In search of an excellent keyboard?

[Steve]

Hi,

I guess I've been out of the loop too long. I was at CompUSA looking at a
whole isles worth of keyboards for my new system and came away thinking that
for something a person would spend hours working with the quality seems like
they were meant to be about as enduring as Gillette disposables. Can anybody
recommend a corded keyboard that, dare I say, strikes one as being elegant,
sturdy, and a fitting part of a $2,500 system?

Thanks for the input, Steve.

 

[Stacey]

Hi,

I guess I've been out of the loop too long. I was at CompUSA looking at a
whole isles worth of keyboards for my new system and came away thinking
that for something a person would spend hours working with the quality
seems like they were meant to be about as enduring as Gillette
disposables. Can anybody recommend a corded keyboard that, dare I say,
strikes one as being elegant, sturdy, and a fitting part of a $2,500
system?

I'm still using an IBM keyboard I got from a friend who had an old IBM
system he was tossing.. I agree most feel like a disposable razor!

 

[AD C]

Hi,

I guess I've been out of the loop too long. I was at CompUSA looking at a
whole isles worth of keyboards for my new system and came away thinking that
for something a person would spend hours working with the quality seems like
they were meant to be about as enduring as Gillette disposables. Can anybody
recommend a corded keyboard that, dare I say, strikes one as being elegant,
sturdy, and a fitting part of a $2,500 system?

Thanks for the input, Steve.

Not sure what they are like now or if you can still get them, but Cerry
keyboards was one of the best you could get at one itme, expensive mind you.

Microsoft keyboards are good, they seem to have a nice feel and aso a
nice feedback from the typing.

I myself uses a Chicony internet keyboard, I been using it for about 5
years now, and it is still good, a nice feel and good feedback on the
keys. In the U.K it is around 14 UKpounds, as it is stil made, it shows
what a good keyboard it is.

If you are looking for a keyboard with switches instead of a mat, then
you will be paying a lot of money.

 

[Kris Rawlison]

Only thing I would reccomend is either accept that whatever keyboard you get
will feel pretty soft and will die within two years or so, or buy an old IBM
keyboard like the ones that shipped with PS/2s. No windows 95 keys, but
they're indestructable. I spilled milk in one, let it dry out and it
worked, after two days it started smelling, took off every key and just ran
it under the faucet, and then let it try out again, still works

 

[AD C]

Only thing I would reccomend is either accept that whatever keyboard you get
will feel pretty soft and will die within two years or so, or buy an old IBM
keyboard like the ones that shipped with PS/2s. No windows 95 keys, but
they're indestructable. I spilled milk in one, let it dry out and it
worked, after two days it started smelling, took off every key and just ran
it under the faucet, and then let it try out again, still works

My chicony been going for 5 years now, and it feels nice anmd it was a
good price and they still make and sell them.

MY keyboard been apart many times to clean it, after spilling something
in it. Washed in the bath and everything else and stil going strong

 

[i d o r u]

Hi,

I guess I've been out of the loop too long. I was at CompUSA looking at a
whole isles worth of keyboards for my new system and came away thinking that
for something a person would spend hours working with the quality seems like
they were meant to be about as enduring as Gillette disposables. Can anybody
recommend a corded keyboard that, dare I say, strikes one as being elegant,
sturdy, and a fitting part of a $2,500 system?

Thanks for the input, Steve.

IBM Model M baby!

http://www.modelm.org/mboard.html

 

[@drian]

Yes, an NMB metal plate keyboard. Excellent feedback on the keys and it's
rock sturdy due to the metal plate inside.

@drian.

 

[Kris Rawlison]

Wow, better luck than me. hehe. I don't concern myself either way really,
I always have a spare keyboard around just in case, but I will definetly
agree that keyboard quality is definetly going downhill.

 

[Rob Morley]

Hi,

I guess I've been out of the loop too long. I was at CompUSA looking at a
whole isles worth of keyboards for my new system and came away thinking that
for something a person would spend hours working with the quality seems like
they were meant to be about as enduring as Gillette disposables. Can anybody
recommend a corded keyboard that, dare I say, strikes one as being elegant,
sturdy, and a fitting part of a $2,500 system?

Cherry do some nice heavy-duty keyboards with a choice of actions and
layouts, but they're not very exciting visually.

 

[Richard Dower]

Hi,

I guess I've been out of the loop too long. I was at CompUSA looking at a
whole isles worth of keyboards for my new system and came away thinking that
for something a person would spend hours working with the quality seems like
they were meant to be about as enduring as Gillette disposables. Can anybody
recommend a corded keyboard that, dare I say, strikes one as being elegant,
sturdy, and a fitting part of a $2,500 system?

Thanks for the input, Steve.

This is what you want:

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware//keyboard/wodbt_info.asp

 

[Rob Morley]

This is what you want:

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware//keyboard/wodbt_info.asp

I guess you missed the bit where he said he wanted a corded KB?

 

[GB]

IBM Model M baby!

http://www.modelm.org/mboard.html

Perfect! Where do I get one?

 

[Tim Auton]

Cherry do some nice heavy-duty keyboards with a choice of actions and
layouts, but they're not very exciting visually.

Do cherry keyboards still sound like typewriters? The ones I've tried
have. I like a virtually silent keyboard. My main one at the moment is
an old Compaq one I got with a £25 PC I wanted for a firewall, it's
filthy and well-worn but I much prefer it to all the rest of my
keyboards. Nice feel, minimal noise.

