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  3. I have retired my MS keyboard, after a short life.

I have retired my MS keyboard, after a short life.

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  • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

    It didn't last long - the keytops were wearing away really quickly, 'A', 'S'. 'CTRL', 'SHIFT', '->', and '<-' were gone completely, and many others were only readable if you knew what they started out as. And when Dij pushed my coffee into it ... it was time for a change. And last months discussion lead me to ... a DAS Keyboard 4 (MX Blue). And it's lovely. All clicky and feedbacky, the key legends look like they'll last and the think exudes quality - from the moment you pick it up and realise it's made of actual metal instead of cheap plastic. I find myself stroking the volume control, it just feels so good. My only criticism is the LED's: my word but they are bright! If you lean forward at the wrong angle you get a "blind spot" in your vision for a few minutes, and if you turn the lights out you get a blue circle on the ceiling bright enough to read the keyboard legends by ... :laugh: I'm back to cherry switches again: my first lasted me over 20 years, and it was a cheapy! This isn't, not even close - I've never spent this much on a keyboard before. Worth it though - so "Thank you" to everyone who recommended the company last month! :thumbsup:

    "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 AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

    P Offline
    P Offline
    PIEBALDconsult
    wrote on last edited by
    #2

    I wish I could find more information about the DEC LK471-A2 -- when released etc. It's a very nice keyboard, has been serving me well for some years now.

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

      It didn't last long - the keytops were wearing away really quickly, 'A', 'S'. 'CTRL', 'SHIFT', '->', and '<-' were gone completely, and many others were only readable if you knew what they started out as. And when Dij pushed my coffee into it ... it was time for a change. And last months discussion lead me to ... a DAS Keyboard 4 (MX Blue). And it's lovely. All clicky and feedbacky, the key legends look like they'll last and the think exudes quality - from the moment you pick it up and realise it's made of actual metal instead of cheap plastic. I find myself stroking the volume control, it just feels so good. My only criticism is the LED's: my word but they are bright! If you lean forward at the wrong angle you get a "blind spot" in your vision for a few minutes, and if you turn the lights out you get a blue circle on the ceiling bright enough to read the keyboard legends by ... :laugh: I'm back to cherry switches again: my first lasted me over 20 years, and it was a cheapy! This isn't, not even close - I've never spent this much on a keyboard before. Worth it though - so "Thank you" to everyone who recommended the company last month! :thumbsup:

      "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 AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

      H Offline
      H Offline
      honey the codewitch
      wrote on last edited by
      #3

      My Das 5QS is love. It doesn't use cherrys and I think the lighting is different than yours. It uses.. Omicron? Zulu switches and they have little fiberoptics in the middle of each one to transmit light to the key cap's letter/symbol (not the rest of the key) It is not overly bright. In fact, in daylight conditions it looks pretty much painted on (except my media buttons which are backlit). At night it's not overbearing at all, just giving me enough light to where i don't have to squint at the home row in the wee hours. I use it at night, in my bedroom while himself is sleeping, so it's not overly bright.

      To err is human. Fortune favors the monsters.

      OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • H honey the codewitch

        My Das 5QS is love. It doesn't use cherrys and I think the lighting is different than yours. It uses.. Omicron? Zulu switches and they have little fiberoptics in the middle of each one to transmit light to the key cap's letter/symbol (not the rest of the key) It is not overly bright. In fact, in daylight conditions it looks pretty much painted on (except my media buttons which are backlit). At night it's not overbearing at all, just giving me enough light to where i don't have to squint at the home row in the wee hours. I use it at night, in my bedroom while himself is sleeping, so it's not overly bright.

        To err is human. Fortune favors the monsters.

        OriginalGriffO Offline
        OriginalGriffO Offline
        OriginalGriff
        wrote on last edited by
        #4

        I don't like illuminated keyboards - they look too much like "haxorz" in a movie for my taste - that's why the 4 rather than the 5: all I have are num lock, caps, and scroll lock lights. I may have to put a thin layer or two of black paint on them ...

        "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 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

        H P 2 Replies Last reply
        0
        • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

          I don't like illuminated keyboards - they look too much like "haxorz" in a movie for my taste - that's why the 4 rather than the 5: all I have are num lock, caps, and scroll lock lights. I may have to put a thin layer or two of black paint on them ...

