How to stop buying more keyboards?!

[shredzy]

Decided to actually post on this forum for once, been lurking for sometime!

Just need some advice on how to drop this dam hobby...I haven't been hooked on anything like this! It chews up $$$$ even though I sell the keyboard I'm replacing (lose about $50-60 every keyboard I replace)

I cannot decide which cherry switch I like....whenever I have a new keyboard incoming, I'm just hoping its going to be 'just right'....still haven't decided!

Here's a list of what I've gone through:

Razer ultimate blackwidow w/ blues
Filco majestouch 2 w/ browns
Filco majestouch ninja w/ browns
Ducky shine DK9008 w/ blacks
Ducky shine DK9008 w/ reds
Filco multicam majestouch 2 tenkeyless w/ blues
Filco majestouch 2 w/ reds
Current - Ducky DK9008 v2 w/ browns

I'm not that much of a typer, mainly play FPS games and do a little typing. What got me hooked on mechanical keyboards is the feel and sound they make, so I eventually had to try all of them hoping I could make some decision. I cannot decide between blue / red / brown (really dislike the blacks), I now really want to give the blues another shot because I really haven't gave them a real go...only thing from stopping me is the constant money pit I have formed.

So, how did you drop this *money pit* hobby? 

[Matt3o]

Razer ultimate blackwidow w/ blues
Filco majestouch 2 w/ browns
Filco majestouch ninja w/ browns
Ducky shine DK9008 w/ blacks
Ducky shine DK9008 w/ reds
Filco multicam majestouch 2 tenkeyless w/ blues
Filco majestouch 2 w/ reds
Current - Ducky DK9008 v2 w/ browns

and you have to try topre and alps switches yet

So, how did you drop this *money pit* hobby? 

you are asking the wrong people I believe... dunno try with sex

welcome aboard!

[The_Beast]

Don't forget about buckling springs

[boost]

I tired to stop buying kbs but then I got the Korean kb fever and it went down hill from there.

[perragnar]

I don't think there is a way. :/ Sometimes I get an urge to sell all my mech keyboards and settle with a cheap rubberdome and just use it until it breaks. I'm afraid I will feel empty though.

[shredzy]

Razer ultimate blackwidow w/ blues
Filco majestouch 2 w/ browns
Filco majestouch ninja w/ browns
Ducky shine DK9008 w/ blacks
Ducky shine DK9008 w/ reds
Filco multicam majestouch 2 tenkeyless w/ blues
Filco majestouch 2 w/ reds
Current - Ducky DK9008 v2 w/ browns

and you have to try topre and alps switches yet

So, how did you drop this *money pit* hobby? 

you are asking the wrong people I believe... dunno try with sex

welcome aboard!

I would love to give a topre a shot but they're $270 in Australia....I really cannot see myself spending $270 on it

Also, cannot find anywhere to buy buckling springs kbs in Australia, oh why you have such little choice Aus

[The_Beast]

I've seen tons of BS in Aus, check DT maybe?

[shredzy]

I've seen tons of BS in Aus, check DT maybe?

Sorry but I don't know what you mean by DT? Where abouts have you seen the buckling springs in Aus? Checked all the major online pc stores which sell mechanical keyboards, no go

[Computer-Lab in Basement]

DT = http://deskthority.net/

[dorkvader]

I've seen tons of BS in Aus, check DT maybe?

Sorry but I don't know what you mean by DT? Where abouts have you seen the buckling springs in Aus? Checked all the major online pc stores which sell mechanical keyboards, no go

He means Deskthority, a different keyboard forum.

Buckling spring keyboards are only new from Unicomp. Do they have distribution in AUS? Most people get used IBM Model M keyboards.

They are on ebay.com.au sometimes. I don't know if I'd pay $100AUD for one, though.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/IBM-Model-M-Keyboard-/160884057481?pt=AU_Input_Peripherals&hash=item25756fe589

[Matt3o]

I just missed a Model M SSK on ebay... it went unsold and I forgot to place my bid (it was at €90).

[shredzy]

Ah I see, thanks guys <3

[funkymeeba]

Or another - and the worst offender: convincing yourself that the "perfect" switch is out there.  I'm sorry, but it doesn't exist.  There will always be something to nitpick.  As long as the keyboard is quiet enough for your situation - and critically important - is comfortable enough for your hands; this is all that is important.

I disagree! I have already found the perfect switch in the form of MX Clears. Well, maybe it's not perfect, but it's beautiful to type on, just the same.

For me, the only reason to get new keyboard at this point is to have good input devices on every machine (my Windows machine has been relocated to a new room and is stuck with a Taiwanese Dell QuietKey right now), or to try something funky and new. I am not a collector.

[shredzy]

I've wasted over $800USD buying/selling over 30 keyboards in a one year period; and I'm neither happy nor proud about that.

One wrong reason to buy keyboards is to impress others.  This sounds obvious but sometimes I had thought "wow - I have keyboard XYZ, and it's pretty rare - wow that will look great in my GH signature!  It will make me look like a real connoisseur!"

