Keybaords ftw.

Felino · Post by **Felino** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 5:14 am

Anyone got some nice ones to reccommend to me?

I like the glossy black ones, that are simple without an infinate number of useless buttons, and the thin ones, like laptop keys.

Any reccomendations?

benol · Post by **benol** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 5:21 am

To me, a keyboard is a keyboard. I have a very strange, albeit effective method of typing that involves looking at the keyboard. I hate ergonomic split keyboards for that reason. But otherwise, it doesn't matter.

Post by **bicostp** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 7:10 am

I hate it when I go into Circuit City to get a keyboard, and they try to sell me these "gamer" keyboards that light up, have a bunch of unnecessary buttons, an LCD screen, and embedded USB hubs / audio jacks / toasters. <img src="http://www.skytroniks.com/images/databa ... es/wtf.gif"> (In my opinion the only lights a keyboard needs are for Num Lock, Scroll Lock, and Caps Lock.) Shine aside, I don't think there's anything special about them to justify the $100+ price tags aside from the word "gamer" on the box. (Same deal for "gamer" cases and "gamer" mice. It's all just marketing.)

Honestly, I like OEM keyboards and mice. My keyboard (which I'm typing this post on) is a pack-in Dell USB keyboard. It replaced my old Dell QuietKey, which was having button problems from too much use. (Worn out rubber cone pads are easy to fix, but the membrane itself started to go.) It has extra keys for web browsers, but that's no big deal. It was free!

(Same deal for my mouse; it's a corded USB optical mouse that came with a new HP my old high school bought. It didn't have a wheel so they thought it wouldn't work.

)

Apple makes some nice keyboards, and the USB models work on Windows. (I have a first-gen iMac keyboard hooked up to my HTPC right now, because it's small, it was free, and the cord is shorter than the OEM Compaq keyboard it replaced. It's plug-and-play.) Their keyboards all feel solid, and I've found they're more durable than most cheap PC keyboards. Unfortunately, most of their best and sturdiest models use ADB, and won't work on a Windows box without a converter.

But if small, wireless, and laptop-like is your thing, you could get a PS2 keyboard. (The console, not the computer interface.) Gyration also makes a wave-em-around mouse that can come packed with a small keyboard.

Post by **Black Six** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 7:37 pm

bicostp wrote:Apple makes some nice keyboards, and the USB models work on Windows. (I have a first-gen iMac keyboard hooked up to my HTPC right now, because it's small, it was free, and the cord is shorter than the OEM Compaq keyboard it replaced. It's plug-and-play.) Their keyboards all feel solid, and I've found they're more durable than most cheap PC keyboards. Unfortunately, most of their best and sturdiest models use ADB, and won't work on a Windows box without a converter.

I like Apple Keyboards as well. The model they just discontinued was great, I have a wired and a Bluetooth wireless version of it. It's nice, simple, full size, and has all the buttons you really need. I hate keyboards that have huge palm rests and plastic around the whole thing.

lifeisbetterwithketchup · Wed Sep 19, 2007 8:00 pm

I like any keyboard where you can move the keys around to say something funny.

But seriously, I'm not very picky when it comes to keyboards. Right now, I'm using an HP keyboard that came with a computer we got in 1998. I do like the Logitech Classic Keyboard 200 though (USB). I got that awhile back to use with my Xbox (All my other keyboards are PS/2.)

bioniclebert · Post by **bioniclebert** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 8:23 pm

My Mouse and Keyboard.

With the Counterstrike keyset on the keyboard.

I think it is well worth the money, I've had them both a while now, and both are still running smoothly. I can admit that this keyboard is one of those that has a lot of extra unused keys, however some of them are quite useful, and the keyboard just looks awesome with the CS faceplate anyway. I'd like to try out one of those CPL Razer mice (like shown here, alas, I have no need to buy a new mouse at the moment, as this one serves it's purpose very well.

Other people will recommend logitech keyboards for gaming, but I personally liked the look and feel of the modular Zboard better.

Felino · Post by **Felino** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 12:33 am

I just want one that is blackish, possibly wireless and maybe with backlit keys, definatly laptop style keys.

Please recommend.

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 1:33 am

"Blackish" is fine but after a little use some of the keys you use the most become shiny, which doesn't look nice; which is why white/grey is better.

I go for the plain old-style, no frills ones, bought one, a Cherry keyboard last week from a car boot sale for 20p (about 42c).

I think Logitech does what you want.

totokan · Post by **totokan** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 3:56 am

I have a Zboard, but mostly use it for the wasd keys in the gaming keyset. I use my OEM HP keyboard when not gaming. It's ps/2 based, and it's ancient but it works.

HotDog-Cart · Post by **HotDog-Cart** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 4:35 am

If you want a great keyboard for FPS, get the WolfClaw/WolfKing Warrior.
Its amazing.

If you wants a great mouse for FPS (Way better then that reaper mouse for $40.00 someone else posted), check out the wolf king trooper.

The Trooper has grip for comfortableness (Its very), it has a sensitivity button, and a Fire bullet switch button. The fire bullet switch button is crazy. You can set it so: 1 Mouse click is 2 shots. 1 Mouse click is 3 shots, 1 mouse click is 4 shots. (Or for anyone that doesnt play fps: 1 mouse click is 2 mouse clicks. 1 Mouse click is 3 mouse clicks, 1 mouse click is 4 mouse clicks.)

Heres a pic of th Trooper and the Warrior.
http://electronicscout24.trnd.com/wp-co ... 02copy.jpg

You can also buy a full keyboard with the warrior built on.

Felino · Post by **Felino** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 6:12 am

bacteria wrote:"Blackish" is fine but after a little use some of the keys you use the most become shiny.....

Ah, but my decor is following in this. Everything is either old (like my lamp) or black (speakers, screen, comp case). So yer, but still, point taken.

Currently i am using a black imac bondaiblu keyboard with my windoze box. Its nicely worn, and has had many users, but i have the issue of the buttons becomming a tad on the soft side, and the lack of a delete button is becoming quite annoying (ctrl+alt+baclkspace aint working).

I think i might choose a logitech one, i have logitech products, and an update on my speakers. After the power 'fix' the buzzing has returned slowly, so i sent them off to logitch about, 4 weeks ago now, no luck yet, but any time soon.

Thanks guys.

Fel.

totokan · Post by **totokan** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 4:18 am

ctrl+shift+esc is Task Manager.

benol · Post by **benol** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:05 am

totokan wrote:ctrl+shift+esc is Task Manager.

Cool. I always thought the only way to get to that was ctrl+alt+del.

Felino · Post by **Felino** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:04 am

Can one remap ctrl+alt+delete to another key? This keyboard has no delete key...

I might go with the old style mac keyboard.

blackbox_dev · Post by **blackbox_dev** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 9:22 am

Personally I like the original IBM AT keyboard (still using one, even with my Athlon 64 box). Paint it black and then you have a blackish keyboard.

-iam