Mechanical Keyboard Summer Survey Results [Infographic]

[MajorMajor]

Results link.

Raw results data.

[Data]

Nice 

Great job on the infographic too.

[Air tree]

Very nice, needs more topre. The public must learn!

[PrinsPils]

Nice graphic! well done

[temporal]

wow! nice looking graphic 

surprised how popular browns are, where my topre-bros at??

hmm and after tallying up my related expenses, kind of want a distribution on the mkb spending...

[chyros]

Wow, really nicely done! The presentation is really attractive, and looks really cool! I'd have colour-coded the layers on the pyramid charts (it doesn't say which is which) but otherwise great work .

Have to say I'm a bit disappointed (though not surprised) about what things the community favours, though xD . Especially the "most important feature: Cherry" bit xD .

[fohat.digs]

I would like to see a chart on how many of the respondents came from reddit.

I suspect that a GH or DT survey would look very different.

[nubbinator]

I would like to see a chart on how many of the respondents came from reddit.

I suspect that a GH or DT survey would look very different.

My thoughts exactly.

[jerue]

Glad to see 40 others agree with me about DasKeyboard 

Also, wow, I am WAY above average and median for $$$ spent. This forum man. Wallethack. I totally know what I'm doing though.

[chyros]

I would like to see a chart on how many of the respondents came from reddit.

I suspect that a GH or DT survey would look very different.

Haha, yeah, good point xD .

[MajorMajor]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I suspect many more came from reddit than gh, though I did post it both places.

It looks like Topre was the 2nd most popular switch among people who listed geekhack as their favorite community, with Cherry MX Clears being the favorite.

[Binge]

Show Image

Results link.

Raw results data.

7% approval rating! YESS.  Please run a survey again soon :)

[asdfjkl36]

Yea, I was wondering why my responses didn't end up in any of the tips choices for any question.

So I guess reddit took over this one


At least most know the right way to have your spacebars

[darkspider]

Good job! This result is well-summarized and described graphically.
I got surprised to hear that many people prefer tenkeyless and 60% layout to full.
BTW, is it allowed to refer this data at any place?

[rf87]

It seems a little surprising that Realforce is nowhere to be seen.

[MajorMajor]

It seems a little surprising that Realforce is nowhere to be seen.

There were Realforce responses if you look at the raw data, just not enough to bust into the top of the lists. I think if you combined Topre 45g and 55g, they would have been in the top 3 on one of the switch questions.

[rf87]

It seems a little surprising that Realforce is nowhere to be seen.

There were Realforce responses if you look at the raw data, just not enough to bust into the top of the lists. I think if you combined Topre 45g and 55g, they would have been in the top 3 on one of the switch questions.

Thank you for that information. That makes much more sense.

[rowdy]

How did I miss this?!?

Nice result for Bro Caps!  Surprising he has such a lead over CC.

[SamirD]

Very cool info!  I guess my hunch was right about most GHrs going tkl or something smaller.

[hwood34]

How did I miss this?!?

Nice result for Bro Caps!  Surprising he has such a lead over CC.

And rip no KBK/KWK

[byker]

How did I miss this?!?

Nice result for Bro Caps!  Surprising he has such a lead over CC.

Probably due to how Bro Caps is a lot more involved in the reddit community now, and has held sales recently! Compared to clacks which have mainly been selling aftermarket.

[Belfong]

How did I miss this?!?

Nice result for Bro Caps!  Surprising he has such a lead over CC.

I missed this survey too!

[blueangel2323]

A couple surprises here, as a newcomer to these forums. Firstly, MX Clears are a lot more popular than I expected. I thought they were underrated, even though I think they're undoubtedly the best non-clicky Cherry switch. Also, the average person here spends over $400 on keyboards!?

[Dongulator]

How did I miss this?!?

Nice result for Bro Caps!  Surprising he has such a lead over CC.

I missed this survey too!

Missed the survey too. Cant believe the % Bro over CC, hopefully CC gets back in it. All in all, thanks for the infographic.

[SamirD]

Also, the average person here spends over $400 on keyboards!?

It's amazing how much people spend on their passion.  On my car enthusiast site, the average user spends $1000/yr on car stuff.  Multiply that times the conservative number of 50,000 people in the whole market and that's $50,000,000 a year being spent. 

[blueangel2323]

Also, the average person here spends over $400 on keyboards!?

It's amazing how much people spend on their passion.  On my car enthusiast site, the average user spends $1000/yr on car stuff.  Multiply that times the conservative number of 50,000 people in the whole market and that's $50,000,000 a year being spent. 

Cars are expensive by nature though. The average car costs $30k. Even the most expensive keyboard costs a fraction of that. The average person on GH spending over $400 on keyboards in the past year alone (which could mean spending that much year after year) is quite incredible.

