Keyboard recommendation, please

Different companies make different switches I believe. Cherry are well known, they were more dominant a few years ago when I went through my keyboard choosing phase. Now, I fear I don't really know the pluses and minuses of various brands of switches. That could probably be a study in itself, but maybe someone who is watching the thread has more knowledge and can chime in.
 
I've been a huge fan of Cherry keyboards for most of my life; they're seriously robust and they make all kinds of different designs. Even got a server keyboard which has a mousepad build in (which also wasn't all that expensive either).

Good to the touch, has a bit of a "click" behind it and these even survived my "teenage years" where part of the keyboard also ended up as an ashtray (a long, long time ago).

(edit: lol... seems great minds do think alike? ;))
 
this is exactly the information I am curious about. Notwithstanding the understood personal preference, which of the key (color) would you judge as quiet with a nice feedback? I just hate the loud click-click sound, but a positive feedback that the key was engaged is important.
Do you bottom-out (key press as far as it'll go) or feel the switch?

Efficient typing would be feeling the switch and hitting keys lighter, but I've only heard rumors of people typing like that :p But it'd determine loudness too (switch-feel might be good at brown minimum; bottom-out also involves backplate materials); I have a Hi75 board with linear switches (no feel when the press registers on the switch), but I bottom-out and the board has layers of foam in some specialized manner (sounds like a soft tock or something like typing on clouds :p most unique sound I've heard from a keyboard though)
 
I bet this thread goes at least two pages.
At least (already reached) According to all the keyboard recommendation threads already in here:

What's your favourite keyboard?
Searching for the perfect keyboard
Recommendation for 60% mechanical keyboard
Recommendation for 75% (82/84 keys) mechanical keyboard
Keyboard Odyssey - The Impossible Search for Perfection
[...]

It belongs to this 'groundhog day topics':
"no GUI after installation" aka "I didn't took the tiniest glimpse at the FAQ/handbook", "recommend me computer hardware [laptop]", "recommend me software to use [WM/DE]", "how to build a NAS", "what shell to use", "what texteditor to use" also known as "vi vs emacs" at least not as war anymore, "old computers in the old days", "music", "books to read", "AI is such a nice thing",...and my personal favorite: "FreeBSD is dead"
Alas there is only one jokes thread. I wonder why. :-/
 
Hi Espionage724,

Do you bottom-out (key press as far as it'll go) or feel the switch?
It depended on the keyboard. Sun Microsystems keyboard that I had a long time ago had a rather long travel but the switch appeared to activated before bottoming - if my memory serves, so it did not need to be fully depressed.

The replacement keyboard keys need to depressed to bottom, and they have a very "mushy feel", which I do not like.

Hence my, perhaps annoying inquiries trying to make a sense regarding the tactile feedback. Perhaps ordering form Amazon, and exchanging the keyboard is the way to do it.

Hi Maturin,

thank you for your perspective, though I do not find your examples to be analogous because they require search and experimentation and not necessarily purchase of a hardware equipment.

Kindest regards,

M
 
Cherry make their own keyswitches, and Topre (Fujitsu) make their own, and of course IBM made everything including the switches in-house. I've had keyboards in the past with ALPS keyswitches which are also high quality, that was another Fujitsu keyboard. A lot of third-party keyboard companies use Cherry switches in their keyboards (eg, DAS). I expect my small lenovo 'thinkpad' keyboard uses scissor switches, but whether they manufacture them or buy the keyboard in as a module I don't know. I'm sure Apple make all their own mechs too, or someone like Foxconn makes them exclusively for Apple.
 
Unfortunately, keyboards of ThinkPad (island style) are not as good as old style ones.
I've never experienced breakage of old-style keyboards except for worned out keytops, but island style keyboard on ThinkPad P52 is broken (some keys does NOT respond normally and pantograph of single key is physically broken. Hope Lenovo reconsider and go back to old style, excellent keyboards, of course with 3 button TrackPoint.
 
