« previous next »
Pages:  [1]     Go Down

Author Topic: Best keypad for the money?  (Read 4333 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Rhinofeed

  • Formerly nathaniel_h
  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 114
    • Rhinofeed
Best keypad for the money?
« on: Thu, 03 January 2013, 21:47:03 »
Hello! I'm looking for a keypad to go along with my tenkeyless leopold. Some will say I should have just purchased a full keyboard but I like the flexibility of a detachable number pad. The only two I've heard about so far is the Filco Majestouch keypad and the Cherry G80-3700. Any recommendations?
Logged

Offline Turbo Slaab

  • Posts: 798
  • Location: NY
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 03 January 2013, 23:32:19 »
Filco is always a good choice.
Logged
Looking for CC's!

Offline Rhinofeed

  • Formerly nathaniel_h
  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 114
    • Rhinofeed
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 03 January 2013, 23:37:11 »
Do you know of any others besides the two I listed?
Logged

Offline TheProfosist

  • Posts: 3671
  • Location: Wisconsin, USA
  • Custom Layouts Only!
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 03 January 2013, 23:38:29 »
Theres the goldtouch and kenesis.
Logged

Offline quake4mhg

  • Posts: 492
  • Location: BC, Canada
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #4 on: Fri, 04 January 2013, 00:24:58 »
Not too many mechanical keypad around, pick your favorite switch first :)
Logged

Offline spacecase

  • Posts: 58
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #5 on: Fri, 04 January 2013, 03:32:18 »
It's not exactly a good keypad for the money but the best one I know of is the Realforce 23u. The issue is that it's $150.27 after tax and shipping; a tad less if you're not in the special state of California.
Logged

Offline Rhinofeed

  • Formerly nathaniel_h
  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 114
    • Rhinofeed
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #6 on: Fri, 04 January 2013, 11:12:50 »
MX Browns would my favorite switch so far, and it would then match my TKL Leopold.

What switch is Goldtouch and Kenesis?

I'd love a Realforce 23U but it's a bit out of my price range at the moment.
Logged

Offline damorgue

  • Posts: 1176
  • Location: Sweden
    • Personal portfolio
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #7 on: Fri, 04 January 2013, 11:21:42 »
They are called Kinesis I believe.

Goldtouch are MX brown I believe. MX Black is otherwise common in numpads.

There are also some small Tipro ones which can be used as numpads. Possibly even a Genovation?
« Last Edit: Fri, 04 January 2013, 11:35:44 by damorgue »
Logged

Offline natas206

  • * Commercial Vendor
  • Posts: 171
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #8 on: Fri, 04 January 2013, 12:11:58 »
Quote from: nathaniel_h on Fri, 04 January 2013, 11:12:50
MX Browns would my favorite switch so far, and it would then match my TKL Leopold.

What switch is Kenesis?


Kinesis keypads are cherry brown.
Logged

Offline Rhinofeed

  • Formerly nathaniel_h
  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 114
    • Rhinofeed
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #9 on: Sat, 19 January 2013, 15:21:37 »
Sorry to bring this thread up again, but now I know what I'm looking for:

USB not PS/2
Cherry MX Browns
No double zero key, but a full width zero key. This way if I buy a keyset for a full keyboard, I can use this set both on my keypad and my tkl Leopold.
Unfortunately, this makes the Filco and many others not an option.

The reason I want USB is because PS/2 requires a restart, and I may be bringing this to work. They won't appreciate me restarting their computer all the time just so I can use my keypad.
Logged

Offline Lastpilot

  • Power stance
  • * Esteemed Elder
  • Posts: 1463
  • Location: Louisiana
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #10 on: Sat, 19 January 2013, 17:00:34 »
I still want a backlit Keycool-22 but no way to get one. D:
Logged

Offline IvanIvanovich

  • Mr. Silk Underwear
  • Posts: 8199
  • Location: USA
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #11 on: Sat, 19 January 2013, 17:22:59 »
Kinesis AC210 is probably your best choice. Make sure you don't get the freestyle numpad, its a domes not MX.
Logged

Offline codymaust

  • Posts: 95
  • Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #12 on: Sat, 19 January 2013, 17:49:56 »
Logged

