Keyboard questions
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I always buy reasonably cheap Logitech keyboards. But if you want the creme de la creme, you need to check out Optimus Maximus keyboard[^]. Or just anything using Cherry switches.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
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My current Lenovo Preferred II USB keyboard is dying (currently my "Del" key sounds funny when I press it) and I've start looking for a replacement. And I have discovered an entire world of craziness... Are mechanical keyboards worth it? If they are, is really that TOPRE thing the best thing in the world? Are you using a full keyboard for your work or you are using a TKL + separate numpad or something different? This seems to be the best thing you can buy[^], but it uses ANSI layout, which is a no go for me (ISO here), but... is that thing worth it? And of course, having almost 15M of programmers and technology enthusiasts at hand... I thought I would ask this here... Thank you all! :beer:
www.robotecnik.com[^] - robots, CNC and PLC programming
Joan M wrote:
Are mechanical keyboards worth it?
Only in that finding a membrane keyboard with a non-adulterated layout is becoming a PITA. Cheap keyboards are increasingly using low travel non-chiclet style laptop designs X| and randomly deciding that you don't really need an insert, or delete, or etc key as much as they need an extra $1/thousand keyboards in profit. :mad: The catch is that all mechanical keyboards are noisy. Even if you get a "silent" (
lies) model; all that means is that it doesn't have a noise maker that goes click every time you depress the key half way; it still will go clack when it bottoms out. I have a non-click model with Cherry Red switches; and even after taking it apart to put rubber o rings as dampers on every key it's still loud enough that I wouldn't use it in a shared space.Joan M wrote:
If they are, is really that TOPRE thing the best thing in the world?
Only if you're going full keyboard dork. Otherwise they're another technology that failed by being absurdly expensive.
Joan M wrote:
Are you using a full keyboard for your work or you are using a TKL + separate numpad or something different?
Full. I also mouse left handed, so the number pad placement is a total non-issue for me.
Joan M wrote:
This seems to be the best thing you can buy[^], but it uses ANSI layout, which is a no go for me (ISO here), but... is that thing worth it?
Tasty koolaid you're drinking there. :rolleyes:
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, weighing all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius Training a telescope on one’s own belly button will only reveal lint. You like that? You go right on staring at it. I prefer looking at galaxies. -- Sarah Hoyt
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Almost forgot, The Original! Unicomp, Inc.[^] Or if you want to impress with your typing ability. Das Keyboard 4 Ultimate Mechanical Keyboard[^]
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
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I use a Unicomp Ultra Classic and love it. It is not a quiet unit but I like the old school clickity-clack for some reason.
If it was good enough for IBM when they were a hardware company...
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
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Personally, I like simple. I've never had a problem with the keyboards with the rubber membranes instead of mechanical keys. If you're used to them, I'd say why bother switching to something more expensive? I know gamers like them, but gamers are an odd bunch anyway. Personally i think they should just have keyboards with only W/A/S/D and a trackball on them, but nobody listens to me. KISS carries the day for me, in almost all things. More to the point - things should be as simple as they can be, and no simpler. A keyboard should be simple, IMO. The fanciest keyboard I have is LED lit because I sleep 4 hours a night so I often work in the dark and while I can touch type, it's nice to have some ambient light on my desk. I only have it though because it came with my PC.
Real programmers use butterflies
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Gamer here. We pretty much use the entire left hand side of the keyboard and the spacebar. It's actually too much sometimes for my old reflexes to remember everything sometimes. :laugh:
I was just teasing. :laugh: I'm a fallout addict myself. otherwise i don't play much, but when i do i use a gamepad. keyboards are for typing, not greasing super mutants, IMO.
Real programmers use butterflies
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My current Lenovo Preferred II USB keyboard is dying (currently my "Del" key sounds funny when I press it) and I've start looking for a replacement. And I have discovered an entire world of craziness... Are mechanical keyboards worth it? If they are, is really that TOPRE thing the best thing in the world? Are you using a full keyboard for your work or you are using a TKL + separate numpad or something different? This seems to be the best thing you can buy[^], but it uses ANSI layout, which is a no go for me (ISO here), but... is that thing worth it? And of course, having almost 15M of programmers and technology enthusiasts at hand... I thought I would ask this here... Thank you all! :beer:
www.robotecnik.com[^] - robots, CNC and PLC programming
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I was just teasing. :laugh: I'm a fallout addict myself. otherwise i don't play much, but when i do i use a gamepad. keyboards are for typing, not greasing super mutants, IMO.
