Author Topic: famous geekhackers: xsphat on tv (Read 2654 times)

wellington1869 · « **on:** Tue, 08 September 2009, 14:52:07 »

want to see a former geekhacker on tv? :-D
He was interviewed about a blog project he just started:
brokeamerican.wordpress.com

From xsphat:

Hello,
I was interviewed by WSAW channel 7 news about my blog and it is scheduled to run at 5, 6 and 10. Check it out if you get that station, but if you miss it I'll post a link to it on my blog (the link is below). I think I came off well, but we'll see. And remember, the camera adds 10#.

Thanks for all the support, and I hope you keep enjoying my blog.

Thanks,
Dan

--
Dan Newman
Freelance Writer
My blog:
brokeamerican.wordpress.com
Check it out

wellington1869 · « **Reply #1 on:** Tue, 08 September 2009, 14:55:25 »

I figure between xsphat and lowpoly (who I guarantee will be famous), I know two famous geekhackers

Ulysses31 · « **Reply #2 on:** Tue, 08 September 2009, 15:18:40 »

Former geekhacker?

wellington1869 · « **Reply #3 on:** Tue, 08 September 2009, 15:23:25 »

Quote from: Ulysses31;115852

Former geekhacker?

yea, xsphat is a strange case in the annals of geekhacking. He started out on the normal career path of any geekhacker, with one mechanical keyboard, then two, then three, and then up the scale to the hhkb's and topres.

But then something strange and sort of unusual happened, which geekhack sociologists are still scratching their heads about today. He suddenly went in the other direction: devolving, started losing his keyboards, one by one, and eventually wound up with a typewriter!! Then two typewriters, then three. And so on.

Can you imagine?

Now he's kind of a typewriter fanatic and basically stopped coming by to passionately argue the various minor nuances of various mechanical switches as we do (and I mean, what else is there to do? lol) and as he himself used to do for many years. (as his 3500 odd posts show).

So apparently he has no interest in mechanical keyboards anymore

Ie, mechanical computer keyboards anyway!

rdjack21 · « **Reply #4 on:** Tue, 08 September 2009, 15:26:55 »

Yea I don't know why wellington classified him as a former geekhacker he still stops by on occasion. After he found his preferred keyboard (HHKB Pro 2) he has moved on to other things like typewriters and the writing processes.

Ulysses31 · « **Reply #5 on:** Tue, 08 September 2009, 15:33:30 »

So he reached the peripheral "promised land", stayed a few weeks, and then... went home? Well, whatever his reasons I admire his desire to get off that consumerist treadmill; it's quite a liberating feeling to be able to live a frugal life.

wellington1869 · « **Reply #6 on:** Tue, 08 September 2009, 15:35:23 »

Quote from: Ulysses31;115856

So he reached the peripheral "promised land", stayed a few weeks, and then... went home?

lol, pretty much

Quote

Well, whatever his reasons I admire his desire to get of that consumerist treadmill; it's quite a liberating feeling to be able to live a frugal life.

i agree, i'm interested to see how far he gets. In a way his turn to typewriters was a symptom of this general push to simplify on his part, I think. Though I cant imagine using a typewriter anymore to edit stuff, apparently he's thriving.

wellington1869 · « **Reply #7 on:** Tue, 08 September 2009, 16:50:59 »

Quote from: webwit;115858

It's easy to be a minimalist. Billions do it.

lol, I think webwit and xsphat probably miss each other most of all

xsphat · « **Reply #8 on:** Wed, 09 September 2009, 01:31:34 »

Hey there GeekHackers, what's going on? Thank you Welly for posting this, and to continue the tread, here is a link to that news story — complete with some nice HHKB pr0n.

It's the short version of the story, but that's the way it goes.

My new blog is going great — getting a flood of hits (I think humans like to watch fat men suffer) — and I am saving and not eating bad or anything else.

And webwit, I have been living minimalist for years, my blog isn't at all about minimalism.

I'm still on the same HHKB Pro 2, this has to be a record, and I'm sure someone on here knows precisely how long I have used only this keyboard at home. Still have the same IBM M4-1 at work too.

