Looking for Linux-compatible TKL keyboard (Noppoo Choc Mini? CM Storm? Leopold?)

[blert]

I'm looking for a smaller keyboard (with MX browns or reds) that will work on my Linux system without losing functionality.  
With the way the keys are laid out on some of the boards, I'm worried that some of the combo key mappings will not operate correctly (for example, arrow keys, home keys, Pg Up/Down, function keys, print, etc.).
I don't know if this is a valid concern....
I'm basically looking for a work keyboard, care more about function than aesthetics, and just need to have something solid and comfortable.
Cheaper is good too, so I'm guessing I would exclude Filco on that basis.
But all makes and models are possibilities, including Ducky, PLU, etc..

[noodles256]

wclm2gh

[fossala]

Linux assigns keys to letters based on keycodes. As long as the keycodes are correct ( I haven't come across a time they haven't ) you will be fine.
Open up xev and check it out, it will tell you the code of each key you press.

TL;DR
Yes

[blert]

Thanks for the info.

Still, since I don't have the keyboards to test, I'm slightly concerned.  My understanding is that sometimes keycodes are not sent, generally with weird gaming keyboards.
These are the keyboards (e.g., Logitech gaming keyboards) that require Windows software to configure the keyboard itself to tell it what should be sent by keypresses with special keys (macros, etc.).
Some info here (more questions than answers, but links to compatibility projects):
http://askubuntu.com/q/60485/8844

Perhaps I'll be safe as long as I look at keyboards that do not come with software (and so, no special configuration tools or drivers).
I'm also not sure what happens with chinese/english keyboards.   (I should probably read http://www.quadibloc.com/comp/kyb02.htm .)

[Quarzac]

I use a Leopold Tenkeyless Otaku and a Blackwidow Ultimate with Ubuntu. The Blackwidow loses its macro keys and it's non-volume media keys, but everything else on both boards works fine, with the exception of scroll lock, which I've been led to believe just doesn't light up in Linux.

[N8N]

Noppoo Choc Pro is a little weird in Linux, Caps Lock LED does not work correctly.  I think it's actually an OS problem not a problem with the keyboard, but long story short, I believe it has to do with Noppoo's method of achieving NKRO over USB by using several virtual keyboard controllers.  I too am running Ubuntu.

I have successfully used Filco and WASD on Ubuntu with no issues, but WASD doesn't make a tenkeyless.  Those are the only "new" mechanical keyboards that I have tried.  I haven't found one yet that failed, other than the Caps Lock/Noppoo issue.

[blert]

@Quarzak and @N8N
Thanks for the info.  Much appreciated.  
Come to think of it, I've never expected scroll lock to work, so maybe that is pretty standard in Linux these days (I'm also using Ubuntu primarily).
I wish WASD would come up with a tenkeyless.  That would likely be my first choice.

[hashbaz]

I have a Choc Mini at work, where we run Fedora 11.  I encountered the same strangeness as N8N, until I plugged it into a PS/2 adapter.  Everything seems to be working normally now.

[IvanIvanovich]

I can also vouch for Leopold working 100% correct under linux as an occasional crunchbang user. If you happen to be interested in the KBC Poker, it also works well.

[iWuzHere]

I have been using all keyboards listed in my sig with linux, the only issue that i have had is with the choc mini and the caps lock key led

[blert]

@hashbaz, @lysol, @iWuzHere, thanks for the info.  
This sounds promising.  I'm taking a second look at the CM Storm, deciding it isn't as ugly as perhaps I thought at first. But it's close to the price of the Leopold (I think), and I'm not sure what the quality difference is there.  I'm tempted to look at it (the CM Storm QF) more just because it's different.
I was also thinking the KBC Poker might do it for me, but dang, that looks almost too tiny.

[N8N]

I have a Choc Mini at work, where we run Fedora 11.  I encountered the same strangeness as N8N, until I plugged it into a PS/2 adapter.  Everything seems to be working normally now.

Yup, I think when you run it through a PS/2 to USB adapter then you only get 6KRO though.  That said, that's as good as you're going to get with any of the other options, so have at it.  I've been in a phase lately where I've decided to give browns another try, so I'm currently using my Choc Pro and just ignoring the Caps Lock LED (I'm using the Keyboard Lock Keys applet anyway since someone here mentioned that it existed, since my laptop - which I've been primarily using - stupidly does not have a Caps Lock or Scroll Lock LED built in.)  I didn't bother piping it through an adapter because honestly, the Caps Lock thing really doesn't bother me, mostly because I *am* using a laptop, and it's really an Ubuntu problem - even with the adapter, if I press the CL key on the laptop, the CL LED on the Choc Pro won't light up, etc... it's just weird.  IOW, NO keyboard works 100% correctly on a laptop with Ubuntu in this regard.  I did submit a bug report about this to Launchpad.

[blert]

Well, I lost my mind (or perhaps found ultimate sanity) and ordered a Leopold Tenkeyless (MX Brown).  
Bounced back and forth, but decided that (for now) the boring, standard layout and form-factor will serve me best.

[Urglifast]

Well, I lost my mind (or perhaps found ultimate sanity) and ordered a Leopold Tenkeyless (MX Brown).  
Bounced back and forth, but decided that (for now) the boring, standard layout and form-factor will serve me best.

that's an excellent choice.  I drive the Leopold tenkeyless with browns.

[ClosedBSD]

0 problems at all here running Noppoo Choc Mini or the PLU ML-87 on Debian, Ubuntu, Slackware or Arch Linux

[blert]

@Urglifast :  Very cool.  Got my order confirmation from Elitekeyboards today (weird), so I think by next week I'll be typing on it.

@ClosedBSD :  Thanks.  Good to see the PLU in there, since I was considering that one as well (and perhaps will be again).

[blert]

So, it turns out that the Leopold and the two CM Storms I bought work perfectly with my various Linux boxes.  (And they're all great keyboards.  Though I've changed out keycaps on the CM boards.)  Thought I'd update the thread to point this out, as well as to note that you can never have just one (TKL).  It's like an addiction, but clickier.

[dorkvader]

I tried my CMstorm on linux when it arrived (back in late 2011), and noticed that the media keys do work in linux. Useful.