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Keyboard recommendations

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  • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

    I've gone through 4 of these [^] over the last few years and after about a year the keys start sticking and get worse quickly. Looking for an inexpensive mechanical keyboard! Something like an abacus but with more keys. :)

    They call me different but the truth is they're all the same! JaxCoder.com

    OriginalGriffO Offline
    OriginalGriffO Offline
    OriginalGriff
    wrote on last edited by
    #6

    That surprises me, I had a Logi K/B for five or so years without problems - it replaced a fifteen+ year old "really cheap" k/b I bought with my first "real" PC (i.e. with a 486 processor). And I only replaced that because Herself complained I'd worn the legend off nearly all the keytops and she couldn't work out what letter was where ... Currently using a MS 600, and it's not too bad at all: good travel and the feel is ok, if a little noisy. "A" and "S" are unreadable already though, and it's only a few years old (maybe four?) The one I'd like is The Datamancer "Seafarer" Keyboard[^] but I'll leave it in the shop for the moment.

    "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

    "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
    "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

    D Mike HankeyM A 3 Replies Last reply
    0
    • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

      I've gone through 4 of these [^] over the last few years and after about a year the keys start sticking and get worse quickly. Looking for an inexpensive mechanical keyboard! Something like an abacus but with more keys. :)

      They call me different but the truth is they're all the same! JaxCoder.com

      R Offline
      R Offline
      RickZeeland
      wrote on last edited by
      #7

      This seems like a sturdy one, I prefer keyboards without a numeric keypad but that might not be everyone's taste: gaming-keyboards-without-a-number-pad~hyper-x-alloy-fps-pro[^] :-\

      1 Reply Last reply
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      • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

        That surprises me, I had a Logi K/B for five or so years without problems - it replaced a fifteen+ year old "really cheap" k/b I bought with my first "real" PC (i.e. with a 486 processor). And I only replaced that because Herself complained I'd worn the legend off nearly all the keytops and she couldn't work out what letter was where ... Currently using a MS 600, and it's not too bad at all: good travel and the feel is ok, if a little noisy. "A" and "S" are unreadable already though, and it's only a few years old (maybe four?) The one I'd like is The Datamancer "Seafarer" Keyboard[^] but I'll leave it in the shop for the moment.

        "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

        D Offline
        D Offline
        dandy72
        wrote on last edited by
        #8

        OriginalGriff wrote:

        "A" and "S" are unreadable already though

        Mine has that problem with the 'C' key. Sheesh, I'm not that much of a copy/paste programmer...(well, at least apparently I copy more than I paste...)

        OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

          That surprises me, I had a Logi K/B for five or so years without problems - it replaced a fifteen+ year old "really cheap" k/b I bought with my first "real" PC (i.e. with a 486 processor). And I only replaced that because Herself complained I'd worn the legend off nearly all the keytops and she couldn't work out what letter was where ... Currently using a MS 600, and it's not too bad at all: good travel and the feel is ok, if a little noisy. "A" and "S" are unreadable already though, and it's only a few years old (maybe four?) The one I'd like is The Datamancer "Seafarer" Keyboard[^] but I'll leave it in the shop for the moment.

          "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

          Mike HankeyM Offline
          Mike HankeyM Offline
          Mike Hankey
          wrote on last edited by
          #9

          I like the keyboard but they just don't last long, a year maybe 1-1/2 for me. I used an old IBM for years but switched to this one because it was wireless. I just want oee that will last a while. The thing that most PMO is when I go to copy the ctrl-C works sometimes and not others so I end up going back and re-copying when I find that there;s nothing to paste.

          OriginalGriff wrote:

          The one I'd like is The Datamancer "Seafarer" Keyboard[^] but I'll leave it in the shop for the moment.

          Ah yeah I'll leave that one as well!

