"Mechanical keyboards are like pokemon:
you start with one, and then you wanna catch em all."

Offline ch_123

  • * Exalted Elder
  • Posts: 5860
Need help rationalizing
« Reply #6 on: Sun, 10 July 2011, 11:40:53 »
With most mechanical keyboard types, there's a break in period with the switches, after which they get a little less stiff. This may be why you prefer the Spacesaver the second time around.
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Offline mr.mortified

  • Posts: 10
Need help rationalizing
« Reply #7 on: Sun, 10 July 2011, 11:41:03 »
Or run a multi monitor setup with your keyboards in front of each.

Either that or switch out your bad keyboard at work for a good one
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Offline sandman0248

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 4
Need help rationalizing
« Reply #8 on: Sun, 10 July 2011, 11:46:37 »
Quote from: mr.mortified;377495
Or run a multi monitor setup with your keyboards in front of each.

Either that or switch out your bad keyboard at work for a good one


I picked up a Filco Ninja with Cherry Browns for the office (which, btw, is pinging like crazy). I'd bring the TP3 or the Unicomp to the office, but my cube neighbors would put a hit out on me for making so much noise.
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Mac nerd. Budding mechanical keyboard enthusiast. Keyboards actively used, in order of preference: Matias Tactile Pro 3; Filco Ninja Majestouch-2 Extended (Cherry MX Brown) in all of its pinging glory; Unicomp SpaceSaver M

Offline hoggy

  • * Ergonomics Moderator
  • Posts: 1502
  • Location: Isle of Man
Need help rationalizing
« Reply #9 on: Sun, 10 July 2011, 11:56:19 »
as Ascaii suggested, you might want to swap between them.  I keep a few at work and swap most lunchtimes.
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GH Ergonomic Guide (in progress)
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=54680.0

Offline hoggy

  • * Ergonomics Moderator
  • Posts: 1502
  • Location: Isle of Man
Need help rationalizing
« Reply #10 on: Sun, 10 July 2011, 11:57:52 »
You could quiet the unicomp with dental floss (there's a post around here somewhere), then take it into work.
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GH Ergonomic Guide (in progress)
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=54680.0

Offline arc2

  • Posts: 99
Need help rationalizing
« Reply #11 on: Sun, 10 July 2011, 12:02:24 »
You may find that you start liking the unicomp more and more, like most things taste changes over time.

Why not connect both keyboards at the same time and then you can use either as and when you feel the need?
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Offline PlayerZero

  • Posts: 136
Need help rationalizing
« Reply #12 on: Sun, 10 July 2011, 13:09:41 »
Do a super ghetto mod and swap have alternating Alps and BS switches on one board.
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Extensive research has found your statement to be of inferior quality.  Please revise it.

KEYBOARD:  Leopold FC200RC/AB with Cherry MX Blues
MOUSE:  Logitech G400

Geekhack:  A wiki is worth 1000 threads.

Offline daerid

  • Posts: 4276
  • Location: Denver, CO
    • Rossipedia
Need help rationalizing
« Reply #13 on: Sun, 10 July 2011, 13:15:11 »
See my sig.

Sometimes it's not all about practicality.
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Offline mmmty

  • Posts: 880
  • Location: USofA
  • bang! bang!
Need help rationalizing
« Reply #14 on: Sun, 10 July 2011, 13:56:40 »
Quote from: daerid;377550
See my sig.

Sometimes it's not all about practicality.

It's probably called addiction  : )
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Keyboardless

Offline richie

  • Posts: 15
Need help rationalizing
« Reply #15 on: Sun, 10 July 2011, 14:05:04 »
yeah I use my keyboard with my laptop just so i don't shiny up the keys, see there's another use for a second keyboard!
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Offline daerid

  • Posts: 4276
  • Location: Denver, CO
    • Rossipedia
Need help rationalizing
« Reply #16 on: Sun, 10 July 2011, 14:35:36 »
Quote from: mmmty;377587
It's probably called addiction  : )

 
Then I'm in the right place :)
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Offline prd

  • Posts: 33
Need help rationalizing
« Reply #17 on: Sat, 16 July 2011, 08:29:34 »
Everyone should have an extra keyboard in case he's not in the mood for the other 10.

But you should sell the SpaceSaver and get yourself a Customizer.
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Offline Tony

  • Posts: 1189
Need help rationalizing
« Reply #18 on: Sun, 17 July 2011, 02:33:20 »
To be wise, you would silently return the keyboard already without consulting us.

If you register a nick here at geekhack to ask such a question, the answer is obvious.
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Keyboard: Filco MJ1 104 brown, Filco MJ2 87 brown, Compaq MX11800, Noppoo Choc Brown/Blue/Red, IBM Model M 1996, CMStorm Quickfire Rapid Black
Layout: Colemak experience, speed of 67wpm

Offline sordna

  • Posts: 2249
Need help rationalizing
« Reply #19 on: Sun, 17 July 2011, 02:55:48 »
Quote from: prd;381378
But you should sell the SpaceSaver and get yourself a Customizer.

Why? Isn't the Customizer the same with just a little bit larger frame?
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Kinesis Contoured Advantage & Advantage2 LF with Cherry MX Red switches / Extra keys mod / O-ring dampening mod / Dvorak layout. ErgoDox with buzzer and LED mod.
Also: Kinesis Advantage Classic, Kinesis Advantage2, Data911 TG3, Fingerworks Touchstream LP, IBM SSK (Buckling spring), Goldtouch GTU-0077 keyboard

Offline prd

  • Posts: 33
Need help rationalizing
« Reply #20 on: Sun, 17 July 2011, 04:52:51 »
Quote from: sordna;381878
Why? Isn't the Customizer the same with just a little bit larger frame?

Yes.
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Offline nathanscribe

  • Posts: 171
Need help rationalizing
« Reply #21 on: Sun, 17 July 2011, 05:42:49 »
I'd keep both - only non-computer people have only one computer these days anyway...  If you really don't want to keep both, I'd consider selling one here rather than returning a perfectly good keyboard as 'faulty'.
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Conquering the world with BASIC since 1982
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