22 ms·
My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards
- gonehome 3y agoI love the HHKB - it’s compact and looks/feels nice. I’m either using a variation of one of those or the macOS boards.
- h2odragon 3y agoI got to start with Victor keyboards, which was a little bit of a "silver spoon". The only thing that was ever better than a model M. Sometime around '97 I got a bunch of real Model M's from a school; spent a while refurbishing up a bunch of them, and then used that stack for like 20 years. They lived an average of 3yr under my hands. Since then i use unicomp "new model M". This one has been going stong for 2+yr now, expect it to start losing function soon. Tried a couple different logitech "mechanical" and beat them to death in under a year. My stuff would last longer if i used one of those "keyboard condom" things but those are worse than using a $10 disposable "flexible" bodyless thing, anyway. the cure is worse than the disease.
- eimrine 3y ago> They lived an average of 3yr under my hands. How can you destroy a Model M?
- shrubble 3y agoDid you learn typing on a manual typewriter as I did? So far my Redragon K552 has held up pretty well for 3+ years.
- askiiart 3y agoI used a K552 for a while. Definitely a decent keyboard for the price. Just be warned that, like going from membrane to mechanical, once you upgrade there's no going back. I upgraded to a TKL GMMK with Kailh BOX White switches, and now the K552 feels terrible because my standards have been raised so much higher.
- serf 3y ago>Since then i use unicomp "new model M". This one has been going stong for 2+yr now, expect it to start losing function soon. Tried a couple different logitech "mechanical" and beat them to death in under a year. I had one of those for a bit but it had constant firmware issues. usb dropouts and resets that required a full power-off. had to return it. was an OK repro as far as the typing feel goes, though.
- otikik 3y agoThis person might enjoy the Keychron K1. I have used mine for many years. It's a bit less "low profile" than a mac keyboard, but the difference is not enough to require different finger movement - I get used to the different height in minutes. https://www.keychron.com/collections/all-keyboards/products/keychron-k1-wireless-mechanical-keyboard https://www.keychron.com/collections/all-keyboards/products/...
- test1235 3y agoI think that keychron is the one I woulda got if I hadn't gone for a filco convertible tkl https://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/filco-convertible-2-tenkeyless-silent-soft-linear-action-uk-iso-keyboard.asp https://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/filco-convertible-2-tenk...
- Jackevansevo 3y agoThanks for the recommendation, the keychron K1 is definitely something I've been looking at closely. I've heard some complaints about the bluetooth connectivity not being great. They recently announced a budget friendly version the C3 Pro that's wired (USB-C) only that looks like it might actually satisfy my requirements.
- otikik 3y agoThe K1 has a "cable mode" in addition to "bluetooth", I have been using it with a wire since the beginning
- Brybry 3y agoI went from a low profile scissor switch keyboard to a K5 Pro and, while it's not the same, I'm also happy with the outcome. There's still some relearning because key placement is slightly different (sometimes I hit spacebar instead of left alt/command). Also, I think the MX Keys that he likes is flat (ortholinear?) and the K-series has a slight stagger to the keys (but I also didn't find it to be an issue).
- chrsw 3y agoEven after all these years it's hard to beat the Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite. I wish someone made a mechanical version. I'm typing this on a Keychron Q11 so maybe I'm in a similar boat as the author.
- indymike 3y agoMy all time favorite was a Northgate Omnikey. It had incredible switches and function keys on the side and across the top. It lasted about 20 years and was killed by Mt. Dew. Second favorite is the Logitech K780. It feels a lot like the MX Keys but with round key caps.
- pelalmqvist 3y agoI might be biased by spending too much time watching people dive into the hobby of mechanical keyboards, but I'm impressed he found the strenght to not go too far into it.
- sime2009 3y agoI'm just surprised that this low level of engagement with keyboards is considered on the "unhealthy" side of the fence. I mean, this is only about 5 keyboards and not even owned at the same time.
- stevev 3y agoI almost feel that people might be surprised if they knew just how extensive and diverse the world of custom keyboards truly is.
- __MatrixMan__ 3y agoRight. My unhealthy relationship with keyboards is that I have 5 of them which I use on a regular basis, but I haven't bothered update to the same version of my custom firmware, so they differ in subtle and maddening ways--but none more maddening than going back to a standard layout. I'm happy for this person that they so utterly lack an awareness of what an unhealthy relationship actually looks like. Although a small evil part of me wants to send then a mountain of cocaine so they can find out.
- Jackevansevo 3y agoI'll send you my address
- slowmovintarget 3y agoI own seven, at the moment. One is an IBM Model M buckling spring keyboard (1983, needs a PS2-to-USB adaptor). Two others I use daily, including the Das Keyboard (Cherry MX Blues) I'm typing this on. My latest is the Launch Heavy with Kaith Brown keys that arrived yesterday (with a new system). It's replacing a gaming keyboard I've had for more than a decade. I'm not even "in to keyboards," I've simply been using computer equipment at home for so long that I have them around.
- shermozle 3y agoI've used the MS Natural keyboards for years. I'd love to move to a mechanical model but the sites selling keyboards are really confusing. What do I have to buy to get a functioning keyboard? A shell? Switches? Other stuff? I really don't know what I'm looking at. Anyone got a good entry point?
- sime2009 3y agoStart reading here: https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/wiki/index/ https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/wiki/index/ It is not too hard these days to buy a complete and immediately usable keyboard on line. But it does help to know what you are looking for because there are choices to be made around format, switches, keycaps, etc.
- gorbachev 3y agoGet an off-the-shelf Arisu layout keyboard from a reputable manufacturer. You don't have to worry about the billion options. The Arisu layout keyboards are the closest mechanical keyboards you can get to a MS Natural keyboard layout, IMHO. Keychron has several models of different sizes that give you good options on size vs. function vs. price: V8/V10, Q8/Q10, K15 Pro, etc. They sell on Amazon, their own site and some mech kbd vendors as well. Their own site is the only one that carries the entire product line, however. Akkogear has a model (ACR Pro Alice Plus) that's quite affordable and good build quality. Feker Alice boards from Epomaker are another good choice.
- rgoulter 3y agoI find it bizarre to say "Arisu layout" and "ergonomic" in the same sentence. The layout looks cool. The only two ergonomic things about it are that the letters are slightly split apart, and slightly at an angle. (The thumb gets to press more keys than on a standard keyboard, but not as many as on better keyboards). The layouts tend to have weird features, stuff like: the digit for 6 is placed on the left-hand side; or that it's got pinky-finger modifiers, but not 3 on each side. Many layouts also drop the function row (indicating users are expected to use layers), but retain a nav cluster. - The layout of the alphabetical keys is also weirdly asymmetric.
- Gualdrapo 3y agoI have a Logitech MX Keys too. Though when I got it I also had some concerns about how charging it would be a odd experience, after 1.5 years or so of usage I just have to charge it in like each 3 months - and still you get to use it while it's charging. I don't use the backlight feature so I guess for other people that time between charging can be shorter. I haven't had the need to disassemble it for cleaning so I use a small brush to remove crumbs and stuff. Sometimes I too feel that it is large, but still the numpad is convenient. The alternative would be a 'compact' design but I don't like how they cram the Enter key in a single row and make the up and down keys half of the height of a normal key. My complain against it is its privative nature - with Linux, you can't use the screen brightness keys unless you install something like Logiops or Solaar. Alas I've found Logips a bit buggy so when you're running it the mouse wheel becomes really glitchy so you have to restart it. I'd like it to have one of these wheels some keyboards have to control volume or something else, a second Meta key and that one could make it so when powering it up it started with no backlight.