          They call me different but the truth is they're all the same! JaxCoder.com

          J 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

            I've gone through 4 of these [^] over the last few years and after about a year the keys start sticking and get worse quickly. Looking for an inexpensive mechanical keyboard! Something like an abacus but with more keys. :)

            They call me different but the truth is they're all the same! JaxCoder.com

            M Offline
            M Offline
            Maximilien
            wrote on last edited by
            #10

            I've been using a mechanical [Code](https://codekeyboards.com/) keyboard for many years now. I'm happy with it; it has a good feel to it, and the keys are illuminated (white only) Couple of keys are worn out (left control key and "a" key); but nothing to type home about.

            I'd rather be phishing!

            1 Reply Last reply
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            • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

              I've gone through 4 of these [^] over the last few years and after about a year the keys start sticking and get worse quickly. Looking for an inexpensive mechanical keyboard! Something like an abacus but with more keys. :)

              They call me different but the truth is they're all the same! JaxCoder.com

              R Offline
              R Offline
              Ravi Bhavnani
              wrote on last edited by
              #11

              I use a Dell QuietKey[^] .  They're built like tanks and work well.  :cool: /ravi

              My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

              Mike HankeyM 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • R Ravi Bhavnani

                I use a Dell QuietKey[^] .  They're built like tanks and work well.  :cool: /ravi

                My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

                Mike HankeyM Offline
                Mike HankeyM Offline
                Mike Hankey
                wrote on last edited by
                #12

                Thanks Ravi, that one looks pretty good. Got a bunch of good responses now just have to decide on the one I want to order.

                They call me different but the truth is they're all the same! JaxCoder.com

                1 Reply Last reply
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                • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

                  I've gone through 4 of these [^] over the last few years and after about a year the keys start sticking and get worse quickly. Looking for an inexpensive mechanical keyboard! Something like an abacus but with more keys. :)

                  They call me different but the truth is they're all the same! JaxCoder.com

                  C Offline
                  C Offline
                  CodeWraith
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #13
                  1. Take an old keyboard, tear out the encoder and the cable. Throw the rest away. 2) Buy a sufficient number of cherry keyboard switches of your choice. There are quite a few types. harder, softer, with or without a 'click'. 3) 3D print a 'tray' with square openings to mount the switches in, with the proper layout of course. 4) Wire up the keyboard switches and the encoder on the underside of the 'tray. 5) Buy or 3D print keycaps and put them onto the switches. Now you already should have a functioning keyboard. 6) Design and 3D print a case, mount the 'tray and the encoder inside. Done. Some fine sandpaper, spraypaint, decals (especially for the keycaps) and a coat of clear paint to protect the decals can work wonders for the appearance.

                  I have lived with several Zen masters - all of them were cats. His last invention was an evil Lasagna. It didn't kill anyone, and it actually tasted pretty good.

                  1 Reply Last reply
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                  • D dandy72

                    OriginalGriff wrote:

                    "A" and "S" are unreadable already though

                    Mine has that problem with the 'C' key. Sheesh, I'm not that much of a copy/paste programmer...(well, at least apparently I copy more than I paste...)

                    OriginalGriffO Offline
                    OriginalGriffO Offline
                    OriginalGriff
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #14

                    I'm being charitable with myself and assuming the "S" is because I save too much. :-D

                    "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

                    "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                    "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

                      I like the keyboard but they just don't last long, a year maybe 1-1/2 for me. I used an old IBM for years but switched to this one because it was wireless. I just want oee that will last a while. The thing that most PMO is when I go to copy the ctrl-C works sometimes and not others so I end up going back and re-copying when I find that there;s nothing to paste.

                      OriginalGriff wrote:

                      The one I'd like is The Datamancer "Seafarer" Keyboard[^] but I'll leave it in the shop for the moment.

                      Ah yeah I'll leave that one as well!

                      They call me different but the truth is they're all the same! JaxCoder.com

                      J Offline
                      J Offline
                      Jorgen Andersson
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #15

                      I have the same experience a Griff. So I counted backwards and realized that my logitech Internet keyboard 350 is eight years old. Pity the letters are printed on the keys, because my s and a aren't that readable either.

