So...what do you type on?  Preferred switches?  Preferred Keycaps?  Board brand?  Board size?  Do you prefer a Thocky, clacky, poppy, or silent board?  

Are you looking for something different or have you found your holy grail?

I always thought the guys that go on about their $300+ mechanical keyboards were nuts.  I've changed my tune...they're awesome.

Probably 8 years ago got a Corsair K70 with Cherry MX Browns, mainly because cheap keyboards kept dying on me so I figured I would spend some money and get one that lasts.  I did immediately enjoy the tactile mechanical switch over the membrane boards...and it did last a long time.  Actually, it still works.  I just gave it to my kids as their cheap keyboard died.  Then I went down the rabbit hole that is mechanical keyboards....


Prebuilt...customs....barebones kits...hundreds of switches...all the different types/colors/shape of keycaps...100%, 96%, 90%, 75%, 65%, 60%...Aluminum/plastic/etc chassis...different plate materials...foam...hot swap or solder....mods...it just never ends...


So after realizing that I didn't know what I didn't know...meaning, I've not typed on a lot of keyboards, I didn't want to spend $400+ on a custom built keyboard when I didn't REALLY know what I like yet.  So I bought a Keychron Q6 with the Gateron G Pro brown.  I quickly realized I didn't like the Gateron Browns (too light and almost no tactile bump).  Because this board has a hot swap PCB - I ordered a full set of Gateron Baby Kangaroo and I've been enjoying these switches.  

The Q6 board itself is incredibly heavy.  Easy to take apart, comes with all the tools necessary (although the switch puller is trash).  Makes this board very easy to modify.  A bit on the expensive side, but it seems to be very well built.  Before typing on the Keychron board I thought the Corsair was a very nice typing experience.  Now, when I have to type on that computer, it drives me nuts.  Cherry MX Browns are incredibly scratchy and the Corsair board is horribly clacky.  Sounds terrible.

So at the moment, I'm going to stick with the Q6 board and Baby Kangaroo switches.  I'm looking for Gazzew Boba U4T switches.  I want to try those next.  After that, I might get a different set of keycaps.

IBM Model M Master Race checking in.

(Actually, I stopped using it years ago because I lost it and only recently uncovered it.)

Currently using an Epomaker TH80 with Gateron Pro Browns.   Lubed it's not that bad of a keyboard.


One day I'll dig out the PS/2  USB adapter and let the 1985 Model M on the shelf ride again!

Man, I don't have any of the vintage keyboards.  My dad used to dabble in computer repair and had a TON of old keyboards in the basement.  I'm sure there were a few nice ones in there.  

They all got junked though...along with the 50 or so console TV's he had down there with plans to repair at one time...

My neighbor at work designs his own keyboard. I think he’s down to 20 keys.

My preference is the old Northgate Ultra keyboard that has the arrow keys arranged in the full 12 key square with the home/end/insert etc keys, not in a separate "t" arrangement. But my adapter from the PS/2 plug to USB died, so I am using a Blackwidow by Razer keyboard currently.

I really don't understand the obsession with the smallest keyboard possible.  

My buddy at work has a 60% Topre board with blank keycaps.  More than one occasion he has spent time trying to find which modifier/button combo to do what he wants to do.  


I might get a TKL board at some point...as I don't really use the TK that much especially when I'm not working.  However, when I do need to enter a bunch of numbers...I'm much faster on the TK than on the horizontal numbers.  So I like having it.

I have a Nimbleback fullsize (with 10 key) and Cherry brown switches. Inexpensive and works well. Can hot swap too.

Dunno, but he’s about 100wpm on it…

Kind of impressive…

Damn...there's a $10 coupon on that board right now...$49 for a hot swap full size is pretty good.  


Are you planning on trying any other switches in the future?

Impressive indeed...I just don't understand it.

I thought so too at first, but spec out a custom board with your own choices of PCB/Plate/chassis/switches/stabilizers/caps/etc.  I had over $500 in my carts for one build before I settled for the $225 keychron I bought.  


This board is so far beyond the quality of my other boards though...it's not even close.  Plus, it being purposefully designed to be taken apart and modded or updated...totally worth it in my opinion.