- criddell 3y agoA long time ago at work, I was given a Logitech K750. It is powered by solar cells which charge an internal battery. It works so well, I don't understand why there aren't more solar powered keyboards. I ended up buying the same keyboard for home and I really enjoy typing on it. My only complaint is that it's difficult to remove the keycaps for cleaning and some dust somehow got inside and I can see it on the little solar panels. Typing preferences are very subjective, but I've grown to really enjoy working on this keyboard. I've used it so much that the texture has pretty much worn off of most of the keys and I'm starting to lose the printed letters on the key caps. I've thought about buying a few replacements and storing them because no product is sold forever...
- Jackevansevo 3y agoI owned one of these, and decided to omit it from the list (it came before my first Cherry board). It was a really good board. But I remember it having quite a lot of flex in the plastic. My letters wore off pretty quickly and frustratingly the solar cells eventually died and the thing stopped charging all together.
- frameset 3y agoI really don't understand the numpad-less trend of fashionable keyboards. Doing any kind of number entry beyond one or two digits is very annoying without one. They also don't take up that much space really. If your keyboard is a portable one you pack with you on trips, I get it. If it lives on a desk, why not splash out the small amount extra to make number entry much easier.
- sime2009 3y ago* reduces the distance from keyboard home row to mouse * less desk real estate needed * many of us aren't doing much number entry at all
- gorjusborg 3y agoAlso, the number pad is pretty useless to me. I am not a cashier or accountant. The top row is fine fine for programming.
- bityard 3y agoPeople who work at all with ipv4 networks (devops, sre, sysadmin, netadmin) find themselves entering IP addresses on most regular days.
- sleepybrett 3y agoI just bought a little mechanical keypad kit off alliexpress, nice alu case, bluetooth... I drag it down when I need it, which is mostly for when I'm doing CAD.
- doubled112 3y agoI am a sysadmin who thought I wanted a numpad, but it turns out I want the desk space and ability to toss the keyboard to the side more.
- jrockway 3y agoThe numberpad needs abcdef and : to be IPv6 ready.
- formvoltron 3y agoI would go for the apple magic keyboard, except for that arrow key cluster. Had a macbook with those once and hated it. Good that the author pointed out the inability of removing keys to clean with the Logi MX. I'd have sprung for that but dislike anything that is potentially going to become garbage.
- tqwhite 3y agoI used UV cure glue to put small dots on the little arrow keys. It totally solved the problem for me. Turns out my issue was that I couldn't be sure my fingers were on them and which one. The raised dots worked.
- zvmaz 3y agoI recently got a Keychron Q11 split keyboard. The quality of the keyboard is so good that I think the people involved in making these keyboards must be truly keyboard lovers.
- Jackevansevo 3y agoIf I ever went back down the split keyboard route, I think I'd have to go all the way and get something ergonomic like the ergodox boards.
- Filligree 3y agoAre the keys less squeaky now? I've got an older Keychron, and it's great ... so long as I'm wearing headphones.
- chrsw 3y agoI have a Keychron Q11 as well. I don't notice any key squeaking. It's a great keyboard, no serious flaws from what I can tell so far. My biggest issue with this keyboard is it doesn't have a tenting kit from the manufacturer.
- moondowner 3y agoThe Q and Q Pro series are a dream come true.
- EtienneK 3y agoLoving my Q3. Stock it's fine, but after I modding it quite extensively (new switches, keycaps, tape mod, foam, etc.) it's been amazing!
- stevev 3y agoYour enthusiasm for collecting and buying keyboards isn't considered unhealthy; it's akin to periodically upgrading a car. At best, it's comparable to exclusively sticking with sedans or small compact cars. Mechanical keyboards or building custom ones, especially those with Cherry MX keys, are where the excitement lies. You might not have had the chance to explore them all yet; there's an abundance of various types available.
- Aeolun 3y agoOne of the 5 keyboards on your list you used all the way through university, and there's only 2 keyboards after. This feels far from an unhealthy obsession to me.
- alias_neo 3y agoI have to admit, I was expecting something different when I saw the title. Just one of my hand-build, custom switch, aluminium-case, custom-firmware,"artisan" keycap, mechanical keyboards would buy all of those on OPs list, probably twice over. It's good that OP is keeping a lid on their keyboard buying habits (as with anything), but realistically, OP isn't even in the same _universe_ as the people with the _real_ unhealthy keyboard habits. There are/were people on the mechanical keyboard sub-reddit whose keyboard collections reach into the tens of thousands of dollars.
- Jackevansevo 3y agoCompared to a lot of programmers here, I totally agree (but my parents and girlfriend might disagree). But gotta generate that clickbait headline ;)
- bhdlr 3y agoDude hasn't even built his own keyboard, definitely not an obsession
- dhruvmittal 3y agoMore along the lines of what I was expecting to see here.
- kstrauser 3y agoAnd those look like default keycaps. If someone hasn't developed strong opinions on materials and double-shot markings, they're still at the "only on weekends when I've been drinking" stage.
- hinkley 3y agoI think obsession requires you lamenting what's wrong with a keyboard you already built and how you're going to fix it all 'next time'. Although if you can hold forth on how to find old keyboards on eBay, that may also qualify.
- theandrewbailey 3y agoI've been using a Das Keyboard 4 Ultimate (the blank one) for almost 10 years. I liked it so much that I soon got another for work. While I have looked at other keyboards, I've never wanted to replace either one.
- INTPenis 3y agoAll my best keyboards have been given to me. All my worst keyboards have been purchased by me. My first job was very much a garage shop web hosting business so I just rummaged through the boxes and found an old IBM model M (not realizing its later cult status). At another later job I just grabbed a full length apple keyboard with numpad that was laying around. During boring times at that job I placed in top 20 at typeracer with that keyboard. Whenever I tried to be like other nerd friends and buy a cool nerdy clicketyclack keyboard I always ended up disappointed. Now the last 15 years or so I mostly used Thinkpad keyboards and they're just fine.
- elyobo 3y agoThe MS Sculpt keyboard is great, the weird mouse that comes with it too.
- konfusinomicon 3y agoonce you go split your never gonna quit
- marginalia_nu 3y agoBest keyboard I ever had was the Logitech Ultra-X. There's nothing "cool" about it, it used scissor switches was full size, but holy crap was it ever a delight to type on. Felt a lot like you know, a ~2000s thinkpad keyboard, low profile concave caps, like how laptops felt before every laptop became a crappy macbook clone with flat keycaps. It went out of production like a decade or more ago and nothing has been close to the same ever since.
- baz00 3y agoThat's hardly any. I think I get 9 months out of a keyboard. Currently using a Cherry Stream TKL. Probably the best keyboard I've had for years and it was dirt cheap.
- javier_e06 3y agoI never understood the Mac keyboards. For me a are a sensory deprivation chamber. I am wielding a ROG Falchion Green Cherry MX Gaming Keyboard. Is a backlit keyboard with good feedback and sound. But there is a hollow sound to the keys that is not ideal. My favorite keyboard I cannot use because is not backlit. The CoolerMaster Storm QuickFire Rapid - Tenkeyless. The keys are so smooth to the touch and there is a slight high pitch to the keys action sound. Very solid action. My precious. I love it. I cannot use it in the dark. It is a discontinued model. :(
- me_me_me 3y ago> My favorite keyboard I cannot use because is not backlit Out of curiosity, why not?
