Ask HN: What's your keyboard and what you love and hate about it?
I spent two month looking for a keyboard I would really love, every evening I would watch and read reviews, visit maker sites, browse endlessly Amazon, Aliexpress, Ebay, often until almost morning, it was almost an obsession. Finally I settled on something and now using it for a year, but I was super frustrated by lack of quality keyboards on the market and narrow range of offers in terms of layouts, colors and many other things. Especially membrane keyboards, they are all the same, and not what I like.
So what is your keyboard and what you like and hate about it? As for me I settled on Keychron K1 because even though it is mechanical it is as close to membrane as possible, super thin and silent. Also it has the IBM M1 but without a numeric layout which I personally prefer.
117 comments
[ 4.3 ms ] story [ 187 ms ] threadBut other than a lucky ebay listing, you won't easily find one for sale.
Like: proper mechanical key-switches with proper travel for touch typing.
Dislike: nothing (which should be evident given that the one I'm presently typing on was purchased sometime about Oct-Nov of 1991).
If I'm just typing in a few digits (say the number code for an address) not so much.
As far as I'm concerned it has yet to be matched, let alone beat. These days nobody puts the function keys on the left--I can reliably touch-type function keys on the left, I can't reliably touch-type function keys on top.
Also, the ability to switch around ctrl/alt/caps-lock is very nice. I might use caps lock once a year, putting it down by the space bar doesn't matter. Ctrl and Alt I use a lot, they're much easier to touch-type in the shifted positions.
Please, somebody, reincarnate the king!!
I set mine that way back in 1991 when I first bought it, and it has remained that way since.
And Northgate supplied a key puller, and two alternate keycaps, so that when one flipped the DIP switch, one could also swap the keycaps so they were actually properly labeled for their function.
https://dygma.com
Likes: The dished profile of the keys, which more naturally reflects the arch your finger tips travel, reducing the overall need for movement. While common among split keyboards, I also really like the thumb keys. I use emacs, so it's nice to have easy and comfortable access to all the modifiers.
Dislikes: Actually being split would be nice.
Likes: Same as above. I'm impressed by the overall comfort of the keyboard, as I can use it all day with no joint pain or stress. It's hard to imagine a more comfortable and healthy keyboard for the long term.
Dislikes: The lack of a numpad is troublesome sometimes, but it makes sense for a keyboard with such a radical commitment to ergonomics. Gaming with it can be challenging, requiring me to pull out a different keyboard. Also, this might sound really petty, but the sound is less satisfying compared to my previous Fission MX Cherry Brown keyboard. The clacks reverberate through the large hollow chassis with a lower pitch. I even put a sock inside the keyboard to dampen the sound, which was only partly effective.
Likes: The ergonomics! This keyboard is really comfortable to use for long stretches. It has reduced the strain of using the computer. Thumb keys are great.
Dislikes: It took me a while to get comfortable with it, especially for programming. I had to really focus on it for a while, but it was worth it! Also, as mentioned earlier, it's not great for games. The placement of some of the modifiers makes it difficult for some shortcuts, but you can always customize/reprogram it.
The biggest advantage is its ergonomic design. It's a fixed split with vertical keys and good palm support. And main key clusters are concave/dished and it feels more natural than flat or normal curved designs.
I also like that it is fully programmable. You have all the popular layouts by default and you can add your custom layouts, macros, remaps, and etc all onboard on hardware. So you don't need a software to customize it.
It took me two weeks to get used to it even though I was doing touch typing for a long time before that, and it took me a month to get back to my typing speed.
I've done some remapping to make it more comfortable for coding.
It's definitely not an ideal keyboard for gaming unless you make a dedicated layout for gaming.
https://wiki.nikitavoloboev.xyz/macos/macos-apps/karabiner
Love the ergonomic hand positioning/dished layout, the switch feel (Cherry browns, I think), the thumb switches for space, enter, backspace, delete, and command, and the full programmability of the keys. I used to use foot pedals when I coded in Emacs all day; I didn't bother setting them back up when I moved into my home office during pandemic as I spend more time in Excel than Emacs nowadays.
