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Author Topic: In the market - looking for recommendations  (Read 2271 times)

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Offline SSGTroyer

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In the market - looking for recommendations
« on: Fri, 15 January 2010, 09:29:20 »
I am in the market for a keyboard, and I can’t seem to find the perfect ONE.  I’m wondering if you can help me.

In short, I’m looking for a backlit multimedia keyboard that’s very well-built and has tactile response.  Pass-through USB and volume controls are also high on the priority list…in fact, I won’t consider a keyboard without them.  I guess that’s the “multimedia” part of my requirements.  Backlighting would be nice, but mechanical switches are of the highest priority.

So:
1.   Well built.  Can take a beating.  We breed GSDs, so I want this thing to be able to survive being knocked off the desk and stepped on by a 80lb dog…
2.   104 mechanical switches, minimum.  I’ve lived with membranes too long, and the numpad is part of my life…
3.   Pass-through USB port(s) and volume control so I don’t have to reach the 5 feet to the back of my desk to adjust the volume.
4.   Backlit.

Price is little object...the Optimus is too much, but I'd consider anything uder $400...

Can you help me?  Thanks for your time.
« Last Edit: Fri, 15 January 2010, 09:31:46 by SSGTroyer »
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Offline itlnstln

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In the market - looking for recommendations
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 15 January 2010, 09:41:12 »
Quote from: ripster;151093
Das S - ditch the backlighting.

Seconded. Backlighting never seems to work as well as advertised. Your monitor should put out enough light to see the keys when you need to.
« Last Edit: Fri, 15 January 2010, 09:43:32 by itlnstln »
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Offline devilcm3

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In the market - looking for recommendations
« Reply #2 on: Fri, 15 January 2010, 09:49:16 »
DAS keyboard S....too

i think most of the mechanical keyboard users are touch typists...cuz thats the purpose of it...so...backlighting is just going to help nothing..plain aesthetics
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Offline ch_123

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In the market - looking for recommendations
« Reply #3 on: Fri, 15 January 2010, 09:57:49 »
Somewhat unrelated, but do the volume keys on the HHKB work in Windows?
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Offline SSGTroyer

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In the market - looking for recommendations
« Reply #4 on: Fri, 15 January 2010, 10:56:39 »
Quote from: devilcm3;151097
DAS keyboard S....too

i think most of the mechanical keyboard users are touch typists...cuz thats the purpose of it...so...backlighting is just going to help nothing..plain aesthetics


I've been programming/playing in/on/around computers since 1976 as a hobby.  I'm not a touch typist, but grew up with tactile, clicky keyboards...I had an IBM M at one time...I'm leaning towrd the Das, but I'm also seriously considering  a Deck Legend, because my new CM mouse has it's thumb buttons currently set up to adjust volume, and if I'm forced to, I can bring my thumbdrive home from work and plug it into the Box.  I work 3rd shift and play mostly during the weekends in my darkened basement.  I'd like backlighting, but my son (and y'all) are really right...it's fluff.

But, dangitt, if I'm gonna drop $150+ on a 'board, and I intend it to be the last board I will ever buy, I want it to be what I WANT.  And I'm getting the impression, it ain't made.
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Offline ch_123

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In the market - looking for recommendations
« Reply #5 on: Fri, 15 January 2010, 11:09:46 »
Quote from: SSGTroyer;151112
I've been programming/playing in/on/around computers since 1976 as a hobby.  I'm not a touch typist, but grew up with tactile, clicky keyboards...I had an IBM M at one time...I'm leaning towrd the Das, but I'm also seriously considering  a Deck Legend, because my new CM mouse has it's thumb buttons currently set up to adjust volume, and if I'm forced to, I can bring my thumbdrive home from work and plug it into the Box.  I work 3rd shift and play mostly during the weekends in my darkened basement.  I'd like backlighting, but my son (and y'all) are really right...it's fluff.

But, dangitt, if I'm gonna drop $150+ on a 'board, and I intend it to be the last board I will ever buy, I want it to be what I WANT.  And I'm getting the impression, it ain't made.


It seems to be inevitable that back lighting dies, even on Deck's as far as I know. Volume keys can be implemented on a regular 104-key with software, and USB hubs aren't that common on mechanical keyboards, but hey - you can always get a seperate hub for your desk. Besides, I think most integrated hubs for keyboards are USB 1.1 only.
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Offline ch_123

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In the market - looking for recommendations
« Reply #6 on: Fri, 15 January 2010, 11:15:08 »
I assume that one cable would be for the hub and one for the keyboard? If these people had any sort of intelligence, they would have got a controller that could support an extra USB connector, and hard wired the keyboard to it.... But hey, that would be too much to expect, right?
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Offline itlnstln

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In the market - looking for recommendations
« Reply #7 on: Fri, 15 January 2010, 11:28:24 »
Quote from: ch_123;151121
I assume that one cable would be for the hub and one for the keyboard? If these people had any sort of intelligence, they would have got a controller that could support an extra USB connector, and hard wired the keyboard to it.... But hey, that would be too much to expect, right?

That's what it used to be.  The Das had problems with this (shocker); ripster could tell you what they were.  Also, there is only so much available power supplied from the USB port on the PC, you are already reserving some of the power to run the keyboard, thus limiting the available power to other devices.
 
The Das S and DSI get around these problems with the dual cable.  IMO, I am suprised more companies haven't gone this route sooner.  Dell's cheap-ass keyboards still use only one cable to run both the 'board and the hub, but they implemented it well.
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Offline itlnstln

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In the market - looking for recommendations
« Reply #8 on: Fri, 15 January 2010, 11:30:00 »
Quote from: SSGTroyer;151112
I intend it to be the last board I will ever buy

Good luck with this.  Don't plan on sticking around here too long.  You see our signatures...
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Offline microsoft windows

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In the market - looking for recommendations
« Reply #9 on: Fri, 15 January 2010, 17:13:18 »
Quote from: ripster;151115
Make it yourself then.  Buy a Das S, buy Deck keys, add a EL light of some type.  Go wild.
Show Image


I like your Model M there. Nice and patriotic.
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