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Magnetic North posted:Two questions: 1. You can order switch testers online, but it's really not the best way to know if you like a switch. It gives you some idea because you can feel what an individual switch would feel like. But there's really nothing better than typing on a full keyboard. An individual switch might feel nice, but once you actually use it daily, you might not like it. (example are heavy switches, nice individually, but you might find it fatiguing typing on it daily or holding certain keys like shift, etc.) Honestly your best bet is to get a keyboard with hotswappable switches and just experiment along the way. Your taste in switches change the more you try the ones that are out there. 2. Most mech keyboards aren't even fullsized these days so numlock and scroll lock aren't available as a key. Light indicators aren't really a priority in custom keyboards, but there are PCB's that have them. Prebuilt keyboards usually have them, but you'll really just have to find reviews or look up photos of them. Should be fairly obvious for some.
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Jun 19, 2020 15:39
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Ardlen posted:I'd like to get a wired 104 key with some heavy tactile switches. I'll probably use it forever, so a durable model is ideal. I'm very happy with my Code with MX Clears. It's probably the only board I own that I have not modified and never will. The only downside is that it's a touch noisy and the Cherry stems are wobbly as all gently caress compared to the box architecture switches I've been buying lately. Can I build a better board? Totally. And I have several times over. Can I do it at the price I paid for my open box v1 Code? Hell no.
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Jun 19, 2020 17:21
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Ardlen posted:I'd like to get a wired 104 key with some heavy tactile switches. I'll probably use it forever, so a durable model is ideal. The differences between those 3 is going to be build quality and/or features. Leopold is going to have better keycaps and stabilizers, but you won't get backlighting. WASD and Ducky are on par with each other. Pick whichever one has the features/switches/price/style you want. Additional boards to consider: - Durgod: Just another option in the same group as WASD and Ducky. - GMMK Full-size: Gives you a hotswap board, which gives you the flexibility to change out the switches in the future. RGB as well - ikbc MF108: A bit more expensive than the others, but you'd get an aluminum case. But only tactile option is Cherry Brown.
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Jun 19, 2020 19:38
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Magnetic North posted:Two questions: Get a hot-swap keyboard. I use a 47-key board for my tester, so it only costs maybe $12-20 to try a set of switches. If you don't care about clipping PCB legs off of switches a GMMK compact is readily available, but you'd need to buy 8 packs of switches instead of 5 to fill it out. A switch tester isn't all that useful, as there is a huge difference between pressing one key and typing on a full set, but it can be useful to narrow down what switches to try if you have no idea whatsoever. Looks like you missed the recent group-buy for the UT47.2 boards. They're probably the cheapest pcb-compatible hot-swap boards (~45USD for the sandwich case). You may want to keep an eye on the group buy at keyhive as there are usually additional units available after the boards are fabricated.
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Jun 19, 2020 22:18
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AbsoluteLlama posted:Get a hot-swap keyboard. I use a 47-key board for my tester, so it only costs maybe $12-20 to try a set of switches. If you don't care about clipping PCB legs off of switches a GMMK compact is readily available, but you'd need to buy 8 packs of switches instead of 5 to fill it out. Seconding getting a hot swap board for testing. I use a 60% that allows PCB mount switches to be used, the 1up keyboards HSE or HTE, though going my route would be a bit more.
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Jun 19, 2020 23:16
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There's also the GK61 (non-optical) for a cheap hotswappable 60% board
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Jun 19, 2020 23:29
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The only good mini keyboard is the hhkb Fight me
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Jun 19, 2020 23:38
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LaughingWallaby posted:If you're worried about putting the arrow keys or brackets on another layer (like on the Planck), you could instead get a larger ortholinear board like KPRepublic's xd75re which is a 5x15 grid of keys.
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Jun 20, 2020 01:58
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Malcolm XML posted:The only good mini keyboard is the hhkb Replace the spacebar with 3-4 keys and I'll agree. A HHKB Topre with split space would be so amazing.
