Keyboard Recommendations?
Greetings, first off, keyboard likes are highly personal and subjective and I am quite anal about my requirements. That being said, I am looking for a great keyboard for my powerbook (for when it is connected to an external monitor and used as a desktop). I have looked at:
1) Matias Tactile Pro -- great keyboard, perfect in every way, except louder than hell. I tried typing on it in the store and people turned to see who was abusing a keyboard in the corner. The thing is super clicky loud.
2) Kensington Keyboards -- Great except they have a large return key and a small backspace key. Unacceptable.
3) Apple keyboards -- Please.
So, does anyone know of a great USB (or Bluetooth) keyboard? I need:
1) Large backspace key, small return key (non type-writer style return)
2) Don't want a stupid "my first keyboard" with internet/multimedia keys. (I actually saw a keyboard with a "GO" button. WTF?)
3) Good "feel". I like the feel of the Tactile Pro, but, toned down just a touch and not deafening. The feel of the powerbook keyboard is actually very good, but, for a full keyboard, I prefer a little more feedback as it were.
Would like:
1) Mac keyboard with volume/eject, but, this is not necessary
2) It would be nice to find an actual REAL keyboard with CONTROL in place of CAPS LOCK, but, this can be remedied in software.
I can't find anything in internet searches that really seems to meet my needs. I actually like the Happy Hacker Pro, but, it has the stupid small backspace.
Any suggestions?
1) Matias Tactile Pro -- great keyboard, perfect in every way, except louder than hell. I tried typing on it in the store and people turned to see who was abusing a keyboard in the corner. The thing is super clicky loud.
2) Kensington Keyboards -- Great except they have a large return key and a small backspace key. Unacceptable.
3) Apple keyboards -- Please.
So, does anyone know of a great USB (or Bluetooth) keyboard? I need:
1) Large backspace key, small return key (non type-writer style return)
2) Don't want a stupid "my first keyboard" with internet/multimedia keys. (I actually saw a keyboard with a "GO" button. WTF?)
3) Good "feel". I like the feel of the Tactile Pro, but, toned down just a touch and not deafening. The feel of the powerbook keyboard is actually very good, but, for a full keyboard, I prefer a little more feedback as it were.
Would like:
1) Mac keyboard with volume/eject, but, this is not necessary
2) It would be nice to find an actual REAL keyboard with CONTROL in place of CAPS LOCK, but, this can be remedied in software.
I can't find anything in internet searches that really seems to meet my needs. I actually like the Happy Hacker Pro, but, it has the stupid small backspace.
Any suggestions?
Comments
Another option: get a used ADB keyboard and a Griffin iMate ADB to USB adapter. This would give you two interesting choices: the Apple Extended Keyboard (AKA "the battleship") or the Northgate OmniMac Ultra. The Apple Extended Keyboard has a great feel and is less "clicky". You can get them on eBay for a song, so hold out for one that's in excellent condition. Downside: it is large and usually beige (don't know if they made a "platinum" one).
The Northgate OmniMac Ultra is rare and awesome (also big and beige). It has clicky Alps key switches, 25(!) function keys, and a solid metal base that contributes to its 5 pound weight. It makes today's keyboards look like toys.
Back in the day of wood-burning computers, Northgate made the best keyboards (with the possible exception of IBM) and these things are built like tanks. There's a picture of the PC version on a Web site (that I have no connection with) here. The Mac version puts the caps lock key where the control key is in this photo and adds 3 more function keys on the top row. The return key is big, but so is the delete (backspace) key. OmniMacs show up occasionally on eBay. I've got one that I used to use when my kids were small and wanted something to bang on - it just shrugged off their abuse.
or get a sun keyboard if they have usb one
the old ones from sun & ibm were built like
a tank & hard to destroy
- get an old Apple Saratoga keyboard and an ADB converter. There was never a better keyboard ... (except maybe the venerable old IBMs with relais technique in there ...)
Easy solution:
- get an Apple Wieless keyboard. Work perfect, is not as good as the venerable old Saratoga was ...
Originally posted by madmax559
logitech ?
or get a sun keyboard if they have usb one
the old ones from sun & ibm were built like
a tank & hard to destroy
havign gone through a logitech recently, i can say the keys just feel cheap. and the biggest problem is logitech's drivers, and they have been stuck at version 1.2.1 and 1.2.2 forever.
i used to have a macally imediakey, which worked okay, except that if it was on a usb port with a tablet attached to it, the combined power needs of both made sure that one was always d.o.a. at startup. weird, i know. but macally made some great drivers for that keyboard. i believe they have a couple new versions at macally.com
edit: macally's icekey might be what you're looking for. got good reviews from inside mac games here.
Originally posted by rok
edit: macally's icekey might be what you're looking for. got good reviews from inside mac games here.
I have been looking at that particular keyboard. I may try to see if Microcenter has it to try it out.
Originally posted by madmax559
or get a sun keyboard if they have usb one
the old ones from sun & ibm were built like
a tank & hard to destroy
I have been thinking about defaulting to the Sun USB keyboard. I may dig around our sparc equipment to see if we have a USB keyboard...
Thanks for the tips.
Originally posted by rok
havign gone through a logitech recently, i can say the keys just feel cheap. and the biggest problem is logitech's drivers, and they have been stuck at version 1.2.1 and 1.2.2 forever.
i used to have a macally imediakey, which worked okay, except that if it was on a usb port with a tablet attached to it, the combined power needs of both made sure that one was always d.o.a. at startup. weird, i know. but macally made some great drivers for that keyboard. i believe they have a couple new versions at macally.com
edit: macally's icekey might be what you're looking for. got good reviews from inside mac games here.
Logitech just recently upgraded their drivers to 1.3-something!
apple pro black ones with the usb port on either side
took some getting used to but they work fine
to bad apple discontinued them & replaced them with
the white ones
another good keybd that has lasted me a while is an old dell
one without all the fancy buttons etc.
just a nice simple solid layout