Looking for a specific type of keyboard with flat thin keys

[gortaur]

Hi, I'm new to the forum and hope that my question is not too off-topic. I really enjoyed typing with my HP laptop keyboard as the one on the picture below:



however in my office I have desktop, and the keyboard there is pretty standard and quite crappy. Also I can't type there as fast and with as much pleasure as on my laptop. I was looking for a standalone keyboard of that kind, but with no much success. To clarify: I do not need no fancy features such as sound control/gaming. The grey keys are preferred, but not that important - however I do care that home/end/pgDown/pgUp are present as separate keys. On my current keyboard from RAPOO they are only available with Fn button on, which is a disaster.

Eventually I've come across this post and the keyboard here looks like what I want



however I was not able to find it anywhere. Do you have any suggestions regarding that keyboard (where to find it) or where to find a similar one?

[SpAmRaY]

That keyboard seems to be only sold with the HP touchsmark desktop pc, I believe the keyboard part number is rk713a, I've seen a few on ebay mostly broken and or for parts.

This might get your interest http://www.gyration.com/products/air-mouse-elite-with-low-profile-keyboard

HP sells similar boards like this www.amazon.com/HP-Wireless-Elite-Keyboard-v2/dp/B005HNHRA6/

or you could get something like this maybe? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140933014761 or this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140931505089

i used to use a logitech k750 it might be an option for you as well http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Solar-Keyboard-K750/dp/B004MF11MU

[gortaur]

Thanks for the prompt reply. The one by Gyration looks nice, but the price is quite high - I was expecting something south of $40, perhaps should have specified in advance. The one by HP may be good, also thought of that one, even though not exactly what I looked for. The links from ebay - I have HP Envy x2 with keyboard like that, and it's not really comfortable. Is K750 of the same kind?

[SpAmRaY]

The K750 is a scissor switch board I'm not sure how it would compare to the others.

[aref]

I have a K750 (boxed) that I had used on and off for about 6 months. The keys feel pretty good, but key travel is shallow. I prefer deeper key travel as I have on my mechanical KBs. I had an HP Elite V2. It was good at first, but then began randomly repeating characters; but the feel of the flat keys was nice for a non-mechanical KB. I know Walmart used to sell this HP KB. It has special features on-board that work only with a compatible HP computer.

[gortaur]

The K750 is a scissor switch board I'm not sure how it would compare to the others.

I was not familiar with the terminology concerning the build of KB, so just now realized that my laptop KB is scissor switch - and that's what I hoped to find. It's travel distance is really small, and there is almost no resistance when you press buttons which I liked a lot.

[ideus]

The K750 is a scissor switch board I'm not sure how it would compare to the others.

I was not familiar with the terminology concerning the build of KB, so just now realized that my laptop KB is scissor switch - and that's what I hoped to find. It's travel distance is really small, and there is almost no resistance when you press buttons which I liked a lot.

Most flat keyboards, resembling a laptop's , have a plastic mechanism that is similar to two scissors assembled under the keys, that characteristic gives the name of scissor switch to those type of keyboards. GH is mostly about full size keyboards with other construction techniques than scissors. In general, a laptop keyboard is considered of low quality in keyboard aficionados boards; thus, they do not get much attention.


One very good laptop keyboard is the thinkpad's, old type, but even the recent chiclet one is not bad. I suggest you to try one if it is possible in your area. If you like it, there are some stand alone models that you can get from Lenovo store, or from ebay, that you can use with any computer, and they even come with a trackpoint.


In the other hand, if you want to really experience a nice board, you may try an actual mechanical one, however be prepared to pay hefty prices, if now a board above forty dollars is to expensive for you, you are certainly out of range for an actual mechanical board.

[Snowdog993]

I did find this:
http://www.arctic.ac/us_en/k381-black.html
I do like their computer products, but I have honestly never tried their keyboards.  Their price is $15.99 USD.
I think it was originally $25, it must be on sale or a misprint.

Edit: I saw it on OutletPC.com for $19.98

[uzoc]

Last option which you might like the TypeMatrix 2030



Scissor switch and flat keys, you can get it half price (or less), if you buy it used: EBay/Amazon.
If you get it, make sure that you get the latest model (as above).
They have it in Qwerty, Dvorak, Colemak, Blank (through hardware)
In general older models key arrangement, is not preferred.

[Lu_e]

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/itemdetails/0B47190/460/60AC6A0372B14F5BA7B12F1FF88E33C7

[Snowdog993]

Last option which you might like the TypeMatrix 2030

(Attachment Link)

Scissor switch and flat keys, you can get it half price (or less), if you buy it used: EBay/Amazon.
If you get it, make sure that you get the latest model (as above).
They have it in Qwerty, Dvorak, Colemak, Blank (through hardware)
In general older models key arrangement, is not preferred.

Pretty fancy stuff there, but why is there not a staggered layout on it? 

[uzoc]

Last option which you might like the TypeMatrix 2030

(Attachment Link)

Scissor switch and flat keys, you can get it half price (or less), if you buy it used: EBay/Amazon.
If you get it, make sure that you get the latest model (as above).
They have it in Qwerty, Dvorak, Colemak, Blank (through hardware)
In general older models key arrangement, is not preferred.