The nicest keyboards I've used have been on Sun workstations, but it's
been a while and I've no idea who makes them or whether there are PC
versions. They're certainly fitting for a $2,500 system.


Tim

 

[JAD]

First why corded?
I for one, am getting tired of cabling....I jump the corded ship 2 years ago and got this Logitech cordless freedom optical. The
only thing that upsets me about new keyboards is the way the letters are 'printed' unto the keys. I have used clear nail polish from
my wifes suggestion to save the letters. Other than that its worked great. Hooked up the 36' JVC television to my AIW and play/surf
from the living room while the computer sits in the den (other side of the wall). No more corded for me, batteries last:
Keyboard 6 - 8 months
Mouse 6-8 weeks depending on the gaming use of course.

 

[Rob Morley]

Do cherry keyboards still sound like typewriters? The ones I've tried
have. I like a virtually silent keyboard. My main one at the moment is
an old Compaq one I got with a £25 PC I wanted for a firewall, it's
filthy and well-worn but I much prefer it to all the rest of my
keyboards. Nice feel, minimal noise.

They do mechanical switches and an advanced membrane design - I guess the
mechanical ones are still clicky

The nicest keyboards I've used have been on Sun workstations, but it's
been a while and I've no idea who makes them or whether there are PC
versions. They're certainly fitting for a $2,500 system.

I don't remember them being particularly good, but then before I was
working on Suns I was mainly using DEC greenscreens, and the keyboards on
those were nice - rather like the old IBM PC keyboards I think.

 

[i d o r u]

Perfect! Where do I get one?

If you're based in the US it's easy to find one on Ebay, but if you're based
in the UK I'll refer you to a chap called David Longley in the
uk.adverts.computer newsgroup. Do a search on deja for his ad...

I guess his prices are a bit steep for such an old kb at £12 + postage but
personally I reckon these babies are worth much more

Go pick one up - I guarantee you won't regret it...

Cheers,

Rob

 

[Dave]

Hi,

I guess I've been out of the loop too long. I was at CompUSA looking at a
whole isles worth of keyboards for my new system and came away thinking that
for something a person would spend hours working with the quality seems like
they were meant to be about as enduring as Gillette disposables. Can anybody
recommend a corded keyboard that, dare I say, strikes one as being elegant,
sturdy, and a fitting part of a $2,500 system?

Thanks for the input, Steve.

Check out this site for great keyboards
http://www.pckeyboard.com



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My main one at the moment is
an old Compaq one I got with a £25 PC I wanted for a firewall, it's
filthy and well-worn but I much prefer it to all the rest of my
keyboards. Nice feel, minimal noise.

I'm still using my old black Fujitsu/ICL, it's brilliant - no windows key and
a very small footprint. Everything I've tapped at in various suppliers just
don't come close to it.

 

[ToolPackinMama]

Hi,

I guess I've been out of the loop too long. I was at CompUSA looking at a
whole isles worth of keyboards for my new system and came away thinking that
for something a person would spend hours working with the quality seems like
they were meant to be about as enduring as Gillette disposables. Can anybody
recommend a corded keyboard that, dare I say, strikes one as being elegant,
sturdy, and a fitting part of a $2,500 system?

I love my mini-VIK.

The "virtually indestructible keyboard". It's flat, it's flexible, it's
washable, it's totally silent. I chose the mini-VIK because I never use
the number keys, and I love the small footprint.

When they say washable, they ain't kiddin'. The thing is completely
impervious to any/all spills, and can be easily cleaned, even while in
use, with a damp sponge or a rag.

I like the material its made out of too, it's a silky-feeling soft
plastic. SEXY!

It's VERY flat: the KB itself is maybe a 1/4" thick. The one I have is
a charcoal black color. It's USB, and comes with a PS/2 adapter.

FWIW, it's Windows and Linux compatible.

 

[Al Dykes]

Nobody's mentioned the venerable and wonderful Northgate Omnikey
keyboard. These are a cult item and there are always some available
on Ebay. There is at least one guy that repairs them and sells
refurbished.

http://www.northgate-keyboard-repair.com/

Northgate was an 80's PC clone manufacturer. This keyboard
was Northgate's answer to the original IBM cast iron keyboard.

These are great, heavy keyoards with crisp tactile clickky keys and
they have a bank of dip switches that let you reassign the keys to
where G*d intended them to be (swap caps lock and crtl). It comes
with a tool to pop keycaps off to move them to match the dip switch
settings. These are of course, free of any operating system software
used to remap keys. Great for us dual-boot/resintall *nix every day
folks. There is an Omnikey model that has no dipswitches and comes
with a DOS utility to reprogram the keyboard. I've never used it.

I know some of these keyboards that have been in fulltime use by
professional hackers, fulltime, for years. I've got one from 1985 that
needs to go into the shop. One of the keys died after 15 years of use.

Someone bought the rights to this design and is making them again;

http://www.ergo-2000.com/ergo2000/showprod.cfm?&DID=6&
User_ID=569614&st=6740&st2=-43229618&st3
=-48831622&CATID=36&ObjectGroup_ID=235

(put the URL back together yourself)

The day I get a computer with no PS2/AT ports I'll be shopping for
for a USB-PS2 adapter. I hope they exist and work with an AT adapter.