What is wrong with keyboard manufacturers

[0roo0roo]

ugh. I've been planning on taking mine apart and cleaning it, not too thrilled after looking at that...

best way is to spritz cleaner/water on the keys and use an old electric toothbrush or one of those 5 dollar disposable electric brushes, gets the keys clean fast, down into the crevices.
no need to take it apart.

 

[QueBert]

Bought the $50 Apple wired keyboard a few months ago. Pretty nice to type on, and I LOVE how there are no grooves for crumbs and dirt to fall in. I don't know how it'll hold up down the road, but so far it's great.

 

[lsquare]

I give up. I bought the Microsoft Wireless Comfort 5000 for C$69.99 before tax. The keyboard is actually pretty pleasant to type on, but I hate how MS design their mice to be ambidextrous. Surely there are more right handed people than left handed people. It would make more sense to make their keyboard/mouse combos to favour right handed people.

 

[konakona]

you are probably better off spending some time there to read up, but here is a good place to start. http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Mechanical+Switch+Keyboards+Sorted+By+Switch

I am very satisfied with my filco as you could tell, but curious about alps blacks and their supposed lighter feel to them.


Some cheaper alternatives to majestouch:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...ABS-_-23224001
http://shop.ebay.com/sis.html?_kw=Dell+AT101W+Keyboard+Black+Alps+Switches+Clicky
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16823204017

EDIT: looks like M1 doesn't work with PS/2 (hell, it doesn't even support n-key rollover so...)
more info here
http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1468692&page=3

-The M1 uses black alps/fukka switches (tactile, non-clicky) while the Filco Zero uses white alps/fukka switches (tactile and clicky).
-The M1's case and keys have a different finish to them, its a coarser finish. The key lettering is also in a different font.
-The M1 has 2-key rollover and the Filco has 6-key rollover. However, both boards do suffer "the das problem" of key transposition when typing at high speeds (higher speeds than the das, so its not as common).

 

[NickelPlate]

I bought my Deck Legend 105 over 3.5 years ago and it's the best keyboard I've ever had. It's a little pricey though at $159. But the backlighting is superb, the characters will never rub off. It's made with top quality switches and components and is built like a tank.

No special drivers are needed and it doesn't have any silly multimedia buttons or programmability. Just a basic 105 keyboard.

http://www.deckkeyboards.com/

 

[tweakboy]

Nothing wrong with mine,,, look sig rig,, tc

 

[TwinsenTacquito]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16823109194

The 200, simple as it gets. I wish I had one. I'm using a... 13(?) year old Dell keyboard with all sorts of holes where once there were useless function keys. Oh, this button opens up Outlook? More like my knife opens up that button. *pop* I also have just the Ctrl, Alt, and spacebar on the bottom of it, tore the rest off. No caps lock either. And the ctrls, alts, and spacebar I tore off and put back on backwards, smoother that way. Also I guess the Insert key is gone. I don't even remember what it does. Well... what it's supposed to do. I know what it does, piss me off.


The 600 here has volume:

They're both $20 keyboards and I <3 my microsoft hardware. I've literally had two (2!!!!) logitech mice explode in my hand. The first one was extremely violent and scared the shit out of me, gave me a nice bruise across the palm of my hand and fingers. It picked my arm right off the desk when it went off. The second one barely left the desk when it exploded, and the battery acid just dripped out of the thing, unlike the spray of acid that ruined pretty much everything on my desk with the first mouse death. Battery acid + wooden desk = black desk. Like a creepy black mold... ugh. DIAF logitech.

 

[corkyg]

TwinsenTacquito;29632567) They're both $20 keyboards and I <3 my microsoft hardware. I've literally had two (2!!!!) logitech mice explode in my hand. The first one was extremely violent and scared the shit out of me, gave me a nice bruise across the palm of my hand and fingers. It picked my arm right off the desk when it went off. The second one barely left the desk when it exploded, and the battery acid just dripped out of the thing, unlike the spray of acid that ruined pretty much everything on my desk with the first mouse death. Battery acid + wooden desk = black desk. Like a creepy black mold... ugh. DIAF logitech.

It seems you are not alone. There have been several recorded incidents of wireless Logitech mice exploding or popping. It does not appear to be the mouse, but rather, the batteries. And the common culprit seems to be Duracell batteries. One example:

http://forums.logitech.com/t5/Mice-...nside-my-mouse-exploded-last-night/m-p/361294

Were your batteries coppertops?

 

[Googer]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16823109194

The 200, simple as it gets. I wish I had one. I'm using a... 13(?) year old Dell keyboard with all sorts of holes where once there were useless function keys. Oh, this button opens up Outlook? More like my knife opens up that button. *pop* I also have just the Ctrl, Alt, and spacebar on the bottom of it, tore the rest off. No caps lock either. And the ctrls, alts, and spacebar I tore off and put back on backwards, smoother that way. Also I guess the Insert key is gone. I don't even remember what it does. Well... what it's supposed to do. I know what it does, piss me off.


