What's your favourite 87% or 60%, and why?

[x9Memoriez]

Pretty much the title.

I know the pok3r might be mentioned quite a bit, but different reasons between replies would be awesome.

Type away!

[Oobly]

For 60%, GON NerD 60:

1. Flexibility: can program any character, mod or special function key to any position. Supports many layouts.
2. Ease of programming: nice GUI program and can adjust lighting, etc.
3. PCB itself is reasonable priced and fits all Poker style cases.

for 87-key (TKL).... not sure, but probably a GON TKL for many of the same reasons, but with a nice heavy aluminium TKL case.

[swimmingbird]

87 key would be Realforce 55g

60% would be my Gon Nerd 60

[Vox_PT]

For a 60% I would say my Pok3r... yeah, I know, another Pokah how original. 

TKL I'll say my Turtle Beach Impact 500. And before somebody comments bashing this board I'll just say that it is a surprisingly solid/well made keyboard. It uses Costar stabs and is pretty much a copy/pasta of a Filco Majestouch 2. I really like it.
And Cherry Blues are my new found love.

[inanis]

HHKB - it doesn't even need a justification. It is just that awesome.

[retrochick]

87% : CM Storm QFR with alternate controller from bpiphany
60%: HHKB with alternate controller from hasu

These are solid boards as is, however when you add in the joy of programming and function layers they become truly awesome.

[E3E]

60%: Duck Eagle! As I based two custom Alps builds on these PCBs, I have to choose them. It has fun lighting modes, a nice helping of programmability in the 02D software (despite some hoops to jump through first), and well... I'm just a Duck fan in general. They aren't as flexible as GON boards and much more limited in quantity, but they are easy to work with and fun to customize. They also come with monster cases!

TKL: Uhhh, I dunno! TKLs aren't my thing. I like the look and rarity of a Filco Zero and the Orion v2 was pretty nice to handle.

[Homenubbie]

Pok3r programmability.

[ideus]

GON Nerd60, because of it.

[jerue]

87%: 456GT or my Digilog 55g Realforce; they are both awesome in their own ways, 456 is more about precision and the "endgame", but the Realforce is more of a daily driver for me and it's the keyboard that started this whole rabbit hole

60% my GH60 or a Type-S HHKB, I really like the GH60 and it's programmable but the HHKB is the ultimate starter package IMO.

[E3E]

87%: 456GT or my Digilog 55g Realforce; they are both awesome in their own ways

60% my GH60 or a Type-S HHKB, again, awesome in their own ways.

Every day, I feel more and more tempted Topre.

[jerue]

87%: 456GT or my Digilog 55g Realforce; they are both awesome in their own ways

60% my GH60 or a Type-S HHKB, again, awesome in their own ways.

Every day, I feel more and more tempted Topre.

Stop 'yer yammering and buy a 55g Realforce already. DO EET. JOIN THE CULT

[retrochick]

87%: 456GT or my Digilog 55g Realforce; they are both awesome in their own ways

60% my GH60 or a Type-S HHKB, again, awesome in their own ways.

Every day, I feel more and more tempted Topre.

Join us.

[HoffmanMyster]

I've never heard a TKL called 87% (usually 85%), but my favorite would be Realforce 55g.  60%, probably HHKB or 4704 62-key (though I'm assuming you're asking about production boards?).

[trenzafeeds]

87%: 456GT or my Digilog 55g Realforce; they are both awesome in their own ways

60% my GH60 or a Type-S HHKB, again, awesome in their own ways.

Every day, I feel more and more tempted Topre.

I'm thinking of an hhkb for an holiday present to myself. Join me, we can take the plunge together.

[mobbo]

TKL: 55g Realforce

60%: I only have a Pok3r and v60 Mini...BUT OK FINE EVERYONE I"LL GET AN HHKB. GOD. 

[ideus]

Virus spreading, yellow alert!

[E3E]

87%: 456GT or my Digilog 55g Realforce; they are both awesome in their own ways

60% my GH60 or a Type-S HHKB, again, awesome in their own ways.

