Two of the same?

[Jason]

I've been agonizing whether to grab a Topre 87U, or a HHKB Pro2 as a second small form factor kb for home. I originally bought a Filco 87 Brown for work, as the Unicomp was too loud.

Well, a few months later, I can hardly stand the noise and stiffer keys of the Unicomp compared to the Filco. I just really like the bottom-out sound of the Filco when I choose to mash it, and the extremely light and floaty feel of the keys when I choose not to. Not to mention reaching for the mouse at home is getting on my nerves, with the numpad on the Unicomp getting in the way.

I felt like maybe I should sieze the opportunity for some variety, but meh. My only options are the HHKB and the 87U. I'm not convinced I won't find the abbreviated layout on the HHKB annoying at some point, even though I get my Unix programmer on steady. As for the 87U, well, for like 300+ CDN shipped, I'm not so sure I care enough to find out.

Plus, I really do love the Filco. It's a great machine for a more reasonable price, and it's a known quantity. I'll probably always be a little curious about the others, but I'm buying a second Filco 87 brown. Anyone else have two of the same?

[lowpoly]

I'm not convinced I won't find the abbreviated layout on the HHKB annoying at some point, even though I get my Unix programmer on steady.

I use an Autohotkey script for the 2nd layer on my HHKB.

[hyperlinked]

I own four MicroConnectors keyboards and the only reason I own so many is because it was the last good keyboard I had before I found this site and discovered Filcos. I have a 104 Filco Cherry Brown and I know what you mean about the feel.

At the time that I hoarded four of those boards, they had gone "out of print" for several years but batches of them started to show up on retail sites so I jumped at the opportunity to buy enough to last me through the apocalypse (which had already started I guess because I was picking my fingers on Logitech rubber).

I'm not sure I'd spend money buying two of something that was still being produced though... at least not for something that cost as much as a Filco board unless I managed to find one going cheap. Otherwise, I'd want to try other boards and I also wouldn't want to eat up storage space on a twin of my main board.

[itlnstln]

I have 2 of just about every switch type I own.  I like to have the same thing at home as I have for work and here on earth as it is in Heaven.  So give us, this day, our daily 'board...

[itlnstln]

I have 2 of her, too.

[ironcoder]

Anyone else have two of the same?

I bought two Filco 87s with brown keys and I have two Model Ms. I use the FIlcos daily. I'll either buy another one (blue now that they're in stock) or a Cherry with blues.

I do find it no fun if I have to use a lot of machines with different keyboards.

[ocdonkb]

For me, at this point, variety is more important than quantity. That's why I've stopped myself from getting any more duplicates - many times I nearly pulled the trigger on ebay Model M's.

My next purchase, when money allows, is most likely a cherry blue. A Topre will be in the distant future I suppose. Wish there was a "keyboard party" to try it out before taking the big plunge.

[ironcoder]

Depends on what you think has better long term prospects, looking at the clicky site it would appear keyboards are outperforming dollars.

[microsoft windows]

I largely feel the same way. I like to try a variety of keyboards but it's scary paying hundreds (or $30!) when you haven't even touched that keyboard you want.

[maxlugar]

. Anyone else have two of the same?

Two???  How about 8 (for me) and probably more for others on this forum.
I have eight 84-key IBM PC AT keyboards, including a NIB model - how's that for commitment.  I have over 20 Model Ms, but you can't really count those as being the same.

I have 3 104-key Filco keyboards with Blue Cherries - two are black and one is PINK.

I have a HHKB Pro 2 and Topre Realforce 87U which have many similarities, but probably don't qualify as two of the same.


I recently got a PINK Filco with Brown Cherries and I like it a lot.  However, it is not in the same league as the Topre key switch boards.  I can type for hours on my Realforce 87U without my fingers getting tired.  It probably has something to do with that "oneness with cup rubber"    

[microsoft windows]

I remember those pink Filcos. Are they still being made or were they just for some special event?

