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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: daniel.ocarroll on Sat, 26 March 2011, 07:37:20

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Post by: daniel.ocarroll on Sat, 26 March 2011, 07:37:20

Hi guys,

Firstly, let me introduce myself.

I'm a 22 yr old law student from Ireland who runs a national student news website, http://www.corkstudentnews.com (check it out!), as well as a whole bunch of other online operations. Most relevantly, I type for hours a day and only figured out as recently as three months ago that what I type on was having a major impact on my productivity both in school and at work and even on the quality of what I was putting out.

I had a Microsoft Internet Keyboard for three months in NYC last summer and thought it was so great that I wanted to bring it back from the office (which I couldn't), but resolved to find something similar coming home.

Unfortunately I delevoped a sort of keyboard OCD that I'm sure many of you can understand and returned rubber-dome keyboard after rubber dome keyboard trying to find something that would meet my needs.

I did eventually settle on what I'm tryping on now, the Apple wired alluminium, but I'm liking it less and less, and am glad to see that I'm not the only nutcase out there who's really concerned about what they type on.

So that's my case. I'm a student although not totally price-sensitive, but looking to buy a decent keyboard with nice tactile feedback that will be able to sustains many hours of use.

Really happy that I found this forum. The more I read about keyboards on here the more I'm convinced that I'm not crazy and that it does have a significant impact on typing speed and producitivity!

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Post by: daniel.ocarroll on Sat, 26 March 2011, 07:40:49

Just as an afterthought after having read through a lot of the threads here I've:
a) Ordered a microsoft internet keyboard off ebay, rubber dome and all, just so that I've something to please me while I'm still looking for the right mechanical to buy, and
b) I think this is the likeliest candidate so far (the DAS Keyboard) but please let me know if there's something better:
http://www.getdigital.de/products/Das_Keyboard_Model_S/lng/en

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Post by: n12 on Sat, 26 March 2011, 07:48:47

Although I have never tried one, if you really like the feel of rubber dome's, I'd suggest a keyboard that uses Topre's... Any of the Realforce keyboards(depending on your needs) or a HHKB Pro2.

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Post by: n12 on Sat, 26 March 2011, 07:51:54

Also you can check out this link for a comparison of switches and finding out what is right for you. (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=START+HERE+--+The+Geekhack+Mechanical+Keyboard+Guide+-+Includes+Glossary+and+Links) If you think Topre's are right for you, check out this link (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Topre+Realforce+Reference+-+all+things+topre) as well and check out some of the reviews (http://geekhack.org/forumdisplay.php?f=38).

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Post by: keyboardlover on Sat, 26 March 2011, 08:18:40

Top o' the mornin' to ya laddie!

Since you're in Ireland your best best is probably what http://www.keyboardco.com has to offer.

Also, if you're interested you still have 2 more days to buy one or two of these beauties (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=15514).

(Unfortunately only 3 leaves...not SO lucky).
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5259/5465389803_dbddff2a58.jpg)

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Post by: pcunite on Sat, 26 March 2011, 08:49:28

It took me about a month of reading to find out and order the keyboard I wanted. Of course, since I have not tried them all there is some doubt :)

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Post by: daniel.ocarroll on Sat, 26 March 2011, 08:52:05

A great, a shop in the UK, just what I was looking for.

I think it's going to take me a while allright. The problem is, as retail shops only stock the rubbish rubber-dome variety, that you can't really test one out and see how it feels, so I'm going to have to do a lot of research and be really sure that what I'm buying is what I Want before ordering.

Off topic, what do people on here think of the apple aluminium wired? I seem to get irritated with it quickly but it seems fine if I'm only doing  afew minutes of writing.

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Post by: keyboardlover on Sat, 26 March 2011, 09:09:31

Also I forgot to say, Welcome to GeekHack!

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Post by: daniel.ocarroll on Sat, 26 March 2011, 09:33:29

Thanks for the welcome guys, and it feels great to have found a forum dedicated specifically to other crazies like me for whom a keyboard is more than 'just a keyboard'! My personal theory is that keyboard quality has a strong correlation not just to work-rate, but to work quality. I think that a slow keyboard slows down cognition but I have no empirical evidence that that is indeed so so will have to leave that crazy theory off for the time being!

But anyway, back on track, I do quite like it for about the first ten minutes, but then I find it 'squishy'. I guess the scissor key movement is still a long way off what you get with mechanical switches?

Really looking forward to the Microsoft internet keyboard. It may just be a rubber dome but in the meantime it'll hold me by, and I've heard other users also rave about its tactile feedback.

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Post by: iMav on Sat, 26 March 2011, 10:27:34

Welcome to geekhack!

