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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?
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!
I got the "Royal Kludge RC930-87" from Massdrop and love it. Not too loud for a mechanical keyboard and it is extremely responsive. It's also not taking up my whole desk with the numeric keypad, which I love. Very fine-grained control over LED backlighting as well. Since the OP is so detailed on these requirements, I'm sure she'll love the control over the LED backlighting.
$5 / month hosted VPS on linux = awesome!
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.
In particular the sidewinder X6 keyboards.
I also like that it has an adjustable red backlight.
http://www.microsoft.com/hardw...
Others have mentioned Topre keyboards; you might also like to look at Mattias quiet keyboards. But really if you are happy with the Logitech G15 then there is no need to change away from rubber domes - keyfeel is entirely a matter of personal preference.
-- Ed Avis ed@membled.com
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.
IBM Model M.
Slashdot should have a permanent banner saying "need new keyboard? IBM Model M".
I've got this gamer keyboard although I'm no gamer, and I like it pretty much. It's mechanical (Cherry MX) but noiseless (rubber O-rings), backlit, with multimedia keys. The only drawback is the strange inverted decoration on some keys, but as I don't look to much at my fingers when typing it's OK for me.
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.
My fingers having a very hard "hit" upon individual keys, laptop keyboards tend to not survive my hands for much more than a year. I have been using a Mech CM Storm for some time now, with the added benefit that the aluminum plate, on top, can be taken off in order to clean the insides ( you'd be amazed at what falls out of a keyboard after some months of intensive use ! ). The keyboard has Cherry MX blue switches, and is - hence - loud and very "clickety-clickety". The thing is already heavy out-of-the-box; I attached an extra strip of lead to the bottom, so the keyboard sits rock-steady in the place where I put it. Customers ( I always bring the Storm on assingments ) tend to react amazed and interested.
Religous speak to God. Insane are spoken to by God. When all shut up, one can finally hear Shostakovich in peace
Logitech K750 (solar) is the best in my opinion. I WISH IT WAS NOT SOLAR THOUGH AND HAD A REAL WIRE INSTEAD.
Long story why. I used original IBM clickly keyboards (still have 2) also used cheap plastic clones of these and wore out keys on 2 such keyboards because they are from regular plastic material. Also tried Microsoft "Natural" - there's really nothing natural - they all suck and slow.
In the end, I came across that keyboard on display at FRY's and it felt amazing. Bought 4 since then. They are unfortunately, not the most reliable. I already had one die just after 3 years. IBM are still rock solid after > 30 years. However, I notice a drastic performance boost with these keyboards. It seems I can type more code in less time, and I don't mind paying for more of these.
Unfortunately previous model without the solar batteries even though looks similar, does not actually feel the same. It feels "slow" as normal keyboards. Yet the K750 feels like the code just appears itself. When I go to work somewhere, I take one with me as well.
We need more info. Will you be using your anus just as an output device or do you also need the input functionality? If the latter, make sure you also get a set of replaceable rubber caps and some lubrication.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/mechanical-switch-keyboard,2955-18.html
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I have one of those noisy DAS keyboards (with the blue switches). It is indeed noisy but absolutely brilliant for both typing and gaming. http://www.daskeyboard.com/
I'm not sure you have to spend a lot of money to get a great keyboard. I've been using an Adesso keyboards for about 5-6 years (Tru-Form Media Contoured Ergonomic Keyboard (PCK-208B)).
I haven't had to replace one of these, and they're truly ergonomic. I switched to an ergonomic keyboard after writing my dissertation gave me pain in my wrists using a standard keyboard. Getting used to an ergonomic keyboard makes a world of difference for wrist pain, and it's completely natural to switch back to a conventional keyboard. I'd also be careful in buying Microsoft ergonomic keyboards. These tend to separate the left- and right-hand keys, but do not slant the keys to match the natural angle of your hands when typing. The above Adesso keyboard (and keyboards from other manufacturers) have angled keys that more closely match the natural orientation of your hands when typing.
Another great input interface is the trackball. I use the Logitech M570 Wireless Trackball. I've found that keeping your mouse arm stationary goes a long way for wrist and arm pain too. These take a bit of getting used to, but they're well worth the commitment. The only drawback is that I have to clean my trackball once every couple of days.
LIK = Logitech Illuminated Keyboard. (that's what they themselves call it, LIK)
Scissor-action, good feedback with minimal noise, key dip is about halfway between a laptop and a model M IBM. Adjustable backlit keys.
I have two, one for work one for home. Both were bought 2007 from local retailers. Trouble is, both initial purchases (from two different stores) had keys that would fail to strike about 20% of the time, so back to the retailers both went.
The replacements have been good. Still using both daily.
The "Civilized World" jumped the shark ca. 1973.
I also agree that a daily work tool should be of highest quality and totally worth the investment. For coding, Happy Hacking Pro2 keyboard is perfect http://www.pfu.fujitsu.com/hhk... You can maybe order it here http://www.elitekeyboards.com/... (I got my own from jp). Slightly expensive but TOTALLY WORTH IT. There is also a silent version (Type S). Youtube it to see the difference. They keys are a mechanical/capacitive hybrid that feels godly to type on, been using mine for 5y+ now. For gaming it is not so well suited though due to the layout. (Function keys need two hands). You can get an el-cheapo gaming keyboard for that (there are good ones with anti-ghosting, etc for 20USD).
This is not a troll. This is humor that makes a good point. Finding a good mechanical keyboard is a search away.
Mine was built in 1989 and still works as-new. Great tactile feedback, just rock solid. A bit noisy, that's all
To Terminate, or not to Terminate, that's the question - SCSIROB
The bios doesn't support input functionality. Though it is true that many access the port IO directly, bypassing the firmware entirely.
