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HardCore Keyboard suggestions? :)

S

skace

Lifer
Yea, I know what you're thinking, "Who cares what keyboard you got as long as the keys work". Well, for a long time I've been using a nice switch keyboard from IBM (You know, the wicked loud ones) and it is starting to show its age. I am in the market for a real nice keyboard that will have close to the same responsiveness as my old clicky 10 lb IBM one 🙂.

The first thing I could think of is go straight to IBM's site and see what they are offering. This is the keyboard that I thought looked to have the nicest set of features: 106-Key Preferred USB Keyboard with 2 Port USB Hub (Stealth Black). I liked the idea of having 2 usb ports on the KB also, so I can plug my mouse and a webcam into it. Any other keyboard fanatics out there that know of anything better than this, or can vouch for how good this kb is? The only thing I noticed from the very small picture was the insert,home,etc keys were in a row, odd.

Thanks,
skace
 
Look at Alps or Focus.

Since you have a real IBM clicker, you may want to try a can of electronic parts spray from Radio Shack (cleaner/degreaser), remove all the keys, and spray into each opening while the keyboard is held upside down. These keyboards almost never wear out unless hit with a hammer or melted with a torch.
 
At work, I just bought us logitech internet keyboards which are nice but no usb ports. At home, I just bought myself a microsoft internet pro keyboard with the usb ports along with all the internet (not so useful) and multimedia (very useful) buttons.
I will however tell you not to expect to plug your webcam into the keyboard. This is going to be a bus powered hub and most webcams seem to push the limit of that. The mouse will be perfectly fine for that purpose.
But being someone who ran a usb keyboard and recently switched back to ps2 connections for the keyboard, it really sucks when you plug something (last one was a usb joystick) into the usb bus and it freaks the system out and causes the usb controller to take a header and you now have no keyboard or mouse to control your system. If you have two different usb controllers, I'd suggest using an input device on both and not run both on the same header. I've had this happen on several computers now so I'm assuming its not coomputer dependant.
 
Jamarno,
Do you have any urls for Alps or Focus? It would be much appreciated =) I tried finding them via google but Alps brings up a lot of sites...


<< Since you have a real IBM clicker, you may want to try a can of electronic parts spray from Radio Shack (cleaner/degreaser), remove all the keys, and spray into each opening while the keyboard is held upside down. These keyboards almost never wear out unless hit with a hammer or melted with a torch. >>


The keys work great, but the ps2 connector seems to be dying. The KB only works every other reboot.

cavingjan,
Thanks for the info on USB hubs. I didn't take any of the problems into account when thinking about the idea. Was the kb you had with a usb hub an IBM or something else? The IBM is pretty costly (50$) so I would hope the hub would be pretty damn good. Ah well, Guess it may be back to the drawing board on that one =)

Cya,
skace
 
The keyboard with the two port hub in it is a microsoft internet pro (Sam's Club has it on clearance for $26.91 right now, only reason I bought it). I use it in the PS2 ports though but I believe it can still be used as USB only.
My old USB keyboard was a Belkin. One of the first USB keyboards that were relatively cheap. I've had it for over 2 years (summer of 98). I'm still using it with the laptop and also if I need to sit back and type away from another chair, I can just plug it in and move it around easily.
Personally I think the best bet is to get a keyboard that does both ps2 and usb. Then you can choose as you need.
 
I really like my Microsoft Natural Pro. Once you go ergonomic, and get used to it, you can't go back. The keyboard does have two USB ports on it to, which is a nice touch. You can't beat the quality of MS hardware.
 
I'm using an IBM Preferred Quietkey (i think thats the name) that I picked up a few years ago. I've used Logitech and Microsoft, and lots of others, and I still love IBM more than any other.

For a cheap keyboard Mitsui makes a decent one, and its cheap enough to replace once a year. My friend recently got a Keytronic and it seems pretty good. I don't like the feel of Logitech much at all.

