Keyboard Suggestions

[dseaver]

I am looking for a new keyboard for my desktop. I have been using my Microsoft Wireless Desktop Elite for 3.5 + years now without any problems, but now I don't really like it anymore. I am looking at a good typing keyboard (since I am a junior in CE, will be doing a lot of programming in the future). I was looking at Das Keyboard, but I don't like the fact that it does cost $80, but I may just suck it up and buy it, unless there are other suggestions here. I don't need all the media buttons and whatnot, i just want a keyboard that will be good for typing, I will be doing papers and coding with it. I don't need to consider gaming, since i have my Belkin Nostromo for that. I would take an ergonomic keyboard under consideration, it could be wired or wireless, leaning more towards a USB keyboard, since it will be used on my next rig (when i end up building it)

Thanks!

 

[wahnula]

Since you will be using it for coding you would want all the special characters consistent with your current keyboard.

http://www.pckeyboard.com

has the license for the IBM Buckling Spring key technology, taken from the Selectric and IBM's first consumer PCs. I bought one for my wife, a touch typist, and she loves it, but boy does it make a racket! They also have "quiet" keyboards.

Myself, I am a modified hunt & peck typist, and I use the Logitech DiNovo Bluetooth both at work and at home, it separates the dust-collecting keypad into a separate "media unit" that I keep in a drawer. I love its small size and silence, it's like a laptop. It has a double-size Backspace and Delete keys, which I constantly use and is a valuable feature to me.

It may be worth a trip to Fry's or a local electronics store to "test drive" the keyboard, and although money is important value is more important, this is the way you will interface with your PC and is a very 'personal' purchase.

Or, you just get a generic $6 keyboard, it will do its job just fine.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[dseaver]

I was looking at

http://www.daskeyboard.com

because it was a clicky keyboard and i kind of like the idea of no labels on the keys. So noise is not an important factor, although i would kind of like a clicky one. A number pad is a must, so the fact of removing the number pad does not help in deciding, it will always be there. A $6 keyboard does not interest me, I want a good quality one, so spending a some cash is expected. Thanks wahnula!

 

[tf1]

As stated, a keyboard is really quite a personal thing. If you have ever been happy with one of the cheap keyboards usually supplied with a new PC, then virtually anything will do!

The problem that I am finding these days is that the displays have got significantly smaller (CRT to Flat panels) whilst keyboards seem to be exploding.

I like the DiNovo too because it is cleverly sized. I actually like the detached NumPad because I often have to input loads of numbers too and I can have it handy to the left of the main keyboard (because I am strangely cack-handed) or on top of the publications that I am copying the numbers from.

Regards: tf1

 

[Sympology]

I always loved Cherry keyboards, but the prices will make the DAS look a bargain. They possibly have the nicest feel and last a lifetime.
Old rule, you get what you pay for.



Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[gbaughma]

I got a Das Keyboard II for christmas.

You won't regret it.

It absolutely ROCKS.

And with the gold-plated mechanical switches, they're good for something like 50 million keypresses....



Just my 2¢
-Cole's Law: Shredded cabbage

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[felixc]

In the past 15 years I've used keyboards from Keytronic. They're plain and have no sexy looks. But I like their tactile feedback. I'm pleased to see that they still make keyboards, now as USB, so I won't make typing mistakes on my next computer.