- javier_e06 3y agoBecause they are all compact keyboards so some of keys have multiple functions and not in the usual places so at night I don't want to turn of the lights.
- have_faith 3y ago> I never understood the Mac keyboards I actually prefer them to most keyboards. I wish I could make the full size one tenkeyless, not a fan of the cramped smaller one.
- bbkane 3y agoI wish I could turn the smaller one into a split keyboard.
- japhyr 3y agoMy favorite keyboards are not backlit, and I was frustrated to have to put them aside after sunset. I ended up getting a small battery powered light and attaching it to the bottom of my desk. It shines on my lap, and lets me use non-backlit keyboards without any other lights on. Is that an option for you?
- nurettin 3y agoFound a Logitech keyboard with no missing keys next to a dumpster back in 2007. I took it home, cleaned it up, replaced the torn and tattered USB cable, been using it since then. Whenever someone complains about their keyboard Bluetooth not connecting, or their batteries dying, I gently raise it in the air and point at it.
- gainda 3y agountil you start spending hundreds on a single board and obsess about switches, keycaps, materials, acoustics, etc. it is not unhealthy at all !
- jamesgreenleaf 3y agoIt's not unhealthy until you buy a Topre.
- EtienneK 3y agoI was expecting to see 10s of keyboards as you'd see from most in r/MechanicalKeyboards and was disappointed to only find 5. Not an unhealthy relationship at all!
- coreyh14444 3y agoI was going to do the Crocodile Dundee "That's not a knife, this is a knife" routine on this one. Taeha Types, Glarses, Hipyo Tech, Switch and Click, et al, would like to have a word.
- coreyh14444 3y agoAnd I'm typing this on a fully custom, hand soldered, hand lubed, modded Maja V2 from KBDFans and MT3 keycaps from Drop. Easily costs more than all those boards in that post combined. And let's just say this is not my only keyboard.
- J_Shelby_J 3y agoIt’s a neat hobby! Honestly, all you really need is to lube the switches. That’s biggest benefit. A lubed mechanical switch, even the cheapest generic red, out performs anything off the shelf.
- coreyh14444 3y agoTotally agree. You can take a basic mechanical keyboard from Amazon with hot swap switches, lube them. Maybe do a basic tape mod (just put masking tape on the back of the PCB) and get like 85% of the benefit of a high end keyboard. This is what I've done for the rest of my family's keyboards.
- wellthisisgreat 3y agoWhat does the tape mod do?
- Const-me 3y agoThe best keyboard I ever had was Velocifire VM02WS. It has mechanical brown switches, and it worked flawlessly for more than 5 years. Then the left control key broke down. The rest of the keyboards I have used, no matter mechanical or not, failed after 1-2 years of use. Typically, it was the left control key. Currently I’m using some gamer-targeted keyboard with ridiculous blue LEDs which had “more than 15 million cycles” label on the box. So far so good, but I liked the mechanical ones better.
- azemetre 3y agoNice to see the Noppoo Choc Mini! I had the same keyboard, got me through 5 years of starcraft 2 and another 5 years of brood war remastered. Had to retire it when I stopped playing starcraft and now use a kinesis advantage360 pro when working/programming. If you haven't used a split keyboard, I highly recommend it! It feels way more natural typing and less stressful on your wrists. I still use a kinesis freestyle 2 on my desktop pc, good enough for most games too. It feels alien at first but you quickly adapt. It's also not hard to go back and forth between the different types of keyboards.
- bbkane 3y agoTook me a solid month do adapt, but really glad I put the time in!!
- bogdan 3y agoA white noppoo choc mini was my introduction to mechanical keyboards, I still have it and it works without any issues but it now sits in my cabinet next to my desk. Got it because Reckful (RIP) had one and was doing a lot of typeracer back then and I liked the click/clack sounds it made. Nowadays I'm using a Ducky DK2108 with a set of double-shot PBT keycaps, the keyboard is indestructible and looks brand new, can't justify replacing it.
- swah 3y agoI've been trying to buy a Kinesis for a few years now, but they always go for 200 USD used in Ebay.
- eYrKEC2 3y agoThey're very expensive for a keyboard. However, for a device that I use 50 hours a week -- not so expensive. If you're a software engineer, you probably use your car a lot less than your keyboard. You _probably_ spent north of $20k for your car and you use it for ~7 hours per week, max? $350 is nothing for a primary tool of your trade.
- swah 3y ago
- FridgeSeal 3y agoThe author should try a keychron- variety of switch/key profiles available-including low profile, supports Bluetooth and cable, and Mac and windows key layout, via subtle little side switches, cones with platform-specific spare keys for CMD/option etc. Comes in a variety of sizes and the newest ones are fully programmable, should you want to go down that particular rabbit hole. The build quality is also solid.
- Paianni 3y agoI lost money on two Cherry switch boards until I got an HHKB Pro2. I feel no need to change.
- ContrabandNews 3y agoHow is using the arrows? I had a poker 2 that had arrows on the wasd but that seems a bit easier as the arrows were away from the hand that was hitting the function key.
- correlator 3y agoYou get used to the layer keys for arrows within a day or two.
- ContrabandNews 3y agoWent ahead and ordered one. Thanks for the reply!
- rgoulter 3y agoMany recommendations that "split" is a good property to have on a keyboard. I'd add that it's a good idea to get a keyboard where your thumbs get to use two or three keys each. Most keyboards have a big spacebar, and so the thumbs can't do much from home row. (And then useful keys like backspace, enter, escape require reaching/stretching/using pinky fingers).
- pashariger 3y agoPro tip: I use a mix of Mac and Windows with Apple's magic keyboard. The way I fixed the key layout issue was to swap the mapping of the CMD and CTRL keys on the Windows machine. (used a utility called SharpKeys, but Windows may now have a built in way to do this) It feels pretty much seamless. I'm also using the magic trackpad on Windows - the ability to pinch zoom, pan and scroll is just as functional and awesome as it is on the Mac.
- tqwhite 3y agoPS, I have never been able to understand the Windows control key placement. You have to use it all the time but it's off to the far side. It has to be pressed with the tiniest, weakest finger. I'm mostly a Mac guy but have spent lots of time using Windows and I still have to pause to place my finger on the control key. For the same thing, I press the command key on my Mac with my thumb. I can't miss it, my fingers naturally spread out over the keyboard for the second keypress and my thumb is strong. After many years, it still seems goofy to me.
- bloopernova 3y agoRemap caps lock to control. Should make your life a little bit easier.
- koromak 3y agoI splurged and bought a 400$ keyboard. Its so stupid and I love it so much. It feels like a piece of heavy machinery. I'd say the mechanicalkeyboard crowd is a little more unhealthy. People in that world drop thousands a year on keyboards they'll use twice.
- japhyr 3y agoWhich one did you get?
- koromak 3y agoMode Envoy, all copper internals. Not 400$, but with extra switches and keycaps its around there. I love the look and feel. The sound is a little thin, and I find the "lattice block" mounting system to be basically irrelevant marketing material, at least with a heavy plate. Still highly recommend though.
- eYrKEC2 3y agoI've seen people drop $120k on a Ford Raptor truck and then never put a single load of lumber, bark, or dirt in the bed.
