Mechanical keyboards enthusiasts, have you reached your endgame?

It's possible I don't fit the definition of enthusiast here, but yeah I think so. I've got a Cooler Master keyboard with MX Blue switches on my main desktop, I've got an older Cooler Master keyboard with MX brown switches on another computer, and I have no plans for further keyboards at this time. I use and enjoy a mechanical keyboard in what feels like a stable state.

Yes, and it's where I started. I got a few super nice keyboards with with switches and how swappable switches and they all have chatter/bouncing issues. I somehow tricked myself into thinking I liked stiffer switches or spherical cut key caps. Done cut, TKL, with Cherry MX Brown the the best for me. I just wish my control key wasn't sticky (spilled something on it ages age). WASD Code V2 is my board.

Yes, I finally realised I'd spent too much fucking money on keebs

Which keyboard are you using right now?

I think so. Manuform Dactyl 4x6 with Gateron Brown. Being able to tilt it a bit more could be nice but it isn't a huge deal.

I like my Voyager so far but since it requires online connectivity to flash the board even though it's fucking running QMK, I'll probably make my own based off the Voyager and release it under an AGPL-3.0 and CC-BY-SA license.

The keyboard's physically nice but their software is fucking ass.

Good to know!
You can use Keymapp which is a local application for Linux, MacOS, and Windows.
What do you mean it’s online only?
- Keymapp is ZSA's garbage app I was referring to.
  It can't be used to flash boards offline.
  If you have a Moonlander or Voyager you can test this by temporarily disabling wifi/ethernet. Keymapp won't allow you to flash the board which is silly as internet is totally unnecessary for this operation as you already have the layout on your local storage, the app, and the board.
  That's why I see ZSA's products as proprietary hardware.
  For anyone reading my comment please don't misunderstand. I love my Voyager to bits but at the same time I hate that it's basically proprietary by default instead of being the ultimate fully open-source split keyboard that it could have been (like Framework's laptops).
  As such I won't go back to using anyother mechanical/splitortho until I can either build my own using the Voyager as a launching point or someone else makes my dream open source splitortho ahead of me.
  I forgot to mention but this is why I won't buy anything from ZSA anymore nor will mention it to my friends as I also don't want them to get screwed by this needless blockade.

In terms of layout pretty much yeah, V4n4g0n by trashman. I could probably stand for some of the mods being made larger at the expense of of smaller number of keys as I just don't need quite this many as I like using layers more than I like moving my hands.

In terms of build his new hall effects with tadpole mount is pretty close to perfect, so far. I would like more travel with the flex, something like my P*KCR3 is pretty close to what I would like.

The second generation PCB he is working on will be better as it won't be dual hall and mx hotswap compatible so allow for adjustable activation like other hall effect boards.

Picture of most of my v4n4g0ns, its missing the some of the 3d prints

Nice collection. It seems like you have a type 😉

Endgame is giving in and using a shitty Bluetooth membrane keyboard that runs on AA's and costs like 10 bucks

Naya 🤷‍♂️

I've been interested in this but the amount of marketing they're putting into it is slightly off putting to me.
- I can't judge that, haven't seen any. I was told about it by a friend and have decided to back it. Received mine 2 weeks ago and I'm hooked.

Very happy at the moment with my Keychron Q11. I don't feel the need to switch to ortholinear yet, maybe one day.

Model M. Will never move away. So, yes.

Until someone makes buckling springs for ðe home gamer. I want an M again badly, but not enough to give up ðe split, columnar layout. My wrists would never forgive me.
But if Kailh started making buckling springs, I'd be in heaven.

I bought a Wooting 2 (analog mechanical keyboard) several years ago. It has suffered no visible wear since.

I'd love to try upgrading to the hall effect switches, but the keyboard still works so I can't really justify it.

I'm happy with it.

I'm rocking a Glorious GMMK 2 96%, Steelseries prismcaps, and kailh box switches (all the foregoing in white) with thin foam over the PCB. I don't see myself having the wherewithal to design, afford, and deserve anything better, ever. My prior was an original Das Keyboard that I had for over a decade so I'm a pretty low maintenance keyboard aficionado.

If I can ever figure out how to program this damn macropad I bought a year ago yea, maybe.

Which one?

I bought a TKL massdrop ctrl with some 68g switches, added some POM keycaps because the stabilisers all started to snap on my polycarb/ABS caps, and haven't felt the need to change anything else since

Keychron K2 HE Wireless Magnetic

75%, neither too small nor too big. I don't need anything else.

And me over here using the same Natural Elite membrane keyboards for work since the turn of the millennium. My only keyboard enthusiasm is for the key layout that I'm used to when coding. 😄

I did buy a Logitech wireless whose switches are described as "Linear Tactile Clicky" which feels pretty nice, but I only use it for the odd input for my Bazzite gaming machine in the living room.

