Why? How is your experience with it? Is it your favo(u)rite ever? Would you replace it? What will be the next?
Cover source: arrows keyboard (Tokyo Meet Collection)
What keyboard do you use?
Publish Date: Sep 30 '20
11 53Comments 53 total
maxdevjsOct 3, 2020Thank you for sharing your choice. Seems comfortable and durable (I wouldn't say it based on the photos i saw), height years are not few. How often do you need to charge it?
- chusteddeOct 16, 2020
When I had it near a window, I never had to think about charging it, which was great! Now I charge it about once every two weeks.
Anirudh RowjeeSep 30, 2020TVS Bharat Gold.
This is supposed to be a replica of the legendary IBM Model M, but this one comes with Long Hua Blue switches. Perfect for me, and apparently, it's been a mainstay in the Indian Heavy-Duty keyboard scene (Used on Trading Desks, etc).
Coming from cheap Chinese-Manufactured RGB keyboards, the heavy-duty stability of this keyboard and it's super-long survivability (fingers crossed) are what got me hooked. It's perfect for me.
- maxdevjsOct 3, 2020
@anirudhrowjee , thank you for sharing your keyboard, looks pretty solid. Are those kailh switches?
- Anirudh RowjeeOct 4, 2020
They are manufactured by Kailh, but aren't branded as Kailh. And yes, it's a pretty solid keyboard 😀
Siddharth ShanbhogueSep 30, 2020Ducky One 2 Mecha Mini with Cherry MX blue (tactile clicky switches)
I thought the lack of dedicated arrow keys would be a problem but man, was I surprised with this keyboard.... Now can't go back to any other keyboard ever again.
It's compact, solid and heavy - has some really cool functions, lighting effects and hidden features. I use it mainly for programming and office communication.
This keyboard is metallic. It's meant to last a lifetime. Probably would go for a newer version of the same brand and model after a decade or so.
- Siddharth ShanbhogueOct 3, 2020
Hi @maxdevjs ,
The Keyboard has some interesting features, like 10 different customized lighting effects, 3 LED customization zones,
a light-based gaming mode (yes a minesweeper-type game is fully integrated into it).
It also has the ability to control your mouse to a good level of accuracy using the function+WASD keys.
While it does not have the arrow keys, you can still have them using function+IJKL keys.
Function key is a dedicated key on the bottom row (right) of the keyboard. Through the dip-switches, however, you can re-purpose the CapsLock key as a second function key (who uses capslock, anyway?)
It has a few dip-switches at the bottom that allow you to switch your buttons around (win-key type layout -> ctrl-win-alt - can be changed to mac cmd key layout -> ctrl-alt-cmd - if you're using this with a macbook, for instance)
It has a macro functionality, n-key rollover,anti-ghosting, and all the features you expect out of a full-fledged keyboard
The keyboard comes with a set of custom keycaps too.
Here's a full list of features of this keyboard: duckychannel.com.tw/en/Ducky-Mecha...
Justin HoOct 1, 2020Tokyo60 V2
(Holy pandas - 3203)I like the HHKB layout because it doesn't stress my pinky as much with the Ctrl key so close. I prefer tactiles just because I couldn't touch type as well with linear switches. Definitely looking to upgrade in the future but haven't found one I like better yet.
- maxdevjsOct 3, 2020
@justinhodev , thank you for sharing it. Looks solid, a(lmost) weapon. I did not know about tokyo60 and liked it very much.
- Justin HoOct 3, 2020
Thanks for the compliment!
Yes, I think the tokyo60 is a really good mid-tier mechanical keyboard because it's a (relatively) inexpensive custom design for those wanting something better than off the shelf. The more premium customs are not easy to get ahold of.
Austin S. HemmelgarnOct 1, 2020Depends on what I'm doing.
If I'm actually using my laptop, I just use the integrated keyboard (I've got a ThinkPad X1 Extreme, so it's got a decent keyboard).
On my main computer, and when using my laptop with the nice monitor and mouse I have at my desk, I use a Keychron K8 in a wired configuration. It's a nice full height mechanical 88-key keyboard with both Bluetooth and USB support (though I currently only use it wired, Bluetooth latency is a bit too high for my preference as it's mostly used for gaming, though this is mostly just an issue with Bluetooth, not the keyboard itself). Currently using Keychron's Optical Brown switches (similar feel to Gateron Browns with slightly shorter pre-travel), though the switches are hot-swappable, so I may experiment a bit in the future. Right now it just has the stock keycaps, but probably going to eventually get custom-made ones because it's for some reason damn near impossible to find backlit keycaps for a US-International layout (and if I do get them custom made, I can also overlay other layouts, which would be useful).
- maxdevjsOct 3, 2020
Thank you for in-depth explanation. Is the hot-swappable feature optional, right?
- Austin S. HemmelgarnOct 3, 2020
If you get one with Gateron switches then yes, it's optional to have them hot swappable. The ones with the Keychron optical switches are always hot swappable (but limited to other Keychron optical switch varieties). There's also a couple of different backlight options (I've got one of the RGB ones, but they also have a white-only variety that's less expensive, and a slightly more expensive version of the RGB backlit one that has an aluminum frame instead of the standard plastic frame).
- maxdevjsOct 3, 2020
Thank you. Is the aluminium frame optional too? Seems that it (almost) flawlessly works under Linux, which is a point in favour of this model. There are so many things to take into account. As an aside, how is the X1 keyboard?
