Help me pick my first real keyboard?

[The_key_is]

This whole working from home business has me looking to up my enjoyment of my home office. I have started looking into buying a keyboard, and I am kind of drowning in information at the moment. Maybe one of you can help?

I am looking for either a tenkeyless, or a compact layout mechanical wireless keyboard. I am a programer with a small brain so I need easy access to all symbols including ` and arrow keys.

I currently have an rk61 with blue switches and an apple magic compact keyboard. I like the fact that neither of them really take up any space, but obviously I am looking to upgrade. I recently spent a little time with my girlfriend's drop ctrl with silver switches, and it was glorious. I loved how solid it felt, and the key feel under my fingers. I also am a pretty big fan of the esthetics tbh. If it was wireless I would totally just buy that one, but alas I hate wires too much.

I have also tried an hhkb, and the experience was rather lackluster.

The keychron looks cool, but I am worried about all the reviews that say it is too tall. (coming from apple land, a place where we all pretend keyboards don't even exist)


SOOO, let's hear it: what is your favorite small mechanical keyboard. Any suggestions on what would be the most similar typing experience I could get to the k-type, but still be wire free?

[Leslieann]

The wireless part really puts a limit on options.

There is an RK board that fits into Filco aftermarket housings, not sure if it's wireless or how it would effect the signal though. This is probably part of the reason why there is so little high end wireless.

I know Logitech has a new high end wireless mechanical, may want to see if you can find a Romer G board to try.

[the_marsbar]

HHKB HYBRID Type-S is awesome. I think you should give it another look if you haven't already.

[fohat.digs]

wireless

You put both "real" and "wireless" in the same inquiry?

[Rob27shred]

wireless

You put both "real" and "wireless" in the same inquiry?

Well said.

[The_key_is]

Okay, so this is interesting to me, I have found that Leslieann is quite right that there are very few high end keyboards that are wireless. As others seem to be saying on this thread there is a stigma against them in this community. I am curious as to why on both counts.

Unless you are typing many thousand words per minute Bluetooth has more than enough bandwidth to carry the signal. Is it a latency issue?

[Leslieann]

It's not so much a stigma as there's just little benefit and a lot of downsides.

Most keyboards barely move more than a few inches so there's little need to be wireless for freedom of movement. You're trading looks for latency (bluetooth is bad for this), a battery to now deal with and pay for, possible connection issues, and that nice aluminum housing is going to block the signal. Most would rather a solid lag free connection from a heavy, solid keyboard that never needs fussing with.

More than this, very few companies have put the effort into making gaming grade wireless peripherals, of those, about the only one who seems to have it truly perfected is Logitech. Ask anyone who uses wireless gaming mice, most will tell you Logitech is pretty much the only game in town, everyone else is second rate at best. If all these other massive companies can't get it right do you really want to buy a $300 wireless keyboard from some small company?

[the_marsbar]

The HHKB HYBRID allows either Bluetooth or USB connectivity. So, you can use Bluetooth when you want to use your keyboard on the go, or in front of your TV. And you can use a USB cable if you want to game with it, or whatever.

[-Jerry-]

Okay, so this is interesting to me, I have found that Leslieann is quite right that there are very few high end keyboards that are wireless. As others seem to be saying on this thread there is a stigma against them in this community. I am curious as to why on both counts.

Unless you are typing many thousand words per minute Bluetooth has more than enough bandwidth to carry the signal. Is it a latency issue?

Don't listen to the others, the lack of wireless is due to lobbying from Big Cable, who want everyone to spend money on aviation connectors and custom coiled cables to keep their operations afloat.

/s

[Rob27shred]

Okay, so this is interesting to me, I have found that Leslieann is quite right that there are very few high end keyboards that are wireless. As others seem to be saying on this thread there is a stigma against them in this community. I am curious as to why on both counts.

Unless you are typing many thousand words per minute Bluetooth has more than enough bandwidth to carry the signal. Is it a latency issue?

It's not so much a stigma as there's just little benefit and a lot of downsides.

Most keyboards barely move more than a few inches so there's little need to be wireless for freedom of movement. You're trading looks for latency (bluetooth is bad for this), a battery to now deal with and pay for, possible connection issues, and that nice aluminum housing is going to block the signal. Most would rather a solid lag free connection from a heavy, solid keyboard that never needs fussing with.

More than this, very few companies have put the effort into making gaming grade wireless peripherals, of those, about the only one who seems to have it truly perfected is Logitech. Ask anyone who uses wireless gaming mice, most will tell you Logitech is pretty much the only game in town, everyone else is second rate at best. If all these other massive companies can't get it right do you really want to buy a $300 wireless keyboard from some small company?

Leslieann nailed it, in fact explained it better than I could TBH! There is nothing really wrong or bad with BT keyboards if you really need one, most of us enthusiasts just don't want to sacrifice any of what Leslieann mentioned for wireless capabilities. A few of the prebuilt MKB companies make decent BT models. Although those will come bone stock, so you'd have to desolder it if you want to tune or swap the switches & stabs. Then the connection quality & battery life can be flaky with most of the readily available BT MKBs AFAIK.

Edit: This message was brought to you by Big Cable^TM

[el_murdoque]

That's why cables have become a thing amongst keyboard enthusiasts.
A simple black or grey USB cable going from the back of your keyboard to your computer can ruin the sleek look of the desk, true.
A braided, coiled extra thicc cable, maybe even with one of these fancy super heavy screw-ring-on-the-outside aviator connectors .. now that can actually come across as some desk-candy!

[Sup]

I only would go with wireless if its from Logitech other bluethooth wireless stuff is garbage.