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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?
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?
I've been using a CODE Keyboard for several months now. I really like it.
It's a mechanical keyboard using Cherry MX Clear switches, so it has a good tactile response without being super clicky. Certain settings can be changed using a DIP switch on the bottom. The keyboard uses a standard, detachable micro USB cable: cables have always been a weak spot on my keyboards, so it's nice to know I can replace it if needed.
The keys are mounted on a steel plate (not as heavy as the Model M, though) so they keyboard feels very solid.
irony isn't it: we don't like what microsoft has done in the software world,
Speak for yourself. Windows NT is a solid OS design. Microsoft is brave enough to produce their own operating system when everybody else is making some kind of imitation Unix.
I have one of those. But as it turns out, these keyboards can't handle speed-typing. They misread the keys every now and then if you type too fast, causing it to register keypresses in the wrong order due to their sequential scanline technique (same problem in Cherry keyboards).
After suffering for a while with the DAS, I decided to buy some Unicomp keyboards. Those are brilliant. Built like a tank, completely manufactured in the USA, excellent support, *lower* price than DAS (like half), and no keypresses out of order (no matter how fast you type).
Whether Royal Kludge has mechanical switches or not is debatable.
The switches are copies of those of Topre, but with a different stem which accepts Cherry MX-compatible keycaps.
The switches of Royal Kludge (what a name...) and Topre are actually rubber dome switches but not the regular kind: they bottom out distinctly and the keys are sensed in a capacitative manner which has faster response time than most other keyboards.
I would say that the Topre Realforce line has the highest quality of any rubber dome keyboard, and not just for the switch type. The key action is very smooth and the materials and build quality is top notch. Enthusiasts who like them often liken the experience as "typing on a cloud of boobs" ...
If you can get old of one, I would suggest Topre Realforce with variable weighting (similar to the classic Key Tronic ErgoForce), and a Type S version for silencing also on the up-stroke.
These are really comfortable and silent, with a luxurious feel, but they are also pricey. Part of the price is because they are made in Japan.
"We mustn't be caught by surprise by our own advancing technology" -- Aldous Huxley
That's only true for people with broad shoulders (such as myself). If you're shoulders are more narrow, a split keyboard design can actually hurt your wrists. Like anything with ergonomics, there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution... sadly. What I hate being in the broad-shouldered gamer crowd is that I can either get a good mechanical gaming keyboard or an ergonomic keyboard. I've never found one that has both functions. I would love a MS Natural Ergonomic 4000 (the keyboard I'm typing this on) with the Cherry MX brown switches... no such luck. I guess there aren't enough of us to warrant making it.
"Be particularly skeptical when presented with evidence confirming what you already believe." -
Ill agree with this, I am using a $9 keyboard that I have had for 7 years.
It is so well used that the following keys have no letter on them, they have rubbed off over the years.
sdfghlcnmertyo'"~123456-= (Caps Lock is now "ps lock") (Backspace is now just "Ba ")
I really don't think an expensive top of the line keyboard is needed. Grab you a cheap on that feels good to you and use it.