Real programmers use butterflies
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My current Lenovo Preferred II USB keyboard is dying (currently my "Del" key sounds funny when I press it) and I've start looking for a replacement. And I have discovered an entire world of craziness... Are mechanical keyboards worth it? If they are, is really that TOPRE thing the best thing in the world? Are you using a full keyboard for your work or you are using a TKL + separate numpad or something different? This seems to be the best thing you can buy[^], but it uses ANSI layout, which is a no go for me (ISO here), but... is that thing worth it? And of course, having almost 15M of programmers and technology enthusiasts at hand... I thought I would ask this here... Thank you all! :beer:
www.robotecnik.com[^] - robots, CNC and PLC programming
I don't think I'd want to spend that kinda of money on a keyboard without being able to take it for a test spin. Fortunately for me, when I decided to get a new mechanical keyboard I was able to go to a local brick 'n mortar store so I could at least test out the feel of the various mechanical switch types available at the time. That's how I ended up with a SteelSeries Apex 7 with blue cherry switches that I've been very happy with. I'd love to compare the feel of these TOPRE switches, but I doubt there are any locally available to me. If you end up in the same boat, make sure you purchase your new keyboard from somewhere with a liberal return policy!
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My current Lenovo Preferred II USB keyboard is dying (currently my "Del" key sounds funny when I press it) and I've start looking for a replacement. And I have discovered an entire world of craziness... Are mechanical keyboards worth it? If they are, is really that TOPRE thing the best thing in the world? Are you using a full keyboard for your work or you are using a TKL + separate numpad or something different? This seems to be the best thing you can buy[^], but it uses ANSI layout, which is a no go for me (ISO here), but... is that thing worth it? And of course, having almost 15M of programmers and technology enthusiasts at hand... I thought I would ask this here... Thank you all! :beer:
www.robotecnik.com[^] - robots, CNC and PLC programming
Since a few months I have been using the Microsoft Surface Keyboard, WS2-00025, Silver. It is bluetooth, so there is no cable. Other things I like about it are: it takes up very little space: 4.5" front to back, and 16.5" left to right. it is very low: 1/4" in the front, 3/4" in the back, so it is easy on my hands keys have sufficient resistance
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My current Lenovo Preferred II USB keyboard is dying (currently my "Del" key sounds funny when I press it) and I've start looking for a replacement. And I have discovered an entire world of craziness... Are mechanical keyboards worth it? If they are, is really that TOPRE thing the best thing in the world? Are you using a full keyboard for your work or you are using a TKL + separate numpad or something different? This seems to be the best thing you can buy[^], but it uses ANSI layout, which is a no go for me (ISO here), but... is that thing worth it? And of course, having almost 15M of programmers and technology enthusiasts at hand... I thought I would ask this here... Thank you all! :beer:
www.robotecnik.com[^] - robots, CNC and PLC programming
This keyboard is less expensive and it has a wireless mouse Why wireless for me I have an abundant amount of static electricity fried one computer ages ago This keyboard never misses a beat and takes a beating only complaint is the letter "E" is disappearing Price US $70.00 it seems to be out of stock so that tells us where it is made
Kensington Pro Fit Wireless Comfort Desktop Set Ergonomic Keyboard and Mouse Combo, Black (K72403US)
https://www.staples.com/Kensington-K72403USS-USB-Wireless-Optical-Comfort-Desktop-Set-Black/product_IM1LL9151?ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=IM1LL9151&KPID=IM1LL9151&cid=PS:GS:SBD:PLA:Paper&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8-36pIXJ7gIVq1PVCh3HVgn6EAQYAiABEgIWW_D_BwE[^]
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Fair enough, lol. I rarely do any work on my home keyboard which is a Corsair mechanical without the 10 keypad. I would die without that on my work keyboard. :-D
I use a mechanical ten keyless keyboard (Cooler Master Quickfire) on all my home computers. Also, I don't think I've ever come across an instance when I used the 10 key pad at work (retired now). I vaguely remember having a game decades ago that used the keypad but that's about it.
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I use a mechanical ten keyless keyboard (Cooler Master Quickfire) on all my home computers. Also, I don't think I've ever come across an instance when I used the 10 key pad at work (retired now). I vaguely remember having a game decades ago that used the keypad but that's about it.
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I learned 10 key when I was younger so it's old habit for me whenever I have to enter numbers.