Egg on face... I spotted that Model M that I found earlier is not only QUERTZ but is also "for parts only" 😪 . I thought it was rather a low price! Of course depending on what is wrong it may well be fixable, they can be fully disassembled and all parts replaced. I guess I didn't bother reading the ad in detail.

Having a bit more of a look at ebay just now, I found these.

This Chicony mechanical keyboard looks pretty nice too, and a good price. There were some very good keyboards made by the Taiwan clone companies back in the late 80's - early 90's, they tried really hard to replicate the IBM quality and some of them were really good, these old Chicony's have a good reputation, I used one for a while at work, it had a very nice light clicky feel, mecahnical keyswitches.


This Tandon one is likely to be a nice keyboard too, especially at the low price being asked, again it looks to be in good condition.


The problem with both of them is they both have the old 5-pin DIN connector, you would have to research how to get or make an adapter for USB. Interesting as the Chicony I had at work definitely had a PS/2 plug. Anyway, its worth perusing ebay to see what is on sale.
 
Unfortunately, keyboards of ThinkPad (island style) are not as good as old style ones.
I've never experienced breakage of old-style keyboards except for worned out keytops, but island style keyboard on ThinkPad P52 is broken (some keys does NOT respond normally and pantograph of single key is physically broken. Hope Lenovo reconsider and go back to old style, excellent keyboards, of course with 3 button TrackPoint.
Yes, I fully agree. Especially the keyboard in the IBM-manufacturerd thinkpads, there was definitely a drop in quality when they sold that business off to lenovo. You used to be able to get stand-alone versions of the old-style IBM-branded thinkpad keyboards too, like this one, although I think this one is a lenovo one still, there is no IBM logo. But it's the old-style, not the new-style. These aren't made any more either, they're not really worth the silly money that people try to sell used ones for.
Screenshot_20260805_164028.jpg
 
I do not find your examples to be analogous because they require search and experimentation and not necessarily purchase of a hardware equipment
That's excatly what it needs, when you're looking for some hardware, especially a keyboard:
search and experimentation by yourself.
You see, for myself I'm a keyboard enthusiast, you may call me a "fetishist", you may just call me nuts.
Anyway it's simply that: Either you already know exactly what you want. Then you don't need to ask others. Or you don't know. Then what others only can provide is a list of keyboards you may not know yet.
Like this thread already reveals again: There cannot be more help, since everybody has very individual needs, who can only be specified by somebody himself, like price range, quality, features,...
At the latest, when it comes to the keys - and that's exactly where it comes to with keyboards eventually, 'cause those are the most important, the essential point of a keyboard - IMO it's how they feel when pressed, while others have other priorities like ergonomics, or how long the keys last - you simply cannot avoid to try some yourself. No forums, no text of any kind can help you on that. If possible go into some electronics store, where there are some keyboards in the exhibition, and try them.
Alas those are most of the times gaming keyboards, but at least you get an idea how the most popular keys feel.
For the rest, just check out, what keyboards are available - a lot of examples use by professionals you find in those threads (I grant you already know, that most manufacturers offer more than just one model variation, and you find and browse them webpages by your own), mostly not be exhibits in stores - you simply need to order one, or two, test them, and simply find out, what you like, youself.
At least, that's my experience by my loooooong search for my perfect KB.

At the moment I use a Cherry KC 6000 Slim; before that a Varmilo VAE109 D3, and before that a unicomp KB, which is an almost 100% rebuilt of the IMB Model M, which personally I find to be one of the best KBs ever made. Does this really help you on your quest? No. My point exactly. Particulary since the buckling spring KBs IBM M/unicomp are very (too?) noisy, and expensive; especially since I tend to spill my drinks over them, which kills them. and what again are even two more criteria somebody have to decide for herself.

Peace out.
 
Hi Espionage724,

This is amazing, I did not know about anything like that; consequently, today was not lost as I have learned something new.

