quality reliable keyboard

[zorlack]

I highly recommend this keyboard, it is totally awesome!
http://ergogeek.com/xarmor-u9-cherry-mx-brown-mechanical-keyboard.html

prior to it, I broke two keyboards in two months...so decided to wash my hands of mass produced crappy keyboards.

anyway, I remembered the old keyboards I used eons ago, like the noisy IBMs...yup, the old reliable business gear...I'm so glad there is a revival of mechanical switch keyboards

later

 

[LurkingInMyTent]

I am still using an original IBM keyboard - bought it for $5 from Canada Computers about 12 years ago. The thing is huge, heavy, noisy and totally indestructible. If anyone ever tries to home invasion me, I figure that one smack to the face from this thing will send them on their way.

 

[sleazure]

Interesting. A while ago, TomsHardware ran a review of something called "Das Keyboard" which sounded similar.

Although I didn't buy that unit, I've had my eye out for an old IBM clunker ever since. Don't suppose any of you have seen anything similar in the local surplus shops recently, have you?

edit: http://www.daskeyboard.com/ ... I'd forgotten, their hardcore edition has blank keys because they're supposed to make you type faster.

 

[Hobbyer]

I tried the Matias Tactile Pro 2.0 and it was poorly made for the price. (plus ghosting problems)

I am now using the "das" keyboards and have both the clicky and "silent" editions.
They are very enjoyable to type on due to the solid click and feel of keys. i can definitely type faster on these. Old school IBM are still the holy grail but are so hard to find I didn't bother.
These das keyboards are not cheap but I think well worth it if you're someone who types all day everyday like I do.

The Matias Tactile Pro 3.0 is supposedly a big improvement over the 2.0 fixing alot of the problems but I'm not going to spend another $150 to find out.
Interstingly I also use the Apple keyboard (the flat one) and found it good too, completely different feel. But key mapping problems forced me to abandon it.

 

[WoodPeckr]

I am still using an original 14 yr old Gateway 2000 keyboard that came with my 14 yr old Gateway Desktop PC. It's a nice full size solid keyboard and works fine and that PC runs better today than when it was new after a couple critical upgrades. Retired the PC but still use its keyboard on another PC.

 

[danibbler]

I only have experience with the first version of the Tactile Pro and it was not good. A whole host of problems with mine.

It's pretty easy to find those old IBM keyboards, just go to www.clickykeyboards.com.

I tried the Matias Tactile Pro 2.0 and it was poorly made for the price. (plus ghosting problems)

I am now using the "das" keyboards and have both the clicky and "silent" editions.
They are very enjoyable to type on due to the solid click and feel of keys. i can definitely type faster on these. Old school IBM are still the holy grail but are so hard to find I didn't bother.
These das keyboards are not cheap but I think well worth it if you're someone who types all day everyday like I do.

The Matias Tactile Pro 3.0 is supposedly a big improvement over the 2.0 fixing alot of the problems but I'm not going to spend another $150 to find out.
Interstingly I also use the Apple keyboard (the flat one) and found it good too, completely different feel. But key mapping problems forced me to abandon it.

 

[zorlack]

further reading about mechanical keyboards:
http://www.overclock.net/keyboards/491752-mechanical-keyboard-guide.html
https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Keyboard_technology

cheers

 

[zorlack]

hiya LurkingInMyTent, right on, that is great...if I still had old 20MB-40MB full-height harddrives, they'd do heaps of damage too...funny, starting up a PC used to be so loud with the old hardware.

later

 

[zorlack]

hiya workingMan2010, most welcome, also checkout the links about mechanical keyboards i posted.
cya

 

[zorlack]

hiya sleazure, yup I almost bought Das Keyboard silent...it uses the same Cherry MX switches I was looking for...but someone said they didn't like how the board was so shiny showing fingerprints. those blank boards look pretty wild.
later

 

[zorlack]

hiya Hobbyer, likewise I did not want to blow $150 to find out about those boards...after reading the other mechanical keyboard links I posted, decided to look for something with brown Cherry MX switches, was worried the blues or other types would be too noisy.

how is the click Das Keyboard, has Cherry MX blue switches right? is it distracting compared to the one with Cherry MX brown switches?

laterhttps://terb.cc/vbulletin/member.php?100453-Hobbyer

 

[zorlack]

cool WoodPeckr, nice when certain hardware is a quality build, and refuses to die...likewise for years I kept usin a keyboard from an old IBM PC clone I built with my dad when I was in highschool heh! also, I prefer CRT monitors to shabby LCD which force god damn native cinema resolutions, and pixels or columns which will eventually die...don't have much choice now.

cya

 

[zorlack]

hiya danibbler, bummer..yup, I was scared away from tryin one of those boards..checkout the links about mechanical switch keyboards I posted...afterreadin through them and others, decided to try a board with Cherry MX mechanical switches...was stoked to find Xarmor U9 at ErgoGeek.