On the other end of the spectrum - it's almost sometimes like Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging):  You try to create a mental portrait of a really unique set of keyboards - the perfect picture; so you go on your buying spree.  The problem is - that mental image never sticks around because life goes on or you evolve.

Or another - and the worst offender: convincing yourself that the "perfect" switch is out there.  I'm sorry, but it doesn't exist.  There will always be something to nitpick.  As long as the keyboard is quiet enough for your situation - and critically important - is comfortable enough for your hands; this is all that is important.

So do I still buy new keyboards?  Not as often as I used to.  I want to try a NIB Cherry SPAUS, but if I can't find one its not a big deal.  I want to buy a Matias TP4 but I'm not going to obsess about it like I have.  I'm pretty much done with anything Cherry unless CM Storm comes out with a Cherry MX Green board.  And I was never really into buckling springs.

Instead I'm going to spend more time with my aging parents who won't be around forever.

Fair enough! I'm not trying to impress anyone with what keyboard I have and how many I've owned, I'm still trying to find that switch which stands out after certain periods of times spent on them. Keep thinking to myself 'what if' I had tried this for a little longer while 'doing this' with this switch. Something that stands out for the blue switch to me is the lovely sound it makes and its light feeling, starting to feel browns aren't my type...only reason is I always think that when I use a keyboard for awhile!

I haven't had this brown switch for long but its already clicked to me that it isn't one of my favorite after using it 3 times. Its very limited here with switches, can only get access to Blue / Brown / Black / Red switch, would love to try Clear.

EDIT: By 3 times I mean I've had 3 different brown switch keyboards.

[funkymeeba]

I disagree! I have already found the perfect switch in the form of MX Clears. Well, maybe it's not perfect, but it's beautiful to type on, just the same.

You just proved my point for me

What kind of magic are you pulling with the post I quoted showing up ABOVE my post!?

To be fair, I can't imagine another switch being better for me at work than the clears are. At home, I love my blues. They make games so satisfying for me.

I do need to try some MX Greens sometime, but I have a feeling that such an occasion is a long way off. I'm tempted to get one of the new Matias boards. It'll be nice to try something different.

[Delsorbo]

Same boat as you. Within the last week, I have purchased
CM Quickfire Rapid with MX red
metadot das with brown
going to pick up a steelseries 6g to test out the blacks.

Here's my findings for what I require and what I plan to achieve.
- red's feel great very smooth and for fps the motion is very fluid, but sometimes I accidently hit the wrong key when placing my fingers on the keyboard.
- browns are amazing to type with. I really feel like I know what my fingers are hitting but it feels like there's something stuck on the keys when I am typing slow or if I am just jamming one button at a moderate speed (do this alot when scrolling through photos) Also for gaming sometimes it feels like there's something stuck under the key if you keep pressing a button over and over.

I think the black's will be what I am going to settle with and will settle with a blank 10keyless. gl

[swagpiratex]

Just tell yourself that you will never have more than three keyboards. If you can't adhere to that, then you're SOL. What I did was go to an electronics store carrying a lot of the different kinds of keys, and tested them all out. Then I bought the switch that I liked the best, and now thinking about getting a unicomp, and maybe a HHKB in the future to satisfy my desire for topre. After I get a set of keys that I like for my cherries, then that's it. I'm out of the game, lol.

[FoxWolf1]

How to drop the hobby? Run out of money.

Personally, my strategy is to give up and acknowledge that there are some things I won't be able to stop myself from buying eventually, but to try and delay each purchase as long as possible so that I can afford it. Well, kind of, anyway.

[longweight]

Turn to Topre.

It is the only way.

[Wildcard]

How to drop the hobby? Run out of money.

Personally, my strategy is to give up and acknowledge that there are some things I won't be able to stop myself from buying eventually, but to try and delay each purchase as long as possible so that I can afford it. Well, kind of, anyway.

^ this

I really need to stop at some point, but I've been slowing down in the mean time

[jkercado]

Be practical, pragmatic. What do you really like? Sell a few, buy another type of switch, give it a try. When you've exhausted all the different switch and layout types (within reason), choose your favorite, and get two of those (one for home, one for the office).

That's it.

In my case, I realized in the end that my preference lies in buckling springs. So I have an Unicomp at the office and a Model M at home. Sold everything else except for a couple cheapies that I kinda dig (IBM M4, IBM M2 non-BS, Cherry G84-4100).

Happy as can be now.

[Neo.X]

I will stop when I get HHKB Pro2 and Realforce 10th anniversery all 55G. 

[Appeac]

I will stop when I own one of every switch type.

[Pretendo]

You may stop when you are perfectly satisfied with the keyboard that you own.  Just like audiophiles may stop buying audio equipment once they find a system that perfectly replicates music

[ekw808]

Learn to ignore the cheap keyboards and hunt for the holy grail.

[WhiteFireDragon]

OP, you only listed keyboards. Have you burned money getting caps too?

[sth]

Learn to ignore the cheap keyboards and hunt for the holy grail.

seriously, a million times this. you'll spend just as much money, have fewer keyboards and fewer customization options,  but you won't WANT to customize as much.
topre and vintage stuff is where it's at. topre for the 'it's gonna work and i want to use it all the time' board and vintage to satisfy your collecting habits.