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Jun 20, 2020 02:14
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AbsoluteLlama posted:Replace the spacebar with 3-4 keys and I'll agree. A HHKB Topre with split space would be so amazing. https://www.amazon.com/PFU-Keyboard-Professional-Capacitance-non-contact/dp/B001KWJTD6
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Jun 20, 2020 03:27
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Just add this https://kbdfans.com/blogs/interest-checks/case-compatible-with-hhkb-keyboard
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Jun 20, 2020 04:08
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I just picked up a Varmillo TKL. Despite also being MX Browns - it is a 100% better board than my Corsair gaming keyboard. Like - I am astounded at how nice this is to type on. These keycaps are incredible. Now I'm realizing just how wobbly the corsair keys were too.
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Jun 20, 2020 04:50
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Nondescript Van posted:Just add this https://kbdfans.com/blogs/interest-checks/case-compatible-with-hhkb-keyboard Norbauer is working on a HHKB replacement case https://www.keebtalk.com/t/ic-the-heavy-grail-a-norbauer-housing-for-the-hhkb/9136/20
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Jun 20, 2020 23:33
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Lowness 72 posted:I just picked up a Varmillo TKL. Despite also being MX Browns - it is a 100% better board than my Corsair gaming keyboard. Like - I am astounded at how nice this is to type on. These keycaps are incredible. Now I'm realizing just how wobbly the corsair keys were too. Yeah, I have a Varmilo 68% and I think just the weight of the board/the better materials makes a huge difference as well.
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Jun 21, 2020 02:01
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The Electronaut posted:Norbauer is working on a HHKB replacement case https://www.keebtalk.com/t/ic-the-heavy-grail-a-norbauer-housing-for-the-hhkb/9136/20 quote:Cost will likely be around $650. No
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Jun 21, 2020 03:00
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Just ordered an iKBC CD108BT. I've been working from home and using a spare Magic Keyboard with my work laptop (PC, not Mac), but I was frustrated with the lack of a number pad, especially since my job is fairly quant intensive. It's absolutely overkill, but I plan on building a PC later this year/early next year, so I figured I'd get something that'll last
curried lamb of God fucked around with this message at 05:08 on Jun 21, 2020 |
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Jun 21, 2020 03:14
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Just got my Hako Royal Navy switches in. Popped them in my GMMK and they feel REALLY good. Super heavy but also nice and smooth. I had planned on putting Hako Clears in my Durgod k310 Nebula but now I'm starting to have second thoughts...
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Jun 22, 2020 15:48
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Looks like my Mecha Mini (Silent Reds) is on another delay (Went from June 1st to June 15, June 28th and now July 18th). I am also in the market for a good TKL, originally I wanted Cherry Blues since I would be using my TKL for typing mostly but with all the delays on the Mecha Mini what is a good TKL under $200 that I can get with some Cherry Browns (Unless something else is better for gaming and typing doesn't have to be cherry I am just more familiar with them). I would like a heavy base if possible and a backlight, RGB is nice an all but I never use it to the full effect so as long as the keys are illuminated I will be happy.
Sirbloody fucked around with this message at 18:12 on Jun 22, 2020 |
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Jun 22, 2020 18:10
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Sirbloody posted:Looks like my Mecha Mini (Silent Reds) is on another delay (Went from June 1st to June 15, June 28th and now July 18th). I am also in the market for a good TKL, originally I wanted Cherry Blues since I would be using my TKL for typing mostly but with all the delays on the Mecha Mini what is a good TKL under $200 that I can get with some Cherry Browns (Unless something else is better for gaming and typing doesn't have to be cherry I am just more familiar with them). I would like a heavy base if possible and a backlight, RGB is nice an all but I never use it to the full effect so as long as the keys are illuminated I will be happy. Durgod makes possibly the heaviest and most-sturdy non-metal keyboard I've used. Assuming you're not into building your own I would highly recommend them. Good luck finding one that will get here sooner though. I got mine through a Massdrop group buy and the only other ones are from Alibaba and quite a bit more expensive than what I paid. As for Cherry switches, don't pigeon-hole yourself into focusing on those. There's actually a lot of knock-offs that are better.