          "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 AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

          H Offline
          H Offline
          honey the codewitch
          wrote on last edited by
          #5

          The Das 5QS are all and individually programmable, so you can turn them off. However, since they are double injected molded, with clear plastic forming the letters, it really requires some amount of light to be able to see the keys, even in daylight conditions. For my part, I spent good money to keep my computer I built from being lit up like an out of season christmas tree, which seems to be all the rage these days. I understand about lighting. I feel much the same way. That having been said, I can only describe the Das 5QS reasonably lit letters/symbols as "pleasant" and "functional" - particularly since I can also change them. I have things set up so my homerow is a different color for quick access. I also have some of my keys tied to a CPU usage meter but I don't use it in practice. I just thought it was neat. The only reason I don't turn it off altogether mind you, is they don't "look" lit, at least in the daytime, and at night, it's only just enough to be pleasant. There's no bleed to your desk (except from the sides of the keyboard, which you can turn off)

          To err is human. Fortune favors the monsters.

          OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

            I don't like illuminated keyboards - they look too much like "haxorz" in a movie for my taste - that's why the 4 rather than the 5: all I have are num lock, caps, and scroll lock lights. I may have to put a thin layer or two of black paint on them ...

            "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 AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

            P Offline
            P Offline
            PIEBALDconsult
            wrote on last edited by
            #6

            I have a small piece of note paper covering the three LEDs on my keyboard. The lights are only ever on when I hit a wrong key anyway.

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • H honey the codewitch

              The Das 5QS are all and individually programmable, so you can turn them off. However, since they are double injected molded, with clear plastic forming the letters, it really requires some amount of light to be able to see the keys, even in daylight conditions. For my part, I spent good money to keep my computer I built from being lit up like an out of season christmas tree, which seems to be all the rage these days. I understand about lighting. I feel much the same way. That having been said, I can only describe the Das 5QS reasonably lit letters/symbols as "pleasant" and "functional" - particularly since I can also change them. I have things set up so my homerow is a different color for quick access. I also have some of my keys tied to a CPU usage meter but I don't use it in practice. I just thought it was neat. The only reason I don't turn it off altogether mind you, is they don't "look" lit, at least in the daytime, and at night, it's only just enough to be pleasant. There's no bleed to your desk (except from the sides of the keyboard, which you can turn off)

              To err is human. Fortune favors the monsters.

              OriginalGriffO Offline
              OriginalGriffO Offline
              OriginalGriff
              wrote on last edited by
              #7

              I really don't understand the need to put LED's in everything these days - what possible use was there for LED's in my headphones?* :wtf: * The use of past tense was deliberate here, they were "persuaded" to no longer emit ... :-D

              "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 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 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                It didn't last long - the keytops were wearing away really quickly, 'A', 'S'. 'CTRL', 'SHIFT', '->', and '<-' were gone completely, and many others were only readable if you knew what they started out as. And when Dij pushed my coffee into it ... it was time for a change. And last months discussion lead me to ... a DAS Keyboard 4 (MX Blue). And it's lovely. All clicky and feedbacky, the key legends look like they'll last and the think exudes quality - from the moment you pick it up and realise it's made of actual metal instead of cheap plastic. I find myself stroking the volume control, it just feels so good. My only criticism is the LED's: my word but they are bright! If you lean forward at the wrong angle you get a "blind spot" in your vision for a few minutes, and if you turn the lights out you get a blue circle on the ceiling bright enough to read the keyboard legends by ... :laugh: I'm back to cherry switches again: my first lasted me over 20 years, and it was a cheapy! This isn't, not even close - I've never spent this much on a keyboard before. Worth it though - so "Thank you" to everyone who recommended the company last month! :thumbsup:

                "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 AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

                Mike HankeyM Offline
                Mike HankeyM Offline
                Mike Hankey
                wrote on last edited by
                #8

                I've had a Havik Mechanical Keyboard[^] for about 8 montths and the ERTCV cap lettering is almost gone.

                PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - An updated version available! JaxCoder.com Latest Article: ARM Tutorial Part 2 Timers

                T H 2 Replies Last reply
                0
                • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

                  I've had a Havik Mechanical Keyboard[^] for about 8 montths and the ERTCV cap lettering is almost gone.

