Need Recommendation for 3rd, 4th KB

[kfmfe04]

I started with a Filco TKL MX Red swapped out with Ducky PBTs about a couple months ago.

In January, three weeks from now, I have a white blank HHKB Pro-2 incoming and a set of these double-shots from Diatec:
 
http://www.diatec.co.jp/shop/det.php?prod_c=1476

In February/March, the Round 5 Honey Sphericals Deskthority TKL set should be arriving.

http://deskthority.net/marketplace-f11/doubleshot-replacements-round-5-honey-sphericals-t6732.html

So this means, at the very least, I need a 3rd board and I should probably look for a 4th board (can't let these beautiful keycaps go to waste!).

I really like my Filco and will probably like the hhkb.  To avoid disappointment, I'm thinking about going for Filco MX Reds for the 3rd and 4th (maybe a Minila Air for the phones/ipads, a full-size for a change of pace, but I might just go for a 2nd TKL - can't remember the last time I used a keypad).  If I get a Minila Air, I will move these Ducky PBT Ninja keycaps over to the Minila Air (more modern keycaps for the Bluetooth) and use the Diatec and Sphericals for the wired keyboards.

Am I crazy to be stuck on Filco when there are so many other keyboards out there?


Are there some other TKLs I should look into?  Am I buying too fast?!?   )

[Puddsy]

No such thing as too much Filco. If you like it, keep buying it.

Just as a word of warning, the miniLA is super temperamental when it come to caps. It seems to not like anything but what comes on it.

But yeah Filco is great, keep giving them money.

[eth0s]

First of all, I love this post.  Second, I love this response. 

It's true you can't ever get too much Filco.  But, with that said, maybe try something different?  You have a Filco TKL MX red, and an HHKB Pro 2 on the way.  (which means you can actually stop collecting right now, you have the two best keyboards in the world.)  But, to be thorough, maybe try ergodox?  or other ergo-keyboard?  Try Bucking Spring IBM-style keyboard?  Or Alps switches?  Or a Cherry ML switch keyboard? 

In situations like this, I always think of the words of the inimitable Senator Phil Gramm, Republican of Texas, when he said (and I'm paraphrasing a bit):  "I have all the [keyboards] I need, but not all the [keyboards] I want."

[tp4tissue]

LOL n00bs... soon young friends.. soon.. you shall see the light... but not after a few more benjamins in the wrong place...

[eth0s]

LOL n00bs... soon young friends.. soon.. you shall see the light... but not after a few more benjamins in the wrong place...

Show Image

Well, I was in b4 tp4 telling you to try ergodox.  Personally, i don't think they are as great as he does.  But I respect his opinion.  And he really does love the ergodox. 

I just pray that tp4 never gets a Topre, because he will rave about it in every single post, rather than every other post like he does with ergodox.  Our ears will bleed with his incessant praise of Topre.  So it's a good thing, that he doesn't know about the joy of oneness with cup rubber.

[kfmfe04]

No such thing as too much Filco. If you like it, keep buying it.

Just as a word of warning, the miniLA is super temperamental when it come to caps. It seems to not like anything but what comes on it.

But yeah Filco is great, keep giving them money.

Thanks for the warning on the miniLA!

...maybe I should go for a KBTalking Pro for the BT, since I'm going to swap out all the caps anyways.

But two things hold me back - the full-size kb (lack of portability makes it less useful for pads/phones) and the price:  how can it cost as much as a Filco?!?  Hmm...

[tp4tissue]

LOL n00bs... soon young friends.. soon.. you shall see the light... but not after a few more benjamins in the wrong place...

Show Image

Well, I was in b4 tp4 telling you to try ergodox.  Personally, i don't think they are as great as he does.  But I respect his opinion.  And he really does love the ergodox. 

I just pray that tp4 never gets a Topre, because he will rave about it in every single post, rather than every other post like he does with ergodox.  Our ears will bleed with his incessant praise of Topre.  So it's a good thing, that he doesn't know about the joy of oneness with cup rubber.

I've had a topre.. and that's exactly why I dislike topre fanbois..

Most of them don't know much about keyboards, and they really don't have much to compare the board to..

