So, I dropped a tin of pineapple on my keyboard and had to borrow one. I ended up borrowing an old mechanical keyboard and now I'm pretty much set on getting my own. I'm looking at one of the Wasd Code series because it has a backlight http://blog.codinghorror.com/the-code-keyboard/.

 

For me the difference in the feel of the keyboard is night and day. I've previously had a high-end Logitech and also an Apple wireless keyboard, but I find the flat keys too close to the case for me, and it becomes uncomfortable after an hour or so. At least with these you can choose the switches that you prefer with just the right amount of feel and weight, and you have the option to choose which key caps work best.

 

Does anyone on here own one, or have ever tried one out? I know a lot of the vintage keyboards had mechanical switches in them, so perhaps you used one on an old computer.

I've never owned one, but they look sweet. I've always gone for soft keys, wider spacing and never spending more than £15 on one, my current one is something like this. The reason is I simply replace it every two or three years. With those sorts of price tags on the 'cream' of keyboards I'd have to burn through a lot to justify it. If however they are super sweet and indestructible then I might just be tempted, but it would be nice if somewhere like PC World had an out the box to have a play and see if it's worth the investment.

My favourite keyboard was a Compaq one that I used in secondary school. I remember grabbing a few of them when they threw them out, but I can't remember which one it was. I've seen some on Ebay and they fetch crazy prices now. There's also the IMB Model M which is absolutely solid, and one of the most sought after mechanical keyboards, still used by programmers today.

 

I bought a Wasd switch tester to see which one I prefer, I think I'm going to go for the Cherry MX Red switch, the blue ones have the vintage clicky sound but that would drive my coworkers insane.

 

The build quality of mechanical keyboards is generally higher than basic rubber dome ones. I have no doubt it would last a long time. It's not uncommon to see these keyboards last 10+ years even with a constant use. I've even seen a forum post where someone used an IMB Model F keyboard for nearly 30 years.

I bought a Wasd switch tester to see which one I prefer, I think I'm going to go for the Cherry MX Red switch, the blue ones have the vintage clicky sound but that would drive my coworkers insane.

 

I might need to order a switch tester too, a small price before such an outlay.

 

I might need to order a switch tester too, a small price before such an outlay.

 

I got this one http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/sampler-kit/wasd-6-key-cherry-mx-switch-tester.html. I use it as a stress reliever now, there's never any bubble wrap around.

I love mechanical keyboards. They're so great to work with. The only problem I've had in the past is that they can sometimes be too loud for colleagues.

 

I own two:

 

A ducky shine 2 with brown switches: http://www.duckychannel.com.tw/en/DK9008_shine2.html

 

And a happy hacking pro 2 (silenced): https://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=pfu_keyboards,hhkbpro2&pid=pdkb400ws

 

And yes, my colleagues and my girlfriend all think I'm mad for spending so much on a small keyboard like that, but I love it and I figured if I'm using it every working day of my life it's an investment I'm prepared to make. I'm typing on my HHKB now

 

I'd highly recommend a cherry mx brown for programming if you can get away with the noise where you work. It will be a bit loud, so make sure your colleagues will be ok with it first if you're planning to use it in work. My Ducky Shine was too loud for my workmates.

 

I really want one of those small keyboards, but they don't seem to have arrow keys, and I use those a lot.

 

Out of curiosity, have you tried MX reds? They seem to be quieter than the browns, but I'm not sure if they would be too light for fast typing.

Never tried reds.

 

When I first got this small keyboard I was actually a bit underwhelmed - especially having paid so much for it. The arrow key thing didn't come naturally to me at all - even after a couple of weeks I was still missing the arrows, and then all of a sudden, just like flicking a switch or something, it just felt like second nature. Now I find it so much easier to type on this thing. I barely need to move my hands around the keyboard to get the same effect. Now, when I type on my Mac, I find myself wanting to hold the non-existent "fn" button to press my arrow keys.

 

It also took a bit of time to get used to the smaller return key and having the delete key in the position it's in. Now though I love this thing and use it every day. I'd be lost without it now.

 

How do you actually simulate the arrow keys? I'm guessing there's a shortcut somewhere?!

It's a hard choice to make. I think I'll go for something with MX reds and arrow keys, which automatically reduces a lot of options.

 

I was originally going to get a Das Keyboard, but they only ship with browns and blues, and I can't put my coworkers through the sound of MX blues all day.

I think I've found a few options. The Ducky ones seem to be the most inline with what I'm looking for, but the backlighting is quite ugly and over the top.

 

The alternative is to bite the bullet and forget the backlight and arrow keys, which gives me more options. I could replace the key caps with some arrow indicators which would help I guess. Or I could go for the Wasd Code Keyboard and use MX browns, but I need to be able to use this keyboard at work.

 

I'm typing on my second keyboard, that I just got today, significantly cheaper (£30) off Amazon. It's a Qisan board, the reviews on Amazon and Reddit are really good, and the build quality is impressive, even next to some of the more expensive keyboards at work. However, it's loud, really loud, I'm not sure if I'll be able to use it at work.

Some of those keyboards do look nice and fun, too. The idea of customizing the dampening and feel is pretty cool. Loudness is a factor for me, where my last 2 apartments have had fairly thin wooden walls here in Japan. I used to stay up through the night on my PC (learning Adobe GoLive, then DW, etc.) while my friends were sleeping, so I went for a chicklet style keyboard. I've been using a Logitech K750 for a long time now. I'm on my second one. I maybe broke the foot of the previous one. It's a wireless solar powered keyboard which stays charged all the time. To keep the sound down even more, I have a small folded towel between the keyboard and the desk. (Life in the fast lane.)

Now I live alone, I still have a small folded towel to keep the noise down, even though I'm always wearing headphones on the PC (unless someone is annoying me by talking). I think we all enjoy computers very much. If I wasn't on a budget, it would be enjoyable to shop around for some of the stuff you guys use or want.

Edited December 28, 20178 yr by Grant Barker