As for typewriters, I still have a few but the two I like the most are in the shop, should be getting them back in a couple weeks, though, and then I'm gonna start my book about this Buy Nothing, stop living Check to Check experience. I'm even going do frugal cookbooks as a spin off.

Anyway, gotta fly for now but I'll check back soon and **** bulls with you cats.

sixty · « **Reply #9 on:** Wed, 09 September 2009, 02:22:47 »

What better thing to do than blogging about being broke on a $300 keyboard!

..that is probably what most people would say. In all honesty though.. loved the article. Probably the only time we are going to see an HHKB along with red esc key and purple wsad keys on TV.

Congratulations on your success, and good luck on your goals!

xsphat · « **Reply #10 on:** Wed, 09 September 2009, 02:44:21 »

Thanks man. I know, everyone around here knows I bought this one before we had a US distro of the Pro2, so all told I ended up paying well over $300 for it. And yeah, that kind of was my thought too. Oh well, at least I don't have multiple $300 keyboards anymore ...

rdjack21 · « **Reply #11 on:** Wed, 09 September 2009, 09:35:52 »

Yea I took over that role after I got your 86U I've added a few more of those $300 keyboards LOL...

wellington1869 · « **Reply #12 on:** Wed, 09 September 2009, 09:38:48 »

Quote from: xsphat;116037

Hey there GeekHackers, what's going on? Thank you Welly for posting this, and to continue the tread, here is a link to that news story — complete with some nice HHKB pr0n.

thanks for the link!

Quote

I think humans like to watch fat men suffer

i'm quite sure that is true, lol

Quote

and I am saving and not eating bad or anything else.

see at this point you're basically a human experiment in some mad scientist's laboratory

Quote

And webwit, I have been living minimalist for years, my blog isn't at all about minimalism.

now dont you two start up again!

Quote

I'm still on the same HHKB Pro 2, this has to be a record, and I'm sure someone on here knows precisely how long I have used only this keyboard at home. Still have the same IBM M4-1 at work too.

i'm waiting for you to convert the hhkb into a typewriter

Quote

As for typewriters, I still have a few but the two I like the most are in the shop, should be getting them back in a couple weeks, though, and then I'm gonna start my book about this Buy Nothing, stop living Check to Check experience. I'm even going do frugal cookbooks as a spin off.

seems to me your experiment was just made to be a primetime reality show

rdjack21 · « **Reply #13 on:** Wed, 09 September 2009, 10:40:59 »

Still using it on top of your laptop keyboard as well I see. I finally got my self a HHKB Pro as well and I can understand how that is the keyboard you settled on. I'll have to keep an eye on your new blog and see how it goes for you but I hope you succeed.

xsphat · « **Reply #14 on:** Wed, 09 September 2009, 10:58:10 »

Thank guys!

lal · « **Reply #15 on:** Wed, 09 September 2009, 11:03:00 »

Quote from: rdjack21;116125

Yea I took over that role after I got your 86U I've added a few more of those $300 keyboards LOL...

Good to see you can still laugh about that

I can, too

xsphat · « **Reply #16 on:** Wed, 09 September 2009, 11:06:53 »

Yeah, I still love me some HHKB Pro2, and I was trying to think of who I sold the Topre too. You still liking the 86U?

rdjack21 · « **Reply #17 on:** Wed, 09 September 2009, 11:22:14 »

Quote from: xsphat;116161

Yeah, I still love me some HHKB Pro2, and I was trying to think of who I sold the Topre too. You still liking the 86U?

The 86U is a nice board and having it allowed me to have one at work. Right now I have it at home so I can clean it and Plasti-dip all the keys. Plasti-dipping the keys give them a little more grip and makes them have a completly different feel. I have had most of the alpha keys done for a while now but I want to do the whole board for a longevity test to see how long the stuff will last. After I'm done with the Plasti-dipping I will be taking it back to work.

