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geekhack Community => Ergonomics => Topic started by: pan:cid on Sat, 30 August 2014, 09:47:32

Title: Thin mechanical keyboard - Suggestions?
Post by: pan:cid on Sat, 30 August 2014, 09:47:32
Hi there!

I am looking for a relatively thin mechanical keyboard, ideally tenkeyless (but not absolutely required).

Das Keyboard 4 (although not tenkeyless) claims to be the thinnest mechanical keyboard. I asked them about the actual dimensions, which are as follows:

"The height of the keyboard including the key caps is about 1.25 inches, so the 0.8 is just the thinness of the frame."

Which keyboards would you recommend (incl.  actual dimensions)? How would they compare to Das Keyboard 4 in terms of height?

Thx - I look forward to your input!

Title: Re: Thin mechanical keyboard - Suggestions?
Post by: davkol on Sat, 30 August 2014, 10:33:32
My G84-4100 is 27 mm thick. I have some keypads with low-profile Alps and they're even thinner.
Title: Re: Thin mechanical keyboard - Suggestions?
Post by: P3TC0CK on Sat, 30 August 2014, 14:47:38
My G84-4100 is 27 mm thick. I have some keypads with low-profile Alps and they're even thinner.

Also from cherry is the Cherry MX-Board 3.0 G80-3850, but that is a full 104 key keyboard. I'm currently working on low profile caps (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=60531.0) which may be interesting to you. I've finally gotten funds to buy the keycaps so they should be arriving soon :D
Title: Re: Thin mechanical keyboard - Suggestions?
Post by: Findecanor on Sat, 30 August 2014, 16:51:39
My suggestion is that you lower your desk and get a wrist rest ....
Title: Re: Thin mechanical keyboard - Suggestions?
Post by: Oobly on Sun, 31 August 2014, 09:08:05
Can you explain your REASONS for wanting a thin keyboard. If it's just that a normal mechanical is too high off the desk surface, then this:

My suggestion is that you lower your desk and get a wrist rest ....

Title: Re: Thin mechanical keyboard - Suggestions?
Post by: Grim Fandango on Sun, 31 August 2014, 09:12:44
Can you explain your REASONS for wanting a thin keyboard. If it's just that a normal mechanical is too high off the desk surface, then this:

My suggestion is that you lower your desk and get a wrist rest ....

Indeed. Maybe it is not the keyboard itself, but your setup that you can change a little for it to be more comfortable.
Title: Re: Thin mechanical keyboard - Suggestions?
Post by: davkol on Sun, 31 August 2014, 10:02:22
There might be a different reason though. I've seen sliding keyboard trays with just enough space for a scissor-switch keyboard and a trackpad. I also use the typematrix on the go, because it's more portable and the keys don't stick out, thus can't break so easily.
Title: Re: Thin mechanical keyboard - Suggestions?
Post by: vivalarevolución on Sun, 31 August 2014, 13:27:11
Mechanical keyboards cannot be super think like a scissor switch keyboard, because those switches need a certain amount of vertical space in order to operate.
Title: Re: Thin mechanical keyboard - Suggestions?
Post by: davkol on Sun, 31 August 2014, 14:39:00
A thin keyboard with low-profile Alps could be pretty close though. ~2 cm is totally possible.
Title: Re: Thin mechanical keyboard - Suggestions?
Post by: FrostyToast on Sun, 31 August 2014, 14:50:30
Space invaders maybe?
Title: Re: Thin mechanical keyboard - Suggestions?
Post by: Canut on Sun, 31 August 2014, 15:14:22
Ergodox with Cherry OEM keycaps and only the top three layers of the acrylic case (so the PCB sits on the desk). Ballpark height: 25 mm.
Title: Re: Thin mechanical keyboard - Suggestions?
Post by: Lanx on Mon, 01 September 2014, 15:31:17
best bet is the ****ty cherry ml 4100.

i say ****ty when compared to cherry mx, if what you NEED is a mech board that NEEDS to be thin, then really, cherry ml4100
btw i have 2, they work fine as my htpc (small profile) keyboards.