I find handwiring much easier as it involves at least a bit of variation and some creative thinking, whereas switch lubing is excrutiatingly repetitive
I lubbed manually 5 builds and I'll probably never do it again. The satisfaction of handwiring, programming and even designing a PCB with the right layout for me (split staggered with thumb keys) has much more impact on my typing experience than any lubbing ever had.
These end game hobbies are interesting in that the whole goal of finding something perfect ends up taking you out of the hobby once you finally obtain it.
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nevermind the ad bot but yeah thats what happened to me with my mouse and mousepad, i was really interested but as soon as i got my gpx superlight and an artisan shidenkai i didnt really look back. its been more than a year. one day if my mouse breaks maybe i will
I’m personally getting burned out in the mechanical keyboard space too, but maybe for slightly different reasons-it’s certainly not because I’ve found my “endgame”. I love how people can get their boards to sound, feel, and look, but it requires a LOT of sacrifice (time, money) that I just don’t feel like I can make for this hobby. Which is why I’m happy to see companies like NuPhy popularizing low profile mechanical keyboards. They’re solid stock, and that’s what’s so appealing about them to people. Plenty of non-enthusiasts probably picked it up for that reason. I’m hoping we see more competition in the low profile keyboards and keycaps soon. I’m saving my money until then!
Yeah, I wound up using my NuPhy 75 way more than my Wooting Two keyboard after a while. It's way more comfortable to use over long stretches of time, and the wireless nature is incredibly convenient.
I think there's a large portion of the community who desire the typing experience of a custom and not necessarily the nuanced process of how its achieved and there's nothing wrong with that. I like craft beer over large scale domestic, but you won't ever catch me brewing it myself.
Have you tried the KDA keycap profile? It's the exact same low high as Cherry, but with none of the switch interference, and minimal and very smooth gaps in height between the keys, making it feel like a low profile board in terms of how much you have to lift your finger to move between caps. Thee sculpt is heavily concaved which makes reaching the upper rows very easy (such as the num row and F row while holding at WASD for gaming). XVX have doublesh0t PBT sets of it for
It’s always remarkable how you can dive into any topic and still produce an engaging and polished video. And a video on mechanical keyboards coming out within a few months of me discovering the hobby was such a fun surprise. Good stuff :)
The biggest irony for me is that I joined the hobby by the same time as you, and during my journey I've tried pretty much all tiers: from the cheap mass produced gaming boards, to the slightly better, to really high end/expensive customs. Same with keycaps. All that money spent and I my endgame ended up being a prebuilt mass produced board (Realforce R2)... so much for elitism :^)
Imo, today the keyboards are the "expresso machines" of the computer world. Bought a cherry black almost a decade ago, still works so i am not changing.
However, you also have to see it this way: because of the enthusiasts we now have previously "high end" features in lower end pre-built keyboards (as well as coffee machines). My current keyboard has lubed hall effect switches and cost less than most custom keycap sets.
The channel that keeps on giving. I found you one day randomly and got hooked, seriously, your videos and editing style in combination with your scriptwriting is just so incredible I think at this point you could just talk about doing the dishes for 40 minutes and I would still watch the shit out of it! Love your videos, regards from Switzerland.
This was such a fascinating dive into what it was like to have such a niche hobby in Estonia during the 2010s! I really appreciate the cultural context and trials and tribulations. I've only had two mechanical keyboards. A red dragon K551 that was like $35 USD. And now I take a Keychron K6 (Also 65%! Such a good layout!) with me everywhere. It has Gateron reds and I installed some o-rings to make it a little quieter in class, and some caps to give it a nice retro look. It has been such a fantastic keyboard that I have had little to no interest in finding any others. Mechanical keyboards have never been a hobby, but more of a tool.
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this was genuinely one of the best videos ive seen on youtube and i completely enjoyed my meal while watching this thx for this good quality video really enjoyed it cant wait for the part two
I'm flattered that you used my typing test of the M2 - it's definitely how you describe it, "poppy," and it's more tactile than the standard M. Personally, I've lately been slowing down on the keyboard hobby since customs are too expensive to try out/build, and I've honed in on what I like for vintage stuff (buckling springs). Very interesting video, I enjoyed watching it!
for me ive gotten a huge kick building boards for my brother and dad. Even though custom keyboard creation is a giant pain and probably one of the worst money sinks possible, it is immensely satisfying to see your creations improve in quality with each new board. The first time i ever lubed a board was horrible, but by the time i made my dads board the experience was night and day. Playing with different switch types and keyboard and switch variants, ie buckling spring, smooth linears, some of the newer more innovative clicky switchs like the zealpc clickiez, etc has also been a fun experiment.
Personally, I enjoy the handmade junkiness side of the hobby much more than the premium build side. I feel free to try the weird and crazy stuff that makes me fall in love with that build so much more. Plus it took many builds to just find what I like. I thought a 65% would be perfect and I hate those actually, now at work I use a southpaw 60+numpad which I scoffed at in the beginning. Turns out that's what I like.
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Been using a standard PS/2 membrane keyboard for most of my life, other than the laptops I've owned, that mundane logitech office board carried me through a lot. For a membrane board, it actually was really solid. I was thinking of getting a mechanical keyboard for quite some time, but never really figured out what exact kind I'd want. Until one day I was helping move my friend out of his old apartment and we found his father's old IBM Model M, and his dad just gave it away cause he didn't need it anymore. I ended up taking it, and honestly, as someone who types a lot due to university and my writing hobby, the Model M truly makes every letter typed an amazing experience. Feels like I am writing on a typewriter. It is big, comfortable to type on and reach all the keys because it's literally the keyboard that brought the standard full sized keyboard layout to the market, the switches feel tactile, the sound it makes is exquisite, and you never wonder whether you pressed the key fully or not. This comment is much longer than it needed to be because I love typing on this thing so much. If it doesn't die due to old age, I don't think I'll be making a change anytime soon.
If it does die, a more modernized version is still made in an original factory today, by Unicomp. It's arguably not as good as an original, but I'm very pleased with mine.
So very similar. I’ve used mech keyboards for years and really got into them with custom key caps etc etc around 2015. I bought a hot swap board a couple years ago but never really bothered doing much with it. The other day i tried a tape mod with it and it fell apart. Ordered another hot swap board and now here I am again, a couple years later looking into mods, buying new switches, watching RUclips videos all about them. The keyboard scene has changed so much in the last few years. I remember how it was all about loud & clicks switches. Now it’s all about chasing smooth, ‘thocky’ sound boards and adding different foam and god knows what else. It’s also gotten very expensive. The amount of different switches on the market is insane, too.
I never knew you could dive this deep into the keyboard game. I just bought a roccat isku fx as my first keyboard for my first pc in 2016 and last year I got some razer huntsman elite for free. But now I'm tempted to buy a cool exotic keyboard.
This reminds me how some folks will spend forever bringing an old vintage car to life, and then realize at the end of it all, they still are driving the speed limit as everyone else but in their own satisfaction of style. Personally I grew up with the old clanky keyboards and remember how much of a racket I used to make while typing, yet I fully understand and it is why I got the Razor blackwidow (without numpad) because it allows me to recognize when the key is actuated. I went through a phase in life enjoying flat keyboards when I was always working on laptops, but as a digital artist I really need the curvature ontop of the key cap to help my awareness where the fingers are resting. Ultimately it's an obsession, one worth considering because the keyboard and mouse are the input interface between our brains and the digital realm, Razor is the best imo, I added 40A o-rings and will never go back to anything else in the same way that I use a tiny mouse to prevent my wrist from having to move around because of the discomfort that caused over long working hours.
I'm the opposite to you, I was super into my mechanical keyboards, and started out in 2012 with a black widow (its still sat on my desk) but over the years as a mechanical engineer who does a lot of typing and cad work ive realised I'm much faster and much more comfortable on a cheap laptop island keyboard and honestly I have a sense of guilt about it, I love using old reliable tools, I whip out the slide rule, ink dip compass and fourth generation calipers as often as I can, hell I use a chalk board for most of my workings but I just can't get comfortable anymore on a mechanical keyboard
Not sure if it will rekindle your interest, but somepeople are starting to design custom keyboars with topre switches. That could be something to look forward to as cipulot also open sourced most of his design work.
I never really gave much thought to keyboards for most of my life. My position was "Whatever - a keyboard is just a keyboard no matter how many bells and whistles you add." Then a year ago it became clear that I needed a keyboard with Korean characters for learning Korean and I bought a wireless Logitech K380 while living abroad. It looks pretty lame with its round keys and plain white colour scheme. However, having a keyboard as thin as the K380 means I can keep my hands much flatter while typing with my arms rested on the desk and the improvement in comfort is so much better I now use it for everything.
I've been using the K380 for something like 6 years I think. It's a wonderful keyboard, available in most countries, at a cheap price. I remember going down the rabbit hole of mechanical keyboards like @Livakivi. In retrospect, it's all mostly hype. There is much more to the keyboard than charts about actuation patterns. The K380 is wireless and works years with the batteries you insert. It's lightweight, reliable, and I can reliably buy a new one. It's also working with my particular hand sizes and fingers, which is probably the most important thing in a keyboard. My advice, and I think it matches the experience of this video as well, is to try a few keyboards, and pick the one you like most, regardless of ridiculously specific data like actuation patterns. I also advise to consider availability so you have a plan if it breaks, and accessibility so other people than you can actually use the keyboard without your help.