                  PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - An updated version available! JaxCoder.com Latest Article: ARM Tutorial Part 2 Timers

                  T Offline
                  T Offline
                  trønderen
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #9

                  Quick fix: Take a course in Touch Typing :-)

                  Mike HankeyM P 2 Replies Last reply
                  0
                  • T trønderen

                    Quick fix: Take a course in Touch Typing :-)

                    Mike HankeyM Offline
                    Mike HankeyM Offline
                    Mike Hankey
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #10

                    Last time I touched my typist I nearly got arrested. :)

                    PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - An updated version available! JaxCoder.com Latest Article: ARM Tutorial Part 2 Timers

                    P 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                      It didn't last long - the keytops were wearing away really quickly, 'A', 'S'. 'CTRL', 'SHIFT', '->', and '<-' were gone completely, and many others were only readable if you knew what they started out as. And when Dij pushed my coffee into it ... it was time for a change. And last months discussion lead me to ... a DAS Keyboard 4 (MX Blue). And it's lovely. All clicky and feedbacky, the key legends look like they'll last and the think exudes quality - from the moment you pick it up and realise it's made of actual metal instead of cheap plastic. I find myself stroking the volume control, it just feels so good. My only criticism is the LED's: my word but they are bright! If you lean forward at the wrong angle you get a "blind spot" in your vision for a few minutes, and if you turn the lights out you get a blue circle on the ceiling bright enough to read the keyboard legends by ... :laugh: I'm back to cherry switches again: my first lasted me over 20 years, and it was a cheapy! This isn't, not even close - I've never spent this much on a keyboard before. Worth it though - so "Thank you" to everyone who recommended the company last month! :thumbsup:

                      "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 AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

                      D Offline
                      D Offline
                      DerekT P
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #11

                      OriginalGriff wrote:

                      'A', 'S'. 'CTRL', 'SHIFT', '->', and '<-' were gone completely

                      You've done well. My keyboard hasn't had W, E, R, T, I, O, A, S, D, F, G, K, L, C, V, N, M, < or > for years. Actually that was a useful exercise, hitting all the "blank" keys - I was wondering what some of them did. Really limits my choices for variable names though, especially since I've not seen a vowel (except U) since 2019. :laugh: And there's a long key at the bottom that I don't think ever was labelled in the first place...

                      Telegraph marker posts ... nothing to do with IT Phasmid email discussion group ... also nothing to do with IT Beekeeping and honey site ... still nothing to do with IT

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

                        Last time I touched my typist I nearly got arrested. :)

                        PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - An updated version available! JaxCoder.com Latest Article: ARM Tutorial Part 2 Timers

                        P Offline
                        P Offline
                        PIEBALDconsult
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #12

                        Had to marry her?

                        Mike HankeyM 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • T trønderen

                          Quick fix: Take a course in Touch Typing :-)

                          P Offline
                          P Offline
                          PIEBALDconsult
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #13

                          I did, in high school, it didn't take. Besides, typing code is nothing like typing prose. If you spend more time writing documentation than coding, then maybe that's a benefit, but you don't, do you?

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • P PIEBALDconsult

                            Had to marry her?

                            Mike HankeyM Offline
                            Mike HankeyM Offline
                            Mike Hankey
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #14

                            We got married in Georgia...or was it Tahoma? Not sure I was drugged and dragged and woke up just in time for the vows.

                            PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - An updated version available! JaxCoder.com Latest Article: ARM Tutorial Part 2 Timers

                            FreedMallocF 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                              It didn't last long - the keytops were wearing away really quickly, 'A', 'S'. 'CTRL', 'SHIFT', '->', and '<-' were gone completely, and many others were only readable if you knew what they started out as. And when Dij pushed my coffee into it ... it was time for a change. And last months discussion lead me to ... a DAS Keyboard 4 (MX Blue). And it's lovely. All clicky and feedbacky, the key legends look like they'll last and the think exudes quality - from the moment you pick it up and realise it's made of actual metal instead of cheap plastic. I find myself stroking the volume control, it just feels so good. My only criticism is the LED's: my word but they are bright! If you lean forward at the wrong angle you get a "blind spot" in your vision for a few minutes, and if you turn the lights out you get a blue circle on the ceiling bright enough to read the keyboard legends by ... :laugh: I'm back to cherry switches again: my first lasted me over 20 years, and it was a cheapy! This isn't, not even close - I've never spent this much on a keyboard before. Worth it though - so "Thank you" to everyone who recommended the company last month! :thumbsup:

                              "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 AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

                              J Offline
                              J Offline
                              jmaida
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #15

                              OG Don't know if I am repeating, but any bright blue LED's will cause problems with human sleep over time. Scientific proof. So avoid them. Not so bright, not so much. I have very dim blue backlight on my temporary keyboard another reason for shopping around for new one.