- Austin S. HemmelgarnOct 4, 2020
Yes, the aluminum frame is optional too. This one does indeed work flawlessly under Linux given my own experience, but I have not tried it over Bluetooth on Linux so I can't comment on how well it works under those circumstances.
As far as the ThinkPad X1 Extreme keyboard, it's really good for a keyboard on such a thin laptop. My only real complaint is that a handful of the smallest keycaps don't always stay clipped onto the butterfly levers (in my case I mostly have this issue with the page-down key, but I've occasionally had it happen with others too). Not a big issue, but annoying at times. Other than that though it's one of the best keyboards I've ever used on a laptop, even compared to other ThinkPad keyboards (which have long been my standard of comparison for laptop keyboards). The switches appear to be a monoblock rubber membrane style with a rather solid plastic butterfly lever assembly to keep the keys moving linearly. They've got remarkably solid tactile feedback given their design and size (no pre-travel and consistent resistance on the way down, but you get a very strong 'click' feel right as they bottom out) and seem rather durable. Overall travel is somewhere in the 2.5-3mm range (not sure exactly where), and the keys are remarkably quiet as they bottom out (even compared to similar keyboards I've used on other laptops). Latency is also rather good, and while it doesn't have true n-key rollover, the rollover behavior is better than most keyboards I've come across (it accepts most adjacent two and three key combinations without issue as well as accepting all the 'normal' typing rollovers).
Ben ButlerOct 1, 2020
This isn't a great photo, but I've stuck with the IBM Model M white label that I've been using since Junior High School. I'm 42, so I think it's held up pretty well. I got it with a PS/2 model 30, and (this is the part that really only matters to me) it has the original PS/2 connector.- maxdevjsOct 3, 2020
Thank you for sharing it. I had one of these, but I didn't appreciate it as it deserved 🙈
- Arnaud DelanteOct 1, 2020
Oh boy... Don't get me started on that... Depends on the mood I'd say 😀 It circles between :
- IBM Model M
- HHKB Pro 2
- A custom one based on Tofu case with Jade switches
- A DIY Plank for fun sometimes
- And the one in my laptop when coworking (just so I can keep my place 😄 )
- maxdevjsOct 3, 2020
Please, get start on that 😀 Can you share something about the custom Tofu one and the DIY Planck ?
- Arnaud DelanteOct 3, 2020
You asked for it... 😄 The Plank is the standard model from 3 years ago (so with a mini-USB connector) and Zelio 65g (really smooth and linear switches, not that loud, it's like a muffled shlok sound). Keycaps are a random set you can found on AliExpress for 20 -30 Euros. I had to solder everything by myself. Never soldered before and everything work, so pretty easy I'd say 🙂
The Tofu one is a case and PCB from KBDFans with a WKL layout (I move the Windows key to Capslock as, let's face it, this key is never used 😄). Nice points with this PCB are 2 USB-C connectors (one on each side) and the switches are not soldered (it's a hotswap solution where they are just clicked in and can be removed whenever you want). Switches are Kailh Jade, they are extremely clicky and noisy, never take it to an open-space to work, unless you want everyone to hate you. Keycaps are a limited set called Tokyo Night (the kind where you have to register for a group buy and wait months to get them). And to top that, I also got a custom USB cable to match the colors. Clearly the keyboard I spent the most on
Mihail MaloOct 1, 2020A plain, white Ergodox EZ Shine with sculpted/blank keys, but with this aluminium+silicone kitty paw.
The switches are "Silent Reds". This is before they used solderless switches.
- Mihail MaloOct 3, 2020
Definitely.
This was before they used solderless switches, so I can't easily try others, but I am satisfied.
Maybe if there was a clicky switch with as low an actuation force as this I would be tempted.
I should try someone's Speed Silver 🤔
Luca ScalaOct 2, 2020Durgod K320! Looks vintage (like my first keyb!) and it's my first mechanical one. Also has a small footprint, that gives me more space for the mouse (even if I've a large desktop).
- maxdevjsOct 3, 2020
That's actually true, has a peculiar appearance. Is it comfortable to use? Is the housing plastic built, right?
- maxdevjsOct 3, 2020
Great hint @mattwaler about the MX, thank you. Is the creative input dial (Crown...?) actually useful?
Waylon WalkerOct 3, 2020I've been using a vortex pok3r for 3 years now and love it. I love being able to configure some crude vimlike mappings to have everywhere that wouldn't have them. The typical h,j,k,l are great to keep your hands on the home row, but keys like home and end are harder to reach and I never end up using them unless I really need them, a and i are much more natural after using vim.
klyseOct 15, 2020I'm using a Logitech G815 here is an article I wrote about it:
dev.to/klyse/my-g815-keyboard-is-o...
Louis MadrigalDec 5, 2020keychron k6
spec and mod:
aluminum case
plate mount
rgb hotswappable
gateron black switch lubed with krytox205g0
sprit slow spring mod 72g lubed with krytox205g0
everglide stabilizer mod with krytox206g2
case modded with eva foam
band-aid mod
abs SA keycaps
Logitech k750 (wireless, solar charging) - Nothing fancy aside from the solar panels. I like it for the most part, the keys are shallow and easy to move across, but still clicky enough to give decent feedback. I've had it for about 8 years now and only had to change the battery twice.
The only disadvantage right now is that my WFH setup doesn't have my keyboard close to a window or under a light like I've had in my offices over the years, so I have to remember to move it by a window every so often when I'm not working.
Not sure what I would replace it with when the time comes - there are a lot of interesting choices out there!