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My Mechanical Keyboard

joeposnanski.com

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Re: My Mechanical Keyboard

#191

Post by brokenmachine »

sixothree wrote: post #156
michaelgrafl wrote: post #77

I don't know or care if mechanical keyboards increase my typing speed and/or precision, but they feel great and make me enjoy work more. If I can choose between a rocky desk and a sturdy one, I'll choose the latter, although they both do the job sufficiently well for my needs. A few months ago I got myself a tenkeyless with brown Cherry MX switches, and I am getting a second one now, because I can't be bothered to ty…

As a programmer I am disappointed with the lack of innovation in mechanical keyboards. They all look the same and have extremely similar layouts. What I could really use is some navigation keys to the left of the keyboard; maybe two columns of keys that are programmable; any innovation actually would be nice.

http://geekhack.org/ . You're welcome.

I recommend the Ergodox wholeheartedly. You can put arrows wherever you want. I have a layer always set up so I hold down a thumb key and the home row becomes arrows. As a touch-typist, I can move the cursor and select text (holding "shift") without moving my hand. I'm using Dvorak layout, but if it was Qwerty, my (right hand) home row goes from this:

Y U I O

H J K L

To:

Esc PgUp Up PgDn

Home Left Down Right End

It is totally natural now for me, I get frustrated being on a keyboard without this functionality.

Odd, I couldn't get that to format correctly, is there anyway to define a code block in hacker news markup?

I blame consumers for the lack of (reasonably-priced/available) innovative options in keyboards.

Everyone who notices my Ergodox thinks I'm the one who's odd, while I think anybody who would use a horrible membrane keyboard for 8 hours a day at work without yearning for something better is the one who is odd.

Re: My Mechanical Keyboard

#192

Post by brokenmachine »

hossbeast wrote: post #180
Steeeve wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been eyeballing one of these for christmas: https://ergodox-ez.com/collections/keyboard-bundles/products...

Wow, thank you for pointing this out, it looks fantastic. Christmas, indeed ...

Also check out the Ergodox Infinity from Massdrop at https://www.massdrop.com/buy/infinity-ergodox , for the next 7 days at $200 but you'll have to do the assembly yourself.

Re: My Mechanical Keyboard

#193

Post by brokenmachine »

keyle wrote: post #14

I have about 5 mechanical keyboards (WASD, Duckys, DAS, ...) and yet if I want to type fast, I use an apple keyboard. The short travel distance of those keys really work for me. I've been waiting for switches that are somewhere in between, mechanical but thin travel. I've looked at some really esoteric and rare keyboards as well but I wouldn't fork $220 for a keyboard... Anyways I totally understand his view though.…

I would also love to see a mechanical switch with thin travel.

I want to build a custom keyboard for a laptop, even a way to build a custom keyboard using scissor switches would be cool.

Re: My Mechanical Keyboard

#194

Post by hossbeast »

brokenmachine wrote: post #189
gnicholasgreen wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I took the dive on an ergodox ez a couple of months ago. It took me nearly a month to get fully comfortable with it, but now typing on a regular keyboard just feels less than ideal. I just ordered a second one for my home computer.

I absolutely love my Ergodox! I can't type on a horrible staggered keyboard anymore. Once you get used to it (about a week for me), it just feels so natural. I can never go back. Staggered keys are perverse, all the contortions necessary just to locate the keys with your fingers. The only problem is that now I look like a total retard when trying to use anyone else's keyboard, which is a pretty regular occurrence unf…

Is it wireless, both between halves, and to the pc? Strangely I don't see anything about it on their site, but the pictures do not show any wires

Re: My Mechanical Keyboard

#195

Post by brokenmachine »

edcastro wrote: post #23
keyle wrote: post #14

I have about 5 mechanical keyboards (WASD, Duckys, DAS, ...) and yet if I want to type fast, I use an apple keyboard. The short travel distance of those keys really work for me. I've been waiting for switches that are somewhere in between, mechanical but thin travel. I've looked at some really esoteric and rare keyboards as well but I wouldn't fork $220 for a keyboard... Anyways I totally understand his view though.…

It seems the Razer Blade Pro comes with a low-profile mechanical keyboard, maybe they will do a external keyboard with those. Petition? :D

Wow, very interesting! I would love to use these for a custom keyboard.

Now how can I buy the switches individually??

Re: My Mechanical Keyboard

#197

Post by fredmorcos »

gnarbarian wrote: post #157
fredmorcos wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I like red switches and I hate browns and blues. What the hell are you talking about?

You're the first person I met who does. With a linear red switch there is no tactile bump or click when the key passes through the actuation point.

So? I adore the buttery smooth feeling and even more so the consistency of all switches: blues are super inconsistent in sound if you pay attention and browns feel like there's sand in the switches.

Re: My Mechanical Keyboard

#198

Post by fredmorcos »

bballer wrote: post #124
fredmorcos wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The sound dampening pad does not dampen switch and keycap noise.

But it does reduce the sound made by bottoming out. Browns make very little noise compared to some of the other switches though.

No I don't think it does that either. What it dampens is the vibration caused in the steel plate due to the switches - aka the dreaded "ping" - bottoming out can be a factor of course, but so are switch springs moving back into position or even just banging the keyboard.

Re: My Mechanical Keyboard

#199

Post by brokenmachine »

hossbeast wrote: post #194
brokenmachine wrote: post #189

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I absolutely love my Ergodox! I can't type on a horrible staggered keyboard anymore. Once you get used to it (about a week for me), it just feels so natural. I can never go back. Staggered keys are perverse, all the contortions necessary just to locate the keys with your fingers. The only problem is that now I look like a total retard when trying to use anyone else's keyboard, which is a pretty regular occurrence unf…

Is it wireless, both between halves, and to the pc? Strangely I don't see anything about it on their site, but the pictures do not show any wires

No, it has wires both between halves and to the keyboard.

Re: My Mechanical Keyboard

#200

Post by hossbeast »

brokenmachine wrote: post #192
hossbeast wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, thank you for pointing this out, it looks fantastic. Christmas, indeed ...

Also check out the Ergodox Infinity from Massdrop at https://www.massdrop.com/buy/infinity-ergodox , for the next 7 days at $200 but you'll have to do the assembly yourself.

How concerned about the soldering part should I be, if I have no DIY assembly experience? I've never used a soldering tool (gun?)
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