I'd recommend a mechanical keyboard. Mechanical keyboards often tend to be solidly built, have a reassuring clickety-clack (you can choose switch types with different characteristics btw) and just plain feel good to type on.
Your primary tasks when selecting one will be to choose the switch type (mx-brown, mx-blue etc), any additional features you need (shortcut keys, n-key rollover) and decide on the manufacturer itself.
I have a Ducky Shine 2 and it's an absolutely fantastic keyboard. I'd recommend something of a similar nature - solidly built and has all the features I need. For example, one of the features I specifically looked for were shortcuts to a calculator, and other programmable option keys. A lot of mechanical keyboards tend to be minimalist in nature, and fortunately, the Ducky was an exception.
The model I have has the ability to turn off the backlighting, which is great, because I don't need a christmas tree on my desk. I noticed that some of the newer Ducky models are starting to look a bit silly though, with all sort of logos and stuff which are undesirable. I can vouch for the model I have without reservation however, having used it for a couple of years.
Finally, someone gets it.
You say you're not a great fan, but from my experience split keyboards really do wonders for your wrists. You don't have to bend your hands outwards for typing, just holding them naturally over the keyboard is perfect. I have a MS Natural Ergonomic 4000, simply because it's the cheapest split keyboard. You may want to buy a more expensive one, such as one of those that really detach into two separate parts, but the MS thing is already great.
PlusFive Slashdot reader for Android. Can post comments.
Never ever buy a keyboard with a shutdown and/or sleep button on it.
You'll only press it when you have forgotten to save your progress because your mind was too busy maintaining the solution to your problem. Probably a fun problem, one that stretches your capabilities. Exactly the cases when you really don't want a shutdown crashing your train of thought.
Dunno if the things are still as common as when my last keyboard broke.
Well, I might have a way, but it only works on a semi spherical planet in a vacuum.
There was a time when non-mechanical keyboards were durable, but having had Microsoft, Logitech, and no-name brands die on me in 6-9 months of purchase for the past five years, I finally ponied up for a cheap mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX Black switches a little over a year ago. There is no way I will ever go back to a non-mechanical keyboard. As it has survived the lifespan of the previous two keyboards already, I figure I've already saved $30 on it's $90 purchase price compared to the $60 each for the other two keyboards it replaced.
Yes, they are noisier than some other keyboards. But the durability and the feel of the keyboard are well worth that "price".
I do not fail; I succeed at finding out what does not work.
Yes, heaven forbid we consider Slashdot a community and ask others in it for opinions, especially on something that many of us deal with every day as a part of both our jobs and leisure and could therefore be assumed to know something about. That would almost seem too human.
quiquid id est, timeo puellas et oscula dantes.
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.
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.
We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
I tried many keyboards in a shop in Akihabara : there were a nice sample of different styles of switches : various Cherry MX, Topre, high quality rubber domes, etc... The Topre was clearly the one I prefered, even though I didn't know about these at the time so it was like a blind test. I didn't buy it back then : it was a Japanese layout and I didn't want this + the outrageous price.
I finally bought it years later, in my native layout. Considering how my previous keyboard (a Keytronic KT2001) outlasted three computers, I consider getting a nice keyboard a worthwile investment.
FYI, the Topre Realforce looks as plain as a keyboard can look but is much heavier. The keys feel like a hybrid between a rubber dome and mechanical switches like the Cherry MX brown. The actuation point is rather high and it is not "mushy". It is a tiny bit louder than rubber domes but quieter than mechanicals (especially the clicky ones like the Cherry MX blue), it makes a "twok"-like sound that is rather pleasant.
In the end I think you should try it if you can : description can only get you so far.
Be aware, though: while, indeed, quite hard to kill(a sharp object will do it; but silicone elastomers are quite untroubled by most chemicals that you'd be willing to let near your hands, and such keyboards are sealed enough that spills are largely irrelevant), the keyfeel of such keyboards is...different... The keys sort of 'squish' down and sideways when pressed, very much something that takes getting used to.
If, for some reason, your keyboard needs to be sprayed down with nasty solvents or disinfectants or something on a routine basis the silicone ones are much, much cheaper than the classy, purpose-built, stainless steel ones; but the keyfeel is pretty iffy.
People can get really picky about keyboads, and to a point I can understand. It does kind of suck to sit there and type on a keyboard that you dislike. One of my biggest issues is that home/end/command+left/command+right/function+left/function+right in OS X is very non-standardized across applications. This isn't a keyboard issue at all, but it does affect my ability to type quickly. Aside from that, I default to using a Kensington "Keyboard for Life". It's incredibly basic. No real bells and whistles, no extra keys, etc... It isn't too noisy though, all the keys are in the right place, and it can take a beating. It's only real "feature" is that it can tolerate getting stuff spilled on it. I use an Apple Wireless Keyboard at work, but only because I am using OS X at work. I use the keyboard built into my MacbookAir when out and about, but on the desktop and on the MBA when at home, I use my Kensington. I also use the Kensington when I'm in data centers, and when using a keyboard with my Raspberry Pi, and when I am using my MiniDisc deck I use the kensington with a PS/2 to USB connector.
Still the best. If you want an audible mechanical click, use blue. (Not suitable for shared office-space.) Not quite a Model-M, but closes approximation today. For silent, use one of the other colors as to taste. The one I am writing this on is a 12 years old Cherry G80-3000, daily use, gaming, but even the WASD keys still work fine. You can get quite a few other keyboards with Cherry MX switches.
Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
I'm very happy with my Saitek. Although a few keys are polished clean of character identifiers and the finish has been rubbed off on the edges, I have never had any mechanical issues over many years. It is heavy with large rubber feet to grip my desk so it stays steady while I slam my head against it.
As I have fairly big hands, I went for the CyMotion initially because the flat area of the keys is a bit bigger, which turns out to work very well for me. I have never noticed any sideways motion, or squishyness. The keys always react very sharply to my touch.
https://www.trulyergonomic.com...
Not only is it more ergonomic than most keyboards, it's mechanical and a huge improvement in typing.
Sure it takes a few hours to get used to, but like with languages, learning your second one is much easier than your first and does not reduce your ability to use the first.
It finally gets rid of the backward and stupid staggering of keys, that was needed 70 years ago, do you still live in that time? Or in the future?
It allows the mouse to stay much closer, which is great for gaming and the main reason I got it.
Thank you, Bradley Manning, Edward Snowden and so many others, for courageously defending humanity, my freedom and more!
Slashdot is actually old Taiwanese company that make keyboard.
Not making it as a Linux fanboy site either. How many times have YOU endured a stupid keyboard phoning it in article? Besides, tiles is the new paradigm. Everybody know it.
I really like the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic. Marco Arment has a nice review from 2013. He recently compared it to a Matias Ergo Pro.
Note that I'm a Mac user (yeah LOL Apple, I know right?) but with the right freeware, you're able to map, for example, the Caps Lock key to Escape. I used to work on an awesome Sun keyboard that had the escape key right there, for vi and all that good stuff.
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I would go for one of these:
http://keyboardco.com/
I've never actually bought one of their products, but I have been keeping their address lying around. The story behind that is, that I got fed up with keyboards always being cheap, with a rather rubbery feel to the key action and no proper click; I'm old enough to have worked with - and loved the feel of - the original IBM PC keyboards, that appeared to be made from cast iron and concrete. It seems this company makes keyboards with proper keys, each fitted on top of gold plated switches or whatever. I want one, but they are a bit expensive, so I hold back. You know how it is.
I'm also on that boat. It truly is a good keyboard, especially for people that like short key movement.
MSRP is $99.99, but you can find it in the $80-$85 range. And if there are build-quality issues with Logitech in general, mine is not affected. It has survived more desk-height drops than I would like to admit, and it has never so much as popped a key.
I bought this keyboard last summer and I am so damned happy about it.
- It's very compact: no FX raw, no numpad, no arrow keys.
- Mechanical
- Backlit
- Macros (up to 14 characters IIRC)
Something that it really annoyed me at first but afterwards I have realized that is a very intelligent decision: the location of the "arrow keys" on the left side of the keyboard. I am an avid vim short cuts user ( vimperator extension on my Firefox, kwrite/kate with vi-compatibility, heavy user of vim ) and having my fingers on hjkl and not having to move my hand whenever I have to move around with the arrow keys ( when switching to a program withough vim-like behaveour) is fantastic :-)
All in all: FANTASTIC keyboard
PS: http://www.amazon.de/KBT-Poker...
You know those little feet under the back of your keyboard that let you tilt it up so it faces you? They're terrible. Your keyboard should be flat or, ideally, pitched away from your body. Whatever else the keyboard might offer in terms of ergonomics - tenting, a split and/or curved layout, angled key columns - at least do yourself the favour of getting one that has a negative tilt. That way your wrists can be straight and your fingers can reach down to the keys, as opposed to having to tilt your hands upwards, causing you damage that will, eventually, come back to bite you in the ass.
Unless you have hands coming straight out of your torso at belly-button level which is who nonergonomic keyboards seem to be designed for these days.
You can't touch type properly if the keys are sloping away from you. There is a reason why proper keyboards (including old manual typewriters) have the keys in ascending rows.
The way to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome is to take short but frequent breaks from the keyboard, even if it's just lifting your arms up and doing a few stretches.
To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
This could have been a vote?
Anyways, 1up for Ducky, Shine 3.
So far my favorite keyboard has been the ~$20 Dell SK-8135 . Quiet keys, modern minimalist design around a full 104 keyboard layout, but has fairly ergonomic multimedia keys that are easy to find in the dark, and a USB hub which I find convenient for minimizing wire clutter.
My aunt bought me a nice Logitech G510 keyboard, but... I don't really care for it all that much. Uh... you can change the backlight color, and there's a little mono LCD panel that you can download apps to display extra things on. There are a bunch of programmable macro buttons on the side, but I don't find them convenient to use in any of my games compared to keeping my fingers near the WASD home row with the default keyboard layouts, and maybe using an autohotkey macro where necessary. It also has a built-in USB audio headset/mic jacks, which I guess is nice for eliminating system noise from your mic if you don't already have something better. The G510 looks damn impressive, but if I really needed its features, I'd have optioned for the G13 and a normal keyboard.
Yes, heaven forbid we consider Slashdot a community and ask others in it for opinions
Because, in this case, he could just look at the already existing reviews on Amazon.
My ideal keyboard would be the general design of the Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 with the Cherry MX Brown switches and anti-ghosting features. Sadly, I've never found a keyboard even close. It seems that I can either have a comfortable ergonomic keyboard or one that actually works well, not both. Are there even enough people interested in a keyboard like this to have a chance of it ever being made?
"Be particularly skeptical when presented with evidence confirming what you already believe." -
Because the laptop is, itself, flat by design?
This is the one I'm using now:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0021...
Has some useful hotkeys like zoom in and zoom out, one-key mute, volume up and volume down, calculator, etc. Full size with numerical keypad, no "ergonomic" layout to learn. It replaced a wired model 3000 that doesn't seem to be available any more, or at least I couldn't find it. Would rather have wired so I didn't have to worry about the battery, but this is good as long as the battery holds up - 2 AA batteries.
