Comments on: Keyboards, Keyboards

By: Shawn Petriw

Shawn Petriw — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:56:38 +0000

I just wanted to express some kudos for Matias. A few months ago I busted off the foot of my Tactile Pro keyboard and called them to see if it was possible to purchase a spare part. They promptly shipped out two feet at no charge.

I love my Tactile Pro.

By: Kit

Kit — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:08:39 +0000

Unfortunately, Apple portable’s keyboard standards are declining too as they are getting cheaper and cheaper: their click (sound and tactile feed-back) gets more and more anemic and hesitant. The Wallstreet and Lombard had the best keyboard, the Titanium’s was worse but still better than MacBook Pro’s. Keyboard click is a lost art.

By: CHE

CHE — Thu, 01 May 2008 06:02:17 +0000

The keyboard on the current iMac is the most pleasant keyboard I've ever used, by some margin, including those on Apple machines going back to the ][+ and on any PC or terminal.

Its low-rise keys feel accurate, tight, and wobble-free. They have very little travel. The key-surfaces are cool and smooth, without a painted or lacquered or abrasive feeling. Key-strikes are beautifully quiet. The board as a whole is low-rise, with very little front-to-back height increase so that hands can be kept at one height. There's no wasted real-estate around the edges of the key-area. The aluminum surface is pretty and smooth. It's essentially perfect.

By: kael

kael — Thu, 01 May 2008 01:49:33 +0000

I think all this is a matter of what people are used to. I have always typed on membrane keyboards and actually find the old mechanical keyboards harder to use. With the membrane keyboards I find it easier because all I have to do is tap the key, the only feedback I need is visual. People also say the Macbook keyboard is too small and cramped, but I find other keyboards too large. Maybe I am just crazy?

By: Tim Bedford

Tim Bedford — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:28:33 +0000

I have an Apple Extended II, but you’d have to pry it out of my cold dead fingers.

By: ds

ds — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:37:53 +0000

Kyle, John: A coworker of mine has the original Das Keyboard, I'll ask him what he thinks of it. I don't mind the unlabeled keys, but again it comes back to a balance between good mechanical feel and low noise.

Jason Clarke: I agree with what Peter Sichel posted. It's not so much the key travel (you make a good point about musical instruments) as the tactile feedback that the mechanical switch keyboards possess. There's a bit of key travel before the switch engages, and then a bit more before you bottom out. I find that with the three-stage feedback I type faster and more accurately with less strain than with keyboards that only have a binary on/off contact.

I got quite a few suggestions both here and via email so I'll be making a follow-up post collecting those.

By: John T Davis

John T Davis — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:21:52 +0000

Hello.

Interesting read. Have you tried the Das Keyboard II (http://www.daskeyboard.com)? I could honestly care less about the pure black aesthetic, though it is quite striking and definitely gets noticed, but it’s got some great mechanical key switches, and the F and J keys are scalloped to allow one to easily position their hands without looking, which is a nice feature.

While the Matias Tactile Pro 2 would seem to maintain the previous model’s key switch quality, it would appear to have other problems.

By: Kyle Ridolfo

Kyle Ridolfo — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:56:30 +0000

I have to say that I can type way faster (and more accurately) on mechanical keyboards than I can on any of the new, oddly shaped membrane keyboards that are out there. I loathe the Apple keyboard that was available a few years ago – tons of typos and not at all enjoyable to use.

My favorite keyboard is the Das Keyboard II. I’m sure many will baulk at the idea of using a keyboard that has unlabeled keys, but it is so enjoyable to type on. And yes, it’s loud, but that’s your problem. :)

http://www.daskeyboard.com/

By: Perrin

Perrin — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:48:21 +0000

http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/en104bl.html

Choose “buckling spring” and order it now. You’ll never go back. Best 70 bucks I’ve ever spent on a peripheral. CLACKY TYPING SATISFACTION!

By: Peter Sichel

Peter Sichel — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:26:14 +0000

Jason Clarke says:

'I really don’t understand the preference for “clacky” feeling keyboards. They require more key travel to register a key press.'

That's not necessarily true. The premise of the model M is that the key snaps over before reaching the end of its travel so you don't have to pound the key into its base. The model M was actually more sensitive allowing a lighter touch than some newer designs.

The thing people miss about these older keyboards was the distinctive tactile feedback which improved their typing performance. Part of it was just what they got used to, but it was also a good design that naturally trained the user to become a better touch typist. I've written more about this as part of an introduction to "Keyclick" which helps close the typing feedback loop.

http://www.sustworks.com/site/prodkeyclickoverview.html

The response from users with special needs has been gratifying. It really makes a difference in some cases.