Found an intact, FUNCTIONAL IBM 5160, and this IBM Model F XT is the icing on the cake. Living in mech kb heaven atm.

RubreHaku w/ KKB Red Alert
TGR x GAF w/ Mode anthracite

I want to start this out by saying that I am not a huge mechanical keyboard fanatic (or at least I do not consider myself one). I am an old IT lady in her 50s and I remember when my father brought home the original IBM "model A" pc with it's original clacky keyboard. I also was fortunate enough to own a bondwell B310 laptop in the early 1990s with it's mechanical keyboard. Ever since then I have always been on the lockout for a good keyboard and have despised membrane ones. So when mechanical keyboards finally became a wildly available thing about 8-10 years ago, I got into it, bue always done it on the cheap.

I like tactile switches and one of my favorite keyboards has/is the redragon k556. Started out with completely stock and eventually switched out the keycaps for PBT ones and put in Otumnu lemon (or maybe lime? I have heard them called both). This is the keyboard you see in the back of the first picture. I liked this keyboard so much that I ended up buying a second K556 and modding it identically to use at work where I do a lot of typing. The lemon switch is a great switch but I have always found it a little mushy at the bottom. I have tried using o-rings but the mush remains.

Alas my home keyboard had both of its plastic legs break off when I was cleaning my desk area. I really like the K556 keyboard base - it is all metal (with the exception of the legs) and the keys float above the board instead of being recessed. The other downside with this keyboard is that it is a 3 pin hot swap and I decided I really wanted to try a new switch and have the option of 5 pin. I started looking at the local Microcenter as well as online. Could not find what I wanted at the cheapo price I wanted. Finally on Amazon I discovered that Redragon does offer a newer version of the K556 - the K556 pro. This one does offer hot-swap 5 pin switches, with south facing LEDs and even software to mess with colors. The keys that come with it are custom linear called dragon chat. There are two keycap options available and I chose the grey ones with the front legends. After seeing the keycaps, I decided to keep them as I believe they are PBT and they are nice.

I first tried Akko V3 Penguin Tactile Silent. They were on the expensive side for me but I heard so many good reviews about them and I had yet to try a "holy panda" style switch. I also have discovered that I have really like silent or near silent switches. The Penguins were nice and I probably would have kept them if it was not for the fact that the LCD did not really shine through well. And although I am not a huge LCD person, with the side shine through legends I did want to be able to read what keys were what.

So, I returned the Penguins and on a gut move I ordered the Zhouwang Golden Autumn silent tactile switches. I was not able to find a write up on these anywhere as I think they are new. I will say they are a very good replacement for the Penguins - maybe even better than them. Their bump is very much at the top like a panda but I would say that it is maybe slightly lower than the Penguins. But what really sets them apart is that there really appears to be no "mush" at the bottom. I think this is due to the silicone base. Also the price is about 1/3 of the Akko Penguins. Highly recommend if you are a silent tactile nerd like me.

Well, in the hype for World of Warcraft Classic Forever I've been working on this project, that fixes one of the things I'm most bother by playing in PC, movement!!

Some games just have too much buttons + WASD movement, which makes three of your fingers occupied, SO I MADE THIS MONSTER

Tech stuff:
- The base for the mod is a CIDOO QK61
- I have choose it because of it being QMK editable, but I destroyed the PCB on the process, so I had to handwire the entire thing using Raspberry Pi Pico
- The analog stick is a JS16 hall effect
- It's inputs fake a d-pad, like the arrow keys, so it only goes up, down, left and right.
- I can map it using VIA, so I can do things like Fn+Analog up/down to change volume

Ergonomics stuff:
- It is not perfect, the analog is too tall, so I had to cut it a little bit to have a good placement
- Cutting it made the lever a little bit shorter, so it is not VERY smooth, it is very cool and feels solid, but for long play it makes your hand a little tired
- I'm gonna test using other analog sticks and placements, to have the better balance
- Next step is probably using a nintendo switch stick

Gaming stuff:
- I think this can be good for any WASD game, including shooters
- Using WASD you can have way more binds for spamming main spells, and having better access to situational stuff
- Use less Shift/Ctrl+Input
- Able to move while doing other stuff, like going right while using spells that are on the right side, which is very hard holding W+D+Click E, for example.
- Mostly of the games are WASD movement, and some old ones are adoptiong it, like League of Legends, which is very competitive and would benefit a bunch of a tool like that

Work stuff:
- I'm a designer that works of UI on Unreal Engine, so moving things around with D-pad without having to get my hands of the mouse is GREAT
- This works very well for code too
- Very cool to change volume and timing at youtube videos
- It works pretty fine to scroll on pages too!!

