Upgrading from Dell QuietKey

[whiteweazel21]

Dear fellow (computer?   ....) keyboard nerds,

I'm looking to upgrade my keyboard, perhaps not even upgrade but find a reasonable substitution with relative or better feel. I've been using this keyboard for at least 12 years, and while it has served me very well it is rather nasty & dirty. When I have friends come over, and they use my computer for whatever reason they hesitate to touch my keyboard...because it is very nasty. I'd like to say that the keyboard is not as responsive as it once was, but perhaps this is just an excuse for me wanting to buy a new toy. Or maybe it is just so dirty & nasty that the keys are getting "stiff" if you will. *cough*

From what I gather the Dell QuietKey keyboards are rubber domes, but taking off the cap, from the little I understand of keyboard switches, it does not appear to be a rubber dome keyboard. It is a white rectangular switch. I took a quick photo on my phone, but it is a less than ideal photograph and the detail is not very visible. Is it possible to identify the switch from this picture:


(For what it is worth, it may in fact be a good thing that there is not much detail in the picture. If that looks dirty to you in the picture, it's actually a lot worse in person. For once my iPhone has seemed to serve a purpose.)

So I guess I have a few options. One would be to try and find a new/mint QuietKey on Ebay, however from what I gather this keyboard may be different than the mainstream QKs? The other option would be to find a keyboard with a similar switch.

I've looked at the mechanical keyboards, but in all honesty I do not think that they will suit me very well based on reading various threads. The white cherry seems to be interesting, like a black cherry but with some tactile feedback. The white cherry keyboards seems to be rare from what I've gathered thus far so it may be a good thought but not achievable.

And...to throw in another variable into the mix, I am sick of black keyboards. I would very much like a off white keyboard. The Limited Edition "Majestouch Tenkeyless Tactile Touch Otaku White (http://www.elitekeyboards.com/products.php?pid=fkbn87mewek)" looks like sex, but I am under the impression that neither blue nor brown cherries suit my taste. I do like 104 key boards, and I've never tried an 87 key, but I would definitely try one. Finally, while NKRO isn't mandatory -- it would be nice.

I guess I am sort of screwed. Damn.

[ch_123]

Dell Quietkeys are one of the better rubber dome keyboards. There are a few members around here who like them.

This is what you want. If you particularly like rubber dome keyboards, you'll definitely like the Topres, they're somewhat comparable to the feel of a very high quality rubber dome keyboard, except they're much nicer (way smoother, very crisp, and you don't need to press the key all the way down to make it register) It doesn't have the harshness associated with other mechanical switch types. Very expensive, and it's debateable whether it's 10x better than a Dell Quietkey despite being about 10x the price of one off eBay, but they're definitely one of the finest keyboards ever made.

A more austere option would be a Keytronic keyboard. Their keyboards seem to be considered the best rubber dome keyboard going.

[Mental Hobbit]

Just on a sidenote: Keyboards can be cleaned. It's not mandatory to get a new one every time they get dirty.

[kishy]

Just on a sidenote: Keyboards can be cleaned. It's not mandatory to get a new one every time they get dirty.

True.

I've got the keys from my HP rubber dome soaking in a magic bath of denture stuff. It's going to go back into service on the PS3 until I get a Bluetooth keyboard of some sort.

[Rajagra]

Just on a sidenote: Keyboards can be cleaned. It's not mandatory to get a new one every time they get dirty.

Hush! Don't tell everyone, you'll kill off the supply!

[microsoft windows]

I'd recommend taking off all the keys on your Quietkey and washing them off. Once you put them on again, your keyboard will look plenty better than it does now while still retaining its feel. Those keyboards don't wear out; they just get dirty with time. Give it a good cleaning and it'll work good as new!

[whiteweazel21]

Wow, thanks for all the replies! So fast haha.

I think cleaning the keyboard would take too much work. The caps may be dirty, but 12 years of dirt has really taken it's toll down to the core. I'm sure I could clean it but if I am looking at 20 hours of soaking, scrubbing, and q-tipping I might be better off buying a new keyboard (it could make a fun side project however).

As for the Compaq...that is the perfect match. I just don't think I could ever bring myself to buy anything made/retailed by Compaq. The Compaq logo alone would haunt me in my dreams and wake me up at night.

The Topres do look nice, but I couldn't justify spending that much on a keyboard. The Keytronic keyboards look to be a nice replacement specifically looking at the Classic. What I might do, since, I cannot lie, is...shoot for that Limited Edition Majestouch White Otaku LOL. It's just too sexy, I have to touch it at least once in my lifetime otherwise I might regret it. In that case, if it turns out that the mechanical switches are not my thing, I could always get the Keytronic Classic and still be within the realm of reason cost wise.