Could someone explain to me the appeal of custom mechanical keyboards?

I still have one of these on hand for when I need peripherals on my file server or I'm working on someone else's PC (don't like touching other people's crud). For a membrane keyboard I think it's actually fairly nice. If I end up getting another keyboard though it will be getting donated to someone.

That said mechanical keyboards have a much better feel to them and are more customizable so you can get exactly what you want.

I got a Rainy75 because I loved the color :3 but turns out the switches are extremely satisfying. Works perfect for me for gaming, a thrill to type on as well. Singlehandedly converted me from clicky to linear switches. Quite inexpensive too surprisingly

Mostly, I like my Ducky One 2 with AlohaKB Trailblazer keycaps and MX Blue enough that I haven't really found a reason to get a new setup.

I might get a barebone Duky One 3 though to try different switches

Not yet. I've now decided I want a full size

I bought a TX-CP with halo switches back in like 2017 or 2018 or something and I've been content ever since I put some GMK Penumbra caps on it. I have a weirdo keyboard with a knob I bought much later just sitting around (I think it was called an iron wolf?), but I haven't assembled it yet.

What holds me back is that nobody has made a decent MX-mount click-leaf switch. Clickiez are out due to their astronomical price (~4x that of Kailh Box or Matias switches) since my board uses 129 of them.

Kailh Box Jade/White/Pale Blue feels nice-- super stable-- and has the vast MX keycap ecosystem, but the click is still a bit high pitched. Gateron Melodic is the La Croix of clicky switches. Matias Click sounds great but are a bit sensitive to poor keycap fitment (I have some Alps-compatible relegendables and vintage caps that needed shaving their stems to not bind) plus there's limited keycap choice and they feel a bit looser.

The I-rocks "Alps but with a MX stem" design might have worked if it was dold to end users rather than as a preassembled board.

Yes. My AHEK-95 is everything I've ever wanted in a keyboard.

Analog Hall Effect (95 keys)
Customizable force curves
Waterproof/washable in the sink
Smooth-as-silk 3D printed switches that cost $0.04/each
Entire top plate is hot swappable
The brightest RGB LED keyboard ever made with incredible lighting effects (it can play bank videos!)
8 knob-selectible layouts
Buzzer for being loud when I want it to be because why not
Infrared sensor so I can sit back and control my media from far away
Custom, 3D printed keycaps with awesome (and hilarious) legends
Oreo cookie holder: https://imgur.com/a/wtzsVSR

Learn all about it from Chyrosran22:

https://youtu.be/iv6Rh8UNWlI

Don't know how I could get better than my current hand wired, wireless, cherry reds, split ergo mech Scylla.

Almost. I'm using a Piantor Pro. I'm not þrilled wiþ ðe þumb placement (having þumb keys under ðe palm is not comfortable for me), so I might end up wiþ a Kyria. And I need to get different switches. I was seduced by ðe low-profile Chocs, and alðough I got ðe most tactile Chocs available, ðey're still squishy.

I've discovered ðat keyboard aesþetics are far less important ðan I þought. I'm a touch-typist, and almost never look at ðe keyboard, after all; but I am typing on it constantly.

All of ðe factors matter. Stagger, key spacing, split. Ðe hardest is switches. Ðere are dozens of options. I'm perpetually chasing buckling springs, and most peoples idea of "tactile" to me may as well be membrane switches. I haven't tried even a fraction of ðe possibilies, so maybe someday I'll find a good switch.

Looks neat!
- It certainly is low profile. I would trade looks for better switches and better þumb placement, ðough.
  If you plan on carrying out around and using it in different places, it's a perfect keyboard. Back-to-back it's wafer-thin, and completely flat. However, it's basically permanently connected to my desktop, so ðat feature is entirely wasted on me.

I think my endgame will involve programmable hall-effect switches

I built my Iris V3 and haven't even seriously considered an alternative.

It certainly isn't perfect, for example I'm not crazy about it's tilt/tent solution, but the ergonomics, switches (otemu silent sky), and layout have been close enough to perfect for my use case that the only keyboard I'd consider replacing it with would be a wireless Iris with better tilt/tent.

Not yet, I'm working up the courage to start what will be my endgame.

I currently use an Ergodox with Kailh Speed Copper switches on my personal computer and an Atreus62 with Kailh thick click navy switches on my work computer.

Endgame for me is a BFO-9000 in a custom built wooden case. Switch type TBD.

After a couple of random TKLs, an 8-bit Phantom TKL, and an Ergodox over the last decade, I realized that I really need something in the 1800 range to be fully productive on a keyboard.

I've been using e Keychron Q5 Pro for a couple of years now, and haven't really thought about changing anything.

If I could get this exact layout in a split, that would probably be my endgame, but for now I've been happy with what I have.