[maxlugar]

I largely feel the same way. I like to try a variety of keyboards but it's scary paying hundreds (or $30!) when you haven't even touched that keyboard you want.

$30 for a keyboard, NO, tell me it's not true!!  And who in the hell would spend hundreds of dollars for a keyboard?  I don't know, but I can tell you nobody in their right might would actually spend serious money to pursue one of their interests.

[microsoft windows]

I like to get more keyboards but I find it to be more fun getting the old stuff to work. There are some people can afford more expensive keyboards and that's perfectly fine. I know plenty of people who like to have their stuff just work.

I just like to wait till I see a good deal and then jump on it. That's how I got my Focus with the complicated ALPS. I'm waiting for a Compaq keyboard with brown Cherries to come up next.

[maxlugar]

I remember those pink Filcos. Are they still being made or were they just for some special event?

No, they are still available here:http://www.elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=filco_keyboards,majestouch_104key&pid=fkb104mcep

The bad part is that they are not free... you actually have to pay for these - some outrageous price like 109 bucks!

[microsoft windows]

You're right; that's quite a lot to shell out for a keyboard.

[ocdonkb]

$30 for a keyboard, NO, tell me it's not true!!  And who in the hell would spend hundreds of dollars for a keyboard?  I don't know, but I can tell you nobody in their right might would actually spend serious money to pursue one of their interests.

Not sure what the point is.

Different folks are in diff situations, and have different opinions on what is "serious money". If spending all that money, and acquiring all those boards made you happy, good for you!

But leave us frugal folks to our own ways, no matter how silly that may seem to you.

[timw4mail]

Not sure what the point is.

Different folks are in diff situations, and have different opinions on what is "serious money". If spending all that money, and acquiring all those boards made you happy, good for you!

But leave us frugal folks to our own ways, no matter how silly that may seem to you.

There's a fine line between frugality and miserliness.

[ch_123]

Not sure what the point is.

Different folks are in diff situations, and have different opinions on what is "serious money". If spending all that money, and acquiring all those boards made you happy, good for you!

But leave us frugal folks to our own ways, no matter how silly that may seem to you.

True, but after MS Windows claimed that there was 'something wrong' with a guy who wanted to buy a $200 keyboard, we like to take the piss out of him.

[maxlugar]

I like to get more keyboards but I find it to be more fun getting the old stuff to work. There are some people can afford more expensive keyboards and that's perfectly fine. I know plenty of people who like to have their stuff just work.

I just like to wait till I see a good deal and then jump on it. That's how I got my Focus with the complicated ALPS. I'm waiting for a Compaq keyboard with brown Cherries to come up next.

I'm just giving you a hard time.  I guess part of the fun factor for you is the way you acquire keyboards.  If I didn't have the means to buy the keyboards I really wanted,  I would choose something else to collect  

[microsoft windows]

I noticed that. A few people here started to get really nasty after that. Oh well. There are jerks in the world.

[Computer-Lab in Basement]

I'm waiting for a Compaq keyboard with brown Cherries to come up next.

If one of those shows up, I will outbid you.  I need a good keyboard to put on my Compaq desktop.

[maxlugar]

Not sure what the point is.

Different folks are in diff situations, and have different opinions on what is "serious money". If spending all that money, and acquiring all those boards made you happy, good for you!

But leave us frugal folks to our own ways, no matter how silly that may seem to you.

Read my final post to Microsoft Windows.  I was just giving him a hard time.
I don't think you frugal/miser folks are any more or less silly than some of us who have invested serious coin in our keyboard collections.

[microsoft windows]

I'm like the real Windows. There are people that love my posts, and people that hate my posts.

[hyperlinked]

All it takes is ONE coke spill, a recession that puts the manufacturer out of business, and all of a sudden the backup becomes REAL important.

I'm feeling an urge to shop now. Damnit! Haven't you already met your daily quota of keyboards you've caused people to buy?

At least I can write some of these off as business expenses.