I know the whole cherry thing has been talked about to death, but if I had the option of blue or brown, blue would closer to rubber dome switches than brown correct?

[ch_123]

Other way around, brown would be closer, although they're still quite different.

[skcheng]

No offense, but those keycaps look NASTY!!!   What is that brownish stuff on that 7 numpad key???   LOL.  

I say buy another keyboard.  Bag that sucker in a hazardous waste bag and call the EPA   :-))))

[microsoft windows]

Wow, thanks for all the replies! So fast haha.

I think cleaning the keyboard would take too much work. The caps may be dirty, but 12 years of dirt has really taken it's toll down to the core. I'm sure I could clean it but if I am looking at 20 hours of soaking, scrubbing, and q-tipping I might be better off buying a new keyboard (it could make a fun side project however).

As for the Compaq...that is the perfect match. I just don't think I could ever bring myself to buy anything made/retailed by Compaq. The Compaq logo alone would haunt me in my dreams and wake me up at night.

The Topres do look nice, but I couldn't justify spending that much on a keyboard. The Keytronic keyboards look to be a nice replacement specifically looking at the Classic. What I might do, since, I cannot lie, is...shoot for that Limited Edition Majestouch White Otaku LOL. It's just too sexy, I have to touch it at least once in my lifetime otherwise I might regret it. In that case, if it turns out that the mechanical switches are not my thing, I could always get the Keytronic Classic and still be within the realm of reason cost wise.

I know the whole cherry thing has been talked about to death, but if I had the option of blue or brown, blue would closer to rubber dome switches than brown correct?

Key Tronic keyboards are good keyboards. You can pick them up for cheap on eBay. Here's one for 5USD.

[whiteweazel21]

http://cgi.ebay.com/DELL-QUIETKEY-4780D-KEYBOARD-PS-2-NEW-IN-BOX_W0QQitemZ400076310538QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item5d2668080a

This would also work. I could get a new QuietKey and maybe splurge on one of those nice Otaku keyboards.

I have no experience with Cherry switches or mechanical keyboards, but how would the brown be more similar? From what I understand the brown is a very light switch that requires a very light touch to get any tactile feedback. And if I remember correctly the blue requires more down force to actuate which would give to more stiffness similar to my QK. Is it the actuation point of the brown switch itself that is more similar to a rubber dome keyboard?

And yes, I agree. My keyboard is friggen NASTY! The brown stuff...well it could be any number of things and I should probably spare you a hypothetical list LOL.

[whiteweazel21]

Hahaha, good point. Where the hell do you guys get all these weird and astounding pictures & movies?? Seriously...

geeks!

[whiteweazel21]

Show Image

:o

Uhm...ok.

Yes.

Yes I will talk nerdy to you. SO *drool* how is the brown switch more similar *wipes drool* than a blue switch in relation to a rubber dome switch? :D

In case the girl in the picture doesn't answer, I will accept replies from forum keyboard geek members as well.

[microsoft windows]

http://cgi.ebay.com/DELL-QUIETKEY-4780D-KEYBOARD-PS-2-NEW-IN-BOX_W0QQitemZ400076310538QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item5d2668080a

This would also work. I could get a new QuietKey and maybe splurge on one of those nice Otaku keyboards.

I have no experience with Cherry switches or mechanical keyboards, but how would the brown be more similar? From what I understand the brown is a very light switch that requires a very light touch to get any tactile feedback. And if I remember correctly the blue requires more down force to actuate which would give to more stiffness similar to my QK. Is it the actuation point of the brown switch itself that is more similar to a rubber dome keyboard?

And yes, I agree. My keyboard is friggen NASTY! The brown stuff...well it could be any number of things and I should probably spare you a hypothetical list LOL.

Those Quietkeys are the newer, cheaper kind. They do not have the rubber dome sliders that yours has. Make sure before you buy a new Quietkey that it has the exact same style label as yours. If it's got a different label, chances are it's a piece of junk.

[Nonmouse]

Wow, thanks for all the replies! So fast haha.

I think cleaning the keyboard would take too much work. The caps may be dirty, but 12 years of dirt has really taken it's toll down to the core. I'm sure I could clean it but if I am looking at 20 hours of soaking, scrubbing, and q-tipping I might be better off buying a new keyboard (it could make a fun side project however).

If you're going to be replacing it anyway, you might try the quick and... err... clean dishwasher method- what have you got to lose?  Important note- turn off the dry cycle or you'll end up with a potato chip shaped board...

[bitflipper]

How about a Dell AT101W?

