What's with all the terrible keyboard design these days

[phexac]

I am using a 3-year-old logitech media keyboard, and it has become rather loud, so I have been browsing for a replacement...and what has happened to keyboards?

Every Logitech keyboard looks like it has been squished. The directional keys overlap with the main key area and insert/home/end button area has been squeezed as well. As a result, all those keyboards look cramped and cheap:

Like this one

Or this one

The only mormal layout keyboards they have are the G11 and G15. And I have actually considered those, and would appreciate any opinions on whether they are worth the extra money.

At the same time Microsoft seems to be living in the world where everyone wants an ergonomic keyboard. That seems to be all they offer outside of you basic $7 keyboards. It's really frustrating to see a really nice keyboard with all the features you'd want but curved in some otherworldly unusable shape (is there at least one person out there who actually uses those?).

So for now I am picking between the G series of Logitech and this one keyboard I found by MS that is really quiet and simple. This one

I was hoping to get a nice wireless keyboard and use it with my MX518 wired mouse, but all Logitech ones are cramped and all MS ones are ergonomic . Plus there is the whole thing with response delay when using wireless keyboards that is unacceptable when gaming and the extra expense of batteries.

If anyone has any recommendations with the keyboards, both wireless and wired that they have used, I would greatly appreciate them. As well as comments on the Logitech G series--if they are worth the money and your experience with them.

 

[Roguestar]

I have a logitech ultra-x flat and for some reason I can't seem to find where I could buy it now. The logitech ultra flat is cramped and squished like you said, but my ultra-x is properly laid out, just with slim keys. It's a pleasure to type on but I wonder if they've stopped doing it... Cramped keyboards and laptops that don't use all the space they could in spreading the keys out a little more sensibly are really annoying.

 

[spikespiegal]

Today's keyboards are increasingly sucky, with zero tactile feel and 'ergo from hell' designs. How you people are able to type faster than 50wpm on a Microsoft Ergonomic must be due to a genetic mutation or something. I still have a couple of IBM mechanicals that I use, and you can pry them from my dead body.

HP still ships nice keyboards with their servers.

Dell Quiet Key USB's are also decent.

 

[QuantumPion]

I've been using the same microsoft $7 keyboard for the last 3 years, because they (nor anyone else) sells them any more. No one sells a basic, wired, standard key layout, non-ergonomic design any more apparently.

I tried the G15 but I didn't like it. The keyboard was so huge it wouldn't fit under the front of my LCD monitor, but the keys themselves were too small and too close together. Total fail.

I think I might go on dell's website and try to grab one of their basic keyboards, I have one at work and its pretty good.

 

[QuantumPion]

Oh yeah just to add--it's really frustrating trying to get a good keyboard because every single model has a few good features that make it worthwhile but then bungle something else making it unusable. For instance, the logitech keyboard the OP posted on the second link is what I use for my HTPC. It has a nice feel and works fine, but the F-keys aren't really normal keys, they are stupid stubby little buttons. Arrrgh!

 

[BlueAcolyte]

What about the sub-$10 keyboards at newegg or something? Those are pretty plain. I have a lite-on standard USB keyboard, not noisy or anything, works fine.

Nothing wrong with this one

 

[Ika]

Saitek Eclipse II? Dunno if that's too flashy for you or not. The tactile feel sucks, though, but I got used to it after a while. I really liked my old non-USB Dell QuietKey keyboard (circa 2002).

 

[imported_Scoop]

I can see myself using the same keyboard and mouse for the rest of my life. The reason I switched last time was because the old ones were cordless and the technology then (8 years ago or so) wasn't good enough. I don't know if it is today but as long as these things work and motherboards have the legacy ports, I'm using them.

 

[soccerballtux]

Get one of the ultra flat keyboards. My i-rocks keyboard has been the best keyboard I've ever used. I can type at least twice as fast on it as on the keyboards at work.

 

[corkyg]

This one looks interesting.

BTC

 

[Kirby64]

The old logitech G15 is serving me nicely ATM. Mainly got it due to the cheap price thumbsup: to AT BST ) and backlit keys, but it has a good key setup as everything is spaced evenly. Might be a little pricey for you or perhaps too big (had to rearrange some things on my desk to fit it), but it's a good keyboard that you can pick up for a cheap price now-a-days.

EDIT: As for media keys, you can't get much better than the OLD G15. The newer one does away with the volume wheel and many of the customizable buttons. There are 18 custom keys on the old one with 3 different presets available, so you will never run out of media keys on the old G15.

 

[Zepper]

Keytronic is still making normal keyboards. You can get them in the OTK (One True Keyboard - original IBM AT layout) or with the "big L" return (enter) key for around $20. each. Don't bother with the cheaper models as you don't get their Ergo techonology which varies the key pressure by the relative strength of the finger that will be pressing the key (per standard touch typing method). provantage.com has been the best price I've found on them for a while. IDK where you could try one to see if it suits you. Get the part number of the one you want from the KeytronicEMS web site to make sure you get the one you want.

Descriptions on the reseller sites are often screwed up - shows pic of big L when it's actually OTK, etc. Generally a zero as the last numerical digit of the part number is OTK, with a 1 as the last numerical digit it's a big L, e.g. E03600P1 is OTK, while E03601P1 is big L (the P1 suffix stands for PS/2 connection in beige, P2 stands for PS/2 in black). The EUROTECH-P1 is also a very nice OTK layout, but has an MSRP of more than twice what the above do (at provantage it's only 50% higher). Available in PS/2 OR USB - they may have a kbd with dual connections (both PS/2 and USB) but I don't recall one. Keytronic calls the OTK layout the "IBM standard layout". The Lifetime and Classic have the original Keytronic rubber dome action, while most others have a membrane type.

You can often find a decent standard keyboard under the LiteOn brand (aka Silitek)

.bh.

 

[pcgamer321]

There is the G11 which is the G15 but cheaper and no LCD thing. That is what I have, and I love it so far. The media keys are great, the layout is "normal", lots of g keys. But it all depends on if you actually want all that stuff.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

I have found a cheap ($15 @ Newegg) keyboard that I really like. Logitech Media keyboard--decent feel to the keys, lots of travel on them, and very minimilistic media controls. I'll have to pick up a few for spares soon. On my primary rig I have a Logitech G15 (old style) which I love.

 

[Zepper]

I really despise keyboards with black keys - too hard to see the legends quickly.

.bh.

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: Aflac
Saitek Eclipse II? Dunno if that's too flashy for you or not. The tactile feel sucks, though, but I got used to it after a while. I really liked my old non-USB Dell QuietKey keyboard (circa 2002).

This is what I use & it works pretty well ... if you don't like the LED backlighting you can turn it off.

 

[Jiggz]

Have you thought trying the Logitech Wave? The wave portion if not like the one MS uses. Instead it's about the difference in height of the keys. The mid section is higher than the outer parts so you do not end up having to reach farther with your forefinger keys. It's not that ll quiet but quieter than most kb's. Nice tactile feel. You might want to visit a computer store and try it. You'll like it the first time you try it. I just bought one last month because the old kb I had was too noisy and the letters are starting to fade out.