I am still kinda tempted to try this one with the Cherry MX blue keys, it also comes with USB hub & headphone jack...noise wouldn't bother me, but my wife might hate it with me clackin away ha!
http://ergogeek.com/xarmor-u9plus-cherry-mx-blue-mechanical-keyboard-with-usb-port.html

later

 

[WoodPeckr]

cool WoodPeckr, nice when certain hardware is a quality build, and refuses to die...likewise for years I kept usin a keyboard from an old IBM PC clone I built with my dad when I was in highschool heh!

Actually I had two of them old Gateway keyboards but I ruined one of them by spilling some wine on it by accident. Didn't shutdown fast enough and it got fried. The other keyboard still runs great and am more careful with them now....

also, I prefer CRT monitors to shabby LCD which force god damn native cinema resolutions, and pixels or columns which will eventually die...don't have much choice now.

I'm still using a couple CRT monitors. They just run great, so will use them till they go then upgrade to LED monitors.

 

[Cobster]

Hands down best keyboard I've used ever.
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Dig...TQA8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309525903&sr=8-1

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/p/wireless-keyboard-3000/YMC-00001
wireless version, I prefer wired - no bullshit with batteries.

...and I've been through a ton of them, but this guy takes the cake.
Super soft buttons, quiet, INSANELY easy to push, quiet, extremely light and did I mention quiet??

Go to a BestBuy or FutureShit and try it out, you'll love it.
Best part, is the price, $30. Trust me on this one.

 

[sukmy]

Logitech manufactures wireless keyboards and mice. Both my wife and I have used the ones we purchased 3.5 years ago without issue now.

I have dropped my keyboard onto the floor a couple of times a month during that entire time, without a single broken off or innoperable button.

Expect to pay $50 to $60 for the both the keyboard and mouse.

 

[zorlack]

Actually I had two of them old Gateway keyboards but I ruined one of them by spilling some wine on it by accident. Didn't shutdown fast enough and it got fried. The other keyboard still runs great and am more careful with them now....

I'm still using a couple CRT monitors. They just run great, so will use them till they go then upgrade to LED monitors.

hiya WoodPeckr, right on...yeah CRTs rule...better dotpitch, can run multiple resolutions & refresh rates...LCD/LED are crippled...widescreen res is awkward for programming and stuff.

my Samsung monitor finally crapped out after 11years...usin an old surplus Dell LCD right now...I still do not trust goin out and buyi a new LED or whatever, only to have it develop defects...they suck for graphic design work compared to CRT.

 

[larry]

that's funny. i can hardly wait for my crt tv and crt monitor's to fail so i can replace them and i get my keyboards for $5 at the back of small computer stores. ibm, dell whatever. i can't recall a keyboard actually breaking on me. sure, some keys may be tentative some times, just throw it away and put a brand new clean one into service. whatever. if it makes you happy.

 

[danibbler]

LCD monitors have a LOT more advantages over CRTs. It's only in a very few applications where they may not be suitable.

hiya WoodPeckr, right on...yeah CRTs rule...better dotpitch, can run multiple resolutions & refresh rates...LCD/LED are crippled...widescreen res is awkward for programming and stuff.

my Samsung monitor finally crapped out after 11years...usin an old surplus Dell LCD right now...I still do not trust goin out and buyi a new LED or whatever, only to have it develop defects...they suck for graphic design work compared to CRT.

 

[zorlack]

hiya larry, cool...you must have some nice little ma & pa computer shops around heh!

yup, I still have old 27" CRT TV that won't die...my old Samsung monitor that died weighed about 70lbs and took heaps of desk space...but this surplus 4:3 Dell LCD is ok, my favorite thing about it, is that it does not hotbox the room during summer heh!

cheers!