Why is it so hard to find the right keyboard? I found mine finally and LOVE it.

[Zeze]

http://www.kensington.com/us/us/4489/K72357USA/advance-fit™-full-size-slim-keyboard#.VOfjPfnF_61

This is a simple wired keyboard for $30. I finally found the right one for me. I LOVE it. Having all my criteria met below was actually surprisingly difficult. There are so many bad keyboards out there.

• It's CORDED. No crappy delay or ghosting (missing keystrokes). These so-called fancy $80 Logitech wireless were so bad. Why the hell is everything wireless nowadays?
  
• A FULL RECTANGLE backspace key. Those AWFUL one-square backspace buttons should be illegal.
  
• Supports multiple key press at once. Again, some wireless are AWFUL at these, even the very modern one I tried (looking at you again Logitech). When I was gaming with WSAD + arrow
  keys, it would max out the input and wouldn't input one of the keys. WTF, this is 2015, people.
  
• Must have a quick volume up/down and mute key- this is just so damn convenient. Lots of expensive ($150+) mechanical keyboards don't have this.
  
• These laptop-style keys are perfect, MINIMAL effort required to press them. I had to return 3 different keyboards because feedback was too strong and my fingers were getting tired in extended use. These type like smoothly like butter.
  
• Why spend $$$ for mechanical keyboards when I got this? I've tried in person in Microcenter.
  

Here I am on Friday night, making a post about god damn keyboards. What happened to me?

I highly recommend this keyboard. Try them if you are looking for a new one.

 

[sdifox]

IBM model m or go home

 

[mnewsham]

I use a Mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX Reds, blue back lighting, double thick braided cable, USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports, and Mic/Headset connection on the keyboard as well.

Costs about 4 times that, but I guarantee its much better to type on. Once you get used to mechanical switches it's hard to go back.

These laptop-style keys are perfect, MINIMAL effort required to press them. I had to return 3 different keyboards because feedback was too strong and my fingers were getting tired in extended use. These type like smoothly like butter.

You can get mechanical switches with different actuation points, 45g vs 60g for example. You can get them with or without clickyness, you can get kinds the bottom out early or late, so many options you just have to know what you're looking for.

Must have a quick volume up/down and mute key- this is just so damn convenient. Lots of expensive ($150+) mechanical keyboards don't have this.

My keyboard has granular controls on the keyboard for back lighting and volume controls, press down on the button to mute, scroll up or down for volume up/down. Very good design. Mine was only $120, and it has gone on sale for $100, so you dont need to spend $150+ for a good mechanical, you might need to shop around though.

 

[AMD64Blondie]

IBM model m or go home

Damn straight.I've had my current 1991 IBM Model M since 2007.

Still clicking happily away.

 

[MongGrel]

My wife loves simple straight keyboards.

I got hooked on the MS Ergos long ago, at least they are pretty cheap and I love em.

My big fingers just love the things.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-148-_-Product

Yeah, it's nothing fancy, and wired.

 

[Zeze]

...

So gaudy. D:

Those excessive feature keys remind me of HP desktop keyboards of late 1990s.

 

[MongGrel]

So gaudy. D:

Those excessive feature keys remind me of HP desktop keyboards of late 1990s.

It's not really gaudy, I rarely use those anyway.

Is pretty plain actually, no back lights.

The keyboard itself is comfy.

 

[Puppies04]

Here is mine.

Criteria included looking like a unicorn pooped on it.

 

[chubbyfatazn]

There are so many bad keyboards out there.

Why spend $$$ for mechanical keyboards when I got this? I've tried in person in Microcenter.

There are plenty of people who'd consider this keyboard "bad" (read: not to their liking), including me. Different strokes for different folks.

I sit in front of a computer all day typing. Keystroke feedback is incredibly important to me, and a good mechanical will always win over a crappy membrane.

You can't equate pressing a few keys at a MC to sitting down with the board and typing for extended periods of time. The prices there also aren't indicative of what you can get them for online (duh).

 

[Zeze]

How do you guys stand backlit keyboards?

One of the keyboards I had to return in my long search had the backlight. It was a very highly rated one too:

http://www.amazon.com/Azio-Levetron-...pr_product_top

It was beautiful during the day. But at night... oh my god. My eyes would get distracted from the flow of light coming from bottom of my vision. And those 3 button lights were so bright they would illuminate my entire ceiling, jesus. I had to turn them off.

I think they serve zero practical sense aside from aesthetics. The glow from your monitor is more than bright if you happened to be a grandma who needs to LOOK at the keys.

 

[phucheneh]

Plain, cheap Logitech keyboard with the Windows keys ripped off, please.

 

[MongGrel]

I still have one of these around here somewhere I used to use as a second keyboard in games just for the macro keys stacked on it that was backlit.