The 600 here has volume:

They're both $20 keyboards and I <3 my microsoft hardware. I've literally had two (2!!!!) logitech mice explode in my hand. The first one was extremely violent and scared the shit out of me, gave me a nice bruise across the palm of my hand and fingers. It picked my arm right off the desk when it went off. The second one barely left the desk when it exploded, and the battery acid just dripped out of the thing, unlike the spray of acid that ruined pretty much everything on my desk with the first mouse death. Battery acid + wooden desk = black desk. Like a creepy black mold... ugh. DIAF logitech.

Those extra function keys were not totally useless, if you have the right board they were programmable macros and can be configured via dip switches.

 

[0roo0roo]

not sure i believe that, i've never heard of alkalines exploding just leak... slow slow leak.

bad chinese batteries?

 

[corkyg]

Sure it was not Duracell lithium AAs?

This really should be a new thread - the keyboard issue has been somewhat hi-jacked.

 

[TwinsenTacquito]

Plain old duracell coppertops both times. But they've never popped in my microsoft wireless mice, of which there are 4 in this house running on coppertops right now. Three of them have been around for less than 5 years, and one for more than 5. It wasn't a minor thing, the first time was very loud. I'd guesstimate 160dB. Gunshot territory. The second time was like 100dB or so, like a car door being slammed, and not nearly as unexpected or violent. It lasted a couple months before it popped.

The second one was a replacement from logitech for the first one. I didn't bother getting a replacement for the second one. Just went back to good ol' meecrosoft.

Those extra function keys were not totally useless, if you have the right board they were programmable macros and can be configured via dip switches.

I hate things that are automated. I wouldn't want those buttons to do anything at all but leave my keyboard as fast as possible.

 

[JimiP]

I think I have found the perfect keyboard for the OP. The SteelSeries 6Gv2. http://www.steelseries.com/us/products/keyboards/6gv2/information

 

[Anubis]

I think I have found the perfect keyboard for the OP. The SteelSeries 6Gv2. http://www.steelseries.com/us/products/keyboards/6gv2/information

media buttons i see 0 so yea no + its a full keypress keyboard dbl no

the MS one linked a few posts above i actually considered for a bit but i didn't like how the F keys are like 1/2 keys so i passed on it

 

[konakona]

I think I have found the perfect keyboard for the OP. The SteelSeries 6Gv2. http://www.steelseries.com/us/products/keyboards/6gv2/information

these also have n-key rollover if you stick with ps/2. A tad cheaper than the filco. Not everyone is big fan of the black-axis cherries (or 'linear' as they call it), though same goes for the brown-axis used in the filcos that I recommended.

The best thing would be visit a B&M store that carries both variants and try out the keys for a few minutes; that's how I settled with my current filco. Not sure if there are any B&M outlets that stock brown-axis based models though. At least one could check and see if black-axis is his or her thing.

Oh btw, I think the 'tenkeyless' layout is a definite plus for gaming - we could always use that extra space for mouse maneuvering room There was a poll a while back asking people if they used the keypad, and tbh I was a little shocked people actually use it. For one, I never go near it (mind you I don't do any productivity work at home).

 

[JimiP]

media buttons i see 0 so yea no + its a full keypress keyboard dbl no

the MS one linked a few posts above i actually considered for a bit but i didn't like how the F keys are like 1/2 keys so i passed on it

I can understand not liking full keypress but the keyboard does have "media" buttons. Keys F1-F4 are used in conjunction with the SteelSeries logo (Windows key).

 

[konakona]

sounds like you prefer scissor switches then?

Try this then: http://www.google.com/products/cata...6HYoYQH&sa=title&ved=0CAcQ8wIwADgA#scoring=tp

I guess you might be tunred off by the function keys 2/3 of height height. The keyboard is real cheap and works pretty well though.

 

[lsquare]

Fuck Microsoft. I'm thinking of returning the Wireless Comfort 5000 back to Best Buy. The keyboard is so uncomfortable to use. I can't stand this "natural" layout that they seem to have endorsed.

Does anyone here know if the Logitech S520 is a decent deal? I'm thinking of getting that and maybe one of the Logitech laser mouse. The keyboard looks decent, but I'm not sure how it'll perform. It's currently retailing for $59.99.

 

[JoshGuru7]

Fuck Microsoft. I'm thinking of returning the Wireless Comfort 5000 back to Best Buy. The keyboard is so uncomfortable to use. I can't stand this "natural" layout that they seem to have endorsed.

Microsoft makes both standard keyboards and natural keyboards. They are only "endorsing" natural keyboards to the extent that they provide the option for people like myself who prefer them. There's nothing wrong with preferring a standard layout instead but you have a wierd attitude about it. What would you do if you ordered a raspberry lemonade and decided you didn't like it as much as plain lemonade? I doubt you'd throw it back in their faces and curse them out for selling raspberry lemonade.