Every day, I feel more and more tempted Topre.

I'm thinking of an hhkb for an holiday present to myself. Join me, we can take the plunge together.

Well, I wish I was that one guy who found an HHKB at a local flea market (and he neeeever mentioned where this flea market was--totally keeping his gold mine to himself ).

I've literally had like three dreams about Topre boards over the past few months, haha.

[HoffmanMyster]

87%: 456GT or my Digilog 55g Realforce; they are both awesome in their own ways

60% my GH60 or a Type-S HHKB, again, awesome in their own ways.

Every day, I feel more and more tempted Topre.

I'm thinking of an hhkb for an holiday present to myself. Join me, we can take the plunge together.

DO IT

[trenzafeeds]

DO IT

I think I will get the regular pro 2, not just because the price difference but also because I like a little bit of sound from my keyboards. I heard someone talking about how the type-s switches feel better though. Have you found this to be true?

[xondat]

TKL: 356.2
60%: Duck Eagle

Metal bodies are above all for me; clear acrylic is a close second.

[E3E]

DO IT

I think I will get the regular pro 2, not just because the price difference but also because I like a little bit of sound from my keyboards. I heard someone talking about how the type-s switches feel better though. Have you found this to be true?

Sadly, I think the one I'd want most is a Type-S, which has just way too much of a premium for me right now. I mean, I can spend MORE money on customs, but I'm not ready to drop that on Topre just yet.

There is that new silenced Realforce Ducky collab board coming out though that sounds really funky. Wonder how much it'll be!

TKL: 356.2
60%: Duck Eagle

Metal bodies are above all for me; clear acrylic is a close second.

I pretty much agree here 100%, however, in between clear acrylic and metal, I'd slot in carbon fiber. Or maybe tied with metal. I can't wait for HPS to be done his awesome cases!

For vintage boards though, I love plastic cases w/ metal bottom panels. Mmmmm, that sound is heavenly.

[davkol]

tenkeyless: CM Storm QFR, because it's the best bang for the buck, esp. with a Frosty Flake and (thick) Vortex PBT doubleshots. I got this config for less than $100 total IIRC.

60%

• I'm not sure. I don't think I like that form factor. I keep coming back to my Noppoo Choc Mini, which is only one column wider and has the extra row of function keys… and somehow, I don't see the point of a smaller keyboard, because it isn't all that smaller. I've used an HHKB for a while and hated the default Fn combinations, among other things. I'd probably have to build a custom keyboard, or at least a fully programmable one. I've considered the AUNK project, but it's stopped for now, and I'm not particularly motivated to invest in this matter, partly because…
• I do like my ErgoDox, that has 80keys, but I effectively use just barely 60-62—it's very different from a typical 60% keyboard though. I have only 40 alphanumeric keys (as opposed to 46-48 on "standard" keyboards), but 7 modifiers mirrored on each side (Ctrl, Shift, Super, punctuation_layer, AltGr, Alt, navigation_layer). It feels very efficient as a result, because any finger rarely moves more than 3 cm from it's home position.

[HoffmanMyster]

DO IT

I think I will get the regular pro 2, not just because the price difference but also because I like a little bit of sound from my keyboards. I heard someone talking about how the type-s switches feel better though. Have you found this to be true?

Pro 2 is a solid choice.    I have very minimal experience typing on the Type-S, so I cannot comment on Pro 2 vs Type-S.  :|

[E3E]

tenkeyless: CM Storm QFR, because it's the best bang for the buck, esp. with a Frosty Flake and (thick) Vortex PBT doubleshots. I got this config for less than $100 total IIRC.

