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Qiuet Keyboards with Tactile Feedback?

Posted by Cliff on from the keyclicking-without-the-clicks dept.

zerOnIne asks: "Like many geeks I know, I love good old clicky mechanical tactile-feedback keyboards. I've got an IBM Model M (101 key) on the server, and a Linux CoolKeyboard on my desktop, and I wouldn't want to part with them. The problem is, though, that my wife and I live in a studio apartment, and my desk is necessarily right next to the bed alcove. This poses a problem on nights, like tonight, when I want to get some late-night hacking in, and she needs to get some sleep: my typing can rather loud if I get going. Is there a keyboard out there that can give me the mechanical feel of an IBM-101, but without the noise? As an aside note, whatever happened to the Linux CoolKeyboards company?"

4 of 103 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Editing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    This isn't flamebait. If anything, posting an extremely obvious (spellcheckable) spelling error in the damn title of the article is the real flamebait. It's guaranteed to get a reaction.

    Slashdot should instigate a policy of (-$100, flamebait) for those spelling errors.

  2. In marketing speak by Chilles · · Score: 3, Insightful

    True Click without the *Clack*

    seems quite difficult to give the actual feedback without the sound. moreover, wouldn't the sound be an important factor in the feedback you speak about?

  3. Re:Buy from the original IBM/Lexmark keyboard guys by Zapman · · Score: 4, Insightful

    One day when I feel right about spending $50-$60 on a keyboard

    I used to feel the same way, then someone asked me a profound question: What parts of the computer do you interact with the most?

    the answer is the keyboard, the mouse and the monitor.

    I contend that someone should spend a larger percentage of the computer cost on the keyboard and monitor. I love my logitec trackman wheel, and I love my old, IBM full clicky keyboard.

    If I had to do it now, I'd spend money on one of those 'happy hacker' keyboards or something similar.

    --
    Zapman
  4. I feel your pain by ctr2sprt · · Score: 3, Insightful
    A few things to consider if you decide to look for a new keyboard. First, I advise against mail order. I know it's tough to find quality keyboards in a local store, but it's really important to try out a keyboard to see if you like it. Trust me, you'd be amazed at the difference in quality even from one model to the next from the same manufacturer. I extend this to opening the box of the keyboard you might buy, taking it out, and typing a paragraph or two before buying it.

    Second, it doesn't have to be loud to have positive feedback. My Logitech keyboard has the exact same feedback as the old IBMs - that's why I bought it - but with less resistance and less key travel. This means I don't have to bang the keys as hard to register a press, so there's less noise.

    Third, when you're looking at a keyboard, wiggle the keys around from side to side. Not only does this help select the keyboards that are probably poorly built, a lot of noise can come from the keys sliding around. It's not often that your fingers come down on a key perfectly straight: almost always, you're pushing a little to one side or the other. All keyboards have some looseness, but... well, in my case it was either "a lot" or "very little," with no keyboards in the middle ground. And you'd be surprised at some of the names (and prices) that have a lot of looseness in the keys.