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Post by: Tony on Sun, 27 March 2011, 05:36:07

Quote from: daniel.ocarroll;318862

Hi guys,

Really happy that I found this forum. The more I read about keyboards on here the more I'm convinced that I'm not crazy and that it does have a significant impact on typing speed and producitivity!

I have to confirm that you are definitely crazy, just like us and everyone else around you. Trying to be sane is the craziest thing ever you can do.

By the way, welcome to Geekhack. Hopefully you will get a mechanical keyboard that suits your needs.

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Post by: Larry Dallas on Sun, 27 March 2011, 08:26:13

Also, if you're interested you still have 2 more days to buy one or two of these beauties (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=15514).


I'd love to have one of these with a green clover on a white key (I'm not Irish, just an Alfa Romeo fan).

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Post by: keyboardlover on Sun, 27 March 2011, 08:29:32

I'm an alfa romeo fan too...but I thought their logo was a red cross and serpent?

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Post by: Larry Dallas on Sun, 27 March 2011, 09:00:19

The Alfa sport models had the cloverleaf decal on the fender, behind the front wheel. It started as a good luck symbol on their race cars and was added to the road cars later. If I can get off my ass I'll take some pics.

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Post by: daniel.ocarroll on Sun, 27 March 2011, 18:00:26

Haha. No, I don't think anybody here is crazy. Actually I think that it's really crazy NOT to care about keyboards because, at least IMO, they have a massive effect on productivity, and how many people can honestly claim that productivity doesn't matter in their work?

Anyway, I think, having had a browse through several more keyboard sites, that a 'light touch' keyboard is basically what I'm after, so anybody have suggestions for any mechanicals that would also meet this criteria?

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Post by: keyboardlover on Sun, 27 March 2011, 18:16:22

Anything with cherry reds, is what you seek my friend.

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Post by: kw71 on Sun, 27 March 2011, 18:19:41

Welcome Daniel.

First of all denying the craziness is not healthy.  It's called autism and it's very real and life is just better if you accept it.

Keyboardlover may be onto something in his suggestion about cherry red.  I don't know what your microsoft keyboard feels like, but if you like domes with a little bit of snap or bump in them try the clears or browns.

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Post by: keyb_gr on Sun, 27 March 2011, 19:35:44

FWIW, you typically can't go terribly wrong with something using MX blues or browns for the first mechanical. Cherry G80-3000LSCGB is among the least expensive boards with blues, options with browns tend to cost somewhat more.

Being in Euroland means that you may be able to get a Fujitsu KBPC series rubber dome (KBPC PX, or the split ergo KBPC E). I like the feel of these but don't get along with the very weak lasered lettering.

In any case, there'll be a lot of reading to do. There's quite a bit of stuff in the wiki nowadays.

Oh, and congrats on what I think is the shortest thread title here ever. ;)

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Post by: neo on Sun, 27 March 2011, 20:37:29

Quote from: daniel.ocarroll;319750

Actually I think that it's really crazy NOT to care about keyboards because, at least IMO, they have a massive effect on productivity, and how many people can honestly claim that productivity doesn't matter in their work?

You are so right. The effect on productivity is undeniable. Ever since I started caring about keyboards and found this forum my productivity went down the drain.

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Post by: Mr. Perfect on Sun, 27 March 2011, 23:30:28

See if you can get on one of SirCickAlot's Switch Try sinklists (http://www.mrinterface.com/sinklists). Geekhack member mail around collections of switches so you can compare them all and find which one you prefer. Highly recommended!

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Post by: Evil_Spork on Mon, 28 March 2011, 09:38:18

I don't think Cherry MX brown or red will be ideal. He's enjoying the large tactile bump from his current keyboards, and switching to something linear like the red or with virtually no bump like a brown may be a bit shocking. I know it was a shock for me to go from smashing keys on a scissor switch with 75g to a 45g brown key. I do however like the feel quite a bit, but I wish I had the tactile bump and low actuation force of an MX clear switch.

If only they were still made.. :(

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Post by: Mr. Perfect on Mon, 28 March 2011, 10:30:35

Where does this rumor that Cherry Clear switches aren't made anymore come from? Sixty has posted (http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=307038&postcount=52) that they are still available in Europe, just not in Asia. You can even buy individual switches from Mosuer (http://www.mouser.com/Electromechanical/Switches/Keylock-Switches/_/N-5g2u?Keyword=cherry&FS=True) if you want.

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Post by: n12 on Mon, 28 March 2011, 11:26:37

Quote from: neo;319834

You are so right. The effect on productivity is undeniable. Ever since I started caring about keyboards and found this forum my productivity went down the drain.

:biggrin: