Best Keyboard Brand -- Cherry

[sanya]

My friend told that it is the best Keyboard in the world , much better than logitech and microsoft. It's from Germany. Any body know about this brand?

http://www.cherrycorp.com

 

[PurdueRy]

Looks like a keyboard....

It types? Then it works

That's my motto at least

 

[Peter]

It's the one most popular brand of keyboards over here in Germany - in part owed to the indestructably solid build of their higher range models, also because they have a huge range of products, catering to all kinds of business specialties and also niches like a dual-language German/Russian model targetting immigrants and the rapidly expanding eastern export/import businesses.

What they don't make: a decent ergonomic model, and the really cheap $5 crap you often find bundled with the average off-the-shelf PC.

 

[sanya]

Ya. I saw cherry's keyboards are very expensive! And I just wonder who will spend so much money just on a keyboard.

 

[shortylickens]

They have over a dozen SmartCard keyboards and none of them are ergonomic.
WTF do they need that many models for if they all function the same?

Not that I need one, but we once had a lady who claimed she needed an Ergo. We have to use cards to log on and it was a real dillema. She left before we could ever find her one.

 

[essasin]

I still think the best keyboard ever made are the IBM Model M "clicky" keyboards. I had one with a manufacturing date of 1990. It worked perfectly until a Venti sized cup of joe was spilled all over it two years ago.

 

[Peter]

The good thing about those IBMs is the separate key switches, and its indestructable (well almost build. Ergonomics beyond that were quite poor.

If you think $20 to $40 is expensive, get real. People who type a lot won't go anywhere near a $10 keyboard - and if they do, will rapidly develop RSI problems that will cost them (and the company) a lot more than any keyboard will ever cost.

Keyboards that are both mechanically and ergonomically good start at about $100, and go up to about $400. You'll never know the difference until you go there - and then you'll never turn back.

 

[Cipherfaction]

The microsoft Ergronomics one is suppose to good, dunno much about it tho

 

[Peter]

It says ergonomic on the box, but it's actually far from being that. Why? Silicone mat, not separate key switches. Way too high keypress force. Slanted rows of keys like on ancient typewriters, no natural finger movement possible. Way too tiny cursor keys (on some models, the current one fixed that at least). "6" key on wrong side of split.

It has these things in common with most ~$50 "ergo" offerings. They all fix the wrist angle problem, but they all do nothing for the fingers and their muscles. You'll have to have used a real ergo keyboard to know the difference. And once you did, you'll HATE those pseudo-ergo offerings.

 

[TheNewGuy8]

Peter - I'm interested in what keyboards you are talking about that are "true" ergo boards.

I've used the MS 4000 and found it to be horrible - like you said, the keyforce needed was absurd. Two years ago I was diagnosed with Carpel Tunnel Syndrome (basically RSI of a specific nerve in the wrist, for those who haven't heard of it - often associated with typing). I went through physcial therapy, muscle relaxants, and wearing braces 24/7 for a few months and things calmed down. I also got a black Belkin ergonomic keyboard which helped alot. Been using it ever since. It is very plain though, so I got the MS4000 and it immediately aggrivated my CTS again - I had to break out the braces and am just recovering.

Anyway, enough of my story - what keyboards are TRUE ergo boards? I'd happily pay $200-300 for a real ergo board that will stop my wrist pain.

 

[Peter]

You'll at least want the Datadesk SmartBoard, or, if you're inclined to relearn typing from scratch, one of the Kinesis "Contoured" boards.

Either are a bit hard to get and often out of stock ... my supplier for them is Ergocube.

See here:

http://store.ergocube.com/smartboard.html
http://store.ergocube.com/kiadusbke.html

http://store.ergocube.com/pckeyboards.html

The following page illustrates what's the point about the SmartBoard's unique key layout. (Contacts aren't working anymore; this page is WAY old.)

http://www.darwinkeyboards.com/smart_layout.htm

The SmartBoard is better suited to my needs simply because the Kinesis boards have the brackets in funny positions, which is annoying for programming tasks. I'd die for a left-thumb backspace/delete though ...

http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/us-intl.htm

Something I haven't tried yet (awaiting shipment!) but looks like a brilliant idea is the Vertical Mouse:

http://store.ergocube.com/evvermous.html
http://www.evoluent.com/vmouse2.html

 

[imported_rod]

They have Cherry keyboards at Uni. They must have have survived years of last-minute assignment typing, so I guess they're pretty tough.

RoD

 

[Steve]

I ordered my Smartboard from Solutions For Humans. Free shipping

 

[Peter]

... but they didn't even bother answer my email, even though they specifically ask for one if you're an international customer.

Ergocube for me.

The 3rd way is via ebay, since this is where DataDesk direct sales business is.

 

[daba]

Does this come in black?

 

[Peter]

Only the verrrrrry first batch years ago was black, later the USB version had black keys, now it's all the usual PC off-white.

 

[TerryMathews]

Cherry makes the best microswitches money can buy, if you deal with arcade cabinets. I wish they offered a 'clicker' keyboard like the IBM Model M, made out of their microswitches. From the product descriptions, it doesn't look like it.