laptop style keyboard recommendations and feedback
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laptop style keyboard recommendations and feedback
Time has come to replace my UltraX Media keyboard, after a couple of years of intensive usage it now has a couple of sticky keys.
I would buy another a new one but the only place I could find one in Canada is newegg.ca and the cost of the shipping is nearly as much as the keyboard itself. Not to mention I would rather buy it locally.
I was looking at the Logitech illuminated keyboard but after reading some reviews I am concerned that the wrist-rest coating will rub-off after a while, and that it might be a dust magnet. If you have any experience with this keyboard please share.
I also looked at the Enermax Aurora but I find it a tad expensive for a keyboard without any extra keys.
If you know of other good wired and full size laptop style keyboards please share.
I would buy another a new one but the only place I could find one in Canada is newegg.ca and the cost of the shipping is nearly as much as the keyboard itself. Not to mention I would rather buy it locally.
I was looking at the Logitech illuminated keyboard but after reading some reviews I am concerned that the wrist-rest coating will rub-off after a while, and that it might be a dust magnet. If you have any experience with this keyboard please share.
I also looked at the Enermax Aurora but I find it a tad expensive for a keyboard without any extra keys.
If you know of other good wired and full size laptop style keyboards please share.
"Time has come to replace my UltraX Media keyboard, after a couple of years of intensive usage it now has a couple of sticky keys.
I would buy another a new one but the only place I could find one in Canada is newegg.ca and the cost of the shipping is nearly as much as the keyboard itself. Not to mention I would rather buy it locally."
Why not repair the keyboard if you liked it while it worked? Just disassemble it, wash mechanical parts with warm water and dishwashing fluid (hot water is best if there's much greasy deposits in case you like to eat junk food while using your computer but hot water may damage painting or surface finish of the keyboard, cause discoloration, etc). Wash top plastic piece, keys may be best washed attached, wash the rubber mat as well.
And some keyboards use springs instead of rubber mat. Maybe even most of them. Anyway, the principle of how to clean them is still the same: generous amounts of warm or hot water and a bit of dishwashing fluid. It removes food of kitchenware so it does the same to your kb.
Wash the foil pieces with isopropyl alcohol... or any stuff you use for cleaning old heat-transfer paste. Not absolutely necessary if you only have sticky buttons and no non-functional buttons. Sticky buttons is smudge in buttons themselves (on the non-visible surfaces at the bottom of the keys, and on the rubber mat under the said button) but non-functional would more likely be oxidation/corrosion/dirt between electrical contacts.
Let it dry for a could of days. Of course you need to shake the pieces to remove excess water before putting them somewhere to dry... otherwise it'd stay wet for weeks.
I would buy another a new one but the only place I could find one in Canada is newegg.ca and the cost of the shipping is nearly as much as the keyboard itself. Not to mention I would rather buy it locally."
Why not repair the keyboard if you liked it while it worked? Just disassemble it, wash mechanical parts with warm water and dishwashing fluid (hot water is best if there's much greasy deposits in case you like to eat junk food while using your computer but hot water may damage painting or surface finish of the keyboard, cause discoloration, etc). Wash top plastic piece, keys may be best washed attached, wash the rubber mat as well.
And some keyboards use springs instead of rubber mat. Maybe even most of them. Anyway, the principle of how to clean them is still the same: generous amounts of warm or hot water and a bit of dishwashing fluid. It removes food of kitchenware so it does the same to your kb.
Wash the foil pieces with isopropyl alcohol... or any stuff you use for cleaning old heat-transfer paste. Not absolutely necessary if you only have sticky buttons and no non-functional buttons. Sticky buttons is smudge in buttons themselves (on the non-visible surfaces at the bottom of the keys, and on the rubber mat under the said button) but non-functional would more likely be oxidation/corrosion/dirt between electrical contacts.
Let it dry for a could of days. Of course you need to shake the pieces to remove excess water before putting them somewhere to dry... otherwise it'd stay wet for weeks.
Don't just let it air dry with water. Most water has a bunch of crap in it that will make things worse. Use the same IPA on all the contact films (and in between the layers) to rinse them off and dry with lint-free paper towels.
Then let air dry for at least a day.
I usually do this once a year for both my home and work keyboards (I'm messy).
Then let air dry for at least a day.
I usually do this once a year for both my home and work keyboards (I'm messy).
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I've been using these for the last year or so:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6823155003
The buttons are pretty quiet, but still responsive. It feels solid. I've had trouble putting the buttons back in place after removing them, but other than that they've worked fine.
