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Wanky keyboards

Started by Twed, July 05, 2016, 11:36:16 PM

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Twed

I'm going to make life more expensive for some of you (vinyl collectors, coffee enthusiasts and other general product hipsters are in particular danger).

Unless you know what a Cherry MX switch is, you are probably using a horrible keyboard. Rubbery, domey, keys in unnatural places, a big numpad sitting between your right hand and the mouse, no keypresses and no lovely feedback when you press a damned key.

I use a Pok3r with Cherry MX white switches. That means the keys have a tactile bump and need quite a lot of deliberate pressure to press. It's like one of those lovely old Model M keyboards, but without a click (if you want that, your poison would be Cherry MX Blues. Don't get those if you have a partner who would be annoyed by the sound; probably a moot point if you buy these though). The keyboard is a 60%. It looks like this:



Yep, all the keys are missing. But there are ways. Caps lock + hjkl is my arrow keys. The keyboard is programmable, so I can make any key do what I actually want it to.

Here's how some people customize the same board:





Beautiful.

It seems like a mad thing, but it works for me (programmable, good feel, helps me reach my mouse[nb]WHICH IS ACTUALLY A TRACKBALL. I AM THAT AWFUL[/nb] without stretching over a bunch of useless keys, fits on my desk) and is only one entry in a range of lovely keyboards. It's a world I encourage you to at least take a peek at, if you haven't.

Dex Sawash

I like Cherry Max rivets


HappyTree

Best keyboard I had was a Viglen one from the mid 90s. Had that click. It felt very positive and was perfect for typing all my essays on. If I ever sat at a desk to type loads of things then I'd go back to a keyboard like that.

But these days my keyboard is almost obsolete. Apart from typing in forums, FB, etc., and doing a bit of work from home, I don't really have the need to hit keys that much.

Blumf

#3
Nowhere near enough keys mate!



<Shift>, <Control>, <Meta>, <Super>, and <Hyper>

So ahead of it's time, it even prefigured Internet porn and offered you a key for when you wanted to rub one out.

Twed

Lovely keycaps. Lots of keysets (ridiculously overpriced replacement keycaps for wanky keyboards) come in a similar profile. This is one of my favourites:


falafel

Quote from: Blumf on July 06, 2016, 01:20:55 AM
Nowhere near enough keys mate!



<Shift>, <Control>, <Meta>, <Super>, and <Hyper>

So ahead of it's time, it even prefigured Internet porn and offered you a key for when you wanted to rub one out.

And one for when you're done.

Cloud

Chiclet style keyboards all the way.  I never expected old 1980s keyboards to make such a huge comeback, be slapped with the "gaming" label and end up costing even more than Apple's O____o

Benjaminos

I am typing this post on a 1986 Model M keyboard that I rescued/stole from a homeless charity that I used to do some IT work for.



Took about three days to clean all the encrusted finger gunk and tobacco stains off it, mind. Thank heaven for removable keycaps.

My favourite jape is to get some unsuspecting punter to try and pick it up for me. They're not expecting it to have a solid steel backplate and to weigh as much as an average laptop.

doppelkorn

I like having a numpad because I have to insert a tonne of special characters, and I've memorised the numpad codes over the years.

imitationleather

I use an ergonomic keyboard because I nearly killed my wrists writing 20,000 words in two weeks last year (I dunno how the people in the politics thread cope). These keyboards look cool but they belong in either an exhibition about technology or... No, that's where they belong. Actually owning one of these things and typing out shite on it all day. Disgrace. "I'd like to bring my own keyboard to the office if that's okay." "Of course, no problem." *Turns up with one of these under my arm like it's nothing* "WTF? Jesus, I knew you were a cunt from your trainers, but this is just the cherry on the bowl of cereal."

QRDL

I've always liked the large volume knob on Das Keyboard, so I decided to take part in the kickstarter for the 5-th version, which is still going. I don't really care about the cloud-connected functionality, but I sure want to get rid of my mushy MS rubber dome piece of shit. I've learned to hate it so much. I never know whether I actually pressed a key and am pretty sure I could actually punch a key through its bottom if I pressed hard enough - there is always more travel no matter how much force I use.

