1 yr. ago • 100%

Why multiple keyboards?

So, I have a 100% Keychron Q6 that I've changed the switches and caps on, and it's been treating me very well!

I've had the urge to build another (TKL) board to take up less space, and maybe have some different switches that are less for productivity and more for gaming.

What do you guys build/ keep multiple boards for? Work/ Play/ etc?

22 comments

I only use one keyboard, but building them (designing the PCB and case, getting it printed, doing the soldering and updating the QMK code) is a bit of a hobby.

6
Personally, I build boards to try out the different sizes (TKL, 75%, 65%, etc.), to find out what I like best, without hampering functionality. Then I just end up rotating between my fave ones.

5
- I think this is my approach too. I'm going to pick up a Zoom TKL soon (having only ever had 100%) because this still gives me the F keys as well as arrows. Good first step for me.
  
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  I hope you enjoy using the TKL, @root
  
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For me it's basically a collection, the kinds of boards I'm building don't really have much in the way of resale value either so I just hold onto them. I do rotate between a few of them though, but certainly not all.

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- Those are intense! I really want to try something like that one day, but I'm not sure I have the dedication to learn a totally "new" way of typing. I hear they're very comfortable and fast af too.
  
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I compromised and went with a split ortho keyboard at home, since ergo (column stagger) makes WASD gaming tricky. I've wanted to print a split ergo board for the work computer but I haven't got around to it. Never felt the need to have multiple keyboards for the same computer though, unless you count the macro pad I built, since the tented Nyquist is good enough for both typing and gaming.

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Hello! Sitting here at my office I have four keyboards around me... a QK60, Qk65, QK75 and a Tiger 80 Lite. I don't think there was a conscious or logical decision made to get these boards, I just either came across them in the local AU MK buying/selling Discord server and decided to pick them up.

With that said, at home I have a keyboard that is more for typing-related stuff (F1-8x with Sarokeys Strawberry wines) and another for more gaming related stuff (Frog TKL with Boba U4Ts).

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- I hear really good things about the Boba U4Ts, I was thinking of trying those, and maybe Holy Panda and or Neapolitans
  
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  Yes U4Ts are really good - I think they are the 'best' tactile switch overall and are quite emblematic of the aspects that make tactile switches attractive. I would love to try Neapolitans too but they are hard to source and very expensive.
  
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Also have the Q6. I would like to see what you've done if you feel like posting picture and details. I am looking to replace the stock gateron pro browns with either glorious pandas or u4t. Also have a 9009 colorway cap set on the way.

2
- It's still pretty stock, I added 3mm of foam to the bottom near the back plate, swapped in some Zelios 67G and changed a couple cosmetic things like the accent keys and the volume knob. It's not the prettiest out there, but I'm happy with it. I also have a polycarbonate plate on the way incase I decide to swap the stock one.
  
  The browns they come with are pretty nice, I just preferred the bump closer to the top of the key press, so I went with the Zelios
  
  https://i.imgur.com/xXsvaci.jpg
  
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  Looks nice! I like the hint of blue.
  
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A compact 65 for work, a slightly larger 75 for home along with a 40 to play games or experiment with.

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i have multiple keyboards just to rotate them once a while to keep my desk kinda new

~~i may have buy too much.... send help~~

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I have multiple keyboards because one just isn't enough when there is so much out there. But really it's more of I want to using something that lines up with my preferences, and since I'm human my preferences change over time. I used to be a vehement clicky hater until I tried alps clickes which are just sublime. It's fun to customize anything to your liking, and that thing happens to be keyboards for me.

The process of finding a really cool keyboard project and planning out a whole build is still fun after the 5 years I've been into mech keyboards. And there is no shortage of cool keyboards projects even if the hobby has slowed down from the COVID boom.

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Late to the "party" but I have multiple because I don't want to carry one all the time when I work at home/office. In addition to that it's nice to have some variation in looks and feel. Some days I enjoy very heavy switches. Other days I want to have lighter switches.

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- That's a good point about wanting some variation from time to time. I think that describes my approach as well. I had been trying different liners recently but ended up going back to my tactiles because I liked them more overall. It's not that I didn't like the linears for certain things, but with only one board, I wasn't going to keep switching back and forth when I wanted to game vs type etc
  
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  Yes exactly. I mostly do home office and recently switched to Kailh Box navies on my main keyboard. It's great for typing but don't want to game with it. And taking off all keycaps and switches is not only tedious but also not great for longevity I assume.
  
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- That's a good point about wanting some variation from time to time. I think that describes my approach as well. I had been trying different liners recently but ended up going back to my tactiles because I liked them more overall. It's not that I didn't like the linears for certain things, but with only one board, I wasn't going to keep switching back and forth when I wanted to ganet vs type etc
  
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