Once I get back to Korea I will shop around for Keyboards since I plan to get a desktop once I am there. The only thing I really need from a keyboard is to have Korean characters on the keys which is much harder to shop for in the UK. I've heard some people say that the sound of keyboards is soothing or pleasant but it doesn't really do anything for me so I'm happy with how quiet the K380 is since it doesn't disturb the people I talk to online while I type.
I've thought about looking around for keycaps with Korean on them, but at this point I honestly don't really have any reason to I just kind of want them, because I just learned to touch type by typing and pulling up a diagram every time I forgot a key position until I remembered them all.
@@sheep4483 That's also a solid solution as well. Unfortunately I lost the tip of one of my ring fingers as a kid so I never learned how to type properly because of it. I only use the thumb, index and middle finger on my left hand.
@@michaelcallaghan1989 I now opt for silent switches whenever I can, purely because I find it obnoxious. I'm very excited for Kailh to release the Ambient series for the Choc V1 switches. When you say you lost the tip, how much is missing, if you don't mind me asking? It's just there was someone who had also lost a portion of their finger, and designed a PCB to account for this, which was actually really cool!
I know this isn't relevant to this video, but you got me to pick up German again. I stopped studying it after getting to uni. You have given me such a wonderfully realistic perspective on learning without the usual cheats and techniques. Your message of consistency has let me enjoy the small victories of the learning process again. Thanks a ton for these videos!
Mechanical keyboards were not "relatively unknown" in 2013. They have been "known", being the main kind of keyboard starting in the 1980s. It's just that membrane keyboards became more common for a while, because they were cheaper. The last decade they just RETURNED to popularity. They were not new, not relatively unknown.
Actually it wasn't only "because they were cheaper" but also because they were a lot quieter. Well that and the advanced membrane keyboards could have individual weight for each key. The presses were designed to match the strength of the fingers so the keys you pressed with your ring or pinky finger were a lot lighter then the keys towards the middle of the keyboard, not to mention the space bar that you would press with your thumb. Some loved that and some hated it, but it was something made possible by the rubber dome sheets used. Something like this could be done with mechanical keys, but it would drive the cost a lot higher. Again some would love it and others hate the different weight. I remember how manufacturers were competing in making as quiet keyboards as possible. Personally I love buckling springs. At one of my first jobs I some times repaired IBM keyboards with buckling springs. The common problem was a flapper that had moved out of it's intended site. I remember that there was a lot of screws keeping everything together, but it was really a simple fix just opening it and put the flapper back where it belonged. The feeling and sound of the buckling springs keyboards was intended to remind you of using a mechanical typewriter. This was fine as long as you had a lot of typewriters and only a few computers. But as computers became the standard people started to get irritated on the buckling springs keyboards, especially when membrane keyboards became common. So yea, membrane keyboards replaced mechanical keyboards not just because they were cheap, but also because they worked better in huge offices with many people working in cubicles.
I hope the mechanical keyboard community gets obsessed with ergonomic layouts at some point, it feels like there are so few serious ergonomic options and they’re so expensive at the moment
Man this was a trip down memory lane, I got into mechanical keyboards at around the same time in 2013. At some point I just settled on one keyboard for years until I went down the full custom rabbit hole in 2013. Now I have more keyboards than I know what to do with.
liva!!! i finally found your channel again because of a youtube recommendation, i love your store restoration videos, and i hope for more stuff on that later on! your tech videos are very calming for whatever reason, thanks for it! have a nice day
Bro I recently got to try a brand new topre realforce etc in a store and I was shocked how weak the tactility on them felt compared to my 21 year old hhkb pro 1
Every video you surprise me with another interest we share in common. Learning Japanese, lifting, Linux, and now keyboards. Any other hobbies you want to mention? Pens? Audio? Gunpla?
After skipping through the first 18 minutes of the video, if you want to know the answer to the vifeo title, the man reached his endgame keyboard. That's it.
@@SpiralisIsHere What I understand is that the keyboards he used were so loud that his family would know when he stopped using the computer because they wouldn't hear any noise.
If you're interested into custom MKs purely from an aesthetics perspective, as a "cool gadget" to have, you'll never reach an end game. I want to think about them instead as a tool for my daily use, which needs to be as effective as possible. From that standpoint, I'd suggest you look more into custom split ergo columnar staggered keyboards. For example the Dactyl Manuform, or tiltable keyboards like the Ferris, Corne, etc. If you like to get geeky and have the skills to handwire them yourself (you'll have to for the dactyl), you'll have some fun building one!
I agree. It's crazy to me how people can spend so much time and money looking for the perfect non split row staggered keyboard. It's like trying to find the best feeling concrete mattress.
Hi, keyboard nerd here. I think you should give cherry Mx style switches another go, in the last few years the hobby has increased in size immensely. Due to this, a lot of innovation has spurred and we currently have some pretty amazing stuff. If you can spend the money I’d also definitely recommend getting a custom keyboard kit, something like the QK series or the Bakeneko. Besides that a lot has also been done in the switches department, a lot of them don’t even need lubing anymore and are great out of the box.
Got my first mechanical keyboard around 2014 (a Cherry MX Board 3.0 with MX Blacks), then last year instead of shelling out 400 or so for a custom I realised I'd probably be just as happy with a modded prebuilt, so I picked up a Cherry G80-1800. It just ticked all the boxes. High quality POM keycaps, german ISO layout, plateless design and no through-switch LEDs (no desoldering necessary to open the switches). Put in Epsi-modded Durock screw-in stabilisers, lubed everything with Krytox, oiled the springs, filmed the switches. I love the sound and feel, only thing it's missing are media buttons. But that can be remedied with an AHK script on the numpad. 160€ instead of 400. And it looks like it's from the 80s which I love
11:08 Thank you so much for giving me more confidence to start learning soldering real things. Like i now know that even if hell breaks loose i can still salvage, i didn't know to what extent that was possible before.
Wow, that intro was nostalgic af. My mom bought me my first mechanical keyboard in christmas of 2017. It was the 2016 green backlight only edition of the blackwidow, and it was on clearance during black friday at best buy. and I too had it set up in front of my shitty laptop with barely any mouse room on a desk less than 3 feet in length. Before I had an actual pc setup I was so humble, even tho I could barely run roblox on my laptop I felt like something so new and magical after years of playing on mobile. Those were the days
that razor was my first mechanical keyboard too. I've had many since then, landing on a redragon that had quickslot sockets and a solid metal frame, that i then switched to authentic cherry blues. this thing has lasted me over 5 years with no issues, and only just recently swapped the keycaps for some custom ones. just this past weekend i took the leap and built a custom ergo mechanical keyboard with cases i 3d printed, and full handwired. i don't know why i didn't do this sooner as I'm immediately in love with it!
12:24 For Pok3r keyboards you can use CAPSLOCK as a function key by setting the dipswitches to 1(off), 2(off), 3(on), 4(off), that makes the positioning of the arrow keys really nice. as your right hand is usually hovering around that area anyway. I also like that FN+BACKSPACE = DEL. Also if you want to try this setup but don't have a pok3r keyboard you could do this with the AutoHotkey software running this simple script: SendMode Input SetCapsLockState, AlwaysOff ; Map j,i,k,l to arrow keys Capslock & j::Send {Left} Capslock & i::Send {Up} Capslock & k::Send {Down} Capslock & l::Send {Right} ; Map Caps Lock + Backspace to Delete CapsLock & Backspace::Send {Delete}
Started around the same time as you in the mech journey. Almost exclusively used ducky keyboards for a long time until they priced themselves out and couldn't compete price-wise against the new brands. from MX red -> MX blue -> MX brown -> custom switches. Custom builts and DIY kits definitely changed over the last few years; everything became more accessible. Lately I also settled on my endgame which is quite simple (T1s for alphanumerics, U4Ts for non-alphas, linears for shift+ctrl+spacebar and clickies for toggles). Using ceramic keycaps which definitely has its drawbacks and it's more of an early-adopter product (definitely not for light typists and stems are fragile; but overall feels like a piano and sounds great). Besides the endless new switch designs in this space; definitely feel like a keycap material/profile innovation. Feels like at some point in the journey, everyone will settle with what they have and look into doing incremental upgrades; if they get particularly attached to a certain keyboard. Had an urge to buy a buckling spring keyboard several years ago - but the price always kept me away (same goes for HKKB and Topre). It's simply too big of a leap to get a keyboard that is incompatible with everything I have already. Buckling springs always seemed like a rose-tinted glasses affair - people may think they want it as I definitely have some fond childhood memories of being woken up to a buckling spring keyboard sound at the dead of night. But the main drawback I can distinctly remember was how variable the keybaord can be once the springs wear out. Sound definitely can be annoying once the novelty wears off!