60%

• I'm not sure. I don't think I like that form factor. I keep coming back to my Noppoo Choc Mini, which is only one column wider and has the extra row of function keys… and somehow, I don't see the point of a smaller keyboard, because it isn't all that smaller. I've used an HHKB for a while and hated the default Fn combinations, among other things. I'd probably have to build a custom keyboard, or at least a fully programmable one. I've considered the AUNK project, but it's stopped for now, and I'm not particularly motivated to invest in this matter, partly because…
• I do like my ErgoDox, that has 80keys, but I effectively use just barely 60-62—it's very different from a typical 60% keyboard though. I have only 40 alphanumeric keys (as opposed to 46-48 on "standard" keyboards), but 7 modifiers mirrored on each side (Ctrl, Shift, Super, punctuation_layer, AltGr, Alt, navigation_layer). It feels very efficient as a result, because any finger rarely moves more than 3 cm from it's home position.

Ahh, another 75% fan. Welcome to the club. Although I'm also part of the exclusive "TKLs are cool but not my thing" club. I shouldn't have started with a Rapoo KX and the Octagon as my first two mechs. The KX is like a strange 75%, and the Octagon... Well, it's just beautiful.   

I've never tried an ergodox. Wonder if I could get into it.

[davkol]

Rapoo KX is more like a 60% with embedded arrow keys. The capacitive strip above the "mechanical section" is a joke.

[E3E]

Rapoo KX is more like a 60% with embedded arrow keys. The capacitive strip above the "mechanical section" is a joke.

It might seem that way, but it's more on the 75% form factor. It can barely fit all that well in some cases I've tried getting for it back when it was my only board (I had two, customized them).
Even though it's a little silly, that strip, it did increase the foot print. It's like a 70% I guess, thanks to no additional column, but with the F row. I actually liked it for what it was, including the F-row.

I still use the KX with some 62g ergo clears sometimes, lol. It's a board I can use without worrying too much about marring it, and it's very soft on the joints thanks to the o-rings and PCB mounted switches.

I have never used o-rings on another board again after the KX, but it works well for that board.

[davkol]

Yeah, the case is bulky, but that's the same for Ducky Mini or, say, Kishsaver.

[Hypersphere]

80% (87-key; TKL): RF87UB55 Silenced; IBM SSK.

60%: HHKB Pro 2 Black w/blue alphas and blank black mods; V60MTS-C; IBM Model F "Kishsaver".

Between the two form factors, I prefer 60% mainly because of the symmetry and somewhat because of the size.

Overall favorite: HHKB Pro 2 (But I still need to refurbish the Kishsaver, which might become the new favorite).

[zslane]

Generally speaking, I don't like keyboards smaller than full 100% ANSI. My favorite keyboard is the Filco Majestouch-2 full 104. I don't own an 87U and don't ever plan to. Never really wanted a 60%er either until I decided that I needed a good mechanical for hooking up to my iPad.

I settled on a Pok3r because:

1. It's layout is identical to the standard Filco layout (minus the other 43 keys, of course).
2. Its MX red switches take all my SA and DSA keycaps.

Reason 2 is also the main reason the HHKB is completely irrelevent to me. I can only conclude that HHKB fans don't have/like/use spherical keycaps, whereas I refuse to type on anything but.

[x9Memoriez]

I've never heard a TKL called 87% (usually 85%), but my favorite would be Realforce 55g.  60%, probably HHKB or 4704 62-key (though I'm assuming you're asking about production boards?).

My bad, 87 Key. Though evidently most people understood what i meant

[Solo]

TKL: Apple silver 360c, 10th Anniversary 87u

60%: Silver Duck Viper, FC660C/EW, Stormtrooper HHKB Pro 2

This is all purely from an aesthetic point of view. There's just something about light colored boards. 

[jerue]

I think I will get the regular pro 2, not just because the price difference but also because I like a little bit of sound from my keyboards. I heard someone talking about how the type-s switches feel better though. Have you found this to be true?

If it's anything like my Realforce with hypersphere rings yes. Had a regular HHKB for a while but never really "fell in love" with it. One day I'll get a Type-S and lube the sliders.

TKL: 356.2

Dammit...I forgot about the 356.2. It'd have to be my favorite but I've never used it...or even been in a 500 mile radius of one for pete's sake.

[demik]

87%: 456GT or my Digilog 55g Realforce; they are both awesome in their own ways

60% my GH60 or a Type-S HHKB, again, awesome in their own ways.

