What is the worst keyboard you've ever typed on

[Wildcard]

When I first started collecting keyboards I picked up this piece of garbage.





DATALUX Space Saver Keyboard - Model: MORUC

Every keystroke feels mushy in the worst way and the down-stroke is like plastic on sandpaper. I tried some basic lube but the reality is the plungers were designed pretty horribly.

[Puddsy]

HHKB lite 2

eeeew

[Wildcard]

HHKB lite 2

eeeew

I believe many have shared that pain.

[Photekq]

A logitech wave that was full of cigarette ash.

[rowdy]

This topic does tend to come up from time to time ...

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=4521.0

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46629.0

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48224.0

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=49211.0

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=25105.0

[keymaster]

..one of those Microsoft Surface Touch Covers. It barely passes for a keyboard since it feels like I'm typing on hardwood.

[IvanIvanovich]

Hey... looks an awful lot like what I was going to say was worst... membrane type keyboards, it's like the predecessor to typing on a touch screen... total ****.

[demik]

anything with  blacks or reds or browns or clears

[Halverson]

anything with  blacks or reds or browns or clears

HE DIDN'T SAY SIIG MINITOUCH!  ohhhhh ahhhhh!

[demik]

anything with  blacks or reds or browns or clears

HE DIDN'T SAY SIIG MINITOUCH!  ohhhhh ahhhhh!

****.

SIIG MINITOUCH WORST KEYBOARD IVE EVER USED OH GOD IT'S HORRIBLE. **** YOU WHITE CLICKY ALPS POS DIE IN A TRASHCAN FIRE (THE KEYBOARD NOT YOU I LOVE U HALVY)

[inteli722]

..one of those Microsoft Surface Touch Covers. It barely passes for a leopards since it feels like I'm typing on hardwood.

Show Image

This is really bad. Not only does it provide no feedback, but it's pretty particular about what it detects, so you end up hitting a key 3 times to get it to work. Do yourself a favor and get the type cover for a Surface if you must have one of their covers.

As for legitimate worst keyboard, I would have to say the picture above. I found the Logitech Wave to be decent feeling. Not amazing, but not terrible. Most rubber domes are usable. That...thing...is not.

Runner up is all of the rolley keyboards in the world with the rubber coating and really ****ty rubber domes.

[phoenix1234]

anything with  blacks or reds or browns or clears

[Photekq]

This is really bad. Not only does it provide no feedback, but it's pretty particular about what it detects, so you end up hitting a key 3 times to get it to work. Do yourself a favor and get the type cover for a Surface if you must have one of their covers.

As for legitimate worst keyboard, I would have to say the picture above. I found the Logitech Wave to be decent feeling. Not amazing, but not terrible. Most rubber domes are usable. That...thing...is not.

Runner up is all of the rolley keyboards in the world with the rubber coating and really ****ty rubber domes.

Yeah logitech wave is pretty nice on its own. Add a tonne of cigarette ash, however, and it really isn't..

[noisyturtle]

I'd agree with cheap calculator style membrane board, but I've never used an entire keyboard made that way. It sounds just aweful.

Worst I've actually used is one of those roll-up silicon mat boards. Just eww.

[Wildcard]

anything with  blacks or reds or browns or clears

Or MX Blues


Another crap keyboard I've typed on is a slightly larger version of this DEC keyboard

[swill]

I have typed on some crappy domes in my day.  The worst mechanical I have typed on is a QFR w/ Blues.

[Photekq]

The worst mechanical I have typed on is a QFR w/ Blues.

Shots fired

[swill]

The worst mechanical I have typed on is a QFR w/ Blues.

Shots fired

What?  Im spoiled, what can I say...  Filcos and Topre otherwise. 

[noisyturtle]

Did someone say Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker?

[rowdy]

Did someone say Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker?

No?

[demik]

The worst mechanical I have typed on is a QFR w/ Blues.

Shots fired

What?  Im spoiled, what can I say...  Filcos and Topre otherwise. 

QFR is just a filco for people that are smart with their money.

ALL HAIL TOPRE GODS

[swill]

The worst mechanical I have typed on is a QFR w/ Blues.

Shots fired

What?  Im spoiled, what can I say...  Filcos and Topre otherwise. 

QFR is just a filco for people that are smart with their money.