I use Microsoft peripherals for my desktop (Sidewinder X6 KB, Sidewinder X8 mouse atm) and prefer Logitech mice for travel. Logitech mice just feel better to me in compact sizes and the mini USB receiver is nice as well.

 

[VirtualLarry]

If you are looking for CHEAP keyboards, the cheapest I've found are here: http://www.ewiz.com/query.php?noloca...1.y=0&amp;search=y

I use them for builds. Basic PS/2 keyboard, and cheap USB optical mouse.

$5.48 total, plus shipping, so it comes out to under $10 per set.

Not exactly a "programmers keyboard", but what do you want for $10.

 

[Fayd]

Its fing impossible to find a standard keyboard with a minimal amount of function keys (volume and play/stop/adv/back as they are the only important ones)

except i dont want those either.

 

[johanl]

Well, with the right software, the LCD on the Logitech G15 and G19 can be made something more than an expensive timepiece.

For the G15, LCDSirReal:

Reviews: icrontic.com unitstep.net francoiswiid.wordpress.com

For the G19, LCDHost (it's a WYSIWYG editor, so the screenshot is a sample only - you can make your own layouts):

Full disclosure: I am the developer of LCDSirReal and LCDHost, but not affiliated with Logitech.

 

[0roo0roo]

Microsoft makes both standard keyboards and natural keyboards. They are only "endorsing" natural keyboards to the extent that they provide the option for people like myself who prefer them. There's nothing wrong with preferring a standard layout instead but you have a wierd attitude about it. What would you do if you ordered a raspberry lemonade and decided you didn't like it as much as plain lemonade? I doubt you'd throw it back in their faces and curse them out for selling raspberry lemonade.

I use Microsoft peripherals for my desktop (Sidewinder X6 KB, Sidewinder X8 mouse atm) and prefer Logitech mice for travel. Logitech mice just feel better to me in compact sizes and the mini USB receiver is nice as well.

yea i prefer natural kb layout, regular kb is cramped. it takes a little while to get used to it of course.

 

[bigboxes]

Well, with the right software, the LCD on the Logitech G15 and G19 can be made something more than an expensive timepiece.

For the G15, LCDSirReal:

Reviews: icrontic.com unitstep.net francoiswiid.wordpress.com

For the G19, LCDHost (it's a WYSIWYG editor, so the screenshot is a sample only - you can make your own layouts):

Full disclosure: I am the developer of LCDSirReal and LCDHost, but not affiliated with Logitech.

Seriously, what's the point? Just to show that you could do it? It's a keyboard; an input device. This is like a pen with a clock. Is it for those times when you step away from your monitor and to make sure you know what is playing on your mp3 player you cart around your keyboard?

 

[johanl]

Seriously, what's the point? Just to show that you could do it? It's a keyboard; an input device. This is like a pen with a clock. Is it for those times when you step away from your monitor and to make sure you know what is playing on your mp3 player you cart around your keyboard?

Seriously? How about when you're playing a game and it hangs. Sometimes you can get the desktop back so you can kill it easily with the task manager. Sometimes you can't. Then it's pretty handy to have LCDSirReal's RIP function.

If you use Teamspeak, having the who's talking display always available is pretty handy, as is a key to mute the mic in TS. Or check who's on the channel without leaving the game.

And then all the other stuff, like realtime display of CPU core load, network bandwidth utilization and... well, there's a list:

• Customizable display of weekday, date and time.
• Shows number of unread mails as icons, if your mail client supports it
• Displays CPU usage (average load on top, details in CPU module).
• Shows the memory load.
• Shows inbound (top) and outbound (bottom) network traffic volume
• Shows network inbound/outbound network load over the last ten seconds, and/or total data sent and received.
• World clock with daylight savings support and user selectable time zones
• Speaker switcher, switch between (for example) 5.1 and headphones with a click
• Displays sound volume and audio output mute status
• Stopwatch with lap time (click to start/lap, long-click to reset/stop)
• Detects unresponsive programs and allows you to kill them
• TeamSpeak2/3 integration: Shows who is talking, player count (channel with large font, server with small font), arriving and leaving players, mic mute status, self speaking status, channel changes. Click to mute/unmute mic. Long-click to show who's in the active channel.
• WinAMP integration: Shows new song name when song changes. Shows remaining play time and average bitrate. Click to re-display current song.
• Foobar2000: supports the WinAMP spam component.
• FRAPS integration: Shows the current FPS.
• SpeedFan integration: Shows user selectable values from SpeedFan (temperatures, fan speeds, voltages).
• iTunes integration: Shows new song name when song changes. Shows remaining play time and average bitrate. Click to re-display current song.
• CoreTemp integration: Shows the highest core temperature and the average core temperature.