Author Topic: Only RD (no Topre) keyboards available in the world...which would you use? (Read 4387 times)

jksteger · « **on:** Mon, 29 April 2013, 12:07:55 »

I figured this would be a fun post. Let's pretend that aliens came down last night and took away all keyboard types and only left RD's for our use, which RD would you be either using now or which would you be looking to get? Remember, the aliens took all the Topre's too! (let's forget about "gaming" and only focus on the "feel" of the board and not NKRO and such)

I would start using my Dell Enhanced Multimedia KB. Model: Y-U0003-DEL5
It fells very good to type on, the keys require a shorter travel, maybe 2/3rd the distance of my AEK. The resistance is firm but not hard to press and it feels a little tactile too.

Next...

davkol · « **Reply #1 on:** Mon, 29 April 2013, 12:32:47 »

Do scissor switches count? TypeMatrix 2030, and I'd try to get higher-quality keycaps for it... somewhere. Otherwise, I'd like to try some programmable Cherry G86.

I don't really mind BTC 51xx (w/ Cherry MX-compatible keycaps), old KeyTronic, Dell QuietKey, Silitek MaxiSwitch and possibly some others, but the layout! There's no way I'm going back to full-size AND winkeyless AND staggered layout. Maybe MS Natural Elite or Goldtouch Adjustable Keyboard...

Bry · « **Reply #2 on:** Mon, 29 April 2013, 12:40:14 »

Well I would start swinging my Filco at the aliens furiously, but if they still managed to get it away from me...

I suppose I'd use a qsenn dt-35 just so I could feel like a gosu korean starcraft player.

Rule16 · « **Reply #3 on:** Mon, 29 April 2013, 13:05:15 »

I would steal my dad's microsoft ergo board (not sure of model number) the keys on it are medium weight and kinda linear, but still rubber dome...

The_Beast · « **Reply #4 on:** Mon, 29 April 2013, 13:08:10 »

I'd go MY first, then scissor switches and then a Microsoft 3000 (http://www.productwiki.com/upload/images/microsoft_wireless_laser_desktop_3000.jpg)

tricheboars · « **Reply #5 on:** Mon, 29 April 2013, 13:14:31 »

I guess I would stick with my Happy Hacking Lite 2. As far as rubber domes go it feels pretty good. The layout is nice too.

But in reality i would just hide my 60% and use it on the DL. It is just so portable and durable with my aluminum case, plate, o-rings, and WYSE set. I know for a fact that my low-profile case will crack a skull open when i slam it into our evil alien overlord's dome pieces. i will keep it wu-tang

SpAmRaY · « **Reply #6 on:** Mon, 29 April 2013, 14:06:26 »

I can't remember which one this is but I used to think this was the best keyboard ever.......

Rule16 · « **Reply #7 on:** Mon, 29 April 2013, 14:30:32 »

Quote from: ray4jc on Mon, 29 April 2013, 14:06:26

I can't remember which one this is but I used to think this was the best keyboard ever.......

Lol, I was literally typing on that an hour ago... now I'm at home typing on a Topre(just got it).

rootwyrm · « **Reply #8 on:** Mon, 29 April 2013, 15:30:12 »

Which rubber dome?
I CHOOSE DEATH.

jdcarpe · « **Reply #9 on:** Mon, 29 April 2013, 15:42:07 »

Dell QuietKey, RT7D5JTW, made in Thailand, Dell part number 00463CD.

I win.

CPTBadAss · « **Reply #10 on:** Mon, 29 April 2013, 15:43:15 »

Microsoft Ergo 4k. Still got it at work ^__^

esoomenona · « **Reply #11 on:** Mon, 29 April 2013, 15:49:03 »

Logitech G510. Booya! Oh wait...