Hi T-Aoki,

Unfortunately, keyboards of ThinkPad (island style) are not as good as old style ones.
I cannot agree more. I have had many ThnikPads, starting with the original IBM's.

Hi blackbird9,

I had the second one you posted, unfortunately one of the keys failed.

Hi Maturin,

That's excatly what it needs, when you're looking for some hardware, especially a keyboard:
search and experimentation by yourself.

I am afraid that we mis-communicate. The examples you posted do not cost anything except time. One researches the problem, and if solution cannot be found - ask. Or installs different WMs and plays with them.

It is very different from buying a (relatively expensive) hardware, and when it does not work for one, then what?

Does this really help you on your quest? No.
Actually, despite your assertion that it does not, the opposite is correct, namely your mentioning the noise the keys make, as this was something I explicitly mentioned. Do you see how our preconceptions/biases can fool us?

My problem is that I had only a few keyboards since I take care of them. So, if the keyboard I liked is no longer available, it seems that to even start, there is nothing wrong with asking, trying to give as much details as possible, with the understanding that in the final analysis, it will be my decision.

Considering the thread, I have already learned several things that I did not know before - difference in switches, the fact that they can be replaced, probably concentrating on mechanical switches, and the like.

So, based on the - for me - very helpful thread, I will order the sample kit and start looking at keyboards with replaceable switches that I will like, in case of another of my roommate's mishaps.

Kindest regards,

M
 
I've stuck to Microsoft 600 keyboards for gaming and writing over the years. They're inexpensive and don't have the unnecessary options you mentioned. There are play/pause and volume buttons at the top, but I hardly notice them anymore. I also picked up a Lenovo 300 keyboard and mouse set recently for my laptop, which was under $20 and works fine for writing/editing.
 
I don't like keyboards with built-in batteries. After a while the battery fails, and you have to buy the whole thing again. What happened to your Cherry? I always liked the G80-3000 https://www.cherry.de/en-gb/product/g80-3000

And bluetooth keyboards can be vulnerable to hacking. Even if the risk is only theoretical, a cable is the most secure. Of course that goes for wireless keyboards too.
 
I don't like keyboards with built-in batteries. After a while the battery fails, and you have to buy it again. What happened to your Cherry? I always liked the G80-3000 https://www.cherry.de/en-gb/product/g80-3000

And bluetooth keyboards can be vulnerable to hacking. Even if the risk is only theoretical, a cable is the most secure. Of course that goes for wireless keyboards too.
It was PS/2 from early nineties. Stop to worked many keys... It is not in trashcan anymore because one of the grandchildren took it out :)
 
Of course a full-size model M will take up a lot of space on your desk. I use these small lenovo thinkpad-style low-profile keyboards for convenience a lot of the time. They're not bad to type on, and having the trackpoint mouse is useful. It's about half the size of a model M. Build quality isn't that great though, you can see the keycap lettering is wearing off on this one, that would never happen on a real IBM. They're useful if you've got a crowded desk though. I bought a few of these cheap from a surplus place a couple of years ago.

View attachment 26896
Why do you hate yourself so much ?
 
Why do you hate yourself so much ?
?? 😄
Oh, well they aren't bad little keyboards, saves a lot of space, and nice to type on. These are actually better than the ones they put in the current laptops, they definitely have more travel, closer to the classic. And of course, I got a good price 😁

I used to have a couple of the stand-alone classic ones years ago (ps/2 connectors), they slowly got broken and worn out, its very hard to find one in good condition nowadays and people want stupid money for them, that one I found on ebay yesterday that I posted the picture of was asking 250 pounds for it, it's gettting ridiculous. These are the next best thing, in fact I think Lenovo may have stopped making even these now.
 
With the constant OS evolution it makes sense with old hardware to stay with a down level OS that supports it rather than upgrade to a new OS that does not.
 
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