I just switched to ThinkPad Trackpoint II keyboard, it's a desktop version of the well-known IBM ThinkPad keyboard, feels good both for gaming and typing, never going back to mechanical
Interesting story. The keyboard hobby has definitely changed (more so in the last couple of years) So many vendors at different price ranges, with some many variations of switches, and keycaps. A lot of keyboards are kits you can assemble yourself and customize, and a lot of waiting as well since many are bought through groupbuys. There is a lot of emphasis on premium quality materials and finish, with prices to match. GMK keycaps are usually well over $100USD, and you may need to wait months and months. Fortunately a lot of these mods/design features are starting to trickle down to prebuilt models. Keychron is a big player with a dazzling array of models incorporating a lot of the desirable enthusiast features like gasketmount, silicone dampening, foam padding, lubed switches and stabilizers etc. I like a nice keyboard and have no interest in building one but fortunately I can start with one of these and fine tune to my liking without paying a lot of money. You can start with a Keychron V or K Pro in the layout of your choice and adjust to satisfaction. Throw in some well reviewed switches for about $50 and choose some keycaps for another $50 and there is no real need to spend more. There is something for everybody now and you don't have to settle. I find it weird that most models are these super compact layouts. I like a traditional TKL layout because I've been typing on those for decades and it's hard to unlearn.
I've always preferred a smaller layout, it's nice not having to reach for keys that can be accessed using layers, combos or by other means. I currently type on a 34-key keyboard, and I can access everything without having to stretch my fingers or move my hands, which is extremely comfortable. I guess it's to appeal to those that play games, it does allow for more space on the desk to place your mouse, but it could just be for aesthetic reasons.
i always love the visual appeal of smaller keyboards, but as a gamer/artist I find myself using macros and shortcuts a lot. you definitely get those with layers but man, its so hard to learn at first without feeling like "i can just go back to before and be faster, this is silly." big respect for people who can use them lol@@oku-mq7kg
Very interesting keyboard journey you've made over the years. I personally have slowed down a bit after discovering them 3 years ago. I've come to the conclusion that you'll eventually settle on a board that you really like and then just toy around with different switches on that specific board every couple of years. Awesome video, gonna sub and check out your other content.
@@oku-mq7kg I've been interested in getting an ErgoDox at some point in the future. Haven't pulled the trigger yet but I assume the ErgoDox EZ is the easiest way to get one.
@@Fogoat ErgoDox, Moonlander, Kinesis, Dygma Defy, and much more are all viable options in the pre-built space. The Kinesis Advantage360 Pro is the only one I'd personally buy out of any pre-built, but I much prefer low-profile boards with choc spacing at the very least. I would say it's the best move to make, switching to an ergonomic keyboard. But it _can_ be an expensive rabbit hole as you explore different layouts.
Man, people put a lot of effort into their keyboards, and I totally respect that. To me, it's just a keyboard. A friend of mine gifted me a Corsair K70 PRO RGB keyboard with red switches, and I think it's fantastic and all, but I don't think I'll ever go the extra mile and start lubing, and changing stuff around and obsess with it. I didn't even download their icue software to mess with RGB. Literally kept it at whatever it came with.
Okay, now I am convinced we're just the same person. Literally each video is a dive into one of my interests, although you dived into each of them like years before me (didn't get into mechanical keyboards until 2020). Also have been thinking a long time about getting the HHKB as well and as if I wasn't already sure enough about wanting it, you definitely sold me here again. I just need to save the money first, in the meantime I should probably finish my current build (GMMK Pro, Glorious Pandas, GMK Red Samurai), but now I am kinda doubting if I should do that, because what if I just end up switching to the HHKB like you ;-; Heard it's also quite practical for programming and I am a software engineer so that's just another +
Cherry MX is an option, but I've also seen quite a few high-end, custom boards in the enthusiast space that use Topre-style switches these days. You could always look into those!
Hhkb pro 2 was my second Mechanical keyboard after graduating from a Corsair gaming keyboard with MX reds. Bought it on eBay JP for $200 total and then did the hasu tmk controller with Bluetooth mod. Now, 10 years later, I've just purchased the hhkb pro hybrid S to use at work. It's astonishing how much more rigid it it is and all the creaks are gone. 110% satisfied with my purchase, might try to lube my old pro 2 and if it doesn't turn out as good I may buy another hybrid to replace it. Hhkb for life ❤
It's such a bizarre C O N S U M E R mindset to be "bored" once you own the thing you want. That's the point, brother. You have the thing. Be happy, not bored.
I had an argument with an old teacher of mine about how PS2 is functionally plug and play now. Many motherboards (virtually all of them made after about 2015) that still have a PS2 port, as well as all PS2 to USB adapters, will detect something getting plugged in and restart the connector, meaning it will pick it up without turning off the PC. I proved this in class and got sent to the principal's office. Fun times
What really burned me out of the mechanical keyboard scene is the insane lengths people went to to develop new mounting methods instead of just using a non MX switch design. It wasn't just putting aesthetics first, it was literally putting the mechanism that inspired the hobbies name last on the priority list. I still like and use a wide variety of keyboards (including some nice sounding and very pretty ones) but I no longer keep tabs on any new "developments" in the scene.
Well yes because changing the switch design would completely remove the customizability enthusiasts enjoy most. Congratulations you came up with an idea that is completely unprofitable for anyone designing keebs
Your journey in mechanical keyboards is exactly like my journey in collecting vintage computers. I eventually realized the computer I loved the most out of all the weird, expensive, rare and crazy things out there was just a plain old Packard Bell from 1997 running Windows 98. lol Since then I sold everything off and I've only got three vintage computers now all of them quite mundane PCs. lol
I love the customizability of mech keyboards, but for me the price was just never justifiable. I almost pulled the trigger on a GMK Pro with Zeal Sakurio switches, which I'm sure would have been a wonderful keyboard - but i've decided to just save a bit of money, each year to help replace aging components since GPU's are now so expensive, and same for a good CPU/MOBO combination.
Got into the mechanical keyboard game for a while, but in the end decided I like scissor switches on a $25 office keyboard the best lmfao. No distraction, low profile, get sh*t done. 👌
I began my mechanical keyboard journey by getting a Kinesis Freestyle Pro split keyboard with Cherry MX Browns. That’s also where my mechanical keyboard journey came to an end. I just use that keyboard.
I agree with most of your points - i think the latest things i've liked are the wooting keyboard with faster upstroke button releases - and QMK via releasing for easier editing, you don't need to keep reflashing anymore to play with the layout and layers and taps/dances. You should probably try VIA on that handwired keyboard you have - see if playing with the software feels fun
I have a SUPER CRAZY history with Mechanical Keyboards. I found a video about it by jschlatt, started watching Glarses then was like “This is sick I wanna buy a mechanical keyboard!” but then realised “wait I’m broke and use laptops anyway.” End of the amazing story!・∇・
ok this is weird but you commented on one of my videos about atlas about a year or so ago and now i am seeing you again. massive coincidence but i love your video about legacy minecraft lol
Thanks I’m glad you liked it! I actually found your channel way before the Atlas song. In 2021 I was big on Minecraft name sniping and found your channel through it lol.
I’ll never forget my Poker 2 from Massdrop back in the day. The DIP switches allowed you to swap the function and caps lock keys and move the arrow keys to WASD which for me was the most comfortable function layer experience I’ve had. I even reprogram all of my keyboards to do the same now.
I feel you man, I remember getting into custom keyboards back in 2020 during the pandemic but I was a broke teenager so I wasn’t able to afford it, fast forward do now and I have my endgame keyboard with it being a split ergo keyboard with glorious panda’s and now everytime I use something else I just wish to go back to my keyboard. The custom keyboard hobby is often short lived as you quickly find something that either works for you or you just don’t want to spend the money required for this hobby.
This video was amazing to me as I've never known the depths of mechanical keyboards as a hobby. When I learned about mechanical keyboards nearly 10 years ago, I bought one off of Amazon for about $50. It's made of solid metal, has some good LED action and has been my daily driver ever since. Recently I breathed new life into it with new keycaps. You went so deep into the hobby. Hats off.
Next time you boil key caps buy one of those plastic steamer baskets, those things are amazing. Fold up nice, nylon based so survives boiling water, and can be used to steam hard boiled eggs, and pasta, sort of, like up to 1 Cup.
i did a lot of research and testing and figured out my endgame keyboard, built it, and now this is the first mechanical keyboard I have watched in a year.
i've been using the UHK for many years and i'm very happy with it. once you get a split keyboard you'll probably have trouble going back to a normal keyboard
i honestly relate so much to this. we must have gotten into mechs around the same time because your timeline is very similar to mine, and now i have 0 interest in mechs
Two years later: "I once again sold my HHKB... but I'm beginning to regret the decision." But honestly dude, you're not alone in just staying with topre switches, many who have tried just stayed and aren't that interested in mx style switches anymore. Luckily the landscape has changed and there's so much good switches out there.
That point to point soldering on that keyboard really reminds me back when I repaired old tube amps and radios that also had point to point wiring. You're lucky you shorted out just a keyboard... shorting out an old 50s poweramp without any protection circuitry could be a safety hazard... I've actually popped a few fancy KT66s in the past because of that. We've invented PCBs and left point to point soldering behind for good reason!