- morjom 3y agoMy journey so far has been (24yo): The keyboard on my dads HP laptop Generic keyboard that came with my familys first home computer (WinXP) A Logitech Ergo version who knows Logitech G110 Logitech G15 Razer Arctosa Razer Blackwidow 2013 (first mechanical) Misc. Tesoro brand keyboard Mistel Barocco MD600 (split) ROG Claymore (removable and sideswappable numpad) Keychron K3v2 <- now Next might be a printed -dactyl or moonlander.
- yonaguska 3y agoI have a moonlander, and it's great, but now I want a dactyl.so make of that what you will. I got the moonlander thinking it would be more mobile, and it's not. it's great if you're looking for something finished that feels durable, but then at that price point- the glove80 is out and it's wireless. the zsa key config tool is amazing though.
- ftxbro 3y ago> I likely write a follow up post about my criteria and reserach and perhaps a follow up review if I end up pulling the trigger. I feel like people who use the phrase 'pulling the trigger' in this way have an unhealthy relationship with shopping. They are shopping for dopamine and they are like the ones who have a hundred of the same hat and when they need more dopamine they buy that hat again.
- Jackevansevo 3y agoYou're thus far the only hacker news commenter to agree (somewhat) with the 'unhealthy' premise of the article.
- nullptr_deref 3y agoI was genuinely hoping to see something weird like how you designed your custom PCBs and made a simple ergonomic keyboard for yourself. How you transitioned the mortal plane into a weird keyboard realm. For context: https:/www.youtube.com/@BenVallack/ The channel is about pure keyboard obsession. Please share it with your family to show them that you are no where obsessed with the keyboards!
- bbbobbb 3y agoWhile I prefer wired keyboard as well (due to not having to deal with pairing / connection issues), this argument I don't understand: > Firstly the board is completely wireless, which means I have to charge it via USB-C. As I'm sat practically tethered to my desk all day a permanently wired option would actually be more convenient as it would save me to the hassle of charging. Then plug the USB-C cable in permanently? How is it different from it having a wired keyboard?
- CorrectHorseBat 3y agoMaybe it doesn't work when charging? That's the case with some devices
- Jackevansevo 3y agoPlugging in the USB-C cable is for charging only, so it would still be a wireless connection. I'd still need to connect via bluetooth or the Logitech dongle. I won't get any of the benefits i.e. latency / lower power consumption of using a wired connection. I also have concerns about the charger degrading the battery if it's completely plugged in.
- bbbobbb 3y agoRight, I only meant in regard of inconvenience of having to charge it.
- grumblingdev 3y agoFYI: You can put a low-profile mechanical keyboard on top of your MacBook built-in keyboard and it works great. I use the Keychron K1 Pro with Brown Gateron switches. It's an 80% (ten-key-less / TKL). I needed this one because I use the right shift key a lot and it has a full-size one whereas the 75% is shortened. You get used to the slightly different layout very quickly. You might swap back and forth a bit but when you go to bed you will start dreaming about typing on it. You will even enjoy doing typing races just to press the keys. Another new one just released is the NuPhy Air75V2. It's a real addiction!
- walthamstow 3y agoLove the Keychron. I wanted a mech keyboard without getting lost in the whole world. My one requirement was bluetooth and the Keychron was the cheapest, non-ugly option that had it. TKL, with F-keys but no numpad, is the ideal size for me. Looking at the NuPhy now...
- grumblingdev 3y agoI ordered the NuPhy with Cowberry and Aloe linear switches so I have a more quiet keyboard I can use at night. I am lost :D
- fadedsignal 3y agoNuphy Air75v2 is the best. Looking forward to receive mine in few days!
- grumblingdev 3y agoFYI: The shipping date was pushed back - check the website.
- ddanieltan 3y agoI've been very happy with my Keychron K3 pro so far. I'm quite surprised there aren't more options for low profile mechanical keyboards (besides Keychron and Nuphy) as I always though the portability of a keyboard as 1 of the most important features for modern day usage and commuting.
- huimang 3y agoNice article but this isn't an unhealthy relationship at all. They haven't gone down the rabbit hole of r/mechanicalkeyboards and/or r/ergomechkeyboards, or even built their own keyboard.
- ubermonkey 3y agoThat seems like an entirely healthy progression! I used a Kinesis Advantage -- the goofy one, with the inverts wells for each hand -- for like 12 or 15 years. It's GREAT ... but it's big. A couple years ago I got a Keychron to use with my iPad, and because it was shiny, though, and it's comfy enough that I've been using it as my daily driver since soon after. I intended to change things up periodically, but it's so nice and compact, and the switches feel so nice, that I haven't gone back to the Kinesis. However, the Keychron is LOUD, so I also have a compact Apple keyboard I swap in for notetaking on conference calls. :)
- jasoneckert 3y agoI've also had - and collect - an insane amount of keyboards, much like my musician friends collect instruments. I have 46 keyboards currently - mostly TKL mechanical (Cherry/Topre/Kailh/Gateron), a Moonlander, and some Apple, Microsoft and Logitech. But the only keyboard I actually use for my work is a Lenovo TrackPoint II Bluetooth keyboard (best keyboard ever made IMO).
- wellthisisgreat 3y agoI think 46 takes the cake in this whole comment section
- daniiln 3y agoI used the first version of Lenovo TrackPoint keyboard for years, before I switched to Tex Yoda 2, which is pretty much a Mechanical Thinkpad keyboard, and never looked back. This brand (Tex) pretty much the only brand that makes high quality keyboards with trackpoints.
- daft_pink 3y agoI literally have at least 20 different mechanical keyboards and about 4 on each desk at any different time. My wife used to ask why I need so many keyboards, because I only have two hands. But she backed off when I replied with why does she need so many shoes when she only has two feet.
- oooyay 3y ago> Because it's compatible with multiple OS's I use it for work on my company issued Macbook and personal usage on my own Linux machine. Underrated line in the article. I have such a problem selecting keyboards because I use MacOS and Linux. I have the same problem with KVMs as the two use two different ways of outputting a screen. I exclusively use Keychrons at this point for both gaming and work.
- pxc 3y ago? Just use any normal keyboard. Do nothing at all to configure the layout on Linux, and on Mac, configure the OS to swap the command and option keys for that keyboard.
- stusmall 3y agoI'm glad I'm not the only one who had that jump out to them. I don't think I've ever had any OS specific functionality with a keyboard. Looking at the USB HID scan code list I can't even think what I'd want out of a keyboard that isn't already covered.
- pxc 3y agoThe built-in macOS functionality for remapping modifier keys so that 'PC' keyboards behave as expected in macOS is relatively new, so maybe longstanding macOS users are less aware of it. But third party apps did have the capability to retrofit that into macOS before Apple added that feature, as well.
- mmphosis 3y agoI am a longstanding Mac OS X user that wishes Linux had an easy way to remap modifier keys. For now, I've settled on having keyd installed: /etc/keyd/default.conf [ids] * [main] leftalt = layer(control) leftcontrol = layer(alt) With AutoKey, I can swap Alt and Ctrl keys for Terminal apps and make my remapped ⌘C and ⌘V work as I expect.
