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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: somanylabreports on Wed, 07 September 2011, 14:37:13
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So I've never really bought a keyboard for "function" before and I've always had just small laptop style keyboards for average use, but if I ever had to use one for extended periods of time, my hands would just be effed. I'm in my final semesters of my engineering degree and this particular semester I'm taking around 4 lab classes. Basically I'll be required to type between 20 and 50 pages of engineering lab reports a week in addition to daily use. I went to some chain stores to check out their selection and was... disappointed.
I liked one keyboard in the stores, the Logitech Wave, great layout and an ergonomic style I could use efficiently (I use homekeys but don't type the "right way" so the separated ergos could never work right for me) but the one thing holding me back was all the pointless **** around the outside of the keyboard, DAMN MEDIA KEYS.
I did some looking around this site and I've concluded that if I went mechanical (as that seems to be the consensus of what a "real keyboard" is around here) I would probably go for Brown or Blue switches.
My friend has one of the new Das Keyboards and I typed on it briefly and was amazed coming from my flat keyboards, but I almost feel like buying a Das Keyboard is like using Windows or buying an iPhone, may not be the best, but everyone and their mothers has one.
Basically I'm turning to your knowledge of the vast keyboard world to help me find a keyboard.
I like the Logitech Wave so if you know of a keyboard that has a similar layout without all the stupid media keys on it, even tenkeyless, point away!
But basically, I'm just looking for some options
TL;DR
-Need typing keyboard 20-50pages a week
-Virtually no gaming
-Does not need to be mechanical, likes Logitech Wave layout
-If mechanical: Browns or Blues
-USB or P/S2
-Preferably <$200
Thanks!
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The wave's layout is a bit weird. If you are ok with a more traditional layout, you could go with a Rosewill RK-9000 (full size / blue switches) or a PLU ML-87 (tenkeyless, available with blues, browns, etc). Both are under $100. If you want to spend a bit more, you can go with Filco at amazon.com or Leopold at elitekeyboards.com which are available with various switch types, as well as full size and tenkeyless options. All of these keyboards will type very similarly, I don't think you can go wrong with any of them. Just keep in mind blue switches are a bit noisy and might bother people around you, however they are really nice for typing.
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Well if you are a student than getting a Das can be a really good, cheap option because from what I have heard that price comes out to about $100 with the student discount. I started using a Leopold last month and I liked the way it feels with the Brown switches but I know that EliteKeyboards.com has the Leopolds in Black, Brown, and Blue switches. They just recently got the Fullsize boards as well so they might be a place to look if you can be happy with ~$140 after taxes and shipping costs.
Oh, and in researching this I learned something new: The new Leopold Fullsize boards also come in Red switches which from what I have read around here are really really good to type on (similar to Blue switches).
For reference: http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,fullsize&pid=fc500rrab
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Rubberdome:
- Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
- Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000
Mechanical:
- Filco Tenkeyless
- Leopold Tenkeyless
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If you're lucky, you might be able to find a Northgate Evolution. It's built like a tank, but it sounds like one, too. It also uses ALPS switches, but seeing as you're using a rubber dome 'board now, the ALPS will feel awesome.
Otherwise, what squarebox said.
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"Extra keys I'll never use" and "seems like everyone else has one" are not very good reasons to get / not get a keyboard.
If you like the Wave's layout, get the Wave. There are very, very few options for mechanical + non-standard layout keyboards. You will die waiting for someone else to come up with the perfect layout.
In terms of split mechanicals:
Northgate Evo (my avatar), hard to find
Truly Ergonomic (vaporware, expensive)
Kinesis Essential/Advantage (expensive)
Maltron (very expensive)
All the flat boards seem the same to me, so I can't comment too much on those. I can only add that you might consider the Unicomp boards cause buckling spring is awesome.
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^ Speaking of the Northgate Evolution.
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Thanks for the replies guys, I guess I forgot to put in the tl;dr that I type stupid, my hands cross the middle keys all the time (y, with left hand, b with right hand, stuff like that) so typing on the split boards is very foreign to me and something I don't see myself being comfortable with. From browsing a little after I posted I like both the Filco and the Leopolds, nice and simple and that Filco Ninja's front printed keys are awesome, but I'll look more into Rosewill, have only seen some cheap ones from them on newegg though.
As far as the "extra keys" and "because of everyone else", I agree with you, but just some clarification, it's not so much that there's 20 function keys as opposed to 12, what I'm saying is the Wave has these huge obnoxious plastic buttons for playing music or "zooming", and with the Das Keyboard, I just didn't want to fall for the hype before I knew more about it, if it truly is better, well so be it. :)
So as far as the standard layout boards go, is it true to say that (with the same switch) they will all pretty much feel the same, and it's personal preference on the other things?