Life Lesson: Do your research, don't rely on heresy, and learn to filter good advice from bad to find a good mechanical keyboard; aka (don't buy discontinued and rare mechanical keyboards/switches as your first)
I have that same razer keyboard from my friend. The keys feel sharp but they are super loud. I noticed I was moving less to avoid hearing so much clacking of the switches, so I moved back to membrane haha
I knew what I wanted when I first set out to get a mechanical keyboard, because I had been happy with my old keyboard before that and I knew why. I had an iMac with the thin Apple keyboard (basically a laptop keyboard). Those rubber domes have my ideal quality: the keys rest on a tactile bump. You push into it, and "pop the bubble" to actuate the key. The travel is super shallow, and there's no "partially pressed" point where the key isn't actuated. You can rest your fingers on the keys. So I got a full size keyboard with MX Browns. I wasn't happy with the length of travel, so I put double O-rings on the keycaps. The result of this is that the travel stops right after actuation. Every time I start thinking about new key oards or other switches, I type on that keyboard and realize I'm just perfectly happy with it and it feels exactly as it should :)
I enjoyed this video a great deal. Thanks! After my own trip down the rabbit hole, I ended up with a TKL board and factory-lubed silent linears. I think most people reach a point where they're quite happy and have no reasonable upgrade to pursue.
My endgame is the corne I did not realize how cool a portable keyboard would be until I finally got my hands on one (the planck) My small journey went from razer huntsman idk, wooting (modding everything (including spring swapping and lubing)), planck ortho board (realizing how nice 40% ortholinear is to type on), and now I've had two cornes. One with cherry mx, one with low profile choc switches. So much functionality in a small package. I love it! I carry it around in my pockets.
Seeing your mistreatment of HHKB models really made me appreciate mine. Gonna daily drive it for a few days now lol Other than that, it's interesting how our journey was so similar... although I got to try Topre until really really late. I got into this hobby by the same date as you, but got my first Topre until 2021. And just like it happened to you, it was kind of endgame... it heavily and possibly permanently hurt my interest in the hobby because I realized I had found what I wanted all along: a realforce with silent domes.
I think 99% of keyboard enthusiasts have started with razer blackwidow XD. Mine was blackwidow elite btw, I absolutely loved it, especially its leather wrist rest. Now I'm manufacturing my own custom keyboards. I'am going to revolutionise the keyboard scene just watch me.
man I'm a huge linear gang kind of guy but you really made me want to look into HHKB now. I'm lookiing at prices as we speak, and I feel like that's another rabbit hole I'll never get out of
"back when mechanical keyboards were still relatively unknown" uh, what? I've had my first mechanical keyboard in 1989 and back then they were a lot more ubiquitous.
I feel you bro. Those nostalgic days from 2011-2015 when mechanical keyboards are just limited only to well known brands and relatively expensive. So I ended buying some used mechanical keyboards. I have 2 CM Mech with cherry mx blue and red. I also got CM Trigger with exotic cherry mx green switches. I also tried the Corsair strafe rgb with brown cherry mx but I sold it later and just bought a cheaper rakk lam ang lite which have outemu switches and become my daily driver until now. But it's starting to show some bad signs, sometimes it doesn't register a key and sometimes it register multiple keys and one of the led is busted out. Luckily today, there are tons of options in the market which are much affordable than before :)
Oh boy, that’s one hell of a long ride you had. Personally i totally get your journey and say that you stick with what you like, stop selling stuff which is dear to you and just enjoy the fruits of your labor.
I had 0 hobbies before it so it taught me what an S tier/God tier hobby is. They involve dedication and practice, and the ability to get better at it everyday. Sometimes even free. You can go to a library or free courses/RUclips has everything. (I'm learning a 2nd language for example) You can't do that with keyboards unless you're a manufacturer designing a case/switches. You can't really "build" a keyboard better as long as it's not scratched up when it's done lol
I also stopped caring about the mechanical keyboard space long ago. My first mechanical keyboard was a blackwidow v2 with razer greens (the real razer ones not the kailh’s) and that lasted me a long time despite what people said about razer longevity and QC at the time. Really liked that keyboard. Also got to try a Corsair strafe that a friend of mine left with me for quite some time, and while I thought the keyboard was solid I did affirm that clicky switches were my preference, as the cherry mx browns in that keyboard were only just okay. Continued to use my blackwidow for quite a few more years until I bought a Logitech G815 with the clicky versions of their proprietary switches. I’m quite fond of it as well, alot less clunky than the blackwidow, a little better for gaming while still being good for typing. Haven’t thought much about keyboards since then until now. At the moment I have limited desk space and am considering trying these topre switches. HHKB still makes keyboards so what the hell eh? Maybe it’ll put some pep into my typing, as at one point in time I suffered brain damage and do not type very fast anymore
I lost interest too, after finding something I'm genuinely happy with. I used a ton of custom and exotic boards, after 17 years of HHKBs... and what I eventually found works best for me is a mundane Keychron V1 or Q65 w/ Durock T1 switches and a nice set of budget caps and deeply customized firmware. The 65% to 75% designs seem like a "goldilocks" sweet spot for physical layouts, and QMK firmware allows a great deal of personalization to make the keyboard meet my specific needs. So my HHKBs are in storage now, as they don't meet any of my "must have" requirements: 1. Open-source firmware, ideally QMK. 2. Hotswap switches so I can install my favorite switches and caps. 3. 65% to 75% row-staggered (i.e. traditional) layout. After going open-source, I can't go back... anything proprietary just seems irrelevant now. It's also really handy to have a knob... and RGB per key, for custom layer and status indicators, since I have like a dozen layers and it's helpful to see at a glance which ones are active. The only thing I really still like about HHKB is the Topre switches. But I hear the Niz Plum switches do the same thing better... or I can get a very similar feel from some tactile switches, like Durock T1 or Boba U4 or Akko Lavender or Jelly Purple. So I use those, since I can get a typing feel which is just as good but with all the benefits of newer and more versatile keyboard designs. HHKB hasn't kept up with the times lately.
PART 2 TO THIS VIDEO IS OUT! ruclips.net/video/tzd3diNKUxM/видео.html
Please do face reveal
Keyboards like the kinesis could be interesting couldn't it?
I find it insane that handwiring a keyboard is something you gladly jumped into, but lubing switches sounds like too much of a hassle to you :D
I find handwiring much easier as it involves at least a bit of variation and some creative thinking, whereas switch lubing is excrutiatingly repetitive
how is it even possible that people do that crap in the 21 century
Yeah fuck that I would never do that just for a keyboard
I lubbed manually 5 builds and I'll probably never do it again. The satisfaction of handwiring, programming and even designing a PCB with the right layout for me (split staggered with thumb keys) has much more impact on my typing experience than any lubbing ever had.
i love to solder and switches is like assembly work techs hate that lol.. i have my solder cert
These end game hobbies are interesting in that the whole goal of finding something perfect ends up taking you out of the hobby once you finally obtain it.
Hey there! As a fellow tech enthusiast, I understand the struggle of finding that "perfect" setup. Why not consider the HOTO Compressed Air Capsule for your cleaning routine? It offers powerful vacuuming and blowing capabilities, perfect for maintaining a spotless environment on your desk and beyond. With its key features and reasonable price, it could be a great addition to your tech arsenal. Happy optimizing!
Hey {{3}}, have you considered trying out the HOTO Compressed Air Capsule? It's a compact and powerful tool that can help you maintain a spotless environment in your desk, car, and beyond. With its vacuuming and blowing capabilities, it's a versatile addition to any cleaning routine. Plus, its reasonable price and good quality make it a worthwhile choice compared to other tool brands. Give it a shot and let me know what you think!
nevermind the ad bot but yeah thats what happened to me with my mouse and mousepad, i was really interested but as soon as i got my gpx superlight and an artisan shidenkai i didnt really look back. its been more than a year. one day if my mouse breaks maybe i will
Remember that "The cake is a lie". There is no such thing as an endgame.
ngl thats really thought-provoking
Life lesson: Never sell your HHKB
i've applied this lesson in my personal life. very important.
After going all around mechs you will still end up back at the HHKB topre
Laughs in 40% ortho
HHKB
Handholdless
Hugless
Kissless
Birgin
The one and only god tier Emacs keyboard
nothing screams OCD louder than keyboard enjoyers
I’m personally getting burned out in the mechanical keyboard space too, but maybe for slightly different reasons-it’s certainly not because I’ve found my “endgame”.
I love how people can get their boards to sound, feel, and look, but it requires a LOT of sacrifice (time, money) that I just don’t feel like I can make for this hobby.
Which is why I’m happy to see companies like NuPhy popularizing low profile mechanical keyboards. They’re solid stock, and that’s what’s so appealing about them to people. Plenty of non-enthusiasts probably picked it up for that reason.
I’m hoping we see more competition in the low profile keyboards and keycaps soon. I’m saving my money until then!