Did the polyfill mod on my board tonight and it definitely made it sound better.  

I was going to do the tape mod while I was in there, but it turns out we're out of painters tape...so I'll have to grab some of that and try again.  

Might try the force break mod as well with the painters tape.  Although, I don't know how much that will help as there is rubber pads between the top and bottom case of my board.  Can't hurt though.

You can get new repops of the ibm model m keyboards from a company called unicomp.


https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/category/UKBD

As for master race ... apparently the model M is a downgrade of a downgrade in the ibm keyboard line.
ETA: better vid.  Beam spring keys, stupidly super smooth.

I think mine came with reds and I switched then to browns

I have a Razer Black Widow Green switches and love it.  Not so much for my conference calls as it's very loud, but I find I make more errors when typing on a laptop keyboard or one of the membrane types.  My home machine will never not be a mechanical keyboard again.

Love mechanical. My dexterity isn't what it used to be, and I absolutely hate mushy keyboards. I have a mix of Corsair, Alienware, and a few others. Typically Cherry red or brown, but I don't mind loud clicky either. I actually have a sample somewhere around here that has one of every type of Cherry MX key. Nice to be able to compare them.

I’m using Filco TKL with Cherry Reds. Had it over 10 years I believe and it’s still going.

You should branch out.  I typed on cherry browns for years and felt like they were awesome.  Now that I've typed on a few others....the Cherry browns are really kind of 'meh' lol

They're obviously worlds better than rubber dome keyboards...but there's a whole other world on top of that even.

I did about 10 minutes of research and settled on a keychron k4 with cherry brown switches.  112 bucks after tax.

It's the nicest keyboard I've ever owned.   YMMV. but don't overthink it

I agree that one shouldn't overthink to the point of avoiding buying a mechanical keyboard for fear it won't be the right one.  However, don't assume the first one you get is the best simply because it's so much better than your previous.  

Every single time I get a new keyboard, it's 'the best one yet'.   I've yet to buy a new keyboard and hate it.  That doesn't mean it's the best one ever.  That means I, most likely, still have better ones to find.  

For example, I typed on Cherry Browns for a long time because I decided after using those first they were the best.  I made that decision based on how much better than the membrane keyboards I was using before.  Now, after trying numerous other switches, I can tell you for a fact that the browns really aren't that good at all (at least for me anyway).  

I would argue that doing 10 minutes of research to pick a keyboard is like doing 10 minutes of research to choose a carry pistol.  Sure, you might really like the one you picked and think its the best, but odds are, it's really not.

StopNotLikingWhatILike.jpg!

Just kidding. I also have a Nimbleback 65% keyboard. Cheap, hotswappable. Since starting a new job, all the workstation keyboards are dreadful (typical $10 Dell membranes). So the 65% fits easily in my backback and I plug it in and go to work. It has cherry reds.

My 19 and 23 year old boys, both with mechanical keyboards, told me that I may have a little bit of problem if I'm bringing my own keyboard with me.

I just stared at them to establish dominance while I pulled out my Razor Basilisk mouse that I also take to work...

I know you say it in jest...but the whole not liking what I like is a big problem lol

I know that browns are, by far, the most popular switches on the market.  I don't think it's because they're the best, it's just that they're the only real tactile switch available to 98% of consumers that want to dip their toes in mechanicals but don't have the time/money/energy/interest to find a really good switch.  Vast majority of consumers know they don't want clicky switches...and linear switches don't satisfy that 'mechanical' feedback most people are looking for when buying a mechanical board.  So they opt for the browns...which is absolutely the right choice when faced with only 3 available switches.  

I fight the urge to tell people they're wrong about liking browns a lot...especially when they've never typed on anything but browns and membranes lol.  I was literally that person for years though.  I bought a Corsair K70 and thought it was the best thing since sliced bread.  And it was compared to what I was typing on before that.  Then I got a better board, with better switches, and better caps...and now I literally have a negative physical reaction to typing on that K70 that I absolutely adored for years.  

Now I just try to convince those people to at least try other tactile switches out there.  Spend the $20 on a switch tester..even though they don't tell the full story, it's better than nothing.

Guy at work switched the “M” and “N” in the training room computer.   Much hilarity ensued.