PC Keyboards

[Ankh]

Originally Posted by Hitch

I'm just pretty desperate for a keyboard that can co-exist with The Pounder. ;-)

The "Das Keyboard" models with markings on key caps (the "ultimate" does not have any, it forces you to blind type) use laser-etching for inscriptions, and that is as good as it gets... except I am not sure that even that will help a person who wears a Logitech keyboard in 6 months.

Like you, I also learned to type on an ancient, mechanical, typewriter. Unlike you, I have long ago made a "transition to electric typewriter" (as it was then called) and learned to both moderate the pressure applied to the keys and got the speed increase inherent to the use of advanced device.

Now, you said that you "learned" to type on mechanic typewriter, and I assume that means that you are "blind typing". What I fail to understand is why do you care for key inscriptions? Why not just pin a paper diagram with the layout on the side of your monitor if you need a reference for rarely used keys?

The click, heard on those MX switch equipped keyboard happens "halfway" down, the sounds is heard when a sufficient contact is made. It is a great aid to improve the typing speed, as the trick is to squeeze "just enough" to trigger the key.

You should consider working on your typing (I know, learning it is tough enough, "unlearning" it is bordering impossible) style not because of the rate of keyboard destruction, but because of your wrists and joints.

[Ankh]

sorry, duplicate post.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Ankh

The "Das Keyboard" models with markings on key caps (the "ultimate" does not have any, it forces you to blind type) use laser-etching for inscriptions, and that is as good as it gets... except I am not sure that even that will help a person who wears a Logitech keyboard in 6 months.

Yeah, sad but true.

Like you, I also learned to type on an ancient, mechanical, typewriter. Unlike you, I have long ago made a "transition to electric typewriter" (as it was then called) and learned to both moderate the pressure applied to the keys and got the speed increase inherent to the use of advanced device.

Well, apparently, one of us learned to moderate pressure, and one of us didn't.

Now, you said that you "learned" to type on mechanic typewriter, and I assume that means that you are "blind typing". What I fail to understand is why do you care for key inscriptions? Why not just pin a paper diagram with the layout on the side of your monitor if you need a reference for rarely used keys?

Have husband.

The click, heard on those MX switch equipped keyboard happens "halfway" down, the sounds is heard when a sufficient contact is made. It is a great aid to improve the typing speed, as the trick is to squeeze "just enough" to trigger the key.

Yup, I loves me some click, too.

You should consider working on your typing (I know, learning it is tough enough, "unlearning" it is bordering impossible) style not because of the rate of keyboard destruction, but because of your wrists and joints.

Mmmmm....no spring chicken here, and I don't know if I can "unlearn" it now, after (mumble) years of typing. And the fingers/joints are already pretty shot. I used to be worse, actually. So....I have some really ancient IBM keyboards around here (along with six other computers ranging from Linux boxes to one server to an old Dell we bought to run a small milling machine), but I'd like to stick to something remotely ergonomic.

Thanks, if anyone has any other suggestions!

Hitch

[Ankh]

Originally Posted by Hitch

And the fingers/joints are already pretty shot.

Mine, too.

Originally Posted by Hitch

I have some really ancient IBM keyboards around here (along with six other computers ranging from Linux boxes to one server to an old Dell we bought to run a small milling machine), but I'd like to stick to something remotely ergonomic.

Thanks, if anyone has any other suggestions!

The trouble with ergonomic(curved) keyboards is that they work differently for each of us. The basic idea is sound, the implementation, however, is based on some "average" anatomy. To make things even worse, it takes prolonged use to make sure that a specific model works for you. Caveat emptor.

[Ekaros]

Personaly I think I like my Filco with MX Brown the best for general board. On other switches MX black felt too strong, but I have to look at that once I get my next board with them, modified my last one MX Reds. MX Clears are somewhat too heavy for my preference. Buckling Spring that is old IBM is very nice.

There is very few ergonomic boards with MX switches.

For absolute most lasting legends:
On other hand keycaps are replaceable and you can get used sets of caps which have legends which are in different coloured plastic entirely. These are know as doubleshot, they are somewhat rare, but they are the best tech out there. For lesser lasting there is also dye sublimation printed caps.

I have no idea about this: http://www.trulyergonomic.com/store/index.php atleast partly ergonomic keyboard.

Then if you are ready to put money and effort into it there is always the more weird stuff like Datahands... Along the lines of not cheap options are IBM M15, split boards, buckling springs, but not cheap...

Not that I'm a writer, but keyboard enthusiast.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Ekaros

Personaly I think I like my Filco with MX Brown the best for general board. On other switches MX black felt too strong, but I have to look at that once I get my next board with them, modified my last one MX Reds. MX Clears are somewhat too heavy for my preference. Buckling Spring that is old IBM is very nice.

There is very few ergonomic boards with MX switches.

For absolute most lasting legends:
On other hand keycaps are replaceable and you can get used sets of caps which have legends which are in different coloured plastic entirely. These are know as doubleshot, they are somewhat rare, but they are the best tech out there. For lesser lasting there is also dye sublimation printed caps.

I have no idea about this: http://www.trulyergonomic.com/store/index.php atleast partly ergonomic keyboard.