IBM's keyboard prowess really shines through on their laptops. No one seems to make a decent laptop keyboard except IBM. I used to have a Thinkpad 600 and loved typing on it. Now I have a Dell Latitude, man what an awful keyboard (actually everything about this laptop is pathetic compared to the IBM Thinkpad 600 series).
 
I prefer the Mitsumi for cheap keyboards. We still have a few that are still going after 2 years and they were only $9. I have a few users who constantly eat chips over the keyboard. I just threw out a microsoft natural that someone spilled a soda into it and never said anything about it. Not even worth trying to clean so they are back to the cheap mitsumis until they learn their lesson.
 
wanna try the Dovark Keyboard? all the keys are relocated for MAXIMUM efficiency and typing speed... I call that 133t rather than hardcore though

plus now your annoying roomate won't be able to touch your comp... 🙂
 
I'd say go for the Logitech wireless mouse/keyboard combo. Those are really nice. I can walk into a different room and type on the screen!
 
My vote goes for the Logitech wireless keyboard. Makes it real easy for lazy people like me to lean back and put your feet up on the desk, without messing with the keyboard wire. One of the best upgrades I ever made.

Rob
 
Well, I wasn't planning on even considering microsoft/logitech keyboards. I want something that can compete with an IBM switch keyboard, something with some real quality. BUT, with all the recommendations for logitech/microsoft kbs maybe I will take a second look at them. I am not looking at a mouse/kb combo as I have a logitech optical mouse already.

I wish keyboard quality was where it used to be =) You'd figure the 1 piece of equipment you touch the most would be the nicest...
 
I have the Logitech Wireless combo (keyboard and Mouse) and it is a very nice keyboard. Mouse is a little small IMO. However the only problem with the keyboard is that it is really fragile. My friend dropped mine from a height of only like two or two and half feet and it broke. Needless to say he went out to the store to get me another one:}.

Schola
 
I consider myself to be a keyboard fettichist, and several others like myself that I know all agree that the Compaq keyboards are the best. They have a real solid, smooth feel that you wont find in any other keyboard. Otherwise they are very straightforward...no bells and whistles. Last I saw they were available at a place called eimsdirect but the link i saved seems to be dead now.
 


<< get ur self a wirless keyboard it feels great trust me >>



Wireless keyboards are convenient, but they are less than desirable for gaming. I had a Logitech iTouch (which I adored for office-type apps) but a lot of times I found myself typing faster than the radio receiver can actually keep up with. Those split seconds of unresponsiveness can mean the difference between getting fragged or staying alive in an FPS game, for example.

I seem to recall some small online outfits selling IBM switch-style keyboards for around $70 (ouch, I know; but you're getting one tank of a keyboard) but I can't remember names off the top of my head. Dell also manufactures a &quot;mechanical&quot; keyboard, a modern keyboard which is closest thing to the old &quot;switch&quot; keyboards I've seen. You can purchase them on their website for $35 plus shipping (I think you might have to be a current Dell customer though; although they might also sell it on Gigabuys).
 


<< wanna try the Dovark Keyboard? all the keys are relocated for MAXIMUM efficiency and typing speed... I call that 133t rather than hardcore though >>



that's not really true, the dvorak layout was never truly tested with respect to a comparison with qwerty, since the designer himself did those studies, so it's tainted info...
 
Oh wow! Now we are talking 🙂 Thanks for the links everyone.

JellyBaby, those keyboards were good for a laugh, but I don't think I will get one =p

The Alps and Focus sites were very useful Jamarno. These kb's all look awesome: http://www3.alps.co.jp/WebObjects/catalog.woa/HTML/InputDevice/Desktop/KFRP/KFRP_e.html
http://www.focus.com.tw/2001.htm
http://www.focus.com.tw/Hub KB.htm

I'm torn, don't even know which to get =) Don't even know if I can find a place to buy these. The alps one is definitely the most stylish, but I don't know how well it actually types... the keys look small and cheap =p Gonna do more looking around.
 
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