My Life in Keyboards

Keyboards are the pens of the digital age; they are the fundamental way we interface with computers. Mice and styluses can point, click, drag, and draw; but it’s with keyboards that we write programs and form essays. They are how computers feel; how humans talk to digital machines. They are my principal vessel of digital creation.

This is my story with the physical interface that shapes our digital experience.

The Early Years with Rubber Keyboards

The first keyboard I used was from the Thomson TO7, an 8-bit computer with a flat rubber keyboard integrated into its body. I used it in primary school to write Logo programs drawing lines and other things on the screen; I remember that it was difficult to type on with my small child fingers.

Later, my dad brought a ZX Spectrum 48K home. Like the TO7, it also had an integrated rubber keyboard. The typing experience was dismal—there was no tactile or audible feedback. I had to press the keys hard for it to register. I remember typing out code listings I got from magazines to hack cheats into the games like Green Beret or Lords of Midnight. I played with the ZX Spectrum for years until my parents got a Nintendo NES console.

The Membrane Keyboard

When I was 14, my dad got a PC sporting an Intel 386SX processor; it came with a grey full-size membrane keyboard. It was much more comfortable to type on than rubber keyboards, all the keystrokes registered properly, and the typing experience was pleasant. On this machine, I wrote my first real programs with QBASIC during a summer holiday. Most of the time, I played games like L’empereur, Fields of Glory, and Doom at 5 frames per second.

ThinkPad 360, a Fine Typing Experience

Once I turned 17, my dad gave me his old work laptop: an IBM ThinkPad 360 with a 486SX processor. Its keyboard was a step up compared to the one from the desktop; the keypresses were light and crisp; ThinkPads already had great keyboards in 1997. It’s on this laptop I started programming. I used the DJGPP compiler suite to make demos in 13h mode. I spent countless hours learning how to program and debug on it and the typing experience was a big part of the enjoyment.

Keyboards at EPITA

I moved to Paris to study computer engineering at EPITA in 1999. I got to work in the “machine rooms,” big rooms packed with computers. Most rooms had standard PCs running NetBSD, with a few exotic rooms like the Sun Sparc room. There were a variety of keyboards; the best ones were the “Keycomp” keyboards, which felt even better than my old ThinkPad. I can’t remember if they had mechanical or membrane switches since I didn’t know the difference at the time. These keyboards had noticeable tactile feedback and a satisfying clacking sound. They were much more comfortable than anything I used before. When you walked into the machine rooms, there was an audible buzz from all the fingers typing away on these beauties. I used these keyboards to write school assignments and programs for five years. Once I graduated, I bought myself the same model for my home computer.

ThinkPad T42, My Favorite Laptop Keyboard

My next memorable keyboard was the one on the IBM ThinkPad T42. I got it from my employer, an IT consulting firm. Laptops were still relatively rare at the time, and because I moved from gig to gig, I got this fancy laptop. The T42’s keyboard was stellar; it had good tactile feedback and made a satisfying crisp sound. At home when I had to type something, I would use the laptop instead of my own desktop; the T42’s keyboard felt better. I was sad when I had to give the ThinkPad back in 2007 because I was moving to Canada.

Back to Membrane in Canada

Once I settled in Canada, I tried to get a ThinkPad T43 since I loved the T42’s keyboard so much, but it proved too expensive and complicated to get one. I ended up buying a Dell Inspiron laptop with a passable keyboard instead. A year after that, I got a desktop computer for gaming at home, and got a cheap membrane keyboard. As I discovered Canada and got used to my new life there, I forgot about keyboards for a couple of years, and just settled for mediocre keyboards at home and at work.

IBM Model M, the Clickiest Keyboard

In 2009, I decided to upgrade my typing experience. I acquired two used IBM Model M with buckling springs from clickykeyboards.com. The Model Ms were great, they had a stiff tactile bump and made a satisfying sharp click. They were solidly built and heavy. At home, I played typespeed just to listen to all the dings from the keyboard. At work, I suspect my co-workers didn’t like it that much—the Model M was loud—but nobody ever complained; we were all working in an open office and almost everyone wore headphones.

