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☖ Forums → Discussion Forum → I finally bought a real keyboard
12
I finally bought a real keyboard
2010-07-24, 10:08 PM #1
After hours of research I learned all about the different types and brands of mechanical switches, and got a rather nice Filco keyboard. It appears that, for me, it's the best compromise between noise and tactile feedback for typing and gaming. Some switch types are better for gaming (more linear travel) but suck for typing. This is somewhere in between and certainly much better than my Logitech Wave which is wearing out and getting harder to type on.

[http://www.elitekeyboards.com/proddata/images/th/FKBN104MEB_all_th620x400.jpg]

So I guess this is a keyboard discussion now. Apparently these Topre keyboards are supposed to be the best keyboards to type on, period. Some kind of weird mechanical, capacitative and membrane hybrid, giving the perfect light touch but perfect feedback. Unfortunately they're like $230 and don't have full n-key rollover (not sure how much that really matters).

But yeah, Logitech keyboards suck.
Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.
2010-07-24, 10:21 PM #2
That's not a model M.
2010-07-24, 10:26 PM #3
Yeah, it's better. It's not gigantic, not ridiculously loud and (supposedly) has a better typing feel. Model M, believe it or not, has fallen by the wayside compared to modern high end keyboards.
Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.
2010-07-24, 10:27 PM #4
Also it's not beige, making it less ugly than Alan/Homicide.
Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.
2010-07-24, 10:28 PM #5
Yeah but geek cred man. It's not about form or function.
It's about old.
2010-07-24, 11:11 PM #6
I have an old M keyboard out in the barn...

I love my Logitech keyboard, though.
woot!
2010-07-25, 2:08 AM #7
I use a ancient HP Keyboard that came with an HP PC from Costco back in 2001. For whatever reason, it lets me hit tons of keys at once allowing me to lean, strafe, move forward, hold shift, and jump all at the same time. I have two newer and rather expensive keyboards, Logitech and Microsoft. sitting in my closet and neither have this capability. So I stick with it and continue to clean and maintain it.
2010-07-25, 2:26 AM #8
[http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/garosaon/Polymoog.jpg]

Oh how I miss you, Polymoog...

Hum! Anyway.

[http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/garosaon/keyboardic.jpg]

I got that keyboard in 2004 with my computer, I think that photo is 3-4 years old and nowadays the A S D C V N M L keys aren't visible anymore and , Z X B I W are nearly gone. Oh well.
Star Wars: TODOA | DXN - Deus Ex: Nihilum
2010-07-25, 6:38 AM #9
My keyboard has programmable key colours (six colours for each key - first picture is showing the various colours) which can either be set to always be on (like a backlight) or toggled to only illuminate when a key is pressed (like in awesome sci-fi spaceships).

It has four programmable presets (so you can have individual layouts for various uses - second picture is my STALKER layout) and five brightness levels.

It also has a Rainbow option where it just cycles through the colours like a beautiful rainbow~~~
Attachment: 24164/IMG_0627 copy.jpg (296,071 bytes)
Attachment: 24165/IMG_0628 copy.jpg (321,185 bytes)
2010-07-25, 7:14 AM #10
To be honest, that looks horrible and distracting.
You can't judge a book by it's file size
2010-07-25, 7:33 AM #11
Well you don't have to have them coloured. Most of the time I've just got it set on the white backlight on the lowest brightness setting. But having the coloured keys for a gaming layout is rad, especially if you play in the dark like I often do.
2010-07-25, 7:35 AM #12
I have all my games' layouts memorized in all of about 5 minutes of playing them. Never saw the need for that sort of thing.
2010-07-25, 8:25 AM #13
I just bought a logitech g15 after using a friends. I was thoroughly impressed. Before that, I had used a logitech internet navigator for 7 years.
2010-07-25, 8:28 AM #14
Enjoy a fancy LCD screen that you will never ever use and poor key rollover that's terrible for gaming.