It's not as wide as a full-sized keyboard which is good for ergonomics (the mouse is closer to your body). Obviously a full laptop style keyboard would be best for ergonomics, but numpads are useful, so I find it to be a fair compromise. The compressed home/pgup/pgdn is helpful and doesn't diminish the ease of access to the buttons I feel.
I've had a lot of trouble finding decent quality keyboards that have laptop style buttons, aren't full-sized, and all that. This is the best I've found and I'll probably buy them again if I need another (I have one at work and at home). If others have other recommendations I'd be happy to hear them.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6823155003
The buttons are pretty quiet, but still responsive. It feels solid. I've had trouble putting the buttons back in place after removing them, but other than that they've worked fine.
It's not as wide as a full-sized keyboard which is good for ergonomics (the mouse is closer to your body). Obviously a full laptop style keyboard would be best for ergonomics, but numpads are useful, so I find it to be a fair compromise. The compressed home/pgup/pgdn is helpful and doesn't diminish the ease of access to the buttons I feel.
I've had a lot of trouble finding decent quality keyboards that have laptop style buttons, aren't full-sized, and all that. This is the best I've found and I'll probably buy them again if I need another (I have one at work and at home). If others have other recommendations I'd be happy to hear them.
Well, the best I've found to my liking is the Logitech diNovo for laptops k/b. It's not cheap. It's cheaper than the larger version, and not bluetooth which is a plus in my book. But it's still not cheap. Better than an UltraX in my experience, but then again there seem to be several different versions of the UltraX and I haven't yet managed to buy a good one. Ho hum.
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I picked up a PSK-5000 a couple years ago now. It's great but not cheap. The only place I can find that has it is Green Laptop.com for $40. I believe I got it for $35 from Directron who hasn't had it since I bought mine.
fanerman91, that Kensignton looks pretty nice. I don't think I've even looked at it before as I tend to prefer the full size keyboard. Although at the very least it looks like it follows the normal laptop key layout + numpad.
Another one I've been looking at is the BTC-6300C. All the keys in the right place at least. (Does anyone like the big enter key which pushes the \ key up next to a small backspace key?) I think it used to go for about $25. I liked it for $25 compared to the $45 that newegg has it now. Looks like other places have it for about $30.
fanerman91, that Kensignton looks pretty nice. I don't think I've even looked at it before as I tend to prefer the full size keyboard. Although at the very least it looks like it follows the normal laptop key layout + numpad.
Another one I've been looking at is the BTC-6300C. All the keys in the right place at least. (Does anyone like the big enter key which pushes the \ key up next to a small backspace key?) I think it used to go for about $25. I liked it for $25 compared to the $45 that newegg has it now. Looks like other places have it for about $30.
Re: laptop style keyboard recommendations and feedback
Best keyboard I've ever had. I got it 2 weeks ago and it's simply gorgeous. Keystrokes are like silk, and I'm simply loving it. Highly recommended.fabre wrote:I was looking at the Logitech illuminated keyboard
it's actually the reason I can't find a good rusb/wireless eplacement for my ps2 keyboard, I like my _| shaped enter key, don't want a -- or a ^| shaped one.BillyBuerger wrote: Another one I've been looking at is the BTC-6300C. All the keys in the right place at least. (Does anyone like the big enter key which pushes the \ key up next to a small backspace key?) I think it used to go for about $25. I liked it for $25 compared to the $45 that newegg has it now. Looks like other places have it for about $30.
Using the Logitech Illuminated at home. It's just fantastic, and keystrokes are just perfect.
Using a Cherry Stream at work, the keystrokes are shorter (much more laptop like) but it's about the same layout, just without the backlight and without the wrist rest. I am more comfortable on the logitech due to the wrist rest. Also the key lighting is very well done and even at say time it makes the keyboard more readable at a quick glance. We are talking about $30 for the cherry vs over $70 for the logitech though...
Using a Cherry Stream at work, the keystrokes are shorter (much more laptop like) but it's about the same layout, just without the backlight and without the wrist rest. I am more comfortable on the logitech due to the wrist rest. Also the key lighting is very well done and even at say time it makes the keyboard more readable at a quick glance. We are talking about $30 for the cherry vs over $70 for the logitech though...
Dunno if this has been posted in another thread already, and I know the OP wasn't too keen because of the price, but TechReport have recently reviewed the Enermax Aurora.
Checkout Ultranav keyboards. Lifted straight from Thinkpads. They are expensive but really nice. Especially if you like using the Trackpoint.