                      Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

                        I've gone through 4 of these [^] over the last few years and after about a year the keys start sticking and get worse quickly. Looking for an inexpensive mechanical keyboard! Something like an abacus but with more keys. :)

                        They call me different but the truth is they're all the same! JaxCoder.com

                        Sander RosselS Offline
                        Sander RosselS Offline
                        Sander Rossel
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #16

                        I replaced my first keyboard from 1996 just last year :D It still works, but it's quite dirty and my cleaner broke a key somehow. I'm now using a Microsoft wired keyboard 600[^] and I have a feeling this one will last me another 20 years :D

                        Best, Sander sanderrossel.com Continuous Integration, Delivery, and Deployment arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

                          I've gone through 4 of these [^] over the last few years and after about a year the keys start sticking and get worse quickly. Looking for an inexpensive mechanical keyboard! Something like an abacus but with more keys. :)

                          They call me different but the truth is they're all the same! JaxCoder.com

                          K Offline
                          K Offline
                          kmoorevs
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #17

                          I still favor my 20+ y/o HP that I got with my very first Windows system back in '98. I take it apart every few years and give a good cleaning. So far, it's been one keyboard for my entire coding career! :)

                          "Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

                            I've gone through 4 of these [^] over the last few years and after about a year the keys start sticking and get worse quickly. Looking for an inexpensive mechanical keyboard! Something like an abacus but with more keys. :)

                            They call me different but the truth is they're all the same! JaxCoder.com

                            M Offline
                            M Offline
                            M Vo
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #18

                            Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard. Takes some time until you get used to it, but then it's much better for your health. And I use it daily, and it is about 15 years old, still no problems (okay, except for some dirt ;-)).

                            M 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

                              I've gone through 4 of these [^] over the last few years and after about a year the keys start sticking and get worse quickly. Looking for an inexpensive mechanical keyboard! Something like an abacus but with more keys. :)

                              They call me different but the truth is they're all the same! JaxCoder.com

                              G Offline
                              G Offline
                              GenJerDan
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #19

                              I just bought a Rosewill RK-6000 with Cherry Blue keys for $65. But Black Friday is over, so it's probably back up to $100 now. I had one before, but I got overzealous with the cleaning and put it into a coma.

                              We won't sit down. We won't shut up. We won't go quietly away. YouTube, VidMe and My Mu[sic], Films and Windows Programs, etc. and FB

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

                                I've gone through 4 of these [^] over the last few years and after about a year the keys start sticking and get worse quickly. Looking for an inexpensive mechanical keyboard! Something like an abacus but with more keys. :)

                                They call me different but the truth is they're all the same! JaxCoder.com

                                K Offline
                                K Offline
                                kalberts
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #20

                                I have been using wireless Logitech mice and keyboards for 20+ years - they were the first quality brand to offer wireless keyboards, which to me is essential. It is an undisputable fact that wireless mice more easily fall to the floor than cabled ones. I still can't understand how Logitech manages to make things that still function flawlessly year after year of almost daily falling down on a stone floor. Logitech makes quality components. Any keyboard gets sticky keys after a while, at least in my working environment and with my sweating fingers. So every now and then, I flip all the keytops off, put them into one of these string bags made for keeping sock pairs together in your washing machine. The bag with the keytops, I put it in the dishwasher (make sure to place the bag so that it isn't washed down onto the heating element!). The keys come out shiny and black and lots of water in small openings on the underside; it takes several hours, usually overnight, in front of a fan to make all the water evaporate. While the keytops are being washed/dried, I brush out the keyboard "bed" with a discarded toothbrush. If you have never flipped off the keytops, you'll probably get shocked by what you can find there! With the keytops off, you can also far more easily clean the top surfaces of the keyboard, between the groups of keys. I do this sort of cleaning "whenever needed" - I guess the average would be around once a year. It takes some effort, but afterwards, the keyboard is as good as a new one, at zero cost. And the keyboard is familiar: No need to re-train your fingers to modified positions of functions keys etc. The mechanical stroke provides the familiar feedback. The keytops have the same curvature or flatness as you are used to. I hate changing keyboards!

