« previous next »
Pages:  [1]     Go Down

Author Topic: Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard  (Read 5767 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Resaebiunne

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 10
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« on: Fri, 12 November 2010, 13:05:51 »
Hello,

I am looking for a relatively inexpensive keyboard with USB (preferably) that is mechanical (if possible), for use with a laptop.  I want something fullsize, like a regular keyboard.  Obviously, I could go out and buy an inexpensive membrane keyboard with a USB plug, but I want something nicer for around the $20 price range.  Any ideas?

Thanks.
Logged

Offline Brian8bit

  • Posts: 156
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 12 November 2010, 13:08:03 »
You're not going to get much with $20.
Logged

Offline TexasFlood

  • Posts: 1084
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #2 on: Fri, 12 November 2010, 13:13:38 »
If you look on ebay you might be able to pick up an IBM buckling spring, Chicony KB-5181, or Dell ALPS, and I'm sure there are others, for that or a bit more.  But it will likely take some time and the need to pounce quickly when you find a deal.  These will all have either PS/2 or AT and need a USB adapter and perhaps a PS/2<>AT adapter as well.  If you have any Goodwill or other similar stores around you then regular stops by those might yield unexpected gold.
Logged

Offline Resaebiunne

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 10
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #3 on: Fri, 12 November 2010, 16:35:38 »
Quote from: ripster;245997
Buy this from  Dxtreme and tell us what you think.

$20

That looks awful.

Quote
you might be able to pick up an IBM buckling spring, Chicony KB-5181, or Dell ALPS
Probably a Dell FT101W might work,, with a PS2 adapter.   I already have some PS/2 adapters, but sometimes they don't work or work sporadically; don't know why.
Logged

Offline lowpoly

  • Posts: 1749
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #4 on: Fri, 12 November 2010, 17:08:34 »
Quote from: Resaebiunne;246091
I already have some PS/2 adapters, but sometimes they don't work or work sporadically; don't know why.


http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=PS2-to-USB+adapters
Logged

Miniguru thread at GH // The Apple M0110 Today

Offline Pylon

  • Posts: 852
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #5 on: Fri, 12 November 2010, 17:46:32 »
You're several months late for an ABS M1.
Logged

Offline TexasFlood

  • Posts: 1084
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #6 on: Fri, 12 November 2010, 18:38:36 »
Quote from: Pylon;246116
You're several months late for an ABS M1.

Hah, I thought of that as well.  But as you say, that ship has sailed.
Logged

Offline patrickgeekhack

  • Posts: 1460
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #7 on: Fri, 12 November 2010, 19:14:47 »
Quote from: TexasFlood;246130
Hah, I thought of that as well.  But as you say, that ship has sailed.


The ABS M1 seems to be the keyboard that nobody wants. Mine is sitting on my wife's PC. She does not care much about what keyboard she is typing on. She does not type a lot either. From time to time, when I need to use her computer, I find that typing on a "meaty" keyboard can be nice. My "office" is too close to my daughter's room for this keyboard though. It's quite loud.
Logged

Offline NewbieOneKenobi

  • Posts: 634
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #8 on: Fri, 12 November 2010, 19:23:19 »
There's a Dell AT101W for $8 Buy Now right now on E-Bay, shipment costs $13 within the USA, PS/2 to USB adapter costs a couple of bucks.

Other than this, it will be very hard (seller from your town or something).
Logged

Offline doebedoe

  • Posts: 9
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #9 on: Fri, 12 November 2010, 19:41:03 »
Right now typing on my first mechanical board -- a Dell AT101W picked up for 20 bucks with shipping from the bay. Very clean, key response is quite uniform. All and all worth it, build quality is much higher than any of the membrane keyboards I've had.

That said I have a IBM UltraNav external keyboard on the way that will likely replace it (mostly because I'm such a fan of having a trackpoint handy.)
Logged

Offline NewbieOneKenobi

  • Posts: 634
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #10 on: Fri, 12 November 2010, 20:01:28 »
I got my pack of Dells for $11 per unit with another $11 (or less) to pay for the shipment of all 10 of them.
Logged

Offline TexasFlood

  • Posts: 1084
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #11 on: Fri, 12 November 2010, 20:20:25 »
Quote from: NewbieOneKenobi;246154
There's a Dell AT101W for $8 Buy Now right now on E-Bay, shipment costs $13 within the USA, PS/2 to USB adapter costs a couple of bucks.

Other than this, it will be very hard (seller from your town or something).

Yup, that's about all I see right now, a few such Dells (1, 2, 3).
I've seen IBM buckling springs and Chicony KB-5181s for close to that price in the past but not right now.
Logged

Offline TexasFlood

  • Posts: 1084
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #12 on: Sun, 14 November 2010, 10:52:16 »
You could try bidding on an IBM Model M bucking spring  The only ones I see up right now in that range with no bids are this one, and this one.  But it's not "buy it now" so the bidding could go higher than you'd like and you'll also need to get something to convert to USB.
Logged

Offline Cheese101

  • Posts: 26
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #13 on: Sun, 14 November 2010, 17:48:04 »
Quote from: TexasFlood;246680
You could try bidding on an IBM Model M bucking spring  The only ones I see up right now in that range with no bids are this one, and this one.  But it's not "buy it now" so the bidding could go higher than you'd like and you'll also need to get something to convert to USB.