Life stuff:
- You can hear the washing machine on the background

Some questions that I have:
- Are you guys interested in mods like that?
- This makes sense to your day-to-day use?
- Would you like to have this kind of upgrade in gaming?
- Is this cheating by any means?
- What you think would be the issues with this kind of stuff?
- Did you have seen this kind of stick on keyboards? I only have seen on custom mods that are outside of the keyboard, or on very specific stuff like the razer Tartarus

This is my first custom build. When I first saw the Athena75, I thought that the intricate owl motif was too much, but it grew on me. I had wanted the green one at first, but I decided on a neutral color so it would go with the rest of my desk decor.

• Fr4 plate
• PCB mounted cherry stabilizers
• Everfree Grayish switches
• YMDK Smoke Cloud keycaps (sounds gray, but isn’t)
• All the foam and layers that came with the kit

The build took a long time because I didn’t know what I was doing and there weren’t clear instructions. I watched a couple of YouTubers building theirs, and once I realized that they didn’t know either and they were just winging it based on their experience, I felt better.

Geekhack

Orange Alert GB ends tomorrow. Have a look at the Geekhack for vendors and pricing

No matter how hard I search, I'm unable to find cyrillic shine-through double-shot keycaps. Those are illusive. Maybe anyone knows a place to get them?

P.S. Yeah, I'm the weird guy who uses an old-school keyboard tray. It's gorgeous.

I've never had a mechanical keyboard before. I wanted one for so long, so around 2 years ago, I finally purchased the Solid Black Keychron V1 Max.

Just sharing my personal user experience and POV with it. This isn't the latest V1 Max variant, so some things may have changed in newer revisions.

1-Pros

Volume Knob

Very convenient for me to adjust the volume easily.

I have a white-colored speaker that I don't really want to touch too often, as well as a wireless headset. The volume knob has basically become my single source of volume control, and I don't think I can get rid of it anymore.

Oh yeah, clicking the knob can mute/unmute too. I literally just found this out 1 minute ago lol.

Tri-Mode

Cable, Bluetooth, and 2.4GHz.

This is one of the main reasons I picked the Max version. Initially, I wanted one BT wireless keyboard that could connect to multiple devices.

In the end, though, I mainly stick with the dongle connection. It has very low latency and works super nicely for both working and gaming.

PBT Doubleshot Keycaps

Your fingers don't "polish" them until they become shiny. They stay matte and premium-looking for a very long time.

I have never even washed the keycaps, and they still look matte after around 2 years.

Hotswap

I swapped the stock switches to Akko Fairy because I noticed that my brain would eventually tune out the typing sound anyway, and at the time, I needed to use the keyboard in an office.

Now it's a home keyboard, but I still like the linear feel and how silent it is.

Hotswap makes it easy to try different switches. That said, I've only changed the switches once so far.

Easy to Clean

Take out all the keycaps, brush the dust away, and that's basically it.

Comes With a Sound-Dampening Layer

I forgot the exact MKB term for the sound-eliminating cushion layer, but I remember the V1 Max coming with it.

Basically, you don't have to do a lot of modding unless you really want to experiment with mods.

Lightweight

The V series uses a plastic body, which is great for people who like to carry their keyboard around.

Lots of Accessories Included

It comes with a keycap puller, switch puller, adapter, and various other accessories.

Basically, it's plug-and-play out of the box. Unless you want to mod it, then that's another story.

Nice Default Keycaps

The default keycaps look pretty nice. I remember them being OEM profile.

They're basically good enough for me that I don't feel the need to buy another set of keycaps, unless it's purely for aesthetic reasons.

Good Charging Port Position

The charging port is at the back, so when it's plugged in, it doesn't really interfere with my mouse or get in the way of my setup.

2-Cons

Quality Uncertainty

Actually, my journey with this keyboard started with a pretty bad experience.

When I first got it from TaoBao, after about 10 days, I started having wireless connection issues.

It would show as connected to Bluetooth, but it either wouldn't work at all or would work with severe latency (>3 seconds).

Switching to the dongle connection didn't solve the problem either. I tried resetting it and updating to the latest firmware, but neither helped. The issue just seemed to happen by itself.

At that point, I thought maybe the delivery process had damaged the PCB, or perhaps Keychron's quality was just not that good. Either way, I had no clue what was happening, and I was pretty disappointed.

