My dad is a computer programmer and has been in the business since the early 90's. He's never really bought his own tech, but rather just uses whatever the company he is working for at the time gives him. When me and my brother were kids, we always had some decent office computers to play Runescape and other web based games with the free hand me downs from my dad's office as they upgraded their PC's every few years. Fast forward to now, and my interest in mechanical keyboards, I have just come to realize that throughout all those years, I don't recall any of the keyboards in my household ever being mechanical at all which leads me to believe that maybe my father either hasn't used one, or is too impartial to it to care.
I've never asked him about his history of his keyboard selection because he was never really one to care for that sort of thing, but I think it's time for me to get him into the hobby. Mind you, I haven't built my own keyboard myself. I come from a gaming background of long hours of Counter-Strike with my first board being a Steel Series 6Gv2 with Cherry MX black switches (RIP). Since it died I was considering building a custom for myself but after much thought, I think one for my father would be pretty cool instead.
My dad recently switched over to Mac from using Windows for most of his career, and bought a Macbook as his first work machine last year. He constantly uses Windows virtual machines and remote desktop if he works from home to connect to his Windows PC at the office. Right now he has an external monitor that he hooks his laptop up to as a second screen for the VM / remote desktop, and uses his Macbook's laptop keyboard as his main input device paired with a wireless Microsoft mouse.
For the build I would like to keep the familiarity of what he is used to on the Mac platform, so I would like the layout to be formatted for Macintosh. (ie. command, option, and FN key) I would also like a F1-F12 row for functions but also to be paired with the Fn key for brightness, media keys etc. I am looking to do a TKL board with smooth tactile switches that wouldn't be too loud for when he is on one of his countless calls with other programming team members.
I have a general idea on the parts I need for a basic Windows keyboard after lurking here for about a year, but the whole Mac thing with the function row + mac functions is definitely foreign to me. (Not to mention mac keycaps) I'm sure someone can help me out here. I'd like to get an idea of what switch would be great for him and move from there. Thanks GH.