Sorry, just bitter about Logitech's marketing raving "WE MAKE THE BEST KEYBOARDS" when reality is "WE MAKE VERY MEDIOCRE KEYBOARDS." Their mice are much better.
Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.
2010-07-25, 8:33 AM #15
Originally posted by Emon:
Enjoy a fancy LCD screen that you will never ever use and poor key rollover that's terrible for gaming.

Sorry, just bitter about Logitech's marketing raving "WE MAKE THE BEST KEYBOARDS" when reality is "WE MAKE VERY MEDIOCRE KEYBOARDS." Their mice are much better.


I have no idea what key rollover means.

I do agree about the LCD though, and that's why I have a G11.
2010-07-25, 8:34 AM #16
The amount of keys that can be held down at any one time.
2010-07-25, 8:36 AM #17
You don't usually need that many but most keyboards, even ones from Logitech don't let you hold down certain combinations of letter keys. For instance I cannot move backward and crouch but only in a certain direction :huh:
Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.
2010-07-25, 8:42 AM #18
Originally posted by Emon:
You don't usually need that many but most keyboards, even ones from Logitech don't let you hold down certain combinations of letter keys. For instance I cannot move backward and crouch but only in a certain direction :huh:


Oh, the key press limit. I've never, ever, ever had that problem with my keyboard in any game ever, so non-issue for me.
2010-07-25, 9:16 AM #19
Just got it this week. Very pleased, and it's actually the first decent keyboard I've ever owned. I think it even helps me type faster.
Attachment: 24166/AAAAC1rApwwAAAAAAByhEQ.jpg (18,899 bytes)
"I'm afraid of OC'ing my video card. You never know when Ogre Calling can go terribly wrong."
2010-07-25, 9:30 AM #20
Originally posted by Cool Matty:
Oh, the key press limit. I've never, ever, ever had that problem with my keyboard in any game ever, so non-issue for me.

I'm guessing the Logitech gaming keyboards do 6 key rollover, which is the best you can do with a standard USB HID device. I doubt you'd ever need more than that... they can usually do 4 modifiers plus 6 keys, so unless you are doing some crazy two handed keyboard gaming it should be fine. In any case I didn't buy this keyboard because of n key rollover... there's a version without that but this was only $20 more so I said, what the hell.
Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.
2010-07-25, 9:33 AM #21
I also found out thatthe SteelSeries 6Gv2 and 7G are supposedly built by the same company that makes Filco keyboards like the one I bought. Difference is that they have harder switches that are better for mashing on during gaming. If it wasn't for that I would have bought one to save cost.
Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.
2010-07-25, 9:54 AM #22
I only end up pressing that many keys in games with leaning, etc.

I think there were times in STALKER where I'm holding LSHIFT, Space, E, W, A... Well I guess that's just every finger on my left hand.
2010-07-25, 10:01 AM #23
Yeah, it doesn't happen often but when it does it's really frustrating.
Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.
2010-07-25, 10:08 AM #24
I <3 my Microsoft comfort curve keyboard.
My girlfriend paid a lot of money for that tv; I want to watch ALL OF IT. - JM
2010-07-25, 10:20 AM #25
I decided to join the mechanical keyboard brigade about a year ago when I did my build and went with this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823224001

(was $45 ish)

It's been pretty solid ... solidly built as hell ... maybe not as amazing-feeling as some higher-end mechanical keyboards (I don't know, I haven't tried high-end mechanical keyboards other than the Model M) -- the one thing I don't like about it is that it bottoms out rather than clicking -- but it is lightyears beyond any other keyboards I've used (including my Thinkpad keyboard).

I got it mainly because it was the only mechanical keyboard I could find under $60 and I refused to spend more than $60 for a keyboard (I know the Unicomp Model M derivatives are like a little over $60).
一个大西瓜
2010-07-25, 1:11 PM #26
Originally posted by Emon:
Enjoy a fancy LCD screen that you will never ever use and poor key rollover that's terrible for gaming.

Sorry, just bitter about Logitech's marketing raving "WE MAKE THE BEST KEYBOARDS" when reality is "WE MAKE VERY MEDIOCRE KEYBOARDS." Their mice are much better.


I don't care about the LCD, I got a good price on that model specifically. Who looks at their keyboards anymore? Like I said, I used it in some left4dead 2 and loved it.

