You can make one keyboard come to life what is it?

[swimmingbird]

You can make one keyboard come to life what is it?

Mine would be a 60% 55g Realforce board (so plate mounted) with full progammability and a standard bottom row

What's yours?

[Snowdog993]

You can make one keyboard come to life what is it?

Mine would be a 60% 55g Realforce board (so plate mounted) with full progammability and a standard bottom row

What's yours?

I already did.  Took an old IBM terminal board and brought it back to life.  Well worthwhile.
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45475.msg1894206#msg1894206
You have seen it in the other thread anyway.

[Melvang]

Model F internals ergo dox.

[swimmingbird]

Model F internals ergo dox.

That would be pretty badass

[BrewCaps]

Novatouch 60!

[0100010]

Model F internals ergo dox.

Or a Model F "M15".

[Neo.X]

75%, standard ANSI layout, full programmable, Topre 55g, proper silenced and lubed Novatouch stem , decent metal case, what else? 

[absyrd]

If my HHKB was alive, I'd do dirty things to it.

[Evo_Spec]

If my HHKB was alive, I'd do dirty things to it.

I'm glad to see that i wasn't the only one to read the title like that.

[tominabox1]

My buddy keeps bugging me to build a split board that has a laser mouse in one of the halves so he could mouse around by moving the keyboard...

I won't be doing that.

[scubaste]

Kishsaver so I can interrogate all that valuable bank info out of it. /sigh

[CPTBadAss]

65% ANSI Beamspring or Marquardt Butterfly. I suppose a more realistic answer is a 60% Hall Effect that works over USB.

[azhdar]

65% with G80-500 vintages browns.

And ISO Viper, hopefully both will happen next year.

[tararais]

The 60% Satan, obviously. I've already sold my soul to keyboards.

[Niomosy]

MS Ergo 4000 with MX reds and beamspring style deep spherical caps in a Data General Dasher terminal color scheme.

[njbair]

Really impressed with some of the answers so far.

Mine would be a keyboard full of discrete Model F-style BS switches. Then I could tear it apart and build whatever I want.

[FoxWolf1]

I'm kind of stubborn and would still stick with a full-size.

Only, give it optical switches. There aren't enough options with those at present IMO. A variant of the MX-style optical switches equipped with a ProWorld-style click leaf could be neat to try, I think.

An integrated pointing device would be welcome, especially if it's one of the kinds that's actually integrated for reals instead of just tacked onto the side. Like a trackpoint. Or a trackball that's integrated into the arrow key cluster, FK-7000P-style (only with the mouse buttons placed more sensibly). Heck, maybe even both; then the user could switch between them based on the situation, or even just to decrease repetitiveness of motion.

Oh, and a big-ass enter key. Much more satisfying than the other kinds, and if you're a text chat user, you don't wind up having half your lines end with \.

[Hyde]

lol I'm gonna be the first one to hope for a full size.

Topre Realforce 104UW (ANSI) Silent 45g uniform + all blank white keycaps.  (They currently actually do have 108UW (JP Layout) Silent 45g in Japan, so this is not a too far fetched dream)

OR

Topre HiPro 45g with all uniform keycap.  (Think of the current HiPro like a full sculpt SA and the one I'm looking for as a uniform row 3 SA)

All the Cherry MX ones I dream of feels like it's already achievable with the right switch + keycap combination so I won't be mentioning them here.

[SamirD]

I'd want a IBM Model M layout with Model F capacitance buckling springs please.

[tararais]

Lightsaver/GON with silenced 45g Topre.. a man can dream 

[rowdy]

"come to life" meaning that it is dead, or unusable, now?

My Model M 122

[chyros]

So this could be anything I wanted? It would be desk-sized and contain all kinds of weirdness xD . Probably with blue Alps of capacitive buckling springs .

[Data]

A concept I've been working on, only semi-seriously.



I lack the skills to bring it together -- mainly PCB design and keymap programming are holding me back.  Maybe someday... 

[jerue]

I'd probably vote for an aluminum IBM M15. Split, aluminum, buckling spring goodness. The board to end all boards, at least for me...

[Dee1]

1800 layout with Topre.

[mobbo]

Beige/White 55g Realforce Hi-Pro in tenkeyless layout and an teak/aluminium case like this one:

 

[Evo_Spec]

Beige/White 55g Realforce Hi-Pro in tenkeyless layout and an teak/aluminium case like this one:

 

Show Image

Anymore info on this particular one?

