How I Lost Interest Towards Mechanical Keyboards
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- čas přidán 11. 05. 2024
- This is how I lost interest towards mechanical keyboards through my keyboard adventures from 2013 to 2020.
NEXT EPISODE: • I Decided What Switche...
MUSIC:
Gran Turismo 4 OST - Race Menu 2
The Sims OST - Neighborhood 2
Monodrone - High Income Slums
Practice English! OST - Betty Botter Syndrome
Jody Summer - Zero GX
Duncan Lamont - Lucky One
CHAPTERS:
00:00 My first mechanical keyboard (Razer Blackwidow 2013, MX Blues)
00:40 My second keyboard (CoolerMaster Quickfire XT, MX Browns)
1:10 Issues with most gaming keyboards at the time
2:35 Starting to get really into mechanical keyboards
3:05 Discovering buckling spring keyboards
3:35 My third keyboard (IBM Model M2, Buckling Springs)
6:05 Discovering Topre keyboards
7:00 Fourth keyboard (HHKB Pro 1, 2004, Topre)
9:00 New switch maker enters the market (Gateron)
10:15 Fifth keyboard (Pok3r, MX Blues)
11:05 Swapping the switches to Gatreon Blacks
11:55 Issues I had with the Pok3r/Gateron Blacks
12:55 Sixth keyboard (HHKB Pro 2, Topre)
13:25 Misfortunes when selling the Pok3r
13:55 Designing my own layout
14:30 Hand-wiring my own (seventh) keyboard
15:50 Eight keyboard (HHKB Pro 1, 2003, Topre)
17:10 Ninth keyboard (IQUNIX F96 Knight, MX Blues)
17:50 Why I lost interest (nothing comes close to the HHKB)
19:05 The keyboard landscape has drastically changed
19:35 MAYBE I should come out of my retirement to save my hand-wired keyboard
20:25 Outro
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PART 2 TO THIS VIDEO IS OUT! czcams.com/video/tzd3diNKUxM/video.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
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
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
Remember that "The cake is a lie". There is no such thing as an endgame.
ngl thats really thought-provoking
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.
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 :)
Love the way you narrate, gives it a very casual and cozy vibe just like a good friend!
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
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
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!
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
I've been waiting for this video for ages glad you finally made it!!!
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.
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.
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! 🧹💨
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.
The more I watch you the more I relate to you.. I definitely had my keyboard phase and still do to an extent. Love the video though and love how you also looked into the more vintage side of keyboards rather than just focusing on modern cherry mx type stuff since I think those are the best and most interesting keyboards out there
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.
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!
Lol i can't believed i've just started searching for keyboards and realized you made a video on it. Thanks for that kivi!! love your videos!!!!!
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.
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!
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.
banger video i am extremely excited for the next one!!!!!!!
ive been eyeing HHKBs myself for a year or so now, but have never been ballsy enough to actually buy one.... maybe this is my sign
Love the videos, man. Keep it up!!!
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.
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.
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
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 CZcams 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.
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
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}
Thank you for taking us on this beautiful journey of your expensive hobby!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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
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.
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.
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
Thanks to this video i decided to buy a hhkb pro classic and I am in love with it.
I throw away mechanical keyboards because my family knew when I went to bed.
Wut
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
Really looking forward to the Neutrino video. Just finished my own multi year project of building a Mysterium V2 based keyboard as my first custom.
Please upload more 🙏 you are my favourite youtuber!
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
nothing screams OCD louder than keyboard enjoyers
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 :)
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
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?
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 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
I learned so much about mechanical keyboards in this video I am truly amazed.
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!
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!
satisfied all my keyboard desires, its still cool to see what new things come out.
I sympathize with your journey. I found myself settling pretty early on the ergodox as my endgame. I currently own 4 ergodoxes to try out different things. The first one obv was just my first venture into split. The second one being hotswaps, which was convenient for replacing dead switches, but never found myself ripping them out to try out completely new switches in the end (very happy with holy pandas). The third ergodox was wireless, which did wonders for my desk setup. And the fourth and latest addition is a low profile version that I justified as a work purchase as I need to have a mobile setup.
It was fun and exciting being in the space, but when I found my comfort zone, I found myself not really caring about the next new board or next new switch that people are coming out with because I know I wouldn't like it as much as I like the ergodox. I have a few 60% and 65% sitting in my closet from my exploration stages, one of those boards are now claimed by my sister as her daily driver for work. The hunt was fun, but it ended as it should have.
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
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.
What really changed the game with the pok3r for me was being able to rebind the function key to the caps lock. I then rebind Fn-H,J,K,L to my movement keys (matches vim bindings) and it just became the most comfortable layout. I now run a 75% but still use the arrow keys the same, with the dedicated keys only for specific games.
ive watched you for maybe 4 months and i have to say you are hella underrated and this video is great btw
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 +
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
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.
new livakivi video always makes my day :)
oh, this is the reason word of the day 432 was Cherry MX Blue
:^)
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'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
Loved this video as while not being into keyboards specifically such as yourself i feel an affinity towards your passion for tinkering with tech. Looking into changing my old Razer Ornata to a Wooting 2he and its hall-effect lekkar switches with analog, 0.1mm actuation and rapid trigger... also interested to see how the upcoming Flux keyboard goes.
a fascinating look at mental illness
handwiring a keyboard but he complained about lubing switches hahaha
He should have complain of the toxic community, instead of lubing
Great video, learnt a lot.