                                Mike HankeyM 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • K kalberts

                                  I have been using wireless Logitech mice and keyboards for 20+ years - they were the first quality brand to offer wireless keyboards, which to me is essential. It is an undisputable fact that wireless mice more easily fall to the floor than cabled ones. I still can't understand how Logitech manages to make things that still function flawlessly year after year of almost daily falling down on a stone floor. Logitech makes quality components. Any keyboard gets sticky keys after a while, at least in my working environment and with my sweating fingers. So every now and then, I flip all the keytops off, put them into one of these string bags made for keeping sock pairs together in your washing machine. The bag with the keytops, I put it in the dishwasher (make sure to place the bag so that it isn't washed down onto the heating element!). The keys come out shiny and black and lots of water in small openings on the underside; it takes several hours, usually overnight, in front of a fan to make all the water evaporate. While the keytops are being washed/dried, I brush out the keyboard "bed" with a discarded toothbrush. If you have never flipped off the keytops, you'll probably get shocked by what you can find there! With the keytops off, you can also far more easily clean the top surfaces of the keyboard, between the groups of keys. I do this sort of cleaning "whenever needed" - I guess the average would be around once a year. It takes some effort, but afterwards, the keyboard is as good as a new one, at zero cost. And the keyboard is familiar: No need to re-train your fingers to modified positions of functions keys etc. The mechanical stroke provides the familiar feedback. The keytops have the same curvature or flatness as you are used to. I hate changing keyboards!

                                  Mike HankeyM Offline
                                  Mike HankeyM Offline
                                  Mike Hankey
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #21

                                  Thanks for the tip, I will try that!

                                  They call me different but the truth is they're all the same! JaxCoder.com

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

                                    I've gone through 4 of these [^] over the last few years and after about a year the keys start sticking and get worse quickly. Looking for an inexpensive mechanical keyboard! Something like an abacus but with more keys. :)

                                    They call me different but the truth is they're all the same! JaxCoder.com

                                    S Offline
                                    S Offline
                                    Stuart Dootson
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #22

                                    I've got two (one for home, one for work) - I use a [Filco Majestouch 2 with Cherry-MX Browns](https://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/uk-filco-majestouch-2-nkr-tactile-action-keyboard.asp) at work, which is very nice, and an Aukey keyboard (like [this one](https://www.amazon.co.uk/AUKEY-Mechanical-Keyboard-Anti-ghosting-Resistant/dp/B071HBFN2T), but without the key backlighting) which, for £35 (about $45) is an absolute bargain. The Filco one is better made, I'm sure, but the Aukey one will also take years of use & abuse...

                                    Java, Basic, who cares - it's all a bunch of tree-hugging hippy cr*p

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • M M Vo

                                      Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard. Takes some time until you get used to it, but then it's much better for your health. And I use it daily, and it is about 15 years old, still no problems (okay, except for some dirt ;-)).

                                      M Offline
                                      M Offline
                                      Member 10677024
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #23

                                      I have had one of these for about the same time and agree with M.Vo

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

                                        I've gone through 4 of these [^] over the last few years and after about a year the keys start sticking and get worse quickly. Looking for an inexpensive mechanical keyboard! Something like an abacus but with more keys. :)

                                        They call me different but the truth is they're all the same! JaxCoder.com

                                        M Offline
                                        M Offline
                                        MKJCP
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #24

                                        I use a buckling spring keyboard from Unicomp. I like the old clickity-clack and feel. Heavy-duty. Feels like you could hammer nails with it. https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/UB40P4A

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

                                          I've gone through 4 of these [^] over the last few years and after about a year the keys start sticking and get worse quickly. Looking for an inexpensive mechanical keyboard! Something like an abacus but with more keys. :)

                                          They call me different but the truth is they're all the same! JaxCoder.com

                                          S Offline
                                          S Offline
                                          SpiritualMadMan
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #25

                                          This is the one I am using after my Saitek died. It even came with extra key switches and a tool to help swap them out. It's a gamers keyboard so they expect some keys to get worn out... It is clackity clack, though and that was the only thing I miss about the newer membrane keyboards.

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