Benjaminos

Quote from: imitationleather on July 06, 2016, 09:10:05 AM
I use an ergonomic keyboard because I nearly killed my wrists writing 20,000 words in two weeks last year (I dunno how the people in the politics thread cope). These keyboards look cool but they belong in either an exhibition about technology or... No, that's where they belong. Actually owning one of these things and typing out shite on it all day. Disgrace. "I'd like to bring my own keyboard to the office if that's okay." "Of course, no problem." *Turns up with one of these under my arm like it's nothing* "WTF? Jesus, I knew you were a cunt from your trainers, but this is just the cherry on the bowl of cereal."

Have you ever used a mechanical keyboard?

imitationleather

No. Would it change my life?

Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth

I like the ones you get on laptop computers. The keys are nice and springy. Desktop keyboards tend to feel a bit naff in comparison.

Benjaminos

Quote from: imitationleather on July 06, 2016, 09:53:54 AM
No. Would it change my life?

No. Might improve your terrible opinions though.

Twed

Yeah. The point of mechanical keyboards are that they're nice to type on. The key switches come in every variety you could hope for (range of required pressue, tactile feedback, noise, etc.), the boards come in any layout you could want... it doesn't make sense to write them off because you don't like the one somebody else has settled on.

Regarding ergonomic boards, the value in a keyboard having a slight curve in it is overrated. The ones that bend around the middle and yet still have a huge numpad that you have to constantly lift your arm over drive me nuts. Doesn't it make more sense for a numpad to be external to the main keyboard?

Those split keyboards seem like a good ergonomic choice, though. On that note:


Twed

While I'm at it, take a peek at the only mouse you'll ever need:



(as long as you're right-handed)

Benjaminos

I like you, Twed. You've got good, sensible ideas and you'll go far in this world. Let's hang out.


Twed

We can drown out the noise of our critics with the sound of satisfying keypresses. Let's dumpster dive for Model Ms.

QDRPHNC

Lovely stuff, but I need a fucking number pad, I'm always needing to do sums at work.

Twed

Quote from: QDRPHNC on July 06, 2016, 08:22:06 PM
Lovely stuff, but I need a fucking number pad, I'm always needing to do sums at work.
Exterrrrrrnaaaaallllllllllll.

QDRPHNC

Quote from: Twed on July 06, 2016, 08:22:39 PM
Exterrrrrrnaaaaallllllllllll.

mook would like to have a word with you.

Lee Van Cleef

I got a Filco Majestouch 2 Ninja with Cherry MX Browns a couple of years ago and haven't regretted it. At first it was interesting getting used to the noise, but typing and gaming felt so much more fluid and it just feels more satisfying to type on.

Twed

Quote from: Lee Van Cleef on July 06, 2016, 11:44:49 PM
I got a Filco Majestouch 2 Ninja
A good example of a nice keyboard that isn't lacking the numpad etc. that others would miss.


imitationleather

Christ, who would have thought people would get really get personal when it comes to keyboards? This century!

My ergonomic one has an external numberpad which I've never used because I am a man of words, not numbers.  (Also I've lost it somewhere in my bedroom. This fucking place.)

By the way I am left-handed and I find the posting of mice which are aimed exclusively at the right-handed market very offensive.

Twed

QuoteBy the way I am left-handed
Ah, your brain is in backwards. That's why you don't appreciate these wonderful keyboards.

brat-sampson

#26
I picked up a fancy mouse and wanky keyboard just a couple of months ago, pretty much entry level stuff but it's got Cherry Brown keys, numpad, feels solid, the keys are nice etc. The mouse has this infinite scroll thing on the wheel to so when you spin it good it just runs free for ages or until you stop it.


Twed


doppelkorn

I've been looking at these wanky keyboards. Is it somehow frowned upon to use wireless keyboards amongst wanky keyboard wankers?

I'm a hot-desker, so wires are a PITA.

brat-sampson

Dammit, dropbox is dumb, I tried to share the image, but it shared the link to the page... Also, too late to edit, so yaay.