I'm getting fed up with lightweight PC keyboards that skid about the desk, or have silly little feet to prop them up that are everlastingly collapsing. Please recommend something a bit more solid than the various Dell, HP & Compaq ones I seem to be plagued with !
I used years back to use IBM original AT enhanced keyboards, and not only were they solid, they had tactile feedback, but similar modern ones don't seem to exist, unless YOU can tell me differently :)
Andrew
I've got one of the old clicky ones & not sure what to do with it. I prefer modern lightweight ones!
NT
At the budget end logitech are amongst the best, but for serious use get a cherry.
And pay £70 plus for it
My Corsair illuminating gaming keyboard (Raptor K30) weighs a ton - just like the old IBM ones. Full conventional shape and layout with some extra keys added.
If you want to pay money
If you want to pay more or less money, a Model M from Ebay with a suitable converter.
Owain
They do exist, but mechanical switches that provide decent feedback don't come cheap. Expect to pay 3 times as much
Nice keyboard but a bit too clicky for me too. Also needs a lot of desk space.
If yours is the IBM model M for a PS/2 then it might be worth ?50.
Invite OP to make you an offer :-)
I *much* prefer keyboards that don't have clicky switches. The noise of keys or mouse buttons clicking really gets on my nerves, in the way that chalk on a blackboard sets some people's teeth on edge. One of my early PCs (*) had a very heavy keyboard with a metal base and keys that made a very loud mechanical click. I went out and bought a very cheap keyboard which was much better.
(*) It must have been old: the keyboard had a large DIN plug and the mouse had a 9-pin serial connector, so it was older even than PS/2 connectors, never mind USB.
You will need to find a UK supplier, but I am sure they exist. These
*are* the IBM ones.
Ha! I have loads of them. But I'm keeping them. I have 3 or 4 in use right now.
The better quality end of Dell are not bad actually, certainly not light. The feet aspect on all keyboards are frankly underengineered, so best just use bigger stick on feet at the back.
Logitch used to be good. I've gone back to an old Packhard Bell one with suitable ps2 to usb powered adaptor.
At least I can feel the home keys on this one. Brian
Yes if Cherry are as good as they used to be, then you won't regret the expenditure at all. I had one for my old windows 3.1 machine and it outlasted the machines. I only pensioned it off due to its lack of the extra keys I need now not being able to see to use a mouse any more. Brian
"Inside the World's Greatest Keyboard"
We know where you live!
You are the librarian of Unseen University AICMFP :)
fer modern lightweight ones!
Sure. It has a din plug, so wants a little ps/2 to din adaptor. More import antly 4 of the key caps have come off, otherwise I'd have put it on ebay. S o it waits until I find them. No doubt there are many other keyboard whose caps would fit. Or there are the not very useful numerical pad ones I suppo se. Brand is Vale, but no model number that I could see. It all looks good apart from the missing keycaps. Can do the transaction via ebay so you get payment protection etc.
NT
to expand a little - IBM Model M style for real hard core Keyboard action
- Keyboards with Cherry *keyswitches*. This usually means the 'MX' series I IRC
- Other makes of keyboards exist which use Cherry Keyswitches. There is a s omewhat cultish community of keyboard fans who will get into far more detai ls than most of us would want to get into (esp. for gaming etc)
The Keyboard Company (no affiliation):
are based in the UK, have a lot of different models, and will give advice. As will such things though it is much better to try beforehand. IIUC TheKey boardCo will exchange for different models within a short period of purchas e; better check with them though.
HTH Jon N (using Cherry MX Blue, IBM Model M, Filco Ninja keyboards...)
Evesham Micros?
Used to be half the price of the equivalent spec Dell, when I was involved in PC Purchasing.
Owain
Watch out for mechanical keyboards using Cherry (or similar) Brown switches. They are nowhere near as clicky as the Blue type, but have a degree of tactile feedback which a lot of people seem to like. Amazon usually lists a choice, including various backlit designs. Of course, mechanical switches will always cost more than membranes, so be prepared to pay more than the usual "bargain basement" prices.
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