The only thing I don't like about it is when it's time to play Minecraft with the kids, the spacebar is impossible to reach with your left hand while keeping on the shift/WASD keys, so I switch out to an RF Logitech for serious play with the kids. I suppose I could add that it does slow my typing and reduce accuracy somewhat on a traditional keyboard (such as on a laptop or in a conference room), so I sometimes feel slightly frustrated when I'm forced to use one of those [or look like a clown who can't even type while doing so]. That's zero factor since widespread WFH and I don't think is a reason to avoid it, but it's a small thing.
I love that it's wireless. I love that the mouse has 4 buttons. And the keyboard itself just feels good to type on -- the keys have the perfect amount of resistance and mechanical feel without over doing it (in my opinion). I hate that if you break the dongle, there's no way to replace the dongle or re-pair.
Like: Clicky feel, the frame is super solid, I like the color theme, good macro support, the TKL form-factor is great (it's easier to have the homerow centered in front of me, for less wrist strain), the keys feel nice (not slippery, even after years of use).
Dislike: Blue switches are a little too loud when on zoom calls (I probably should have gone with browns), there's no backlighting in the version I got, it does not act as a USB hub, and sometimes it makes a slight ringing noise if I hit the spacebar really hard.
I've never heard anyone go into this, but I wonder if these low-travel keyboards are better for things like repetitive motion injury potential. No idea.
I also have a Das Keyboard that I like but I stopped using it because it's the clacky type and it's too loud on calls.
Things I like
- the footprint is small but it still has arrow keys
- nice and simple design - many mechanical keyboards look too much like toys for my liking, the Keychron design is a bit more neutral
- satisfying to type on
- affordable, mac-friendly, wireless
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The keyboard - https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-k6-wireless-mecha...
I followed this video for the mod (with slightly heavier switches) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCyKyA9JEPc
Advantage: Feel and sound the best out of all of my keyboards (including an M1 and a Unicomp).
Disadvantage: No backlighting - bit painful to use at night sometimes.
I had no idea what I was buying when I spent $4 for 2 disgustingly dirty keyboards back when I was 15. I've taken good care of both of them for nearly 30 years and they both still look new.
I've tried some more recent high-end mechanical keyboards, but I ended up giving them to my son. I just like the feel of the Model M more and I can type significantly more accurately with it. My Model M has no issues working with a ps/2 to usb adapter, so one is my daily driver and the other I connect to my KVM for my older PCs. I don't have any connection issues or latencies and they are fine for gaming. I do miss some of the media controls, but I mostly resolved that by using an external audio device.
I'm not really a purest with this stuff, I have lots of newer keyboards including current apple hardware, but I go back to this keyboard for my PCs because I really enjoy using it. I'm not against swapping it out, I've just not been compelled to yet.
These things are built like tanks. I don't think I'll ever have to do any repairs on them.
Sometimes the circuit board might fail too. You can find replacement boards for them too. My keyboard is a 4th generation, which is almost identical to the design sold by Unicomp today. The circuit board died last year and another Model M user designed a compatible circuit board that adds full programability with the QMK keyboard firmware, so I will install that one instead. In addition to programability (Win/Command key, international characters, emojis), the new board converts the keyboard to USB. So yeah, this circuit board really modernizes the keyboard.
https://beta.docs.qmk.fm/
I used a Model M when I was younger and loved it, I'd probably get a used one or buy a Unicomp one if they weren't so dang big.
You can find the new Mini M here: https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/MINI_M
The particular keyboard I use is a gaming model from Cougar. Scissor switches and N-key rollover was hard requirements. Unfortunately this meant I couldn’t get a Swedish layout like I wanted, but gaming + scissor is a rare enough combination that I still got it (and bought 3 at the same time so I wouldn’t end up like last time).
I literally picked it from a box of trash I walked by a few years ago because my old keyboard was broken. I never had a keyboard I didn't like. Maybe I am an outlier or are the people who are so extremely concerned about their keyboards actually a small but very vocal minority?
Pros: has function, arrow, home/end keys while still being compact. Very quiet. Solid build quality. Fully remappable without requiring software.
