Off Topic: Which keyboard to buy?

Started by Lothar Scholz on 4/21/2018
Lothar Scholz 4/21/2018 10:00 pm
Because there are many writers and programmers here who type for a living i would like to ask this offtopic question:

What computer keyboard would you buy today?

I'm very tired about the current state of quality. It seems that there is hardly any product that is useable for more then 5 years. Especially the throw away apple keyboards (It never gets older then 2 years or exactly one coffee spill) is making me angry.
Listerene 4/21/2018 10:09 pm
Any backlit mechanical keyboard with blue switches. In my experience, there's not a lot of difference between brands or price points as long as they have these characteristics.

Blue switches are noisy but you can't beat their typing experience. If you want a quieter audio experience for those around you, brown switches are an alternative.
shatteredmindofbob 4/21/2018 10:21 pm
If you're an Apple user, check out the Matias Tactile Pro (http://matias.ca/tactilepro4/ It's built to the same specs as Apple keyboards from the 80's.

Failing that, I'd go with Listerene's suggestion. Pretty much anything with Blue switches is good.
Franz Grieser 4/21/2018 10:46 pm
I've been using Microsoft Natural Keyboards for years (the original ones). Still have a new one in reserve, they last about 5 years. But I may be switching to the X-Bows Mechanical Ergonomic Keyboard - if it turns out to be half as good as advertised.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1917596122/x-bows-mechanical-ergonomic-keyboard/description
moritz 4/21/2018 11:29 pm
I bought 2 Happy Hacking Keyboard 2 last year - one for my desk, one for mobile use. The mobile one retrofitted with "silencer rings" to use in shared space office environments.
Took several weeks to get accustomed to 66 key layout, now highly productive and preferred over any other keyboard (I have a collection of Cherry, Matias, Das Keyboard, Apple keyboards, Microsoft Natural keyboards, ...).

Microsoft Natural keyboard remains the best "budget" choice for about $30-ish. Those things are indestructible (10 years+ life expectancy).
Luhmann 4/22/2018 3:53 am
Whenever I have a question like this I often rely on the reviews at Wirecutter:

https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/our-favorite-mechanical-keyboards/
https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/the-best-bluetooth-keyboard/

Personally I carry something a bit like this one around in my day-bag and use it with my phone when I don't have my laptop handy:

https://www.amazon.com/Arteck-HB030B-Universal-Bluetooth-Rechargeable/dp/B00X5P8BJO/ref=pd_day0_147_1

Not the same brand or model but a no-name keyboard which is almost identical except it doesn't have backlighting...
satis 4/22/2018 11:52 am
Amongst my Macs and iPads I use three keyboards - Apple's wired extended keyboard with numeric keypad, Apple's standard wireless keyboard, and a Das Keyboard mechanical keyboard. Pretty happy with all of them, thought the Das is annoyingly loud to people in my home, even when in other rooms.
cpb 4/22/2018 3:05 pm
Unicomp classic has been the most satisfying so far:
http://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/UNI044A

My key-bashing wife chuckles whenever I use it.
marlowe 4/22/2018 7:52 pm
I like Das Keyboard.
Paul J. Miller 5/2/2018 5:54 pm
I have a really ancient Cherry keyboard. It dates from the days of my 386 computer, it is well more than 15 or maybe 20 years old and it just keeps on going, I have never felt the need to replace it. It is very comfortable to type on.

It connects to a USB port via a PS/2 adapter.