Comments on: Finding the Perfect Keyboard

By: Dr. Laurin Peyton Crowder

Dr. Laurin Peyton Crowder — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:43:49 +0000

The perfect keyboard with be the Gateway anykey with improved key mechanism, ten times the memory, lighted, and with programmings savable and recallable under any version of Windows. Why, oh why, will not somebody produce this keyboard? They would sell a million of them.

By: Scott Blitstein

Scott Blitstein — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:03:23 +0000

I use a ThinkPad as my primary PC and have grown very accustomed to my trackpoint for mousing. I tried various combos before deciding that I really needed a full size keyboard that included that functionality.

The IBM with the trackpoint works amazingly well for me and I am now completely mouseless. It is also very sturdy and generally feels like the one on my ThinkPad.

By: BrianSJ

BrianSJ — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:09:59 +0000

Having a ’short’ keyboard has the big advantage that the mouse can be in line with your arm. A full size keyboard means that the right arm is splayed out to the side – very bad.
It is hard to find good short keyboards, but worth it (also they take up less desk space). Separate numeric pads are not hard to find.

By: Casey

Casey — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:59:20 +0000

Dell USB Keyboard Model SK-8135 with a wrist rest attached.

http://www.amazon.com/Dell-Multimedia-Keyboard-0th836-Sk-8135/dp/B0010W5P20

By: Siddharth Deb

Siddharth Deb — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:28:02 +0000

Absolutely nothing beats a Dvorak keyboard layout, regardless of the actual brand or type of keyboard you use! I’ve gotten so used to Dvorak over the past 3.5 years that I just can’t use a Qwerty keyboard anymore without some serious hunting for the (illogically placed) keys.

By: opi

opi — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:27:38 +0000

I love IBM’s keyboards.

http://images.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/normal/258/product-5435258.jpg for desktop and ThinkPad laptop.

By: rohit gowaikar

rohit gowaikar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 05:43:41 +0000

i use a microsoft ergonomic keyboard at home and a normal one at work. it’s just a matter of getting used to. once you get a hang of it, it doesn’t really cause any problems at all, nor does the switching back and forth between these keyboards cause any speed lapses as such :)

By: Paul Lefebvre

Paul Lefebvre — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:06:36 +0000

I have a keyboard graveyard that my wife is always complaining about, but I think I've finally settled on one I like: Kinesis Freestyle Solo for Mac It has a nice split design (touch-typists only!), a quiet soft feel and lots off Mac-specific keys. I've also tried a Mac-specific mini keyboard with "click" switches, but I just could never get used to the sound, even though I loved the overall keyboard layout. I used the Apple Wireless Bluetooth Slim Keyboard for a while, but although I liked the feel I had difficulties with the connection dropping and the battery life. For my purposes I really don't want a number pad (they just get in the way of the mouse), so my choices have always been somewhat limited.

By: Greg

Greg — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:20:50 +0000

The current aluminum Apple Keyboard. I’ve never *really* liked an Apple keyboard until this one. Feels great, and quiet. Bought one for my PC too.

By: George Entenman

George Entenman — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:12:53 +0000

The Happy Hacking Keyboard, which is small and has the control key in the right place for users of vi/vim, is all I'll use. Works great on Macs.

By: Mike Gunderloy

Mike Gunderloy — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:08:40 +0000

@Kevin: Overall, I like the Tactile Pro. The feel is right for me, and the quality is good. The 2.0 dock USB connection I can take or leave; it just brings up one of the back-of-the-computer ports to the desk.

I’ve only had one problem: when I get moving super-fast, it’s prone to key rollover errors (where typing three keys in quick succession generates a fourth, spurious key). I’m hoping this annoyance is fixed next year when they ship the 3.0 version.

@Marc: Ah, the Omnikey. Another classic. Anyone remember the Gateway AnyKey?

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 19:40:42 +0000

What do you think of the Tactile Pro? Last time I read about them there were several mixed reviews, mostly due to poor quality control.

Personally, I’m torn between a Unicomp USB and the unlabeled Das Keyboard (not a true mechanical switch apparently…).

By: Marc

Marc — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 19:33:23 +0000

I love my 10+ year old Northgate Omnikey – I just had it completely cleaned and refurbed at http://www.northgate-keyboard-repair.com/ and it works great (and looks clean again!). They have some refurbed Northgates that they sell. I am in no way connected to them other then being a happy customer.

By: Sameer Vasta

Sameer Vasta — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 19:08:45 +0000

Sure it's simple and has no frills; I still swear by my (wired) Apple Keyboard.

By: Ronnie

Ronnie — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 18:43:30 +0000

The only that comes to my mind now is the Ultimate Das Keyboard. Would love to get me one of those.