Best keyboard for not waking people up

[Eyeless Blond]

I'm looking for a good, quiet keyboard. Seeing as how I work night shift, on weekends and stuff much of my at-home computing is done at night, while everyone else is asleep. Unfortunately the family's full of light sleepers, so my bad habit of pounding on the keyboard is waking people up. Thus, new keyboard.

Priorities are:
1) Low noise.
2) Ergonomics. I'd perfer a normal-range keyboard; notebook-esque boards with little/no tactile feedback feel weird on the fingers, but if anyone has a good argument for those I'd listen.

Note: I am not a gamer, so those sidebar-things aren't really that useful. Extra function-keys and the like are purely optional; I don't recall ever using one on any previous keyboard and I'll probably just forget that they're there 99% of the time anyway.

 

[Zepper]

Try the Keytronic keyboard that is the basis for the Das Keyboard. Under $20. at provantage.com. Search this section for the thread on the Das Keyboard here and you'll find a direct link. It is available in three colors and with two key patterns: the OTC (one true keyboard - same as original IBM AT keyboard), or the "Big-L" for those with no typing "skilz"...

.bh.

Oh, and it comes in either PS/2 or USB (not combo) connectors for a total of 12 configurations.

 

[Ichigo]

Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000.

I loved it at first touch. Didn't buy it because it was expensive though.

 

[Zepper]

I bumped the Das Keyboard thread so it should stay on the first page of peripherals for a while.

.bh.

 

[Eyeless Blond]

Hm, the Keytronic ones look good. You mean these, yes:

3600 series PS2
3600 series USB

I'm also looking at Belkin, as they have a lifetime warranty:

Belkin ErgoBoard Pro Keyboard w/2 USB Ports

It's another $10, but it has the split keyboard, extra USB ports right on the desktop. Anyone hear anything good/bad about these? What is this QuietType technology, or is that just blowing smoke?

 

[Zepper]

Yes, those are the Big-L models (3601). I prefer the OTK models (3600).

I don't think that there is significant evidence that those "ergo" keyboards are any better than standard on the hands/wrists. No way to do a double-blind test on a keyboard. If you need USB ports, get a mini-hub... Almost all keyboards t hese days use a rubber-dome or membrane type action which are all inherently quieter than mechanical keyswitches.
. IAC, I don't put much stock in what Belkin has to say. They are just packagers set up to help increase the profit margins of the big box stores. You can probably find the same kbd under a different name for less. Their warranty is probably for factory defects, not wearing out - so what difference will it make? These days it'll cost more to ship it back than it would to go to the store and get a new one...

.bh.

 

[Eyeless Blond]

Originally posted by: ZepperYes, those are the Big-L models (3601). I prefer the OTK models (3600).

Hm, they don't seem to have that model as a USB keyboard. Not that it matters all that much.

I don't think that there is significant evidence that those "ergo" keyboards are any better than standard on the hands/wrists. No way to do a double-blind test on a keyboard. If you need USB ports, get a mini-hub... Almost all keyboards t hese days use a rubber-dome or membrane type action which are all inherently quieter than mechanical keyswitches.. IAC, I don't put much stock in what Belkin has to say. They are just packagers set up to help increase the profit margins of the big box stores. You can probably find the same kbd under a different name for less. Their warranty is probably for factory defects, not wearing out - so what difference will it make? These days it'll cost more to ship it back than it would to go to the store and get a new one...

Well, to be fair, there's no evidence of keytronics' fun little key-weighing thing being of any help to strainned wrists either.

Good point on the shipping costing more than replacing thing. This annoys me greatly on a philisophical level--I don't particularly like to encourage the society of consume-and-discard that is so popular these days--but I guess if I sent it in they'd just throw it away anyway. Feh, now I'm sounding like I'm either old or a hippie.

Is there really no difference between Belkin's membrane-keyboards and other peoples' from that QuietType thing they trademarked?

 

[Zepper]

A trademark bears no technical authority, a patent on the other hand... There are companies out there that do little other than think up brand names, trade names and tradmarks for common features to make products seem different from any other in the same market.

.bh.