- namrog84 3y agoHey keyboard and computer enthusiast! I need your help! Any other keyboard I've ever tried hurts my wrists, arm, and back, and causes me pain except the "Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000". However they were discontinued years ago. :( I've been buying up used ones and learning how to disassemble and repair the ones I have the best I can, but my skills are limited. If anyone has any (unopened) ones or knows of good replacements or how to make a new replacement (with same layout). I'd be incredibly grateful. Most alternatives don't really have the wrist/angle support which is the #1. Then the arrow keys/home/pgup pgdn keys is next most important, and lastly the numpad and F1-F12 row keys. I don't care about special top row buttons or any of the 'special' keys on it. Also, before people mention it, the Arisu or Feker Alice layout keyboards is nothing at all like the same wrist/angle support, it's basically just a split keyboard. :/ Most suggestions have missed the whole point of wrist/angle support being the issue. I don't mind it being mechanical or anything so long as it's the basically the same layout/angle as the Microsoft ergo 4000. The replacement 'Microsoft ergonomic keyboard' non 4000 is 'okayish' but not as good as 4000. Other than those 2, I've never found one even remotely close to my needs. Thanks! <3
- chrisco255 3y agoThis is what I personally use: https://www.zsa.io/moonlander/ https://www.zsa.io/moonlander/. The angle and pitch are totally customizable. Fantastic highly modifiable keyboard.
- namrog84 3y agoThat's definitely an interesting one I hadn't seen before. I game a lot, so some of the features like the offset ASD(though this might be better?) and lack of bigger caps/tabs/shift/ctrl are definitely concerns for me here. I'll definitely keep it on my shirt list of keyboards to maybe try out one day.
- chrisco255 3y agoI game a lot too. You can remap everything on that keyboard from a simple UI tool, and even toggle between "layers" for things like custom profiles for each game you might play (and any macros you want to assign to specific keys). It did take me a couple of days to get used to the layout before I started to surpass my previous wpm, but it was worth the investment.
- pca006132 3y agoUnhealthy relationship with keyboards? Comparing with the r/MechanicalKeyboards or r/ErgoMechKeyboards people this relationship is more like divorced... I added python binding and ended up being on of the devs for https://github.com/elalish/manifold https://github.com/elalish/manifold because OpenSCAD is too slow for my modeling (I am quite impatient). Optimizing my keyboard for months with more than 5 complete rebuilds to optimize my design (looks like this: https://i.redd.it/xtf0f54mt7ya1.jpg https://i.redd.it/xtf0f54mt7ya1.jpg), and is afraid of open sourcing it because my code looks too bad :(
- bschwindHN 3y agoThat's funny, I started a CadQuery alternative in Rust after I created a keyboard and wanted a case for it. Crazy what a simple input device will make you learn!
- wellthisisgreat 3y agoHey how do you like the tented thumb cluster? Have you used the boards with untended one? not Ergodox but something with an actually decent thumb cluster? Also - open source it!! Ppl will be def very thankful and the code quality is secondary VS not open sourcing (if you were so inclined). I am def very interested in that cluster design - how you managed it on PCB level
- pca006132 3y agoI only tried redox, I think a tented thumb cluster does feel better comparing with the untended one. Not sure about other kinds of thumb clusters though. It is currently written in Python, I guess I should port it to js because we have a online js demo. It is purely 3D printed and handwired, I did not make a PCB for it because it is hard to generate the PCB in a parameterized way. I think if you want to make a PCB, you can do it with some kind of flexible PCB with a socket (like those monitor wires)
- heresie-dabord 3y agoTo my mind, an unhealthy relationship with a keyboard comes down to an unhealthy keyboard design. My criteria for a healthy keyboard, ordered by importance DESC: * ergonomic with split ( e.g. Goldtouch , MSFT Natural series , Adesso) * backlit * silent but with durable switches (there is enough noise in the world) * Bluetooth or unified receiver for both mouse and keyboard ( e.g. Logitech ) * if there is a trackball or touchpad, there must also be buttons to maintain full drag-drop and copy-paste functionality Rather than fuss about the switches, I recommend that coders assemble a reliable set of ergonomic components (portable LCD, keyboard) that connect to $somebox via a docking station. $someboxen will come and go, but aim to preserve comfort and safety.
- someplaceguy 3y agoMy unhealthy relationship with keyboards came to an end as soon as I bought my first Keychron keyboard with a knob (Q-series). After using this keyboard, I can't imagine ever buying another keyboard without a knob. It's really great to control your audio volume with an appropriate hardware control rather than pressing the same key 15 times in a row like an idiot or fiddling around with the mouse. You can configure the knob (or any key) to do different things with different key combinations, at the hardware level even (with the Via tool), so you don't have to configure multiple OSes one-by-one to do the same thing. I've configured Alt+Knob rotation to control my screen brightness, which I adjust multiple times per day. You can also configure it to control the zoom, or move the mouse, etc. The knob also functions as an additional key if you press it downwards. I think by default it is configured to mute (which makes sense, since by default a knob rotation without any other key combination controls the audio volume). When you go look for keyboards with a knob you won't find many, and the Keychron keyboards (Q-series and Q Pro-series, the latter being both wired and wireless), are really the best there is AFAIK (unless you create your own, perhaps).
- gainda 3y agoi use the gmmk pro myself and i really enjoy the knob. i ended up buying a second one just for work bc they weigh a ton and i wasn't going to constantly lug it around
- Night_Thastus 3y agoI liked Glorious, and bought 2 of their keyboards. But I feel REALLY burned by the original GMMK. * The metal shell has very sharp edges, which has damaged every surface it's been on. * The quality of the cord is very low, and is terribly frayed now * The silver accents on the edges appear to be very thin, and have worn off and made the whole thing look dingy I don't think I'll buy another of their products. Maybe the GMMK Pro is better, but it's also a lot more expensive.
- gainda 3y agototally understandable and if that happened to me i would also be very averse to trying the pro (but this is my first product with them). thankfully the quality hasn't let me down so far. my only mistake was trying a pre-lubed option on one just for the heck of it and it was def over-lubed.
- mattlondon 3y agoI personally prefer the low-profile chiclet keys over mechanical so it was refreshing to see someone "turn their back" on mechanical keyboards too. Something about the low-profile keys just cannot be beaten. I've tried many mechanical keyboards and switches over the years and frankly nothing comes close in terms of typing ergonomics of a low-profile chiclet keyboard. </unpopular-opinion> I've found that Cherry make a semi-decent low-profile Mac-style chiclet wired keyboard that costs approx £30. It is Cherry of keyboard-switch-fame, but it is scissor switches and not mechanical. Build wise it is pretty solid and good replacement to my old mac chiclet keyboard: https://www.cherry.co.uk/kc-6000-slim https://www.cherry.co.uk/kc-6000-slim I've been using it for several years now and I've very pleased with it.
- hilbert42 3y agoFYI, there's a somewhat related topic at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37630804 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37630804 concerning the difficulties of editing text on a mobile under the heading Text editing on mobile: the invisible problem. As is my usual wont, I had a long rave about such matters but one of the points I raised that may interest those here was the lack of Bluetooth keyboards, especially the more portable types with good mechanical switches. After posting, I thought I'd better do a updated search to see if the market had improved and I've just discovered a complete range of keyboards of which I was unaware, namely NuPhy https://nuphy.com/ https://nuphy.com/ (perhaps I'm a member of the mushroom club and the last to know). Anyway, it seems the market has improved significantly in the last year or so since I last looked. There's good range of KBs with combo Bluetooth 5.0 + wireless + USB-C cable + hot-swappable keys/key types. Some reviews seem favorable but I'd be interested to hear experiences from others who've actually used them.
