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Building my first mechanical keyboard

not-matthias.github.io

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Re: Building my first mechanical keyboard

#71

Post by michaelbrave »

colordrops wrote: post #8

Great intro. One thing I don't understand about the mechanical keyboard community is how the vast majority (like well over 95%) are not split keyboards. You'd think keyboard enthusiasts that sweat the details would also be obsessed with ergonomics. But no, I suspect that they are more concerned with aesthetics, which are arguably worse with a split keyboard.

I'm also curious why there arne't more expiramental key layouts, for example having programming related keys like "()~!" on the number keys is kind of annoying, would love a redesign where they are on the left instead of say caps lock or a longer shift key.

Re: Building my first mechanical keyboard

#72

Post by konfusinomicon »

creakingstairs wrote: post #10
colordrops wrote: post #8

Great intro. One thing I don't understand about the mechanical keyboard community is how the vast majority (like well over 95%) are not split keyboards. You'd think keyboard enthusiasts that sweat the details would also be obsessed with ergonomics. But no, I suspect that they are more concerned with aesthetics, which are arguably worse with a split keyboard.

I bought a split keyboard last year and I honestly don’t think I could go back. My shoulder/chest pain went away. The layers let me almost never leave the home row and I miss it every time I use my laptop keyboard. > I suspect that they are more concerned with aesthetics, which are arguably worse with a split keyboard. Yeah, mine has lots of wires and I miss the minimalistic aesthetic of wireless mini keyboards.

just got a moonlander and I too could never go back. worth the hype and the price..the learning curve was steep but after a month and several iterations of customization I cant believe that customizable split layout is not the norm.

Re: Building my first mechanical keyboard

#73

Post by prmoustache »

samatman wrote: post #49
prmoustache wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why are people using "building" while all they do is merely assembling?

There's a whole hobby called model building, building a mechanical keyboard is more like building a model than you appear to think. That's why. Why do you go on the internet and ask aggressive questions predicated on a wrong premise? Just out of curiousity.

There is no aggeessivity in my question.

I assembled many model kits and it never occurred to call myself a builder. Model kit builder concieve the kits and or create parts out of raw material, epoxy putty and/or 3d printing.

Similarly a bicycle builder will solder/bond individual tubes to build custom frame and fork, possibly custom stem and/or racks. A brand that source frame builts in Asia will but mount the ready made part will say "assembled in .

Maybe I am picky with semantics but it strikes me as arrangant to call ourself builders when we just pick up and assemble parts.

Re: Building my first mechanical keyboard

#74

Post by girzel »

Symbiote wrote: post #15
colordrops wrote: post #8

Great intro. One thing I don't understand about the mechanical keyboard community is how the vast majority (like well over 95%) are not split keyboards. You'd think keyboard enthusiasts that sweat the details would also be obsessed with ergonomics. But no, I suspect that they are more concerned with aesthetics, which are arguably worse with a split keyboard.

I'm mostly-maintaining a mechanical split keyboard gallery [1] to help with this. There are a lot of options, from keyboards you can buy from a major retailer (or easily get your IT department to buy), to hand-soldered kits where you need to 3D print the case.- [1] https://aposymbiont.github.io/split-keyboards/

This is incredibly helpful, thank you! It's going to save me hours of research.

I have a Das Keyboard that I am very fond of, but over the years have definitely started to wonder why a) the rows are staggered, and b) it isn't split. There's just so little reason to stick to this form-factor.

Thanks again!

Re: Building my first mechanical keyboard

#75

Post by aeturnum »

Symbiote wrote: post #15
colordrops wrote: post #8

Great intro. One thing I don't understand about the mechanical keyboard community is how the vast majority (like well over 95%) are not split keyboards. You'd think keyboard enthusiasts that sweat the details would also be obsessed with ergonomics. But no, I suspect that they are more concerned with aesthetics, which are arguably worse with a split keyboard.

