I need a new keyboard

[MorganFreeman911]

Currently I'm using the G15 2nd gen, and the spacebar is practically broken. (Cleaning mishap). Any ideas on a good keyboard less than $80?

 

[Vegeta897]

>Implying you should even consider spending over $30 for a keyboard

Saitek Eclipse bro http://www.saitekusa.com/prod/eclipse.htm

 

[Schall]

Razer Lycosa is good and you can find it for about $60.

 

[Viperidae]

**** you people, this is what I use.

Minus the gay handrest.

Also hotlink.

 

[VirusType2]

Optimus Maxiumus

Each key is a stand-alone display that shows the function currently assigned to it.
Optimus’s customizable layout allows convenient use of any language—Cyrillic, Ancient Greek, Georgian, Arabic, Quenya, hiragana, etc.—as well as of any other character set: notes, numerals, special symbols, HTML codes, math functions and most important macro mainia.

A bargain at $2,000.

 

[Vegeta897]

Razer Lycosa is good and you can find it for about $60.

What makes this so special? Why is it better? How can it justify that price?

 

[VirusType2]

I tried a Razer Tarantula keyboard for ... about 1 hour. It was larger than a bus and worse than those keyboards you can get for $3. I returned it the next day. So, I wouldn't buy a Razer keyboard without trying it. All the 24K gold USB connectors in the world don't make a difference if you use the worst quality keyswitches on earth.

 

[Vegeta897]

Gold plated USB, lol. They don't make any difference, ever.

 

[Ennui]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126087

Just got this, I love it. 70 bucks, Logitech brand quality, 12 macro keys, great feel, customizable LED backlighting (red, blue, or any combo of the 2, so basically any possible shade of purple), USB port, ability to turn off windows key function for gaming.

Been using a $10 keyboard for about 8 years and I finally got a new one (after having a messed up spacebar and d key for about 3 of those years) and I feel pretty good about the purchase.

 

[Vegeta897]

customizable LED backlighting (red, blue, or any combo of the 2, so basically any possible shade of purple),

Behold the most useless thing I've ever heard of. My Saitek has a backlight but I never use it. I thought I would but found out there is just no need at all.

ability to turn off windows key function for gaming.

Oh you mean stuff that software can do.

Macro keys are cool I guess...

 

[Qonfused]

I plan on buying this soon: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126043

 

[Vegeta897]

"This Logitech ultra-thin keyboard features laser-etched, backlit keys, so you can type accurately, even in dim lighting conditions!"

SINCE WHEN DO I NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE KEYS TO TYPE ACCURATELY FFFFFFFFFFFF

 

[Krynn72]

Zboard.

Just throw out the "gaming" keyset. Its probably the best keyboard I've used, and since the key inset is removable, its easy as hell to clean. I've had it for 4 and a half years now with no problems. Its rugged, reliable, quiet, and most importantly, not stupid looking.

 

[MorganFreeman911]

>Implying you should even consider spending over $30 for a keyboard

Saitek Eclipse bro http://www.saitekusa.com/prod/eclipse.htm

I was thinking the Saitek Eclipse, that or the Cyborg. Which one would you suggest?

 

[Qonfused]

"This Logitech ultra-thin keyboard features laser-etched, backlit keys, so you can type accurately, even in dim lighting conditions!"

SINCE WHEN DO I NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE KEYS TO TYPE ACCURATELY FFFFFFFFFFFF

my keyboard be stylin' on u

 

[DEATHMASTER]

I find this thread relevant enough to announce that I got Cryllic alphabet stickers for my QWERTY or

as it is also now. (Image: forum is anti-cryllic).

 

[VirusType2]

Bitches don't know 'bout my keyboard.

Fatal1ty is the best keyboard, tbh.

 

[Druckles]

Get one used and free from a friend. Look for something from around the 80s/90s. Preferably beige. They're often much nicer to type on.

I've had mine for years. No idea where it came from, but it's thick, sturdy and the keys are great. There's less in a keyboard, where the only extras you get are macros and screens. Which doesn't seem worth the extra money to me.

 

[Vegeta897]

I was thinking the Saitek Eclipse, that or the Cyborg. Which one would you suggest?

Wait, are you seriously asking me?

 

[Escaep]

Razer Lycosa is good and you can find it for about $60.

This. I've had this for 2 years now without a single glitch or problem. The touchpad is great for multimedia and its really sensitive and easy to use.

The keys could be brighter if you have family members who don't quite know the keyboard layout (ie my parents.) The keys during the day aren't very bright and if you turn the lights off, there aren't any painted letters on the keys so you can't find them if you don't know where they are.

 

[Shakermaker]

Personally I don't like 'gaming' keyboards. They're usually too bulky for my taste. I have tried the Z-Board but I found it too plastic-y and the keys were too big imo. A couple of months ago I bought a Logitech Illuminated Keyboard and I have been really happy with it. It is flat, the keys are almost but not quite chicklets and the illumination is really useful at night. Best keyboard I have ever owned.

 

[Sedako]

Once again, Vegeta fails to understand that people are willing to part with their money for products that they enjoy owning/using. While you're at it, why spend over $10 when you can get one of these out of your parent's garage/attic:

I spent $60 on my G15 3 years ago, and it's macro keys alone are a godsend for some games. I'm not even considering replacing it anytime soon.