- someplaceguy 3y agoKeychron also has many keyboards with Bluetooth + USB-C cable -- the ones with "Pro" in the name, I think. I am personally a fan of the "Q" or "Q Pro" series (because of the knob), but there are other lines. I think all of them have hot-swappable keys and many of them even have hot-swappable mechanical switches, I think. In most of their keyboards, all the keys (and key combinations) are fully configurable at the hardware level as well. I can vouch for the quality of the ones I have (Q3), but mine don't have Bluetooth so I don't know how well that works.
- hilbert42 3y agoAh, thanks for that. Just had a quick look at the site, seems I've much reading to do.
- someplaceguy 3y agoOh, based on your previous comment, I should also say that the one I have is really heavy, which is not great for carrying around everywhere. Apart from that I really like it.
- Justsignedup 3y agoI recently bought https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBWJ9SKX https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBWJ9SKX ($35 USD) which I was skeptical about since cheap mechanical keyboards tend to be shitty (I tried quite a few). But this one has been absolutely amazing, so much so, that I prefer it to many $100 keyboards, and has been absolutely amazing for work (the nice brown feel, with a very muted sound). I wish for $10-15 more they had a full version, but this one is great as well. In any case, thought I'd share. Also when he said "after uni... covid lockdown" really made me feel old :P For those reading, cherry brown or equivalent switches are your friend. I used to use blues with the clicky sound (browns are like blues without the sound) and I can tell you the blues got my keyboard kicked out of work AND my fiance threatened to beat me with it. Those blue sounds are bad bad bad for others, all jokes aside.
- Jackevansevo 3y agoAuthor here, funnily enough that's one of the keyboards I had my eyes on! (I have that very linked pinned my browser right now). Was holding off until some more depth reviews came out, so far I'd only seen unboxing / first impression videos / reviews. So it's good to see you'd have a good experience with this board. Might have to wait a few months until I'm back in my home country, I'm in Brazil rn and the import tax is more than the price of the keyboard. Was worried that it wouldn't hold up to something more premium and I'd have to fork out some additional cash to get that experience. But from what you've mentioned it sounds like it's pretty good for the price. Sorry for making you feel old!
- Justsignedup 3y agoDude, I cannot recommend this enough. Typing this response on it. Love it. Just get it. Its $35, if you don't like it you only wasted $35, not like one of those 100-300 keyboards. Also nah, I'll feel old no matter what :P
- nkantar 3y agoMy experimentation largely ended when I got an ErgoDox EZ a few years ago. Ergonomic + ortholinear has been life changing, and it’s hard to go back, even for relatively short bursts on the built-in laptop keyboard itself. I recently got an OLKB Planck to see if I like it enough to travel with it, as the ErgoDox is a bit hefty for that use case.
- tomduncalf 3y agoBig fan of the MS Sculpt myself. I like the "MacBook-esque" low profile keys. The only downsides are: - I've had keycaps fall off after a couple of years and they're almost impossible to get back on (for me at least). The second time this happened I realised it had a 3 year warranty though, so got a replacement. - It requires a dongle rather than Bluetooth, and if you lose the dongle, you're screwed, as they're paired in the factory and can't be reconfigured. Are there any other similar keyboards worth considering? Must be wireless, low profile keys and split layout. The Logitech K860 looks alright but I don't need or want the numpad really (I like having my Magic Trackpad closer).
- fallat 3y agoI honestly hope to god MS continues to produce these keyboards. It's the only keyboard I've rebought because I love it so much. The ergonomic tilt both inward and upward, with the scissor switch keys, all for $100, is f'ing incredible. This is the defacto keyboard I recommend to everyone who types a ton a day.
- tomduncalf 3y agoAgree, I almost want to stockpile them in case they ever do stop making them haha
- krackers 3y ago>I realised it had a 3 year warranty though, so got a replacement. Who did you contact to get the warranty? Forums online seem to indicate that MS support is basically non-existent. As for keycaps, they're similar to macbook pro keycaps in that if the underlying plastic hook is broken, the keycaps won't stay in no matter what. Luckily the plastic hook is also replaceable, the only thing that you never want to break is the rubber nub. There's a much bigger downside with the ms keyboard, it's the fact that there's an actual bug with the keyboard matrix or something. I don't understand the details, but if you type "SELECT" (all caps) fast enough, you will notice that the second "c" comes out lowercase.
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- bdcravens 3y agoI've played around with so many keyboards, but I'm at a point now where workflow is more important to me. Personally I find the MX Keys to be the best keyboard I've ever put my hands on, but I really like the fingerprint reader in the Apple keyboards. (One day I may take on the project of extracting the fingerprint reader: https://hackaday.com/2022/12/26/standalone-touch-id-for-your-desktop-mac/ https://hackaday.com/2022/12/26/standalone-touch-id-for-your...)
- tqwhite 3y agoFingerprint reader on keyboard == AWESOME
- whatever1 3y agoI want a keyboard with a touchpad beneath the space bar, like the laptops. It is very nice to have everything in front of you and have space on your right / left for a paper notebook. There is nothing out there.
- Whatarethese 3y agoNot sure if you use Mac OS but people have designed this https://www.printables.com/model/61596-magic-keyboard-and-trackpad-thing https://www.printables.com/model/61596-magic-keyboard-and-tr...
- whatever1 3y agoYep I have a similar one [1]. But the experience is honestly janky. The magic touchpad does not do palm rejection like the MacBooks do, and the whole thing is very thick and heavy. [1]https://www.etsy.com/listing/783328345/the-tre-o-apple-bluetooth-magic-trackpad?click_key=6628833ada2651f060edfd6f770f148aa801f60f%3A783328345&click_sum=ed5c89ce&external=1&ref=landingpage_similar_listing_top-1&frs=1 https://www.etsy.com/listing/783328345/the-tre-o-apple-bluet...
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- nprateem 3y agoI'm looking for a programmable (ZMK/QMK) split ergo ortholinear keyboard that uses low travel macbook-style keys and can be custom tented. Any suggestions?
- rcarr 3y agoClosest thing is probably the ZSA Voyager, but choc keys + case is still a fair bit higher than a Magic Keyboard
- nprateem 3y agoIf Apple made a split ergo programmable keyboard I'd probably buy one. It's kind of weird to me all the ergo mech crowd have latched onto the mech part, when I'm sure there are others like me who want split ergo and low profile :/
- rcarr 3y agoI feel exactly the same way but it's highly unlikely. I do think that we will see some kind of gesture recognition tech built into the Apple watch which will allow us to type without any keyboard at all. There's already a product on the market that does this called the TapXR and I think with the push towards VR and AR and the need for a solution for typing in these programs when you're not at a desk, this is coming sooner or later. We've already seen the early stages of this with the new gesture for answering phone calls on the latest Apple watches. https://www.tapwithus.com/product/tap-xr/ https://www.tapwithus.com/product/tap-xr/
- zigzag312 3y agoI love having a narrow keyboard (due to ergonomics), but I wish that at least some models would be a row deeper and keep the function keys.
- rewmie 3y ago> (...) I wish that at least some models would be a row deeper and keep the function keys. I think you might be looking for a keyboard form factor called 75% keyboard, or even a tenkeyless.
- zigzag312 3y agoI had one 75% keyboard, but didn't like that extra column on the right. Now I have a custom build (6x14 keys) keyboard (much better IMHO).
- rewmie 3y ago> Now I have a custom build (6x14 keys) keyboard (much better IMHO). That sounds cool. Can you share more details about that?