Offline Rhinofeed

  • Formerly nathaniel_h
  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 114
    • Rhinofeed
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #13 on: Sat, 19 January 2013, 20:23:21 »
The Kinesis AC210 and that Adesso might be the only options for a keypad without a double zero... so I had a random thought:
Does IMSTO do custom caps; Would he make a double zero keycap for me if I needed one? (just to make things complicated)

edit: Although I can't figure out what switch type the Adesso has. Very odd.
« Last Edit: Sat, 19 January 2013, 20:26:10 by nathaniel_h »
Logged

Offline codymaust

  • Posts: 95
  • Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #14 on: Sat, 19 January 2013, 20:51:55 »
Quote from: nathaniel_h on Sat, 19 January 2013, 20:23:21
The Kinesis AC210 and that Adesso might be the only options for a keypad without a double zero... so I had a random thought:
Does IMSTO do custom caps; Would he make a double zero keycap for me if I needed one? (just to make things complicated)

edit: Although I can't figure out what switch type the Adesso has. Very odd.
Yeah.. the info is extremely limited on the Adesso haha

I looked into it before and I think I finally found a source that said it has Browns, but I don't remember for sure
Logged

Offline Rhinofeed

  • Formerly nathaniel_h
  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 114
    • Rhinofeed
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #15 on: Sat, 19 January 2013, 20:58:50 »
Quote from: Lastpilot on Sat, 19 January 2013, 17:00:34
I still want a backlit Keycool-22 but no way to get one. D:
Keycool looks excellent. I love their 87Key Grey version. But there's no way to purchase them if you live in the U.S.?

----

The Adesso seems kinda sketchy, especially at that lower price point. I'll probably stick to Kinesis or a Filco / Keycool (if possible) and try to get my hands on a double zero keycap whenever I do decide to get new PBT.
Logged

Offline jabar

  • Posts: 848
  • Location: TX, USA
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #16 on: Sat, 19 January 2013, 21:03:47 »
My girlfriend has a Lenovo keypad with scissor switches that isn't bad at all, and I imagine she got it for pretty cheap.

I think it's this one: http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:item.detail?GroupID=460&Code=AKP11US&category-id=B462438691FF48A9BB1FF35595DA583E&hide_menu_area=yes
Logged
Leopold FC660C - Max Keyboard Nighthawk X8 - Ducky DK9008 Shine II 78 Edition - Noppoo Choc Mini - Cherry G80-2100HDD - Cherry G80-8113HDPUS - Plu-M87 - Leopold FC700R Ergo Clears - Deck Legend Frost 105 - IBM F PC Keyboard - IBM M 122 (Lexmark) - Apple Extended Keyboard II

Phantom 7bit

Offline IvanIvanovich

  • Mr. Silk Underwear
  • Posts: 8199
  • Location: USA
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #17 on: Sat, 19 January 2013, 21:04:02 »
The adesso has blues, or sometimes MX knock off Taiwanese clicky white switch. It's made by iOne (I think) and isn't made well. I would probably stay away from it unless you find one on ebay for dirt cheap.
Also, no need to rule out the G80-3700 if you find one for a good price. Shouldn't be hard to source some brown stem and springs and swap them out, it's really easy since it's pcb mount.

If you like the Keycool, you just need to have a taobao proxy. There are some Chinese forum members that may help you, or you could always use a taobao agent if you need to.
« Last Edit: Sat, 19 January 2013, 21:06:56 by lysol »
Logged

Offline nullstring

  • Posts: 267
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #18 on: Sun, 20 January 2013, 02:18:08 »
This thing is $15 shipped, and I've heard good things.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/260902522660#shId
Logged

Offline rowdy

  • HHKB Hapster
  • * Erudite Elder
  • Posts: 21175
  • Location: melbourne.vic.au
  • Missed another sale.
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #19 on: Sun, 20 January 2013, 03:16:43 »
^ That one uses ALPS switches, which might limit you a bit if you plan on changing the keycaps at some stage.
Logged
"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ

