DaemonForums  

Go Back   DaemonForums > Miscellaneous > General Hardware

General Hardware General hardware related questions.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1   (View Single Post)  
Old 31st July 2011
fossala's Avatar
fossala fossala is offline
Real Name: David
Fdisk Soldier
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 58
Default New keyboard

My cat just spilt my coffee on my keyboard while running away from the hoover so I'm in the market for a new one.
My last one was a "microsoft ergonomic 4000" while it was comftable the build quality was crap and the keys where cheap. I like split keyboards and so I will be getting another one.
I'm looking at getting a goldtouch split any of you guys ever used/had one? I'm open to other recomendations as well.
Reply With Quote
  #2   (View Single Post)  
Old 31st July 2011
Carpetsmoker's Avatar
Carpetsmoker Carpetsmoker is offline
Real Name: Martin
Tcpdump Spy
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 2,243
Default

I have a Filco Majestouch tenkeyless with brown cherry switches. I love it.

There are a bunch of good mechanical keyboards out there with a variety of switches.

geekhack.org is good place to learn about them, in particular, this page:
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?tit...sary+and+Links

Not all mechanical switches are loud by the way!

http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?a...6&d=1309959583
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYK03...eature=related

Rubber does is what most cheap keyboards (including your old one) use. Scissor switches is what laptops (and some desktop) keyboards use. Buckling springs are the old IBM Model M switches.

I personally prefer tenkeyless keyboards since I consider them to be more ergonomic. With a normal keyboard you typically don't have the typing area of the keyboard right in front of you, on the right is the "arrowkey/INS,DEL,etc" block and the numpad. And to add to that, most people have the mouse on right too.
So usually the keyboard gets moves to the left, since 95%+ of the typing is done with the "typing area", this is not a good thing...

I'm not too sure about mechanical split keyboards ... geekhack has a list of various models...
__________________
UNIX was not designed to stop you from doing stupid things, because that would also stop you from doing clever things.
Reply With Quote
  #3   (View Single Post)  
Old 31st July 2011
fossala's Avatar
fossala fossala is offline
Real Name: David
Fdisk Soldier
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 58
Default

Thanks for the links I'm looking over them now. After using this small crappy keyboard I am realising I don't need a split keyboard (I only got it to force myself into better habbits and that has seemed to work). I wish I could try a mechanical keyboard before spending ~£100 on one.

UPDATE: I think I'm going to g with a noppoo choc mini/pro with blue switches (I heard read these are good to start out on.) Carpetsmoker is there any reason why you use browns?
Still up for other alternatives.

Last edited by fossala; 31st July 2011 at 01:23 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #4   (View Single Post)  
Old 31st July 2011
graudeejs's Avatar
graudeejs graudeejs is offline
Real Name: Aldis Berjoza
ISO Quartermaster
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Riga, Latvia
Posts: 589
Default

I want http://typematrix.com/
Reply With Quote
  #5   (View Single Post)  
Old 31st July 2011
Carpetsmoker's Avatar
Carpetsmoker Carpetsmoker is offline
Real Name: Martin
Tcpdump Spy
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 2,243
Default

^ I don't know, that looks gimmicky ...

Quote:
Carpetsmoker is there any reason why you use browns?
Yes, browns are less noisy.
Blues "click" at the activation point (2mm), browns don't. Although they still make sound when bottoming out (4mm).

Other than that, the browns are a bit lighter, although not by too much.
In general, blues are considered best for typing, and browns a very good tradeoff for typing & gaming. YMMV though. I'm not rich enough to own multiple keyboards of this class, so I never tried blues

Here are the force diagrams of blues vs browns. On the horizontal axis the the distance the key travels, and on the vertical the amount of force required to press it down. As you can see there is a difference but not a huge one.





Noppoo keyboads ar generally recommended, although I don't like the mini's layout, it's a bit too cramped for me.
In general, there is little difference between these high-class keyboards with cherry/topre/etc. switches. There's the layout and a few still don't offer n-key rollover (i.e. press as many keys as you want at the same time) but that's about it ... The real "magic" is in the switches!

