Wanted : a nice "clicky" keyboard

[Valhalla1]

my PC at work has a Dell keyboard that is so sweet, it has nice feedback when you type on it and its nice and clicky, audible when you type on it.. I love it. I hate the ones that are all soft and mushy when you press the keys and silent, I want feedback of touch and audible feedback too..

whats a good clicky keyboard for me? with the standard Windows key too (I could get an old old IBM PC keyboard but I use that windows key ALL the time)

 

[Athlex]

I believe Dell sells their "performace" keyboards on their website as a replacement part. That might be the way to go...

 

[bub]

Here ya go for $59, Customizer 104 w/buckling spring technology & Winblows keys!

http://store.yahoo.com/pckeyboards/keyboards.html

 

[Valhalla1]

thats a sweet looking keyboard! I'll think about it.. kinda expensive though. thanks for the tips guys

 

[Cyph3r]

Ahh..I remember the days of my IBM keyboard that weighed close to 10 lbs and had that wonderful click and was indestructble..

I may even spring for these $59 keyboards..I got this wussy softtouch keyboard now..I need resistence..

 

[outoftheblue]

I can get those Dell clicky type keyboards used from this junk store for about $5. Lemme know... they're as-is though, but for the price :0)

LMK

 

[outoftheblue]

ACTUALLY..... I forgot about the keyboard I'm using now :0) Its a newer IBM model, and it it's quite loud sounding and I love the feedback. 104 keys, model KB-8923.

I'm selling a new black one of this type for $20 shipped on the FS/T forum.

 

[Gorgonzola]

if you want a clicky one, just find any keyboard that was made about 10 years ago and you should be all set

my bro uses an ancient one that is mega clicky (way too loud if you ask me).

 

[Deslok]

I wound up spending about 60 or 70 dollars for an old Northgate Omnikey Ultra- It is considered by some to be the best every made.

unfortunately - they are only available on E-g@y as far as I know.

firingsquad did a review a while ago - couldn't find it at the moment.

Before that was using an old IBM beast - till it finally died.

 

[GregMal]

My office upgraded their PCs about a year ago. I've got access to
about 25 new in the box IBM keyboards (made by Lexmark, 7/95).
These are the "click" type. I've got a couple (for backup) sitting
in the box (never opened) at home.......
They're the best ever made.......
greg

 

[tiap]

I bought a Northgate OmniKey brand new in the mid 1980's. I still use it. It has the function keys (12) on the left. They are one of the best if you can find one

 

[Valhalla1]

<< I can get those Dell clicky type keyboards used from this junk store for about $5. Lemme know... they're as-is though, but for the price :0)
>>



if they have the windows key, I'm interested!





<< if you want a clicky one, just find any keyboard that was made about 10 years ago and you should be all set >>



I use the windows key extensively, I need the new style keyboard





<< My office upgraded their PCs about a year ago. I've got access to
about 25 new in the box IBM keyboards (made by Lexmark, 7/95).
These are the &quot;click&quot; type. I've got a couple (for backup) sitting
in the box (never opened) at home.......
They're the best ever made....... >>



do these have the windows key? can you sell one of those to me for a good deal?

 

[frazzled]

Valhalla 1,

I found myself in the same boat a few months ago. I used an old Northgate Omnikey for over 10 years until it was murdered by a vicious can of soda :|.

I was going nuts until I stumbled on the Focus brand of keyboards. They can be tough to find (I found mine at a large computer show) but here's a vendor that carries them Focus Keyboards. I can't vouch for the vendor, but I have the FK-2001 PS, and it's the closest I've found to an Omnikey.

Good luck,

fraz

 

[Valhalla1]

cool, thanks for the link.. I'd really like to get one of those Focus boards with the trackball built in.. that would make it even easier for me to only have to go to the mouse when I really had to.

but I don't know if all the focus boards have the tactile click feel.. do you know if all of them do? particularly the trackball ones?

 

[Valhalla1]

WOW...

if that KB comes with the clicky tactile keys, I'm getting a few! looks like my dream come true!

 

[fargus]

I use the old IBM keyboards almost exclusively- best ones ever made! Plus they're heavy enough to brain somebody with if need be!

The CTRL-ESC key combination will give you the same function as the windows key. There's a combination for the other &quot;right click&quot; key but I can't think of it at the moment.

 

[Goi]

I agree with the old IBMs, they're the best! btw they're the IBM Model Ms, but there're a few revisions. The really old ones have detachable PS/2 cables, as well as a B&amp;W logo, and are pretty heavy, the newer ones have fixed cables, a blue logo and are much lighter(but still heavier than current models).

 

[Kanly]

The Old IBM's were probably the best ever made.
After that the Northgates.

The one thing I truly love about them is the Function keys on the left side of the keyboard.

No awkward hand-arm gymnastics needed. Just a thumb and index finger.

 

[Mday]

Valhalla, i really suggest you go with http://www.pckeyboard.com/ if you want to go the old IBM route... it's the same place as bub mentioned, but it's more informative ;-) personally, i've been eying (for years) the Terminal/Emulator 122 Key Model myself, $99 =(

firingsquad had an article out a few months ago about keyboards... http://firingsquad.gamers.com/guides/keyboards/default.asp

 

[Homer]

Great thread. Read it &amp; immediately dropped some more hard earned dough!

 

[DynaOne]

The keyboards at pckeyboard.com mentioned above are the real thing. The IBM keyboards were made in Lexington KY - an employee bought them out and started supplying them.
DynaOne

 

[PlunX]

Man.. Heh.. I have an IBM keyboard that looks about thirty years old.. On the back, it says &quot;IBM Corp. 1984&quot;. It's very loud and I like it a lot. I also hate those mushy and soft keys on the newer keyboards. So far I've had two keyboards like this.. The other one's enter key got stuck in and when I tried to pull it out, the spring and everything came out and I couldn't find out how to fix that.

 

[GoSharks]

<< I agree with the old IBMs, they're the best! btw they're the IBM Model Ms, but there're a few revisions. The really old ones have detachable PS/2 cables, as well as a B&amp;W logo, and are pretty heavy, the newer ones have fixed cables, a blue logo and are much lighter(but still heavier than current models). >>



gotta agree with that. these ibm keyboards are the only ones i have ever used for my computer. damn sturdy, and it aint sliding around on my desk.

 

[Valhalla1]

well guys, here's the deal -

I work for a large corporate datacenter.. we house, operate and maintain IBM S/390 mainframe systems for many Texas state agencies at our multi-million dollar facility. I am a mainframe computer operator, and in the console room we have over 15 hard-wired old IBM 3270 dumb terminals.

they have the clicky old keyboards, and I fell in love with them since I started working there and I had to get a clicky keyboard for my home pc.

I'd love to use one of the IBM ones, I just really need that windows key.. not really for popping up the start menu, but for other reasons, some software I use too needs it.. long story.

but anyway, I ordered one of the Focus clicky kb's with the built in programmable buttons, calculator, clock, and trackball..


thanks for all the great tips and links!

 

[CoolTech]

keytronic makes the best keyboards that meet your needs, they even make it so that each key requires a different weight to press, they are so phat, I have been using mine for over a year and extremely clicky, excellent keyboard!