Scissor-switch Keyboard with a Standard Layout

[Faveokatro]

Hey all! Newbie here.

I was looking for a solid work keyboard, and my primary consideration was noise level with typing smoothness coming in a close second. My keyboard at home is a Das Silent, which I think is too loud for the office (I'm on the phone a lot at work, and at home I've heard complaints about my keyboard while on skype). So far, I've narrowed my decision down to two possibilities:

Realforce 55g - I'm not sure how I feel about a variable pressure keyboard so I'm holding out for a 55g. Unfortunately, it's both expensive (not sure if I want to pay $245 for a work keyboard), and it's not in stock anyway.
A Scissor-Switch keyboard with a standard layout - Problem is, I can't find a single one like this. Preferably the button layout is exactly like a normal keyboard, which I'm not sure is even possible for a scissor-switch. I was hoping for some help in pointing one out if they do exist.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[sordna]

Welcome to GH!
If you like cherry switches like the ones on the Das, you can significantly reduce the noise by installing some o-rings on the underside of the keycaps. Click "o-ring" on my sig for details. Or you can get the soft-landing pads from EliteKeyboards.

[Johannes]

My keyboard at home is a Das Silent, which I think is too loud for the office

Oh the irony

[nhwhaup]

If you like linear switches I highly recommend the Filco Majestouch with reds. Very light touch and quiet. To make it even more quiet I have added the soft landing pads. I absolutely love this keyboard. It is way more quiet than the Realforce.

[The Solutor]

A Scissor-Switch keyboard with a standard layout

Look at the Logitech illuminated, one of the best keyboard looking at the tactile feedback, and the layout is pretty standard (with the standard configuration the function keys are in second function but can be reverted via SW)

[Faveokatro]

Thanks for the responses! The 0-rings might be the way to go, or soft landing pads. I'll have to look at the difference and then figure it out. I'll look up that Filco red since I haven't seen a Filco before. The problem with the Logitech scissor keyboards (I used to use one) is that the buttons are just a little not lined up with the standard layout. I game, but I have very little time to do so so if I used the Logitech I'd be spending the little time I game readjusting to the keyboard :-/ I'm guessing the way the switch is designed makes it impossible to have exactly the same layout though.

Edit: How functional is the difference between soft and firm landing pads? I imagine firm makes the key feel noticeably different if you bottom out, but is the tradeoff in less sound noticeable or worth it?

[Faveokatro]

Yeah the keys on the left are a bit different on the logitechs, which makes q, a, and z a little off kilter from a standard keyboard. I remember having a lot of issues hitting those buttons with consistent accuracy when I first switched from my logitech illuminated. If filcos have nonstandard too then I guess I'll just get landing pads and a Das. Is it actually worth it to get a key popper? I used to use a pen back when I used crappy keyboards, but I don't want to accidentally damage $130

[The Solutor]

Yeah the keys on the left are a bit different on the logitechs, which makes q, a, and z a little off kilter from a standard keyboard.

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Mmmm...

Looks like you are right but is not the qwerty line the one strangely spaced, is the numeric line that looks a little shifted to the right (backspace is shorter than usual.

Never noticed that, but never used extensively the logitech illuminated

[Faveokatro]

Not sure, the left side thing might've just been the product of sloppy typing. I kept hitting caps lock in particular on a normal keyboard after switching, which you can imagine next to "a" made typing a sometimes amusing, sometimes annoying experience

Edit: I think I might not have noticed the number line too much because I used to play WoW, so I had huge amounts of repetitions hitting `-8.

[nhwhaup]

I really don't notice much of a difference between the soft and firm landing pads.  I have the firm ones on my full sized Filco with the reds and on my Filco TKL with reds I have the soft landing pads. Both completely quiet any bottoming out.  I guess I would say that the firm ones give more of a solid landing and the soft ones are more soft.

[sordna]

I really don't notice much of a difference between the soft and firm landing pads.  I have the firm ones on my full sized Filco with the reds and on my Filco TKL with reds I have the soft landing pads. Both completely quiet any bottoming out.  I guess I would say that the firm ones give more of a solid landing and the soft ones are more soft.

And 50A durometer o-rings are even more solid than the firm pads, and a tiny bit less sound absorbing. It comes down to a matter of preference really, but they all work well. My personal preference is medium-soft o-rings, followed by the gray (firm) soft-landing pads as my 2nd choice.