* very cheap
* plentiful, easy to find
* mechanical
* comes in beige
* not Compaq
* will last for another 12 years

[Nonmouse]

That's a good suggestion.  Didja sells those for cheap.  $5.

And if anybody whines about his shipping cost I'm gonna shoot you.

Sixteen bucks?  That's more than the insanely overpriced shipping on that Model M!  

Highway robbery, I tell ya!

[whiteweazel21]

Ahh...I can't believe this is so complicated! From what I gather, the blue is more similar to rubber dome than the brown is. The blue does sound almost obnoxiously loud, but from every other aspect it seems than the blue would be more similar, at least on paper:


The blue has more down force required for a key press than a brown, making it more similar to the QK.

The blue has the "feel" of a faster resetting spring --even though supposedly it has the same spring, perhaps something to do with the switch mechanism and or the required weight to key press down.

The blue has the "feel" of more tact.


What I've read from reviews would point me in the direction of a blue. On top of the fact that I really hate mushy keys and the lack of tact on the browns gives me the impression that it is rather mushy. Nothing worse than a mushy keyboard. I think I will stick to do Keytronic as a backup but I really need a white Otaku KB

[Mental Hobbit]

The Quietkeys/Compaq has a major advantage though: It's easier to clean than any other keyboard I know. After unscrewing, the upper half of the case with all keys and sliders attached to it comes off. You can simply scrub it under the shower without having to remove the keycaps.
Besides, it's a really good rubberdome. I like it better than the mechanical Dell AT101W.

[Mental Hobbit]

The blue has more down force required for a key press than a brown, making it more similar to the QK.

No. Blues have the "crispest" feedback of any switch. You feel the click. Blues are my favorite switches, I'm typing this on blues - but they're as far as it gets from rubberdome feeling.

[Otterclock]

The Dell and that Compaq (assuming you chose it for similarity): are they modern rubber dome sounding, or older Dell QuietKey sounding.

[Otterclock]

okie dokes. Do they just intentionally make the keys bottom out against the switch instead of the dome, in order to create the noise? I hope that made sense. Still getting my head around the different mechanisms.

[didjamatic]

Sixteen bucks?  That's more than the insanely overpriced shipping on that Model M!  

Highway robbery, I tell ya!

The last one I sold, paid ebay and paypal fees, paid for the box and shipping... I made under $2.  The most I've made on ANY AT101W I've sold was under $5.

I'm actually about to donate the rest to a good will because it's not worth the hassle of selling and shipping them.

[Nonmouse]

The last one I sold, paid ebay and paypal fees, paid for the box and shipping... I made under $2.  The most I've made on ANY AT101W I've sold was under $5.

I'm actually about to donate the rest to a good will because it's not worth the hassle of selling and shipping them.

Sorry, I thought teh ironeh and sarcasm would come through more clearly.

I think $16 is eminently reasonable- especially for a $5 board.  I was poking fun at what's his name that was *****ing about $15 shipping on a Model M.

[ch_123]

Do they just intentionally make the keys bottom out against the switch instead of the dome, in order to create the noise? I hope that made sense.

What keyboard are you talking about here?

[ch_123]

Ahh...I can't believe this is so complicated! From what I gather, the blue is more similar to rubber dome than the brown is. The blue does sound almost obnoxiously loud, but from every other aspect it seems than the blue would be more similar, at least on paper:


The blue has more down force required for a key press than a brown, making it more similar to the QK.

The blue has the "feel" of a faster resetting spring --even though supposedly it has the same spring, perhaps something to do with the switch mechanism and or the required weight to key press down.

The blue has the "feel" of more tact.


What I've read from reviews would point me in the direction of a blue. On top of the fact that I really hate mushy keys and the lack of tact on the browns gives me the impression that it is rather mushy. Nothing worse than a mushy keyboard. I think I will stick to do Keytronic as a backup but I really need a white Otaku KB

Oh, from the fact that you like Dell Quietkeys, I thought you wanted a mushy keyboard!

And yeah, all the above is correct. If you want a really tactile keyboard, you'd be looking at the Blue Cherry or Buckling Spring. The latter are easy to buy cheap.

[Otterclock]

What keyboard are you talking about here?

The Dell, and presumably the Compaq. They're dome, but emit clackage. I'm not saying that's a bad thing at all, in fact it could be an excellent thing. But it seems like a rubber dome board would naturally be quiet since it bottoms out against silicone (or whatever the rubber mat/dome is made out of).

[ch_123]

Basic physics will say that if you smack two things together, it will make some noise. I don't think rubber domes are designed to create any noise. In fact, their silence is cited as their primary advantage, which is part of the reason why I think Topre decided to create their 'pimped' rubber dome keyboard, that and the fact that rubber domes are quite soft and don't have the harsh-ness of mechanical switches.

