How to find your perfect keyboard?

2 points by gumybit 2 days ago

You naturally love the keyboard when you spend a lot of time programming and doing business chats.

There are so many different brands out there these days that I feel like it's hard to find a keyboard with the right specs and look that I'll fit or like.

How does everyone else find one?

I'm going to make one like this (https://backslush.com/) for now and add more brands like Lofree and other cool brands in the future, but if you have any opinions, please feel free to share them with me.

ggm 2 days ago

Try as many as you can. Get to Akehabera and hammer the living bejesus out of keyboards patched into your laptop, and find out what its REALLY like.

I got a mech KB for $100 off somebody for the thrillz and it sits in the box because I forgot how much you have to commit.

I truly don't think recommendations cut it. There is only Bosendorfer and Steinway, but in keyboards there is a damn sight more than the 4 flavours of cherry. It's a very contested, contestable space.

I also distrust my memory "oh that IBM M model was a joy" yeaaa... that was like 30 years ago dude, what if it's the rosey glow of your brain-fade? I put it to you, consider that you are wrong. that said, earlier thinkpads were great and then not so great. the red-tit mouse remains highly contentious (the mech I got has one. thats why I bought it)

gus_massa 2 days ago

I don't understand. Did you made "Backslush" or are you going to make a clone?

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Hi from Argentina! One of our problems is that keyboards have a "Ñ" (and sometimes "Ç") so they remove the "<" and ">" keys. Now I have to use "Fn" to type "<" and ">" and in an old computer I had to install a custom keyboard driver to type "<" and ">". So if you ever expand internationally, remember to add info about weird key changes.

  • gumybit a day ago

    Thanks for a comment.

    >Did you made "Backslush" Yes, I made it.

    Argentina, nice! Actually, I'm Japanese, so I had similar problems when I used to use Japanese layouts. Thanks for the advice!

    • gus_massa a day ago

      Another complain from the local keyboards: Unaligned "[" and "]".

      ---

      Back to your site. In the search section I suggest:

      * add an option for back light, it's a nice perk for working at night.

      * add Dvorak layout, it's a guaranty flamewar here :)

      * add a link with info about "keycap profile". I had no idea about it. I found this in Google, but there must be better sources https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/l10flb...

      * what does 60% Layout mean? 60% of the standard number of keys? It's like 65 keys?

brudgers 4 hours ago

So long as it has CTL and ALT on both sides of the space bar (and all the keys work), it is good enough. For me, keyboards are not worth optimizing because other things are more important. Good luck.