Need a new keyboard

[]SK[]

Firstly can I mention to warn people never take the back off of your keyboard unless its dead. I went to clean mine and took me 2 hrs+ to get it back together. Only to fine two keys dont work now. Instead of playing im giving up and getting a new one, need to really anyway. I want something thats comfortable and thats quite quiet when you type. I also want wired. Ive looked at the logitech kit and not really in need of buttons that open my default mail application etc. The cheaper keyboards come without all that but from reviews people have said they look and feel cheap.

Ideas / Suggestions?

 

[Vae]

I bought an Acer one for £5 from a computer show - It's thin and got a solid metal backplate all the way along its length. Far better than the normal solid plastic heavy and crap ones I'd had previously. I do see a point in paying a small fortune for one with all fancy buttons etc.

6512 - VA is the serial number.

 

[MrBlack]

I'm kind of space limited at my desk. I got a Cooler Master EAK-US1-UK.

It's an aliminium chasis, laptop-style keyboard. Shorter than most. It has all the keys, but they're kind of bunched up, which you may or may not like. If you happen to like laptop keyboards (low travel, thin keys) then this will be right up your street.

If you like the classic keyboard layout, however, it won't be.

Also, watch out for Logitech and Microsoft keyboards with this ridiculous "F-Lock" key. Some arsewit of a designer decided that you'd much prefer to have "Mail", "Play" and "sleep keys instead of your function keys, making you press this silly f-lock key to enable the proper function. Winds me right up, that does.

 

[Quige]

I brought a new keyboard recently .. I wasn't all that interested in all this multi-media exta buttons and rocker switch madness that seems to have infested most keyboards these days. I want my F keys to be F keys

So on recommendation of a review in Custom PC I went for a Black Keytronic KT2001 Pro ... the keys are differently sprung depending on which finger you 'should' be using and so is meant to be 'better' for you. It is a bit clackity, but I quite like that, and I'm very pleased with it. It's £33 ex VAT and postage so in the end it cost £45.

http://www.ceratech.co.uk/ - they say they are keyboard specialists so if the Keytronic isn't for you, then you should be able to find something else.

 

[Quige]

Also, watch out for Logitech and Microsoft keyboards with this ridiculous "F-Lock" key. Some arsewit of a designer decided that you'd much prefer to have "Mail", "Play" and "sleep keys instead of your function keys, making you press this silly f-lock key to enable the proper function. Winds me right up, that does.

I share your scream ... at work they gave me a MS multi-media split keyboard as I was getting quite a lot of joint pain, and though it has helped, this default behaviour to not have the F keys enabled, seems mad - and with no way to set it the other way. I habitually use F2 to rename files, F5 to refresh explorer windows etc., so am constantly getting caught out.

Hence the Keytronic I mentioned above when it came to buying a new one for home. I was thinking of going wireless, and they either looked like they had this F-lock problem or had changed the orientation of the keys above the arrow keys ... I completely use these for 1st person FPS and have since the days of Quakeworld ... so too late to unlearn that muscle knowledge

 

[Dr_Weasel]

It took me ages to find a 'normal' keyboard. I dont want any stupid multimedia keys and i also like a 1 row space between my arrow keys and the 'home' 'end' etc keys above it.

In the end I found some keyboard in Staples for about 12 quid that did the job. Its made by "Trust".

 

[pcg79]

cherrys are always a good bet.

im using one now!

 

[]SK[]

Im currently bending towards an MS MultiMedia KB. Not the ergonomic one but a normal k/b

Keep reading good reviews about it. Im also on tight budget and have found I can get hold of one of these for less than £20 delivered.

 

[smurkin]

Yah...I have a logitec wireless with all the bloody (and frankly useless) trimmings (apart from the volume knob..thats good)...I mean its an ok keyboard...and no wires means I can easily use the desk with papers/books/cofee & whatnot...

But I must say, the cherrys looked nice...one or two very simple low profile keypads...remind me of old apple keypads...flat...no fkeys or num pads...very basic & all you need

 

[PLightstar]

I bought a No-Frills Microsoft internet keyboard yesterday, seems to do the jobn well. I have no need for fancy buttons even though it does have a few, also unlike other Microsoft keyboards it hasn't got a F-Lock, but it is quite bulky.

 

[Afx]

Also, watch out for Logitech and Microsoft keyboards with this ridiculous "F-Lock" key. Some arsewit of a designer decided that you'd much prefer to have "Mail", "Play" and "sleep keys instead of your function keys, making you press this silly f-lock key to enable the proper function. Winds me right up, that does.

I have a logitech internet navigator and despite the useless keys at the top it really is an excellent keyboard.
Also for those of you having a problem with the f lock prob then this page might be of interest:
http://www.ben.pope.name/logitech.html
However it is only a fix for those using ps2 as opposed to usb and you also cant install the logitech software...Which tbh ive never seen a single reason to install anyway.
Hope that was of interest to someone, Cos i certainly like not having to press the damn f lock

Also i know there is a fix out there for people with the same prob on microsoft keyboards, Unfortunately i dont have a link but im sure 10 mins of work on google would throw up the answer for anyone wanting it

 

[Afx]

http://www.mvps.org/jtsang/flock.html
There you go, was first answer on google :E
Both this and the logitech one basically just remap the flock key so that your pc sees the keyboards f lock off position (which is impossible to change) as on

 

[Quige]

http://www.mvps.org/jtsang/flock.html
There you go, was first answer on google :E
Both this and the logitech one basically just remap the flock key so that your pc sees the keyboards f lock off position (which is impossible to change) as on

Thanks :worthy: .... I can't wait until Monday to try this out on my work keyboard.

 

[Afx]

Thanks .... I can't wait until Monday to try this out on my work keyboard.

glad to be of assistance, Obviously i can only speak from the pov of having tried the logitech fix but they both do basically the same thing so i can see no reason why it wouldnt work.

Infact within windows it seems to work flawlessly, And also with halflife too, any function key binds worked without engaging the f lock. The only place it didnt seem to take effect was within painkiller where in order to save a game(F5) i still had to turn on the flock. So its obviously not 100% but its better than it was

 

[TdC]

I'm kind of space limited at my desk. I got a Cooler Master EAK-US1-UK.

It's an aliminium chasis, laptop-style keyboard. Shorter than most. It has all the keys, but they're kind of bunched up, which you may or may not like. If you happen to like laptop keyboards (low travel, thin keys) then this will be right up your street.

If you like the classic keyboard layout, however, it won't be.

Also, watch out for Logitech and Microsoft keyboards with this ridiculous "F-Lock" key. Some arsewit of a designer decided that you'd much prefer to have "Mail", "Play" and "sleep keys instead of your function keys, making you press this silly f-lock key to enable the proper function. Winds me right up, that does.

I have that one too, and frankly I'm not really chuffed with it; the keys are slightly too closly packed for my taste. looks nice though