Keyboards come in two main types, clicky/stiff touch and silent/soft touch.
You have to try both to see which you prefer. If you don’t already touch
type QWERTY, you might want to consider learning the modern DSK
layout instead. That article also talks about the ergonomic Kinesis
keyboards. Computers usually come with very low quality keyboards. Spending even $10
extra on the keyboard will greatly enhance your enjoyment. Keys that stick down
or keys that don’t register when you hit them can drive you nuts.
Microsoft brand keyboards come with an extra key, decorated with a Windows logo,
called the Windows Key. If your keyboard does not have
one, you can hit Ctrl+Esc instead.
Black or grey keyboards have the practical advantage of hiding grime. You still
have to clean them to get rid of grit and hair that will interfere with the key
action.
Replacement keyboards cost from
to
Canadian. If the one you are using offends you, throw it out and get another.
Compact Keyboards (no numeric pad)
Ideally you don’t want a numeric keypad. Without the keypad the
keyboard is considerably narrower. The means you don’t have to stretch to
reach the mouse. This saves shoulder strain. Most people never use the numeric
keypad. You can buy a detachable keypad you can move out the way when you are
not using it. Such narrow keyboards are hard to find at retail outlets.
The IBM spacesaver model gets rid the numeric keypad with most people never use,
thus making the keyboard more compact. The original IBM AT 83-key keyboards with
the function keys on the left, were more compact, but are now collectors items
and command high prices as do most of the older keyboards. The Unicomp
spacesaver retains the numeric keypad. IBM then later, Lenovo made the
Spacesaver II Trackpoint with 88 keys. These are sometimes called IBM SpaceSaver
keyboards. They have a nice compact layout, but not the clicky touch of the true
IBMs. They are usually black with a little red knob between the G and H keys.
Compaq also makes a keyboard they call the SpaceSaver, but it has a quite large
footprint with a full numeric keypad.
A4Tech,
Adesso,
BTC,
Everglide,
GoldTouch,
Gyration, Kinesis,
Motion
Computing and SolidTek
make various compact keyboards.
 | recommend Amazon⇒Kinesis Advantage USB Keyboard |
| asin: B000LVJ9W8 |
| I use an older version of this keyboard, and I highly recommend it. I have written an essay on it. It has a logical embedded numeric keypad. With the Kinesis, you can place your mouse right next to the left or right shift key, so you don’t have to reach way over every time you need to click. They come in QWERTY/DSK, black/white, USB/PS2 variants. Don’t buy this keyboard at the outreously high retail list price. Shop around for new, and near new and you will save a bundle. Check out similar models too. |
|
 | recommend Amazon⇒Logitech DiNovo Cordless Media Desktop Keyboard |
| asin: B0000UV0JA |
| Logitech DiNovo Cordless Media Desktop Keyboard with cordless BlueTooth connection. The numeric keypad is separate, so you could dispense with it altogether. The bundle includes a MX-900 rechargeable optical mouse. Just to keep you on your toes, Amazon lists this product under eight different catalog entries with wildly different prices. It comes with a bluetooth hub for your PC, which will let you support additional blue tooth devices. Bluetooth is good up to 60 feet away, much more powerful than the usual radio used in keyboards. IT uses baterries 4 in the keyboard, 2 for the pad, and 2 rechargeable in the mouse. I believe some models are fully rechareable. You could always use rechargeable batteries and swap them out each week. The cost of conventional batteries will swamp the cost of the keyboard itself. Logitech keyboard have a slightly stiffer, clickier feel than average, but nothing like an IBM. Check out similar models too. |
|
 | recommend Amazon⇒Microsoft Ultimate Keyboard |
| asin: B000H12IAC |
| The Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000, aka Ultimate Keyboard, has no numeric keypad. Microsoft makes the Ultimate Keyboard that has a compact layout and is rechargeable and cordless. I don’t know what the feel is like. One retailer refused to let me take the keyboard out the box to let me test it. I can’t imagine anyone buying a keyboard without testing the feel first. It comes with a mouse, rechareable batteries and a blue tooth hub. At the right hand edge of the keyboard are three gizmos, but still much narrower than a full numeric pad. |
|
.
