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Author Topic: Non mechanical tenkeyless  (Read 12424 times)

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Offline duckyduck

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  • Posts: 7
Non mechanical tenkeyless
« on: Sun, 06 March 2011, 14:20:56 »
I have been looking for a keyboard without a numeric keypad for many years now and never stumbled upon the mechanicals like Filco, Ducky etc until now. When I looked years ago all of the choices out there seemed really lacking and I eventually settled on the Apple Wireless Keyboard which I have been using for over 2 years now.

I think it's a pretty decent space saving keyboard (others may disagree but there aren't that many choices for one with a standard layout). My only issue with it is that I'd rather have real delete, home and end keys instead of ones that have to be accessed through the function key.

My main uses are going to be programming and a bit of gaming. If what I want doesn't exist then I guess I can pull the trigger on the Brown Filco Tenkeyless, but I want to double check with the gurus here.

Are there any scissor/membrane tenkeyless which share a similar design to the Filco, Leopold, or Ducky? Barring that are there any "mainstream mechanicals" ($50-$100 as defined in the geekhack wiki) which are tenkeyless? I'm aware of the Leopolds being $99, but March 7th is the preorder (who knows when it will ship?) and when tax and shipping are added the price is ~$15 cheaper than a Filco which is available on Amazon now with 2 day Prime shipping.
« Last Edit: Sun, 06 March 2011, 14:23:42 by duckyduck »
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Offline Brian8bit

  • Posts: 156
Non mechanical tenkeyless
« Reply #1 on: Sun, 06 March 2011, 14:24:38 »
Ripster usually pimps a Windows based scissor switch keyboard in the guise of an Apple keyboard. But I can't remember it's name. Only that it's on (or was on) dealextreme.

Edit: Found it.
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Offline keyboardlover

  • Posts: 4022
  • Hey Paul Walker, Click It or Ticket!
    • http://www.keyboardlover.com
Non mechanical tenkeyless
« Reply #2 on: Sun, 06 March 2011, 14:26:01 »
I don't think Ripster's "HHKB Killer" has the layout this chap is looking for.
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Offline Brian8bit

  • Posts: 156
Non mechanical tenkeyless
« Reply #3 on: Sun, 06 March 2011, 14:28:10 »
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Offline duckyduck

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Non mechanical tenkeyless
« Reply #4 on: Sun, 06 March 2011, 15:03:39 »
Quote from: Brian8bit;306320
What about this.


That's an interesting layout. It's basically the size of a tenkeyless but still has the numeric keypad. Not exactly what I'm looking for... but I guess it sort of qualifies as having real delete/home/end buttons albeit in a not so standard place.
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Offline Superfluous Parentheses

  • Posts: 256
Non mechanical tenkeyless
« Reply #5 on: Sun, 06 March 2011, 15:32:57 »
I think somebody posted a keyboard here that had the cursor/home etc keys merged with the numeric keypad. Can't remember the name though, and it might be mechanical.

EDIT: it appears that your main issue with mechanical boards is the price, is that correct? If so, you may want to check out the classifieds and/or "great finds" section here.
« Last Edit: Sun, 06 March 2011, 15:44:06 by Superfluous Parentheses »
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Current collection: HHKB Pro 2 black on black, HHKB Pro 2 white/grey blank, [strike]Dell AT101W[/strike] (sold to SirClickAlot), 1992 Model M, Key Tronic Ergoforce KT 2001, BTC 5100 C. Dead boards: MS Natural Elite, MS Natural 4000.

Offline Brian8bit

  • Posts: 156
Non mechanical tenkeyless
« Reply #6 on: Sun, 06 March 2011, 15:50:24 »
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Offline bhtooefr

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  • Location: Newark, OH, USA
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Non mechanical tenkeyless
« Reply #7 on: Mon, 07 March 2011, 07:28:10 »
Might be able to find an old IBM Space Saver II if you shop around. (The trick is finding one in US layout that isn't absurdly expensive)

That's a rubber dome tenkeyless with a TrackPoint IV built in.
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Offline dissident

  • Posts: 19
Non mechanical tenkeyless
« Reply #8 on: Mon, 07 March 2011, 13:17:21 »
for a rubber dome this keyboard has a pretty nice key feel with good springiness. Actually the actuation force is pretty high for a rubber dome, definitely higher then the cherry brown filco I was using. Nice spacebar too which is somewhat rare for me... usually I find the spacebar on keyboards annoying and this includes the one in the filco with cherry browns.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823191005&cm_re=siig_keyboard-_-23-191-005-_-Product

A guy on newegg said this keyboard was noisy and it made his hands feel tired after 20 minutes.. well it's much less noisy then any cherry board but perhaps loud by rubber dome standards, and the actuation force is high by rubber dome standards. Personally I like it. :)
« Last Edit: Mon, 07 March 2011, 13:26:52 by dissident »
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Offline wanabe

  • Posts: 217
  • Location: San Francisco, CA USA
Non mechanical tenkeyless
« Reply #9 on: Mon, 07 March 2011, 13:34:56 »
Quote from: bhtooefr;306771
Might be able to find an old IBM Space Saver II if you shop around. (The trick is finding one in US layout that isn't absurdly expensive)

That's a rubber dome tenkeyless with a TrackPoint IV built in.


Here's an auction for one now (not mine)

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-SpaceSaver-II-28L3644-Wired-Keyboard-no-tenkey-NR-/270715917352

they've been going for $50+ lately...not worth it IMO
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Offline duckyduck

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 7
Non mechanical tenkeyless
« Reply #10 on: Mon, 07 March 2011, 14:05:56 »
Quote

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/87-key-...er-1-aaa-50788

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/qq-107-...cm-cable-37460

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/88-key-...cm-cable-55546

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/86-key-...cm-cable-44377

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/87-key-...al-mouse-16578

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/digiboy...cm-cable-34963


I'll check them out in a bit, thanks.

Quote from: dissident;306987
for a rubber dome this keyboard has a pretty nice key feel with good springiness. Actually the actuation force is pretty high for a rubber dome, definitely higher then the cherry brown filco I was using. Nice spacebar too which is somewhat rare for me... usually I find the spacebar on keyboards annoying and this includes the one in the filco with cherry browns.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823191005&cm_re=siig_keyboard-_-23-191-005-_-Product

A guy on newegg said this keyboard was noisy and it made his hands feel tired after 20 minutes.. well it's much less noisy then any cherry board but perhaps loud by rubber dome standards, and the actuation force is high by rubber dome standards. Personally I like it. :)


Looks interesting. So are these like the regular keys and not scissor style short travel? One red flag with this keyboard is the size of that spacebar button. It looks really tiny, not sure if it's an issue but I didn't see any reviews mention it.
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Offline doebedoe

  • Posts: 9
Non mechanical tenkeyless
« Reply #11 on: Mon, 07 March 2011, 14:39:39 »
I have an IBM UltraNav Travel Board that is currently the main board. I like its space saving size and built in trackpoint (touchpad too if you want it.) Very similar in feel to Thinkpad boards (short travel scissors), and same layout. (Same layout is a decided advantage as 1/2 my day is spent at a Thinkpad.)

I offered somewhere in the 35-40 range to the seller below and got accepted:
http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-US-English-PS-2-UltraNav-Travel-Slim-Keyboard-/190447005641?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2c5786afc9#ht_960wt_702
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