Mechanical Keyboard Autism Thread - Because Cherry MX switches get you laid.

IIRC The DEC VT100 I used to use sometimes (was already severely outdated when I had anything to do to it, I'm not that ancient) had arrow keys about where the F-Row is and no function keys. Did have a numpad though and several keys for flow control, also programmable LEDs. (Well, "programmable", you could trigger them with escape sequences) I might be remembering things wrong but I'm too lazy to google. I loved the keyshape on these, the earlier revision C64 keyboard had quite similar keycaps. Wonder if you can buy them for Cherry switches. The C64 had a F-key row on the right, and you'd trigger the higher F-Keys by key combination. The arrow keys were two that went up/down left/right getting the second variant via key combination. That by the way is almost worse than having no arrow keys. It's an 65 or 66-key keyboard too IIRC.

I actually like my 75% cheap Cherry keyboard I posted earlier a lot (it was only supposed to be a stopgap thing originally) and could imagine a 65% could actually work for me too, just the complete lack of F-Keys (without modifier at least) is not amazing in the common default configurations I saw. If I'd ever buy a 65% keyboard (and maybe can find keys in the shape of these old keyboards for it) I'd buy one that has four keys above the "right" arrow key and put the F-keys in that position so you get F1-F4 (F5-F8 with modifier) just like on the C64. You can probably go without the rest of the keys, by no means impossible. For avoiding exhaustion and injuiries in all my years I learned that the only thing that reliably will protect you is moving often and avoiding repetitive movements in uncomfortable positions. Listen to your body - when it hurts it's bad for you. Contrary to some people half my age I never had any problems with my hands or back just by following the advice to get up from the chair every hour or so and also not sit in the same position all the time. Also being not fat helps probably too.
 
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This is controversial, but I'm right.

When people put significant amounts of thought, energy, and money into finding the most ergonomic keyboard to buy, they're inevitably settling for second-best solutions. You aren't required to use QWERTY.

Any hardware-only solution is going to be inferior to a hardware-plus-Colemak/Dvorak solution. And once you take the time to learn one of those superior keyboard layouts, you can reap ergonomic benefits on just about any computer you'll use (I find this matters a lot to me because I spent a significant amount of time using laptop keyboards).

If you aren't currently using or learning an alternative keyboard layout, you're kind of a huge pussy.
 
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fuckidunno said:
I hear they use the original tooling
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I hear the tooling is so original that it's barely even been maintained since the '80s, and quality control is very spotty. I haven't verified this for myself though since I didn't feel like spending a couple hundred dollars on a gamble.
 
malt ipecac said:
Any hardware-only solution is going to be inferior to a hardware-plus-Colemak/Dvorak solution
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Some mech keyboards have switches where you can change layouts to Colemak/Dvorak (and most mech keyboards let you swap the keys).

There is always software too, be it macros (e.g. autohotkey) or some keyboard software that lets you otherwise change the layout.
 
6+ yo Corsair K70. Just red backlit, not too gay.

Cherry Blues are love, Cherry Blues are life.
 
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stupidpieceofshit said:
Some mech keyboards have switches where you can change layouts to Colemak/Dvorak (and most mech keyboards let you swap the keys).

There is always software too, be it macros (e.g. autohotkey) or some keyboard software that lets you otherwise change the layout.
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That's all right, but maybe I wasn't as descriptive as I thought I was. What I meant to express is basically this:
  • Typing on a standard full-size ISO or ANSI QWERTY keyboard = +0% ergonomics (baseline)
  • Typing on a split keyboard or an Ergodox or Kinesis or whatever = +X% ergonomics
  • Typing using a superior keyboard layout = +Y% ergonomics
If you keep using QWERTY but switch to a more ergonomic keyboard (I called this a "hardware-only solution") then the effect on the ergonomics of your typing situation is +X%.

If you keep using the same standard keyboard but remap the layout to, say, Colemak, then the effect on the ergonomics of your typing situation is +Y%.

If we grant that both X and Y are positive numbers, we see that the benefit of the keyboard layout applies to both the standard and nonstandard hardware setups.

