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

[AMD64Blondie]

IBM terminal 120 keyboard, bolt-modded, ANSI conversion, Soarer's conversion box.

Damn...there's a person after my own heart.

(Fellow IBM Model M user here.Mine's from 1991-it's a PS/2 model..)

 

[Platypus]

I have two model Ms and two of the first microsoft natural keyboards (the one without all the useless buttons http://www.inf.ufrgs.br/~cabral/NaturalMicrosoftKeyboard.jpg ).

I don't torture my coworkers with the model M, but they are my favorite.

 

[Special K]

IBM terminal 120 keyboard, bolt-modded, ANSI conversion, Soarer's conversion box.

How do those compare to a Model M in terms of tactility, key travel, force required, etc.?

 

[drteming]

How do those compare to a Model M in terms of tactility, key travel, force required, etc.?

It is a model M. Same buckling spring, just bigger. Here's the sticker from the back.

 

[Special K]

It is a model M. Same buckling spring, just bigger. Here's the sticker from the back.

Ah, OK. I thought that was a Model F with the capacitive buckling springs, which are apparently different from the Model M's buckling springs.

 

[IGemini]

Logitech G105

Wired, membrane keys, switchable backlighting, full-sized backspace. Just enough programmable keys. Not a fan of the Call of Doodie branding but the green color grew on me. The media function icons aren't backlit, but for $35 the price was right.

I might get a mechanical down the road. The MX browns felt best to me while not being too loud.

 

[lxskllr]

I'm using a Model M I got from the thrift shop. I either paid $2.92, or $1.46 depending on whether or not is was half off. I know that because the price is still crayoned on it :^D

I have a couple of them I've picked up over the years, but this will probably last the rest of my life.

 

[soccerballtux]

after using one for 7 years I have arthritic pain in my knuckles. your cartilage carries the brunt of the force when you key bottom.

now I have a kinesis advantage (mechanical keyboard) with rubber o-rings. once you learn, you stop pushing down before you hit the bottom, ergo no wear on cartilage. Also, minimal stretching to move pointer finger out to the middle keys.

several of the staff at AT have developed pains from typing. considering this is likely how you making a living (computer work), it's probably wise to proactively protect your hands.

here's AT's review

so far nobody's is better than mine. ()

 

[Nograts]

so far nobody's is better than mine. ()

Well you have arthritis so.... :awe:

 

[Puppies04]

so far nobody's is better than mine. ()

Define better, I would use that thing as a wheel chock before I typed on it.

 

[HeXen]

I like my Macbook kb just fine but if I were a big typer and Windows kb user, I would use my MS comfort curve. It's the cadillac of kb's.

 

[mnewsham]

so far nobody's is better than mine. ()

Pretty sure almost all the ones posted in this thread I would consider "better". Even though it has mechanical switches the layout of that..."thing" is so unnatural to anything I have spent time typing on I would just want to kill myself.

 

[destrekor]

I like my Macbook kb just fine but if I were a big typer and Windows kb user, I would use my MS comfort curve. It's the cadillac of kb's.

When it comes to laptop keyboards, I fully agree, the MBP keyboard (I assume it should be similar across the board?) is phenomenal. I don't mind typing on it for long stretches. And while this is about keyboards, not a single trackpad comes remotely close. The keyboard feels great for a scissor-switch.

While my desktop is down as I await new GPUs, I have my MBPr connected to my three monitors (two DP, one HDMI), external DAC, mouse and mechanical keyboard. :awe:

 

[lxskllr]

Pretty sure almost all the ones posted in this thread I would consider "better". Even though it has mechanical switches the layout of that..."thing" is so unnatural to anything I have spent time typing on I would just want to kill myself.

I like the way it has the passwords highlighted in blue. Straight characters on the left for forums and stuff, and special characters on the right for important stuff like banking.

 

[HeXen]

When it comes to laptop keyboards, I fully agree, the MBP keyboard (I assume it should be similar across the board?) is phenomenal. I don't mind typing on it for long stretches. And while this is about keyboards, not a single trackpad comes remotely close. The keyboard feels great for a scissor-switch.