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Well, at some point everything is personal preference. Some people are picky about key feel. It doesn't seem like you are, since you mentioned mechanical would be nice, so I would put it towards the bottom of your priority list. This forum has a lot of people who love to find and exaggerate minute differences between keyboards, that's what makes it a hobby.
I don't see what's so fancy about the Das Keyboard other than the fact they are well-marketed, and introduced blank keycaps into the mainstream.
So as far as the standard layout boards go, is it true to say that (with the same switch) they will all pretty much feel the same, and it's personal preference on the other things?
Probably. There are things like keyboard construction (metal plates?) and slightly rearranged buttons (big enter key?) that may change how a keyboard sounds and feels. Some people really care about keycap quality. In a quantitative sense, some brands may be less reliable. Probably best to search on geekhack for any glaring issues.
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I have the exact same issues with the split ergo, right down the the 'b' key.
I haven't made the plunge myself either- in fact, this is admittedly a forced attempt to get my post count up so I can get on a switch try sinklist.
I haven't decided if I want backlit or not (I think I do, but I've lived without it for this long). If I decide against it, Das, Rosewill, and WASD are probably the contenders. They all seem to have very similar build quality.
The Das has a USB hub, the Rosewill has the red plate, and WASD has the keycap colors (and I'm waiting in part to see if they'll do paint fill any time soon.) The Leopold would also be in there, especially if the Rosewill doesn't come back into stock. Das does have free shipping, though, so elitekeyboards $109 isn't as much of a discount.
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Here's another possibility, $68.99 and free shipping from Amazon for a Razer Blackwidow (blue switches).
http://www.amazon.com/Razer-BlackWidow-Mechanical-Gaming-Keyboard/dp/B003ZJ1VD8
It's glossy though, and has some media / macro keys... it's probably the easiest/cheapest way to enjoy plate mounted cherry mx blue switch typing!
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Wow, I'm not familiar with Razer's offerings, but those are some inelegant keycaps.
Then again... macro buttons!
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Filcos, Rosewills, and Leopolds are all solid 'boards that come in browns and blues.
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I'll go ahead and say, you should get a cheap model m from ebay. Like $30, nothing to lose there. If you like it great, if you don't sell it back elsewhere.
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Also, if you're doing lab reports, ignore all the suggestions of a tenkeyless. From my old lab reports, there are just too damn many numbers to enter to not have a tenkey at the ready. Alternatively, also pick up a USB keyboard, but finding one that feels similar to the keyboard will be a bit more of a challenge if you take the separate route.
Just some friendly advice. Also, where are you doing your degree? There's a chance you can just snag an old mechanical from surplus, or the ECE department, etc.
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My Model M was my lab report/coding 'board the past two years. Although, it did get tiring if I sat and coded for over 8 hours at a time.
Aaaand the more I think about it, the more I regret selling that HHKB....
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I'll go ahead and say, you should get a cheap model m from ebay. Like $30, nothing to lose there. If you like it great, if you don't sell it back elsewhere.
I'll look into it, gotta figure out how to tell the fakes first..
Also, if you're doing lab reports, ignore all the suggestions of a tenkeyless. From my old lab reports, there are just too damn many numbers to enter to not have a tenkey at the ready. Alternatively, also pick up a USB keyboard, but finding one that feels similar to the keyboard will be a bit more of a challenge if you take the separate route.
Just some friendly advice. Also, where are you doing your degree? There's a chance you can just snag an old mechanical from surplus, or the ECE department, etc.
I'm at RPI.
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Well heyy, look what I got (http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Moel-M-buckling-spring-keyboard-1987-white-label-/320759691349#ht_500wt_1298) today! :)
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Nice pickup - 1987 Model M for $16 delivered is a nice find - got to love it when the sellers are careless in their item title - gives the extra chance of the lurkers and the bots finding underpriced items.
When you have had a chance to use it for a while do write back and let us know how you found it and whether it is meeting your needs and has ended or fuelled a interest in good keyboards.
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I really like and wanted the Filco TKL in Blues, but they are hard to find and a bit more than I care to pay.... WASD is a new board on the market and fully customizable. They seem to have the same internal parts OEM'd as DAS, Filco ... But don't offer the TenKeyless yet.
If you want to be " outisde the windows box" you may want to check something like that out.
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It just showed up in the mail today, I'll use it tonight to type up a lab report. First thoughts, I love typing on it, but... OMG the ping! I read about it and thought it was a myth.. it's pretty noticeable, lol.... Nothing a little bit of music can't take care of though.
Also, the footprint is a lot larger than I expected...