Yeah, I wound up using my NuPhy 75 way more than my Wooting Two keyboard after a while. It's way more comfortable to use over long stretches of time, and the wireless nature is incredibly convenient.
I think there's a large portion of the community who desire the typing experience of a custom and not necessarily the nuanced process of how its achieved and there's nothing wrong with that. I like craft beer over large scale domestic, but you won't ever catch me brewing it myself.
DO NOT buy a Nuphy keyboard, they aren`t taht great. Source? I bought one.
Cheapo feeling plastic, bendy as hell, and a LOT of chatter. i
Have you tried the KDA keycap profile?
It's the exact same low high as Cherry, but with none of the switch interference, and minimal and very smooth gaps in height between the keys, making it feel like a low profile board in terms of how much you have to lift your finger to move between caps. Thee sculpt is heavily concaved which makes reaching the upper rows very easy (such as the num row and F row while holding at WASD for gaming). XVX have doublesh0t PBT sets of it for
@@PP-ok2xt i have nuphys halo 75 and i love it
It’s always remarkable how you can dive into any topic and still produce an engaging and polished video. And a video on mechanical keyboards coming out within a few months of me discovering the hobby was such a fun surprise. Good stuff :)
The biggest irony for me is that I joined the hobby by the same time as you, and during my journey I've tried pretty much all tiers: from the cheap mass produced gaming boards, to the slightly better, to really high end/expensive customs. Same with keycaps.
All that money spent and I my endgame ended up being a prebuilt mass produced board (Realforce R2)... so much for elitism :^)
No matter what we do, we always find our way back to Topre.
Imo, today the keyboards are the "expresso machines" of the computer world.
Bought a cherry black almost a decade ago, still works so i am not changing.
That's a good comparison.
However, you also have to see it this way: because of the enthusiasts we now have previously "high end" features in lower end pre-built keyboards (as well as coffee machines). My current keyboard has lubed hall effect switches and cost less than most custom keycap sets.
@@Drinkyoghurt wuts ur keeb?
@@ohioussy Drunkdeer A75
Love the way you narrate, gives it a very casual and cozy vibe just like a good friend!
The channel that keeps on giving.
I found you one day randomly and got hooked, seriously, your videos and editing style in combination with your scriptwriting is just so incredible I think at this point you could just talk about doing the dishes for 40 minutes and I would still watch the shit out of it!
Love your videos, regards from Switzerland.
This was such a fascinating dive into what it was like to have such a niche hobby in Estonia during the 2010s! I really appreciate the cultural context and trials and tribulations. I've only had two mechanical keyboards. A red dragon K551 that was like $35 USD. And now I take a Keychron K6 (Also 65%! Such a good layout!) with me everywhere. It has Gateron reds and I installed some o-rings to make it a little quieter in class, and some caps to give it a nice retro look. It has been such a fantastic keyboard that I have had little to no interest in finding any others. Mechanical keyboards have never been a hobby, but more of a tool.
Hey there! It seems like you're interested in optimizing your desktop setup. Have you considered investing in a HOTO Compressed Air Capsule? It offers powerful vacuuming and blowing capabilities, making it a handy tool for keeping your space spotless. With features like keyboard cleaning and inflation abilities, it's a versatile addition to any tech enthusiast's arsenal. Plus, it's reasonably priced compared to other brands. Just a suggestion to enhance your cleaning routine! 🧹💨
this was genuinely one of the best videos ive seen on youtube and i completely enjoyed my meal while watching this thx for this good quality video really enjoyed it cant wait for the part two
I'm flattered that you used my typing test of the M2 - it's definitely how you describe it, "poppy," and it's more tactile than the standard M.
Personally, I've lately been slowing down on the keyboard hobby since customs are too expensive to try out/build, and I've honed in on what I like for vintage stuff (buckling springs). Very interesting video, I enjoyed watching it!
for me ive gotten a huge kick building boards for my brother and dad. Even though custom keyboard creation is a giant pain and probably one of the worst money sinks possible, it is immensely satisfying to see your creations improve in quality with each new board. The first time i ever lubed a board was horrible, but by the time i made my dads board the experience was night and day. Playing with different switch types and keyboard and switch variants, ie buckling spring, smooth linears, some of the newer more innovative clicky switchs like the zealpc clickiez, etc has also been a fun experiment.
there are probably a million of even worse money sinks out there.
Personally, I enjoy the handmade junkiness side of the hobby much more than the premium build side. I feel free to try the weird and crazy stuff that makes me fall in love with that build so much more. Plus it took many builds to just find what I like. I thought a 65% would be perfect and I hate those actually, now at work I use a southpaw 60+numpad which I scoffed at in the beginning. Turns out that's what I like.
Hey, I totally understand your perspective on mechanical keyboards. It's great that you found what works for you in terms of layout and build. Speaking of finding the right tools, have you considered the HOTO Compressed Air Capsule for keeping your workspace clean? It offers both vacuuming and blowing capabilities, and its quality and price are pretty reasonable compared to other options. Just thought you might find it useful!
Been using a standard PS/2 membrane keyboard for most of my life, other than the laptops I've owned, that mundane logitech office board carried me through a lot. For a membrane board, it actually was really solid. I was thinking of getting a mechanical keyboard for quite some time, but never really figured out what exact kind I'd want.
Until one day I was helping move my friend out of his old apartment and we found his father's old IBM Model M, and his dad just gave it away cause he didn't need it anymore. I ended up taking it, and honestly, as someone who types a lot due to university and my writing hobby, the Model M truly makes every letter typed an amazing experience. Feels like I am writing on a typewriter. It is big, comfortable to type on and reach all the keys because it's literally the keyboard that brought the standard full sized keyboard layout to the market, the switches feel tactile, the sound it makes is exquisite, and you never wonder whether you pressed the key fully or not.
This comment is much longer than it needed to be because I love typing on this thing so much. If it doesn't die due to old age, I don't think I'll be making a change anytime soon.
If it does die, a more modernized version is still made in an original factory today, by Unicomp. It's arguably not as good as an original, but I'm very pleased with mine.
So very similar. I’ve used mech keyboards for years and really got into them with custom key caps etc etc around 2015. I bought a hot swap board a couple years ago but never really bothered doing much with it. The other day i tried a tape mod with it and it fell apart. Ordered another hot swap board and now here I am again, a couple years later looking into mods, buying new switches, watching RUclips videos all about them.
The keyboard scene has changed so much in the last few years. I remember how it was all about loud & clicks switches. Now it’s all about chasing smooth, ‘thocky’ sound boards and adding different foam and god knows what else. It’s also gotten very expensive. The amount of different switches on the market is insane, too.
I never knew you could dive this deep into the keyboard game. I just bought a roccat isku fx as my first keyboard for my first pc in 2016 and last year I got some razer huntsman elite for free.
But now I'm tempted to buy a cool exotic keyboard.
This reminds me how some folks will spend forever bringing an old vintage car to life, and then realize at the end of it all, they still are driving the speed limit as everyone else but in their own satisfaction of style. Personally I grew up with the old clanky keyboards and remember how much of a racket I used to make while typing, yet I fully understand and it is why I got the Razor blackwidow (without numpad) because it allows me to recognize when the key is actuated.
I went through a phase in life enjoying flat keyboards when I was always working on laptops, but as a digital artist I really need the curvature ontop of the key cap to help my awareness where the fingers are resting.
Ultimately it's an obsession, one worth considering because the keyboard and mouse are the input interface between our brains and the digital realm, Razor is the best imo, I added 40A o-rings and will never go back to anything else in the same way that I use a tiny mouse to prevent my wrist from having to move around because of the discomfort that caused over long working hours.
I'm the opposite to you, I was super into my mechanical keyboards, and started out in 2012 with a black widow (its still sat on my desk)
but over the years as a mechanical engineer who does a lot of typing and cad work ive realised I'm much faster and much more comfortable on a cheap laptop island keyboard
and honestly I have a sense of guilt about it, I love using old reliable tools, I whip out the slide rule, ink dip compass and fourth generation calipers as often as I can, hell I use a chalk board for most of my workings
but I just can't get comfortable anymore on a mechanical keyboard
Not sure if it will rekindle your interest, but somepeople are starting to design custom keyboars with topre switches. That could be something to look forward to as cipulot also open sourced most of his design work.
Cip is god
I never really gave much thought to keyboards for most of my life. My position was "Whatever - a keyboard is just a keyboard no matter how many bells and whistles you add." Then a year ago it became clear that I needed a keyboard with Korean characters for learning Korean and I bought a wireless Logitech K380 while living abroad. It looks pretty lame with its round keys and plain white colour scheme. However, having a keyboard as thin as the K380 means I can keep my hands much flatter while typing with my arms rested on the desk and the improvement in comfort is so much better I now use it for everything.
I've been using the K380 for something like 6 years I think. It's a wonderful keyboard, available in most countries, at a cheap price. I remember going down the rabbit hole of mechanical keyboards like @Livakivi. In retrospect, it's all mostly hype. There is much more to the keyboard than charts about actuation patterns. The K380 is wireless and works years with the batteries you insert. It's lightweight, reliable, and I can reliably buy a new one. It's also working with my particular hand sizes and fingers, which is probably the most important thing in a keyboard.