Offline czarek

  • Posts: 627
  • Location: Poland
  • Keep the momentum going!
    • FalbaTech
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #20 on: Sun, 20 January 2013, 03:36:24 »
Unicomp :) it's a steal!
Logged
My little ErgoDox / GH60 factory: http://falbatech.pl

Offline RickyJ

  • Posts: 550
  • Location: Victoria, BC
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #21 on: Sun, 20 January 2013, 14:12:57 »
I have the Adesso, feels cheap and wobbly.  Swapped out the PCB blues for some PCB ergo-clears, and the keys feel even more unstable now.  The centering holes in the PCB for the switches are not tight like in my Cherry donor board.  It gets the job done and was cheap, but I was really hoping for better.
Logged
Currently GMMK Pro: lubed 68g U4T, FR4 plate, extra gaskets, etc

Offline Germiphene

  • Posts: 108
  • Location: Canada
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #22 on: Sun, 20 January 2013, 16:36:38 »
Just bought a Realforce 23u, it's beautiful! 
Logged
HHKB pro | RF 87U | RF 87U uni-45g | CM QFR | Steelseries 6Gv2 | Filco MT2 | IBM model M | IBM SSK '87

Offline esoomenona

  • Gnillort?
  • Posts: 5323
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #23 on: Sun, 20 January 2013, 16:37:48 »
Where'd you buy it from, germi?
Logged

Offline tp4tissue

  • * Destiny Supporter
  • Posts: 13722
  • Location: Official Geekhack Public Defender..
  • OmniExpert of: Rice, Top-Ramen, Ergodox, n Females
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #24 on: Sun, 20 January 2013, 17:05:52 »
Quote from: czarek on Sun, 20 January 2013, 03:36:24
Unicomp :) it's a steal!

it is NOT a steal,, it's $1.05 +    ~ $15.00 shipping
Logged

Offline fohat.digs

  • * Elevated Elder
  • Posts: 6533
  • Location: 35°55'N, 83°53'W
  • weird funny old guy
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #25 on: Sun, 20 January 2013, 17:10:26 »
Quote from: czarek on Sun, 20 January 2013, 03:36:24
Unicomp :) it's a steal!

*     *     *     *     *

If you are in the US, you can have a brand new Unicomp, black, native USB (the contemporary standard) delivered to your doorstep for a C-note.

That is absolutely a steal, by anybody's definition.

http://pckeyboard.com/page/UKBD/UB40P4A

And that includes a few beautiful colored replacement keycaps, too.

edit - sorry, I did not read the title properly "keypad" oh yeah, that ....
« Last Edit: Sun, 20 January 2013, 17:30:33 by fohat.digs »
Logged
"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline The_Beast

  • * Maker
  • Posts: 3964
  • Location: Wisconsin
  • I like wood ಠ_๏
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #26 on: Sun, 20 January 2013, 17:12:34 »
I just bought 5 of these:


Hopefully they're good. If not, 150 black switches for $0.23 each
Logged
Vendor Status: Sadly, not taking any orders/pre-orders at this time
Vendor Quick Links: | Vendor Forum | Hardwood Wrist Rests | Hardwood 60% Cases | Customer Gallery | Giveaway |

Offline Rhinofeed

  • Formerly nathaniel_h
  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 114
    • Rhinofeed
Re: Best keypad for the money?
« Reply #27 on: Mon, 21 January 2013, 16:07:55 »
Quote from: lysol on Sat, 19 January 2013, 21:04:02
The adesso has blues, or sometimes MX knock off Taiwanese clicky white switch. It's made by iOne (I think) and isn't made well. I would probably stay away from it unless you find one on ebay for dirt cheap.
Also, no need to rule out the G80-3700 if you find one for a good price. Shouldn't be hard to source some brown stem and springs and swap them out, it's really easy since it's pcb mount.

If you like the Keycool, you just need to have a taobao proxy. There are some Chinese forum members that may help you, or you could always use a taobao agent if you need to.

Thanks Lysol you've been most helpful. I didn't know Taobao had agents or anything of the sort. I'll definitely be looking out for deals on any one of those keypads, and I'll find out if it's possible to get a double zero keycap.
Logged
Pages:  [1]     Go Up
« previous next »