It was neat to see Thomas Ran name-dropped in a New Yorker article. He's one of the most brutal keyboard reviewers on YouTube (and quite hilarious). I sent him some of my 3D printed key switches not too long ago and he did a teardown video:<p><a href="https://youtu.be/H_Ym9528awM" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/H_Ym9528awM</a><p>Many have found the mechanical keyboard hobby to be quite deep... When you reach the point when you're ready to start designing your own key switches and actuation mechanisms contact me and I'll give you some advice :)<p>If you're curious what a 3D printed (analog hall effect) keyboard using 3D printed switches (and keycaps) looks like:<p><a href="https://gfycat.com/firsthanduniformeasteuropeanshepherd" rel="nofollow">https://gfycat.com/firsthanduniformeasteuropeanshepherd</a><p>...and it has some interesting features:<p><a href="https://gfycat.com/costlyglaringhyracotherium" rel="nofollow">https://gfycat.com/costlyglaringhyracotherium</a>
The keyboard rabbit-hole gets pretty deep. I started off wanting a nicer typing experience, and ended up realising so much about the traditional keyboard designs didn't make sense to me (here's someone nicely summing up the reasons why <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrska7UU7BE" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrska7UU7BE</a>).<p>For me the optimum is a split 34-key keyboard (the open-source Ferris Sweep <a href="https://github.com/davidphilipbarr/Sweep" rel="nofollow">https://github.com/davidphilipbarr/Sweep</a>) with a custom keymap firmware (QMK).<p>Going even deeper, you can generate a PCB layout that's personalised to the shape of your hands: <a href="https://github.com/ergogen/ergogen" rel="nofollow">https://github.com/ergogen/ergogen</a>
Perhaps unfair to inject a mini-AskHN, but here goes: I'm a Mac user these days, and I have seen that one can go down the rabbit hole with keyboards. I have zero interest in building one. I do have a WASD keyboard, but I've also wanted a bit more, like (better) layers : I have a few fond memories of VT420 life, when those numpad keys and the GOLD/BLUE layers were awesome.) I also don't use Windows...so use of at least some Windows-focused firmware seems less accessible. Reddit seems much more about builds - interesting for keyboard porn and inspiration, I suppose, but not actionable. It also seems many good things are purchased via drops so I suppose that way can work if you know where to go and how long to wait.<p>I've looked about for a good keyboard with programmable firmware, for a Mac...or even just a programmable numpad-looking macropad, but maybe there's more I've not seen.<p>What resources are out there to find ways to find off the shelf options, for Macs?<p>Edit: s/these/off the shelf options/
I occasionally think about getting a mechanical keyboard, because I'd like a nice keyboard. But I have no interest in it as a hobby, and the whole topic has a similar vibe as the audiophile community. I feel like the chance of getting punked is pretty high.
Once, someone pointed out to me that we spend a large amount of time with our feet in shoes and our hands on a keyboard, but somehow a closet full of shoes is more readily accepted than even just a pair of keyboards to switch between. I felt good about buying a second keyboard after that
I still regret getting rid of whatever keyboard I had with my Intel 286 PC, probably a Model M from what I read about the times.<p>Typing was an experience on that thing, like energy flowing through the keyboard into your body, the physicality of the springs was so strong. But strangely I remember typing extremely fast on it, even though it must have needed so much extra force.<p>I have a decent store bought mechanical keyboard now and it's nice but still very different.
I sold my Model F to a collector, who wrote back to tell me he didn't care for it. I have regretted that sale many times, because I loved that keyboard.
I'd LOVE to buy a split keyboard, but I can't seem to find any prebuilt that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, and soldering my own is not an option (I have some physical issues impairing my precision hand work).
You don't have to get obsessive with it. I have a keychron k7 and I'm absolutely happy with it, no plans of changing anything. Well, I broke the on/off switch when disassembling because I spilled water over it. I contacted them and got new switches. I soldered on one of them and don't plan to open that thing again anytime soon.
It must be twice a week that I think about getting involved in custom mechanical keyboards: it seems like such a cool interest!<p>I've been pretty happy with the HHKB (no caps, obviously), but it just sounds fun to make something truly your own.<p>Does anyone have a good pointer for the right place to start with this (huge) topic?