My advice, and I think it matches the experience of this video as well, is to try a few keyboards, and pick the one you like most, regardless of ridiculously specific data like actuation patterns. I also advise to consider availability so you have a plan if it breaks, and accessibility so other people than you can actually use the keyboard without your help.
Once I get back to Korea I will shop around for Keyboards since I plan to get a desktop once I am there. The only thing I really need from a keyboard is to have Korean characters on the keys which is much harder to shop for in the UK.
I've heard some people say that the sound of keyboards is soothing or pleasant but it doesn't really do anything for me so I'm happy with how quiet the K380 is since it doesn't disturb the people I talk to online while I type.
I've thought about looking around for keycaps with Korean on them, but at this point I honestly don't really have any reason to I just kind of want them, because I just learned to touch type by typing and pulling up a diagram every time I forgot a key position until I remembered them all.
@@sheep4483 That's also a solid solution as well. Unfortunately I lost the tip of one of my ring fingers as a kid so I never learned how to type properly because of it. I only use the thumb, index and middle finger on my left hand.
@@michaelcallaghan1989 I now opt for silent switches whenever I can, purely because I find it obnoxious. I'm very excited for Kailh to release the Ambient series for the Choc V1 switches.
When you say you lost the tip, how much is missing, if you don't mind me asking? It's just there was someone who had also lost a portion of their finger, and designed a PCB to account for this, which was actually really cool!
I know this isn't relevant to this video, but you got me to pick up German again. I stopped studying it after getting to uni. You have given me such a wonderfully realistic perspective on learning without the usual cheats and techniques. Your message of consistency has let me enjoy the small victories of the learning process again. Thanks a ton for these videos!
Mechanical keyboards were not "relatively unknown" in 2013.
They have been "known", being the main kind of keyboard starting in the 1980s.
It's just that membrane keyboards became more common for a while, because they were cheaper.
The last decade they just RETURNED to popularity. They were not new, not relatively unknown.
Actually it wasn't only "because they were cheaper" but also because they were a lot quieter. Well that and the advanced membrane keyboards could have individual weight for each key. The presses were designed to match the strength of the fingers so the keys you pressed with your ring or pinky finger were a lot lighter then the keys towards the middle of the keyboard, not to mention the space bar that you would press with your thumb. Some loved that and some hated it, but it was something made possible by the rubber dome sheets used. Something like this could be done with mechanical keys, but it would drive the cost a lot higher. Again some would love it and others hate the different weight.
I remember how manufacturers were competing in making as quiet keyboards as possible.
Personally I love buckling springs. At one of my first jobs I some times repaired IBM keyboards with buckling springs. The common problem was a flapper that had moved out of it's intended site. I remember that there was a lot of screws keeping everything together, but it was really a simple fix just opening it and put the flapper back where it belonged.
The feeling and sound of the buckling springs keyboards was intended to remind you of using a mechanical typewriter. This was fine as long as you had a lot of typewriters and only a few computers. But as computers became the standard people started to get irritated on the buckling springs keyboards, especially when membrane keyboards became common.
So yea, membrane keyboards replaced mechanical keyboards not just because they were cheap, but also because they worked better in huge offices with many people working in cubicles.
Wow, I never knew that this hobby even existed. My goodness there's a lot of depth here.
Run! Don't fall for it. Stop watching keyboard enthusiast videos and save yourself.
I hope the mechanical keyboard community gets obsessed with ergonomic layouts at some point, it feels like there are so few serious ergonomic options and they’re so expensive at the moment
Ortholiniar 40% all the way... #inland MK47
there are already a good amount of ergo boards, Lily58, Sofle v2, Kyria, etc....
40% are inefficient and Ortholinear is objectively bad considering the existence of Column stagger boards. @@willhaney96
just cough it up for a glove80
Man this was a trip down memory lane, I got into mechanical keyboards at around the same time in 2013. At some point I just settled on one keyboard for years until I went down the full custom rabbit hole in 2013. Now I have more keyboards than I know what to do with.
liva!!! i finally found your channel again because of a youtube recommendation, i love your store restoration videos, and i hope for more stuff on that later on! your tech videos are very calming for whatever reason, thanks for it! have a nice day
Ha. Yeah same bro. My last keyboard was HHKB Pro 2 with aged domes. Never went back. Topre is such a magical, comfortable switch.
Bro I recently got to try a brand new topre realforce etc in a store and I was shocked how weak the tactility on them felt compared to my 21 year old hhkb pro 1
Every video you surprise me with another interest we share in common. Learning Japanese, lifting, Linux, and now keyboards. Any other hobbies you want to mention? Pens? Audio? Gunpla?
After skipping through the first 18 minutes of the video, if you want to know the answer to the vifeo title, the man reached his endgame keyboard. That's it.
I throw away mechanical keyboards because my family knew when I went to bed.
Wut
@@SpiralisIsHere What I understand is that the keyboards he used were so loud that his family would know when he stopped using the computer because they wouldn't hear any noise.
@@Abc-123-AJ e
If you're interested into custom MKs purely from an aesthetics perspective, as a "cool gadget" to have, you'll never reach an end game. I want to think about them instead as a tool for my daily use, which needs to be as effective as possible. From that standpoint, I'd suggest you look more into custom split ergo columnar staggered keyboards. For example the Dactyl Manuform, or tiltable keyboards like the Ferris, Corne, etc. If you like to get geeky and have the skills to handwire them yourself (you'll have to for the dactyl), you'll have some fun building one!
I agree. It's crazy to me how people can spend so much time and money looking for the perfect non split row staggered keyboard. It's like trying to find the best feeling concrete mattress.
@@Rakkoonn This is probably the best description I've heard so far!
Hi, keyboard nerd here. I think you should give cherry Mx style switches another go, in the last few years the hobby has increased in size immensely. Due to this, a lot of innovation has spurred and we currently have some pretty amazing stuff. If you can spend the money I’d also definitely recommend getting a custom keyboard kit, something like the QK series or the Bakeneko. Besides that a lot has also been done in the switches department, a lot of them don’t even need lubing anymore and are great out of the box.
Got my first mechanical keyboard around 2014 (a Cherry MX Board 3.0 with MX Blacks), then last year instead of shelling out 400 or so for a custom I realised I'd probably be just as happy with a modded prebuilt, so I picked up a Cherry G80-1800. It just ticked all the boxes. High quality POM keycaps, german ISO layout, plateless design and no through-switch LEDs (no desoldering necessary to open the switches). Put in Epsi-modded Durock screw-in stabilisers, lubed everything with Krytox, oiled the springs, filmed the switches. I love the sound and feel, only thing it's missing are media buttons. But that can be remedied with an AHK script on the numpad. 160€ instead of 400. And it looks like it's from the 80s which I love
11:08 Thank you so much for giving me more confidence to start learning soldering real things.
Like i now know that even if hell breaks loose i can still salvage, i didn't know to what extent that was possible before.
Wow, that intro was nostalgic af. My mom bought me my first mechanical keyboard in christmas of 2017. It was the 2016 green backlight only edition of the blackwidow, and it was on clearance during black friday at best buy. and I too had it set up in front of my shitty laptop with barely any mouse room on a desk less than 3 feet in length. Before I had an actual pc setup I was so humble, even tho I could barely run roblox on my laptop I felt like something so new and magical after years of playing on mobile. Those were the days
I never pursued the hobby to this extent, but I fully recognize the journey. :)
On a side note, this feels like a journey Beluga Cat would take.
that razor was my first mechanical keyboard too. I've had many since then, landing on a redragon that had quickslot sockets and a solid metal frame, that i then switched to authentic cherry blues. this thing has lasted me over 5 years with no issues, and only just recently swapped the keycaps for some custom ones.
just this past weekend i took the leap and built a custom ergo mechanical keyboard with cases i 3d printed, and full handwired. i don't know why i didn't do this sooner as I'm immediately in love with it!
12:24 For Pok3r keyboards you can use CAPSLOCK as a function key by setting the dipswitches to 1(off), 2(off), 3(on), 4(off), that makes the positioning of the arrow keys really nice. as your right hand is usually hovering around that area anyway. I also like that FN+BACKSPACE = DEL.
Also if you want to try this setup but don't have a pok3r keyboard you could do this with the AutoHotkey software running this simple script:
SendMode Input
SetCapsLockState, AlwaysOff
; Map j,i,k,l to arrow keys
Capslock & j::Send {Left}
Capslock & i::Send {Up}
Capslock & k::Send {Down}
Capslock & l::Send {Right}
; Map Caps Lock + Backspace to Delete
CapsLock & Backspace::Send {Delete}
I bought a Gen 1 IBM Model M. Job done.
Yup been using mine as a daily for 5+ years and I’m never switching to anything else
Started around the same time as you in the mech journey. Almost exclusively used ducky keyboards for a long time until they priced themselves out and couldn't compete price-wise against the new brands. from MX red -> MX blue -> MX brown -> custom switches. Custom builts and DIY kits definitely changed over the last few years; everything became more accessible.