 | recommend Amazon⇒Kinesis MiniType Keyboard |
| asin: B0006FU25C |
| I have never seen one these keyboards, so I can’t say much about it other than it lacks a numeric keypad. I would expect good quality based on the Kinesis reputation. Brushed aluminum case. The touch is not clicky, but uses the same sort of keys you find it notebooks. 30.2 cm (11.9 in) wide. No built-in DSK support. You need to use a software keyboard driver. |
|
 | recommend Amazon⇒Everglide DTK Keyboard |
| asin: B00117E0XY |
| These are very cool-looking keyboards coming in either silver brushed aluminum or black. The have blue LED backlighting you can turn on to use them in the dark. They come bundled with a fancy mouse pad. I have never touched one these keyboards, so I can’t say much about it other than it lacks a numeric keypad. They are unusually rugged, designed for gamers. They are light designed to be carried to competitions. The feel has been described as “heavy” and “solid”. Others have compared them with Lenovo laptop keypads, so I don’t know what to think. 38.10 × 40.64 cm (15 × 16 in) Amazon is out of stock at the moment, so you are best to get them direct from Everglide. |
|
 | recommend Amazon⇒Goldtouch Standard Keyboard |
| asin: B001QD8BME |
| I have never seen one these keyboards, so I can’t say much about it other than it lacks a numeric keypad. My partner uses a similar tilt keypad and finds it much more restful. Check out similar models too. |
|
 | recommend Amazon⇒A4 Tech Mini Slim Keyboard |
| asin: B000F6UUXQ |
| I have never seen one these keyboards, so I can’t say much about it other than it lacks a numeric keypad. It is only 32 cm (12.6 in) wide. Check out similar models too. |
|
 | recommend Amazon⇒BTC Ultra Slim Mini Keyboard |
| asin: B000VITZ98 |
| BTC 6100C Ultra Slim Mini Multimedia USB keyboard is cheap and tough. It is only 33.3 cm (13.1 in) wide. Check out similar models too. |
|
 | recommend Amazon⇒Motion Computing Keyboard |
| asin: B000SSR9HQ |
| Has touchpad. It is 30.5 cm (12 in) wide. Comes is black and cream. tech specs. |
|
 | recommend Amazon⇒Solidtek Mini Keyboard |
| asin: B000H3ANV6 |
| Very compact. It is 29 cm (11.3 in) wide. Comes is black and cream. |
|
 | recommend Amazon⇒Adesso 2.4 GHz RF Wireless Mini Keyboard |
| asin: B000JJM7S0 |
| Has an optical trackball. It has a range of 100 feet. It is 38.5 cm (15.1 in) wide. They make many different models. |
|
 | recommend Amazon⇒Gyration Go Air Mouse Compact Keyboard |
| asin: B0009Y8A8G |
| Not recommended The keyboard has a mushy feel and the keycaps fall off easily. The air mouse works by waving it in the air rather than over a surface. It also works on a surface like a conventional mouse. This might be useful in a cramped airline seat. Has no numeric keypad. |
|
IBM Clicky Keyboards
 |
| IBM Model M SpaceSaver |
 |
| IBM Model M |
IBM Model M keyboards are in a class by themselves.
They use a mechanical flapper plate for deep stroke, loud click, and shock
absorbers for your fingers. If you like your keyboards to fight back with strong
resistance, more like a manual typewriter, you will like these. They are heavy,
about 3.18 kg (7 lbs).
Don’t ever take a buckling spring keyboard apart, other than to pop the
keycaps for cleaning. You will never get it back together again. If you key in a
room with other people, they might not like the clatter. I find it useful
feedback. They were manufactured by IBM, later Lexmark, and later Unicomp.
Most modern keyboards have a USB connector. Older keyboards use a a small round
PS/2 6-pin mini-DIN connector. Even older ones
use a large round 5-pin DIN connector. Before you
buy, factor in the cost of the various converters
you may need. Make sure the converters are designed to provide extra power to
the older style keyboards.
Rocketfish
keyboards are not as clicky as IBM’s, but they are considerably more
clicky than most. Logitech
keyboards are slightly more clicky than average.
 |
| IBM’s buckling spring key mechanism |
The key to IBM’s feel, is a mechanical
buckling spring. When you press the key, the spring buckles, flipping a plate
closer to the base. This changes the capacity of a capacitor embedded in the
base. The change is electrically detected. There are no actual contacts to
corrode.
| IBM Model M Clicky 101-key Keyboard Dimensions |
|---|
| width |
48.89 cm (19¼ in) |
| height |
20.96 cm (8¼ in) |
| depth lowest point |
1.90 cm (¾ in) |
| depth highest point |
3.81 cm (1½ in) |
| Weight newer Lexmark (blue label) |
2.27 kg (5 lbs) to 2.49 kg (5½ lbs) |
| Weight older (1985—1992)
IBM (white label) |
2.49 kg (5½ lbs)
to 2.72 kg (6 lbs) |
Gaming Keyboards
Gaming keyboard such as the Razer
Tarantula have a number of features that can be useful to non-gamers as well.
- Compact size
- Durability
- Lightweight
- Anti-ghosting the ability to hit a number of keys in
rapid succession without letting go of each key before hitting the text.
- Ultrapolling detecting your keypress instantaneously
without any delay.
- Customisable keycaps
- Gold plated connectors for solid electrical connections even if you keep
plugging and unplugging your keyboard.
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