ALL HAIL TOPRE GODS

Thats not true.  The PCB is not near the quality of the Filco.  Resoldered 5 switches and I had pad issues with 3 of the 5.  It is definitely not the same quality as a Filco...

[demik]

keep telling yourself that


im kidding tho.

all mx sucks

[dustinhxc]

Imagine a laptop keyboard but full size membrane. That was what I used for a couple years, believe that? I went back to it for a night to try it.. So flat you cant feel the keys being pressed. OH man!! I wanted to rip my eyes out!

[Reckthor]

saitek backlit keyboard with wobbly space bar......So much hate

[epzy]

HHKB Pro 2. Come @ me.





jk

Worst membrane: SteelSeries SHIFT. Actually a $5 POS is better to type on.
Worst mechanical: Would have to be the Logitech G710+.

[SpAmRaY]

Whatever Dell is putting out with their optiplex systems....

[niubio]

Compaq LTE 5380 laptop keyboard (DE version) - stiff and almost unusable. Lubricating didn't help a bit. Still, it's a very nice and sturdy machine!

[Belfong]

The Apple transparent case keyboard is the worse garbage I've every typed on.

[rowdy]

The Apple transparent case keyboard is the worse garbage I've every typed on.

Ah, that would be one of these then ...



)

[Zeal]

The Apple transparent case keyboard is the worse garbage I've every typed on.

Ah, that would be one of these then ...

(Attachment Link)

)

Ugh...I remember having to type on those =___= The black keycap variant was stiffer iirc.

[noisyturtle]

Did someone say Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker?

No?

Oh sorry, I thought someone said Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker but I suppose I misheard so I should stop talking about Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker because Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker isn't what they were reffering to. Well, when you talk about Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker let me know, because I know a lot about Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker

[Belfong]

The Apple transparent case keyboard is the worse garbage I've every typed on.

Ah, that would be one of these then ...

(Attachment Link)

)

That's the abomination I was referring to! And I still have it with me!!

[McWilloughby]

anything with  blacks or reds or browns or clears

Or MX Blues


Another crap keyboard I've typed on is a slightly larger version of this DEC keyboard

Show Image

I do wonder what market they were catering for with those ctrl and shift keys, maybe a tad excessive?

I'd say the worst I've typed on besides run of the mill workstation keyboards was a Cherry MY board. My job at the time was full of G80s so most of the keyboards were pretty alright. I sat down at one of the computers on what I thought was an old-ish G80 (grey+beige caps rather than just beige). Felt like I was typing on a sodden mattress. Flipped over the board and "oh, its an MY".

[SpAmRaY]

Did someone say Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker?

No?

Oh sorry, I thought someone said Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker but I suppose I misheard so I should stop talking about Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker because Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker isn't what they were reffering to. Well, when you talk about Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker let me know, because I know a lot about Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker

The derp is strong in you noisy!

[Wildcard]

I bought a G83 once because the seller wouldn't list the model number. It ended up being a horrible horrible keyboard.

[Wildcard]

Did someone say Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker?

Thunderaan, Prince of air? Can the legends be true?

Yes I would follow you into Silithus if that's what you were asking...

On a serious note, WTF are WOW players smoking.

[matt303]

Hey... looks an awful lot like what I was going to say was worst... membrane type keyboards, it's like the predecessor to typing on a touch screen... total ****.

Show Image

I was going to say the ZX81 until I saw that, I had both and the flex in the 400's keyboard made it worse than the ZX81, also had loads of problems with the Atari 400 that meant it spent more time being repaired than used  :(

[Linkbane]

..one of those Microsoft Surface Touch Covers. It barely passes for a keyboard since it feels like I'm typing on hardwood.

Show Image

This for sure. I was ready to be amazed by Microsoft's accurate touch recognition, only to be sadly mistaken when I realized how utterly bad it was.

[Oobly]

Intermittent zx spectrum keyboard. Some keys would only register if you really mashed them, some would register twice.

[kilogeek]

iMac slim aluminium keyboards with rubber keys, can't stand that 

[rowdy]

Did someone say Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker?

No?