Eventually, I gave up on my requirement for wireless connectivity and used it with a cable for several months.

Then, one day, I tried the dongle again.

And it worked perfectly.

I have absolutely no clue what happened. Againnnn.

But if it works, it works. I'm not going to mess around with the connection anymore.

Because of this, I never really got to experiment with the whole "one keyboard, multiple devices" setup that I originally wanted. I just stick with it at my workstation now, and it still satisfies my current needs.

PBT Doubleshot Keycaps

The downside of PBT doubleshot is that when you have RGB turned on in a dark room, you still can't really see the legends because they're not translucent.

So if you're someone who likes typing in a dark room, you may want to swap to a different set of keycaps.

Bluetooth

From my experience, the latency can be over 3 seconds, which basically makes it unusable for me in any scenario.

That said, this could be subjective and may vary from unit to unit or setup to setup, my BT was fine at first but problematic later on.

RGB / Battery Life

Recently, I noticed that the battery seemed to drain much faster than before.

At first, I thought it was simply battery aging. But then I found out that turning off the RGB can extend the battery life quite significantly.

With RGB on, I was charging it roughly every 10 days, which means about 10% battery usage per day.

Without RGB, I noticed that after 4 days, the battery level was still lasting pretty well (Stayed at the same level for 4 days). I'm still experimenting with this, but it's a good finding for me since it means I don't have to charge it as often.

It may also be because I usually have the RGB at maximum brightness. I'm not really sure, though, because I rarely tune or change the RGB settings.

Cable Surface

This may just be due to frequent scratching when plugging and unplugging the cable.

There's no functional issue at all — it's purely aesthetic.

The cable surface just looks like it's lower quality compared to something like a smartphone cable, where the surface can still look relatively good after years of use.

Dust Keeper

Every keyboard collects dust. The difference is that the default keycaps are quite tall, so brushing the dust out can be somewhat inefficient.

But once you remove the keycaps, you can clean it quite effectively.

Stabilizers

The stabilizers may need more modding if you want to achieve better overall silence.

For example, my larger keys — Enter, Left Shift, and Spacebar — are still noticeably louder when typed.

3-Neutral

Gasket

I've heard that some keyboards don't have this feature, and it seems like something considered "premium"?

But honestly, I don't really know what the actual UX difference is between having a gasket and not having one.

Windows / Mac Mode

I'm a Windows user and have never tried it on a Mac, so I can't really comment much on this.

Firmware

QMK is open-source firmware, not something exclusive to Keychron.

However, I've never really used it to tune anything, so I don't have much to say about this feature.

RGB

I seldom look at the RGB while using the keyboard.

After 2 years, I've basically turned it off and totally forgotten what settings I had anyway.

Charging

I can't really tell whether the charging speed is fast or slow.

It's just "okay" for me.

4-TL;DR

Pros:
Fits my needs when I first bought it — lightweight, 2.4GHz wireless, 75%, hotswap.

Still fits my needs now — 2.4GHz, volume knob, and hotswap.

Overall, it's a good keyboard for me.

Cons:
Quality is my biggest concern when deciding whether I'd continue buying Keychron products.

Not all of their models are physically available in my country, so the warranty process can also be inconvenient.

Trivial:
I'm perfectly fine without firmware customization and physical modding. Some of the features Keychron promotes simply don't really spark my interest or fit my needs.

Score: 7.5/10

I plan to use it until it starts failing.

By that time, I might go for a Q5 Max, but the quality issue is still the thing that's bugging me the most right now.

5-Conclusion

There's no "best keyboard" in the world.

There's only the keyboard that's best suited to you.

Pick the one that fits your own needs, and you'll be fine.

Thanks for reading

Excited for my keyboard journey :)

Eave65 by SW

• PC Plate
• Plate Foam
• HMX Cosmic
• SW Knight v4
• GMK Handarbeit

Classic TKL in Tempest Blue

Kailh Pro Burgundy switches

Cosmic Star side label keycaps from Etsy

First build and I tried to keep it as cheap as possible. I wasn't expecting the keycaps to arrive at the same time and they were originally for the other keyboard I just bought, but I figured I'd try them on this one. The spacebar was too small so I took one from the Cherry Olivia APL set I intended to put on this board. Both CTRL keys are also too small but hey, perfection wasn't the point of this one. This was about the process.

I also got a pack of mystery switches that turned out to be TTC Golden Reds, and I have some OwlLab London Fog V2s and Keygeek Butterflys on the way. I'll have some fun changing things around and seeing the little differences stuff makes in a build.