[fohat.digs]

I remember this survey.

All Cherry, all the time.

I would like to see the Geekhack- or Deskthority-only versions.

[SamirD]

Cars are expensive by nature though. The average car costs $30k. Even the most expensive keyboard costs a fraction of that. The average person on GH spending over $400 on keyboards in the past year alone (which could mean spending that much year after year) is quite incredible.

I agree, but expensive is a relative term though.  $1000 in parts for a $30k car is only 1/30th the investment.  Now, $400/yr in keyboards is about 1/5-1/2 of what most people invest in the entire computer over multiple years.  Relatively speaking, it's expensive too.

My point was that people will spend on their hobby, whether it's fountain pens, computer keyboards, cars, hello kitty, or old stamps.  Thanks to the Internet though, we're able to get together and share the hobby more easily.

[njbair]

This is cool. It's amazing to me, though, that based on the forums I visit and the threads I read, I had such a totally different impression about what people liked.

I honestly thought MX Clears would have been #1.

[Macsmasher]

I understand Topre isn't a well known switch outside of GH and a few other forums, so I wasn't surprised that Realforce wasn't listed in the top 10. However, I was surprised to see Happy Hacking in the list. Interesting...

[SamirD]

I honestly thought MX Clears would have been #1.

I would have thought that too.  Surprises me how many people use the blues since I've read more on blacks and reds being favorites.

[chyros]

There definitely needs to be a GH and DT version of this. Preferably separate. I think that'd be very interesting actually .

[njbair]

There definitely needs to be a GH and DT version of this. Preferably separate. I think that'd be very interesting actually .

Definitely. Or one infographic comparing separate surveys of each site.

[blueangel2323]

I remember this survey.

All Cherry, all the time.

I would like to see the Geekhack- or Deskthority-only versions.

What is the relationship between GH and DT, if any? What are the differences? More Canadians here on GH?

Cars are expensive by nature though. The average car costs $30k. Even the most expensive keyboard costs a fraction of that. The average person on GH spending over $400 on keyboards in the past year alone (which could mean spending that much year after year) is quite incredible.

I agree, but expensive is a relative term though.  $1000 in parts for a $30k car is only 1/30th the investment.  Now, $400/yr in keyboards is about 1/5-1/2 of what most people invest in the entire computer over multiple years.  Relatively speaking, it's expensive too.

My point was that people will spend on their hobby, whether it's fountain pens, computer keyboards, cars, hello kitty, or old stamps.  Thanks to the Internet though, we're able to get together and share the hobby more easily.

I see keyboards as more of an investment that can be reused for many different computer systems, which are disposable. Just like how camera bodies are disposable but lenses are investments. I've never made significant mods to any car, but I'm assuming that car mods are disposable, i.e. you can't just transfer them to a new car when you replace your vehicle.

[chyros]

I remember this survey.

All Cherry, all the time.

I would like to see the Geekhack- or Deskthority-only versions.

What is the relationship between GH and DT, if any? What are the differences? More Canadians here on GH?

More North Americans here, for sure. It's strongly coloured the kind of keyboards they like here compared to the more Old World DT.

[SamirD]

I see keyboards as more of an investment that can be reused for many different computer systems, which are disposable. Just like how camera bodies are disposable but lenses are investments. I've never made significant mods to any car, but I'm assuming that car mods are disposable, i.e. you can't just transfer them to a new car when you replace your vehicle.

Very true, especially with the lens analogy.  Although these days even lenses are sometimes too proprietary to use with even other cameras within the same brand.

Car mods can carry over quite well.  Usually wheels can move from one vehicle to the next, and sometimes even other parts if they're universal like headlight bulbs, stereo systems, etc.  For the rest, people can part the car back to stock and recoup a lot of the money--which sounds very similar to cameras or keyboards, eh?  Personally, I think keyboards are a great investment as it's rare to see an IBM M go for less than you paid for it if it's in the same condition.

[Herothereu]

I asked once why surveys aren't allowed here and never got an answer.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=73184.0

[Snowdog993]

I asked once why surveys aren't allowed here and never got an answer.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=73184.0

I think it's better to not have a survey and get down to the nitty-gritty.

I had a thread on here, "No Choice!  One Keyboard!  That's it!"  Which gave some suprising results.

I kinda wonder if people still have stuck with their choices.  If any thread, that is a wonder to read.

I'm sure some have changed their minds.

Edit: Oh!  Here it is!
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=67833.0

Enjoy!

[SamirD]

Edit: Oh!  Here it is!
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=67833.0

Enjoy!

Thank you for sharing!  This was an awesome read.  Amazing how many IBM users are on here.  You'd never know it from all the custom keyboard discussions though.