Keyboards

[Mike Kerner]

I just bought a Mac Mini, my first "desktop" machine in quite a while, so for the first time in a long time I'm looking for a keyboard.

Since I spend a lot of my day banging on keys, I'm looking for something that doesn't feel like 5h!7, and will put up with the abuse.

I WANT to like the Apple-branded keyboards, but my first impression is that I don't like the chicklets on the wireless version, and I think I want a full 105 key keyboard.

I've been to Best Buy but I haven't found one that feels good under my fingers.

Suggestions?

--
On the first day, God created the heavens and the Earth
On the second day, God created the oceans.
On the third day, God put the animals on hold for a few hours,
   and did a little diving.
And God said, "This is good."

[Cannon Smith]

My favorite keyboard is the white Macally iceKEY:

<http://www.macally.com/EN/Product/ArticleShow.asp?ArticleID=147>

I've use this for years now and can type faster on it than most other keyboards.

--
Cannon Smith
Synergy Farm Solutions
P.O. Box 65 -- Hill Spring, AB CANADA -- T0K 1E0
(403) 626-3236 or 1-866-626-3236
<can...@synergyfarmsolutions.com>
<www.synergyfarmsolutions.com>

Mike Kerner wrote:

> Suggestions?

[Doug Hall]

It's loud and a bit pricey, but if the feel of the keyboard is
important to you, there aren't any better than this one:

<http://www.matias.ca/tactilepro3/>

Be sure to read the Tidbits review, which is linked from that page.

[Doug Hall]

It's a little pricey and pretty loud, but if you don't have anyone
around you, and the feel of the keyboard is important, then I'd check
out the new Tactile Pro keyboard. Read the Tidbits review, which is
linked here.

<http://www.matias.ca/tactilepro3/>

[Mike Kerner]

I've ordered one keyboard to test, because I haven't liked anything that I've felt in any of the local stores.  I also have another that I want to try because it looks like it's probably very cool.

Anyway, the main point here was this:  I've been researching keyboards for about a month.  I am fascinated by what I have found to date:

1) none of the manufacturers will disclose the trigger force of their membrane keyboards.  They have said that because of manufacturing issues, the weight can vary significantly, so no two keyboards, even within the same lot, will feel the same.

2) Even among the keyboards with premium mechanical switches, the activating force varies by +/- 30% ON THE SAME KEYBOARD!


I'll let you know more after I get to junk this POC for hopefully one that doesn't make my fingers hurt...

[Mike Kerner]

Final note on this thread before I put it down to the archives and posterity for the next person looking for a kb.  I got a Das Keyboard Silent Ultimate on Friday.

It's mechanical, but it eliminates the "click" portion of the sound that an "M" style mechanical keyboard makes.  Instead you hear the riser sliding in and out of the bushing, and the key bottoming out at the end.  It's still a lot louder than a membrane keyboard.

Most of the mechanicals that I've checked out require 70g of force to activate the key.  The Silent requires 50, so it's a lighter feel, if you want that.

The Ultimate is so named because it has no labels on any of the keys, again if you want that.

I love, love, love the feel.  I'm glad that I'm back on a mechanical.  I did a lot of keyboarding since I've gotten it, and I'm really happy that I bought it.