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Have Keyboards Gone Crazy?
Ethelthefrog asks: "My office keyboard recently failed and I am attempting to choose a replacement. Unfortunately, Logitech, who make keyboards with an action I really like, seem to have gone crazy. They have trademarked their worst features: Zero Degree Tilt(tm) means I have to reach uncomfortably far for the number keys and their horrific 'Enhanced Function Keys' means I now need to engage a shift-lock type function just to get at F1-F12. Are there any geek-friendly keyboards out there that combine decent action with just the keys I need to hack and no more?"
PCKEyboard, who own the rights to the venerable IBM high-tactile keyboards (aka "the wing of death").
They also have myriad options and some extremely programmable/configurable keyboards.
I've been quite happy with my Happy Hacking keyboard for several years.
The Control key is in the right place, it doesn't hog the desk the way those big 105 key monster do.
The emphasis is on being compact, though, so be warned that getting function keys requires a 2-key combination, holding down an "Fn" key together with one of the other keys (eg, the numeric 1 becomes F1).
I've been intrigued, but haven't had the courage yet to try out something that looks incredibly efficient (one-handed, Ma!) and good for portable use, too, the Twiddler.
"Provided by the management for your protection."
I use an old IBM PS/2 keyboard, with the IBM logo on it and everything. It took me forever to find it but it makes my life wonderful. First of all, it's indestructable. Even after all this time the letters on the keys haven't worn off. It's got a nice tilt to it and I really like the tactile feedback from the keys because they're individually spring loaded, (instead of a plastic membrane). Also, since it's PS/2 I don't use up a USB port just for my keyboard. But the best part is no Windows keys! So when I'm playing quake on a friday afternoon, I don't have to worry about accidently tasking out because I hit the wrong button.
Keyboards have gone way downhill in the last few years because of all the "innovation". Simple is better. I don't need a seperate button on the keyboard for checking my e-mail, opening a web browser, and connecting to the internet. That's just lame.
I am not sure if these are available in the US, but I can definitely recommend Cherry's G81-3000 keyboard.
I like the old IBM keyboards (the ones you can beat people with and it'll still be usable). I have a model M keyboard for my home server which is awesome.
:P Otherwise I might use my old keytronics M model lookalike (which sadly isn't even a PS2 model heh :P).
For my desktop I use a keytronics kt2001 keyboard which is very very nice, and has a high enough buffer not to go awry in games even though you use 10 keys at once
The Model M is an amazing keyboard. So is the model 42H1292. Both are heavy, and both feature the buckling spring switch under each key principle. Dan (from dansdata.com) reviews them here. He calls 'em "battleship boards", goes into the why they make such great keyboards. It's interesting reading, like pretty much most of what Dan writes.
IBM/Lexmark quit making them a while ago, so they are a little hard to find. He did manage to find a company here in the US that uses IBM's old tooling to manufacture new 42H1292 keyboards. They don't have the IBM logo, but they are apparently functionally identical to the IBMs. They're US$50, however.
I was inches away from buying one of the new units, and decided to do some searching before I threw down a hundred dollars. After some searching, I came across a company called IndexComputer that specializes in older OEM computer parts, specifically IBM parts (if you need port covers or whatever for an old ThinkPad, they're the people to talk to). They sell brand new 42H1292 keyboards for $20.
I bought one a couple weeks ago as a test. It's the real deal. Even smells like a pool toy. I'm using it now, actually. I went back and bought three more for a spare and for a couple other computers I have.
For $20 you can't go wrong with a 42H1292. If you really must have a Model M, IndexComputer sells those as well. They're US$50 though. I don't know if a plug-in cable is worth the extra US$30, but if you really have to get your hands on a true Model M, they're the people to talk to.
-B
Ash and Hickory, straight-grained and true, make excellent bludgeons, dandy for the cudgeling of vegetarians.
It seems like nobody makes a "natural" or "Ergonomic" keyboard with a standard layout anymore.
Microsoft's multimedia keyboards have rearranged/rotated the Delete/End/Home group.
Belkin moved the Delete/End/Home group down to squeeze in PrintScreen/ScrollLock/Pause and replaced those with new power function keys. I didn't think it would matter, but I am constantly hitting Pause when I try to PageUp!
I have an old Logitech with the pipe/backslash in the wrong place, but now the only "natural" type one they make is a wireless with the Delete/End/Home group rotated!
Please, someone tell me, where can I find a Natural keyboard with classic layout? Or should I just stock up on enough discontinued Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pros to last the rest of my life?
I really, really like the Belkin Enhanced USB line. They come in black and white, have the aforementioned USB interface, have good key feel (not too loud, but not impossible to press like those &*^#ing "quiet" keyboards), and best of all, put the \ key below Enter, next to Shift, which is As It Should Be. They also print the standard ctrl+ functions on the front of the keys (for example, P has "Print" written on the front of it).
They sell for under $20 in most office supply stores, which is cheap as USB keyboards go.
Get a used Model M Keyboard . They're built like tanks, and make an extremely satisfying "clickity clackity clackity clickity" sound thanks to those spring-loaded keys. Yowseh. Mine's nearly 10 years old, continuous service. You can program the LEDs if the spirit moves you. Everything is where it is supposed to be, and no annoying "Windows" or "Apple" key. Being mostly metal, the model M is also satisfyingly HEAVY which means they don't scootch around the desk every time the cat cuddles up around one of the cables, pulling the keyboard off the desk and knocking over your coffee cup.
I'm not sure if one's allowed to endorse Microsoft on this site, but my vote goes to Microsoft's Naturale Elite keyboard. I picked one up on eBay with USB converter (in the box with the keyboard) for $25. You may not like natural keyboards, but this is truly an excellent keyboard. You probably wont be able to find one in store. Great board, great value.
"I've got to stop masturbating! It makes me too lazy! Stop it, Albert. Stop it." -- Albert Einstein
They have bizarre looks (they appear in the Men In Black movie), but they feel great, use your thumbs for enter, space etc. and are fully programmable, so I switched Caps Lock and Escape, because I'm a vi user. And it doesn't have a numeric part, so it's quite small, which leaves your pointing device easily within reach.
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IBM makes really nice keyboards for their Thinkpads, and also for desktops.
This one has both a Trackpad and a Trackpoint, is black, compact, and has two USB expansion ports. $99
This one is on sale for $38 and has USB ports as well as 15 special-purpose custom-programmable buttons.
Here you have the standard 104-key IBM keyboard in black for $29.
And here you have the whole list!