I tried Box Jades and I liked them, but I still prefer a strong tactile to a click switch, so I tried a few others and ended up settling on Boba U4t switches.
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Keychron keyboard discussion
- Thread starter maflynn
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The Box Navy are very tactile. There's a pretty thick click bar in there, so you can definitely feel when you pass over it, and the switch doesn't activate until you do. But of course they make a good amount of noise.
And since clearly I have a problem and cannot stop, I ordered a set of Cherry "new nixies" MX Black Clear-Top to put together my first linear switch keyboard. I'll post back with the results.
Phooey I thought I was passed getting new keyboards to find that perfect one, this is true. But now it is switches. 😢 everytime I read about one I have to resist purchasing a set.
The Model M is fine and rightfully loved by many, but it was designed as IBM’s low end keyboard of the 80’s. The Model F you mention really is the pinnacle of IBM keyboards from that era.
I’m a sucker for Alps style switches and my main keyboard at work is Matias Quiet Pro with Matias Quiet Click switches. I wish I could find MX-style switches with the same sharp tactility as those for my Keychron I have at home. All of the ones I’ve seen have a more extended drop in force after the bump.
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I used to work in a computer store back in the mid 1980s. For whatever reason, I never really liked the old, original IBM PC XT-style keyboards. Maybe it was the keycaps on certain ones like the vertical Enter key or something, but they never really did it for me.
The Apple Extended Keyboard II, however... now that was something -- at least by memory it was. Used Alps switches or something, though I don't recall any more if it was more linear or more tactile. Used to have one but it got lost in a move about 20 years ago. I'm guessing it got mixed in with a pile of junk and went to the trash pickup. Kinda sad, actually.
Oh, headlessmike - if you want some silent but tactile/clicky switches, NovelKeys sells a Kailh switch called the Box Mute Jade. I've never tried them but apparently they're clickbar switches with a silicone pad where the bar would otherwise come in contact with the switch housing, so it's got the same sharp clickbar tactility but makes only a muted tap instead of a metallic click when the clickbar snaps back. Might be worth a try.
The old XT layout is definitely archaic at this point, but everything else is top notch.
Yes! A lot of the Apple keyboards from the 80's and early 90's used Alps switches of different types. They are still very popular almost keyboard connoisseurs.
I'll have to check those out. At a first glance they sound a bit too heavy for my taste with a 75 g actuation force, but the mechanism sounds interesting.
Returning to report that the BT connection of the K3 Pro was stable, after disconnecting the 2.4ghz network from the router that was close to the K3
Glad to hear.
Old 2.4GHz wifi interferes with everything at this point. I had to change my new router's 2.4GHz channel as it was wreaking havoc with my Philips Hue light system.
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I finally upgraded my 8 year old Apple Airport Extreme WiFi to an eero Pro 6E MESH router. I am very pleased with it. The fact is regularly updates itself is very reassuring.
Yeah, not to hijack the thread, but about two months ago I upgraded my Airport Extremes to an Orbi 6E mesh system. Better coverage and faster. And while I don't have any devices that actually take advantage of the 6E 6GHz network yet, they are coming.
Here's something
Very pricey (420 bucks) but if you're a big fan of buckling springs and/or the IBM 5150 keyboard this may be a worthy successor.
Model F Ultra Compact keyboard review: It somehow improves on IBM’s classic
I could actually take 'em or leave 'em, but some people swear by them...!
It's interesting that the form factors for the buckling spring keyboards, by this company and others, still are huge compared to more modern keyboards. I wonder why the case bezels are still so huge.
I love them, but that's due to my nostelgia. I don't know how I would feel if I were to get my hands on one now, but I remember getting an IBM PC and the sheer excitement of owning a computer back then was intoxicating.
I had the first gen K2 with red switches ... it was pretty bad... couldn't even change / mod / correct stabs without desoldering the switches (which I obviously didn't do) .. it was rattly AF
I sold the thing to some kid and bought a Nuphy Halo65 ... much better experience
I sold the thing to some kid and bought a Nuphy Halo65 ... much better experience
Oh yeah, for sure!
I worked at a couple local computer stores from about 1984-1987 (stared there even before I could drive). I was an Apple II user back then (and pretty much ever since save for a couple brief dalliances with Windows machines), but the store did have a broken Kaypro PC-XT (might have been a 286) in the back that the tech guys couldn't fix. They said I could have it if I got it to work. I got it to work, so they let me take it home, so I had that to play with, too, though always kept the Apple as my main machine. The old dial-up bulletin-board systems always worked better with my Apple.
The early Keychron keyboards are definitely budget models, though still remarkably good for the price.
My Q12, however, is built like a tank, thoroughly lubed, and has new switches and keycaps and I'd put it up against anything costing as much. It's not a hand-built $900 Rama Works, but the whole thing has maybe $325 invested in it if you include the price of a tube of dielectric grease, the wrist rest and various shipping costs.
As much as I loved those IBM keyboards I don't think I could go back. The ergonomic of these old keyboards were not as good as they are these days. Plus they took up so much room, and the PS/2 cable was like a firehose compared with what we have today. I have found my home. The Keychron is my baby now. I just have to resist the temptation of changing out the switches twice a month. 
Right there with you!As much as I loved those IBM keyboards I don't think I could go back. The ergonomic of these old keyboards were not as good as they are these days. Plus they took up so much room, and the PS/2 cable was like a firehose compared with what we have today. I have found my home. The Keychron is my baby now. I just have to resist the temptation of changing out the switches twice a month.
As much as I loved those IBM keyboards I don't think I could go back. The ergonomic of these old keyboards were not as good as they are these days. Plus they took up so much room, and the PS/2 cable was like a firehose compared with what we have today. I have found my home. The Keychron is my baby now. I just have to resist the temptation of changing out the switches twice a month.
Keychrons (full-size and TKL) and IBMs (classic and SSK) have the same keyboard layout and similar thickness, so what "ergonomics" do you find so different?
Modern Unicomp Classic keyboards have an OK cable. A little stiff but not a "firehouse." The Mini (SSK) lets you bring your own cable.
I get that you love Keychrons but they can't hold a candle to Model Ms or Fs. Though I'll give you that the Unicomp and Model F keyboards are low on form (and high on function).
The IBM model M and F have a deep, scooped, almost cylindrical keyboard tray versus the flat, sloped design of modern keyboards. And the bezels are majorly chonky on those old boards.
But yes, the key feel is very unique.
That is exactly what I was thinking of is the scooped out keyboard tray. The the keyboard its self sat up higher on the desktop as I recall, this didn't seem to be an issue at the time however. I no longer have an example of either of the old IBM's to compare it to what we have now.
I'd be ok with these old ones I suppose if the keyboard could be centered right in front of me like when computers weren't mouse driven. Now, however, reaching over those big boys to get to a right-handed mouse is a no-go for me. A 96%/1800-style layout keyboard is as big as I'll go these days.
I hear you on the reach for the mouse bit, I get around that using a trackball as I mentioned above it stays in one place on the desk usually at a right angle just below the keyboard palm rest with the trackball facing me. I just drop my right hand down to were it is. The Ergo has a whole bunch of controls on it to control how the trackball works mostly sensitivity and speed.
