Key Tronic Keyboards?

[willhs]

It's actually only $35 from Buy.com with free shipping.

[Stevie Wonder]

Man, some you people real snobby about your keyboards.



Yeah, I know sign language too.  I'm more talented than that MJ guy and he gets all the credit.

[rdjack21]

It's actually only $35 from Buy.com with free shipping.

Cool thanks I will check them out when I get ready to get one.

[willhs]

Just to put in another plug, this keyboard is mindblowingly awesome and I can't recommend it more.  I'll be writing up a comprehensive review of it for my blog, mostly so I can get even more typing time on it.  :-)

I'll post a copy of the article on here when I finish, but I was just wondering if anyone on this forum reading this has this keyboard?

[itlnstln]

Man, some you people real snobby about your keyboards. Yeah, I know sign language too. I'm more talented than that MJ guy and he gets all the credit.

You are pretty talented, Stevie, if you know sign language.

[iggysaps]

Well I started this thread and after all the input of willhs, i decided to purchase this board too.  Plan to use in the house, as it will be the most silent board I am going to have.  All the boards I have make a racket, except for the G84, but I only use that when using my laptop.

I liked the fact that he described the feel as a sort of lighter BS, that's good news to me, because of all the keyboards I'm using right now, I especially like the BS spacesaver, except that it gets tiring to type on after awhile.  Thanks for all the input.

Cheers!

[1cewolf]

This thread convinced me to pick up a Designer P2 and I must say I'm very impressed! It has a very crisp, tactile feel and the weighted keys make it a joy to type on. My fingers just glide across the keys like it's nothing and I can type for hours on end without fatigue.

It's great for gaming, too. It isn't NKRO, obviously, but I've put it through the wringer in Call of Duty 4 and Team Fortress 2 and I have yet to encounter any blocking at all. I've played those same games with a Dell AT101w, ABS M1, and original Microsoft Natural keyboard and none of them are as good as this Keytronic.

[willhs]

Just checked back in on the thread myself, very glad that people liked the input about the board.  I've been typing on it constantly since I got it... as much and as often as I can.  Working around the hospital, I am forced to use whatever keyboard is around, and I am constantly reminded why people on this forum don't like membrane boards.

1cwewolf, I couldn't agree more about the tactile feel and ease of typing.  I can definitely type on the board much longer than any other board I've tried.

Truly awesome.  Still working on a review that does it justice for my blog -- I want something to go up on the internet so people who are researching keyboards give this one a fair shake!

[timw4mail]

The college I go to has KeyTronic boards in all the computer labs, but maybe they're really worn, because they just don't seem that spectacular to me.

Then again, maybe I'm just spoiled with the keyboards I have.

I took apart an old KeyTronic, and they are pretty much a hammer over dome mechanism. Other than this, I really don't see what's so nice about these.

[willhs]

Do those boards have the Ergo technology?

I definitely think people have their own way of typing, and the kind of keyboard that they like.  Personally, cherry blues produce a lot of fatigue for me.

[rdjack21]

The college I go to has KeyTronic boards in all the computer labs, but maybe they're really worn, because they just don't seem that spectacular to me.

Then again, maybe I'm just spoiled with the keyboards I have.

I took apart an old KeyTronic, and they are pretty much a hammer over dome mechanism. Other than this, I really don't see what's so nice about these.

The newer ones are pure rubber dome but good rubber dome. I don't have one of the ergo boards yet but I'm planning on getting one for no other reason than I want to know how they regulate the weight of the keys. The domes on the one I have has bars embeded in the dome and if counted add up perfectly with the weight of the key so I'm thinking that all they do is add or remove them to weight the keys but I still need to get one to know for sure.

[kode]

I've got two key tronic keyboards ("incorporating ergoforce", as well as conductive/grounded space bar), http://www.keytronic.com/home/products/specs/euro_kt2001.htm (KT2001PS2SV, to be exact). They're sort of commonplace here, which I think is because the university bought a whole lot of them. They aren't bad, either, imo. I can at least vouch for them being able to take some abuse (one of mine I saved from the outdoors during rainy season, according to a friend of mine I was walking around with at the time, it had been resting against that shed for at least a week. Took it home, it works like it should). The other one I swiped from a e-waste container at uni.

Doesn't beat my clickys, tho, but it's a good keyboard.

[rdjack21]

Also most if not all of there boards have a lifetime warranty as well. The one I have is easy 10 years old and it still feels the same as the day I got it. I have to confess after I dug in my pile I found a few more of them but none of the ergo type boards. Eventually I will get one but I think it is going to take longer than I originally thought.

[willhs]

Yeah there aren't a lot of lifetime warranties on keyboards...

