Looking for a new keyboard

[Raduque]

I don't care about switches or any of that silly nonsense, as long as it's not a laptop/chiclet style keyboard.

I only have 3 requirements.
A layout requirement: A large Backspace key, a large reverse "L" shaped enter key, and a right Shift key flanked by / and \.

Backlighting.

Media keys.

It's been difficult to find a keyboard exactly like this on my own, so maybe ya'll can help. The layout requirement is not 100% firm if the price is right.

Thanks!

 

[tweakboy]

Go to www.razerzone.com they have backlit and all that jazz ...... best gaming keyboards period... plus good for desktop use.. gl

 

[kache]

Logitech G710+

 

[Doom 4d]

As long as you avoid Steelseries, Razer and Logitech you have pretty good odds of getting a decent keyboard that isn't egregiously overpriced. The Microsoft Sidewinder x4 is the arguably the best rubber-dome keyboard on the market at the moment and it comes in between $39.99 and $49.99. Beyond that, there are the standard quality mechanical brands Das, Filco, Leopold, Ducky, Deck, Noppoo and so on.

 

[Pia]

What Doom4d said.

Mechanical keyboards generally do not have dedicated media keys, but some of them have media keys via Fn+Fkeys which you might find sufficient. Leopold and Filco do not have backlit models. I would suggest Ducky. Most brands offer boards with international English layout (the one with L-shaped enter, etc.) in addition to a US English layout, but the same vendor might not have both so you might have to dig a little.

Sidewinder X4 is an unique combination of cheap, backlit and high quality (as in N-key rollover).

And never buy Razer. Not for a keyboard anyway. Their mice are OK as long as you do not expect the mouse to last for over a year. Oh and their drivers are now spyware too.

 

[Raduque]

The Sidewinder X4 definitely looks like the keyboard for me. I've no interest in anything with loud, clicky keys.

I have no idea what N-key rollover means.

 

[Pia]

The Sidewinder X4 definitely looks like the keyboard for me. I've no interest in anything with loud, clicky keys.

I have no idea what N-key rollover means.

Means you can press any combination* of keys at the same time and they will all register correctly.

Keyboards without N-key rollover are all 2-key rollover. That is, there exists a combination of three keys which does not register correctly. I find it weird that nearly every manufacturer making expensive "gaming" keyboards is getting away with 2KRO. You see them babble about "anti ghosting/blocking optimized key matrixes", which means "we'll make cheap 2KRO keyboards, shuffle around the non-working key configurations and pray you don't encounter them". If they gave two shits about quality, they would have NKRO, that is, no ghosting/blocking at all.

Every NKRO board except Sidewinder X4 has mechanical keyswitches. X6 is very nearly NKRO too, it uses the same proprietary Microsoft tech as the X4 but has a design defect that causes it to fail some very specific key combination.

BTW, relatively quiet mechanical keys do exist. There are also linear force switches which do not have a tactile "click".

* Well, at least 6 keys at a time, which is enough for pretty much anyone. Some boards can do better but there's always some limitation as long as you use USB. With PS/2 it is possible to have every key register correctly.

 

[Remobz]

Logitech G710+

 

[kleinkinstein]

Laptop style, somewhat. Chiclets, no.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16823126043

 

[Doom 4d]

Laptop style, somewhat. Chiclets, no.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16823126043

They're charging 70 bucks for this junk now? The balls on Logitech lol

 

[Fallen Kell]

I think you guys are missing a key part of his keyboard requirements, the "reverse L enter/return key". Just about every keyboard that has been listed uses the newer US layout with an enter/return key being a "==" as opposed to "_|". Like the image below:

However, that keyboard does not meet his other requirement of having a large backspace key, which is why I am not recommending it to him.

 

[Fallen Kell]

After doing some searching this is the layout he is looking for:

 

[Fallen Kell]

Doing some more digging and I found that the maker of the keyboard I posted above is still in business and still making new keyboards. This is probably exactly what you want key layout wise, sans the multimedia keys:

http://keyboards.keytronic.com/home/products/specs/classic-u1.htm

 

[Raduque]

After doing some searching this is the layout he is looking for:

That's exactly the key layout I prefer. I can live with another layout though. Backlit keys and media control keys are my #1 and #2 requirements that I am firm on.

Edit: Sidewinder X4 looks like it's sold out everywhere.