Yeah, old habits are hard to break. In Windows I still use WordStar control sequences when editing text. I remapped my keyboard to put the control key back to it's original position (where the capslock key is) and wrote an AutoHotkey script to use Wordstar control sequences in all the editors/IDEs/word processors that I use. Heh, nobody I know can use my editors unless they disable the script!
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My current Lenovo Preferred II USB keyboard is dying (currently my "Del" key sounds funny when I press it) and I've start looking for a replacement. And I have discovered an entire world of craziness... Are mechanical keyboards worth it? If they are, is really that TOPRE thing the best thing in the world? Are you using a full keyboard for your work or you are using a TKL + separate numpad or something different? This seems to be the best thing you can buy[^], but it uses ANSI layout, which is a no go for me (ISO here), but... is that thing worth it? And of course, having almost 15M of programmers and technology enthusiasts at hand... I thought I would ask this here... Thank you all! :beer:
www.robotecnik.com[^] - robots, CNC and PLC programming
Haven't read other replies but, Keyboards are personal choice, I prefer the old Dell keyboards from about 10 years ago! my previous employer was binning a load as we 'upgraded' to Lenovo PC's (which is a story in it's self! Quality Control?), I grabbed about 5 or 8, two have since bitten the dust. The others fine. Why?, simple, the keys feel like a typewriter which I learned to type on as my hand-writing was awful due to an injury I had to type school assignments (before my Amiga got a printer).:thumbsup:
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Almost forgot, The Original! Unicomp, Inc.[^] Or if you want to impress with your typing ability. Das Keyboard 4 Ultimate Mechanical Keyboard[^]
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
I have three of the Das Keyboard 4 Pros: Das
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My current Lenovo Preferred II USB keyboard is dying (currently my "Del" key sounds funny when I press it) and I've start looking for a replacement. And I have discovered an entire world of craziness... Are mechanical keyboards worth it? If they are, is really that TOPRE thing the best thing in the world? Are you using a full keyboard for your work or you are using a TKL + separate numpad or something different? This seems to be the best thing you can buy[^], but it uses ANSI layout, which is a no go for me (ISO here), but... is that thing worth it? And of course, having almost 15M of programmers and technology enthusiasts at hand... I thought I would ask this here... Thank you all! :beer:
www.robotecnik.com[^] - robots, CNC and PLC programming
It's not exactly easy to get used to but my RSI issues improved quite a bit after I switched to an Ergodox EZ. I haven't tried to go too crazy with customizing the layout but it's noticeably less comfortable to type on a regular keyboard now and I can't see going back to one for regular use. YMMV.
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My current Lenovo Preferred II USB keyboard is dying (currently my "Del" key sounds funny when I press it) and I've start looking for a replacement. And I have discovered an entire world of craziness... Are mechanical keyboards worth it? If they are, is really that TOPRE thing the best thing in the world? Are you using a full keyboard for your work or you are using a TKL + separate numpad or something different? This seems to be the best thing you can buy[^], but it uses ANSI layout, which is a no go for me (ISO here), but... is that thing worth it? And of course, having almost 15M of programmers and technology enthusiasts at hand... I thought I would ask this here... Thank you all! :beer:
www.robotecnik.com[^] - robots, CNC and PLC programming
Well, in most cases, if you are asking the question ... probably not. In my own case absolutely. I am currently using a Razer Blackwidow Chroma with green keys. Short of an IBM model M keyboard it's the best thing I have used. I like clicky switches with tactile feedback. Questions to ask (and possible answers): * Do you like silent fairly silent keyboards? (if you do - then IBM model M, Unicomp or anything with a blue or green switch is not for you). * Do you like tactile feedback (So you can feel a key is depressed before it bottoms out)? If so - blue, green, brown and Model M style keys offer this. To a lesser extent - lighter keypress, and more quiet action - but still with feedback Romer-G from logitech. * Do you want to use the keyboard for gaming? (Mechanical switches are recognized as better for gaming because the key does not have to bottom out to register, which enables you to press the keys much faster. How much faster - I'm not a high end gamer - but I can notice the difference). Definitely avoid an IBM model M for games. * Do you like a light action, or are a heavy typist? (Some people claim that heavier keys make them tired after a day of typing. The IBM model M has among the heaviest key presses, and the strongest feedback. Logitech Keyboards with the Romer-G switches are among the lightest). Other than that - my only recommendation would be to try a few out and see how you feel. Often in places like Harvey Norman (in Aust.) and other chain tech stores they have a few left out that you can try. Paul.