I also bought a logitech G500.
2010-07-25, 1:54 PM #27
Well that's fair. It's a reasonable keyboard I'm sure.

Also, Pommy, yeah, I found various cheap models on Newegg. The general consensus is that, even if they aren't the best, they're still much better than what you were using before. Actually, there was a $70 Rosewill model (Newegg's in house brand) that uses the same switches (Cherry switch company, MX "brown" switch) as my model. They're always sold out though.
Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.
2010-07-25, 1:55 PM #28
I've been wanting a new keyboard for a while now. i want something compact and like the apple keyboard, but wireless and having a numberpad. one of these is what i'm thinking comes the closest to what i want. lower keys, and that specific style of enter key, i hate the fat enter keys with a passion. these are perfect too, minus the corded aspect.

i really want a slim keyboard that looks good, is that so hard?
Holy soap opera Batman. - FGR
DARWIN WILL PREVENT THE DOWNFALL OF OUR RACE. - Rob
Free Jin!
2010-07-25, 1:57 PM #29
If you care about typing experience I can direct you to some slim keyboards that will be a joy to type on but may not look so fancy :P
Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.
2010-07-25, 2:00 PM #30
I have a G15 and I use my LCD screen all the time, especially for gaming (because I am one of the 5 people left that play Battlefield 2142)
TAKES HINTS JUST FINE, STILL DOESN'T CARE
2010-07-25, 2:14 PM #31
Are those old Keytronics that some people swear by ACTUALLY good?

I think when I tried one it felt clunky, not very natural to type on, but I can't remember for sure that it was a Keytronic. Anyway, some people still claim that they're the best or something, and I wonder if that's just an "it's cool cuz it's RETRO" thing.
Looks like we're not going down after all, so nevermind.
2010-07-25, 2:18 PM #32
Depends on which one I suppose. All the Key Tronics they sell now appear to be dome/membrane switches like in most commodity keyboards. Mechanical switches are the way to go... I had a Model M years ago and I loved it. I also had some other no name mechanical thing that was also fantastic but eventually broke.
Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.
2010-07-25, 9:57 PM #33
I have an IBM AT Model F that I am using currently on my main computer. I love this keyboard.
"And lo, let us open up into the holy book of Proxy2..." -genk
His pot is blacker than his kettle!
2010-07-26, 3:46 AM #34
Originally posted by Jin:
But having the coloured keys for a gaming layout is rad, especially if you play in the dark like I often do.


Actually it was gaming in the dark that I was thinking of when I said distracting. I game (and chat) in the dark all the time, any kind of unnecessary light sources annoy me (my headphones volume switch thingy has a light in it I keep taped up). I suppose I could get used to having light coming from the keyboard as long as it was a very low light, but I never actually look at my keyboard anyway so there wouldn't be much point in there being a light at all. So basically what CM said.
You can't judge a book by it's file size
2010-07-26, 7:37 AM #35
O-kay. Congrats?

My point wasn't about forgetting the keys, it was about finding them in the dark. If I've been staring at a bright screen in a dark room and I've got to hit a key that requires replacing my hand I'm not going to be able to see the keyboard so taking a quick glance to find a particular colour is faster. For me. Maybe not you. Because I don't get distracted by insignificant things like lights in my peripheral vision.
2010-07-26, 8:08 AM #36
Jin can't type blind apparently. Lawl.
2010-07-26, 9:32 AM #37
I want a light-up keyboard.
COUCHMAN IS BACK BABY
2010-07-26, 10:13 AM #38
I found Deck Keyboards, which are back lit with individual LEDs under each key and have tactile switches. A bit pricey though.
Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.
2010-07-26, 10:26 AM #39
Originally posted by Cool Matty:
Jin can't type blind apparently. Lawl.


:carl:
2010-07-26, 11:24 AM #40
My keyboard says Gigaware. The one before it was PS/2. This one is USB. I see no difference, except that this one isn't covered in mountain dew.

Hey, I found a pic.
[http://www.radioshackaruba.com/sitebuilder/images/260-0460_keyboard-281x281.jpg]
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