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geekhack Community => Off Topic => Topic started by: tom45678 on Wed, 17 February 2010, 10:37:09

Title: Newbie needing recomendations please.
Post by: tom45678 on Wed, 17 February 2010, 10:37:09

Hi all! I'm new here, and love the forum so far. I never knew that there was so many different keyboard technologies in use. To be honest I never really thought about it at all, but now I have this MS keyboard Ive been using for  while suddenly doesn't seem quite so nice as it once did.

I used to own an old keyboard, a Compaq I think, although I never really paid it too much attention, but it was lovely to type on. Unfortunately I lent it to a friend who lost it. The search for 'old and clicky keyboard' ultimately brought me here, so I guess it worked out in the end.

I would be grateful if anyone could point me in the direction of a decent first keyboard. I'm only have a small budget of around £30 right now, and am living in the UK, so importing anything is off the cards for the moment.

I would love something with a tactile feel to the key press and a nice sound but the price is more of an issue than anything right now, as I'm on  restricted budget. Is it possible to get  decent keyboard for anywhere near that price, or should I hang on until I can afford more? Ive been bidding on a couple of boards on Ebay, but had no luck so far. Are there any lesser known keyboards that might not cost so much?

Thanks for reading, and its nice to meet you all - Tom

Title: Newbie needing recomendations please.
Post by: Mental Hobbit on Wed, 17 February 2010, 13:18:11

The Chicony 1581 (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:8771) is a very nice starter keyboard and afaik cheap and easy to get in the US (where I suppose you're from).

While most threads in the keyboard section go off-topic instantly, this doesn't mean keyboard relevant threads have to be started in the off topic section. :biggrin1:

Title: Newbie needing recomendations please.
Post by: kishy on Wed, 17 February 2010, 13:36:12

OP specified location is UK

I second the recommendation for a Model M. They're fairly plentiful and can often be had for cheap.

I'd offer you one of my for sale units...price seems to be right...but shipping...not so much.

Title: Newbie needing recomendations please.
Post by: Mental Hobbit on Wed, 17 February 2010, 13:53:09

Ooops - shouldn't read more than three threads simultaneously. :embarassed:

Edit: The ISO version is named 5182. You may find that on ebay UK.

Title: Newbie needing recomendations please.
Post by: kishy on Wed, 17 February 2010, 13:57:04

Quote from: Mental Hobbit;158889

Ooops - shouldn't read more than three threads simultaneously. :embarassed:

I do the same thing all the time.

Title: Newbie needing recomendations please.
Post by: elservo on Wed, 17 February 2010, 14:46:55

Just buy a Filco with blue cherries now and finish your quest for the perfect keyboard.  You're welcome.

Title: Newbie needing recomendations please.
Post by: Rajagra on Wed, 17 February 2010, 18:03:02

Quote from: elservo;158902

Just buy a Filco with blue cherries now and finish your quest for the perfect keyboard.  You're welcome.

Decent advice, but the £30 limit rules that out.

I can think of only one keyboard that fits the bill. A Dell AT102W off ebay. You can get them new in box for £30 if you keep an eye out for them.
Used ones can be OK, but ... well, used is used, you know the score.
The 101 variant is U.S. layout. If the W is missing from the model name it doesn't have Windows keys.

If you can stretch a (fair) bit further, a Filco ZERO Tenkeyless (http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard_details.asp?PRODUCT=621) has a lot going for it. Some people don't much like the XM switches it uses, but I suspect it is a great keyboard for the price.

Title: Newbie needing recomendations please.
Post by: tom45678 on Wed, 17 February 2010, 20:44:30

Thanks for the advice. Only problem is now, that I want one of each that were recommend. Seriously though, I think I'm going to look for the model M, it although I'll keep a keen eye for any of the others turning up on Ebay at a decent price.

I'm intrigued by the Filcos though. A smaller keyboard would be handy. The Zero model seems almost too good to be true at that price. Ill be reading up on that one, and how it compares the cherry switch models.  

Thanks again, and I'll let you know how I get on.

Title: Newbie needing recomendations please.
Post by: tom45678 on Thu, 04 March 2010, 18:38:21

Hi again. Soooo, after a bit of reading, and considering the advice given here I narrowed the shortlist down to two potential candidates that fit in with the budget.... and ended up buying both of them anyway.

I'm now the proud owner of a  model m and a g-80 with the blue switches.

Many thanks to Meltie for supplying these wonderfully noisy devices, and everyone that offered their advice. I never really thought typing could be so much fun:)

Somehow, I don't think that these will be the last.

Title: Newbie needing recomendations please.
Post by: InSanCen on Thu, 04 March 2010, 18:45:47

Meltie is a good people. Just got a couple of cherries from Meltie (Arrived today, one was a pristine G80 w/ blues), and have had a Model F in the past. Shipping is fairly quick from Germany. We might have another convert to the Way of the Buckling Spring.

If the M is in the QWERTZ layout, just swap Z and Y. On an M, they are interchangable. On Cherries they are not (Each row of keys has a different angle). I don't mind those 2 letters being off-kilter, so I just swap them anyway.

Title: Newbie needing recomendations please.
Post by: tom45678 on Fri, 05 March 2010, 21:41:10

The buckling spring is great, I love it.  They do feel pretty heavy after using rubber domes for so long, but I'm getting used to it already. My forearms felt like they were on fire on the first day of getting it though. Although that may have been because I couldn't stop playing with it. All day.

As for converts, there may be another one soon. My house-mate has taken a shine to the g80. Don't think ill be seeing that again for a while.

And stopping buying more, thats pretty sound advice, as I don't really need another one. Something portable would be nice tho, but think thats going to be the last one. Famous last words? Maybe....

Title: Newbie needing recomendations please.
Post by: trievalot on Sat, 06 March 2010, 00:27:09

you now need an F to complete the useable collection.
F for oldest usable board with modern PC
M the evolution but still classic
Cherry blue the modern version :)

Title: Newbie needing recomendations please.
Post by: trievalot on Sat, 06 March 2010, 03:17:12

what is the modern F, or is the F timeless?

Title: Newbie needing recomendations please.
Post by: HaaTa on Sat, 06 March 2010, 05:39:10

Model M :P

Title: Newbie needing recomendations please.
Post by: trievalot on Sat, 06 March 2010, 05:54:42

Quote from: HaaTa;162101

Model M :P

lol, so whats the modern M????

Title: Newbie needing recomendations please.
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 06 March 2010, 06:13:30

Unicomp.

All of which were successive dumbing downs of the Selectric.

Title: Newbie needing recomendations please.
Post by: trievalot on Sat, 06 March 2010, 15:59:20

Quote from: ripster;162123

the modern ibm m's of today are the keyboards made with cherry corp switches.  And don't be surprised if cherry corp (owned by zf - 99% of their business is automobile parts) someday obsoletes the mx switches.  

This may be the "good old days".

Show Image

(http://www.genx40.com/images/2008c/canman.jpg)

dont take my cherry!!!!