[Photekq]

Cherry MX5000 with beamspring switches

[PunksDead]

I'd like to hang out with an 87" SSK,

Probly a chill dude (keyboards can't be girls). We would be around the same age and have a lot in common and similar thoughts about the modern world. He would most likely have some interesting stories about whomever typed on him before. I'd ask him the weirdest internet search ever typed on him. Since he has seen me naked I'd ask him what he thought about the "situation" and if I have a shot. He might shoot me down but it would be worth the risk. After a bit of awkwardness I could imagine us paling around together on the floor then going to grab falafel with Cpt. badass 

[CPTBadAss]

I'd like to hang out with an 87" SSK,

Probly a chill dude (keyboards can't be girls). We would be around the same age and have a lot in common and similar thoughts about the modern world. He would most likely have some interesting stories about whomever typed on him before. I'd ask him the weirdest internet search ever typed on him. Since he has seen me naked I'd ask him what he thought about the "situation" and if I have a shot. He might shoot me down but it would be worth the risk. After a bit of awkwardness I could imagine us paling around together on the floor then going to grab falafel with Cpt. badass

Was this your way of asking me to bring my SSK for when we get falafel? 'cause I really do have an 87 SSK LOL

[PunksDead]

I'd like to hang out with an 87" SSK,

Probly a chill dude (keyboards can't be girls). We would be around the same age and have a lot in common and similar thoughts about the modern world. He would most likely have some interesting stories about whomever typed on him before. I'd ask him the weirdest internet search ever typed on him. Since he has seen me naked I'd ask him what he thought about the "situation" and if I have a shot. He might shoot me down but it would be worth the risk. After a bit of awkwardness I could imagine us paling around together on the floor then going to grab falafel with Cpt. badass

Was this your way of asking me to bring my SSK for when we get falafel? 'cause I really do have an 87 SSK LOL

LOL i have an 87 SSK as well! Can we totally walk around the city with our SSKs?!

[PunksDead]

Oh **** I'm running out of posts Cpt we need to finish this date on skype

[SamirD]

I'd like to hang out with an 87" SSK,

Probly a chill dude (keyboards can't be girls). We would be around the same age and have a lot in common and similar thoughts about the modern world. He would most likely have some interesting stories about whomever typed on him before. I'd ask him the weirdest internet search ever typed on him. Since he has seen me naked I'd ask him what he thought about the "situation" and if I have a shot. He might shoot me down but it would be worth the risk. After a bit of awkwardness I could imagine us paling around together on the floor then going to grab falafel with Cpt. badass

Was this your way of asking me to bring my SSK for when we get falafel? 'cause I really do have an 87 SSK LOL

And who said we need a dating section on gh?  )

[mobbo]

Beige/White 55g Realforce Hi-Pro in tenkeyless layout and an teak/aluminium case like this one:

 

Show Image

Anymore info on this particular one?

I found it here: http://www.keyboardco.com/blog/index.php/2014/10/11-custom-filco-entries-from-the-pimp-your-filco-contest/

Looks like some contest, here's the full description of the board in question:

" Keyboard is a Filco Majestouch Tenkeyless Linear R – FKBN87MR/CB2.
Case is made from 3 layers of solid teak wood, dyed in dark brown and finished with lacquer.
Center frame is CNC’ed from a stainless steel grade 304 plate.
Alpha keys are engraved rainbow KBC PBT + engraved white KBC PBT modifiers + dyesubbed novelty keys + paw Esc key.
Haven’t gotten the chance to give the adjustable feet a good finish.
Roof is made from clear acrylic, and added a Filco logo as a finishing touch."

I just love that case...

[ander]

"come to life" meaning that it is dead, or unusable, now? ...

I think the OP meant, "If you could have any KB, real or imagined, what would it be?"

There's no question in my mind: A Model F with a standard Model M layout.

[swimmingbird]

"come to life" meaning that it is dead, or unusable, now? ...

I think the OP meant, "If you could have any KB, real or imagined, what would it be?"

There's no question in my mind: A Model F with a standard Model M layout.

Yes this was the meaning

I didn't mean come to life like Gremlins or something

[SamirD]

There's no question in my mind: A Model F with a standard Model M layout.