I have enjoyed the Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000. Inexpensive, but relatively comfortable. It looks like this may be discontinued now, but the 3000 is now available. http://www.amazon.com/Microsof...
I have had several keyboards for 20 years with no sign of deterioration. I don't know if you can still get em like that any more tho. One point is I never have liked the "silent" keyboards. I like a good clacky feedback one so I know when I have pressed a key or not.
Reviews largely written by idiots or sponsored reviewers. Let me guess you write a lot of Amazon reviews.
IBM Model M keyboards last BUT THEY ARE VERY NOISY.
OP, you'll likely want a mechanical keyboard for a heavy use machine.
I used membrane dome keyboards for years. The Microsoft Natural keyboards has my the ideal ergonomic layout and is extremely comfortable for typing, with the added bonus of most keys being slightly different shapes which is incredibly handy for gaming. However, these keyboards wear out after a couple of years and they don't have anti-ghosting which means you can only hold down 2 or 3 keys at once before you lose keystrokes.
I've since bought, and returned, many mechanical keyboards. I returned them because I hated the feel and kept pressing keys by accident. I did some research and the most helpful site was at the link below which has amazing technical diagrams that illustrate the "clickiness" and action of Cherry MX keyswitches.
http://superuser.com/questions...
My advice is to study these animations and decide which looks best. Try them out at a local store if possible - computer parts stores often have a Cherry MX sample board with one of each type. Then look for a keyboard with the keyswitches you want and the additional features you'd like (anti-ghosting, media keys, volume knob, macro keys).
After some research I decided on the Logitech G710+. It's expensive (regular about $150) and a little large but has Cherry MX Brown keyswitches which have a little resistance, an intermediate click as you press them, but are quieter than the Blue switches which otherwise feel the same. It has media keys and a volume knob which I use all the time. I have no need for the macro keys.
My kingdom for a Microsoft Natural keyboard with mechanical keyswitches!!!
I just picked up one of these and I must say I've been incredibly happy with it. The construction is top notch (Germans know a thing or two about how to build stuff), the key action is amazing, and it looks incredible. Pricey? Yes. But so is a finely-crafted automobile. Both will probably outlast you.
In the end they will lay their freedom at our feet and say to us, Make us your slaves, but feed us. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
There have been nice suggestions for buckling spring (IBM Model M and Unicomp) and Cherry MX switch (Das Keyboard and dozens of others) mechanism keyboards, but personally I think Topre keyswitches are superior to both of them. Granted, they are among the most expensive, but the price is minimal when compared to rest of the rig, and they last a lifetime.
I have been using Happy Hacking Keyboard 2 Professional (I did a review of it a while ago: http://codeandlife.com/2013/10/12/hhkb-professional-2-keyboard-review/ ) for two years, but recently switched to Topre Realforce 88UB (US version is 87U). It's probably the best keyboard money can buy, the feel is superb and I even like the black-on-black color a lot. Details: http://codeandlife.com/2013/10/12/hhkb-professional-2-keyboard-review/
I think the switch type and layout are the primary factors, so I'd advise you to read a bit of geekhack forum and decide what you'd like to try. A word of warning: Mechanical keyboard can be addictive!
http://codeandlife.com
I still use a Keytronic 2000 (without the Windows keys).. great tactile feel. Works forever. Basically an improved version of the old IBM PC keyboard.
Compaq CQ60. I've used one for many years, no complaints or problems.
Hey we live in the year 2015, since year 2000 we can eat only a pill everyday for all our nutriment needs, we have flying car, we are in a leisure society and we have brain wave interface.
Ceci n'est pas une Signature !
and slashdot responses are different how?
There is no other choice. It's heaven on the fingers...and will annoy your cube neighbor as well! (always a plus!)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
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.
If you are a fan of typing, I highly recommend the mechanical keyboards.in general red cherry buttons are for faster operations, and can improve your words per minute in a typing test. however the rate at which you will make mistakes also improves in this case as its very easy to missclick. these type of keyboards also tend to be cheaper if you are looking for a silent version which is desirable for mechanical keyboards. http://gaming.logitech.com/en-... this is a brown cherry key which is a midway option between red and blue. so its a balanced keyboard which is relatively silent for a mechanical keyboard.i personally used one of these for three years, but the lack of cleaning options is a real problem from logitech keyboards. recently i bought a Gigabye Aivia which was great with a key designated for cleaning. Blue cherry keys are usually best for reaching 100% correct input during a typing test, so where accuracy is important. Recently companies started making their own mechanical switches which makes it difficult to compare them directly. (find Razer BlackWidow Chroma for example) I guess heres a nice review of the more recent keyboards: http://www.tomsguide.com/us/be...
I am using the Leopold FC660C it has the same switches as HHKB, but have dedicated arrow keys, but still pretty compact. I can recommend it, great for coding.
I have had good service from keyboards I bought at thrift stores, from Wal-Mart and the original IBM disc keyboard back in the day.
Just pound away at them keeping the wrists curved slightly and stiff, rather than resting them and using my fingers do the walking.
I have never had carpal pain and I have never had a keyboard failure; I use them until their plugs become obsolete.
I've been working a Logitech "Access" keyboard hard every day for a decade. If it were to ever die for some reason, I'd try very hard to find another. It feels great, keeps up with my speedy typing, and handles my keystroke-overlapping "chord" style of typing without ever a single character showing up out of sequence like they do on so many crappy keyboards.
Or repair it? Or buy the same model, used?
"[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz
The Logitech K310 is reasonably OK to use and the build quality is pretty good. It is just an averagely nice keyboard although I do wish it had backlighting. http://www.engadget.com/produc...