AndrewZorn · « **Reply #18 on:** Wed, 09 September 2009, 16:06:02 »

installed flash player just to watch the hhkb madness
did they mention the keyboard or its price during the "full story"?

wellington1869 · « **Reply #19 on:** Wed, 09 September 2009, 16:09:28 »

lol i thought that was pretty funny too; that tv crew prolly had no idea

xsphat · « **Reply #20 on:** Wed, 09 September 2009, 17:23:05 »

Nope, they shot it because it is an attractive keyboard and the way I use it is unique, but aside from that it was just a keyboard to them. I do feel like a bit of poser because the HHKB Pro2 looks as expensive as it is, and it is what I writer Broke American on, but I really am broke (until loans come at least) so I think it's valid.

And how do Americans go broke? by buying $300 flippin' keyboards!

msiegel · « **Reply #21 on:** Wed, 09 September 2009, 17:32:55 »

XD
that video was fantastic

don't worry, no one will ever suspect XD

Rajagra · « **Reply #22 on:** Thu, 10 September 2009, 01:43:51 »

Nothing wrong with spending $300 on something high quality that you enjoy using and will last several years. In fact, isn't that the whole point of spending your money wisely?

BTW, I'm a kindred spirit - I quit my job over 2 years ago and have been living off my savings. It's amazing how long money lasts when you just stop wasting it. Being a wage slave sucks, but we do it to ourselves by buying stupid crap.

Meyvn · « **Reply #23 on:** Thu, 10 September 2009, 01:55:44 »

Have you guys seen/talked about this guy yet? The guy who used a hacked up USB keyboard controller to make a typewriter into a keyboard?

Rajagra · « **Reply #24 on:** Thu, 10 September 2009, 02:06:54 »

Quote from: Meyvn;116478

Have you guys seen/talked about this guy yet? The guy who used a hacked up USB keyboard controller to make a typewriter into a keyboard?

Haha, love the comments:

Feb 2, 2009. 8:19 AMavibank911 says:
how do you solder the wires without burning the PCB??

Jun 14, 2009. 9:30 AMAzayles says:
Use a soldering iron, not a blowtorch.

AndrewZorn · « **Reply #25 on:** Thu, 10 September 2009, 02:56:17 »

Quote from: Rajagra;116476

Nothing wrong with spending $300 on something high quality that you enjoy using and will last several years. In fact, isn't that the whole point of spending your money wisely?

well yeah i was just wondering because of the nature of the article
even if it WAS a bad decision, to him or someone else, it's the bad decisions he is trying to stop. wouldn't be hypocritical if he was on a maximus hooked up to an alienware (ha) and a 52" plasma typing on camera. it might even further demonstrate the point.

JBert · « **Reply #26 on:** Thu, 10 September 2009, 03:07:02 »

Quote from: Meyvn;116478

Have you guys seen/talked about this guy yet? The guy who used a hacked up USB keyboard controller to make a typewriter into a keyboard?

I wouldn't call that a hacked controller, rather he replaced the keyboard matrix with his own set of switches.

Now I'm also an electronics amateur, but gluing wires to a PCB with conductive epoxy - wtf?!?

xsphat · « **Reply #27 on:** Fri, 11 September 2009, 14:54:40 »

Yeah, if you think about the hundreds of thousands of words I've typed on my HHKB, and the fact that I have made enough money on some of those words to buy several new ones just like it, I think it qualifies as a tool I use for what I do, for my art if you will. I bought it to write with, and though I do first drafts on a typewriter, I do all my second drafts, homework, blogging, paid articles and research on the HHKB, so it's price is irrelevant. It's paid for, I use it daily and it has yet to fail me on any level.

wellington1869 · « **Reply #28 on:** Fri, 11 September 2009, 15:14:59 »

Quote from: ripster;117064

You seem..... mellower.

lol I was thinking the same thing.

xsphat · « **Reply #29 on:** Sun, 13 September 2009, 04:09:00 »

Quote from: ripster;117064

It's great to hear from you again Xsphat.

You seem..... mellower.

You calling me mellow?

xsphat · « **Reply #30 on:** Sun, 13 September 2009, 11:45:36 »

so you're calling me -er?

xsphat · « **Reply #31 on:** Sun, 13 September 2009, 11:46:36 »

Jk btw

News:

Author Topic: famous geekhackers: xsphat on tv (Read 2654 times)