Hello Geekhack

[Bry]

Since there are so many great people here for the same reason (the love for mechanical keyboards), there's so many different reasons we all ended up here. Some have been using these keyboards since the mid 80's while some of us have just recently learned about mechanical keyboards through things like SC2 progamers and streams;

I was just wondering:

How did you learn about mechanical keyboards?
How long have this been a hobby of yours?
What was your first mechanical board?
What's your fav board that you own?
How many do you have?

Etc. etc.

[Pretendo]

Welcome to Geekhack!

The first mechanical keyboard I typed on was a Model M around the age of 4.  The first keyboard I ruined was about the same time

Right now I own 2 Model Ms and a Rosewill RK-9000

[StaCT13]

I learned about mechanical keyboards from my dad. He suffered from wrist problems, and bought himself a Northgate. That was the board I used right until I snapped off the PS/2 connector. I actually became obsessed only a month or so ago when I was shopping around, and my friend wanted a Model M. Right now, though, I'm using my brand new Leopold. I just carry it around wherever I need it.

Side note: that AT101W in my sig is my dad's current board. He loves it.

[RColinTaylor]

I was looking for a Keyboard a couple of months ago and a friend of mine recommended that I get the Leopold TKL w/ Browns, so I did. I instantly fell in love with it and haven't stopped raving about how the feel of a mechanical is so much smoother and defined than a rubberdome or a scissor switch. I think my 'addiction' set in about a month or two ago and since then I haven't been able to avoid it as a hobby.

[pitashen]

I found out the existence of mechanical keyboard by searching "best apple keyboard" on Google. Or maybe I randomly stumbled upon some asian  openbox post about filco 4 5 years ago

You are not welcome, by the way.

[StaCT13]

I like the feel of the switches, but it has yet to REALLY grow on me. Right now, I do type lightly, but I have to really get adjusted. But after about 5 hours off typing, it's only feeling better and better...

[enoy21]

I have no idea when I first did it. I go back to the C64 days when I was around 5-6 or so. ( my dad restored it and it actually still works )    I found an old Dell AT101W in hid basement a few weeks ago that uses ALPS.  When I pointed it out to him how popular that board is he kind of lit up and I think has moved it upstairs to his computer.

I got into the new Mechanical stuff about a month or two ago.
I think I randomized onto Geekhack somehow after looking up info on some random keyboard that someone mentioned.
Caught the bug and am now trying to limit to no more Board purchases for a bit. Although I'm considering selling my Blue cherries board to get a red cherry for work when WASD starts offering them.  Ill me moving into  a new office in a few weeks and will have another office directly across a small hall from me. I imagine the blues will get irritating for him.

[hashbaz]

My dad had various IBM computers in the house when I was a kid with what must have been Model M keyboards.  I don't remember them specifically, but I remember being aware later on that the keyboards I was using were not as good as my dad's old ones.

Fast forward two decades to me requesting a Kinesis at work for ergonomic (and cool factor) reasons.  I knew nothing about keyboards, but I knew I liked the Kinesis' sound and feel (it has brown switches).  Keyboard talk in the Starcraft community prompted me to do some basic research and decide on getting something with blue switches at some undefined point in the future.  Further research into dying keys (to achieve MarineKingPrime's checkerboard look) led me to geekhack.

After a weekend of reading threads and seeing everyone's tricked out keyboards I knew I needed to be a part of this community.  I bought a Filco and a Unicomp within a couple of weeks.  This was in July of this year, and I now own way too much keyboard stuff.

My favorite switch is a toss-up between blue and red MX.  I've also spent some time with a borrowed Realforce, and I will definitely be owning one at some point.  Typing on Topre switches is like biting into soft, chewy, delicious chocolate.

[Ascaii]

I learned to type on an old, old apple with the vintage alps goodness. Fast forward to 2010: I read a bit about mechanical keyboards and start looking around if I can find something where I live. I found a place that recycles e-waste and walked out of there with about 85 used cherry and model M keyboards. Im currently using a modded g80-1851 with ergoclears, alternating with a 1390133, a modded Access board with blues, and a white-Alps Datacomp.

[Quarzac]

How did you learn about mechanical keyboards?
How long have this been a hobby of yours?
What was your first mechanical board?
What's your fav board that you own?
How many do you have?

1. I learned about mechanical keyboards when my search for a new, good keyboard brought me to Model Ms almost continuously.

2. I first started looking at them about a year ago. I started with a Model M, and then began to explore Cherry switches in mid-August of this year.

3. My first mechanical board was my IBM Model M.

4. My favorite is currently a toss-up between my Model M and my Black Widow, purely because I like both switches. I'm probably leaning a bit towards the Model M, because now I don't bottom out.

5. Three. One Model M, one Razer Black Widow Ultimate, and one Leopold Tenkeyless Otaku.