The unique feature of this keyboard is that it is washable and yes I mean rinse it in a stream of running water whilst scrubbing it with a detergent brush. Have you any idea how filthy and bacteria-ridden is a typical office or home keyboard?
"Don't belong. Never join. Think for yourself. Peace." V.Stone, Microsoft Corporation
Good information? Good news? Good choices?
Good luck...
This is Slashdot!
That is all.
* awesome mechanical cherry keys
* no crap like glowy keycaps and macro-keys
* great price point (60€ or so) compared to any other keyboard with switches
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
Slashdot replies are less likely to be sponsored.
For those who like Thankpad keyboards....especially the trackpoint and trackpad.
On reading your post I jumped on eBay and hit [Buy Now] two times to avoid being in the position of *not* being able to get the exact same keyboard I've used for 40+ hours a week for the past fifteen years: The Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro with both USB and (worthless) PS2 connectors. This is a split, ergonomic keyboard, so perhaps too bulky for your preference, but I can't survive much time on a straight plank keyboard: After authoring nearly two million lines of code since starting a software company in 1987, I once nearly lost the use of my hands altogether. It wasn't carpal tunnel, though, it was the less-common ulnar, which becomes inflamed and impinged by working thousands of hours with one's wrists cocked out to align them with the keys on a straight keyboard. The Natural has just enough angle to allow me to maintain a comfortable position while typing. As I have about another ten years of programming to knock out before I retire, on reading your post I decided that $50 worth of expenditure to squirrel away a couple more of the MS Natural Keyboard Pros was cheap insurance. So thanks for the reminder (and sorry if my advice isn't all that helpful for your use cases).
Slashdot has kind of lost its marbles. I tried to post the following submission but it was declined. "For some time now, I have been following the "startup scene" and frankly, I am left with a sense of dismay. How many of the startups actually do anything of any real value to mankind? It seems to me that the startup ideas just keep getting more ridiculous and stupid by the day and I think I would go as far as to call the whole thing deeply broken. I am not going to name any specific startup, but I would like to ask the readers of Slashdot a question. I know this is not how the world works, but I am still curious to know what kind of ideas would prosper if the primary aim of a startup was not to make as much money as possible as quickly as possible. So, if your startup idea would be judged by the amount of good it would to mankind, what would it be?"
If you are looking for a good mechanical and don't want to pay a premium for a brand name the Monoprice 9181 is an excellent choice. It has Cherry MX Red switches, is backlit, and extends your USB and audio ports to the keyboard. I have been using the 9180 for a couple of years and I'm pretty rough on keyboards (think bad golfer but with a keyboard instead of a club) and it has taken all the punishment I've thrown at it. The 9180 has MX blacks instead of Reds and isn't backlit but it is also out of stock until June according to their web site.
"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
I found it relatively easy to use an MS ergonomic keyboard, but I could never get used to the "reverse slope". I always set mine up with a forward facing slope, and it feels much more natural to me. Of course, as you said, frequent breaks are still a must.
I'm not sure if I'd go so far as to say it's impossible to touch-type on reverse sloping keyboards, though, since there are obviously people who manage it. And I'm not sure I'd go holding up old manual typewriters as a paragon of ergonomic design.
Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
Simple. Check the daily sticky at /r/MechanicalKeyboards
https://www.reddit.com/r/mecha...
There are so many options and it depends on personal preferences. I would start looking first what type of keys you want. I would go for cherry mechanical keys. There are several types and plenty of info.
Once you know that, look what keyboards have them.
That way you can decide what noise you want to make or not, how much force you want or not and such.
Because even if 99.9% of people advice you to use keyboard X, you might not like it. Perhaps you like a lot of noise to annoy your cow orkers. Perhaps you want it to be silent, even if you are always alone.
And there are plenty of Youtube videos to look at what the differnce is.
So : step 1. Look what keys you want from Cherry.
Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
It's ridiculously good while still at the bottom of the price curve.
While I still use whatever thing from the 90s, that's a keyboard I tried (in new condition) and gosh that's a keyboard I can pick and use and not miss a keyboard from the 1990s. For what it's worth I like it much better than the "gaming" Logitech keyboards.
No features, not even a key to launch the calculator. Too bad there's no PS/2, because fuck it that's what PS/2 is for. But it's available in white, or is it beige.
The modern direct descendant of the IBM model M is Unicomp (pckeyboard.com). And at $79 it's a good deal. Highly recommended.
Note: their website isn't confidence inspiring, but they're alive and well and usually ship out the same day you order. They're also made in the USA which is kinda cool.
For the price, they are excellent keyboards. Well made, slim form factor, durable, no breakable parts. I use them with my non-Apple machines too. For $49 it's really hard to beat.
"Don't teach a man to fish, feed yourself. He's a grown man. Fishing's not that hard." - Ron Swanson
I bought Dycky Shine 3 Tenkeyless and I am loving it. The color led games were fun for about a day, but the mechanical keyboard without the number keypad is just awesome. I guess many manyfacturers make fine mechanical keyboards, but if you don't use the number keypad, consider a tenkeyless keyboard. It is so nice to have the mouse closer to the keyboard.
I find really loud keyboards unbearable. Regardless of how good the M is, I find the noise insanely distracting so I can't use it. More recent MX Brown mechanical keyboards are a good alternative, at least for my uses.
I am still using the keyboard that came with our compaq presario from ~1995. This thing is a beast, you could develop some serious muscle just lifting it up all day. It has more stains on it than a motel mattress, the space behind the keys is a highly effective lint trap, and it has never been cleaned even once. It has also never broken even once, and it is the most comfortable thing I have ever typed on. The keys have an incredible amount of resistance to them and make an astonishingly loud noise when pressed. Perfect keyboard.
