what kind of keyboard should I get?

[pearlygold]

I have a laptop right now and have been having problems with my keyboard lately. When I'm typing I end up missing keys because although I tap them, it doesn't register. I'm assuming it's because my keyboard isn't sensitive enough (sometimes I tap just the edge of the key lightly) and the keyboard probably requires me to press down properly.

What kind of keyboard would I get for the goal of getting a keyboard that is more sensitive and requires less push to press the keys down?

[Kruen]

Cherry mx reds might be what you're after, or browns if you're after some sort of tactile bump. Both are very light switches, 45 grand iirc.

[Halverson]

OR save money, buy one of those devices to work out your hands! Then once you have muscled up fingers, no keyboard switch will ever be a problem to push down!!!!

[pearlygold]

so...how does it work with these cherry keys? Do you have to buy a cherry keyboard, or do you just buy the keys and put them on whatever keyboard you have?

[Halverson]

so...how does it work with these cherry keys? Do you have to buy a cherry keyboard, or do you just buy the keys and put them on whatever keyboard you have?

You buy one of many cherry switch mechanical keyboards. They generally come with blue/brown/black/red switches. Honestly, just look at the vendor forums, you'll find most of them. If you want light, then get a red/brown switch board. Then you have to decide between fullsize, tenkeyless, or even smaller and different layout possibly. Oh and if you like LEDs, you'll have that option as well.

[pearlygold]

I'm looking at what's available at best buy, so I could go feel them out, and they have a bunch of mechanical keyboards, but where does it say what type of cherry keys it has?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Cherry+-+G81-1800+Series+Compact+Keyboard/4191255.p?id=1218463230919&skuId=4191255

that doesn't specify if it is red, brown, blue, etc.

[SmallFry]

The G81 series is MY switches, not highly recommended here.

[pearlygold]

Okay that was just an example though,
All I'm asking, really, is how to figure out which type of cherry keys the different keyboards at best buy have, so that I can go try them out?

[Halverson]

Take the plunge. If you want linear, buy a board with reds. If you want tactile, get browns. If you end up not liking it, the resale value is great.

[pearlygold]

So...is there no way to check what kind of keys the boards at bestbuy have?
I would take the plunge and all, but I live right by bestbuy and it wouldn't hurt to go have a look..

[TotalChaos]

Best Buy is useless.  They do have a Cherry keyboard on sale right now but they refuse to say what switches it uses when I checked several days ago.  Useless.

Go to NewEgg.com and type in Cherry Red.   They clearly tell u what switches the cherry keyboards use.  They actually have a secret sale going on where the Rosewill Cherry Red is $60.00 iirc.

Or u can buy a top quality Cherry Red keyboard from WASDkeyboards.com.  It will cost more than the Rosewill but it will last 10x longer so its worth it.

Either way Cherry Red is what u r after.  They have a light touch and are immensely popular.

[tp4tissue]

Best Buy is useless.  They do have a Cherry keyboard on sale right now but they refuse to say what switches it uses when I checked several days ago.  Useless.

Go to NewEgg.com and type in Cherry Red.   They clearly tell u what switches the cherry keyboards use.  They actually have a secret sale going on where the Rosewill Cherry Red is $60.00 iirc.

Or u can buy a top quality Cherry Red keyboard from WASDkeyboards.com.  It will cost more than the Rosewill but it will last 10x longer so its worth it.

Either way Cherry Red is what u r after.  They have a light touch and are immensely popular.

10x longer?  IDK bro, that's just not a practical number.. both are costar made, and the alleged USB port problem on the Rosewill is WAY overblown, and so trivial to fix, even if it does happen to you..

the WASD cost twice as much as the rosewill... Same keyboard oem... totally NOT worth it....

[rowdy]

If you are referring to the built-in keyboard in the laptop, it probably has scissor switches which have a really short travel distance.

Most Cherry switches have a 4mm travel distance, and activate half way down i.e. after 2mm.

You might find that you need to press the MX switches down further than the scissor switches you have now.

[Hyde]

If you are referring to the built-in keyboard in the laptop, it probably has scissor switches which have a really short travel distance.

Most Cherry switches have a 4mm travel distance, and activate half way down i.e. after 2mm.

You might find that you need to press the MX switches down further than the scissor switches you have now.

Yeah I also get the same impression that the OP want a keyboard with lowest travel distance ever.  In that case look for chiclet keyboard similar to Apple Keyboards.

If you want window layout you can try this http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_280_282&item_id=026604 (Although this is from Canada not sure where you can get similar item in the states)

[tp4tissue]

If you are referring to the built-in keyboard in the laptop, it probably has scissor switches which have a really short travel distance.

Most Cherry switches have a 4mm travel distance, and activate half way down i.e. after 2mm.

You might find that you need to press the MX switches down further than the scissor switches you have now.

Yeah I also get the same impression that the OP want a keyboard with lowest travel distance ever.  In that case look for chiclet keyboard similar to Apple Keyboards.

If you want window layout you can try this http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_280_282&item_id=026604 (Although this is from Canada not sure where you can get similar item in the states)

if he's gonna buy that crap, he might as well just get a replacement keyboard for his current laptop, they're not exactly hard to put in.

OP, you don't even have to get the "official" branded one, they make aftermarket ones for about 1/3 the cost.. and they work just fine.

[Hyde]

Lolllll I guess it's true, my only concern is that I'm not too sure if the after market ones will be better than the ones he has now.

Though now that I look at it maybe the example I used wasn't very good either