I am standing for buying a new keyboard, but finding it difficult to find a really good one.
One thing I find is that many keyboards has numbers on them, which i never use, and i just makes the keyboard look more chunky.
I really like the Logitech Dinovo Edge - slim, good keys and looks good But it is some years old and use Bluetooth, the unify Ghz from logitech is a more seamless technoglogy.
I also liked the Logitech Media Desktop, slim, good keys again, but that is also years old, and do not work together with the new software that i use with the logitech MX Revolution mouse.
What keyboard do you use for your hacking? Help me hackers, I am curios to know! :)
-Kevin
For programming and writing, I'm extremely happy with my Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000. No interference, pairing or batteries to worry about - just plug into the USB port (1.8 metre cable) and off you go. The key travel and resistance is just right, so that my fingers don't tire after a whole day of work, and the ergonomic design helps against wrist pain (I've had that with straight keyboards). It does have numbers, though: both in the top row and on the numeric keypad (not sure what your issue with numbers is, they're quite essential in all the typing I do).
It also has some cute additions like the zoom lever, browser and multimedia keys, but that's just icing on the cake :)
FWIW it also includes a TrackPoint, but I never use it as I prefer a mouse.
1. http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPo...
The first version was also significantly more expensive.
If I can ask you, how large is the palm rest in front of the keys, on your model?
I was tempted by this model, but I have trouble when the front edge of a keyboard extends so far in front of the keys that it presses against my wrists, particularly when I'm typing on a surface whose height I can't control, e.g. a standard table where my forearms end up pointing somewhat upward instead of being level. (A design that, unfortunately for me, is quite prevalent in laptops, these days.)
I'd guess it's about the same size as the palm rest on my T410 Thinkpad laptop. Certainly it's bigger than the non-existent palm rest on most keyboards, but I've never found it an issue.
1. mandatory: no built-in numpad, i.e. tenkeyless. This reduces the right hand mouse sweep and reduces strain on teres major, rotator cuff and right wrist.
2. mandatory: adjustable forward-back tilt, must be able to flatten to horizontal. Reduces wrist strain strain and makes it more comfortable to tuck elbows backwards and into your sides - the optimal position.
3. mandatory: wired and USB connectivity. Wireless/Bluetooth optional. Not a fan of worrying about input lag or driver support across varied hardware or OS.
4. optional: mechanical keys - tactical not clicky and equal to or lower than 45g actuation, i.e. Cherry MX Brown not the fancy clicky Blue (also has "bonus" of annoying coworkers), heavy Red, very heavy Black or quiet and heavy Clear. Topre switches are ok but hard to find and expensive. If normal rubber dome keys, then it better be a very good keyboard otherwise!
5. optional: full split with 40cm+ separation capability. I would rather have a Happy Hacking or normal tenkeyless keyboard than a full split keybard with less than 40cm+ separation.
Given all of the above, I use a Kinesis Freestyle Solo with Kinesis Low-Force Numeric Keypad.
Also, oddly enough some of the best keyboards are "gaming" keyboards due to how robust and well-spaced the keys are. But good luck finding one that is tenkeyless.
The "Happy Hacking" keyboard looks very nice, and has no numeric keypad. But it's ridiculously expensive. edit: apparently RMS http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?13526-Richard-Stallman-%2... and Bjarne Stroustrup http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?18556-HHKB-spotted-on-des... use them :)
To actually answer your question, the wireless Apple keyboards have nice scissor switches and are surprisingly decent to program on. And no numbers on the side!
It's well worth the $70 I paid for it.
They offer keyboard skins designed to fit the keyboard: either translucent (with no labels, to work with all variants), translucent with labels, or black with labels. An anecdote: the translucent skin I first got with the keyboard had worn through in spots, so I ordered two of the black Dvorak skins. They arrived, and happily fit far more snugly over the keyboard than the first had--but after a few minutes use, though, something was clearly wrong. Turned out I'd pressed the num shift key, but the skin covered the LED that would have shown the problem. A call to TypeMatrix turned up that it was a communications issue with the company that did the skins--they recommended a leather punch of appropriate diameter as a temporary fix, and said that once they have corrected skins, I should contact them with explanation and email address, and they'd send replacements back at no cost, no questions asked. IMHO, that's service. (Now if they'd just get it out of their head that blue for labels for Fn functions is some kind of standard and make them orange on the black skins, it would be perfect--though they are aware of that issue as well.)
