Finding a good keyboard in Portugal

[SilentWarrior]

Hello.

I am writing this purely out of frustration and desperation.

I am in *desperate* need of another keyboard that I can leave at work since my commute is quite big and carrying my keyboard around is difficult and problematic.

I currently own a Matias Mini Quiet Pro (matias quiet click switches, the black, pc one), that I absolutely LOVE!

The ideal solution would be to just buy another one, however, the first one was really hard to get. There were problems with payment, problems with customs, problems with RMA+customs (matias support was great btw) and I end up having to pay quite a lot "extra" (close to double) and so did Matias (since they covered some of the shipping expenses).

Since I just need a good tenkeyless keyboard, I am willing to try alternatives, so that I can, at least, keep my sanity (owning a matias keyboard really spoiled me:/ to the point where I just want to throw the company-supplied keyboard out the window).

So, I ask you, Gurus of the touch typing world and almighty Gods of the kingdom of keyboard heaven.

What are some good alternatives to my Matias Quiet Click Pro that I can easily find in Portugal?


Thank you in advance
Joao

[Prelim]

Hi!

I'm from Portugal and currently have a Steelkeys 6G for sale, if you're interested: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=60445.0

Finding good keyboards in Portugal is quite hards, since most of the shops only sell the major brands... I would recommend buying from elsewhere in EU to not pay additional taxes (alfandega) like keyboardco.uk or german shops.

Cheers and welcome to the forum

[Tyr]

You could consider going vintage and getting something like an Apple AEKII. They have those delicous alps you want and can be picked up for cheaper than a new keyboard on the second hand market. They are full size though,  not tkl. Also it needs an adapter to work on a modern pc.

[SilentWarrior]

Hi!

I'm from Portugal and currently have a Steelkeys 6G for sale, if you're interested: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=60445.0

Finding good keyboards in Portugal is quite hards, since most of the shops only sell the major brands... I would recommend buying from elsewhere in EU to not pay additional taxes (alfandega) like keyboardco.uk or german shops.

Cheers and welcome to the forum

Thank you for your suggestion.

I am really looking for a TKL because I cant seem to stand a big keyboard anymore, or else I would get yours in a heartbeat.

[xtrafrood]

Leopold tkl or Realforce 87/88? Both have pbt keycaps (Realforce is dye sub good stuff) and they're both solid keyboards. Honestly, I have no idea if keycap material is even one of your concerns. AFAIK most Matias keyboards come with abs caps, but I guess I'm just assuming that you would like to upgrade them keycaps.

What do you need out of a tkl keyboard?

[SilentWarrior]

Leopold tkl or Realforce 87/88? Both have pbt keycaps (Realforce is dye sub good stuff) and they're both solid keyboards. Honestly, I have no idea if keycap material is even one of your concerns. AFAIK most Matias keyboards come with abs caps, but I guess I'm just assuming that you would like to upgrade them keycaps.

What do you need out of a tkl keyboard?

The size mostly. Right now I need a smaller keyboard (TKL), the size of a big one is driving me crazy when I want to use it with the mouse, arching sideways to grab the mouse and having the center of the keyboard un-centered also drives me nuts.

[xtrafrood]

Leopold tkl or Realforce 87/88? Both have pbt keycaps (Realforce is dye sub good stuff) and they're both solid keyboards. Honestly, I have no idea if keycap material is even one of your concerns. AFAIK most Matias keyboards come with abs caps, but I guess I'm just assuming that you would like to upgrade them keycaps.

What do you need out of a tkl keyboard?

The size mostly. Right now I need a smaller keyboard (TKL), the size of a big one is driving me crazy when I want to use it with the mouse, arching sideways to grab the mouse and having the center of the keyboard un-centered also drives me nuts.

Quickfire Rapid keyboards seem to be the easiest to find. Maybe that keyboard would be a good start if you can't get your hands on a Leopold or Realforce

[Prelim]

if you like the Matias, why not the shorter version? (Matias Mini Quiet Pro)

[xtrafrood]

Woah that's the first time I've seen an esc key with a media play/pause function. Makes sense though, if you like matias why switch to cherry mx/clones right?