The older IBM versions are cheaper, but have PS/2 connectors instead of USB. http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-English-PS-2-Ul ... 7C294%3A50
The older IBM versions are cheaper, but have PS/2 connectors instead of USB. http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-English-PS-2-Ul ... 7C294%3A50
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Hi!
Today I got Ocz ultra slim Alchemy series "gaming" keyboard: Elixir II. Gaming is for name that it has blue strike going aroind keyboard.
It appears to be slightly slimmer than my Logitech Ultra Flat. All keys are rubber encoated and very clearly seen in any angle. Its key's are a lot quieter than Logitech Ultra Flats or Logitech Waves I have.
Key response seems to be good. Traverse seems to be bit more than I expected for such slim keyboard and perhaps you need to use slightly more strength than with Logitech UltraFlat. It might be due its brand new and after while when its "driven in" it might improve in this field.
Price for Ocz Elixir II was 13,90€'s when I bought it. Not bad price compeared my 44,90€ logitech wave. corded
I'll post user eview after thoroughlly tested it.
Today I got Ocz ultra slim Alchemy series "gaming" keyboard: Elixir II. Gaming is for name that it has blue strike going aroind keyboard.
It appears to be slightly slimmer than my Logitech Ultra Flat. All keys are rubber encoated and very clearly seen in any angle. Its key's are a lot quieter than Logitech Ultra Flats or Logitech Waves I have.
Key response seems to be good. Traverse seems to be bit more than I expected for such slim keyboard and perhaps you need to use slightly more strength than with Logitech UltraFlat. It might be due its brand new and after while when its "driven in" it might improve in this field.
Price for Ocz Elixir II was 13,90€'s when I bought it. Not bad price compeared my 44,90€ logitech wave. corded
I'll post user eview after thoroughlly tested it.
Ditto. I'm REALLY pleased with mine too. It's one of the best keyboards I've ever owned. Another thing I like is that unlike Microsoft keyboards you can actually press the function keys (F1 etc.) without having to press a stupid 'F-lock' key first.haysdb wrote:Another vote for the Logitech Illuminated keyboard. The keys have a very firm lap-top-y feel to them. The illuminated keys are a delight.
Re: laptop style keyboard recommendations and feedback
fabre wrote:
If you know of other good wired and full size laptop style keyboards please share.
Logitech Illuminated. But it's pricey.
And on mine, the "e", Tab and Shift (the big one) keys are little noisy.
The illumination is somewhat uneven but I don't like bling to begin with so I turned it off.
Otherwise it's excellent. Some people have reported that the space bar is very noisy but mine is acceptable.
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+1 for the Logitech illuminated keyboard. I shopped around and was a little patient, and ended up getting one for $40 shipped.
Pros:
- illuminated without being a gaudy piece of gaming bling
- pretty quiet
- has the right keys: volume keys but no "multimedia" keys
Cons:
- it's too thin, and the "feet" are too puny, so the whole thing flexes if you're rough on it
- palm rest isn't removable
- delete key is twice normal size and insert key is in a weird place
Pros:
- illuminated without being a gaudy piece of gaming bling
- pretty quiet
- has the right keys: volume keys but no "multimedia" keys
Cons:
- it's too thin, and the "feet" are too puny, so the whole thing flexes if you're rough on it
- palm rest isn't removable
- delete key is twice normal size and insert key is in a weird place
Forty bucks shipped? I envy you.swivelguy2 wrote:+1 for the Logitech illuminated keyboard. I shopped around and was a little patient, and ended up getting one for $40 shipped.
Pros:
- illuminated without being a gaudy piece of gaming bling
- pretty quiet
- has the right keys: volume keys but no "multimedia" keys
Cons:
- it's too thin, and the "feet" are too puny, so the whole thing flexes if you're rough on it
- palm rest isn't removable
- delete key is twice normal size and insert key is in a weird place
I'm considering to RMA mine mostly because of the noisy Shift key. When I press the Shift key I can feel there's something catching/scraping under it... especially if I press it right on the middle spot.
The "E" key is also noisier than the other ones but I think I can live with it.
But then, I might get a replacement that suffers from more inconsistencies... or a noisy space bar which is even more devastating...ah, listening through 105 keys is a stressful job, I tell you.
All of you who own this Illuminated keyboard; are all your your keys silent?
Decisions, decisions
I'm actually thinking about picking up one of these:
http://www.kbcovers.com/servlet/Detail?no=225
http://www.kbcovers.com/servlet/Detail?no=224
http://www.kbcovers.com/servlet/Detail?no=225
http://www.kbcovers.com/servlet/Detail?no=224