Why Keyboards?

Originally posted April 2021

Earlier this month, Keebtalk user keyliber posed the question, Why Keyboards?

He invites us to share our own reasons thusly:

This is a place to share reasons why keyboards are not in fact useless so you can justify spending more for your keyboard than your PC and having more GMK keysets than you have fingers.

I’m about to ramble something fierce because I’ve been asked why I like my favorite thing, but before I do here’s the most important bit I have to say: having reasons you can identify for enjoying your hobby is great – but you don’t need justification.

If you enjoy it – you enjoy it! Knowing why might help you get more into it or get the most out of it, but yeah. If someone asks me why I have more currency in colored plastic squares than my car, I’ll say SUCH IS MANGO! and exit stage right.

Now… about keyboards.

I used to work with a guy that had a massive sneaker collection, mostly limited editions in really wild colors. He often wore ones coordinated with his uniform. Had a display wall for them and everything. When he asked me about keyboards, I said, well – it’s a lot like your shoes, man – and he got it.

Aside from what’s already been said about how much time a lot of us spend using this kind of input device both for work and play, I do have some other reasons.

I enjoy human-interface machines in general, and am fascinated with the variety and the reasons for it. Before keyboards, it was bikes. I got really into all the possibilities within limitations, and experimented with different builds based on ideas (and subsequent lessons).

Before, I wouldn’t have guessed that there’s as much variation with keyboards as with bikes – but there really is, and that has only been growing over time (and quickly). I get the sense this is a great time to be getting into keebs.

Until I got an especially bad one (seen above), I don’t think I’d ever considered a keyboard in any way other than you kind of need one to use the computer. When the extra crap one came along, I started looking into what might be better…

With keyboards as with bikes before, I take specific enjoyment in helping people find the right device for them. If I see it make some kind of positive difference, that’s the biggest win – so once I discovered how much aesthetic and functional customization was possible with keyboards, I was in for the long haul.

I’m still a relatively new builder, but after seven or so builds for other people I’ve already tried and learned a few things I never would have otherwise – that’s something fun that keeps me engaged. Easy builds are relaxing. Others can be exercises – or challenging puzzles – either way, I’m having fun.

I have some mild nerve damage that doesn’t effect much these days, but it does make writing kind of slow and awkward – but typing! It’s so much more natural and effortless feeling for me compared to writing by hand.

Even before the nerve stuff, there has always been neuro stuff – let’s just say that typing makes it so much easier to actually get my thoughts down before they evaporate. And the tactility! The sound. It’s like a fidget thing I can fidget with while also being productive.

But you know what my favorite part is? You folks. Like just about everything, the best part is the people you meet through it.