 

[Vegeta897]

I guess I've never heard of keyboard enthusiasts before. People who actually want to spend a lot of money on rather pointless features, so they can enjoy using their keyboard. How do you enjoy a keyboard? I don't know. It's a keyboard. They should only be about functionality. Not style, not useless lights, not gimmicks. It's not a car, it's not headphones, it's not a monitor. There is very little room for quality variance.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

Of that room, I know I hate bulky keys, need these low liers. About the only thing that matters to me.

 

[Sedako]

I guess I've never heard of keyboard enthusiasts before. People who actually want to spend a lot of money on rather pointless features, so they can enjoy using their keyboard. How do you enjoy a keyboard? I don't know. It's a keyboard. They should only be about functionality. Not style, not useless lights, not gimmicks. It's not a car, it's not headphones, it's not a monitor. There is very little room for quality variance.

Macro keys and on-keyboard displays are functional, and mine get a lot of use. Feel of the keystrokes, texture of the keys, wrist fatigue, ease of cleaning, and durability are all the basic aspects you can consider when choosing a keyboard. $60 was a minimal investment for the amount of time I've owned and use my keyboard.

 

[Qonfused]

I guess I've never heard of keyboard enthusiasts before. People who actually want to spend a lot of money on rather pointless features, so they can enjoy using their keyboard. How do you enjoy a keyboard? I don't know. It's a keyboard. They should only be about functionality. Not style, not useless lights, not gimmicks. It's not a car, it's not headphones, it's not a monitor. There is very little room for quality variance.

I rationalize it by thinking this way: this is something I'm going to be using hours and hours a day. That's why I've bought $80 mice before. Is $80 a lot? Yeah, but how many hours am I using it? Thousands? If I'm going to be using a product that extensively, I'm perfectly okay with dropping that kind of money on it because goddamn am I getting my money's worth.

also i'm not kenny-poor

 

[Vegeta897]

Mice are different, there's DPI shit and latency and all that. I'm not into it but I don't care as much about people spending more on better mice.

Your logic is kind of incomplete, though. The fact alone that you're going to use it a ****ton doesn't warrant paying a lot. You can use a $20 keyboard for that much time too. You fail to mention what aspect of expensive keyboards improves your experience of that span of time. Do expensive keyboards really feel better than cheaper ones? Do you have enough experience with many boards to confirm this? From what people are saying in this thread, price really doesn't correlate to comfort or feel. These expensive keyboards I'm seeing seem to only look a bit more sleek or futuristic, and have backlit keys (saitek $30 keyboard has this) and extra keys.

I'll concede to the extra features (like macro keys or whatever) if you do indeed find them helpful. I can't say I'd be interested in dropping 40 more dollars on a keyboard just for that, though. There's software that lets you bind keys or key combos to macros or whatever you like.

 

[Druckles]

Once again, Vegeta fails to understand that people are willing to part with their money for products that they enjoy owning/using. While you're at it, why spend over $10 when you can get one of these out of your parent's garage/attic:

I'm glad someone else agrees that these are definitely the keyboards a man can have. Not tinny, small, flimsy, or any of that other pansy stuff.

A man's keyboard!

 

[MuToiD_MaN]

I've had the same slim keyboard for about 6 years. I don't have any pictures of it but it doesn't matter; the company that made it and sold it on thinkgeek.com hasn't existed for almost as many years as I've had the keyboard.

Slim keyboards are awesome.

 

[VirusType2]

My recommendation would be that you try it before you buy it. Keyboards vary in features and performance and it often comes down to personal preference. Having said that, I don't like any of those gaming keyboards. Even if they'd provide a good haptic feedback, they'd still look like Fisher Prize toys to me.

Personally, I went with a keyboard from Cherry, since I've had good experiences with their keyboards in the past. It's slick, durable, has a nice feedback and doesn't cost much:

The Cherry keyboards seem interesting. I had a look at some of the models they have. Seems they make input devices for industry (cashiers, etc.).

I'm assuming this is the Cherry that has been around for about 25 years or so, making keyswitches for arcade machines.

They are a bit expensive, so I'm wondering how the buttons feel ... also how many buttons can you press at the same time before they aren't registered? That's the main reason to get a 'gaming' keyboard.

 

[VirusType2]

I didn't even know they made mice and keyboards until now. I've never seem them in stores, which is a shame because I am pretty adamant about trying a keyboard out before buying it, or at least having an easy return.

Still I am pretty interested. I love my Fatal1ty keyboard, but they don't make them anymore and eventually I'll need to replace it. I noticed Cherry makes a ton of different types and some are compact like the Fatal1ty.

I don't like big keyboards because the WASD keys will be too far to the left for my liking; the keyboard won't line up right because of the number pad (putting the alpha keys further to the left), and they force my mouse to be to the right more. I also don't like the fact that they stick out way past the function keys, which means I'd have to have my monitor further back.

G81-1800

I like this one but I don't like the shorter right-shift button

G84-5200

I like this one but I don't like the short spacebar

I also don't like the tall instead of long enter/return buttons.

Creative Fatal1ty

I'll have to keep looking at some other models. maybe get one with a separate number pad, and then the rest of the keyboard can be standard layout (prefer that actually)