Originally Posted by
Dread Pirate Jeff
Hah, thanks. I stole it from the Pricess Bride, long before Ulbricht created the Silk Road.
More topical, and now that I'm not using my phone to type that message out (yeesh I just noticed how it munged things like " ...
My desktop machine is a home-built machine, but I use a vintage IBM Model M with a custom USB cable. I am a touch typist (not so much when I'm writing code, but when I'm writing docs and emails I can comfortably sit at around 70-80 WPM) and find that a good mechanical keyboard is far easier than those little cheapo keyboards. I burned through two Unisys Model Ms, those are built using the old IBM plans, but using cheaper materials and don't last. My first real Model M lasted nearly 15 years and that was AFTER it was already over 20 years old. This one I bought was New Old Stock and still in it's original box and should last longer than I do. I've not tried one of the other new mechanical keyboards (using the Cherry MX and similar switches) but they would probably work ok as well. But there's something satisfying about the heft and tactile response of the old IBM Model M.
For a webcam, I agree with the Logitech 9xx cameras... they're fantastic and work with pretty much anything.
I have an old Model M keyboard sitting in a closet. I used to haul it out once in a while because I love the feel, but I can't say it really improved my typing speed at all. I also missed the dedicated Windows/Start key.
My current keyboard infatuation is with the Logitech MX Keys wireless keyboard. It has a very similar feel to the best of the IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad keyboards, and I can type like a demon on it. Minimal travel but solid feedback, and no horizontal slop. I love the proximity-sensor enabled backlight. I currently only have one primary computer, but in instances where I would need a client-supplied laptop I can pair the keyboard (and mouse) to both and switch between them with the press of a button.
The MX Master 3 mouse is an awesome option, too. Very comfortable, configurable, and the scroll wheel has to be experienced to be believed.
My webcam is built into my primary display (ThinkVision X1 4K). It's HD/1080p (which doesn't do my looks any favors). The monitor and webcam work great, but the built-in microphone doesn't get along with Windows 10's USB mic implementation. I had to download and install Equalizer APO to boost it by 30db, then install a VST plugin to clean up the background noise. Definitely not studio quality, but quite acceptable for VoIP.