Keyboards?

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JHZR2

JHZR2

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Recommendations for computer keyboards? Dont want anything fancy, no volume, no macro buttons to launch programs or software, etc. Just a regular keyboard that is good for typing without fatigue.

Not sure there is a big difference, Ive heard that there are some really good mechanical keyboards, but Ive never given anything much thought. Recommendations?
 
My wife kept spinning wine on ours. We ended up buying a Labtec from Radioshack, It has volume control and a whole bunch of stuff we don't use.
It was under $15, and IS water proof.
We have had it 4 years now, and no sticky keys
thumbsup2.gif
 
Anyone use these das keyboards with the hard buttons? Some seem to swoon over them, I have typed on old keyboards and typewriters, as well as membrane keyboards and everything in between. Not sure I have a preference.
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Anyone use these das keyboards with the hard buttons? Some seem to swoon over them, I have typed on old keyboards and typewriters, as well as membrane keyboards and everything in between. Not sure I have a preference.


My Natural is at least 8 years old, I type >100wpm, and it has seen a LOT of use. Most of the asdf row no longer has visible letters, but it still works perfectly fine
21.gif
 
I have big hands and don't have much trouble keeping a .45 semi auto under control, even with "military" loads. I wish I could find a keyboard with slightly wider than standard spacing. Not a clutz, I build 1/48 scale models for relaxation, as well as tinker with 1/8 watt electronic components.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
This was a good thread on keyboards...

I'm still using the same one that I had when I got my AT (really)

Bill


Yeah, saw that thread... And for me it is too late for keeping stuff that old... unfortunately.

Im still not sold on wanting/needing mechanical/curved/flat/etc. I have no arthritis, CTS, etc., and want to keep it that way. I also share an office, so on the rare occasion that were both there, if I got a mechanical one, wouldnt want to drive the other person crazy.

The biggest issue is that I cant even go someplace and touch one in a store at this point, and it is a lep of faith to just go buy one for $100+ that I may end up not liking.

I wonder if my Dell Quiet Key from 2001 is mechancial... It is only PS2 though. Ill want to run this on laptops...
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
This was a good thread on keyboards...

I'm still using the same one that I had when I got my AT (really)

Bill


Yeah, saw that thread... And for me it is too late for keeping stuff that old... unfortunately.

Im still not sold on wanting/needing mechanical/curved/flat/etc. I have no arthritis, CTS, etc., and want to keep it that way. I also share an office, so on the rare occasion that were both there, if I got a mechanical one, wouldnt want to drive the other person crazy.

The biggest issue is that I cant even go someplace and touch one in a store at this point, and it is a lep of faith to just go buy one for $100+ that I may end up not liking.

I wonder if my Dell Quiet Key from 2001 is mechancial... It is only PS2 though. Ill want to run this on laptops...


Quiet key? Nope. It is either scizzor switch or membrane. Mechanical switches have a much better feel than membrane do, and they are also easier and less effort to type on, because you don't have to fully depress the keys to make them register, you learn to only puh lightly. Plus the feel is more linear. Cherry MX Browns have a slight detent at point of activation, which you don't feel as you are typing faster, and are quiet- less the sound of bottoming out the keys.

Cherry MX Blues are similar to browns with a little more detent, and they have extra clickyness at point of activation. Reds are completely linear, no detent at all. Blacks are similar to reds, but have more resistance iirc. I personally like Browns the best, and one way or the other typing on them is more comfortable and easier on my hands and wrists than a membrane keyboard.
 
Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
I'm still using the same one that I had when I got my AT (really)

I wish I had been smart enough to hang onto something like that!


I still have mine, but prefer the ergo split, so I never use it.
 
Originally Posted By: Nick R
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
This was a good thread on keyboards...

I'm still using the same one that I had when I got my AT (really)

Bill


Yeah, saw that thread... And for me it is too late for keeping stuff that old... unfortunately.

Im still not sold on wanting/needing mechanical/curved/flat/etc. I have no arthritis, CTS, etc., and want to keep it that way. I also share an office, so on the rare occasion that were both there, if I got a mechanical one, wouldnt want to drive the other person crazy.

The biggest issue is that I cant even go someplace and touch one in a store at this point, and it is a lep of faith to just go buy one for $100+ that I may end up not liking.

I wonder if my Dell Quiet Key from 2001 is mechancial... It is only PS2 though. Ill want to run this on laptops...


Quiet key? Nope. It is either scizzor switch or membrane. Mechanical switches have a much better feel than membrane do, and they are also easier and less effort to type on, because you don't have to fully depress the keys to make them register, you learn to only puh lightly. Plus the feel is more linear. Cherry MX Browns have a slight detent at point of activation, which you don't feel as you are typing faster, and are quiet- less the sound of bottoming out the keys.

Cherry MX Blues are similar to browns with a little more detent, and they have extra clickyness at point of activation. Reds are completely linear, no detent at all. Blacks are similar to reds, but have more resistance iirc. I personally like Browns the best, and one way or the other typing on them is more comfortable and easier on my hands and wrists than a membrane keyboard.


Good stuff. Though unicomp has those buckling spring variants that are supposed to be even better...
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Nick R
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
This was a good thread on keyboards...

I'm still using the same one that I had when I got my AT (really)

Bill


Yeah, saw that thread... And for me it is too late for keeping stuff that old... unfortunately.

Im still not sold on wanting/needing mechanical/curved/flat/etc. I have no arthritis, CTS, etc., and want to keep it that way. I also share an office, so on the rare occasion that were both there, if I got a mechanical one, wouldnt want to drive the other person crazy.

The biggest issue is that I cant even go someplace and touch one in a store at this point, and it is a lep of faith to just go buy one for $100+ that I may end up not liking.

I wonder if my Dell Quiet Key from 2001 is mechancial... It is only PS2 though. Ill want to run this on laptops...


Quiet key? Nope. It is either scizzor switch or membrane. Mechanical switches have a much better feel than membrane do, and they are also easier and less effort to type on, because you don't have to fully depress the keys to make them register, you learn to only puh lightly. Plus the feel is more linear. Cherry MX Browns have a slight detent at point of activation, which you don't feel as you are typing faster, and are quiet- less the sound of bottoming out the keys.

Cherry MX Blues are similar to browns with a little more detent, and they have extra clickyness at point of activation. Reds are completely linear, no detent at all. Blacks are similar to reds, but have more resistance iirc. I personally like Browns the best, and one way or the other typing on them is more comfortable and easier on my hands and wrists than a membrane keyboard.


Good stuff. Though unicomp has those buckling spring variants that are supposed to be even better...


I know a few people who swear by buckling spring IBM Model Ms and the modern variant by unicomp. Personally those are a little too noisy for me.
 
I have one of the Unicomp Model Ms - I got it on Ebay (NIB) for $20. It's a German layout.

It is louder and "clackier" feeling than the real Model M. I like mechanical keyboards, but this is a cheap clacky.

I have 4 "real" Model Ms, 1 Unicomp, 2 or 3 that are NOT mecanical. I also have a handful of the compaq trackball keyboards. THey're nice but a bit awkward for layout.

At work I switch between a Keytronic KT800 or a Microsoft Keybaord 400
 
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