 

[Eyeless Blond]

Naturally, naturally. So Belkin's just a reseller, or inferior in some way?

Hm. Well that's a great purchase, but almost $8 shipping? Yikes! Hm, I'm tempted to order some other stuff just to make that shipping charge worthwhile; any ideas?

 

[Zepper]

Belkin is a packager - the problem is is that they shoot for the highest possible margin - the item in the box is of little consequence in their calculation. Most are the cheapest generic items they can find with their logo slapped on it.

Which is $8. shipping? The Keytronic is $6. to me by ground. Provantage ships from warehouses around the country so ground is usually fast enough and pretty reasonable.

.bh.

 

[Tu13erhead]

I love my new MS Natural 4000. So far, it's the quietest keyboard I've used, and has an excellent feel to it, even compared to my old MS Natural. We'll see if it gets a bit louder as I type more on it. My keyboards in the past have always done that.

 

[Eyeless Blond]

Originally posted by: ZepperWhich is $8. shipping? The Keytronic is $6. to me by ground. Provantage ships from warehouses around the country so ground is usually fast enough and pretty reasonable.

Depends on where they're shipping to, it seems. To me it's $7.80, which is just enough to make me want to add other things to the order, but frankly there's nothing else I really need. *shrug*.

 

[Zepper]

Well, at least Provantage has most other places that carry that kbd beat by a couple of bucks on the seling price. Besides, you'll have the "Das Keyboard" at about 1/4 of their $80. price...

..bh.

 

[VooDooAddict]

Originally posted by: Ichigo
Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000.

I loved it at first touch. Didn't buy it because it was expensive though.

It's ergonimic, comfortable, and quiet.

It's actually too quiet for me. I prefer a keyboard with more of a "click" to the keypress. But it's so incredibly comfortable that I can't part with it.

It also looks really nice.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16823109148

 

[Eyeless Blond]

So I bought the Keytronic. Initial impressions: meh. The weighted keys thing is ardly noticable; I suppose it will cut down on muscle fatigue sometime down the road, but for now it seems to be a fairly useless feature.

Then there's the noise. Now, the keyboard certainly isn't as loud as a mechanical switch, but overall I'd say it's on average a bit louder than the 5-year old generic Gateway keyboard it replaced. If you're looking for a quiet keyboard look somewhere else. On the plus side the space bar is quieter than the aforementioned Gateway, which clacks loudly now that it's starting to get older.

All in all, I'm kinda wishing I sprung for that Smartboard mentioned in the other thread instead, to see how loud that would turn out to be. To be honest this one's not much different than the board I already had.

 

[Zepper]

. If you live nearby so shipping wouldn't be a killer and you didn't get it in black and you really don't like it, I'd consider buying it from you. PM me a figure.

You can dampen the noise of any keyboard by setting it on a mat of that rubbery non-slip stuff you can buy in rolls from Walmart, etc. (usually near the shelf paper/drawer liner stuff). I find new uses for it all the time. I put some under my printer, scanner, etc. Put it in the bottom of the kitchen tool drawer and it really cuts down on noise in the kitchen.

Just be sure it's compatible with the surface you're going to use it on. It will seriously mess up that furniture made of particle board with the laminated finish (like vinyl pressed onto the particle board - Sauder, O'Sullivan and Bush are companies that make a lot of that stuff) - or real wood with oil or wax finish - polyurethaned wood is safe. So you'll have to protect those finishes with something.

.bh.

 

[VERTIGGO]

no one seems to have mentioned the Saitek Eclipse, which I love because its not only quite silent, but the glowing keyboard elminates the need for any lights besides your monitor, which is handy. (I live in a 2 man barracks room, and staying up later than my roomy necessitates the light up keyboard!)

 

[Eureka]

Hmm.. the Saitek Eclipse is quiet? Well then, I'd recommend that keyboard too.

Norm

 

[Zepper]

Hey Vertiggo,

You say you live in a barracks. So are you a member of the American military? If so, then why the Chicom avatar.?.

.bh.

 

[VERTIGGO]

im sorry, chicom?

 

[Zepper]

chicom: Chinese Communist

.bh.