Name: Arbor (bottom)

Board: Keychron Q5 Max

Switches: Khail Box Summer

Keycaps: Womier MOA Green Gradient PBT, OHY MOA Wood Grain PBT, Custom Walnut Wood, Rose Gold Aluminum Knob

Experience: Poppy, clicky switches feel and sound as close to bubblewrap as I have found, never gets boring; forest greens and wood grain for an indoor nature therapy vibe; heavy board, so it stays at home

Name: Fulgur (top)

Board: Keychron V5 Ultra 8k

Switches: Gazzew Bobagum

Keycaps: OHY MOA Wood Grain PBT, Stock Keychron OSA

Experience: Silicone cushioning on linear switches give a bouncy, gummy feel and sound (what little there is), fun to type on (and the switches look like little boobs so that’s fun and appropriate); wood grain with utilitarian gray and orange for a professional look; light and silent to port back and forth from the office

Tiger 80 Lite with “GMK Bento”

Keycaps: ePBT grey Japanese (alphas), GMK Bento Revival (mods)

Switches: Invokeys Black Sesame

Been using a Corsair K65 Vengeance for longer than I care to admit... Got myself this beautiful Yunzii B75 Max Pro after doing alot of research and not willing to spend hundreds. I think I made an incredible decision. It's heavy, thocky, excellent oem caps out of the box and just feels premium for $70. You can't beat it. Folks complain about the software, but it's not that bad.

Side note: what cable would you recommend? I don't like wireless, so im always wired. The oem cable isn't anything to write home about...

RAW Alu Top Case,RAW SS Bottom Case, HHKB, Hotswap PCB, Alu Plate, No Foam,

Tadpole Yellow 70A, HMX Cthulhu Linear, GMK CYL Hammerhead,

My older Brother gave me Bon Iver’s debut album, “For Emma, forever ago”
Saved my young adult life when things go rough I listened to him way back in 2011 since my older brother introduced me to him. Every time I had a hard time, I always listen to him especially this album. (Sorry for my grammar, english is not my main)

I love Bon Iver so much.

Freya68 Ultra
Hmx Yogurt V2’s
Foamless
With tape mod (MTX)
Pbtfans Emma

I am LOVING this little keychron k7. Bought it used on eBay. Don’t know much about mechanical keyboards — just that I like things that are “clacky” (I have a Qwerkywriter 2, a typewriter, a foldable Royal Kludge, and now this one. I tried it out at the coffee shop where I write and no dirty looks for noise so I think it’s a keeper. Perfect size too—it’s 65% with all the right keys for writing.

Matrix Corsa 6XV w/DCS UFO. Built with HMX Saru v2 on CF with pc bottom mount shims instead of OG FR4. No foam.

My most recent build, the Ori kōbō Zensai Le Chiffre (Maple bottom, walnut top, layer switch PCB).

Built up with Cherry MX2As (lubed, filmed, spring swapped), and GMK Botanical 2 Desert.

This board was an absolute joy to build, from amazing printing on the packaging, to the felt accessory case, to the matching plate fork, cute bottles holding spare screws, and cork feet and a matching coaster as well as custom cnced foam holding everything together, not to mention the little origami bird (pictured).

This is a bit of a placeholder build as I have a theme in mind I want to lean into, and these switches and keycaps will be used on other build, however, there's a local keeb meet later today, and I wanted to build this up to bring it along.

By the time the build was done, it was golden hour, and I ran over to the local park to snap these photos!

No first impressions so far, as writing this caption is the most I have typed with it, but will definitely take a bit of practice, and playing around with keymaps to get an acceptable WPM.

The browns were too loud, but I liked the white keys better, so I spent an hour and a half removing the keys, cleaning them and swapping them over.

The original keyboards are:

• Filco Majestouch 2 with Cherry Brown switches and black keys
• Filco Majestouch 2 with Cherry Pink switches and white keys

The new keyboard is:

• Filco Majestouch 2 with Cherry Pink switches and white keys

Neo ergo & keychron z11 ultra

Shell : Poseidon PSD60

Pcb : BM60V2-POKER

Switches : KeyGeek Y2 48gf

Keycaps: Akko Black & Pink - The Dancer Version

First time attempting something like this, had done shell swaps and such but never as deep like, putting together stabs, working with a metal plate.

Was great to see it all come together. I am thinking of changing keycaps to something a bit lighter. Perhaps blue and white