What keyboard type do you prefer?

[Duncan]

Hi...

It strikes me that there is one thing that we all share in common here, that we need a keyboard to be able to post...

Now, i've always had a love hate relationship with keyboards, started with soft touch, then preffered clicky style... then back to soft... a seemingly endless loop... until now

Last weekend, I bought one of these new (hybrid??) keyboards that is laid out, and feels like a laptop... with short return keys etc etc... and now i've got used to the revised lay out, I think its the best thing ever... can type faster, and more accurately (sorry for the typos over the past week, but i think i'm there now

)

Anyway... just wondering, without going into the debate that the Lexmark keyboards from the early 80s rock... what keyboard type do you prefer?

 

[MD1032]

Clicky. I still use the same "Quietkey" keyboard that came with my computer. Responds OK, for maximum posting efficiency.

Only stayed quiet for about 2 weeks, though. I type a heck of a lot, so this thing got broken in very quickly.

I could use a keyboard upgrade. What I need is something fast. I hate laptop keyboards. Don't exactly know what "soft" is.

 

[Duncan]

Quote:

Originally posted by MD1032 Don't exactly know what "soft" is.

To me, its the same sort of keyboard as a clicky one, but with a different membrane type underneath (elonex used to make them a lot) so they don't make any noise when you press them, and feel a little softer on the return... not so spring loaded

 

[Vertigo-1]

Clicky keys were a trip for me to use, so I went out of my way to get one (paid like $5 for the keyboard, $11 for a AT -> PS2 adaptor

). Well cool as it was, over time the noise started becoming a little grating at night when all was quiet. So I'm back to a Logitech keyboard with soft keys.

 

[D-EJ915]

My IBM keyboard, like active response or something, is the best keyboard I've encountered. I like ones that have a lot of depression/tactile feedback, and this thing has it in loads, believe me, I've got the original AT KB, nothing beats that for weight/loudness (except the XT)...I think the Active Response is a good balance between Tactile and Quiet, so I voted ESP...they make guitars

 

[CaptBubba]

Clicky is preferred (I have an IBM model M for my desktop), but laptop keyboards are decent as well. I just require there to be a decent amount of initial resistance to the keystroke.

 

[john_jcb]

I wonder how many people use the ergonomic models where the keyboard is split in the middle and one half rotated clockwise the other counterclockwise. Many at work swear by them and hate to use anything else.

 

[jim]

I used to be all about the clicky keys. I have a model M and also the legendary northgate omnikey ultra, which I have on my desktop.

But.....in the past couple of months I've developed some mild tendonitis in the form of "emacs pinky" which really sucks.

I can only type on my laptop keyboard now, which I've actually come to prefer anyway. The shorter key travel is really comfortable when you are typing fast, and especially when chording.

anyone use one of those kinesis keyboards? I wonder how well it works for programmers. too bad they cost like $350, or I'd give it a shot.

 

[Chinchy]

IBM Thinkpads have the best keyboards that I have used on any laptop. IBM keyboards in general just plain rock.

 

[flipzter]

I use the broken keyboard, or split type. I just like how spread out it is.

 

[Earwax]

Here's another vote for IBM model M keyboards. The ones I use have a standard layout but without the numeric keypad.

 

[D-EJ915]

Mods should add the option...IBM

p.s. which models are the "M" series??

 

[usc goose]

i like clicky. ergonomic split designed too. i absolutely love the sound of typing. it's very soothing to me for some reason.

 

[Earwax]

Quote:

Originally posted by D-EJ915 p.s. which models are the "M" series??

It's the IBM PS/2 keyboard from the early 90s. Detachable cord with a PS/2 connector. I'd guess it weighs about 5 pounds.

 

[chillysalsa]

The keyboard on my Dell laptop is deliscious. I was so looking forward to typing this... MMMMmmMm...