Oh sorry, I thought someone said Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker but I suppose I misheard so I should stop talking about Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker because Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker isn't what they were reffering to. Well, when you talk about Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker let me know, because I know a lot about Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker

Got it, have you?   These unique items are funny in single player games because many people can have them, so they're not really unique )

The Apple transparent case keyboard is the worse garbage I've every typed on.

Ah, that would be one of these then ...

(Attachment Link)

)

That's the abomination I was referring to! And I still have it with me!!

Still got mine too, as you probably guessed.  The space was broken from when I got it - works but you have to thump it.  Couldn't be bothered to fix it, and eventually I replaced it with an Apple Aluminium keyboard.  Then a Ducky Shine.

[berserkfan]

..one of those Microsoft Surface Touch Covers. It barely passes for a leopards since it feels like I'm typing on hardwood.

Show Image

This is really bad. Not only does it provide no feedback, but it's pretty particular about what it detects, so you end up hitting a key 3 times to get it to work. Do yourself a favor and get the type cover for a Surface if you must have one of their covers.

As for legitimate worst keyboard, I would have to say the picture above. I found the Logitech Wave to be decent feeling. Not amazing, but not terrible. Most rubber domes are usable. That...thing...is not.

Runner up is all of the rolley keyboards in the world with the rubber coating and really ****ty rubber domes.

Hear, hear!

I only tried these once at a tech expo. I didn't think they would make it past any prototype stage. I underestimated microsoft's stupidity.

[Wildcard]

..one of those Microsoft Surface Touch Covers. It barely passes for a leopards since it feels like I'm typing on hardwood.

Show Image

This is really bad. Not only does it provide no feedback, but it's pretty particular about what it detects, so you end up hitting a key 3 times to get it to work. Do yourself a favor and get the type cover for a Surface if you must have one of their covers.

As for legitimate worst keyboard, I would have to say the picture above. I found the Logitech Wave to be decent feeling. Not amazing, but not terrible. Most rubber domes are usable. That...thing...is not.

Runner up is all of the rolley keyboards in the world with the rubber coating and really ****ty rubber domes.

Hear, hear!

I only tried these once at a tech expo. I didn't think they would make it past any prototype stage. I underestimated microsoft's stupidity.

But their tablet comes with a "physical" keyboard, lol. Advertising that a tablet is better because it comes with a keyboard. Silly Microsoft.

On that topic, the Microsoft Remote Keyboard for Windows XP Media Center Edition v1.0. The keyboard felt fine, the media keys are great. However, this is an infrared keyboard that doesn't work well sometimes past a few feet. So you'll be spending more time using the backspace because your keys didn't register. If this was an RF keyboard it would have been much better Microsoft.

[demik]

Ducky with green "alps"

Board over all just felt horrible.

[phoenix1234]

Oh sorry, I thought someone said Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker but I suppose I misheard so I should stop talking about Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker because Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker isn't what they were reffering to. Well, when you talk about Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker let me know, because I know a lot about Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker

What is this?

[tweetiepig]

=

I was going to say the ZX81 until I saw that, I had both and the flex in the 400's keyboard made it worse than the ZX81, also had loads of problems with the Atari 400 that meant it spent more time being repaired than used 

Ah, but the ZX81 keyboard only really came into its own when coupled with a wobbly 16K RAM pack. There was no feeling quite like losing the entire program you spent the last hour typing in, just because you pressed one of those keys a little too hard.

[nubbinator]

The Apple transparent case keyboard is the worse garbage I've every typed on.

I actually think their chiclet style keyboards are even worse.  Those hurt to type on to me.

[Grim Fandango]

The Apple transparent case keyboard is the worse garbage I've every typed on.

I actually think their chiclet style keyboards are even worse.  Those hurt to type on to me.

We have a guy at work that replaced his "normal" keyboard with one of those, claiming it felt so much better. That is something I notice in general though.  A lot of people seem to be really into their chiclet keyboard. My sister types literally almost twice as fast as me on her chiclet keyboard (I am not slow, she is just superfast). To me however, they feel terrible. 

[strict]

Futaba switches are pretty awful to type on. I wouldn't necessarily say it was the most unpleasant keyboard Ive ever typed on, but the "click" only happening on key return just feels weird. Its like the polar opposite of blues, no audible feedback on auction, only on release. In addition, the ****ty keycap stem design means anytime you remove keycaps you are probably going to break at least one stem off the cap down inside the switch.