Yep, same here. 

[dante]

I'd want a IBM Model M2 F w/ capacitive buckling springs and better capacitors

[Findecanor]

Show Image

I lack the skills to bring it together -- mainly PCB design and keymap programming are holding me back.  Maybe someday...  :P

That's basically an ErgoDox with an additional numpad. You wouldn't need a special PCB for the additional Num Lock and Down-arrow - just a plate to hold the switches and some wiring to unused switch positions on the existing PCB. Then run some longer wires to the LEDs in the middle instead of soldering the LEDs directly.

[rm-rf]

i feel it would be uncomfortable to type on a keyboard that came to life...

[Coreda]

Expected the topic to be about the equivalent of 'if you could hear the stories of a keyboard in history which would it be?', that in itself would be fascinating

[ander]

I think the OP meant, "If you could have any KB, real or imagined, what would it be?"

Yes this was the meaning... I didn't mean come to life like Gremlins or something

LOL. I'm imagining a Model M with arms and legs and a face sprouting out of it, and it starts walking around on the desk... "Hey, blame swimmingbird, not me!!"

i feel it would be uncomfortable to type on a keyboard that came to life...

On the other hand, my wife usually treats me like an inanimate object—so it'd be nice to have an inanimate object that would come to life, recognize me, and even be a little interested in what I'm doing. Maybe I need to get one of those Siri phones.

My 2nd fantasy board would be one of IBM's early attempts at making a Japanese keyboard:



It wouldn't have to be any different at all. I'd bow to it every day, offer it gifts of fruit and sweets, maybe leave some incense burning around it...

[davkol]

Historical keyboard: the original Maltron (i.e., with more thumb keys) converted to be usable with modern computers


Dream keyboard: ditto, but with full hand separation and open-hardware design

A keyboard coming to life: probably a battleship IBM Model F as The Sword That Speaks (TV Tropes warning) for zombie apocalypse.

[tp4tissue]

This is a stupid question.

Both my ergodoxis talk to me daily,  we discuss numerous topics involving the meaning of life.

[SamirD]

I think the OP meant, "If you could have any KB, real or imagined, what would it be?"

Yes this was the meaning... I didn't mean come to life like Gremlins or something

LOL. I'm imagining a Model M with arms and legs and a face sprouting out of it, and it starts walking around on the desk... "Hey, blame swimmingbird, not me!!"

i feel it would be uncomfortable to type on a keyboard that came to life...

On the other hand, my wife usually treats me like an inanimate object—so it'd be nice to have an inanimate object that would come to life, recognize me, and even be a little interested in what I'm doing. Maybe I need to get one of those Siri phones.

My 2nd fantasy board would be one of IBM's early attempts at making a Japanese keyboard:

Show Image

It wouldn't have to be any different at all. I'd bow to it every day, offer it gifts of fruit and sweets, maybe leave some incense burning around it...

Wow!  Is is just me or do that many keys make you happy?

I wonder what the world record is for the number of keys on a keyboard?

[keshley]

40% programmable bluetooth HHKB. Since I want something just a bit smaller than a standard HHKB for when I'm traveling.

[Findecanor]

I have a dream keyboard, but it is not easy to build with regular switches and keycaps.
Split with a symmetric stagger, but where the keys are somewhat in a curve around each hand - that's the easy part. The hard part is that I would also like there to be a slight non-uniform curve on the backplane and the keycaps' angle towards the middle a bit like keyboard.io or the Logitech Wave.

[snarfarlarkus]

Probably a 60% Beam Spring keyboard with the IBM display writer keycaps. Or maybe an SSK but with capacitive buckling springs. Kishsavers don't look as sexy as SSK's do.

EDIT: It will be wireless too just because

[ripwallet]

TKL HHKB with Purple Backlighting

[jerue]

Probably a 60% Beam Spring keyboard with the IBM display writer keycaps. Or maybe an SSK but with capacitive buckling springs. Kishsavers don't look as sexy as SSK's do.

EDIT: It will be wireless too just because

You must not be familiar with Hoffman's kish...it's soooooo sexy. The case has aged well, looks better than my SSK. Though Displaywrite caps could be interesting, I like the bold Helvetica opposed to the thin font on most sets.



I want to see an APL kish. Make it happen Hoff! Pwease