Lately I also settled on my endgame which is quite simple (T1s for alphanumerics, U4Ts for non-alphas, linears for shift+ctrl+spacebar and clickies for toggles). Using ceramic keycaps which definitely has its drawbacks and it's more of an early-adopter product (definitely not for light typists and stems are fragile; but overall feels like a piano and sounds great).
Besides the endless new switch designs in this space; definitely feel like a keycap material/profile innovation. Feels like at some point in the journey, everyone will settle with what they have and look into doing incremental upgrades; if they get particularly attached to a certain keyboard.
Had an urge to buy a buckling spring keyboard several years ago - but the price always kept me away (same goes for HKKB and Topre). It's simply too big of a leap to get a keyboard that is incompatible with everything I have already. Buckling springs always seemed like a rose-tinted glasses affair - people may think they want it as I definitely have some fond childhood memories of being woken up to a buckling spring keyboard sound at the dead of night. But the main drawback I can distinctly remember was how variable the keybaord can be once the springs wear out. Sound definitely can be annoying once the novelty wears off!
I just switched to ThinkPad Trackpoint II keyboard, it's a desktop version of the well-known IBM ThinkPad keyboard, feels good both for gaming and typing, never going back to mechanical
Interesting story. The keyboard hobby has definitely changed (more so in the last couple of years) So many vendors at different price ranges, with some many variations of switches, and keycaps. A lot of keyboards are kits you can assemble yourself and customize, and a lot of waiting as well since many are bought through groupbuys. There is a lot of emphasis on premium quality materials and finish, with prices to match. GMK keycaps are usually well over $100USD, and you may need to wait months and months. Fortunately a lot of these mods/design features are starting to trickle down to prebuilt models. Keychron is a big player with a dazzling array of models incorporating a lot of the desirable enthusiast features like gasketmount, silicone dampening, foam padding, lubed switches and stabilizers etc.
I like a nice keyboard and have no interest in building one but fortunately I can start with one of these and fine tune to my liking without paying a lot of money. You can start with a Keychron V or K Pro in the layout of your choice and adjust to satisfaction. Throw in some well reviewed switches for about $50 and choose some keycaps for another $50 and there is no real need to spend more. There is something for everybody now and you don't have to settle. I find it weird that most models are these super compact layouts. I like a traditional TKL layout because I've been typing on those for decades and it's hard to unlearn.
I've always preferred a smaller layout, it's nice not having to reach for keys that can be accessed using layers, combos or by other means. I currently type on a 34-key keyboard, and I can access everything without having to stretch my fingers or move my hands, which is extremely comfortable.
I guess it's to appeal to those that play games, it does allow for more space on the desk to place your mouse, but it could just be for aesthetic reasons.
i always love the visual appeal of smaller keyboards, but as a gamer/artist I find myself using macros and shortcuts a lot. you definitely get those with layers but man, its so hard to learn at first without feeling like "i can just go back to before and be faster, this is silly." big respect for people who can use them lol@@oku-mq7kg
You found your endgame, congrats. Sofle RGB split keyboard with gateron purples, 3d printed keycaps. Almost there, next version I'll make wireless.
Very interesting keyboard journey you've made over the years. I personally have slowed down a bit after discovering them 3 years ago. I've come to the conclusion that you'll eventually settle on a board that you really like and then just toy around with different switches on that specific board every couple of years.
Awesome video, gonna sub and check out your other content.
Just don't go down the ergonomic rabbit hole.
@@oku-mq7kg I've been interested in getting an ErgoDox at some point in the future. Haven't pulled the trigger yet but I assume the ErgoDox EZ is the easiest way to get one.
@@Fogoat ErgoDox, Moonlander, Kinesis, Dygma Defy, and much more are all viable options in the pre-built space.
The Kinesis Advantage360 Pro is the only one I'd personally buy out of any pre-built, but I much prefer low-profile boards with choc spacing at the very least.
I would say it's the best move to make, switching to an ergonomic keyboard. But it _can_ be an expensive rabbit hole as you explore different layouts.
Man, people put a lot of effort into their keyboards, and I totally respect that. To me, it's just a keyboard. A friend of mine gifted me a Corsair K70 PRO RGB keyboard with red switches, and I think it's fantastic and all, but I don't think I'll ever go the extra mile and start lubing, and changing stuff around and obsess with it. I didn't even download their icue software to mess with RGB. Literally kept it at whatever it came with.
Okay, now I am convinced we're just the same person. Literally each video is a dive into one of my interests, although you dived into each of them like years before me (didn't get into mechanical keyboards until 2020). Also have been thinking a long time about getting the HHKB as well and as if I wasn't already sure enough about wanting it, you definitely sold me here again. I just need to save the money first, in the meantime I should probably finish my current build (GMMK Pro, Glorious Pandas, GMK Red Samurai), but now I am kinda doubting if I should do that, because what if I just end up switching to the HHKB like you ;-; Heard it's also quite practical for programming and I am a software engineer so that's just another +
A single failed red switch sent me running back to the warm rubbery embrace of membrane. Keyboards need to be reliable first.
Cherry MX is an option, but I've also seen quite a few high-end, custom boards in the enthusiast space that use Topre-style switches these days. You could always look into those!
Hhkb pro 2 was my second Mechanical keyboard after graduating from a Corsair gaming keyboard with MX reds. Bought it on eBay JP for $200 total and then did the hasu tmk controller with Bluetooth mod.
Now, 10 years later, I've just purchased the hhkb pro hybrid S to use at work. It's astonishing how much more rigid it it is and all the creaks are gone.
110% satisfied with my purchase, might try to lube my old pro 2 and if it doesn't turn out as good I may buy another hybrid to replace it.
Hhkb for life ❤
It's such a bizarre C O N S U M E R mindset to be "bored" once you own the thing you want.
That's the point, brother. You have the thing. Be happy, not bored.
And that's why he's stopped buying keyboards.
Happy and bored and not mutually exclusive in this scenario. He can be bored of the mechanical keyboard hobby, and be happy with what he has.
Did you watch the whole video? He found what he wanted. He's so happy with it he's not concerned with the hobby anymore.
I had an argument with an old teacher of mine about how PS2 is functionally plug and play now. Many motherboards (virtually all of them made after about 2015) that still have a PS2 port, as well as all PS2 to USB adapters, will detect something getting plugged in and restart the connector, meaning it will pick it up without turning off the PC. I proved this in class and got sent to the principal's office. Fun times
What really burned me out of the mechanical keyboard scene is the insane lengths people went to to develop new mounting methods instead of just using a non MX switch design. It wasn't just putting aesthetics first, it was literally putting the mechanism that inspired the hobbies name last on the priority list. I still like and use a wide variety of keyboards (including some nice sounding and very pretty ones) but I no longer keep tabs on any new "developments" in the scene.
Well yes because changing the switch design would completely remove the customizability enthusiasts enjoy most.
Congratulations you came up with an idea that is completely unprofitable for anyone designing keebs
Your journey in mechanical keyboards is exactly like my journey in collecting vintage computers. I eventually realized the computer I loved the most out of all the weird, expensive, rare and crazy things out there was just a plain old Packard Bell from 1997 running Windows 98. lol Since then I sold everything off and I've only got three vintage computers now all of them quite mundane PCs. lol
I love the customizability of mech keyboards, but for me the price was just never justifiable. I almost pulled the trigger on a GMK Pro with Zeal Sakurio switches, which I'm sure would have been a wonderful keyboard - but i've decided to just save a bit of money, each year to help replace aging components since GPU's are now so expensive, and same for a good CPU/MOBO combination.
Got into the mechanical keyboard game for a while, but in the end decided I like scissor switches on a $25 office keyboard the best lmfao. No distraction, low profile, get sh*t done. 👌
oh, this is the reason word of the day 432 was Cherry MX Blue
:^)
I began my mechanical keyboard journey by getting a Kinesis Freestyle Pro split keyboard with Cherry MX Browns. That’s also where my mechanical keyboard journey came to an end. I just use that keyboard.
I agree with most of your points - i think the latest things i've liked are the wooting keyboard with faster upstroke button releases - and QMK via releasing for easier editing, you don't need to keep reflashing anymore to play with the layout and layers and taps/dances. You should probably try VIA on that handwired keyboard you have - see if playing with the software feels fun
Best enjoyed at 150% speed
I have a SUPER CRAZY history with Mechanical Keyboards.
I found a video about it by jschlatt, started watching Glarses then was like “This is sick I wanna buy a mechanical keyboard!” but then realised “wait I’m broke and use laptops anyway.”
End of the amazing story!・∇・
ok this is weird but you commented on one of my videos about atlas about a year or so ago and now i am seeing you again. massive coincidence but i love your video about legacy minecraft lol
Thanks I’m glad you liked it! I actually found your channel way before the Atlas song. In 2021 I was big on Minecraft name sniping and found your channel through it lol.