Every day, I feel more and more tempted Topre.

DO IT SCRUB

[jcoffin1981]

Does anybody know what's up with the poker 3 keycaps?  Is there some acrylic coating or something.  After buying the board I decided I liked ABS better.  However I replaced my V60 with high quality 1.5mm PBT key caps and the feel is out of this world.  Yet it feels nothing at all like the Poker.  I remember describing it as if I was typing on little squares of concrete.

If you can find the Leopold set on ebay....  http://www.ebay.com/itm/PBT-Keycap-Set-for-Cherry-MX-based-Leopold-Keyboard-Blank-Non-Printed-Navy-/281664522419?hash=item41948388b3:g:NOEAAOSwh6xTttxK      .....    this is the best $50 dollar investment I have spent in a long time. 

[raymogi]

87 is my OTD Corsa, and 60 is my HHKB Pro 2 (and Duck Eagle).

[E3E]

87 is my OTD Corsa, and 60 is my HHKB Pro 2 (and Duck Eagle).

Damn Rayman, you so craycray

[raymogi]

87 is my OTD Corsa, and 60 is my HHKB Pro 2 (and Duck Eagle).

Damn Rayman, you so craycray

I blame GH. Ever since I've been here, I'm always looking for something to buy everyday.

[E3E]

87 is my OTD Corsa, and 60 is my HHKB Pro 2 (and Duck Eagle).

Damn Rayman, you so craycray

I blame GH. Ever since I've been here, I'm always looking for something to buy everyday.

That's not too hard to believe, haha. I know the feel of that addictive quality. I'd probably be the same way if I could afford it all.

[tofgerl]

I feel like 87/TKL and 60% are completely different beasts. For TKL I want features, heft, beautiful cases, lighting and possibly some way to make it fit into your desktop environment.
I think GON are great choices here, but I'm not going to make one, and I don't have the time or money to have him make me one, so I'm still hunting for a good candidate...

For 60% I want customizability, portability and I want it to work no matter what.
So yeah, for 60% pok3r is a clear choice, but I'm making my own these days with Satan GH60, and I hope those will be even better.

[byker]

Realforce 55g and hhkb 45g

[henz]

i like my LZ-FE and my KMAC happy. Sweetness ergo love in them. They also look extremly nice.

[rowdy]

HHKB.

Apart from being the only 60% I have, it's the keyboard that I keep coming back to the most.

[HoffmanMyster]

Does anybody know what's up with the poker 3 keycaps?  Is there some acrylic coating or something.  After buying the board I decided I liked ABS better.  However I replaced my V60 with high quality 1.5mm PBT key caps and the feel is out of this world.  Yet it feels nothing at all like the Poker.  I remember describing it as if I was typing on little squares of concrete.

Remember, keycaps are just like any other manufacture good.  Manufacturers can use a wide variety of polymer blends / components, quality of raw materials, and processes.  Just because two things are made of "ABS" does not mean that the materials are truly 100% identical.

But it's also possible that they are coated, as you have said. 

[keshley]

60% - HHKB with hasu's controller: Oneness with cup rubber!

TKL - TBD

[lootbag]

Another 60% vote for HHKB with Hasu's alternate controller bluetooth version.
Take it anywhere, connect to any device, good switch feel and now the ability to customize the layout to your liking.
I wish I could add backlighting to it though.

I might a little biased because I have been using my HHKB everyday for 5 years now.

[lootbag]

oops double post...

[ideus]

oops double post...

Well you got another point in your count of posts.

[ctm]

My favorite 60 is TMK ALPS64 (typing on it right now). I use this PCB with plates and case from KBP V60. Reasons: full programmability (awesome TMK firmware), Matias quiet switches, 60% form factor.

[ideus]

My favorite 60 is TMK ALPS64 (typing on it right now). I use this PCB with plates and case from KBP V60. Reasons: full programmability (awesome TMK firmware), Matias quiet switches, 60% form factor.

Do you have some pictures you may share?