[Prelim]

btw SilentWarrior, since you're portuguese I forgot to mention... we have a Portuguese group on Deskthority, feel free to post there : https://deskthority.net/portugues-f88/

[SilentWarrior]

if you like the Matias, why not the shorter version? (Matias Mini Quiet Pro)

Show Image

Thats the exact keyboard I own :)

[Prelim]

ohh sorry!

but that's basically a TKL so why do you want to switch keyboard? Just to try MX instead?

[suicidal_orange]

ohh sorry!

but that's basically a TKL so why do you want to switch keyboard? Just to try MX instead?

I am in *desperate* need of another keyboard that I can leave at work since my commute is quite big and carrying my keyboard around is difficult and problematic
...
owning a matias keyboard really spoiled me:/ to the point where I just want to throw the company-supplied keyboard out the window

Lets help this guy keep his job, destruction of company property is not good )

[SilentWarrior]

ohh sorry!

but that's basically a TKL so why do you want to switch keyboard? Just to try MX instead?

I am in *desperate* need of another keyboard that I can leave at work since my commute is quite big and carrying my keyboard around is difficult and problematic
...
owning a matias keyboard really spoiled me:/ to the point where I just want to throw the company-supplied keyboard out the window

Lets help this guy keep his job, destruction of company property is not good )

Haha!

Thank you

I got a tip about CM NovaTouch very cheap on ebay, I am looking into that, so far I havent found any supplier who ships to Portugal or has ANSI layout for that matter

[NewbieOneKenobi]

If you don't have a product-search/comparison website in Portugal through which you could order whatever pops up that meets your approval, you could always pays a little extra and order from somewhere else in the EU not too far away, it shouldn't matter so much. There should be a lot more keyboards in the UK than elsewhere (probably due to closer links with the US). Basic stuff like Razer and Steelseries (both of which have a number of different Cherry switches available these days) and even CoolerMaster and perhaps one or two other gaming brands should be available in gaming shops, perhaps even as exhibition pieces for clients to paw at, which would be ideal. Note that pawing at brown Cherries for the first time is probably going to leave you slightly intimidated if you aren't already a confident speed typist.

If you aren't a gamer and/or into gadgetry, make sure programmable keys aren't more trouble than they are worth, as they may impede your typing comfort by obstructing paths etc. On the other hand, if they don't get in the way of your typing, I guess there's a number of ways you could use them to increase your productivity for work.

If you get to take a closer look, make sure key paths aren't obstructed — sometimes the openings are clumsily cut by the manufacturer, which can happen even in high-end pricey units.

[SilentWarrior]

If you don't have a product-search/comparison website in Portugal through which you could order whatever pops up that meets your approval, you could always pays a little extra and order from somewhere else in the EU not too far away, it shouldn't matter so much. There should be a lot more keyboards in the UK than elsewhere (probably due to closer links with the US). Basic stuff like Razer and Steelseries (both of which have a number of different Cherry switches available these days) and even CoolerMaster and perhaps one or two other gaming brands should be available in gaming shops, perhaps even as exhibition pieces for clients to paw at, which would be ideal. Note that pawing at brown Cherries for the first time is probably going to leave you slightly intimidated if you aren't already a confident speed typist.

If you aren't a gamer and/or into gadgetry, make sure programmable keys aren't more trouble than they are worth, as they may impede your typing comfort by obstructing paths etc. On the other hand, if they don't get in the way of your typing, I guess there's a number of ways you could use them to increase your productivity for work.

If you get to take a closer look, make sure key paths aren't obstructed — sometimes the openings are clumsily cut by the manufacturer, which can happen even in high-end pricey units.

Hello.

Thank you for your help

I bought my Matias without any previous experience about a year ago and I now cant use any other cheap keyboard.

I am literally going insane with my Dell KM636 (with a very bad for programming Portuguese layout).

I am hoping I can find something within the 90 euro range that can fill that gap.

At this moment, I still havent found one.