[sth]

You may stop when you are perfectly satisfied with the keyboard that you own.  Just like audiophiles may stop buying audio equipment once they find a system that perfectly replicates music

live music? so we should all replace our keyboards with magnetized needles to flip bits on hard drives to replicate text.

in fact just buy a pen and stop typing if you really want that 'pure' experience.

better yet only communicate verbally.

[hoggy]

Start specialising.  Once you've gone through almost everything and what's left is rare, expensive and you can't use it at work... you'll probably start to slow down.

I wish you luck.

[IvanIvanovich]

Which is what I have come to now. I only care about very specific vintage Cherry keyboards now. These are hard to find and hardly ever come available so I have slowed way way down. I found my perfect everyday board in my Poker with reds so I don't need to buy any thing else. Sure sometimes something new looks interesting, but I know I would just want to resell it in days so I use self control and don't buy it.

[Appeac]

When you start buying keyboards as holders for your extra keycap sets, that's when you know you have a problem.

[IvanIvanovich]

Well... I guess it is more convienient that exchanging keycaps, just switch the keyboard!

[G.C.W.]

My plan is to keep 1 hhkb, 1 topre 45g, 1 ibm ssk, and 1 poker (where i can modify the switches the way i like it).

[Wildcard]

I will stop when I get HHKB Pro2 and Realforce 10th anniversery all 55G. 

Sorry bud, the HHKB Pro2 doesn't come in a 55G. Or is this your unicorn board?

[AKIMbO]

Quitting buying keyboards is easy.  I've done it a millions times.

[MissMurd3r84]

Issue one: Signing up to GH
Issue two: Browsing pictures of others keyboards.
Issue three: Checking out classifieds and group buys.
Issue four: Having money in PP account.
Issue five to ten: Still being on GH

[suprsmo]

Razer ultimate blackwidow w/ blues
Filco majestouch 2 w/ browns
Filco majestouch ninja w/ browns
Ducky shine DK9008 w/ blacks
Ducky shine DK9008 w/ reds
Filco multicam majestouch 2 tenkeyless w/ blues
Filco majestouch 2 w/ reds
Current - Ducky DK9008 v2 w/ browns

and you have to try topre and alps switches yet

So, how did you drop this *money pit* hobby? 

you are asking the wrong people I believe... dunno try with sex

welcome aboard!

I would love to give a topre a shot but they're $270 in Australia....I really cannot see myself spending $270 on it

Also, cannot find anywhere to buy buckling springs kbs in Australia, oh why you have such little choice Aus

Hey buddy!

Am a fellow aussie who is selling a topre!

Never fear, your chance at a far cheaper TOPRE is here!

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=35623.0

[suprsmo]

^^ also, Lol @ Akimbo and MsMurder!

[486]

Get an SSK. Should solve most of your KB buying issues.  SSK's will usually pop up on eBay Aus, you just have to be patience. They usually go for $190+

[MissMurd3r84]

^^ also, Lol @ Akimbo and MsMurder!

Guess what!! PCCG just shipped me a new keyboard  Clearly speaking from personal experience about how bad these forums are  ) So many things *drool*

[furosuto81]

Ducky shine DK9008 w/ blacks
Ducky shine DK9008 w/ reds

Do you still have either of these? What color LEDs were they?

[rowdy]

^^ also, Lol @ Akimbo and MsMurder!

Guess what!! PCCG just shipped me a new keyboard  Clearly speaking from personal experience about how bad these forums are  ) So many things *drool*

Just like that?  Out of the blue??

Wish they would just ship me one like that.  Usually they insist that I place an order and send them some money first

[MissMurd3r84]

^^ also, Lol @ Akimbo and MsMurder!

Guess what!! PCCG just shipped me a new keyboard  Clearly speaking from personal experience about how bad these forums are  ) So many things *drool*

Just like that?  Out of the blue??

Wish they would just ship me one like that.  Usually they insist that I place an order and send them some money first

Lmao.. If only. They took $133 off me.. tried to add a keypuller with my keyboard, but it made shipping about $10 dearer :\ checked price to ship $6 key puller alone.. $13... :\

[mbc]

This thread is ridiculous

[ontherx]

Issue one: Signing up to GH
Issue two: Browsing pictures of others keyboards.
Issue three: Checking out classifieds and group buys.
Issue four: Having money in PP account.
Issue five to ten: Still being on GH

I've been here for all of 3 days and I've progressed through all of these already. Rup ro.

[Computer-Lab in Basement]

Welp, you're wallet is officially SCREWED!!!!

[thegunner100]

It's not that hard to stop buying keyboards once you've tried out the popular switches and then settle on one, which was 55g topre for me. Or you can go down a dark path into the audiophile world >~<.

[aeta]

You can stop buying keyboards by paying me

[mkawa]

spend all your money on keycaps instead!

DONE

[daerid]

Turn to Topre.

Truth. My Cherry boards haven't seen use in a looooooooong time since I got my Topres