[quadibloc]

I know that the keyboard I chose for my first PC-compatible (a 10 MHz NEC V-20 based XT clone) was a keyboard by KeyTronic, which had the standard 101-key layout (as opposed to an AT-like modification thereof, which was the default choice). It was a major independent manufacturer of PC-clone keyboards right from the earliest days.

[bond1]

I just joined here after doing some research for a new keyboard.   I'm glad to see this thread - I've been using a Keytronic Classic U2 keyboard and it is my favorite "everyday" keyboard.

I have a Unicomp which is very nice, but a bit loud for quiet times.   And I'm selling my Filco with MX brown switches, keys are too light and not enough tactile response.

But the Keytronic is just right, has a fantastic feel, dead quiet, and gets the most use.

[watduzhkstand4]

I just joined here after doing some research for a new keyboard.   I'm glad to see this thread - I've been using a Keytronic Classic U2 keyboard and it is my favorite "everyday" keyboard.

I have a Unicomp which is very nice, but a bit loud for quiet times.   And I'm selling my Filco with MX brown switches, keys are too light and not enough tactile response.

But the Keytronic is just right, has a fantastic feel, dead quiet, and gets the most use.

welcome to geekhack! (;

[rdjack21]

I just joined here after doing some research for a new keyboard.   I'm glad to see this thread - I've been using a Keytronic Classic U2 keyboard and it is my favorite "everyday" keyboard.

I have a Unicomp which is very nice, but a bit loud for quiet times.   And I'm selling my Filco with MX brown switches, keys are too light and not enough tactile response.

But the Keytronic is just right, has a fantastic feel, dead quiet, and gets the most use.

Welcome to geekhack!

I agree the Keytronic boards are not too bad for the price. But the quality of them leaves something to be desired. I still plan on getting one of those ergo(weighted keys) keytronics boards just so I can see how it feels and so I can take it apart and see how they did it. Oh if you want to see what the inside of your Keytronic looks like take look here http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:6499

[bond1]

Thanks for the welcomes!

Cool article, I haven't taken my Key Tronic apart.   My particular keyboard is one of their red logo "Lifetime" series, and a bit more expensive than the $15 model in that article.    I wonder if the guts are the same...

Anyway, yeah it doesn't have the same weighty feel of my unicomp or Filco. But the key action just feels so good, crisp and tactile,not a hint of sponginess, and the keys bottom out in a pleasant way, with a nice soft definitive "thud".   I've been using it for 3 years now, and even though it has a lifetime warranty, I still bought a backup just in case - I like it that much.

[rdjack21]

Oh we are big believers of having a back up here so don't feel lonely. The problem is I think I have around 10 back up boards and have a few more on the way. I may have to get one of the lifetime boards as well. Actually I may have one in my pile of rubber dome boards I'll have to look.

[masta]

Damn, I have a Keytronic ErgoForce KT2001 and I just broke my spacebar by throwing something in the air.

It's still in perfect condition except for the spacebar after 7 years of intense usage. Some keys are a little shiny but the labels are indestructibles.

It's AWESOME for gaming and very good for typing. You really can feel the ergoforce technology.

I guess the new KT2001 is the DESIGNER-P2?

Some of you say they should make a smaller version of the keyboard but I like the shape of the KT2001. You can rest your palm on the bottom part of the keyboard. It's really comfortable. Whereas I have a filco with black switches and I can feel the veins in my left hand pop up due to the position.

Mine is solidly build (IBM Model M like), so I guess the DESIGNER-P2 is worse?

I emailed Keytronic but they stopped selling oversea due to the WEEE regulations that were implemented in europe... Damn!

Do you guys in Sweden still have online shops that sell them?

[PRISONER 24601]

I have several Keytronic boards and I love them to death. They may be rubber domes, but they're really sturdy and rarely jam up when you hit the keys at the wrong angle. Also, the spacebars have a great action to them.

[kode]

Do you guys in Sweden still have online shops that sell them?

Not that I've seen, no. I have friends who swear by them and fear the day their KT2001 breaks down. I've found most of mine in recycling cages in the university campus underpass, which only means that employees are phasing them out in favour of crappier rubberdomes.

[masta]

Damn, I guess I will have to use a service that gives you an US address but Im a little tired of paying 40€ of taxes per keyboard.

About the keyboard, it's built like a tank. You just have 2 pieces: the plastic key cap and the rubber dome that covers the whole keyboard area. I can't believe I managed to break it. I threw somemthing heavy in the air, then it fell on the space bar. I broke the hard plastic part when it hit the bottom of the keyboard I guess.

The keys get looser but even after 7 years it's still very good.

[skriefal]

Have you checked eBay for any good-condition used Keytronic boards in Europe?  These might not be as ideal as a new one, but at least you could avoid the import/customs fees.