UPDATE: Once I am again among the employed, I will ask my employer whether I can bring in my own keyboard (just as I'll ask about being able to bring in my spare Logitech trackball to use instead of a mouse), and if I can, buy a second TypeMatrix for the purpose.
It's an IBM Model M keyboard, with updates.
It's clicky. I like this, personally. My hands love they keyboard, the feedback from the 'clicky'.
You mentioned 'looks' twice. This confuses me.
When I use a keyboard, I don't spend a lot of time looking at it. It's an input device. A tool.
What matters is how well it works, not that it looks sleek and ready to spring into the air. Get one your hands like, not your eyes.
It's a mouthful, but the important points are 1) mechanical switches (mine has Cherry brown switches), 2) heavy -- it feels solid and stays put on your desk, and 3) no numpad. I guess there's also 4) it looks cool. It's the best keyboard I've ever used.
It does have a numeric keypad but there's also a wireless version available without: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Keyboard#Apple_Keyboard_.... (I've got the A1243)
It does have some issues with key placement but that was easily solved with xmodmap.
-Topre Realforce 87U (around $260)
-Happy Hacking keyboards (around $300)
I told you they were expensive. Otherwise older IBM keyboards tend to have a good reputation (model M).
To find some great keyboards, you can have a look here : http://www.elitekeyboards.com/ (no I don't work for them).
(http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,tenkeyles...)
These are a lot less expensive than happy hacking and also have a reduced size form-factor (no numpad).
I got the model with cherry-mx blue switches (very clicky and tactile like the old 80's IBM keyboards). I got the "otaku" model without the key markings and it looks very cool.
For me, nothing matches the visceral feel of mechanical keyboards. I have a friend who described it as feeling like he was typing with a machine gun
Have you ever used a late-model IBM Selectric typewriter? Now that is the acme of keyboarding. IBM knew their users would spend hours at the keyboard, designed with that assumption in mind.
An IBM model M (now made by Unicomp) is the Selectric of keyboards.
And if there must be, why aren't they on top rather than the bottom?
It is precisely the movement of tilting your wrist to the right and moving it back that causes strain. If the keys were on top, there's enough flesh around your elbow to allow extending the hand straight forward without strain.
I work in a semi-open plan office. I was concerned about this last year when I got my Unicomp keyboard.
I've been assured by my peers that the sound is noticeable, but not loud.
Here's a modern variant: http://www.daskeyboard.com (which refers to the Model M the "god of keyboards")
But Control key position isn't good for Emacs users and there seems to be no alternative key to replace it with Control, like CapsLock on standard keyboards.
It's not perfect - in particular, the double-height shift keys take too much good pinky real estate. But it's very comfortable.
I haven't tried any other ergonomic keyboards, so I can't compare.
The cut, app, play, calc, www buttons are largely getting in the way (particularly www.)
PageUp and PageDown are nearly useless, since you have to strain your wrist to get to them being down there.
And the Fn key is frighteningly useless, hidden as far left down as possible. How could anyone use the blue arrow keys with it?
Also, has anyone noticed the TypeMatrix 2020 was softer than the TypeMatrix 2030?
Do not try to go vertical immediately. The Ascent is nicely notched, start at notch 1, work yourself up every 1-2 days. I know some people stopping before getting fully vertical. That's still better than all the horizontal keyboards.
Never liked the loud "clickety" sound nor the feel of the Type M keyboards.
Of course, it helps if you've bought into the whole Apple ecosystem.
Case-in-point, this is the exact keyboard I use to this day:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MS_Natural_Keyboard_Pro.JP...
It's ancient, but I love it!
