The title says it all. What keyboards do you use? What switches do they have, and in what layout? Post some pictures while you're at it! Extra points for modded/custom stuff.
I've currently got 3 keyboards:
1x ErgoDox Full-hand w/ Cherry MX Brown Switches (probably gonna replace the switches soon)
I'm running it with a fairly modified version of the default QWERTY layout that massdrop has on their site. Changed the left thumb cluster a bit for better compatibility in games (some games don't like to let you bind BKSPC/DELETE)
1x KBC Poker II - All white; backlit. Cherry MX Blues.
Love this thing so far. Just got it yesterday as a temporary replacement for my ergodox while I was figuring out how to fix it. Little did I know that I would fix my ErgoDox before this bad boy would arrive. Still glad I ordered it, though. Definitely worth the $100 I paid on massdrop. Probably gonna become my "on the go" keyboard. Bringing an ErgoDox somewhere can be a hassle, and it always raises eyebrows. If they find out how much it costs, they start judging you. This is a great stand-in, and most people will probably think it's pretty nifty.
1x Dell QuietKey - Membrane; nothing special
Found it at a thrift store for $1. It looked like it needed a good home, it feels really nice for a membrane keyboard. It also uses PS/2, so that's another plus.
I use a full QWERTY at work with blues (Razer Blackwidow Ulti.)
At home for gaming I have a Razer Blackwidow Tournament Edition, Tenkeyless with greens. I'm actually going to replace this one soon with blue switches and white LED backlight. I prefer tenkeyless for gaming for the extra mouse room.
Yeah, I can definitely understand that. However, I find it hard to go back to anything other than my ergodox for extended periods of time. It all just feels so weird and alien to me now. Guess I'm a convert. However, I do wanna replace the brown switches. If I go through with my current plan, I'll have a handful of different switches on my board by the time I'm done.
Filco Majestouch-2 TKL Ninja, currently has MX Reds but will be swapping the springs to 100g some time in the near future, months or two. EDIT: UK ISO layout
Yup! I like 'em CHUNKY! Yes standard ISO enter key. Funnily even with the massive enter key the ISO layout still has one more key compared to ANSI...
EDIT: The planck has all the main keys of the QWERTY layout. So from a usability point it would be fine. I just like the non staggered layout and the compact size. I would use it pretty regularly if I were to build one and I intend to in the future.
And it definitely looks like a fun project. DIY keyboards are definitely great. I can't wait to start playing with different switch combos on my ErgoDox. I'm thinking of switching to blues for the majority of the keys, but keeping the number row Brown. Probably gonna go green for the four 2x length keys in the thumb clusters. Definitely need to start playing around with different keycaps as well.
Yes keycaps are something I need as well. But I am supremely picky about them.
I need laser front etched white PBT ISO caps so I can dye a set the colour I want. They just don't make the set I want anywhere, I will have to make them happen myself, which I am pretty happy about. In the end this keyboard will be uniquely mine and probably unusable or at very least unusual to anyone else.
Yeah, it's always funny seeing someone try to type on my ErgoDox with blank caps, even though I added white keycaps for the F and J keys, as well as the WASD cluster. I like the current caps on my ED (laugh it up :P ) but the caps on my new Poker II just feel so much better. Think I might have to just order a few sets of these caps. Need to keep the black/white theme of my battlestation going strong. Only complaint about these caps is the uneven light bleed through the caps. Probably gonna pull the keys and put a coat of thick white paint underneath all of them so I'll just have backlight shining between the keys.
And yeah, that is bizarrely specific requirements for your caps. Good luck, and godspeed!
I've also considered building a second left hand section for my ergodox, but I can't seem to find anyone, anywhere that sells a single PCB or case. It'd be great to have one for typing (clicky switches) and one for games (when I might have a mic going) that uses tactile, non-clicky switches, but I don't know if I'm ready to go full tilt and build myself a second full ErgoDox.
Retro keyboards are always interesting. Haven't tried Alps switches yet. Haven't done much research either, but I suppose the less research I do on keyboards, the less my wallet will bleed.
I've only been using the blues for a couple of hours, but so far I have no complaints. I like the feel a lot more than the browns I've been using, and the click noise is so satisfying.
And I've got enough expensive hobbies already. Don't need to make keyboards another one of them. Just a few mods to my ErgoDox and hopefully I'll have the sense to call it quits. Trying to kick the headphone buying habit as well.
Just rocking a Corsair K90. Really like the raised key layout and the Aluminium body design. Only problem I have with it is that it's not a full mechanical keyboard. The Macro keys are all dome switch and as an MMO player, I use them a lot. I could go for the K95, but they're pretty expensive, and I'm happy with the K90 so no need to change.
That ErgoDox looks interesting. I've used ergo keyboards in the past and quite liked them, but loved the feeling of mechanical switches more. Always wanted to try a mechanical ergo keyboard.
I'd highly recommend building yourself an ErgoDox. They're great. Make sure you know your way around a soldering iron before you bite the bullet, though. Also bear in mind that they're not the cheapest keyboard on the market.