- zigzag312 3y agoI used BFO-9000 PCB which allows to break off some rows/columns. So, it's actually a split keyboard with two 6x7 pieces and low profile switches. I like the narrow width and number of available keys. Keycaps are black & white, but what I miss is different shapes of keycaps for easier tactile orientation. As a workaround I added keycaps with tactile nubs to some extra keys (enter, backspace, alt & tab). It helps, but it's not as good as different shapes would be.
- beauHD 3y ago> Firstly the board is completely wireless What are people's thoughts on wireless keyboards? For me they're potentially leaky and it's trivial to intercept the keystrokes via EMF capture. My threat model is such that any bad actor can do an EMF capture and glean master passphrases and other sensitive data. So I avoid them. No radios, wired only.
- jodrellblank 3y agoI have a slightly different keyboard relationship; I used to browse the Typing Injury FAQ of alternative keyboard designs[1] and fell for the idea of chording keyboards and mobile devices like the DataEgg[2] (I still wonder if chording could be useful on multitouch mobile devices), then for mechanical IBM Model M, then for split Microsoft Natural, then if you're going to split for each hand, don't half-arse it, whole-arse it with the DataHand[3] and its opto-magnetic switches. Then why not type faster like a court reporter, with Stenography and keyboards which support n-key rollover so they can be used with Plover[4]. Actually, what I most like is a flat keyboard with full keys and arrows and separate F keys and numeric keypad. Because most of what I'm doing is not entering long-form English literature, it's text and key combinations and numbers and arrows and symbols and mouse clicks and holding a phone and anything which requires the concentration of a weird entry system, or needs both hands in just the right places, or cuts out lots of keys to look stylish or take up less desk space or squash keys together to fit on a laptop, or change the alignment of keys weirdly, or assume everyone has prehensile thumbs which can take 90% of the key load on their own, or disregard years of muscle memory for a little temporary fashion, are ... worse. [1] http://www.tifaq.org/keyboards.html http://www.tifaq.org/keyboards.html - look at the links down the left side menu. [2] https://friedmanarchives.com/dataegg/index.html https://friedmanarchives.com/dataegg/index.html see also AgendA https://friedmanarchives.com/dataegg/History.html https://friedmanarchives.com/dataegg/History.html and Twiddler2 - https://www.researchgate.net/figure/HandyKey-Twiddler-2-Chord-Keyboard-left-Concept-for-Chord-Keyboard-right_fig5_266404982 https://www.researchgate.net/figure/HandyKey-Twiddler-2-Chor... [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DataHand https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DataHand [4] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34298063 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34298063
- nprateem 3y agoYeah and those keyboards give some of us RSI.
- jodrellblank 3y agoWhich keyboards?
- moondev 3y agoI got excited thinking a keyboard named "choc mini" actually used "choc mini" switches. AKA "low" low profile switches. https://mkultra.click/choc-mini-low-low-profile-switches/ https://mkultra.click/choc-mini-low-low-profile-switches/ Alas the search continues
- GrumpyNl 3y agoMy favorite is the logitech k500. I like it so much, i have a few new spare ones in my closet.
- anotheraccount9 3y agoCurrently using a Ducky One 2 Mini with katakana caps. I'm waiting for another job offer to look for another model, as I expect the next one will be expensive.
- pxc 3y agoI'm pretty happy with the keyboards I have, but I just ordered 8BitDo's new mechanical keyboard anyway. Some things distinguishing it from my other mechanical keyboards atm: - wireless (both Bluetooth and with a dongle) - hardware volume dial - two giant, programmable, external buttons (maybe I can use these as Emacs pedals?) It also has the kind of curvature I like on a keyboard, like the Model M, which none of my other keyboards with Cherry-compatible switches do. It's only $100 and it looks very cute. Could be a good entrypoint for many! https://shop.8bitdo.com/products/8bitdo-retro-mechanical-keyboard https://shop.8bitdo.com/products/8bitdo-retro-mechanical-key...
- pxc 3y agoUpdate! I'd actually pre-ordered the thing some time ago, and I was looking forward to its arrival today. I'm writing this message from it (incidentally, from my phone, which is where I usually use HN). It's quite nice! The switches felt a bit light for me at first, but they're really quite good. I do find myself bottoming out the keys as I type, but the keyboard feels decently heavy, so the sound of bottoming out is quite pleasant. The curvature of the keyboard is unfortunately achieved in the usual way for modular, Cherry-compatible keyboards, which means differently-shaped keycaps rather than a curved backplate as on a Model M. This basically achieves the effect, but it means the keycaps on the board are not interchangeable, and it makes finding alternative keycaps a bit trickier. The amber power light is gorgeous! Overall I am very happy with it and glad to have a wireless option among my mechanical keyboards. :)
- apocalyptic0n3 3y agoI really wish there were more options out there with the Apple keyboard layout on the bottom row, notably with the right edge of the Command and X keys aligned. The Magic Keyboard is so comfortable to use on a Mac but the typing experience could definitely be improved.
- nomel 3y agoThis is the only keyboard I've been interested in: DataHand Original: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DataHand https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DataHand DIY: https://github.com/JesusFreke/lalboard https://github.com/JesusFreke/lalboard Using a single direction for activation, requiring massive movements in 2d space, seems so silly. I haven't been able to find one, to purchase. Related, I'm still learning how to use this one, since it's the only non-DIY equivalent I could find (great founder btw): https://www.charachorder.com/products/charachorder-one https://www.charachorder.com/products/charachorder-one It supports sequential and non-standard chords, mostly with x-y plane activation. Pushing down actually isn't used often.
- zapataband1 3y agoThat's pretty cool, my Kinesis might finally have a worthy rival
- wejn 3y agoWhy don’t you get a svalboard.com then? (It’s a commercialized next gen of lalboard)
- nomel 3y agoAmazing! Me not looking for a keyboard in the last four months in the only reason why.
- ecshafer 3y agoMX Keys is a great keyboard, if only for the quick switch between up to 3 saved devices. Work laptop, Desktop, Personal Laptop with the same keyboard and switching with a single key press is just a great feature.
- divbzero 3y ago> quick switch between up to 3 saved devices Is there a touchpad or a mouse with a similar feature?
- ecshafer 3y agoThe corresponding mouse, MX Master Mouse (I think is the name) from Logitech has the same feature. Its a button which cycles through the three saved devices, so 2->1 is 2 key presses so not exactly 1. But its really a great feature. Literally a killer feature for me that I don't know why everything doesn't have it.
- rcarr 3y agoI went down the split keyboard rabbit hole for a bit, starting with a ZSA moonlander followed by a corne and then a ferris sweep but ultimately came to the conclusion that it's just too much hassle. The former was way too bulky to take out and about and I couldn't find a layout on the latter two where I could navigate quickly - be that around my mac using stuff like "cmd+tab", "cmd+`" or around my editor using the cmd+arrow keys. The lack of keys meant you had to start using layers and everything was just slower. The latter two also moved about on the table a lot which was annoying. The only thing I'd consider trying in the future would be something like a Felix because you hardly have to sacrifice any keys. I'd only get one with low profile chocs or ideally Kaihl scissor switches, but these don't seem to have really made their way into the custom keyboard scene. Chocs plus the case still sits significantly higher than the Magic Keyboard which is bad for the wrists unless you've got some kind of wrist pad to make up the distance from the table. I've settled on using a Protoarc full-size folding keyboard which I'm seriously impressed with. Typing experience is almost identical to the full size Magic Keyboard but it costs a quarter of the price and is way more portable. I'm surprised that I always see the Arteck keyboard being used in videos and photos because I tried another folding keyboard with a similar layout and having to use the function button to hit escape and other keys was super annoying. Protoarc link for anyone interested: https://amzn.eu/d/iEGRsCC https://amzn.eu/d/iEGRsCC
- netcruiser 3y agoThat's nothing. I have 8 spare keyboards I still haven't used.
