Ask Slashdot: What Kind of Keyboard Do You Use With Your Computer and Why?

An anonymous reader writes: Hello all. I am looking to buy a good mechanical keyboard for my everyday usage — programming and writing. I see some good offers on certain keyboards -- thanks to Black Friday deals. Just this week, Razer launched what looks like a good mechanical keyboard for people who are looking for a budget gear. One of the issues I have come across looking for a good keyboard is how most of them are designed for Windows OS by default. (I know you can customize keys, but.)

Slashdot has run keyboard discussion posts in the past -- the best laptop with best keyboard, greatest keyboard ever made, and quest to find a good keyboard , but I don't see any recent story on this. I was curious to know what kind of keyboard you use and why did you choose the one you have?

Comments

Daskeyboard Prime 13

[Michael64b]

https://www.daskeyboard.com/p/... - minimalist and white backlight.

Simple

[freeze128]

What keyboard do I use?

Wired.

It's just a dell keyboard that came with the computer. It doesn't have clicky switches, or RGB LEDs, or music navigation buttons, or a volume control, or even the power/sleep/suspend keys. It's just a keyboard.

Why?

Security. Simplicity. Availability. Affordability.

My requirements for a keyboard? It needs to have an ENTER key that is NOT shaped like an "L", and the backslash should be placed just above the ENTER key.

Plug

[ElizabethGreene]

Logitech deserves a look for their Unifying line of wireless kit. They have been incredibly reliable for me, latency low enough that I don't notice them, and the batteries last forever.

Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro from 1999

[JakFrost]

I am still using the old Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro from 1999 both at home and at work through the PS/2 connector event thought it has USB also. I used the original Microsoft Natural Keyboard from 1994 before that but I had to switch it for some reason or another and that one had the old large AT connector on it. My next one is most likely going to be the 4000 or 7000 model depending on which one I find when one of these breaks.

I still have the Elite version of the keyboard given to me by a friend as a backup for my media center PC when I need to fix the thing after Linux goes nuts on it once in a blue moon or thrice a decade.

Ergonomics

I like the ergonomic split angle design and the convex shape of the key plane with a nice wide wrist rest and natural angle for my wrists towards my forearms and elbows which rest on the arm-rests. It just seems natural towards the body's posture versus trying to bend your wrists outwards to type. I'm a wide shouldered person at over 6-feet tall who lifts weights and has developed shoulders with thick forearms and upper arms so having some space and being able to spread my arms away from my body to type is a must.

Cleaning

I clean this keyboard twice or thrice a decade also whenever it gets disgusting enough or in case something gets spilled into it, which is so rare after so many years of developing muscle memory of avoiding drinks on the right side of the keyboard where the mouse is and most of the movements take place. Drinks and water only on the left side has worked for me for 3-decades of keyboard usage.

Mechanical vs Membrane

I've been following up and reading stories on the trend of mechanical keyboards with their cherry keys of different colors and resistance levels and better controllers that prevented key ghosting and allows more keys to be pressed at the same time and I didn't care for any of that marketing hog-wash even through I used to play fast twitch FPS games back in the old days of Doom, Quake 1 & 3, and all the modern shooters.

I've had co-workers exalt the benefits to me of mechanical switches over membranes and the amazing original IBM Model M keyboard design but I don't see or feel the benefits. It seems like just another fad and skipped it. All of those keyboards also lacked an ergonomical angled split design and were designed for WASD games whereas I'm an ESDF gamer for the movement keys.

IBM Model M

I used the original IBM Model M in my youth at libraries or in school and I did not like it because of the height of the keys, concave slope of the key plane, the force required to depress the keys, and the very loud and annoying clacking sound that the keys made. Also the gap between the keys and the housing was so large that it sucked dirt and debris in so easily.

I'm not sure why people like it but then again the fad of the Hipsters liking old stuff just because it's old so that they can be unique unicorns that are misunderstood about their coolness due to rarity is also something that I don't get nor understand, I'm guess I'm too old after my 4-decades here.

Matias Tactile Pro

[fyngyrz]

I presently use a Matias Tactile Pro 4.

Pros:

o Normal key travel depth means typing skills apply without relearning
o Positive "click" clearly indicates success of keystrokes — uses Alps mechanical keyswitches.
o N-key rollover — doesn't lose keystrokes.
o Has OS X keys where they should be.
o Nicely marked with option-key and other uncommon characters.
o Durability is high (I type a lot and these last longer than anything else I've tried.)
o Dual USB ports, very convenient at times.
o Nicely symmetrical shift, control, alt/option and command keys.
o Properly shielded cabling, keeps RFI low (I do a lot of radio work.)
o Sculpted keytops — aids in keeping fingertips where they belong
o Excellent build quality — case, feet, keys, cabling, connectors, jacks.
o Laser-etched keytops provide excellent legend durability.
o Actually has an ESC key. And proper function keys. 18 of them. :)
o Has a numeric pad.
o White with dark key legends: very easy to see, which I need when not typing on the conventional keys.
o No batteries to wear out — it's powered through its USB cable.
o No connection issues — communicates with the computer over USB.
o Available in US, UK, German and Japanese layouts. I use a US layout version, it's great.

Cons:

o Price: They're presently about $150.00, US. To me, absolutely worth it, but that's in the "ouch" range.
o Keys are not illuminated - I really, really wish they were. I prefer a darker room.
o Difficult to clean (I've no suggestions here, it's just an observation.)
o Although durability is far better than anything else I've tried, these still last me only about a year. Could be better. I think what usually happens is the keyswitches come loose from the printed circuit board underneath, a conclusion I have drawn based on the behavior of the intermittent keypresses.

And...

I have to emphasize that I type a lot. About eight to ten hours a day, at about 65 WPM in long bursts (sometimes several hours at a time.) I suspect that for most people, these keyboards would last a very long time.