geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: sargon on Wed, 04 February 2009, 11:01:55
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I'm in the market for a new keyboard, and I was wondering if anyone had advice on which one I should get. Here are my criteria:
- N-key rollover
- Quiet; I'm tired of my model M waking up the neighbors
- I want it to not have that fdsa/asdf das keyboard problem -- I type around 120, so it would be an issue for me
- Traditional US layout (no big enter, no big del)
- Ideally <$100, but I can go above if I must
So far, I've been unable to find any keyboard at all that meets all these criteria, much less in my price range. Anyone have any ideas?
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Steelseries or Deck 'boards might be good. They use Cherry black switches, while not tactile, are fairly quiet.
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You dont see that many with the single key backspace. Not new boards anyway.
There are some though.
The steel series 7G is nice. The blacks are good solid switches and its cool that you can use it with or without the enormous wrist rest.
Its good looking too.
I say go for it :)
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It's really quiet at my job — I get evil looks using a Macally iKey for the love of crap — and the Filco with browns I had didn't make anyone bat an eye. They come with n-key rollover (with and without a number pad) so I think that is what you should get. Plus a Filco with Cherry browns will last you a decade, but it run you closer to $200.
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The Steelseries keyboards are the wrong layout for me -- I can't stand that big enter and tiny backspace.
How would I import a Filco? Is there a site I can just order from? And it's made by Costar (same as the das keyboard), right? So does it have that key order problem?
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I got my Filco and my Topre from BeNippon, but now I use j-goods to get my stuff from Japan. Links are in the wiki — there are other ways too. Easy as pie, trusted, but a bite in the wallet.
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It doesn't have the rollover problem that the Das has, no.
But, what about the ABS M1? It's at least 6-key rollover - I forget if anyone's tried it with a PS/2 converter, to see if it's N-key. And, it initially had issues where it was only one or two-key rollover, but they've been fixed.
It's essentially a Filco with black Alps switches. Tactile, but not clicky.
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All Alps switches are louder than Cherry blacks or browns.
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But what about relative to a Model M?
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The six-key rollover on the M1 would probably be enough, assuming it actually works. Can anyone who has an M1 confirm that? Everything I find says it has it, and then someone actually tests it and they say "oh no wait, I can't hit wexc" or something along those lines.
The price of the M1 is definitely more in my range, though. $200 is hard to muster, even for a keyboard as amazing as the cherry brown n-key Filco.
The newegg reviews say the M1 is loud, but I get the impression it's not as loud as an M.
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"WEXC" does not work on the ABS. I wrote some notes a little earlier (it may even be the latest post in the thread still) about some observations around this in the N-Key Rollover thread. I would say that the ABS is somewhat quieter than the Model M. It does not click the same way as the M, but it does "clack" on the top and bottom out of the keystroke.
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WEXC does not work on my brand new M1. And here's what happens when you hit ASDF at the same time...
asdf
asdf
asdf
asdf
Just like the DAS III.
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You dont see that many with the single key backspace. Not new boards anyway.
that's because they're evil.
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that's because they're evil.
Word.
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But, what about the ABS M1? It's at least 6-key rollover - I forget if anyone's tried it with a PS/2 converter, to see if it's N-key. And, it initially had issues where it was only one or two-key rollover, but they've been fixed.
The M1 doesn't work with a USB->PS/2 adapter.
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I'm in the market for a new keyboard, and I was wondering if anyone had advice on which one I should get. Here are my criteria:
- N-key rollover
- Quiet; I'm tired of my model M waking up the neighbors
- I want it to not have that fdsa/asdf das keyboard problem -- I type around 120, so it would be an issue for me
- Traditional US layout (no big enter, no big del)
- Ideally <$100, but I can go above if I must
So far, I've been unable to find any keyboard at all that meets all these criteria, much less in my price range. Anyone have any ideas?
There aren't too many even in Japan, and sorry to say this, none for your budget.
If you disregard the budget, these ones maybe?
Cherry G80-3600LYCEU-2 (USB with PS/2 adapter included, n-key rollover via PS/2)
http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B001NKDDAA/ 10,580 yen
Realforce 101 (PS/2, n-key rollover with chatter-free mechanism, no windows key)
http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B000EQHU5I 15,876 yen (and it's at a bargain, FYI)
Majestouch Tenkeyless FKBN87M/EB (USB with PS/2 adapter, n-key rollover via PS/2)
http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B001BR4NLI/ 8,550 yen (I don't really think this one's so quiet, though)
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Realforce is your best bet for a quiet n-key rollover. It is very well worth your investment.
Have you considered the HHKB2 Pro?
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I really want a normal layout. The HHKB2 Pro doesn't have arrow keys or a 10-key (which I actually want). The Realforce doesn't have windows keys.
It seems to me like the Filco FKBN104M/EB is my best bet. Now I just have to search around somehow for a good price.
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The Realforce doesn't have windows keys.
The Realforce is also available with windows keys and numeric keypad: http://www.fs.topre.co.jp/products/comp/ (Realforce 103, at the bottom of the page).
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Majestouch FKBN104M/EB and FKBN104ML/EB are limited items and only available at Diatec online stores, except maybe for Yahoo! auctions or ebay, which means you just can't find a better price anywhere.
Realforce 103 is only available in Taiwan currently, and I don't know much about it.
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available at Diatec online stores
But Diatec won't ship to the US, right? Or will they? I can't read Japanese.
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But Diatec won't ship to the US, right? Or will they? I can't read Japanese.
That's correct, you need to use J-Goods, BeNippon, etc. You can find more about them in the Wiki.