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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Viper2 on Fri, 20 May 2011, 19:06:18

Title: Who makes the best heavy duty rubber dome keyboards?
Post by: Viper2 on Fri, 20 May 2011, 19:06:18: I am thinking that maybe I am just to used to typing on rubber dome keyboards and the mechanical keyboards just feel too weird to me. I currently type on an Apple A1048 keyboard and it has a great feel to it and is relatively heavy duty. However, I would prefer a non-Apple themed keyboard, especially since I will have a new Windows PC soon. Therefore, who makes the best rubber dome keyboards out there? I mean rubber dome keyboards with frames as heavy duty as Filco keyboards.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.
Title: Who makes the best heavy duty rubber dome keyboards?
Post by: HaveANiceDay on Fri, 20 May 2011, 19:09:23: Oh what a great opportunity to recommend a Realforce as a non-mechanical!
But seriously, you will very likely like a Realforce.
Title: Who makes the best heavy duty rubber dome keyboards?
Post by: noodles256 on Fri, 20 May 2011, 19:42:37: wlcm 2 gh!

topre ftw!!
Title: Who makes the best heavy duty rubber dome keyboards?
Post by: Surly73 on Fri, 20 May 2011, 20:02:54: In rubber dome land, I like KeyTronic quite a lot. They aren't made to the high standards of most mech boards, and especially not Topre, but they have a good key feel and I can achieve high speeds on them with comfort.
Title: Who makes the best heavy duty rubber dome keyboards?
Post by: Mr. Perfect on Fri, 20 May 2011, 21:16:15: Quote from: HaveANiceDay;349221
Oh what a great opportunity to recommend a Realforce as a non-mechanical!
But seriously, you will very likely like a Realforce.

True. Unless you don't like the price. In which case, this may be the one time we can recommend a Quiet Touch Unicomp. It combines the feel of rubber domes with the military grade construction of a Model M.
Title: Who makes the best heavy duty rubber dome keyboards?
Post by: Zet on Fri, 20 May 2011, 21:51:05: I agree with ripster If you think you might not like or get used to a mech, scissor switches are really nice, I like them a lot!
Title: Who makes the best heavy duty rubber dome keyboards?
Post by: Tony on Sat, 21 May 2011, 07:36:31: Keytronic keyboards are very sturdy. Or maybe you can try Dell 8135.
Title: Who makes the best heavy duty rubber dome keyboards?
Post by: Pylon on Sat, 21 May 2011, 07:47:24: Dell RT7D5JTW.
Title: Who makes the best heavy duty rubber dome keyboards?
Post by: BucklingSpring on Sat, 21 May 2011, 10:14:25: Quote from: Pylon;349393
Dell RT7D5JTW.

Actually, most RT's will do.
They are NBM's with the "Right Touch" technology.

Have a look at this thread... http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?17951-Good-Membrane-Switches-Recommendations&highlight=keytronic (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?17951-Good-Membrane-Switches-Recommendations&highlight=keytronic)

Very good recommendations in there...

We should compile the list of Heavy Duty Rubber Dome boards and put it in the switch wiki.
Title: Who makes the best heavy duty rubber dome keyboards?
Post by: BucklingSpring on Sat, 21 May 2011, 10:23:54: Quote from: ripster;349420
Somebody stick a RipOmeter (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:6189) on it!

My bet is ALL rubber domes are all pretty similar.

You are probably right about actuation force. There was some sort of concensus in the industry (base on IBM reasearches - 50...70g keys +-80g spacebar)

But not all domes are born equals qualitywise.
Title: Who makes the best heavy duty rubber dome keyboards?
Post by: kinkng on Sat, 21 May 2011, 10:44:27: I would recommend the IBM model M rubber dome ones (part number 71G4644). Coming from a buckling spring one, I can still type at pretty much the same speed without making mistakes. For a rubber dome, the feel is still pretty good.
Title: Who makes the best heavy duty rubber dome keyboards?
Post by: Chobopants on Sat, 21 May 2011, 12:44:47: I still have a lot of respect for the Apple chiclet boards I've been using for the past number of years (and which I'm using right now as I type this on my MacBook Pro).

I've seen them go through insane abuse and never skip a beat. If you can get the actuation force just right on them they're pretty gentle on your hands and they're small, light, and tough as hell. Also, you can walk into any Best Buy or Apple store and type on one for a few minutes to see what you think.

(http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/white-apple-keyboard_1.jpg)
Title: Who makes the best heavy duty rubber dome keyboards?
Post by: noodles256 on Sat, 21 May 2011, 12:52:35: !!! chobopants
Title: Who makes the best heavy duty rubber dome keyboards?
Post by: Chobopants on Sat, 21 May 2011, 22:55:24: Quote from: noodles256;349492
!!! chobopants

Yes sir, it's a legit board. :)
Title: Who makes the best heavy duty rubber dome keyboards?
Post by: noodles256 on Sat, 21 May 2011, 23:09:24: now I just have to find armando penblade
Title: Who makes the best heavy duty rubber dome keyboards?
Post by: Chobopants on Sun, 22 May 2011, 13:48:33: Quote from: noodles256;349702
now I just have to find armando penblade

Haha is there some sort of treasure hunt going on? :)
Title: Who makes the best heavy duty rubber dome keyboards?
Post by: Viper2 on Mon, 23 May 2011, 04:30:47: Thanks for the responses everyone.
Title: Who makes the best heavy duty rubber dome keyboards?
Post by: gilgam on Mon, 23 May 2011, 14:39:24: were you looking for the heavier switches or the most solid keyboard ?
I understood the second