Ask Slashdot: Good Keyboard?

An anonymous reader writes: After five years of service, my keyboard is dying, and I'm starting to look for a new one. Since it's for my primary machine, and I spend a lot of hours there for both work and leisure, I'd like to invest in a high-quality replacement. What do you recommend? I've been using a Logitech G15, and it worked well enough — but not well enough for me to buy another. (I've also heard Logitech's build quality has been on the decline in recent years — has that been your experience, those of you who own their recent hardware?) My use cases include coding and gaming, so durability is a big plus.

I'd prefer something a bit less bulky than the G15, which has a raised area at the top for media controls and a tiny screen. I don't mind a thicker bottom bezel so much. I'm not a huge fan of ergonomic/split keyboards, but if you know a really excellent one, I wouldn't rule it out. Same with mechanical keyboards — love the action, but the noise is an issue. I don't need any particular bells and whistles, but don't mind them. As for a budget... as I said, it's for a heavy-use machine, so I don't mind investing in great hardware. (That said, if I'm spending $150+, it better automatically make sure all my semicolons are in the right place.) So, what keyboard has served you well?

Comments

Ergo!

[darkain]

You only want an ergo suggestion if it is awesome? As a software engineer, I've been using the Microsoft Narual 4000 for longer than I can remember. Before that, I had an earlier generation Microsoft ergo keyboard. Yeah, this thing is clunky, but honestly it is the most comfortable thing I've ever used for long term typing. Being a software engineer, ya'know that is an assload of typing!

Unicomp Keyboard

[martok]

from www.pckeyboard.com - based on the IBM model M. You will not need a new keyboard again for a good many years. I prefer the buckling spring types but the silent ones have excellent travel as well.

Pick a keyboard company

[hooiberg]

Essentially, any Cherry keyboard has served well. Many manufacturers of keyboards do it beside their main thing. However, Cherry has keyboard manufacturing as their main thing. And by now, the resulting keyboards are very good and still affordable.

My best one so far is the Cherry CyMotion Master Linux keyboard. And the only 'linux'-thing is that is has a picture of Tux on the button that on traditional keyboards displays the Windows logo.

This again?

[Zedrick]

IBM Model M.

Slashdot should have a permanent banner saying "need new keyboard? IBM Model M".

Re:This again?

[AmiMoJo]

The Model M is nice but isn't the be-all and end-all of keyboards. In this case the OP specifically complained about some models being a bit bulky, and considering how you are likely to break your foot if you drop a Model M I'd say that probably rules it out for him. The Model M and Unicomp clones also aren't available as wireless versions, and I'm not that keen on the Japanese layout.

Cherry MX based keyboards come in a variety of shapes and styles. They make quiet ones that still have a good tactile response. Otherwise maybe a Lenovo keyboard modelled after the old Thinkpad ones would be a good bet. Good feel but low impact and travel.

Fujitsu made some good keyboards back in the day too. There are plenty of options other than the Model M and Logitech shite.

Kinesis

[The Grim Reefer]

If you are even considering an ergonomic keyboard, look at the Kinesis Advantage. It takes a fairly short time to get used to, but it's worth it. My only complaint is that you need to toggle the right side keys for the number pad, or buy one separately.

I don't do much gaming or any serious coding anymore, but I found it to be excellent for gaming. And the keys can be remapped and you can create macros. I think I paid an extra $10 to have keys with both Qwerty and Dvorak labels as you can toggle between them. I still haven't gotten around to learning Dvorak, but I keep telling myself that I will.

Das Keyboard or Apple/Slim Keyboard

[Qbertino]

If you're the old-school type, it's hard to go better than Das Keyboard.

However, if you're willing to experiment, I'd recommend trying out the current Apple Keyboard. I was squarely in the Model M demografic and for my life wouldn't have guessed that I like the Apple Keyboard and it's flat keys, but ever since I got one I've been using them almost exclusively. My typing speed has increased and I've come to like the laid-back lightweight and minimalist approach these take.

I recommend you try an Apple/Slim Keyboard for a few days before you decide what to buy. Could be that you're suprised just like I was.

Get a GOOD mechanical keyboard

[Spacelord]

I'm a bit of a mechanical keyboard nerd, I collect keyboards with all sorts of form factors and switches. I know it can be quite challenging to find your first mech, and to make sense of all the terminology, so I thought I'd write down a short guide to help you through your selection process.

First of all, you need to decide on a form factor. Generally speaking mechanical keyboards come in 3 form factors: full size, tenkeyless (or 87%) and 60%.

