Advice on keyboard to upgrade from Dell AT101W

[bphillips]

I'm seeking your advice regarding a new keyboard (wife promised me one). I presently use a Dell AT101W. I like its tactile nature, noisiness, and weight. It has been used hard, however, and the right side of the space bar is going (the small white plastic support that holds the metal bar on the right hand side won't stay in place). I plan on putting the Dell in semi-retirement. It is used for work, so I don't need to worry about gaming. Given that I like a tactile sensation and typing noise, I assume that I'd be looking at either Cherry Blue switches or buckling springs. It has to have a number pad, as I use that regularly. I like a regular layout and don't need a magnetic card reader or trackpad/ball, so Cherry keyboards are out of consideration. Weight and feeling of solidity are desirable. My budget tops out at about the $110 mark. As I see it, my options are:

- Rosewill RK-9000 (Cherry MX Blue Switch)
- Unicomp Customizer 104
- Leopold Tactile Click Keyboard (FC500RC/AB)
- Adesso MKB-135B
- Used Model M--while I like the idea of an even older keyboard than my Dell, I'm concerned about wear issues

Are there any clear winners here? Ones to steer clear of? Should I be looking at some other keyboard?

Your help is much appreciated!

[bloodygood]

From my experience I would say the Black Alps from a Dell at101w are more similar to Cherry Mx Black switches as they feel very linear and have a higher force requirement to actuate, although they do not have a audible click neither does the Dell at101w. The main sound you hear from that keyboard you should hear with the Cherry Mx Black switches. But if you do want a clicky keyboard that is also stiff I would recommend going with the Model M because in terms of quality I would say an older one will last longer than a new Unicomp. Also the most likely thing to fail are the springs getting older, but new springs are easy to swap out and would give brand new life into that Model M.

I have more to add but I have to go to the market really quick, I will reply again with more information once I get back.

[IvanIvanovich]

Have you seen the Ducky with ALPS? It would likely be a lot more similar than any Cherry choices in feel if you are looking for something similar. They are also inexpensive, at around $65 I think from PCHome.

[bloodygood]

Have you seen the Ducky with ALPS? It would likely be a lot more similar than any Cherry choices in feel if you are looking for something similar. They are also inexpensive, at around $65 I think from PCHome.

This is true there are more Alps keyboard options out there also, but if you are interested in Cherry MX switches as I would assume based on your original post, then I will continue from where I left off.
As far as the Cherry Mx blue switches are concerned they have a tactile actuation point unlike the alps you are used to and unlike the Mx Blacks, to go along with this you will hear the plastic in the stem click each time a key is de-pressed. From my experience this is a very good feeling and instantly you know you have pressed the key. They are also quite a bit less force to actuate than what you are used to. I personally went from At101W to Model M (stronger force) to Mx browns (very light force with tactile point) and it was not difficult in my case to switch to a lighter de-press force but then again a few years ago I used to use a laptop keyboard.
Overall I would highly recommend
1. Mx Blacks (quieter great for an office environment)
2. Model M (a lot louder but has an amazing typing feel per keystroke)
3. Another Alps keyboard since it would feel very familiar (I am also a avid Mx switch fan so an avid Alps had might suggest it as #1)
4. Mx Clear/Blue/Brown in that order. Clears have a strong tactile force that would become a good intro to Mx switches from Alps. Blues would audibly perhaps make it even quicker to feel the difference of Mx switches and perhaps help you touch type fastest. And browns last because I love my Mx browns but you may bottom out a lot until you really get used to them.