Generally it's a wanking fest between people who are obsessed with reaffirming each other that $300 was well spent.. with NO EVIDENCE or objective description as to WHY....

The $300 usually throw people into an emotional outburst, because the alternative is to say.. Hey guys... I just "WASTED" $300....  and the aversion of which alone.... is enough to sway people into group-think, and joining the Topre bandwagon..

I was completely let down when I first got my 87.. it was NOT the magical journey that the fanbois were raving about...  It was not Much smoother than MX, except when given more extreme angles... of which rarely occur in real-world use.

Quality control.. it may be some what true that they have a slight edge on this vs run-of-the-mill Mx boards, but that primarily correlates to PRICE, and not the design / tech behind topre switches..

And equivalently price MX board generally has the same quality as topre

[kfmfe04]

LOL n00bs... soon young friends.. soon.. you shall see the light... but not after a few more benjamins in the wrong place...

Show Image

Well, I was in b4 tp4 telling you to try ergodox.  Personally, i don't think they are as great as he does.  But I respect his opinion.  And he really does love the ergodox. 

I just pray that tp4 never gets a Topre, because he will rave about it in every single post, rather than every other post like he does with ergodox.  Our ears will bleed with his incessant praise of Topre.  So it's a good thing, that he doesn't know about the joy of oneness with cup rubber.

I almost joined that last Ergodox MassDrop when I came up AcidFire's thread on his piano-like keyboard build.  So for the split-keyboard, I'm definitely waiting for that one.

I should probably buy just one more board and make the split keyboard the 4th...  ...before I run out of money to buy bread and water

[tp4tissue]

LOL n00bs... soon young friends.. soon.. you shall see the light... but not after a few more benjamins in the wrong place...

Show Image

Well, I was in b4 tp4 telling you to try ergodox.  Personally, i don't think they are as great as he does.  But I respect his opinion.  And he really does love the ergodox. 

I just pray that tp4 never gets a Topre, because he will rave about it in every single post, rather than every other post like he does with ergodox.  Our ears will bleed with his incessant praise of Topre.  So it's a good thing, that he doesn't know about the joy of oneness with cup rubber.

I almost joined that last Ergodox MassDrop when I came up AcidFire's thread on his piano-like keyboard build.  So for the split-keyboard, I'm definitely waiting for that one.

I should probably buy just one more board and make the split keyboard the 4th...  ...before I run out of money to buy bread and water

If you're at all close to running out of money to buy bread/ butter/ water... you should stop immediately...

[tuxsavvy]

To each their own really when it comes to Topre board. No two people were born the same therefore no two people would share the exact same thoughts constantly.

There are those who highly regards things made by certain countries like for instance people often say when it comes to chocolates the best ones are made in Belgium. There are those who pay for certain things to hopefully ensure such company retains true to its form, that is you get products that says it was made in the same country as where you are - perhaps as an act of patriotism. I am sure there are a few more other reasons as to why people can prefer to pay more for certain things but hey at the end of the day it really is their own wallet not yours. Just as there are so many keyboards out there with various designs, switches, capabilities and all are really out there to target their own set of market.

Back to what OP is saying here, there is nothing wrong with sticking to one brand if you are comfortable with the quality of their products. For me I personally would much prefer to try as much different keyboard switches as I can rather than trying to stick with one constantly., Sticking with one when I have not tried other switches is kind of like benefitting that company the most when there are more varieties out there that one could probably throw their money at and try something new for a change. That said, it is easy to stick to one sort of brand and switch and not try something new. Constantly whenever I type on my HHKB and hearing how people keep talking about how cool the Pro2 (English layout) is and all, it is hard for me to maintain focus on attaining my own personal set of goal (which was to try as much different keyboards as I can). Sure another HHKB is nice for instance but I would then be more biased to HHKB and more so Topre based.

Again out of my own personal perception, if I personally have not tried other switches I can only imagine what other keyboards would feel like to type with. When it comes to discussions (such as in the cases of Cherry MX comparisons) I would be left out because I do not have much of a clue on the said topic apart from hearing lots of people saying X, Y or Z. If I personally have budget for more keyboards I would personally try "jumping ships", switching to a completely different keyboard and then keep rotating amongst all usable mechanical (or part mechanical) keyboards that I have.