Pretty fancy stuff there, but why is there not a staggered layout on it?

As per their website: http://typematrix.com/style/assets/typematrix-study.pdf

[Snowdog993]

Last option which you might like the TypeMatrix 2030

(Attachment Link)

Scissor switch and flat keys, you can get it half price (or less), if you buy it used: EBay/Amazon.
If you get it, make sure that you get the latest model (as above).
They have it in Qwerty, Dvorak, Colemak, Blank (through hardware)
In general older models key arrangement, is not preferred.

Pretty fancy stuff there, but why is there not a staggered layout on it?

As per their website: http://typematrix.com/style/assets/typematrix-study.pdf

The early engineers and designers had the motivation to search for the optimal arrangements of letters and numbers on
the keyboard. Yet, until recently, few have considered the removal of the staggered column layout found on the standard
keyboard, a design inherited from the original mechanical typewriter. The TypeMatrix“ keyboard has accomplished this with
the ortho-linear (matrix) design.

Yep, it's their design.  They chose it.  I don't believe it changes anything but makes the person "adjust" to it only to have to "adjust" to another better, staggered layout.  Back to the drawing board for that.  I can't imagine anyone seriously using that as a daily driver.  Maybe if they used "hunt" and "peck" methods, it would work?

In my opinion, if it had to be my last option, it definitely would be my very last option.

[uzoc]

Last option which you might like the TypeMatrix 2030

(Attachment Link)

Scissor switch and flat keys, you can get it half price (or less), if you buy it used: EBay/Amazon.
If you get it, make sure that you get the latest model (as above).
They have it in Qwerty, Dvorak, Colemak, Blank (through hardware)
In general older models key arrangement, is not preferred.

Pretty fancy stuff there, but why is there not a staggered layout on it?

As per their website: http://typematrix.com/style/assets/typematrix-study.pdf

The early engineers and designers had the motivation to search for the optimal arrangements of letters and numbers on
the keyboard. Yet, until recently, few have considered the removal of the staggered column layout found on the standard
keyboard, a design inherited from the original mechanical typewriter. The TypeMatrix“ keyboard has accomplished this with
the ortho-linear (matrix) design.

Yep, it's their design.  They chose it.  I don't believe it changes anything but makes the person "adjust" to it only to have to "adjust" to another better, staggered layout.

I gotta admit, it's pretty sweet typing (with scissor switch and all) but key travel for me is very important, so my VERY SHORT key travel MS Arc keyboard wins.

[Snowdog993]

I gotta admit, it's pretty sweet typing (with scissor switch and all) but key travel for me is very important, so my VERY SHORT key travel MS Arc keyboard wins.

(Attachment Link)

Yes but even that keyboard has staggered keys!!!!  I'd rather type on that!

[gortaur]

In the other hand, if you want to really experience a nice board, you may try an actual mechanical one, however be prepared to pay hefty prices, if now a board above forty dollars is to expensive for you, you are certainly out of range for an actual mechanical board.

Thanks for your suggestion, but tastes do differ, and I specified as exactly as I could which kind of keyboard I'm interested in. Those mechanical keyboards I've seen and tried do seem to be on quite an opposite side, and although they may be indeed better, I doubt that I enjoy them. I also use 2 desktops in my office, so buying 2 keyboards doubles the total price. I'm fine with $60 per keyboard for that matter, but otherwise I don't think it's worth that - at least so far.

I think I'll try HP Elite v2 or Gyration one (was able to find an offer where I don't have to buy a mouse which I honestly don't need), and see how it goes.

[uzoc]

In the other hand, if you want to really experience a nice board, you may try an actual mechanical one, however be prepared to pay hefty prices, if now a board above forty dollars is to expensive for you, you are certainly out of range for an actual mechanical board.

Thanks for your suggestion, but tastes do differ, and I specified as exactly as I could which kind of keyboard I'm interested in. Those mechanical keyboards I've seen and tried do seem to be on quite an opposite side, and although they may be indeed better, I doubt that I enjoy them. I also use 2 desktops in my office, so buying 2 keyboards doubles the total price. I'm fine with $60 per keyboard for that matter, but otherwise I don't think it's worth that - at least so far.

I think I'll try HP Elite v2 or Gyration one (was able to find an offer where I don't have to buy a mouse which I honestly don't need), and see how it goes.

You're Welcome!   

[davkol]

Last option which you might like the TypeMatrix 2030

(Attachment Link)

Scissor switch and flat keys, you can get it half price (or less), if you buy it used: EBay/Amazon.
If you get it, make sure that you get the latest model (as above).
They have it in Qwerty, Dvorak, Colemak, Blank (through hardware)
In general older models key arrangement, is not preferred.

I concur. It's the best scissor switch keyboard I've ever used. Beats thinkpads by quite a margin. The only thing that comes close is Logitech PerfectStroke. TM2030 is much more convenient and has a better layout though.

I can't imagine anyone seriously using that as a daily driver.

It's the primary keyboard at my laptop and the only keyboard I use on many days.