[overdriver]

try to buy E03600 or E03601 series if you can - E03601 has large L-shape Enter key - because its Keys withstand over 30 million keystrokes and Ergo tech instead of just 10 million of other Keytronic one.

I have had E3601 for past 6 good years. I also have had IBM M keyboard at same time and Dell AT101W incoming. Due to the complaint from my family I cannot use my beloved mechanical keyboards.. I tried many other membrane or rubber dome ones (even newer IBM keyboards) but I settled with Keytronic E03601.
I won't say it is the best but I will say this is the one of the best Keytronic one.

Out of curiosity I tried to disassemble one but I broke Space bar LOL...!! I will order new one soon  while I hear the same complaint from my family.. arg

[kode]

I actually heard someone on irc claim that the key tronics are too noisy...

[D-EJ915]

I think some people should just be locked in a padded room...

[handyrandyrc]

I'm a complete newb.  Have a Key Tronic E03601 (E03601QUS201-C) from the old days.  This thing has the differently-weighted 'ergo' keys.  You can tell quite a difference in the feel.  Bought this thing back in the 90s, if I am remembering correctly.  We knew these Key Tronic keyboards worked better than the other cheapies of the day, so spent the little extra for them.  This has a PS/2 connector.

This was in a closet at my parent's house.  I had completely forgotten about this thing!!  It's seen many an hour of Diablo and Starcraft games when I was a teen.







Have not tested rollover -- is that how many keys that can be depressed simultaneously and have them all register?  I'll have to read the FAQ on here on how to test that.

[nasse]

Key Tronics were extremely popular in Finland in the nineties-early 00s. For their price, I consider them to be really good rubber dome 'boards. The Designer model you linked resembles the KT2001 model I've been using, and I think it has a pretty nice feel. It's not really as good as e.g. Model M, but sometimes I prefer Keytronic's light feel to mechanical switches.

They are very good keyboards for gaming, because they have good rollover-ability (not exactly NKRO, but still enough) and a precise feel. They're good for writing, I wouldn't really mind writing a novel on one. The keycaps are somewhat tall, the same as Model M.

I suggest you try it out. They're definitely not as good as expensive mechanical boards, but way above contemporary Logitech and Microsoft crap.

I actually thought about starting a KeyTronic appreciation thread a while ago.

You might be right on that those are pretty popular in Finland
I went looking for some Model M's and those Key Tronics were basically only 'old' keyboards that i found.

[wanabe]

i just want to add that i really, really like my Keytronic E03601.  Sometimes it makes me wonder why i invest so much in my mechanicals

[bond1]

 Sometimes it makes me wonder why i invest so much in my mechanicals

For sure!  I absolutely LOVE my KeyTronic Classic U-2.   The key action is unbelievable , not just for a rubber dome keyboard, but in spite of it.   I have a Unicomp, a FILCO, and an old NMB, but I keep coming back to the Keytronic.

I'll also add that while the other Keytronic models I've tried are good, none of them have the exact feel of their "Classic" branded line of boards, which I think are the best by far.

[Pylon]

I tried one out at a thrift store yesterday, and the keys felt...weird. It's a very smooth action with barely a tactile bump. I'm more used to Quietkeys and the like, which have very strong tactile points.

[wanabe]

I tried one out at a thrift store yesterday, and the keys felt...weird. It's a very smooth action with barely a tactile bump. I'm more used to Quietkeys and the like, which have very strong tactile points.

you must have tried one that was worn out.  the keytronics ive tried have pretty sharp tactile bumps.  They feel similar to quietkeys in my opinion

[Tony]

Thanks to this topic, I have decided to buy a second-hand Keytronic keyboard, and it is lucky that I now got the Keytronic E03601 OPTMSEB-C that you have mentioned.

I am surprised at its quietness, which is very good for my office :-) A IBM Model M would wake up a lot of my colleagues :-)

The typing feelings is excellent for a membrane keyboard. I like it, and it even boost my typing speed a bit. This keyboard feels right at home, for a cheap price.

Thank you guys at Geekhack for your sharing experience and in-depth discussions. It helps me and others a lot.

[palad1]

I'm suffering from withdrawal from my KT2001. I thought the DAS ultimate would cure this, but to no avail.

I have ordered an E03600U2 from an amazon vendor, would anyone know the difference between those and the KT2001 ? Looking at the specs here:

E03600U2
CLASSIC-U2

It seems like the E... is slightly heavier, and that the classic has an L-shaped key, but I was curious if you guys had any more info.

I've tried a Topre yesterday, and it brought back memories of the KT2001, I realized I had it with the crappy plastic toys like the natural keyboard and I needed a True Man's keyboard. Albeit one that doesn't cost 200 quid

[palad1]

Thanks; I'll make a mental note to stash away 20p coins