Findecanor · « **Reply #12 on:** Mon, 29 April 2013, 16:00:01 »

* Key Tronic OEM keyboard.
* Once upon a time I bought a used NMB RT6556 as a backup for the future for when my Key Tronic OEM keyboards would stop working. The NMB was half decent..
* That stand-alone Thinkpad keyboard with scissor switches. (same as laptop keyboard, but not part of laptop, not the Model M6-1)

Quote from: ray4jc on Mon, 29 April 2013, 14:06:26

I can't remember which one this is but I used to think this was the best keyboard ever.......

There are actually three different keyboards, made by different manufacturers. All with the same look, case and Dell brand.

sth · « **Reply #13 on:** Mon, 29 April 2013, 16:30:54 »

quiet key or the proto-topre RD capacitive that IBM made

diqkiq · « **Reply #14 on:** Mon, 29 April 2013, 17:29:06 »

I'd go with the IBM Spacesaver II

davkol · « **Reply #15 on:** Mon, 29 April 2013, 21:25:55 »

Quote from: CPTBadAss on Mon, 29 April 2013, 15:43:15

Microsoft Ergo 4k. Still got it at work ^__^

spacebar T_T

hasu · « **Reply #16 on:** Mon, 29 April 2013, 21:47:15 »

Then, I'll snag PFU original HHK.

Hyde · « **Reply #17 on:** Mon, 29 April 2013, 21:53:03 »

If scissor switch counts, Logitech Illuminated Keyboard.

Personally haven't try it yet but I heard the IBM Model M Rubber Dome was actually pretty good.

sth · « **Reply #18 on:** Mon, 29 April 2013, 22:23:01 »

Quote from: hasu on Mon, 29 April 2013, 21:47:15

Then, I'll snag PFU original HHK.

good call

layout is important!!

llovro · « **Reply #19 on:** Tue, 30 April 2013, 04:31:32 »

I would be using my Logitech g15. I love to type on this thing.

crthell · « **Reply #20 on:** Tue, 30 April 2013, 09:06:47 »

Dell Quietkey RT7D5JTW

geminimech · « **Reply #21 on:** Tue, 30 April 2013, 09:49:49 »

- Thinkpad Scissor switches (not the new chiclet style)
- Dell Quietkey
- This old Nexxtech Dome keyboard that was left in my office. Remarkably tactile and solid rubber dome. A little heavy on the press though.

I really want to buy a KeyTronic board. It's piqued my interest based on all of the positive feedback it gets and is incredibly cheap.

BTW jksteger, I just realized you're the guy I bought my Realforce from

I was wondering why your gh handle looked so familiar, then I checked my ebay history and put it all together. Thanks for the board man, you weren't kidding when you said it was brand new!

jksteger · « **Reply #22 on:** Tue, 30 April 2013, 16:19:26 »

Quote from: geminimech on Tue, 30 April 2013, 09:49:49

BTW jksteger, I just realized you're the guy I bought my Realforce from

I was wondering why your gh handle looked so familiar, then I checked my ebay history and put it all together. Thanks for the board man, you weren't kidding when you said it was brand new!

I'm glad you are liking the board. Yeah, like I said, I used it maybe a total of 8 hours at my office. I haven't got another board yet because I'm holding out for the Leopold FC660C.

I had a Keytronic keyboard, the one with the weighted keys, I didn't think too much of it and sent it back to Amazon. The keys were just too "odd" feeling. I mean, you use your smallest finger to press Shift, etc. but Keytronic, for some unknown reason, decided to make these keys as hard as the spacebar! I just didn't like it. YMMV though. I would love to find one of the IBM Model M's that are RD to give it a try.

J.

geminimech · « **Reply #23 on:** Tue, 30 April 2013, 21:40:10 »

Yeah, I enjoyed it so much that I want another Topre board, so when I saw this was coming out it was clear to me that this needed to be my home board. I'm very glad I copped this particular white version sans the grey modifiers etc, since finding the white keys could have been a pain and an expensive proposition. I'm just glad nobody else bid for it after me

I was willing to go past the price new!