- dstudzinski 3y agoI will share my experience with keyboards. Maybe someone of you will find it useful. I was thinking about ergodox when I wanted to 'open' my rib cage/chest but I was afraid of uncomfortable position of thumb section so I chosen Redox wireless. I was not able to think about using standard keyboard again (but I had to used to it for some time - it's like juggling at the beginning - you have to 'split' your hands). Not split keyboard started to be strange to use because of strange position of hands but Redox was still quite big to carry around with laptop (but QMK and layers are great). Then I found Ferris Sweep which I created by myself (I had to learn how to solder after 20 years of not touching soldering iron but I was able to create working keyboard in 4h doing it first time). It's another huge jump for me. Now when I switch to build in keyboard I feel how much I have to move my fingers. ZMK is also good. My ferris is connected with bluetooth so I can easily use it with multiple devices (and phones) in the same time (like two laptops because switching is very quick). When I travel I can put my split keyboard on the sides of the macbook and use touchpad in the middle. It's similar how I use it at home but I use magic trackpad in the middle. I use Kailh Low Profile Choc Pink Pro Switches instead of Cherry MX Brown which I had in Redox and I just bottom them on writing (instead of using tactile effect). Keyboard is really small. The next step some day will be probably something like that https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKfeJrRIcxw&t=1s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKfeJrRIcxw&t=1s where you can adjust keys to your palm. I can image that it can be helpful for people with some disabilities or rheumatoid arthritis.
- cjbprime 3y ago> Noppoo Choc Mini Mine broke, but I have a strong emotional attachment to this keyboard, it's the one I was using when getting to Starcraft 2's Masters League for the first time :) I got the version with 30g Gateron Clears, which were quiet and activated by barely touching them. I think I got it after seeing a player I admire (Snute) was using it.
- choiway 3y agoIf you type a lot for a work, spending the time and money for better tooling is not only healthy but should be encouraged. Unhealthy, is when you try to track down an after market Key Cult for $2,000 and spend $500 on switches because you feel like you have to try them all.
- _chu1 3y agoI use some USB Lenovo keyboard that's the most like a Model M in terms of layout but plan to get a New Model M from Unicomp for the superior switches https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/NEW_M https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/NEW_M
- phamilton4 3y agoThis is amateur hour! Let me know when you own all the flavors of the MX Keys, Mechanical, Mini, "Regular". All of the microsoft designer keys, a few Vortex keyboards (Core 40%, Cyph3r), some Dvorak keyboards, apple ones, custom made ones..... lol It really is an addiction, it's a shame I too keep coming back to the MX Keys Line (Currently in love with the Mechanical w/ Cherry switches).
- racl101 3y agoGotta pump those numbers up kid. Those are rookie numbers.
- gwbas1c 3y agoI've been using a Das Keyboard with blank keycaps for almost a year. > I frequently had to manually type in passwords when SSH'ing onto remote boxes ... This happened frequently enough that I realised that blank keycaps weren't for me, at least not for the office/work environment. In my case, I use a laptop as my primary computer. When I need to type like that, I just stand up and use my laptop's keyboard. Honestly, though, I really wish the Das Keyboard had a braille option. :)
- geniium 3y agoOh I love this article. And I can totally relate. I have so many keyboards that I feel ashamed to have spent so much money on all of theses devices. But the journey is amazing. Switching from flat to mechanical. From ergo to standard. Down the road, after so many years, I like the option to be able to switch easily. I lile my Moonlander split (but hate that it moves) so I fallback on a flat Microsoft Sculpt. And sometimes use the MX Key MINI. Yeah, the mini is the way to go. The big one with the numpad is too big for me too. My dream is a split, flat, keyboard with good build quality. Maybe something like the https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/naya-create/naya-create https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/naya-create/naya-create ? But that price and not built yet is stopping me from pulling the trigger... What's your favorite dope keyboard out there?
- geniium 3y agoPS: I have no relation with the Naya team building this new baby
- IAmGraydon 3y ago> However I have a few personal gripes: Firstly the board is completely wireless, which means I have to charge it via USB-C. As I'm sat practically tethered to my desk all day a permanently wired option would actually be more convenient as it would save me to the hassle of charging. Does anyone else find this to be a pretty strange statement? If he doesn't mind the wire anyway, then just keep it plugged in via USB so it's always charged.
- dartos 3y agoMaybe since it has the wireless feature he feels compelled to use it, but wouldn’t if he didn’t have that option. Maybe?
- IAmGraydon 3y agoKBParadise V60 here. I got mine with Cherry MX Greens, but I don't think they offer them with those anymore. Nice and clacky.
- trey-jones 3y agoI'm a simple man. At work I have a Cherry Stream. At home I have a Cherry Stream. I also have a backup on hand (Cherry Stream). Two are black and one is white. The keyboard I had before my first Cherry Stream was mechanical. It was fine, but way too noisy. I still don't get the fuss about mechanical keyboards.
- tibbydudeza 3y agoHad a Logitech G-413 mechanical keyboard - it was lovely until the keycaps like ALT Left Shift and Left Control started fading after 2 years of heavy daily use - not very impressed and a warranty claim was not worth it also could not source keycaps for the weirdo Romer G switches they use. Gave up and thought about a Keychron K8 but was weary of the small form factor so I settled on a Logitech MX Keys as well.
- darkteflon 3y agoHaving used many mechanical keyboards over the years - including a Model M inherited from my dad - my dirty little secret is that I keep coming back to the Apple Magic Keyboard. I’d never admit it in public, though.
- K7PJP 3y agoMe, too. All of my custom keyboard dreams start from the Apple Magic Keyboard as the basis. I want all 78 keys. I just want them split, and Columnar, and… something like ZSA's new Voyager but preserving the things that make the Magic Keyboard great is what I have in mind.
- cvccvroomvroom 3y ago"Unhealthy" is a bit on the clickbait side. I barely have: - 2 Northgate Omnikey Ultras with ALPS switches - a Japanese RealForce with Topre 45g switches - a Patriot with Kailh Box Switches - an WASD V2 in need of a USB-C transceiver
- pcblues 3y agoI loved my MX Keys until I realised it was built with the same idea as the iPhone. I was meant to treat it as disposable/replaceable at the first sign of trouble. No user-serviceable parts. As soon as one key got sticky, that was the end of the experience with no way out without paying more money. Next favourite is their K295. For some reason, it clicks with me (a joke because it is silent). All keys available and in the right position and a nice accurate mouse. Most importantly, the function keys are separate from the media keys, meaning less key presses. My third favourite wireless keyboard/mouse combo cost $7 at a supermarket. Sometimes you just hit the jackpot with cheap manufacturing. I have to remember to go back and buy ten more when this luck occurs. For reference, I've bought and used at least 20+ keyboards and/or mouses.
- stonecharioteer 3y agoI have more keyboards than this guy does lol.