If you're UK/EU based, http://www.keyboardco.com/ is a good place to get your keyboards from.
__________________
UNIX was not designed to stop you from doing stupid things, because that would also stop you from doing clever things.
Reply With Quote
  #6   (View Single Post)  
Old 31st July 2011
fossala's Avatar
fossala fossala is offline
Real Name: David
Fdisk Soldier
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 58
Default

I'm looking at picking up a filco Majestouch blue of ebay.
Reply With Quote
  #7   (View Single Post)  
Old 1st August 2011
fossala's Avatar
fossala fossala is offline
Real Name: David
Fdisk Soldier
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 58
Default

Just bought this.(ebay link) Thought it was a good price and the more I looked the more people recommended them.
Reply With Quote
  #8   (View Single Post)  
Old 1st August 2011
ocicat ocicat is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,318
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by fossala View Post
Just bought this...
Because you bought the item, the listing is no longer available.
Reply With Quote
  #9   (View Single Post)  
Old 1st August 2011
fossala's Avatar
fossala fossala is offline
Real Name: David
Fdisk Soldier
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 58
Default

Sorry it's this keyboard. Filco Majestouch (blue)
Reply With Quote
Old 1st August 2011
Carpetsmoker's Avatar
Carpetsmoker Carpetsmoker is offline
Real Name: Martin
Tcpdump Spy
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 2,243
Default

That seems like a very fine choice I hope you like it.
__________________
UNIX was not designed to stop you from doing stupid things, because that would also stop you from doing clever things.
Reply With Quote
Old 2nd August 2011
phoenix's Avatar
phoenix phoenix is offline
Risen from the ashes
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 696
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by fossala View Post
My cat just spilt my coffee on my keyboard while running away from the hoover so I'm in the market for a new one.
My last one was a "microsoft ergonomic 4000" while it was comftable the build quality was crap and the keys where cheap. I like split keyboards and so I will be getting another one.
I'm looking at getting a goldtouch split any of you guys ever used/had one? I'm open to other recomendations as well.
Why do you need a new one? Just run it through the dishwasher, let it air dry for a few days, and continue using it.

Or, use a Q-tip and acetone to clean in, around, under the keys.

A single dip in liquid is not going to kill a keyboard.
__________________
Freddie

Help for FreeBSD: Handbook, FAQ, man pages, mailing lists.
Reply With Quote
Old 2nd August 2011
rocket357's Avatar
rocket357 rocket357 is offline
Real Name: Jonathon
Wannabe OpenBSD porter
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: 127.0.0.1
Posts: 429
Default

I've been wanting to get a Model M for a while, but now I don't know...those Filco Brown tenkeyless keyboards look very nice. My biggest obstacle in purchasing a mechanical keyboard is that I am a heavy typer, and my wife would kill me over the volume of my typing (I already upset her with rubber dome keyboards...haha).

But, it'd be nice to have a keyboard that lasts longer than six months...
__________________
Linux/Network-Security Engineer by Profession. OpenBSD user by choice.
Reply With Quote
Old 2nd August 2011
fossala's Avatar
fossala fossala is offline
Real Name: David
Fdisk Soldier
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 58
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by phoenix View Post
Why do you need a new one? Just run it through the dishwasher, let it air dry for a few days, and continue using it..
I tried taking it apart and drying it out. But only the 1 green light lit up and no keys worked.

EDIT: how can you thank people in this forum? I cannot find the button anywhere and would like to thank carpetsmoker for introducing me to the world of mechanical keyboards.
Reply With Quote
Old 2nd August 2011
ocicat ocicat is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,318
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by fossala View Post
...how can you thank people in this forum? I cannot find the button anywhere...
The "thank you" button was deactivated several months ago. If you want to thank someone, do so either publicly or privately via PM.
Reply With Quote
Old 2nd August 2011
Carpetsmoker's Avatar
Carpetsmoker Carpetsmoker is offline
Real Name: Martin
Tcpdump Spy
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 2,243
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by rocket357 View Post
I've been wanting to get a Model M for a while, but now I don't know...those Filco Brown tenkeyless keyboards look very nice. My biggest obstacle in purchasing a mechanical keyboard is that I am a heavy typer, and my wife would kill me over the volume of my typing (I already upset her with rubber dome keyboards...haha).