While my desktop is down as I await new GPUs, I have my MBPr connected to my three monitors (two DP, one HDMI), external DAC, mouse and mechanical keyboard. :awe:

Yeah, for a flat surface with flat square keys, it's actually pretty nice to use, never tiring at least. Took a little to get used to like any KB but I really like all the extra feature buttons on the MS curve. I enjoyed the scroll wheel and all the quick keys to launch or control stuff. The wireless MS Arc KB isn't too shabby either for being so small.

 

[RossMAN]

No laptop love?

Dell XPS 14 until I can find a deal on a Lenovo Thinkpad, 2 Pro or 3 Pro Yoga (minus Superfish).

 

[DigDog]

every day, i walk by the building where they used to assemble model M kbs .. its boarded up now, in disuse.

i think they have no idea how much a model M clone sells for these days.

 

[silicon]

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

Absolutely the basic logitech keyboard. I fretted about which keyboard to buy...expensive and lots of "features" or a basic Logitech that will serve the purpose. So i bought a Logitech K120 very basic keyboard. If I slop coffee or beer its no big deal. And i don't miss any features from high end KB's.

 

[Ichinisan]

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

The Windows logo key is SUPER IMPORTANT for my everyday use. Removing it would absolutely kill my productivity.

[Win]+[R] (Run - I use this hundreds of times daily)
[Win]+[D] (show Desktop, even dialog Windows with no minimize option)
[Win]+[M] (Minimize all)
[Win]+[E] (show Windows Explorer)

[Win]+[+] (Zoom +)
[Win]+[-] (Zoom -)
[Win]+[Esc] (Cancel Zoom)

[Win]+[PauseBreak] (System Properties)

I use the Run menu for nearly everything I launch.
cmd (like 1,000 times per-day), notepad, iexplore , firefox [url], chrome [url], expl...ve to poke through everything with the mouse.

 

[Nograts]

windows key is the most useless button on a keyboard.

 

[mnewsham]

windows key is the most useless button on a keyboard.

It has it's uses, im just glad my keyboard comes with a Win-lock key so I can disable it when i am gaming so I dont accidentally force myself to desktop in the middle of a 1v3 clutch situation.

 

[HeXen]

The Windows logo key is SUPER IMPORTANT for my everyday use. Re,living it would absolutely kill my productivity.

[Win]+[R] (Run - I use this hundreds of times daily)
[Win]+[D] (show Desktop, even dialog Windows with no minimize option)
[Win]+[M] (Minimize all)
[Win]+[E] (show Windows Explorer)

[Win]+[+] (Zoom +)
[Win]+[-] (Zoom -)
[Win]+[Esc] (Cancel Zoom)

[Win]+[PauseBreak] (System Properties)

I use the Run menu for nearly everything I launch.
cmd (like 1,000 times per-day), notepad, iexplore , firefox [url], chrome [url], expl...dy but I don't feel Windows has that anymore.

 

[Puppies04]

No laptop love?

Dell XPS 14 until I can find a deal on a Lenovo Thinkpad, 2 Pro or 3 Pro Yoga (minus Superfish).

I upgraded the kb on my XPS 17 to a backlit one, it is still just ok never found a laptop keyboard I actually like

 

[Ichinisan]

I'm more of a mouse user. I only use the KB to search or for web browser. That's where a good UI comes in handy but I don't feel Windows has that anymore.

I cringe at the thought of using a computer that way.

Back in my A+ certification classes in '99, they forced you to install and use operating systems without the mouse so you could learn to navigate with the keyboard. DOS, Win3.1, Win95/98, ...

Life would be much less efficient if I never learned to use computers that way.

Even when I use the mouse, the other hand stays on the keyboard. Right-click the title bars or taskbar buttons for numerous windows and minimize, maximize, close, or restore (n, x, c, r) with no need to zero-in on those tiny corner buttons.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Do you have the standard Black Widow Ultimate?

I have the first version of the BWU Stealth. The Stealth uses Cherry MX Brown switches, whereas the standard BWU uses MX Blues. If you don't want the clack but want the same experience, I'd suggest picking up the Stealth variant, unless it doesn't matter much at this point to you.

Mine is the same one in the picture with the blue background LEDs. The new ones seem to have green LEDs?

Yes, I believe mine is the standard Black Widow Ultimate. I don't really have a problem with the clacking. Now people I am on the phone with while typing... they might