So.. I actually typed out a story for this, haha. Though I can't promise much. As it's past 2am, and I'm still a bit out of it thanks to the migraine. And just a warning, it's pretty long. But anyways, without further ado..
It all started when he was just a small little boy, no taller than the edge of the kitchen table. He was excited beyond words, he was about to have his first experience with something he had never imagined.. a computer! As he sat down in the swirling chair and proceeded to spin around a couple times for good measure, he examined what was placed in front of him, flabbergasted. The large, colorful display, the sleek, yellowed keyboard, and the odd contraption that looked similar to the class pet. It was as if a door had been opened. He was witnessing the birth of a whole new world.
Several years later and three feet taller, it was time for the boy to purchase his own computer. With the help of his family, he had customized it down to the very last detail. The motherboard, RAM, harddrive, and processor. He had no idea what he was purchasing, but he knew it would all be perfect. Everything was put together, waiting for him to explore the digital world to his hearts content. All that was left was the keyboard.
As he pulled into the local Best Buy and dashed to the back, he skimmed the shelves, waiting for something, anything, to catch his eye. Then it happened. Lights from the heavens shined down upon the mystical, blue glowing keyboard. As he whispered it's name to himself, he knew he was in love. The Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard. What more could anyone want? He picked up the box and began to examine the beautiful, exquisite craftsmanship that was put into the keyboard. Searching desperately, he found the fine print.. "Made in China". Yes, this had to be it. Never before had he witnessed the feeling of love at first sight. He had to have it.
Racing back home, he began to scavenge for signs of spare change. Under the sofa, between the cushions, in the back seats of the car. As he finally gather together the $108.49 (after taxes), he purchased the keyboard of the kings. Life... was complete.
Now as we skip ahead back to present time, this boy has now grown five years older, and his most prized possession is beginning to breathe it's last breaths. After taking it in to the local service center, he was forced to part with his computer for three weeks while they searched for the problem and replaced the parts. In the meantime..he was left with the one thing he dreaded most. A MacBook. The pains of the trackpad and lack of travel of the keys. Oh did it hurt him so. But he had to survive. This was his lifeline. Without it, what would he do?
At this point he knew that it would soon be time to replace his faithful computer. It had processed it's last word document and saved it's last game. No longer was it capable of computing the complex equations that he would enter into the extensive Calculator program. So he began his search. He was on a mission to replace his computer.
After hours upon hours of research and reading, he had decided on his plan, but the price he would pay for his actions was too much for him at the time, he had to wait. In the meantime, he ventured over to the public forums known as GeekHack. There, he was dispelled of the magic of mass marketing. No longer did his G15 bring him pleasure to type on. The more and more he read, the less and less he enjoyed typing. There was only one way to describe his beloved keyboard now: mush.
The memories of his childhood played back in his head. The feeling of the key springing back into position after releasing his finger. The tactility, the responsiveness. It was all so familiar, and yet somewhat distant. But he knew he had to have one. No matter what the cost, he would obtain one of these lost and forgotten treasures. He began to conduct even more research.
Finally, after reading about every common and well thought of mechanical keyboard known to man. He had narrowed it down to two options. A Filco with Cherry MX Brown switches, or a Topre. But he was at a loss. The Topre was two times the price of the Filco, but yet it was on such a different level. It combined the memories of his childhood with the memories of his first computer. The springiness of the mechanical keyboards and the soft, yet not mushy, landing of the rubber domes. It was a match made in heaven.
His heart was torn. Purchasing a new keyboard would already set his much needed project back even further. But how much could he sacrifice? He had to decide which was more important. And as his current computer was finally returned to him and still gave him problems, he sadly made up his mind. He could not afford to purchase a Topre. He was left with a Filco.
Now that that was settled, he started to save up his money to make up the deficit, and waited. Waited for the Filco to come in stock.
Continuing his daily browsing of the GeekHack community, he scrolled through the endless pages. Then, something sparked his curiosity. He couldn't believe what he had just read, so he read it again. Some selfless soul had decided to give away their prized Topre keyboard...for free! This was an opportunity he could not pass up, it was what he had always wished for, but never dreamed of.
As he clicked the title and entered the thread, his eyes ceased to amaze him. Everything was all too real. The opportunity was placed before him. He had to test his chances with Lady Luck. Never in a million years would he pass this offer up. And so he began to tell his story. He knew it was a long one, but he also knew he had to tell it. So as he typed the first few words with his current, old eyesore of a keyboard, his mind began to drift off to a place and time where this G15, that does not even warrant the classification of keyboard, would be no longer, and in front of him would be the keyboard of all keyboards. And thus he proceeded to tell his story.. "It all started when..."
There you have it, haha.
-Sorian
