Does this keyboard exist?

[furry_angina]

This will be my first mechanical keyboard, but this is not your typical 'which keyboard should i get' post.  I know exactly what I want, but I don't know if it exists and I was wondering if any of you more enlightened geekhackers can point me to the right direction of my perfect keyboard.

For use:

Coding - (10+ hrs/day)
Gaming RTS/MMO - (15 hrs/week)

In order of importance of features:

1) Tenkeyless ANSI layout like Filco/Leopold
2) 1-2 USB pass through/hub like Happy Hackers Pro2
3) Cherry Brown or Clear, or Topre switches
4) Modability for when I want Ergo Clears (can pop out switches vs soldering, etc)
5) Mac/PC compatible
6) Less than $300 USD


Thank you

[trievalot]

i can see you are new
you will simply buy 15 keyboards that will each do some of your required function, unless you LEAVE NOW!

[furry_angina]

It's too late for that... I've gone in the rabbit hole.

[trievalot]

im so sorry. it  gets easier I'm told
love your avatar btw

[trievalot]

if you want mac, have you tried the matias tactile pro?

[furry_angina]

Why can't they just make a White Filco with a USB hub, Clear switches, and PBT ninja keycaps ? WHY?!  

Maybe I'll just settle for a Leopold Tenkeyless Tactile Force and get a USB hub with a bag of blank PBT's. I think I just answered my own question...or would ABS be good with clears... arggh.

And thanks

[byFd]

you could mode a usb hub into an existing board

[trievalot]

hhkb changed my life

[furry_angina]

im so sorry. it  gets easier I'm told
love your avatar btw

I develop on a Mac, but I'm on Windows for gaming.  I've seen that keyboard around and it reminds me of the old school iMac keyboards lol.  I really like the tenkeyless simplicity.  I really want the Leopold Clears, but EK says that it's not recommended for first time buyers.  I've tried blues/reds/browns/blacks, so by deduction, I know I'll prefer Clears.

[furry_angina]

you could mode a usb hub into an existing board

Yeah I'm not that adept with modding small peripherals.  I'd probably just end up burning my fingers lol... a Doctor Who USB hub should do it.

[trievalot]

tried topre?

[furry_angina]

I was |----this----| close to springing for a HHKB last night, but noticed that the layout is 'missing' the windows key?  And no, I haven't tried Topre, but I'm 80% sure I'll like it.  I can just buy it to try it, and then sell it here if anything...

[trievalot]

if you want to try the layout get a HHKB Lite, get on ebay for around $20
crap domes but gives you the idea

[Tarkoon]

A Phantom with selfmade case would fullfill all your wishes! =)
Mine will get an integrated (powered) USB hub...

[pyro]

These are the windows keys: ♦
[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 39713[/ATTACH]
Right next to the space bar.

Dont' buy a lite, they're crap.

[furry_angina]

I'm not entirely sure how the DIP switches work, but do you have to fiddle with them each time you change OS platforms, or is it auto once you set them?

Also, I think trievalot suggested the Lite for me to test drive the layout.

I feel like buying Topre before Cherry is sort of cheating... Is this a douche move? Please confirm.

[laffindude]

If you only want the smaller size of tenkeyless, you can try a G80-1865.

[forcefollow]

I'm not entirely sure how the DIP switches work, but do you have to fiddle with them each time you change OS platforms, or is it auto once you set them?

Also, I think trievalot suggested the Lite for me to test drive the layout.

I feel like buying Topre before Cherry is sort of cheating... Is this a douche move? Please confirm.

simply said, DIP switches configures your keyboard (unless you're referring to other electronics) at hardware level. In the topre keyboards, they configure which switches reads as which

and no, it's definitely NOT cheating to get topre prior to other kinds of switches.
It's all go back to your preference and taste. I have several realforces and a HHKB as well as almost all kinds of cherry mx's (minus the rarer ones they listed in wiki), yet I still found none exactly what I'd like to feel. Some are close enough, but not perfect.
Again, none are.. so the addiction begins

[furry_angina]

simply said, DIP switches configures your keyboard (unless you're referring to other electronics) at hardware level. In the topre keyboards, they configure which switches reads as which

heheh I figured that much, but I'm not sure if it's annoying to have to flick the switches every time I change computers (which would be quite often).

Again, none are.. so the addiction begins

I'm barely knee deep into this, and I already have 3 keyboards lined up that I want to get haha....

[boli]

heheh I figured that much, but I'm not sure if it's annoying to have to flick the switches every time I change computers (which would be quite often).

If all the dip switch does is swap Ctrl with Win/Command it's no problem, because you can easily swap them via software in one of your two OS. So my keyboard is set to Mac mode, because that's where I use it most. In Windows I used SharpKeys to swap Ctrl with Command, and that was it - works like a charm in both OS, no changes to dip switches or firmware mode needed.

[rustybarnacle]

This will be my first mechanical keyboard, but this is not your typical 'which keyboard should i get' post.  I know exactly what I want, but I don't know if it exists and I was wondering if any of you more enlightened geekhackers can point me to the right direction of my perfect keyboard.

For use:

Coding - (10+ hrs/day)
Gaming RTS/MMO - (15 hrs/week)

In order of importance of features:

1) Tenkeyless ANSI layout like Filco/Leopold
2) 1-2 USB pass through/hub like Happy Hackers Pro2
3) Cherry Brown or Clear, or Topre switches
4) Modability for when I want Ergo Clears (can pop out switches vs soldering, etc)
5) Mac/PC compatible
6) Less than $300 USD


Thank you

Really, the only thing you're asking for that's a bit tricky is the USB ports.  If you can live without those, you have any number of choices.

[furry_angina]

If all the dip switch does is swap Ctrl with Win/Command it's no problem, because you can easily swap them via software in one of your two OS. So my keyboard is set to Mac mode, because that's where I use it most. In Windows I used SharpKeys to swap Ctrl with Command, and that was it - works like a charm in both OS, no changes to dip switches or firmware mode needed.

Thanks, this helps a lot!

Really, the only thing you're asking for that's a bit tricky is the USB ports

Yes, precisely.  I'm waiting for my friend's HHKP to get here to see if I like it, then I shall purchase my own  Otherwise, I'm going Leopold Clears or Filco Browns.

[sordna]

This will be my first mechanical keyboard, but this is not your typical 'which keyboard should i get' post.  I know exactly what I want, but I don't know if it exists and I was wondering if any of you more enlightened geekhackers can point me to the right direction of my perfect keyboard.

For use:

Coding - (10+ hrs/day)
Gaming RTS/MMO - (15 hrs/week)

In order of importance of features:

1) Tenkeyless ANSI layout like Filco/Leopold
2) 1-2 USB pass through/hub like Happy Hackers Pro2
3) Cherry Brown or Clear, or Topre switches
4) Modability for when I want Ergo Clears (can pop out switches vs soldering, etc)
5) Mac/PC compatible
6) Less than $300 USD

I think a Kinesis Advantage (retails at $269 with free shipping) fits the bill on all points except it does #4 partially (it's not trivial to swap switches or stems in the main keyboard area, but you can do it in the thumb area.) This board is generally very mod friendly and excellent for coding, in my experience.