I'm mostly-maintaining a mechanical split keyboard gallery [1] to help with this. There are a lot of options, from keyboards you can buy from a major retailer (or easily get your IT department to buy), to hand-soldered kits where you need to 3D print the case.- [1] https://aposymbiont.github.io/split-keyboards/

Oh wow - this is a much more extensive collection than the one I used to buy my last split mechanical (a perfectly functional but unimpressive Kinesis Freestyle2 Blue). Thank you!

Re: Building my first mechanical keyboard

#76

Post by eyelidlessness »

colordrops wrote: post #8

Great intro. One thing I don't understand about the mechanical keyboard community is how the vast majority (like well over 95%) are not split keyboards. You'd think keyboard enthusiasts that sweat the details would also be obsessed with ergonomics. But no, I suspect that they are more concerned with aesthetics, which are arguably worse with a split keyboard.

I don’t begrudge anyone their preferred ergonomics, but I’m glad that I can find non-split mechanical keyboards as I prefer their ergonomics. But I agree, it’s surprising there aren’t many more split offerings available.

As far as aesthetics, as the mechanical keyboard market has become almost totally focused on gaming, I find it difficult to find any which aren’t gaudy. I’m just glad my current one allows turning off the blinding backlight.

Re: Building my first mechanical keyboard

#77

Post by ProZsolt »

prmoustache wrote: post #73
samatman wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a whole hobby called model building, building a mechanical keyboard is more like building a model than you appear to think. That's why. Why do you go on the internet and ask aggressive questions predicated on a wrong premise? Just out of curiousity.

There is no aggeessivity in my question. I assembled many model kits and it never occurred to call myself a builder. Model kit builder concieve the kits and or create parts out of raw material, epoxy putty and/or 3d printing. Similarly a bicycle builder will solder/bond individual tubes to build custom frame and fork, possibly custom stem and/or racks. A brand that source frame builts in Asia will but mount the ready…

But they selecting the individual components, buying them from different vendors, then assembling them to the final thing.

You can "build" a PC or a bicycle without creating any custom part, but the end result will be unique. A keyboard has less parts(board, switches, keycaps and maybe a controller) but I think it still count as built.

If you order everything as part of one kit, like the furniture from Ikea, then yes, you just assembling it together.

Re: Building my first mechanical keyboard

#78

Post by kixiQu »

michaelbrave wrote: post #71
colordrops wrote: post #8

Great intro. One thing I don't understand about the mechanical keyboard community is how the vast majority (like well over 95%) are not split keyboards. You'd think keyboard enthusiasts that sweat the details would also be obsessed with ergonomics. But no, I suspect that they are more concerned with aesthetics, which are arguably worse with a split keyboard.

I'm also curious why there arne't more expiramental key layouts, for example having programming related keys like "()~!" on the number keys is kind of annoying, would love a redesign where they are on the left instead of say caps lock or a longer shift key.

There are tons of people who tweak their layouts a bunch -- but because it's free to switch that up and do your own experimentation, writing about your layout isn't as useful to other people as reviewing things they are considering paying for.

Re: Building my first mechanical keyboard

#79

Post by ipiz0618 »

Man I love the 65% layout.

It's a shame there aren't many stock choices with solid build out there with 65% keyboards. My first 65% is a low profile Keychron K3 (not really recommended because of QC issues + completely trash customer service, but it's light and impressive for people who haven't used a mechanical keyboard before). Second one, I couldn't find a wired keyboard without backlight and 65%, so I opted for a TKL Filco keyboard - highly recommended even they only have Cherry switches, which is not perfect, but good enough for getting addicted to the typing experience :)

Re: Building my first mechanical keyboard

#80

Post by kixiQu »

prmoustache wrote: post #40
rpmisms wrote: post #2

Careful, like all good hobbies it's incredibly addictive. I'm building my 8th keyboard this calendar year alone.

Why are people using "building" while all they do is merely assembling?

A lot of the time, the "build" involves soldering. I don't talk about having "built" my keyboards because I got boards with pre-soldered hotswap sockets -- but even in defense of that, "building a PC" is just assembling 99% of the time, too.
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