Why do you have to press them all the way down? Because that's the most simple way of doing it, and therefore the cheapest.

[Otterclock]

Basic physics will say that if you smack two things together, it will make some noise.

Ohhh. I get it now. When two things differ despite having similarities, the differences are sometimes due to some purpose intended with the design. In the case of human made items, this results from decision making more so than raw physics. This of course brings me back to the actual question: what is the purpose of the keys on one rubber dome bottoming out against plastic, when other, most, rubber dome designs bottom out against the rubber of the dome itself? It could be intentional for tactility, or an unintended consequence of design intended to do something else like stabilize the keys or whatever. Short version: why, not how. Not that important, really.

[whiteweazel21]

I would say the QK is relatively quiet, and definitely quiet in comparison to the brown/blue cherry audio clips I've heard. That being said, this keyboard does have a very satisfactory sound to it. If I type gently, it is near inaudible, conversely, it can emit a decent amount of noise too. It's hard to describe, but they keys themselves are pretty acoustic. Just tapping the key without depressing makes noise, or gently swishing my hand over the keys makes a good amount of noise. The noise from the bottoming out is nearly inaudible, but there is solid noise on contact and then light noise on the initial depress and I believe the most noise (competing with initial contact) letting go of the key itself. But the hell if I know.

I have at least till Monday to think what I will do. Still drooling over the white Otaku and I think I would go with the blue switch. The nice thing about the QK is that you need to put a good amount of pressure to depress the key, at which point it sort of locks in solidly and requires you to let go of the key at which point it locks out, back into the neutral position. I think this keyboard feeling relates most to the blue cherry switch. It clicks in and clicks out, giving you feedback at which point the key is depressed, and then quickly resets to neutral.

I'll just let it sit on the back burner for now. I've read just about everything on the subject of cherry switches that is available (rather limited) so I will just have to make a decision.

[microsoft windows]

Sixteen bucks?  That's more than the insanely overpriced shipping on that Model M!  

Highway robbery, I tell ya!

Well, $15 is a little much, but not outrageous.

By the way, why do you always use that color for your posts?

[Nonmouse]

By the way, why do you always use that color for your posts?

Because I like it.  

The programmable keys on my G80-8113 make it really easy- two extra keystrokes/post.

[ricercar]

Just on a sidenote: Keyboards can be cleaned. It's not mandatory to get a new one every time they get dirty.

Oh oh. I bet you're gonna tell me that works for automobiles, too.

[whiteweazel21]

Ugh, ok here is a weird question that probably won't get answered but...might as well try.

So if I did buy a white Otaku as opposed to one of the black ones, I noticed that the black keys have a replacement but the whites don't. So when the keys on the white Otaku get worn out and shiny I am pretty much screwed right?

[Nonmouse]

No, no- that's not "shiny", that's "patina".  Haven't you ever watched the Antiques Roadshow?

[ruumis]

The Quietkeys/Compaq has a major advantage though: It's easier to clean than any other keyboard I know. After unscrewing, the upper half of the case with all keys and sliders attached to it comes off. You can simply scrub it under the shower without having to remove the keycaps.
Besides, it's a really good rubberdome. I like it better than the mechanical Dell AT101W.

This bit of information inspired me to inspect a lightly-used black QuietKey from the office, which had been relegated to the junk heap. Sure enough, it ended up being one of the Thailand-manufactured "-001" models, with the same sliders that the OP shows. It's really not a bad little board. It doesn't even need a cleaning, but I can't resist taking a keyboard into the shower... purely on principle, of course. :crazy:

Thanks Mental Hobbit!

[keyb_gr]

It seems Dell bought their QuietKeys from NMB for a pretty long time. Those old ones as shown by the OP look very much NMB (RT-6600W series maybe?), but around 2002 the ones with the curved back still were NMB OEMs, if certainly at lesser quality by then. I didn't think much of those at the time (Model M snob), but they certainly weren't half-bad compared to the mushy Silitek junk that was to follow...

[ruumis]

it's funny you mention that because I was inspecting a curved back board today... no QuietKey name on it, but it still said "made in Thailand" and was an "-001." I popped a key off and was dismayed to see nothing but rubber dome underneath.

on the plus side, I also acquired a discarded Dell AT101W today, my first. gave it a poor man's cleaning (open case, compressed air vacuum blast, sanitary wipe scrubbing of each key surface). it's in pretty excellent shape. there wasn't much crud to speak of, just some finger oil which caused minor yellowing, now all gone!