Then if you are ready to put money and effort into it there is always the more weird stuff like Datahands... Along the lines of not cheap options are IBM M15, split boards, buckling springs, but not cheap...

Not that I'm a writer, but keyboard enthusiast.

Hi! Thanks for all the suggestions, seriously.

I'm not a writer; I own an ebook-conversion company. We have an extremely heavy email burden, both from prospective clients and clients in process. We do ~9K emails/month. And we answer every single one, that "we" being me, my assistant Indy and our Production mgr., Len. It's a lot of emails. It's ~100 mails/day/person, although the distribution doesn't quite work out that way. It's a lot--a lot--of typing, even using some macros and Digital HotKey to answer as much as we can. (One of the reasons I'm not writing is because my hands are too shot at the end of the day to even think about trying to do 1,000 words! )

So, yeah...I eat me some keyboards. I'll look into replacing the caps, but IIRC, I couldn't use those particular caps on this keyboard (the Logitech) which does have a shape and a heelrest that I like. But...I'm at the "I'll try anything" stage, as this last set of stick-ons are dying, and the process of scraping them off and replacing them is fairly tedious. OR, I can buy another one new, I suppose. And, as I said, I lose the "home" of f and j when I do that, which makes me have a higher error rate, more retyping...etc. ;-)

ETA: About this: http://www.trulyergonomic.com/store/index.php

HOLY COW! I think I'm in love with that. I wonder if it really works?

Thanks!

Hitch

[Ankh]

Originally Posted by Ekaros

Buckling Spring that is old IBM is very nice.

And I just found out that "Unicomp" bought patents from IBM/Lexmark and is still making them:
http://pckeyboard.com/

Well, well, well...

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by Ankh

And I just found out that "Unicomp" bought patents from IBM/Lexmark and is still making them:
http://pckeyboard.com/

Well, well, well...

It's funny how threads come full circle. PeterT posted that link on page 1. :-)

Perhaps I should repost my link to http://clickykeyboards.com as well for those who want some NOS goodness. :-)

[Ankh]

Originally Posted by twowheels

It's funny how threads come full circle. PeterT posted that link on page 1. :-)

Ouch. I am sorry, as I obviously missed that post.

[Serpentine]

My daily driver is a Leopold FC700R - Cherry MX Browns. Absolutely lovely keyboard, the thick PBT plastic key caps wear really slowly (If you, like earlier posters dont like key caps from wearing quickly -- normal keycaps are POM or ABS, both of which wear a lot quicker and smooth a lot more than PBT), really high quality build. Plate mounted it's heavy with very sturdy and thick rubberized stands. No movement at all during extended periods. Quiet enough to use with people nearby. Sadly they are hard to get hold of in the US, but at about $120 AUD, well worth getting an Aussie friend to send it. Looks incredibly sexy too

My workstation has a Addesso MK135 with Cherry MX Blues. Coming in at about $60 on sale, it's a fairly high quality, no-nonsense choice. The sound and feel of blues is fantastic, so I enjoy switching to that for alone-time zoned-out typing. Build quality isnt amazing, but is certainly fair -- nice and solid.

If you're looking for something with a mechanical activation (i.e you dont need to bottom-out the keystroke to activate the key) and you have a... high budget, looking at boards with Topre capacitive domes is certainly something worth looking into. Expect to pay $200-250. Realforce 87 is fairly awesome

Just remember, mechanical and high quality keyboards will last a long time and increase your productivity slightly (blues make typing way more fun, for me?), and a hundred or two now is a hell of a lot cheaper than medical bills and pain later on.

Edit: Ripster, I know you're just lurking this thread since you are everywhere on the internet; I think you should teach this forum all about mechanical love.

[BeccaPrice]

Just got my goldtouch, and set it up. It's going to take some getting used to, and figuring out how much of a "bend" to put into it - my fingers keep going off the home keys and moving one over, but I figure when I get the position set right, that won't keep happening. I do like the touch - it's fairly sensitive, so I don't have to hit as hard as I did on my old one. I don't like the position of the caps lock key though; I keep turning caps lock on, and then having to retype everything.

[Ankh]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

Just got my goldtouch, and set it up. It's going to take some getting used to, and figuring out how much of a "bend" to put into it - my fingers keep going off the home keys and moving one over, but I figure when I get the position set right, that won't keep happening. I do like the touch - it's fairly sensitive, so I don't have to hit as hard as I did on my old one. I don't like the position of the caps lock key though; I keep turning caps lock on, and then having to retype everything.

That board can be split/tilted both horizontally and vertically. Do you find vertical split useful? Is it stable at angles close to the maximum vertical movement?

Oh, my Unicomp is on the way. Thanks to all who contributed to this thread, I would have not found them if it wasn't for this topic.

[BeccaPrice]

I've got a slight tilt vertically - I'm going to try the tilt away from me, as it enforces better hand postion. I've got a mild split horizontally, but may move the left hand part further out so I won't keep hitting the caps lock key.

[gmw]

Curious about the caps-lock key. I had exactly the same trouble with the Kinesis Freestyle at first. It wasn't too bad, but enough that I noticed it before my fingers adapted. How are you finding it without a numeric keypad?

[BeccaPrice]

I so rarely uised the numeric keypad anyway that I'm not missing it.