But, it'd be nice to have a keyboard that lasts longer than six months...
Brown cherry switches aren't that loud. Model M/Buckling springs are frelling loud though.

Not sure if you saw these links I posted earlier, but here they are again:
http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?a...6&d=1309959583
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYK03...eature=related

It depends on your typing style though! The only sound you'll get from brown switches if they hit the bottom of the keyboard ("bottoming out"), this is at 4mm, the actual activation point is at 2mm and this happens with almost no sound!
This is different from most rubber domes keyboard, where you need to bottom out in order to activate them.
The keys are also lighter and smoother compared to most rubber dome keyboards, so you'll tend to hit them too hard and bottom out at the start, making a somewhat louder sound (not excessively loud though). When you get used to them, you'll hit them less hard and they'll make less sound compared to a rubber dome key board.

... That is my experience anyway ... YMMV® ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by fossala View Post
I tried taking it apart and drying it out. But only the 1 green light lit up and no keys worked.

EDIT: how can you thank people in this forum? I cannot find the button anywhere and would like to thank carpetsmoker for introducing me to the world of mechanical keyboards.
It also affects the rubber, making an even less comfortable typing experience! (Been there, done that).

And you're more than welcome fossala
__________________
UNIX was not designed to stop you from doing stupid things, because that would also stop you from doing clever things.
Reply With Quote
Old 2nd August 2011
rocket357's Avatar
rocket357 rocket357 is offline
Real Name: Jonathon
Wannabe OpenBSD porter
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: 127.0.0.1
Posts: 429
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Carpetsmoker View Post
The keys are also lighter and smoother compared to most rubber dome keyboards, so you'll tend to hit them too hard and bottom out at the start, making a somewhat louder sound (not excessively loud though). When you get used to them, you'll hit them less hard and they'll make less sound compared to a rubber dome key board.
That's what I was hoping was the case when I saw that the activation is 2mm above the "bottoming out" point. The question is, will my wife tolerate me typing hard until I get used to it? heh.
__________________
Linux/Network-Security Engineer by Profession. OpenBSD user by choice.
Reply With Quote
Old 2nd August 2011
Carpetsmoker's Avatar
Carpetsmoker Carpetsmoker is offline
Real Name: Martin
Tcpdump Spy
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 2,243
Default

That, I cannot answer
__________________
UNIX was not designed to stop you from doing stupid things, because that would also stop you from doing clever things.
Reply With Quote
Old 9th August 2011
fossala's Avatar
fossala fossala is offline
Real Name: David
Fdisk Soldier
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 58
Default

My filco majestouch (blue) just turned up this morning.
I love it.
Reply With Quote
Old 1st September 2011
fossala's Avatar
fossala fossala is offline
Real Name: David
Fdisk Soldier
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 58
Default

Not to necrobump but damn you Carpetsmoker you have turned me into some sort of keyboard freak by linking me to Geekhack.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
cat, damn, keyboard

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
How to change keyboard key? newbsdied OpenBSD General 5 7th November 2010 02:45 AM
OpenBSD keyboard layouts psycho OpenBSD General 6 15th March 2010 03:04 AM
Windows keyboard shortcuts rex Other OS 1 4th March 2009 05:44 PM
Keyboard Layout mfaridi FreeBSD General 6 26th June 2008 07:13 PM
Keyboard delboy FreeBSD Installation and Upgrading 2 23rd May 2008 05:55 PM


All times are GMT. The time now is 09:44 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content copyright © 2007-2010, the authors
Daemon image copyright ©1988, Marshall Kirk McKusick