My first keyboard enthusiast video and I loved it! I have a Cherry but can't remember without looking at it the model. My dad has the old IBM model 1 was it? I am no good at knowing what the models are. Your dedication to building one is admirable! Great video
You have really long finger nails
I can open cans of beans easily
@@Livakivi And repel the ladies even easier :)
seeing the gory pictures of that pok3r pcb brought back really nice memories of the first time i ever soldered keyboard switches after only ever soldering capacitors on tv boards once or twice bc i was too broke to get a new one. Very interesting video for sure as well!
cool video
I actually went through a similar phase trying out various keyboards, although, instead of an hhkb, I ultimately settled for a couple of ( japanese :^) ) vintage keyboards instead. I'm even more surprised you're estonian though. to find a person from the same country as I, with such a similar experience to keyboards as I, feels a bit special somehow. keep it up! ^^
I feel so vindicated as a fellow key boiler! Though mine were off a Razer Lycosa and, well, came out too disfigured to fit back on... But a friend owned the other version of the Lycosa that had the glossy frame and keys, and was very satisified to make a custom Lycosa combining my matte frame with his glossy keys, haha! I had actually forgotten this, but thanks for making me remember. Wow, what a time. Great vid!
feels nice already having a leopold 🙂 truly nothing compares to the warbly bubbly feel and sound
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 ❤
Very cool journey, man!
this might be the single best video on CZcams. ❤
I usually hate the BG musics of YT videos, but your selection is brilliant and pleasant and far from obtrusive.
This is actually pretty similar to my trajectory in the hobby.
I got into it around 2013 as well. Started with a Daskeyboard 4 Professional with Cherry MX blues. After weeks of pouring over every single review I could find comparing MX browns to MX blues at the time, I decided to go with blues because I was in college and writing a lot of papers, and blues were marketed as more of a "typist" switch at that time.
Just like you, as I dug deeper into the world of keyboards, I eventually stumbled across discussions of buckling spring keyboards, and I ended up purchasing a Model M from Unicomp.
I've gone through many, many keyboards over the years, but I've settled on 2 "endgame" boards:
1.) My Leopold FC660C with 45g silent topre switches
2.) My Model F Labs F77 Reproduction with capacitive buckling springs
I haven't typed on keyboard with MX style switches in probably three or four years at this point.
you are the most crazy madlad sold HHKB model 2 not once but multiple time.
lets goooooo unicomp! they've got the TKL back in stock!
Wonderful, useful and interesting video!
I've watched your videos so many times now that I think with a Livakivi Estonian accent. Another great video man, keep it up.
Thank you!
Great video! You are quite a storyteller!
Very interesting video.. The classics were so real and high quality. Besides the IBM"s or yore, i had some great experiences with "Keytronics" I'm currently enjoying my new purchase of a Inland branded Gaming MK Pro 75% (Prebuilt) Gateron reds. Has the spring loaded deck heavy aluminum base. Has the old school beige dipped key caps without the loud cheep sounding hollow noise.. Feels very subdued and premium feeling.. Thanks for the video!
Been in this hobby for over 10 years, and had to pause and comment when i saw the poker.
Just pulled that out of my closet last week, used to be my laptop keyboard.
Really want some Topre one day, but im all about light somewhat quiet linear switches ever since I tried MX Reds
There is still room for exploration. Deskeys makes some great Topre parts you could experiment with on your HHKB (different domes, springs etc.)
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
What is the specific SPRiT spring you wanted to try out? There are various types from Extreme I to V and sizes. I am considering to swap my current spring (long with 65g bottom out force) that a bit heavier to me. Thanks for sharing.
I bought my FUNC KB-460 back in 2014. It has MX cherry Blue switches. I still use it everyday until this day. :D
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!
Awesome video!
Good video!
I'm kind of in the same boat. I bought the YMDK Split 64 years back and basically daily drove it to death. In between that time I never bothered to buy or really research into keyboards anymore. Everything I tried from my friends, or what I watched I just wasn't interested in. It's like I found the one layout and experience that I wanted and I was more than happy to die using that.
The only thing that changed was recently I fudged up big time by destroying some of the hotswap sockets so I ended up buying a new keyboard (I know you could get it fixed but I needed a new board asap). Now I'm sort of back in the hobby cuz of all the research and I'm super happy with what I got!! I bought a Monsgeek M1W prebuilt and holyhell what an experience. The entry-level/pre-build stuff is on another level entirely now. All the things this board has is what was on ultra premium boards years ago.
So yeah long post but just wanted to share with others it's the journey that counts and the end game could be real :)
P.S. your video made me start saving up for an HHKB =))
Just be glad you never got to try beam springs...
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.