If I was writing a lot, I would invest in another Kinesis Advantage keyboard. For writing text, I found it to far outperform any other available "Ergo" keyboard. If you are doing data entry or casual gaming I like the Microsoft Natural keyboard (I use this for my work computer). For my personal gaming machine, I have found that going cheep is the way to go. I use the logitech K120. It is reliable enough, just keep a spare or two on hand for when the keys die(they last me maybe 6-12 months). This way I am not crying when my $100+ gaming keyboard bites the dust.
"I myself am made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions."
But what do you think about the blank space around keys? Isn't that kind non-user friendly and non-ergonomic? Does it use a mechanical switch or those ugly rubber dome key switches?
I got a Logitech K350 a while back when they had a combo deal with the mouse I wanted. It's nothing all that fancy or special, but I like it. It's wireless, which is nice, though I don't really use it to its potential that often. I've never had any issue with lag (I play plenty FPSs), but I use a USB extender to put the transceiver right under the edge of my desk, less than a foot from my keyboard/mouse. The keyboard has never given me problems, but I didn't like the mouse's response with the USB transceiver plugged into the back of my PC. It's ergonomic without being clunky (I hate split keyboards). It's got a kinda wavy design, a good wrist rest, and concave keys that fit your fingers. It's got a few extra program buttons, but I honestly never use them aside from the volume buttons. It'll only run you about $50. I think I've only changed the batteries once over the last 2-3 years.
Loigitech MK 270...best Logitech available. $29
I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
I like the SIIG Premium Aluminum Keyboard. Its solid, quiet, and above all... it looks great.
Your best bet is buy an IBM Model M keyboard from Unicomp. That's where I bought mine. It is a really nice keyboard, solidly built, good travel on the keys. Yes, it's a mechanical buckling spring keyboard, so it does make noise. But my fingers just don't get tired. It's great. I ordered mine as a USB keyboard.
Unicomp also seems to sell a few keyboards in the more common "rubberdome" format, so maybe that's more your style.
I'll admit that sometimes my carpal tunnel flares up and I need to switch back to an ergonomic keyboard. I still have my Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite from a few years back. It's a rubberdome keyboard, just like any keyboard you'll find, but it lets me keep my wrists and forearms in a relaxed position. It's a PS2 connector with a USB adapter.
If you are using a UNIX Operating system, you need to use a UNIX Keyboard: Sun Type 6 USB.
It has the right curvature (i.e. seen from the side, the keyboard is concave, not flat) so you can easily press the F-keys without lifting your wrists = no wrist pains.
It has Meta & Compose keys.
And it has the extra X11 keys on the left - that you can xmodmap to your liking.
If you use a keyboard with a Windows key sitting between Ctrl & Alt, you are NOT a True UNIX Sysadmin.
Good luck finding one :)
1% APY, No fees, Online Bank https://captl1.co/2uIErYq Don't let your $$$ sit in a no-interest acct.
There is one keyboard after the model M, which is truly great and modern enough to be usable. The IBM Thinkpad USB Keyboard with integrated trackpoint/touchpad/usb hub and (mostly) silent operation. If you can find it...
I love the key layout, the tactile feedback, and the sturdiness of the assembly. My only problem is that my skin oils tend to erode the white letters on the keycaps. If I could get one with "double-shot" keys (the white is MOLDED into the black key), I'd be happier. But, $85 or so every three or four years (I'm not willing to spend my time changing keytops), is a cheap price to pay for a keyboard that is so reliable and stable that I just don't much ever think about it.
Good luck on picking through all these opinions!
Slashdot replies are less likely to be sponsored.
That should be modded Funny, or Sad. But in truth Slashdot opinions are nearly as likely to be "astroturf" as legitimate compared to anywhere else.
Personally I do like mechanical keyboards, and for a non-backlit model the Cherry mechanical keyboard (not a 3rd-party keyboard using Cherry switches) I own and can recommend the G80-3000 (USB 104-keys US keymap), available Digikey and other (industrial) electronic suppliers globally. Likely just not your local / mail-order computer shop.
Otherwise for mechanical keyboards it is more a matter of selecting which key switch characteristics (resistance, push-length, noise, etc) than particular brands.
Of course any good keyboard discussion requires mentioning the IBM Model-M successors from UniComp with distinctive yet potentially annoyingly loud, buckling spring switches.
Get a Matias Quiet Pro. It's a mechanical keyboard and it's pretty quiet. I have the Laptop Pro which uses the same keyswitches. It's so much better than a rubber dome keyboard.
I'm typing this on my favorite keyboard of all time -- the Apple Extended Keyboard II, but it would never be confused with "not bulky." Plus, you have to get an ADB-USB adapter and, at best, the keyboard will be about 20 years old. That said, they're the best keyboards ever made IMHO and, even at 20 years old, mine still types like new. Plus they're pretty quiet for a mechanical keyboard.
I also love the Model Ms from Unicomp, but those definitely aren't quiet.
Having gone through some hand nerve damage over the years I found it useful to have more than 1 keyboard;
having my hands in different positions during the day has proved useful to preventing further problems.
Most of my typing is done on a Unicomp Model M, which is very much an IBM Model M. I type most
reliably there although the I can type longer at the Kinesis models and probably would be almost as fast if there
if I really devoted the effort to it.
I find the clickety-clack of Model M type switches cheerful and I need all the happy thoughts possible when
debugging Ansible scripts.
I probably wouldn't inflict that on people in an open office.