Am I the only one who prefers the most pleb membrane keyboards over anything mechanical? I already type super quickly on, say, a 2015 MacBook Pro, a default 2010 Apple external KB, or a $5 Logitech. There's just enough feedback to know that I pressed the key, it takes very little force, and I can glide my fingers around really quickly. I don't even bother with cleaning cause the oiliness makes it faster if anything.<p>I've tried several mech keyboards. The longer key travel doesn't seem to improve speed, and I don't see how it would. Also most of them come with the concave key caps for some reason, which of course you can switch out, but I feel like any amount I spend fixing one would still result in something worse than what I already have.
I currently use HHKB. In the past I used Microsoft Sculpt and I really liked it. My HHKB is not good for my wrist.<p>I just ordered literally yesterday an UHK keyboard, with trackball module as well. Hopefully this can satisfy my HHKB + Microsoft Sculpt combo.<p>If not, I might have to go dive the keyboard rabbit hole.
Recently got my self my first, a UHK[0] and couldn't be happier. The amount of macros I've been able to configure into it is astounding.<p>[0]: <a href="https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com" rel="nofollow">https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com</a>
I have this IBM PS two mechanical keyboard and I don’t know why but… I don’t really care much for the mechanical keyboards. My first laptop was made by micron, and the keys were very soft and sponge and quiet. The Macbooks from 2012 have a great keyboard.
I have assembled 4 or 5 keyboards, the last 2 all have switches assembled from different parts (springs, tops, stems etc bought separately). I don’t really care that much about the shape of the keycaps (cherry profile would do but good to have alternatives), but i am very particular about the layout.<p>It seems to me the only logical resolution of my keyboard hobby is it design my own keyboard that will address most of my complaints. They are minor but the more I think about it the more I conclude that in the future people would be using fully custom (layout, spacing, etc) keyboards a lot. Unless the typing goes away.
<i>An interesting and slightly unsettling fact about Wrona is that when he competes, he has no strong preference for mechanical or rubber-dome boards, and usually just goes for whatever’s cheapest.</i><p>As a fast typist myself (normally 140-160, brief bursts over 200) I can say that being able to type quickly is not something that most mechanical keyboards are optimised for; what's important is a very low actuation force and travel (but a long "cushion zone" past that), since at high speeds caring whether the key was successfully hit will make you hesitate and slow down.
From a reliability standpoint, rubberdome keys seems to be a superior technology. Each and every mechanical keyboard I used developed key chattering after several years (sometimes months) and had to be thrown out eventually. On the other hand I have various rubberdome keyboards that type away without issue after almost a decade of use. Maybe it's just that most modern switches are rubbish, as I've seen people type on old model M keyboards that must have had decades of use, so it might just be a manufacturing issue.
I like lots of keys. I have an 1800 keyboard (with a numpad).<p>Which means going down the keyboard rabbit hole isn't that appealing - because they all tend to be tiny.
I had my first mechanical keyboard delivered a few days ago and I must say I am thoroughly enjoying the experience. Each key somehow feels nicer. Placebo, or intrinsically more enjoyable sounds and tactile experiences? I believe it's the latter and I find myself particularly enjoying the 'thock' sound of the backspace and space bar.
It's impossible for me to be unbiased because I learned to type on a Selectric, (and I now own two of them) but my personal belief is that typing was perfected with the Selectric, and a Model F or M keyboard with buckling springs is the closest you can get to that perfection on the PC side of things.
The major downside is that people who use mechanical keyboards are almost unbearable to listen to over video (like Zoom) or YouTube or streaming videos due to the incessant and loud clacking of the keys.
This reminded me that I’m still looking for a Bluetooth Planck. Ergodox seems to be stuck in the past regarding connectivity options, otherwise I’d have bought a Planck EZ by now.
I've recently switched from using cherry silent reds to blues and wow what a difference! The blues just feel amazing in my Vortex Race 3 keyboard.
$3000 for a single key cap??<p>“….whose Escape key Bassett had replaced with a keycap from a series called Mummy II, made by a keyboard artisan known as PunksDead. “That keycap is rare,” he said. “Right after I got it, a guy offered me three grand for it. And I was, like, ‘Hmmm, tempting—but no.’ ”