Was one of the only straight keyboards I ever liked.

 

[bbhaag]

I'm still sporting the Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000. I know Microsoft isn't known for hardware but I really think this is one of the best keyboards ever made.

 

[mnewsham]

How do you guys stand backlit keyboards?

One of the keyboards I had to return in my long search had the backlight. It was a very highly rated one too:

http://www.amazon.com/Azio-Levetron-...pr_product_top

It was beautiful during the day. But at night... oh my god. My eyes would get distracted from the flow of light coming from bottom of my vision. And those 3 button lights were so bright they would illuminate my entire ceiling, jesus. I had to turn them off.

I think they serve zero practical sense aside from aesthetics. The glow from your monitor is more than bright if you happened to be a grandma who needs to LOOK at the keys.

Most good backlit keyboards will have a granular backlight setting, I generally keep mine fairly dim so even at night it's just a soft glow.

 

[natto fire]

IBM model m or go home

Is there a huge market for these? I still have one, built in '86, with a PS/2 cable. It is definitely a piece of machinery most keyboards should look at and hang their heads in shame, but my mobo does not supports PS/2, and a proper converter was $40. I decided to give Rosewill a try, as I got hooked on backlit keyboards, and so far I am liking it.

 

[mnewsham]

Is there a huge market for these? I still have one, built in '86, with a PS/2 cable. It is definitely a piece of machinery most keyboards should look at and hang their heads in shame, but my mobo does not supports PS/2, and a proper converter was $40. I decided to give Rosewill a try, as I got hooked on backlit keyboards, and so far I am liking it.

Should have just looked around for a better motherboard, but seriously, the IBM model M can fetch $100+ without issue if it's in decent condition, which since they are built like tanks, many still are.

 

[uhohs]

ew, paying for a laptop style key keyboard.

 

[Markbnj]

I'm very happy with this...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16823201064

Cherry MX Blue switches, blue backlight. It's maybe a _wee_ bit more click force than I would like. I could maybe go with the MX Green switches, but as an overall package it's a great, and very well made, keyboard.

 

[brianmanahan]

das keyboard, ultimate edition

all you pansies, having to look at your keys to know what they are

 

[MongGrel]

I'm still sporting the Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000. I know Microsoft isn't known for hardware but I really think this is one of the best keyboards ever made.

I tried one of those once, I thought it was good, but just felt small to me.

 

[MongGrel]

all you pansies, having to look at your keys to know what they are

My wife gripes at me whenever she uses my old MS these days, a lot of the letters are gone more or less

 

[chubbyfatazn]

and a proper converter was $40

$40? What and from where?

Generally this $9 adapter is recommended. I use this adapter from the same company with no issue.

Unless you meant something else by "converter" and weren't addressing power draw.

Should have just looked around for a better motherboard, but seriously, the IBM model M can fetch $100+ without issue if it's in decent condition, which since they are built like tanks, many still are.

You sure? I got mine for $25, the cable was a little stretched out but the board itself is a 9/10. I sometimes see them for around $40 at geekhack.org.

Maybe you're thinking of a Model F?

Cherry MX Blue switches, blue backlight. It's maybe a _wee_ bit more click force than I would like. I could maybe go with the MX Green switches, but as an overall package it's a great, and very well made, keyboard.

If blues take more actuation force than you'd like, you wouldn't like greens... iirc blues have an actuation force of 55g, greens 80g.

I alternate between my Model M and a greens board. Used to use blues and browns.

 

[Zeze]

By the way guess what I found on OC.net. Your comprehensive guide to mechanical keyboards. This is good stuff (although I'm not using one + no felt need)

http://www.overclock.net/t/491752/official-mechanical-keyboard-guide#user_heading1

 

[Puppies04]

How do you guys stand backlit keyboards?

One of the keyboards I had to return in my long search had the backlight. It was a very highly rated one too:

http://www.amazon.com/Azio-Levetron-...pr_product_top

It was beautiful during the day. But at night... oh my god. My eyes would get distracted from the flow of light coming from bottom of my vision. And those 3 button lights were so bright they would illuminate my entire ceiling, jesus. I had to turn them off.

I think they serve zero practical sense aside from aesthetics. The glow from your monitor is more than bright if you happened to be a grandma who needs to LOOK at the keys.

#FirstWorldProblem

Turn off the backlight maybe?

 

[Ichinisan]

Nope nope nope.

Compressed F-keys would drive me mad.
Displaced Win key would REALLY grind my gears.

I need ins/del home/end pgup/pgdn in their correct positions.

I use Shift+Del and Shift+Ins all the time when switching between keyboard and mouse.

Some shortcuts I learned from DOS edit and Qbasic.