I've used the keytronic lifetime series for a long time (since 1998), and am very happy. They have good travel, but are reasonably quiet. And the "lifetime" part of the name refers to the warranty, which they stand behind, without any attempt get out of it. I use the lifetime trackball, which is ergonomically awesome, but unfortunately uses a mechanical trackball, which means that it doesn't last very long (about a year!!!!). The keyboard part always outlasts the trackball.
I love these "server" keyboards. Great key spacing, good tactile response, doesn't have a ton of wasted space. I'm on my second one in nine years, and that's only because I went to a different company.
What makes the difference in comfort and ergonomics is not so much the keyboard itself, but how you've got it set up, and particularly the wrist rest you use.
I'd recommend getting a "wrist rest platform" (a wrist rest with a platform that extends under the keyboard itself). The benefit over one without a platform is that it's less likely to get pushed away from the keyboard.
You should avoid resting the bottoms of your wrists on a hard surface for long periods of time (especially while typing).
Logitech Wave, I've had a few others at the office switch to it and they've all been very pleased.
+ Last October I bought a Logitech K520 wireless keyboard and an M310 wireless mouse that came with it. Still fine. "Stiff" keyboard action, but that's the way I like it.I changed the mouse battery last week. K/B batts. still going strong, A good combo at a decent price. I'm happy.
Model Ms feel the best to me but are too noisy for most work environments. Topre RealForce (I prefer the 55g version) keyboards are more expensive but feel almost as good (albeit different) and are quiet enough for any office. I use a Model M at home and a Topre RealForce 55g at work and am satisfied with that setup.
Both are extremely well built and will be long-lived. I've been using my Model M since 1984.
Neither is ergonomic, if that matters to you.
Both come in full-size and tenkey-less versions.
You should be aiming this question at forums where people do nothing but ponder keyboards all day, such as the above mentioned Geekhack and Deskthority.
I personally use a Cherry G86 series keyboard. It's pretty nice as rubber domes go, has a width equal to or less than that of any tenkeyless (without actually having to be tenkeyless), and has loads of programmable keys.
If you want something with a nice tactile feel that isn't loud, turn your eye toward something with Topre switches, such as Realforce. They don't come cheap, but they have garnered praise from many keyboard snobs. Basically they're about as good as rubber domes get, which is why you'll pay a mechanical keyboard price for them. I believe Cooler Master even offers a version with Cherry MX compatible stems, if you're into customizing your keys.
How is the Riemann zeta function like Trump rallies? Both have an endless number of trivial zeros.
Max cherry mx brown backlit mx or das keyboard. The max comes with a palm rest.
Check out the Roccat Isku, a relatively decent low-priced gamer keyboard. I got one about a year ago and it's holding up extremely well, has a good feel. It's one of the few non-mechanical gamer keyboards that is pretty decent! Definitely recommend.
I came across this black beauty in an adjunct professor's office years ago. None of the current occupants liked it, preferring whatever plastic Dell keyboard came packed with the PCs at the time, so I gladly scooped it up. Been using it ever since.
Love their keyboards. My only complaint is the white color gets discolored pretty quickly with heavy use. I really prefer black keyboards for this reason.
Go for the Ryos MK pro. I have one at work and two at home and at work I make use of the macros for often-used commands. At work I have the red switch keys for quieter typing, and at home I have the blue switch version (there is no substitute for Cherry MX Blue switches).
I also have a Razer BlackWidow Ultimate at home (blue switches) but I gave Razer a miss when I bought additional keyboards because they stopped using Cherry switches.
The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
Ergo Pro now shipping -- no expense spared to make it the best...
Reviewed here...
A lot of mechanical keyboards lack a numeric keypad. This probably saves them money, but has the side-effect of making the keyboard more mouse-friendly which is easier on your shoulders (get it? "side-effect" ha ha).
I like that about mechanical keyboards. But many people would rather have the numpad.
Seriously, numpads are the bane of everything useful and good in keyboards. Why have that useless piece shit sticking out of the side of the keyboard right where you want the mouse? I'm not joking when I say I will never buy another keyboard that has an attached numpad on the right.
I currently use a Kinesis Maxim but I don't think it's the best keyboard ever. Yes, it has lasted over 12 years but it was really expensive and it's starting to fall apart. Many broken keys and the wrist-rests are completely broken-off and useless at this point.
MS Natural keyboards are nice but they are gigantic with that fucking useless numpad that takes up all your usable desk space. A numpad-less Natural would be really awesome (lol, like MS would ever do that unless it's insecure wireless crap).
The ratio of people to cake is too big
Fellow former G15 user here. I recently switched to Logitech's modern replacement for it: The G910 Orion Spark found here http://gaming.logitech.com/en-.... The design is a bit more ostentatious, but it covers pretty much everything I liked about my old G15, except with a relatively quiet mechanical switch. You can even use a phone to perform the tasks the old G15 screen used to!
I'm not sure which version of the G15 you had, but it's about the same size as the V2 (orange LEDs) and substantially smaller than the behemoth that was the v1 (blue LEDs). I've only had it for a few months now, but I'm not finding any complaints about the build quality.
I have a Ducky Shine 3 TenKeyLess with Cherry MX Brown switches and I concur. It feels as solid as granite. Best keyboard I've owned and since all of the keys are switch-mounted (in some cases like the spacebar, with additional switch-shaped mounts) I find it easier to clean than other mechanical keyboards.
The solidness of the keyboard makes a big difference on noise. TneKeyLess keeps it even more solid. Yes, the Cherry switches "click", but the my girlfriend has commented that her aging Logitech G110 is actually louder to use because it's so loose and rattles so much in comparison.