That first link , is he trying to pass off a Dell keyboard as an IBM model M?
There is a dell logo in the top left.
Logged
Main:
IBM Model M 1391401 ; 4th October 1991
Spare:
IBM kb-8923 ; 1996 - owned from new!

Offline TexasFlood

  • Posts: 1084
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #14 on: Sun, 14 November 2010, 18:01:01 »
Quote from: Cheese101;246811
That first link , is he trying to pass off a Dell keyboard as an IBM model M?
There is a dell logo in the top left.


I admit that post is a little suspect which has been discussed in this thread.  But there actually have apparently been Dell labelled Model Ms as discussed here.
Logged

Offline bakageta

  • Posts: 206
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #15 on: Sun, 14 November 2010, 18:51:09 »
Not as cheap as you were looking for, but maybe something like this? $29.99 with free shipping, and it's small enough to easily haul around with a laptop.
Logged

Offline Lanx

  • Posts: 1915
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #16 on: Sun, 14 November 2010, 22:22:54 »
ml4100 not even in the same area as a real cherry switch mx switch. But better than rubber domes and better than absm1 and pretty portable to boot.
Logged

Offline theferenc

  • Posts: 1327
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #17 on: Sun, 14 November 2010, 23:19:22 »
Just to comment, I'm pretty sure I already bought that dell. And it was DISGUSTINGLY filthy when I got it. After it was cleaned though, it was very nice. Definitely not a carrying around board, though.

It has a nice feel though, and seems to be a decent first board, especially if you have to take it apart to clean it. Nothing like having 500+ pieces of switches/keys laying out to dry to make you appreciate how amazing something as everyday as a keyboard can really be.
Logged
HHKB Pro 2 -- Custom UNIX layout Unicomp Customizer 101 -- IBM Model M 1391401 (modded to UNIX layout) -- IBM 1397000 (also UNIX layout) -- SSK in UNIX layout -- Model F 122 key in UNIX layout (Soarer USB "native")
 
CST L-TracX trackball -- Kensington Expert Mouse trackball

Offline Mr. Perfect

  • Posts: 380
  • Location: United States
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #18 on: Sun, 14 November 2010, 23:55:45 »
No one has mentioned that Daniel Beaver is selling used Model Ms for $5 in this thread. They're bulk salvage that need to be seriously cleaned, but its hard to beat the price if you're serious.
Logged
Mr. Perfect - A name fraught with peril.

G80-8113HRBUS MX Clears, FC200R MX Clears, RK-9000v2 MX Blues.

Offline TexasFlood

  • Posts: 1084
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #19 on: Sun, 21 November 2010, 20:13:45 »
Logged

Offline whiteweazel21

  • Posts: 44
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #20 on: Sun, 21 November 2010, 20:32:07 »
Quote from: ripster;246980
To the OP.  You went high end looking at your big rig specs.


High end?? Seems pretty budget build to me.
Logged
[SIGPIC]http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/4562/rszgeekhack.jpg[/SIGPIC]

Offline whiteweazel21

  • Posts: 44
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #21 on: Sun, 21 November 2010, 20:40:19 »
Quote from: ripster;250356
See anything that costs $20?


Yes, the heatsink can be had for $20 :)
Logged
[SIGPIC]http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/4562/rszgeekhack.jpg[/SIGPIC]

Offline whiteweazel21

  • Posts: 44
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #22 on: Sun, 21 November 2010, 20:47:26 »
You see any SR-2 builds? Those are pretty high-end haha.
Logged
[SIGPIC]http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/4562/rszgeekhack.jpg[/SIGPIC]

Offline CodeChef

  • Posts: 280
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #23 on: Mon, 22 November 2010, 08:01:26 »
Quote from: whiteweazel21;250353
High end?? Seems pretty budget build to me.


A Velociraptor is budget? What are you on?
Logged
[sigpic][/sigpic]

Offline Resaebiunne

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 10
Inexpensive Mechanical USB Keyboard
« Reply #24 on: Mon, 22 November 2010, 08:10:14 »
Quote from: ripster;246980
To the OP.  You went high end looking at your big rig specs.

Next time budget more than $20 for the keyboard.  At least as much as you pay for a high end gaming mouse.

Haha, I bought the MS WMO 1.1as off eBay for about $3 each, work great for gaming ;)

For the record, I bought a Dell AT101W.  For $20 shipped it should be a good deal.  I took a typing class in high school which used the AT101W.  Might have to clean the board up, but for the price it's not a big deal.

Quote from: ripster;250361
Damn, that dude needs to upgrade to ThermalRight!
Planning on switching to watercooling to hopefully boost my overclock.  The Freezer 7 Pro just doesn't cut it.
« Last Edit: Mon, 22 November 2010, 08:13:55 by Resaebiunne »
Logged
Pages:  [1]     Go Up
« previous next »