Das Keyboard Model S, My First Cherry MX Switches

I used the Model M for a couple of years; I liked it but long typing sessions were tiring. I decided to upgrade to something more modern with a lighter feel. In 2011, there was a lot of buzz around the Das Keyboard, so I got a Model S with blue MX switches and blank keycaps. I got it because I wanted to stop looking down at the keyboard while typing, and I was intrigued by the famed Cherry MX switches. I got one for work, and within a few weeks it was clear that I liked the Das Keyboard better than my Model M, so I got another one for home. The MX switches were lighter than the buckling springs; I liked their crisp tactile feel and the light sharp click, I could type faster and longer with these switches.

More ThinkPads

Since IBM sold its computing branch to Lenovo, ThinkPads’ keyboards have gradually gotten worse.

I regularly traveled back to France to visit friends and family, and I wanted to have my own computer while on the go. I got a ThinkPad X1 Carbon in 2012; it looked slick and light like the MacBook Air. Unfortunately, its keyboard was a step down from the T42. The typing experience was mediocre, with a muted sound and slight tactile feedback.

In 2015, I got a ThinkPad T440 from work; its keyboard was a bit better than the X1 Carbon, with more noticeable tactile feedback and a soft sound.

Finally, in 2022, I bought a second-hand ThinkPad X270 to be able to work on the go. Its keyboard feels even worse than the X1 Carbon and T440. The X270 switches are disappointing with minimal tactile feedback; ThinkPads’ keyboards aren’t anything special these days.

MacBooks with Awful Keyboards

In 2018, I started a new job; I got a 13" MacBook Pro model 2017 with its infamous butterfly keyboard. It had the worst modern keyboard I have used. Typing on it was an exercise in frustration: I was constantly mistyping. I had to slow down to be more accurate, but I still made constant typos. It had zero tactile or audible feedback, and keypresses would often not register.

In 2021, I got another 15" MacBook Pro 2019 from another gig; it was better than the 2017 MacBook from the last job. I could at least reliably type on it. I had this laptop for only 9 months, and was happy to send it back once the gig was over.

Filco Majestouch 2, Tenkeyless Form Factor

In 2017, the spacebar of one of my Das Keyboards started acting up. Either it wasn’t registering the keypress or it would register multiple times. A few of my coworkers had tenkeyless keyboards, and I liked the form factor. I didn’t use the number pad on the Das Keyboard, and I wanted to free up some desk space. Full-size keyboards were awkward with the mouse, especially when playing FPS games. I got two Filco Majestouch 2 Ninja.

I still use these Filco keyboards. After 7 years of use the ABS keycaps are worn out; they have lost their texture and gotten shiny. A few months ago, I replaced the keycaps with blank PBT keycaps. It was well worth it—this gave a new life to these keyboards.

Keychron Keyboards

In December, I got a Keychron K9 Pro to complement my ThinkPad X270; the laptop's keyboard isn’t comfortable for long typing sessions, and I wanted something for traveling. The Keychron K9 Pro is a 60% keyboard with low-profile switches. It’s small and great for traveling. I got Gateron brown switches; they feel similar to the blue but quieter. I had to remap the keys with VIA to suit my needs. While I like the compactness of the 60% form factor, I’ll stick with the tenkeyless layout for my desktop computers.

At the same time, I got a Keychron C1 Pro, a tenkeyless board with red switches. Red switches are supposed to be good for gaming. I wanted to try them for a while, and I decided to add this board to my collection. I can’t really tell the difference with blue switches when gaming, but when typing, I miss the tactile feedback. I’ll probably sell the C1 Pro soon.

Conclusion

It’s been quite the journey from clunky rubber keys to modern mechanical switches. The keyboard’s importance transcends its utilitarian purpose—it’s where our thoughts become code, our ideas become words. The device is still evolving and there’s a whole keyboard environment blossoming out there.

Keyboards have been my companions in hours of creation, frustration, and triumph. They’re not just tools—they’re the vessel of my digital life.