Full size keyboards of course have all 104 keys as defined in the ANSI keyboard standard. You should always look for a standard key layout without a weird shaped enter key or other weirdly placed or shaped keys.

Tenkeyless keyboards are like full size keyboards but with the numpad removed. This makes them more compact, meaning they take up less deskspace and more importantly, you can place your mouse in a more ergonomical position closer to the alphanumerical section of your keyboard where your hands will be most of the time, so when you grab the mouse, you have to reach out less far. This is by far my favorite form factor, and unless you do a lot of data entry and really need your numpad, I can heartily recommend this form factor. Most mechanical keyboards that are available in full size, also have a tenkeyless variant by the way.

As the name implies, 60% keyboards are ultra compact. They lack navigation and function keys that are found on a full size keyboard, but the functionality of those keys can be accessed via a second layer and an Fn modifier key. Some examples of 60% keyboards are the Happy Hacking Keyboard, the Poker II and the Ducky Mini. Given the fact that you are coming from a full size keyboard, I am hesitant to steer you towards a 60% keyboard.

Now once you have decided on a form factor, it's time to think about what kind of keyboard switch you like to type on. There are 3 major types of switches: the most common by far are Cherry MX switches. Less common and more expensive are Topre switches. Finally you have the classic buckling spring switch, as found on the Model M.

I'll start with the buckling spring. They are the grand daddy of mechanical switches. They were originally found in the iconic IBM Model M keyboard of the late 80s and early 90s. IBM has stopped making them long ago, but a company called Unicomp has acquired the patents and tooling, and they now produce Unicomp branded Model M's that are virtually replicas of the original IBM keyboard. This type of keyboard really is a typist's dream. Pressing the keys gives very solid tactile feedback and a loud (and I mean LOUD) thunky click. It sounds like a machine gun if you are typing on it at speed. If you share an office with other people, I would not recommend them. They are also not very good for gaming. This doesn't mean that you can't game with them, I have and a lot of people do, but other switch types just work better for that purpose.

Cherry MX switches are by far the most common. They come in many variants: linear, tactile, clicky, stiff, soft, ... The color of the switch indicates the type. For a first timer, I would recommend that you only look at MX Blue and MX Brown switches.

• MX Blue switches are clicky and give tactile feedback, a bit like buckling springs, but lighter and less loud. The same advantages and disadvantages apply: good for typing, bad for gaming, noisy.
• MX Brown switches are a good jack of all trades switch: they don't click, but they do give some tactile feedback in the form of a slight bump that you feel when you press down a key. I've never found noise to be an issue with them, they're effective to type on even if it's a bit less satisfactory than a clicky switch, and gaming works well too.
• MX Red is another common switch you find. They are a so called linear switch, which means that they are not tactile and n

Cherry

[Anonymous Coward]

I have a Cherry G-222 keyboard. For the past 12 years I have used it, and I am still using it

It is a mechanical keyboard but it doesn't have the 'click' sound. I love it for it's 'spring action', something that cheap keyboard don't have

Typing on cheap keyboard my hands hurt, both of them

Typing on my Cherry G-222, I can type for hours on end and my hands don't feel 'stiff' at all

Of course this is my own personal and humble opinion - and YMMV

Re:quiet mechanical keyboard

[PPalmgren]

On the topic of quiet mechanical keyboards, the G710+ is excellent and fits what he needs perfectly. I did a similar move to the OP, moving from a G11 and looking for a new keyboard. The rubber dome replacements from logitetch for the excellent G11/G15 are crap, the space bar barely works, keys don't register hits well, and apparently there's a backlight issue with most. I had to return the G510 within a week because I couldn't stand the spacebar issue. G710+ is a trooper though, and while it took a week or so to get used to, I'm very happy with it.

Re:CODE Keyboard

[Bacon Bits]

I've got one as well, and I've really liked it. I also replaced my aging G15 with this.

My only complaints are:

1. To use the LED backlighting -- and you'll want to because the keys are not easy to read without it on -- you have to flip a DIP switch that disables the context button (between the right OS key and right Ctrl) and turns it into the modal button for the backlighting. You rarely need to use this key, but I have missed it once or twice since nothing replaces it. I don't understand why they didn't pick something truly useless, like Scroll Lock, or let the button continue to function normally on top of the additional buttons. I like to be able to turn the light off, so I leave the DIP on.

2. The left shift key squeaks once in awhile. I tend to depress the far right of the key and it's a pretty wide key. It makes a squeak if I'm not careful. It's entirely my typing and I mostly don't do it anymore, but it did annoy me at first.

Otherwise it's easily the best keyboard I've used. For a mechanical keyboard, it's very quiet.