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Silent Keyboards for Silent PCs?

Posted by Cliff on from the well-if-the-mice-can-be-quiet... dept.

Kethinov asks: "Following up on the question asked in this story, I have a similar problem as he did except my late night coding (typing) sessions, not my clicking, seem to generating excess noise for the people I'm living with. I, as he did, checked out this possible solution, but to be honest, I can't type on anything but a standard-layout keyboard. Now, I too can search Google, but just looking at a possible solution doesn't help much. Does anyone on Slashdot have experience in this matter, from which I could better narrow my choices?"

8 of 87 comments (clear)

  1. Easy answer. by DAldredge · · Score: 4, Funny

    IBM Model M!

  2. Re:Hmmm... by 2nd+Post! · · Score: 4, Informative

    So in that vein, the IceKey from Macally features the same scissor key action as the laptop keyboards.

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    GPL Deconstructed
  3. Touch Stream Keyboards by fean · · Score: 5, Informative

    I use the touchstream LT (in fact, typing on it now...)... it has no buttons so it makes no sound.. it takes a while to get used to, but as long as you can touch type now, you'll be able to get the hang of it (it took my girlfriend a couple days to stop hunt n pecking, but it takes a couple months to get up to full speed again...)

    I really like all of the different special things you can do with it, like closing windows, zooming, using it as a mouse, etc...

    anyways, I highly recommend it

    1. Re:Touch Stream Keyboards by jabberjaw · · Score: 4, Interesting

      In addition, if you happen to have a 15" tiBook you can get a drop in touchstream keyboard

  4. Virtually indestructible keyboard by Space · · Score: 5, Informative

    There are several membrane only keyboards on the market but most are too mushy. the "Virtually Indestructible Keyboard" from Grandtec has semi-solid key tops so you know when you have pessed the key far enough unlike others on the mrket that have keycaps as mushy as the sides of the keys. Radio Shack and Best Buy have carried then in their stores so take a look. BTW this message was typed on their black USB verion.

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    I Don't Work Here
    1. Re:Virtually indestructible keyboard by davey_darling · · Score: 5, Funny

      The Virtually Indestructible keyboard comes with a 90 day warranty.
      Hardly instills confidence in the product, does it?

  5. change your roommate by ghettoreb · · Score: 4, Funny

    to me, there's a clear solution to your problem:

    if you live with a roommate (or gf, etc) who minds the noise you make with your keyboard during late night coding, then the obvious thing to do is to change your roommate or gf, much more so than go with drastic actions like changing your keyboard.

    hope this helps

  6. Remove the springs by no_such_user · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The IBM M keyboards *can* be completely silent. Just remove the springs. I kid you not -- remove the key caps, pull out the springs, and put the key caps back on. Though the keys don't spring back anymore, the keyboard is still functional -- just the tiniest bit of pressure on a key will cause it to register... silently!