Author Topic: Best low profile, compact, MEMBRANE keyboards?  (Read 4606 times)

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Offline crun

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Best low profile, compact, MEMBRANE keyboards?
« on: Sat, 31 January 2015, 03:33:30 »
Yeah, so I've been using my Noppoo Choc Mini White for over 3 years. And recently I've started noticing that I am actually writing slower than on any laptop or membrane keyboard you throw at me. I am making more mistakes, it's less comfortable because of the high profile too and more noisy as well. Yeah... not a good way to start a topic on Geekhack... :P

Are there any durable, membrane keyboard with low profile, NKRO and tenkeyless/compact profile (I LOVE the Choc Mini layout) you could recommend? For gaming and some typing. No need for fancy backlights.I would like to know both budget and high end models (if there are any lol)

Offline Tactile

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Re: Best low profile, compact, MEMBRANE keyboards?
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 31 January 2015, 05:21:39 »
You might want to try a Cherry ML4100 series keyboard. They use Cherry ML switches which are low profile and short travel - not unlike scissor switches. The compact layout is sensible & includes an embedded numpad. They are available both with & without Windows keys and can usually be found on Ebay in both new & used condition.
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Offline davkol

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Re: Best low profile, compact, MEMBRANE keyboards?
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 31 January 2015, 16:02:38 »
I like my TypeMatrix 2030, but it probably isn't what you're looking for. It's nowhere near NKRO—just like basically any other membrane keyboard.

I don't see the problem though. If the keyboard is too tall for you, raise your chair or lower the keyboard tray or put the keyboard on your lap. If you don't like long travel, that's not a problem either, because you can stack dampeners under keycaps and Cherry MX actuate after about only 2 mm travel, Alps/Matias switches even higher.

Offline spiceBar

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Re: Best low profile, compact, MEMBRANE keyboards?
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 31 January 2015, 16:52:13 »
You might want to try a Cherry ML4100 series keyboard. They use Cherry ML switches which are low profile and short travel - not unlike scissor switches. The compact layout is sensible & includes an embedded numpad. They are available both with & without Windows keys and can usually be found on Ebay in both new & used condition.

If the OP like the 4100 layout, then it may be a good choice, but the ML switches need to be lubed like crazy. Out of the box, they are very unpleasant. After lubing, they are good.

You need to remove all the keycaps and put A LOT of silicone oil in every switch. Then clean the mess on the PCB and reinstall the keycaps. Done.

Here is my messy lube job. All I had was silicone oil in... spray. :)

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Offline Daniel Beardsmore

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Re: Best low profile, compact, MEMBRANE keyboards?
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 31 January 2015, 17:42:02 »
How important is high rollover? NKRO requires PS/2 or specialist controllers (the Choc Mini uses the latter). USB-based keyboards are typically 2KRO or 6KRO.

High rollover is possible with membranes, but virtually every membrane keyboard in the world is 2KRO. It's a bit hard to explain, but to reduce complexity, the keys on the keyboard are wired into a grid (called a "matrix"), and pressing certain combinations of keys causes the current to flow the wrong way through the grid and this causes the keyboard to incorrectly detect extra keys being pressed ("ghosts"). "Anti-ghosting circuitry" just means putting diodes into the circuit to stop this wrong-direction current. There's a series of diagrams on this page that demonstrate the problem in detail: http://www.dribin.org/dave/keyboard/one_html/

Since you can't solder a diode onto a sheet of plastic, membrane keyboards have no diodes and therefore cannot normally exceed 2KRO. Microsoft figured that you could put resistor chains into the membrane circuit, but I'm not aware that anyone else has been taking advantage of this.

I've never heard of a NKRO in a Cherry ML keyboard either, though it's perfectly possible — it would just mean adding diodes to the PCB and replacing the controller with one that doesn't implement blocking.
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Offline Heliosphere

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  • Location: San Jose, CA
Re: Best low profile, compact, MEMBRANE keyboards?
« Reply #5 on: Sat, 31 January 2015, 17:43:03 »
Here is my messy lube job. All I had was silicone oil in... spray. :)

(Attachment Link)

That's so dirty and kinky.