As for the Keytronic, I was looking to get an old variable weight one possibly. I'm sure I would probably never use it, but I'm certainly curious to try it out. The price makes it easier to deal with if I hate it.

Sifo · « **Reply #24 on:** Tue, 30 April 2013, 21:41:38 »

my dt-35

still love it

Burz · « **Reply #25 on:** Wed, 01 May 2013, 02:28:11 »

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=43025.0;topicseen

Lots of these RD threads around lately. I wonder why?

My fav RD these days is Thinkpad. I'm surprised it isn't more popular around here since they usually sell it as TKL.

calavera · « **Reply #26 on:** Wed, 01 May 2013, 02:35:17 »

I actually don't mind using the apple keyboards macs come with these days.

aggiejy · « **Reply #27 on:** Wed, 01 May 2013, 22:15:23 »

I'd go for scissor switches first. The small Apple bluetooth board. In fact, I still use it sometimes... feels great to type on, and so very different from the long travel of mechanicals. Even though it's basically the same as the built in Macbook Pro keyboard, for some reason it feels a lot better to me.

But if not for that, I'd go for the Microsoft Ergo 4k. Even though it's mushy as hell in hindsight, I still prefer that layout over any keyboard I've tried. I would trade major korean metal for a good MX or Topre version of that keyboard.

codymaust · « **Reply #28 on:** Wed, 01 May 2013, 22:24:03 »

I have an old Apple design keyboard that is very nice to type on

fohat.digs · « **Reply #29 on:** Wed, 01 May 2013, 22:25:53 »

Quote from: jdcarpe on Mon, 29 April 2013, 15:42:07

Dell QuietKey, RT7D5JTW, made in Thailand, Dell part number 00463CD.

I win.

I agree. This and the IBM KB-8923.

Late 1990s-early-2000s Compaqs are pretty nice, too.

BearHug · « **Reply #30 on:** Fri, 03 May 2013, 04:48:15 »

Original HHKB, i love this layout

dante · « **Reply #31 on:** Fri, 03 May 2013, 12:03:57 »

A tie between the HP SK-2880 and HHKB Lite 2.

digi · « **Reply #32 on:** Fri, 03 May 2013, 12:57:16 »

Dell QuietKey!

OrpheusX · « **Reply #33 on:** Fri, 03 May 2013, 13:40:27 »

I'd fall back to the HHKB Lite 2 I used for 10 years before discovered mechanical switches. Wouldn't be the worst thing to happen.

diqkiq · « **Reply #34 on:** Mon, 12 August 2013, 20:30:45 »

I would use an IBM Spacesaver II

jwaz · « **Reply #35 on:** Mon, 12 August 2013, 20:32:13 »

Sun Type-3/ HHKB 1

daerid · « **Reply #36 on:** Mon, 12 August 2013, 20:49:50 »

Microsoft Natural Pro, circa 2000

ch_123 · « **Reply #37 on:** Tue, 13 August 2013, 04:51:09 »

An Apple aluminium Keyboard

bueller · « **Reply #38 on:** Tue, 13 August 2013, 04:58:38 »

Quote from: daerid on Mon, 12 August 2013, 20:49:50

Microsoft Natural Pro, circa 2000

I've still got one of those that I use at work, can't bring myself to get rid of it! Actually been seriously considering doing some measurements for a mechanical knock off but the curvature of it scares me somewhat.

dorkvader · « **Reply #39 on:** Tue, 13 August 2013, 07:48:48 »

Alphametric makes a rubberdome keyboard with a capacitive sense mechanism and NKRO. It also features dyesub pbt keycaps. General dynamics used a sealed version as their VCU keyboard in the SBCT. With the sliders oiled, it's actually rather nice (if heavy) to type on.

MOZ · « **Reply #40 on:** Tue, 13 August 2013, 08:02:17 »

I will refuse to type.

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Author Topic: Only RD (no Topre) keyboards available in the world...which would you use? (Read 4387 times)