I've recently found this:
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(http://i.imgur.com/lADNexA.jpg)
Any idea what's that?
That's either a Cherry G8X-18XX or a Cherry rip-off. You could show us the switches, caps, and rear sticker, which would help.
The g80-18xx seemed best for me, but the pg up/dn home/end cluster is kind of far away.
Rather than me assuming, can anyone chime in how the g80-1865 type keyboards fare for spreadsheet manipulation and programming? I use arrows and pg up/pg dn/home/end heavily to navigate and do a lot of alt and ctrl shortcuts. Anyone have issues with the small alt and ctrl keys, or with the distance of pg up/pg dn/home/end cluster? Otherwise it looks like an effective keyboard.
Found another one... Access IS AKC127-K4 (or maybe it's disqualified for having an extra function row on top?)
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(http://www.access-is.com/images/akc127-k4_trading_keyboard_large.jpg)
I really still want to get something like a 90%, but none of them are just right for me so far...
(Attachment Link)
Really cool stuff that company has. Wonder if they sell direct to end customer. Perhaps get a GB going on something interesting?
http://www.access-is.com/pdf/AKC_Programmable_POS_Keyboards.pdf
I would like to propose a new keyboard layout standard. The 90% keyboard! Everything you need and and nothing you don't!
So what is the 90% keyboard you ask well its the just like a 10 keyless or 80% keyboard but instead of the arrow keys and insert cluster you get a spreadsheet shredding, mathematizing and all together way cooler number pad:
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v519/TheProfosist/GeekHack/GH-sub-mine/WASDALTTKLFnLayer1TEMP3.png)
Not my picture just using it illustrate the point.
I have a pair of 90% keyboard and wanted to give y'all a quick run down on the two keyboards.
First up the CM Storm QuickFire TK:
I picked up my CM Storm QuickFire TK (CMSQTK? CMSTK? CMTK?) not long ago from Amazon for about ~$100 and almost a month of waiting, woo back orders.
The moment I picked up the CMTK I could feel the construction quality and the raw mass of the plate that the switches are mounted to. The key caps are Laser etched ABS and have this quasi rubberized finish that feel fine until they don't (for me about every 25 keystrokes) then it just feels really odd. The keys feel almost like slowly licking window as the keys cling to your fingers and release repeatedly.
The CMTK only other weakness lack of dedicated delete button making the venerable Ctrl + Alt + Del a bit annoying.
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(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3207174/2014-05-01%2021.27.41.jpg)
As compared to a full size keyboard:
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(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3207174/2014-05-01%2021.29.34.jpg)
Second up to the "Adesso Compact Mechanical Keyboard" or ACMK? I got the ACMK at Micro Center for ~$80 and no waiting.
I will make this short and sweet the keycaps feel cheap and plate seems seems to be made of paper.
But.... the layout and key placement and Insert cluster conveniently placed right above the number pad is just perfect. The layout is absolutely perfect full stop.
As compared to the CMTK:
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(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3207174/2014-05-01%2021.27.16.jpg)
As compared to a full size keyboard:
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(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3207174/2014-05-01%2021.30.18.jpg)
Thanks, Frank
The TKL really sets a new standard in my personnal opinion. It's the best trade off between a fullsize and spacesaving, because it offers everything a standard fullsize offers but binded into the numbpad. Only thing i might say dissapoints me is that they are ABS keycaps, but everything has its flaws i guess.
Really nice pictures you have there maybe you wouldn't mind posting some other ones. A good friend of mine wants to buy a CM board but cannot decide between the different models, and i'm hoping to help his mind falls into the good choice.
TL;DR : Please post some more gorgeous pictures of your little baby.
Hi again everyone! I just got the Plum MX96 in cherry browns. I like the overall feel of the keyboard but it definitely could use some better keycaps. I am a fan of the special key location above the number pad. It has the core issue of most of the 90% keyboards in that it does not have dedicated arrow keys. The Fn WASD → Arrow key custer definitely helps but is still not quite perfect.
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(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3207174/2015-03-09%2017.03.50.jpg)
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(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3207174/2015-03-09%2017.03.59.jpg)
As of now I would recommend the Adesso Compact Mechanical Keyboard with new keycaps. Followed by the Plum MX96.
Now personally, I think the versions with arrow keys that are separate from the number pad are better than ones with arrow keys integrated into the number pad. I think people will agree after repeating a short experiment.
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Start by finding a full-size keyboard. Load up a spreadsheet program. Now, when entering data into the spreadsheet, don't just go straight down a column, but enter data all over the spreadsheet, going in all four directions, sometimes going back to fix an imagined "mistake" in a previous cell, changing columns often. Do this experiment in two different ways: first using only the arrows and navigation keys that are built into the numpad, toggling num lock on and off over and over to switch between entering numbers and navigating; second, leaving the number pad in number mode, and using the dedicated arrow keys to navigate, either with your other hand or with your thumb. You will find that the second way is much faster and much more comfortable.
What this shows is that making best use of a number pad requires separate arrow keys-- and if you didn't care about entering lots of numbers, a layout like this would be pointless for you in the first place, so we'll assume that you do. I don't think the CMTK/Plum-96 solution is very good, because turning on numlock for that layout takes away the usual mechanism for using your available (left) hand, or your right thumb, to quickly and precisely direct where all those numbers that you are entering wind up going. On the other hand, the variants that preserve the arrow keys may deliver good compactness while still having a decent configuration for working with numbers.
This is right on for spreadsheet users. I don't play games or code, but I annotate texts in Word and organize my life with Excel. You really need a dedicated navigation cluster for highlighting text, moving between cells, and switching between worksheets. I prefer a dedicated TKL and dedicated numpad to keep both ergonomics and full functionality.