What keyboard do you use?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7029909

by mattwritescode • 13 years ago

4 17 13 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

I am in the process of looking for a new keyboard. Would Love to know some of your suggestions.

Must be qwerty

jbrooksuk2• 13 years ago

I use the Apple UK Keyboard, just the non-numeric one. I find it's perfect for me, and when I get home I don't need to worry about it being any different than my MacBook Pro.

frou_dh• 13 years ago

I'm going to opt for US/ANSI layout if I get another MacBook, to send that §± key packing!

Honestly I find the whole mechanical keyboard revival a major fad. I have a buckling-spring Model M (Unicomp) and find it more of a novelty item than something to actually use day-to-day.

jbrooksuk2• 13 years ago

Yeah, what is this § and ± key for anyway?

drKarl• 13 years ago

You can look at Das Keyboard or Jeff Atwood's CODE Keyboard...

snogglethorpe• 13 years ago

HHKB Lite 2, small and supremely elegant. More cheap-n-cheerful than the flagship HHKB, but also vastly cheaper, and still in perfect condition after ten years of heavy use.

I love my HHKB; would buy again!

olgeni• 13 years ago

Model M with the nasty clicky sound.

jejones3141• 13 years ago

TypeMatrix 2030. It's switchable at the keyboard between QWERTY and Dvorak, so you have your choice without having to configure anything on your computer. Not having the rows of keys offset is comfortable enough that I'm wimping out on the Dvorak switch, I'm ashamed to say. :)

brudgers• 13 years ago

MS Natural Ergonomic 4000. If there was a version with buckling springs, I'd be first in line to buy one.

One features I have recently discovered is that I can set it on my lap and still touch type at speed.

citruspi• 13 years ago

If I'm at my desktop, my Model M. If I'm using my Macbook, I may use the Model M if I'm also using an external display, but I stick to the chiclet keyboard for the most part.

dsschnau• 13 years ago

The crappy rubber-contact dell one my company gave me. I used to like my Filco Majestouch with Cherry Brown switches but I feel better knowing that if I spill coffee or damage it somehow I won't be out any money. I'm going to stick with cheapo keyboards.

codegeek• 13 years ago

I recently bought this and loving it. Connected to both Windows and Linux (Ubuntu 13) without issues.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003VAHYNC/

vijucat• 13 years ago

I use a Razer Blackwidow Ultimate for it's (Cherry MX Blue) mechanical switches; it's considered an "immature" choice among mechanical keyboard enthusiasts, so you may want to research further. It's a good keyboard + the usual http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PC_keyboard layout.

I used to have mild carpal tunnel (completely my fault; used to read a lot of articles on the cell phone while lying down in bed!), and the keys really helped me get rid of it.

As important as the keyboard is the software to re-map keys : I use Autohotkey and make some mappings that minimize removing my hands from the "home" position (index fingers on f and j).

Disabling CapsLock and instead defining several combinations involving CapsLock is the key tip I can contribute. For example, CapsLock + {hjkl} map to arrow keys, just like in vim.

In addition, several other combinations, such as WindowsKey + s to open several mintty terminals, all placed on the "correct" place on the screen helps startup + getting to work pleasurable.

m_gloeckl• 13 years ago

A Cherry G80-LSCDE. It's one of the cheaper mechanical keyboards with MX blue switches. The case is cheap plastic and it doesn't look and feel too sturdy, but the typing experience is good.

nested• 13 years ago

I purchased a kinesis freestyle 2. Besides the lack of a numeric keypad(you can buy an accessory easily) it is the best keyboard I have had. Very functional with the adjustable split down the middle.

meerita• 13 years ago

Mechanical keyboard. Black MX Switches. It's both for gaming and writing/coding. It's a SteelSeries 6Gv2. I dream with a Topre capacitative keyboard anytime soon.

atgm• 13 years ago

Topre Realforce. It's smooth, clicky, and the keys have a comfortable amount of height, indentation, and texture.

kanche• 13 years ago

If you are a fan of IBM keyboards, you can take a look at Unicomp[http://pckeyboard.com/page/category/UKBD] keyboards

What keyboard do you use?

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