You can only realize the +X% gain when you are typing on that specific keyboard. If you're using any other keyboard, you're back at baseline.

You can realize the +Y% gain when you are typing on any keyboard; your ergonomic benefit is either +(X + Y)% or +Y%
 
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Old-timey mechanical keyboards are the shit. There's something about the way 1980s mechanical keyboards feel that today's modern mechanical keyboards just can't quite match. Maybe it's the sound of 35-year old springs creaking with each keystroke, idk.

One of my life goals is to convert a broken Acorn Electron into a USB keyboard.
 
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AmpleApricots said:
why would anyone want their keyboard to light up like a gay disco
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LinusTechTips memes, more or less

I got one because RGB looks great when you don't own it, I played around with custom colors for a while, and I just ended up leaving it on some stock rainbow wave pattern perpetually.

The rainbow colors draw the eye away from all the cat hair and dust that builds up over time.

(I'm also retarded and sort of want to buy RGB RAM because the concept is ridiculous but I like the thought of my computer glowing on the inside, visible through the vents)
 
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malt ipecac said:
This is controversial, but I'm right.

When people put significant amounts of thought, energy, and money into finding the most ergonomic keyboard to buy, they're inevitably settling for second-best solutions. You aren't required to use QWERTY.

Any hardware-only solution is going to be inferior to a hardware-plus-Colemak/Dvorak solution. And once you take the time to learn one of those superior keyboard layouts, you can reap ergonomic benefits on just about any computer you'll use (I find this matters a lot to me because I spent a significant amount of time using laptop keyboards).

If you aren't currently using or learning an alternative keyboard layout, you're kind of a huge pussy.
Click to expand...
or better yet - chorded keyboards
 
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If you haven't written elisp functions that just predict what you will type and do that for you I'm LOLing at what you're doing with your life.
 
Any recommendations for a mechanical keyboard around the $50 range, something that's not too loud. I'm using a shitty steelseries keyboard atm so anything would be an upgrade.
 
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Kosher Dill said:
I have a keybind just for explaining GNU plus Linux.
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Your keyboard better be fully FLOSS other wise Stallman will get you
Jones McCann said:
Any recommendations for a mechanical keyboard around the $50 range, something that's not too loud. I'm using a shitty steelseries keyboard atm so anything would be an upgrade.
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50 bucks will get you cheap chinese knock offs, or if you are lucky on ebay a used mech.

as far as switches you'd want reds or browns (or the equivalent) might want some o-right dampeners too.

The Cherry MX Red Low profiles are "quite" (for a Mech swich)
 
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Jones McCann said:
Any recommendations for a mechanical keyboard around the $50 range, something that's not too loud. I'm using a shitty steelseries keyboard atm so anything would be an upgrade.
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$50 will get you precisely nothing. I would recommend the GMMK which goes for $110:

Glorious GMMK - Full-Size - Brown Switches - Glorious Modular Gaming Mechanical Keyboards – Glorious PC Gaming Race

This Full-Size (104 keys) GMMK Modular Mechanical Gaming Keyboard comes preinstalled with brown Gateron switches and black keycaps. Glorious is the world's first and best Modular Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, that allows you to easily swap between Cherry, Gateron, & Kailh switches. Minimalistic...
www.pcgamingrace.com www.pcgamingrace.com
The keycaps it comes with are hideous, but it's fully modular so you can swap them (or the switches) out later. You could also get it without keys and supply your own from the outset, but that would probably take you too far over-budget.

stupidpieceofshit said:
Your keyboard better be fully FLOSS other wise Stallman will get you
Click to expand...

You better believe I ripped out the WinBLOWS keys. :neckbeard:
 
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malt ipecac said:
First they say you're crazy

then they fight you

and then

all of a sudden

you change the world
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so true, we really can. Actually, I have
In the 80s, I developed an ergonomic peripheral for the Apple Lisa called the Zinnia.
it was a sensor you inserted, and by simply flexing the ole turn ring you could activate the shift key (saved on odd stretches)
there are still knock-offs made for modern equipment

It does bring up the downside of changing the world though - THAT IS WHAT CAUSED THE ALL CAPS EPIDEMIC ON THE INTERWEBZ
 
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