I thought this article is a really good outline on mechanical keyboards (at least the Cherry MX ones). Mechanical switches don't have to be loud and heavily tactile; something like a Cherry MX Red or Cherry MX Brown is probably well worth you looking at (I'd buy a Brown if/when I have spare funds). You can also get dampeners to make them even quieter. But, even if you choose a switch type, you still have a lot of choices. I would suggest making a list of what you want (as "critical", "want", "might be nice", "don't care", "no way!") - a few ideas:
You could always go nuts and get something like the "Ultimate Hacking Keyboard"! (Worth looking at just to get an idea of some of the more creative ideas in keyboard design).
Google is great for questions like "how do I extract the first numeric string from the output of ps using sed[1] because the network manager applet is a barrel of shite[2] and I want to fucking kill it".
It's not great for finding reliable reviews, largely because 87.3% of reviews that come up through google are shit'n'shills and the other 37.2% are copies of the others.
[1] The answer is probably to use awk, but there you go.
[2] It is. Really.
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
Look on the bright side, if it was a dog it'd be 175 and already dead.
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
After trying an Apple keyboard at work I bought one for home as well.
I've adopted the @/" switch (Even the "British English" keyboard has the US layout) - it does help when writing PHP! I have a keyboard remapper so that ## is turned into £. There's a bit of funkiness with the F-keys as ALT positioning as well, but I've soon adapted. Overall my speed on general typing/coding has improved A LOT. Main benefits are:
1) I'm faster, with less travel in distance between the keys I can move my fingers faster.
2) Perceived effort - they keys are so responsive that hands relax a lot more and it feels like my hands are "dancing" over the keyboard, my old 40-50wpm is closer to 60-70 again.
3) It's no bigger than the "compact" keyboards and yet is as close to the standard IBM layout as you are likely to get. I've looked at a lot in this price range and there are some very small arrow keys on some, or odd home/end/pg up/pg dn arrangements.
For under £50, it's an amazing piece of kit.
P.S. I plan to switch to a Mac of some sort later this year - yes, I know I'm doing this in a back-to-front way :-)
"Apple Keyboard". The ADB keyboard that originally shipped with the SE.. through an ADBUSB converter.. (I'm typing this on a Retina iMac.)
I'm also using a Kensington TurboMouse through the same adapter.
Over the years I have experienced many major spills on electronics, various liquids. The most success I had was with Carbon Tet (toxic! use outside with gloves!) with an almost-100% recovery rate (unless of course components were damaged before power was removed), but a flush with 90% Isopropyl Alcohol can work given enough drying time.
None of my keyboards have ever lasted long enough to wear out, and in the last decade the recovery rate has gone down. I don't know whether it's pin spacing, decreased circuit margins or stuff trapped in tiny spaces, but many a 'pristine' cleaned keyboard was a goner with several keys inoperable or 'latched'.
The Logitech 310 ends all that. It is certainly not the best key action I've had (Cherry!)... but the tradeoff is all the spills (coffee, soda, water) thus far have been easy to clean, it remains operational, no disassembly required. With a spare in the closet, I know I have a keyboard that will keep going indefinitely, or until it wears out.
Yea, you can purchase waterproof keyboards for a pretty penny. Fact is, most keyboards are engineered to suck in liquids like a wick and stop working. This one is reasonably priced. Weather or not you 'like' this keyboard, I encourage everyone to purchase a K310 to at least keep in the closet to use as an emergency spare, and thus reward Logitech for this simple design innovation that battles 'willful' planned obsolescence.
<blink>down the rabbit hole</blink>
I bought a 11.00 dollar keyboard with sculptured keytops, it is excellent. I still use my old IBM keyboard on my second computer
You can purchase a similar keyboard that has the buckle spring action.
The buckle spring keyboard is somewhat noisy, but with it you can type faster and with fewer adjacent key press errors. Search for buckle spring on the WEBB
Leslie Satenstein Montreal Quebec Canada
Of all keyboards I had, this is the one I have liked most. There is also the K811 for Mac.
I have a stockpile of Sun Type-7 Unix keyboards. I cannot type on anything else. IBM should be flogged for moving the CTRL key to below the shift...
Karma: Bad
They come in full-size and mini versions, wired-with-hub and also wireless...
http://www.matias.ca/
I bought a Truly Ergonomic. For "normal" typing it's fine, but for coding it moved too many of the keys around (square brackets, backslash, tilde, etc.) and I found it really hard to get used to.
$300, but your fingers will thank you.
Stop using typewriter keyboards designed in the 1860s! (Don't even get me started on qwerty)
Some people don't like them, but I've been using one for almost half a decade now and I've come to quite like it. Normally I use the one on a MacBook, but you can get them wired and wireless to use with PCs. I like the little wireless one, it has just the keys I need.
--
Marc A. Lepage
Software Developer
M$ Natural 4000 all the way. Convenient and reasonably priced. A lot of people misdiagnose something as CTS, while in reality it could be just a stiff arm or neck or misaligned neck vertebrae or muscles that press on nerves. Trigger point therapy and serious physiotherapy (that sweetly hurts) can do miracles in that case.
Fortune Rota Volvitur
IMHO:
Full size wireless keyboard with Trackpoint ala/Lenovo and three separate mouse buttons with no Trackpad ( save the space on my lap ). Where the Trackpad would be, put a two function keys that change the function of the Trackpoint to do either horizontal or vertical scrolling. Clicking both enables both axes. Three separate mouse buttons is CRUCIAL.
Trackpoint is insufficient for heavy mouse work. However this is a keyboard. If you have heavy mouse work to do, use a wireless mouse or whatever device you want. The keyboard is mainly for typing and navigating through screens - light duty mousing only.
...