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Jun 22, 2020 18:48
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I've said this before Massdrop needs to send the loving Ctrl High Profile I bought before i lose my patience 
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Jun 22, 2020 18:58
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So apparently mini keyboards that have animals are a thing - I saw that there’s by Xiki but they’re sold out. Any other reputable places to get one of those?
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Jun 22, 2020 19:01
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GnarlyCharlie4u posted:Durgod makes possibly the heaviest and most-sturdy non-metal keyboard I've used. If I had the time/patience I would build my own, as for the switched I have only ever used Cherry but I am open to whatever pretty much.
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Jun 22, 2020 19:04
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GnarlyCharlie4u posted:Durgod makes possibly the heaviest and most-sturdy non-metal keyboard I've used. I just got mine from amazon a few days ago, fwiw.
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Jun 23, 2020 02:52
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Hey guys, given the uncertainty and weirdness of what's going with the future of SA, I thought maybe it'd be nice to have a Discord. Now mind you, this thread isn't really too active to warrant one, but hey, why not right? (now obviously if this forum does die, then reddit and geekhack is the best resource) Feel free to join here: https://discord.gg/6bDqNCZ The Unlife Aquatic, NonDescript Van, please reach out to me and I can give you guys admin/mod access for all the work in the OP. Same goes for the top posters in the thread e.g. (mewse, HappyCapybaraFamily, teethgrinder, LochNessMonster, etc.) Don't mean to tread on anyone's toes obviously. Constellation I fucked around with this message at 10:21 on Jun 24, 2020 |
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Jun 24, 2020 10:17
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drat, I didn't realize how much shitposting I'd done in this thread 
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Jun 24, 2020 14:52
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Malcolm XML posted:https://www.amazon.com/PFU-Keyboard-Professional-Capacitance-non-contact/dp/B001KWJTD6 This is almost perfect. Not sure why it has an ISO return key but not an extra 1-u next to shift for a shift-z layout.
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Jun 24, 2020 18:49
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Jesus that layout is amazing Returned something after paying it off now I have a negative balance to blow on something, thinking about buying this self defense tool. 400 sure is a lot for a keyboard, especially one without fkeys but drat if it aint super sexy.
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Jun 25, 2020 11:54
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I'm looking at getting a tenkeyless setup. I'm currently using a Code with Clears. Is there a recommendation of something similar with a TKL setup? I like the feel of the Clears but not tied to the cherry style.
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Jun 25, 2020 20:12
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Constellation I posted:Hey guys, given the uncertainty and weirdness of what's going with the future of SA, I thought maybe it'd be nice to have a Discord. omfg lol ... just searched my name for the first time in years because I'd been a little bit more active recently ... I can't believe it came up here. Probably been years since I posted in this thread, can't believe I ever commented that much. Still figuring out what I'm going to do but will probably join. On topic, I haven't bought a keyboard or parts for a couple years ... very satisfied with my Planks, Race3 & K-Type. But for whatever reason I bought this sucker: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nuphy/nutype-revolutionizing-the-laptop-typing-experience and the shipping has been a total fiasco due to COVID. I got notification today that it had arrived FINALLY (after 3+ months) ... and it loving went to my COVID-closed office. (They had assured me it would go to my home address instead.) 
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Jun 25, 2020 20:49
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4000 Dollar Suit posted:Jesus that layout is amazing I highly recommend picking one up, they are awesome. Here is mine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_XSbMKLLrU
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Jun 25, 2020 21:28
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bub posted:I highly recommend picking one up, they are awesome. oh hey I've already seen your video  is that industrial gray and the default US ANSI keys? runaway dog fucked around with this message at 22:03 on Jun 25, 2020 |
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Jun 25, 2020 21:43
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4000 Dollar Suit posted:oh hey I've already seen your video That is indeed industrial gray, the layout I chose has a HHKB-style split right shift with normal size backspace. I feel a little guilty because my keyboard shipped only a few days after placing the order because I selected unprinted keys and a less popular layout. Some folks who ordered printed keys have been waiting a long time (years even) since the dye-sub printing operation is still being finalized. My favorite feature is definitely the cast zinc case. The heftiness of these boards is remarkable.
