removable USB or fixed in place?

[Novus]

What do you guys prefer?

Removable USB or fixed?
Have you ever broken had a removeable USB break on you?

[esoomenona]

Removable. I think a good amount of people here move keyboards around frequently, whether that be for travel, visiting places, home/work, swapping them out for others, what have you. Just facilitates the ease to do so.

And never had anything break.

[usno_oj]

Removable!
Its always good to have the option even if you don't frequently carry your keyboard with you.

[esoomenona]

Removable!
Its always good to have the option even if you don't frequently carry your keyboard with you.

Mhm. You could just as easily never remove it and call it fixed.

[katushkin]

I think you always run the risk when you have a fixed connection that you will ruin the connection within the cable that you can't see when you move it around.

[Sent]

Removable.  Although, I probably need to get a new cable.  Current one is a bit damaged.

[Touch_It]

I only own keyboards that have ps/2 5 pin din connections atm sans unusable RD keyboards.  Tried to type on one the other day and it was terrible.  With that being said removable would be my choice.

[rowdy]

All of my modern mechs but one (Model M) have removable cables, although I usually keep the right cable with the right keyboard and don't unplug them anyway.

The only two I really ever unplug is my other Model M (SDL to USB cable) and my HHKB (to take it outside for a photo shoot).  Those two have readily accessible sockets on the back - the rest have the socket recessed into a channel under the keyboard and I worry that too much unplugging will damage the socket, something that I have seen a lot of around here.

[ezrahilyer]

Removable. You can always replace the cable, and in my experience the cable is more likely to be damaged than the connector at the back of the keyboard. (purely subjective of course)

I have modded 3 IBM Model M's with soarers Firmware, and I have used this: https://www.adafruit.com/products/907 mounted to the rear of the case, so that I can make the cable detachable.
I think it is well worth it.

-Ezra

[paicrai]

blünts

[FrostyToast]

I like having removable cables just so that I can have some bling to put on

[absyrd]

Removable. I'm a switch-switch-hitter.

[PointyFox]

Wireless.

[Grim Fandango]

Removable is nice. But I do not really use it.

I typically have keyboards just in a fixed place.

[fohat.digs]

I am swimming upstream and telling everybody that I hate removable cables.

Old-school philosophy says that anything that can break, will break. Beyond that, mini-USB plugs are particularly susceptible to damage.

Although I am very careful with many things such as electrical connectors, the other members of my family are not. Socket/plug failures are one of the most common failures around here.

Give me a good strong cable with proper grommets and strain relief every time.

[Sagii]

Removable by far. As many others have already stated; even if you don't really have much use for the removable cable, it's still nice to have. Might as well treat it as a fixed one if you want, but it can also work as a removable one. Win/win situation

[davkol]

You-know-who doesn't like removable cables. I see his point about the quality of connectors and wonder why microUSB isn't already standard in this market as well… it's probably because the loudest microUSB haters have zero idea about statistics.

[Oobly]

Removable, but not recessed the way Ducky does it so you have to insert it at an angle. I'm okay with MiniUSB, but would prefer MicroUSB or full size since they're both certified for many more insertions / removals than MiniUSB.

[davkol]

microUSB 10k cycles (and the most strained part is male/cable)
miniUSB 5k cycles
full-size USB 1.5k cycles

[rowdy]

Removable, but not recessed the way Ducky does it so you have to insert it at an angle. I'm okay with MiniUSB, but would prefer MicroUSB or full size since they're both certified for many more insertions / removals than MiniUSB.

This.  Same for CM with QFR/QFS.  I feel that the socket will break if I keep trying to get the plug in at an angle, and it rarely goes in first try (not that I remove the cable from these very often).  At least KeyCool 87 has a kind of plastic thing that squeezes into place around the cable when it is plugged in and holds it steady.  It still has a recessed socket though.

[Oobly]

microUSB 10k cycles (and the most strained part is male/cable)
miniUSB 5k cycles
full-size USB 1.5k cycles

Oh wow. Really? Thought full size was more resilient than that. Anyway, Micro USB FTW!

I unplug my KBT Pure that I use at work and take it home every day, so I like the positioning of the MiniUSB on it and use that socket a lot more than the full size on the end of the cable.

At least the CMStorm Rapid-i uses a MicroUSB connector. L-shaped end on the cable, too. 

[Bill_565]

Removable with MicroUSB is the way to go. Apart from the mobility benefit, it allows you to customize your keyboard even more. There are some very interesting USB cables for keyboards out there.

[Hypersphere]

Removeable (detachable). I test different keyboards and rotate among the boards in my collection. I keep several cables connected to a hub with the loose ends behind a KM switch on my desk.

Among my favorite keyboards are two RF 87ub (55g and 45g), which do not have detachable cables. I am considering modding them to install case-mounted micro-USB connectors.

My first refurbishing project was an IBM XT keyboard, and I installed a USB-B case-mounted receptacle so that I could have a detachable cable. I also have IBM SSKs that came with detachable SDL to PS/2 cables, which I replaced with SDL to USB cables.

A potential problem with keyboards having receptacles for detachable cables, especially mini-USB, is that with repeated use, the connector itself can break or its internal connections can break. Supposedly the lifetime of micro-USB connectors is longer than that of mini-USB connectors, and providing an internal strain-relief cable can help prevent breakage of internal connections.

[_PixelNinja]

I prefer removable Micro USB cables since it makes things easier to switch keyboards around.

[JinDesu]

I prefer removable for two reasons:

1) The keyboard can get a better fitting bag.
2) When I need to take my keyboard off my desk to clean or something, I don't need to reach into the back to remove the USB cable.

That being said, I had a Razer Blackwidow TKL with removable USB that would disconnect itself whenever I shifted it. So when badly implemented, a removable cable is a liability.