@@BM30 Thats cool! Thanks for the support
I’ll never forget my Poker 2 from Massdrop back in the day. The DIP switches allowed you to swap the function and caps lock keys and move the arrow keys to WASD which for me was the most comfortable function layer experience I’ve had. I even reprogram all of my keyboards to do the same now.
a fascinating look at mental illness
I feel you man, I remember getting into custom keyboards back in 2020 during the pandemic but I was a broke teenager so I wasn’t able to afford it, fast forward do now and I have my endgame keyboard with it being a split ergo keyboard with glorious panda’s and now everytime I use something else I just wish to go back to my keyboard. The custom keyboard hobby is often short lived as you quickly find something that either works for you or you just don’t want to spend the money required for this hobby.
This video was amazing to me as I've never known the depths of mechanical keyboards as a hobby. When I learned about mechanical keyboards nearly 10 years ago, I bought one off of Amazon for about $50. It's made of solid metal, has some good LED action and has been my daily driver ever since. Recently I breathed new life into it with new keycaps. You went so deep into the hobby. Hats off.
handwiring a keyboard but he complained about lubing switches hahaha
He should have complain of the toxic community, instead of lubing
Next time you boil key caps buy one of those plastic steamer baskets, those things are amazing. Fold up nice, nylon based so survives boiling water, and can be used to steam hard boiled eggs, and pasta, sort of, like up to 1 Cup.
Bro use 17minutes to get to the point.
i did a lot of research and testing and figured out my endgame keyboard, built it, and now this is the first mechanical keyboard I have watched in a year.
You have really long finger nails
I can open cans of beans easily
@@Livakivi And repel the ladies even easier :)
i've been using the UHK for many years and i'm very happy with it.
once you get a split keyboard you'll probably have trouble going back to a normal keyboard
i honestly relate so much to this. we must have gotten into mechs around the same time because your timeline is very similar to mine, and now i have 0 interest in mechs
Two years later: "I once again sold my HHKB... but I'm beginning to regret the decision." But honestly dude, you're not alone in just staying with topre switches, many who have tried just stayed and aren't that interested in mx style switches anymore. Luckily the landscape has changed and there's so much good switches out there.
That point to point soldering on that keyboard really reminds me back when I repaired old tube amps and radios that also had point to point wiring.
You're lucky you shorted out just a keyboard... shorting out an old 50s poweramp without any protection circuitry could be a safety hazard... I've actually popped a few fancy KT66s in the past because of that.
We've invented PCBs and left point to point soldering behind for good reason!
Life Lesson: Do your research, don't rely on heresy, and learn to filter good advice from bad to find a good mechanical keyboard; aka (don't buy discontinued and rare mechanical keyboards/switches as your first)
I have that same razer keyboard from my friend. The keys feel sharp but they are super loud. I noticed I was moving less to avoid hearing so much clacking of the switches, so I moved back to membrane haha
I usually hate the BG musics of YT videos, but your selection is brilliant and pleasant and far from obtrusive.
I knew what I wanted when I first set out to get a mechanical keyboard, because I had been happy with my old keyboard before that and I knew why. I had an iMac with the thin Apple keyboard (basically a laptop keyboard). Those rubber domes have my ideal quality: the keys rest on a tactile bump. You push into it, and "pop the bubble" to actuate the key. The travel is super shallow, and there's no "partially pressed" point where the key isn't actuated. You can rest your fingers on the keys. So I got a full size keyboard with MX Browns. I wasn't happy with the length of travel, so I put double O-rings on the keycaps. The result of this is that the travel stops right after actuation. Every time I start thinking about new key oards or other switches, I type on that keyboard and realize I'm just perfectly happy with it and it feels exactly as it should :)
I'm really happy for you that you have a happy ending ❤️❤️❤️
I enjoyed this video a great deal. Thanks!
After my own trip down the rabbit hole, I ended up with a TKL board and factory-lubed silent linears. I think most people reach a point where they're quite happy and have no reasonable upgrade to pursue.
My endgame is the corne I did not realize how cool a portable keyboard would be until I finally got my hands on one (the planck)
My small journey went from razer huntsman idk, wooting (modding everything (including spring swapping and lubing)), planck ortho board (realizing how nice 40% ortholinear is to type on), and now I've had two cornes. One with cherry mx, one with low profile choc switches. So much functionality in a small package. I love it!
I carry it around in my pockets.
Seeing your mistreatment of HHKB models really made me appreciate mine. Gonna daily drive it for a few days now lol
Other than that, it's interesting how our journey was so similar... although I got to try Topre until really really late. I got into this hobby by the same date as you, but got my first Topre until 2021. And just like it happened to you, it was kind of endgame... it heavily and possibly permanently hurt my interest in the hobby because I realized I had found what I wanted all along: a realforce with silent domes.
I think 99% of keyboard enthusiasts have started with razer blackwidow XD. Mine was blackwidow elite btw, I absolutely loved it, especially its leather wrist rest. Now I'm manufacturing my own custom keyboards. I'am going to revolutionise the keyboard scene just watch me.
4:47 My man boiled his key caps.
man I'm a huge linear gang kind of guy but you really made me want to look into HHKB now.
I'm lookiing at prices as we speak, and I feel like that's another rabbit hole I'll never get out of
It amazes me how much you went into the super niche stuff and avoided a lot of the main stream MX stuff
"back when mechanical keyboards were still relatively unknown" uh, what? I've had my first mechanical keyboard in 1989 and back then they were a lot more ubiquitous.
i literally did ur same path: 2 keyboards, bought the magic realforce 2, never thought abt changing my keeb ever again
I feel you bro. Those nostalgic days from 2011-2015 when mechanical keyboards are just limited only to well known brands and relatively expensive. So I ended buying some used mechanical keyboards. I have 2 CM Mech with cherry mx blue and red. I also got CM Trigger with exotic cherry mx green switches. I also tried the Corsair strafe rgb with brown cherry mx but I sold it later and just bought a cheaper rakk lam ang lite which have outemu switches and become my daily driver until now. But it's starting to show some bad signs, sometimes it doesn't register a key and sometimes it register multiple keys and one of the led is busted out. Luckily today, there are tons of options in the market which are much affordable than before :)
feels nice already having a leopold 🙂 truly nothing compares to the warbly bubbly feel and sound
My endgame keyboard for a while was the sofle rgb split keyboard. Split keyboards are nice and ergonomic for me
Thanks to this video i decided to buy a hhkb pro classic and I am in love with it.
Oh boy, that’s one hell of a long ride you had.
Personally i totally get your journey and say that you stick with what you like, stop selling stuff which is dear to you and just enjoy the fruits of your labor.
I had 0 hobbies before it so it taught me what an S tier/God tier hobby is.
They involve dedication and practice, and the ability to get better at it everyday. Sometimes even free. You can go to a library or free courses/RUclips has everything.
(I'm learning a 2nd language for example) You can't do that with keyboards unless you're a manufacturer designing a case/switches.
You can't really "build" a keyboard better as long as it's not scratched up when it's done lol
I also stopped caring about the mechanical keyboard space long ago. My first mechanical keyboard was a blackwidow v2 with razer greens (the real razer ones not the kailh’s) and that lasted me a long time despite what people said about razer longevity and QC at the time. Really liked that keyboard. Also got to try a Corsair strafe that a friend of mine left with me for quite some time, and while I thought the keyboard was solid I did affirm that clicky switches were my preference, as the cherry mx browns in that keyboard were only just okay. Continued to use my blackwidow for quite a few more years until I bought a Logitech G815 with the clicky versions of their proprietary switches. I’m quite fond of it as well, alot less clunky than the blackwidow, a little better for gaming while still being good for typing. Haven’t thought much about keyboards since then until now. At the moment I have limited desk space and am considering trying these topre switches. HHKB still makes keyboards so what the hell eh? Maybe it’ll put some pep into my typing, as at one point in time I suffered brain damage and do not type very fast anymore
Thank you for taking us on this beautiful journey of your expensive hobby!
Very interesting. I would say, yes you have found your endgame. Just enjoy it.
I lost interest too, after finding something I'm genuinely happy with. I used a ton of custom and exotic boards, after 17 years of HHKBs... and what I eventually found works best for me is a mundane Keychron V1 or Q65 w/ Durock T1 switches and a nice set of budget caps and deeply customized firmware. The 65% to 75% designs seem like a "goldilocks" sweet spot for physical layouts, and QMK firmware allows a great deal of personalization to make the keyboard meet my specific needs. So my HHKBs are in storage now, as they don't meet any of my "must have" requirements:
1. Open-source firmware, ideally QMK.
2. Hotswap switches so I can install my favorite switches and caps.
3. 65% to 75% row-staggered (i.e. traditional) layout.
After going open-source, I can't go back... anything proprietary just seems irrelevant now.
It's also really handy to have a knob... and RGB per key, for custom layer and status indicators, since I have like a dozen layers and it's helpful to see at a glance which ones are active.
The only thing I really still like about HHKB is the Topre switches. But I hear the Niz Plum switches do the same thing better... or I can get a very similar feel from some tactile switches, like Durock T1 or Boba U4 or Akko Lavender or Jelly Purple. So I use those, since I can get a typing feel which is just as good but with all the benefits of newer and more versatile keyboard designs. HHKB hasn't kept up with the times lately.
satisfied all my keyboard desires, its still cool to see what new things come out.