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Jun 25, 2020 23:50
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dear keyboard thread: please help me find a keyboard. I would like to upgrade to the world of Nice Keyboard Havers and doing something with custom keycaps and etc. sounds really fun, but I'm really used to some features of my current keyboard and how they fit into my work/life and can't seem to find something good that meets all the requirements. Right now I have a Logitech G110, and it has some features that are really important to me: media keys, numpad, at least one USB port, 3.5mm jacks for headphone and mic and hardware mute buttons for those jacks. The closest I can find is a Razer Blackwidow, but it has a single TRRS 3.5 jack (and is also from Razer, and I think their products kind of suck). Basically I use a headset with separate lines for headphones and microphone, have the microphone plugged into the keyboard, and can have the headset plugged into either my speaker's headphones port (all computer audio goes through to me) or into my keyboard (Discord audio routes to the headset, regular audio goes through speakers. I guess I could do with one of either the 3.5mm jacks or the USB port, and get a USB to 2x3.5mm adapter, but having both is kind of handy. Obviously using the USB connection for my headset means I need to get used to muting myself some other way (my current headset has a lift-to-mute, I could get used to that, or if the keyboard has macro keys I could set up a macro to mute Discord/Zoom/etc.), but hardware switches with 3.5mm ports would be ideal. I don't give a poo poo about backlighting, but it can be nice sometimes, and I'm not super particular about switches as long as they're nice mechanical ones (my current keyboard doesn't have mechanical switches, but I want to make the switch). Is there anything that meets my desires, or should I just figure out another way of doing all the stuff I'm used to doing with my current setup?
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Jun 26, 2020 03:35
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The product you are after does not exist. Premium keyboards won't have audio jacks and the full-size/1800 layouts almost never have macro keys. At best you'd have the home cluster to repogram. The closest thing that could satisfy your needs by itself is probably that monster Exit Strategy is working on. Exit Strategy posted:I've been working. Your best solution is probably going to be getting 2-4 different pieces of hardware. - 1800/Full-size keyboard if you had to have a built in numpad. - A separate numpad if you got a keyboard layout that didn't have a numpad - A macropad for macrokeys - A external audio dac if you don't want to plug into onboard computer audio
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Jun 26, 2020 04:52
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curried lamb of God posted:Just ordered an iKBC CD108BT. I've been working from home and using a spare Magic Keyboard with my work laptop (PC, not Mac), but I was frustrated with the lack of a number pad, especially since my job is fairly quant intensive. It's absolutely overkill, but I plan on building a PC later this year/early next year, so I figured I'd get something that'll last I really love my iKBC full sized. The fonts are just right, so nice. Excellent quality caps. Great build quality.
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Jun 26, 2020 08:09
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I keep buying or wanting 60-70% boards because they are so pretty but I always regret it since I'm using the drat numpad all the time, and external ones are a clumsy solution. I'm just spoiled by 1800 layouts
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Jun 26, 2020 10:27
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Lord Stimperor posted:I keep buying or wanting 60-70% boards because they are so pretty but I always regret it since I'm using the drat numpad all the time, and external ones are a clumsy solution. I'm just spoiled by 1800 layouts Get a southpaw 65%? You get the ergo benefits of not having the bumps on the right, while still getting a numpad. AEboards just released an acrylic case version of their EXT65 https://keyboardtreehouse.com/collections/keyboards/products/ext65-case-and-pcb-bundle?variant=34681186320539
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Jun 26, 2020 11:22
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Lord Stimperor posted:I keep buying or wanting 60-70% boards because they are so pretty but I always regret it since I'm using the drat numpad all the time, and external ones are a clumsy solution. I'm just spoiled by 1800 layouts Keep buying them and just put them on a shelf like everyone else.
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Jun 26, 2020 15:32
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I'm a little surprised there aren't at least a few coordinated sets of 60% kbs and numpads. Or "macropads" you could turn into numpads, feels like something this community would throw money at.
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Jun 26, 2020 15:50
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There's stuff like the cospad and other macropads. But yeah, for the most part most keyboard enthusiasts don't really care much at all for the numpad. If they do, they use 96key or have a separate numpad.
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Jun 26, 2020 17:12
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