Cons: doesn’t make awesome clicky sounds
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Leopold fc750r w/cherry mx blue switches
Pros: CLICKY, more space than the compact race 3, comes in a lovely classic PC beige color
Cons: too loud for a room with other people in it
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Vortex pok3r w/cherry mx silent red
Pros: very compact, quiet
Cons: missing too many keys for me to use for anything except gaming.
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Apple wireless magic keyboard
Pros: quiet, wireless, rechargeable
Cons: no full size arrow keys, pairing with multiple computers is a pain in the ass
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Surface designer compact keyboard:
Pros: wireless, easily pairs with multiple computers, long battery life
Cons: No full-size arrow keys
I can never go back to a keyboard without something as flexible as QMK. I wrote a bit about why I love it so much: https://jkaptur.com/layout/.
https://fujitsuscannerstore.com/cg01000-291001/
You will find these to be very expensive and not to everyones taste. If you have been using a mechanical keyboard with lots of force required to depress keys, this one is going to feel like its not there at all. It is also extremely quiet. You can be typing fairly aggressively and no one would be able to tell 1 cube over.
I feel like this keyboard is for those who have the patience to reform certain typing habits. My first few days with it were a dumpster fire because my hands were so used to slamming the shit out of Cherry MX Blue switches. Once I became adjusted to it, I felt like the keyboard on my late 2013 macbook pro is too stiff by contrast.
Overall, my ability to code for long duration without hurting has improved dramatically with this keyboard. 80g+ of force will wear you the fuck out if you are pushing those things thousands of times a day.
After so many years I've come full circle and I just use a Magic Keyboard too :)
I had a Das keyboard before this for ~6 years, and it was great, but I just didn't love it like I love this one.
Things I love:
- The body is weighty aluminum. It feels really solid and looks fantastic.
- The keys are made of very high-quality plastic (Doubleshot PBT) and feel noticeably more premium even than the ones on my Das, almost like they're made of metal.
- Each key has an independent LED, and the border around the outside is made up of 38 more independent LEDs, all of which can be configured
- Key switches (not just caps) can be swapped out without any soldering. This is a very unique feature; I don't really take advantage of it personally, but if it's something you care about it's great to have.
- There is no background software that ever has to be installed on your computer for configuration or otherwise. There are some prebuilt configurations you can toggle with the keys alone, and then for detailed layers/keymapping/LED mapping, you use their web portal to generate and download a whole new ROM and then you flash it directly onto the keyboard. The process is pretty straightforward, and this means it works across OSes and you never have to worry about what else a local daemon might be doing on your computer. You can even program it yourself by hand using QMK, if you're feeling adventurous.
This is a 65% keyboard, so if you need the dedicated function keys and/or Insert/Home/etc, there's an 80% (ten-key-less) version called the CTRL which has everything except the numpad (and all the same wonderful traits above)
But I don't want to abuse my luck. There are people still experiencing chattering issues with this keyboard as recently as this year, even when the issue was supposed to be fixed in 2019. I read that the Drop Alt also suffered this issue. People recommend changing switches but come on, you don't need to do this when having a good design. This problem is not that common with other keyboards - you don't have to throw away your switches because your keyboard doesn't like them.
There are also different denouncing algorithms in QMK (but you can implement custom, more advanced methods). The thing is that I expect my products to be fully tested working before I buy them.
Other complaint would be that self-serviceability of the switches is pretty poor (I broke a kb trying to replace a bad switch and doing a lazy job desoldering, destroying a pad, and having a hard time finding a suitable trace to try and run a wire to). Sounds like serviceability is something they are rectifying in a new iteration that should be getting released sometime this year. I'll be picking up one of the new ones when they are available. On balance, has been the best overall KB experience I've had.
It is a little noisy, and I have problems configuring the buttons as a mouse while keeping the trackpad as a trackpad, but the finger travelling is good, and the layout feels very much like the old, renowned MS Natural keyboards.
They messed up the arrow key layout on the 512 - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075GZVD4T
I just want to buy an MS Natural 4000 but they stopped making them and now you can only find them for outrageous prices! Good thing I still have one at home and one at the office.