                              "A little time, a little trouble, your better day" Badfinger

                              OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

                                We got married in Georgia...or was it Tahoma? Not sure I was drugged and dragged and woke up just in time for the vows.

                                PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - An updated version available! JaxCoder.com Latest Article: ARM Tutorial Part 2 Timers

                                FreedMallocF Offline
                                FreedMallocF Offline
                                FreedMalloc
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #16

                                It was a military wedding. Well, ... there were guns there, let's put it that way! (Old Red Skelton/Clem Kididdlehopper bit) :laugh:

                                Mike HankeyM 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

                                  I've had a Havik Mechanical Keyboard[^] for about 8 montths and the ERTCV cap lettering is almost gone.

                                  PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - An updated version available! JaxCoder.com Latest Article: ARM Tutorial Part 2 Timers

                                  H Offline
                                  H Offline
                                  honey the codewitch
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #17

                                  "double mold injected" if your keycaps aren't advertised as the above, forget it. They'll wear out.

                                  To err is human. Fortune favors the monsters.

                                  Mike HankeyM 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • J jmaida

                                    OG Don't know if I am repeating, but any bright blue LED's will cause problems with human sleep over time. Scientific proof. So avoid them. Not so bright, not so much. I have very dim blue backlight on my temporary keyboard another reason for shopping around for new one.

                                    "A little time, a little trouble, your better day" Badfinger

                                    OriginalGriffO Offline
                                    OriginalGriffO Offline
                                    OriginalGriff
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #18

                                    My computer stays in my office, and I don't sleep there (except during Teams calls).

                                    "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 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
                                    • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                                      It didn't last long - the keytops were wearing away really quickly, 'A', 'S'. 'CTRL', 'SHIFT', '->', and '<-' were gone completely, and many others were only readable if you knew what they started out as. And when Dij pushed my coffee into it ... it was time for a change. And last months discussion lead me to ... a DAS Keyboard 4 (MX Blue). And it's lovely. All clicky and feedbacky, the key legends look like they'll last and the think exudes quality - from the moment you pick it up and realise it's made of actual metal instead of cheap plastic. I find myself stroking the volume control, it just feels so good. My only criticism is the LED's: my word but they are bright! If you lean forward at the wrong angle you get a "blind spot" in your vision for a few minutes, and if you turn the lights out you get a blue circle on the ceiling bright enough to read the keyboard legends by ... :laugh: I'm back to cherry switches again: my first lasted me over 20 years, and it was a cheapy! This isn't, not even close - I've never spent this much on a keyboard before. Worth it though - so "Thank you" to everyone who recommended the company last month! :thumbsup:

                                      "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 AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

                                      P Offline
                                      P Offline
                                      Phil J Pearson
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #19

                                      I have had a Microsoft Comfort Curve keyboard for years and it gets heavy use every day. Only left, right and down cursor keys are missing their markings; all the others are completely intact. (No, I don't play games or anything like that - just coding and documentation.) Oh, and part of the Microsoft logo is worn away. It's not a brilliant keyboard (it makes lots of tryping mistakes) but it's good enough that I don't want to be looking for anything else.

                                      Phil


                                      The opinions expressed in this post are not necessarily those of the author, especially if you find them impolite, inaccurate or inflammatory.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • FreedMallocF FreedMalloc

                                        It was a military wedding. Well, ... there were guns there, let's put it that way! (Old Red Skelton/Clem Kididdlehopper bit) :laugh:

                                        Mike HankeyM Offline
                                        Mike HankeyM Offline
                                        Mike Hankey
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #20

                                        He was one of the great comics.

                                        PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - An updated version available! JaxCoder.com Latest Article: ARM Tutorial Part 2 Timers

                                        1 Reply Last reply
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                                        • H honey the codewitch

                                          "double mold injected" if your keycaps aren't advertised as the above, forget it. They'll wear out.

                                          To err is human. Fortune favors the monsters.

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

                                          Yeah I'm finding that out. They just don't make them like they they used too.

                                          PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - An updated version available! JaxCoder.com Latest Article: ARM Tutorial Part 2 Timers

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