Hunting for a Keyboard

[ReepNeep]

Ive finally gotten fed up with all the lockouts on my current keyboard and am ready to drop some cash on a replacement. The most important criteria are thus: NO LOCKOUTS, and price.

I'd prefer something no greater than around 50$ and extra functions really don't matter to me.
The lockouts are the real deal-breaker.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Throckmorton]

What is a lockout?

 

[ReepNeep]

Its what happens when you press multiple keys at once and one or more of them get 'lost' and don't register at all. Every keyboard I have ever used did this to varying degrees. It happens most often for me right now in Stalker. When pressing shift and control to go into low crouch, WADS to move and Q to lean left, one of the inputs doesn't register.

 

[potato28]

Maybe a Saitek Eclipse/ 2. USB and no key limits.

 

[Ika]

Eclipse 2 has key lockouts. I can't hit Up + Right and Control or Spacebar at the same time (at least, it doesn't work in MapleStory). Not sure if it has this problem in other games; I haven't encountered anything strange in CS: Source.

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: ReepNeep
Its what happens when you press multiple keys at once and one or more of them get 'lost' and don't register at all. Every keyboard I have ever used did this to varying degrees. It happens most often for me right now in Stalker. When pressing shift and control to go into low crouch, WADS to move and Q to lean left, one of the inputs doesn't register.

Is your left hand an octopus??

 

[ReepNeep]

Well I did have a job at a Japanese porn studio... anyway thats just what the game requires.
Some games just require multiple key presses (although 2 crouches and a lean key might be a bit excessive).

AFAIK, the fact that a keyboard is usb has nothing to do with the lockouts. The one I'm using NOW is usb. It's also not an issue with the software you're running and is simply a product of the hardware inside the keyboard itself.

Some keyboards I've used allow as few as 3 keys at once (ctrl-alt-del maybe?). Others have specific combinations that can go up to 6.

I was just wondering if anyone has tried one of those fancy gaming keyboards like the Tarantula and whether they have these problems.

 

[oztrailrider]

I wonder if a Logitech G11/15 might be any good for what you want?

 

[gtsing]

razer tarantula apparently you can press up to 10 keys without and lag.

http://www.razerzone.com/index...th=2_21&products_id=40

 

[Zepper]

Have you tried the Ideazon?

.bh.

 

[potato28]

Originally posted by: oztrailrider
I wonder if a Logitech G11/15 might be any good for what you want?

No, the G11/15(rev 1) could only go to 4 keys and there was lock up. There are some PS/2 keyboards that have 2 processing chips which reduce lock out to about 6-9 keys.

 

[ReepNeep]

Its really odd that even 'gamer' keyboards don't address this. Anyway, thank you all, I took your suggestions as starting points for my research and settled on a Wolfking Warrior (largely because it doesn't have a driver install (and its not hideous like the Ideazon Fang)). Should arrive in the middle of next week. Ill tell you how it goes!

 

[potato28]

Originally posted by: ReepNeep
Its really odd that even 'gamer' keyboards don't address this. Anyway, thank you all, I took your suggestions as starting points for my research and settled on a Wolfking Warrior (largely because it doesn't have a driver install (and its not hideous like the Ideazon Fang)). Should arrive in the middle of next week. Ill tell you how it goes!

That's the one of the lower reasons why I don't put out $75 for a keyboard(my main is I'm a clutz with drinks ). Edit and I hope you like the keyboard(completely blanked)

 

[gtsing]

Wolf King Warrior???

Sigh, I've never even heard of it before!

Just looked at pictures and ew, that's nasty. It's probably just me but I hate those round "gaming" keyboards. You see pros using that shit? Nope. They use like $20 Microsoft keyboards. Except Fatal1ty. He's got to show he's confident about his products.

 

[ReepNeep]

Professional gamers generally use whatever products their sponsors tell them to *rolls eyes*. Anyway, the tarantula would have been my first choice as it seems to be exactly what I'm looking for, but its WAY out of my price range. 35$ and I'm willing to gamble on a keyboard (supplement in this case), 100$ hell no.

 

[0x0BADF00D]

I've heard that old keyboards were far les susceptible to ghosting. If that's the case, buy a whole bunch of different el-cheapo models from geeks.com.

 

[Ika]

I just noticed my laptop keyboard doesn't get the ghosting my USB keyboard gets. Interesting... maybe it has something to do with the fact that it's somehow connected via PS/2 (internally, the keyboard shows as a PS/2 keyboard).

 

[Throckmorton]

Why do they call it ghosting?

 

[0x0BADF00D]

Blocking - can't press more than n number of keys, or certain combinations.
Ghosting - press a bunch of keys, and yet another keypress is registered.

 

[bassoprofundo]

I highly recommend a good ol' IBM Model M. I have 2 "stealth" black ones that I use on my main boxes, and I've never had an issue with lockouts or ghosting. I don't know what the limit is on these for simultaneous key presses, but I play a fair amount of FPSes and have never had an issue with them connected either by PS/2 or by USB adapter. Plus, they're easy on the hands and practically indestructible.

 

[konakona]

While old IBM's have good reputation for their n-key rollover, their extremely hard and tactile feel makes it undesirable to many for gaming purposes.

I have done some research into this in the past, and the best ones are Topre and Cherry offerings. Topre Realforce, in particular, is the undisputed champ among the enthusiasts (pricey as it is, nowhere near $50) . Obviously, you need to pay top dollar for these and most of their models arent avialable in the US. There were a couple more comparable units with a bit more resonable pricing and availability though, I will post an update when I get home (I have saved some of it in a txt file)

 

[bassoprofundo]

Those look interesting, konakona. What type of key mechanism do they use? Are they standard, rubber-dome jobs or do they use some proprietary tech? I can't tell because all the info is in Japanese. The tactile feel of the Model M is precisely what attracts me. God bless anyone who can use a rubber dome keyboard... Makes my fingers hurt just thinking about long sessions with one of those.