I could do with a new keyboard. The one I'm working with is old, shiny key old and frankly the internals are probably a health hazard with 5yr+ of lunches dropped between the keys.

 

I use a keyboard for ~8hr a day so I need a good tool.

I've been looking into mechanical keyboards etc but most information is directed at either gamers or touch typists.

I'll use it predominantly for typing (95%).

 

Must be full sized

Ideally wired

Not noisy. I don't need a silent keyboard but neither do I want a famously loud IBM clacky keyboard.

Happy to pay a relatively large amount for a keyboard since this will get hammered for long periods for years.

 

Any recommendations?

 

Been looking at various options but there is a lot of keyboard switch geekery and none of the opinions align.

 

Cherry Red Vs Brown, Vs Blue Vs Black Vs Viper Green etc etc.

 

Don't need customisations or RGB lighting although backlighting can be nice.

I'm using an 11 year old Microsoft Digital Media 3000 so that's probably of no help but it's been a great keyboard. I actually dismantled it a couple of months ago, vacuumed the innards and then washed the keyboard part and the silicone part in the sink in soapy water. The rest was given a wipe over with almost pure alcohol and it's come up like new. 
I've also got a German layout Microsoft Wired Keyboard 600 which I've yet to dismantle but is quieter and was fairly cheap (€12) I tend to go for things which can be torn down rather than sealed unit stuff. 
 

I often look around at peripherals, but generally seem to find that either Logitech or Roccat make the kit that meets my needs the most.

Corsair and Steelseries are pretty good too, but the config software isn't the best. Some people find it quite temperamental.

 

Really, though, it mostly comes down to your choice of switches. Red and Black are generally the quietest, with the MX Silent versions having extra shock absorbing. But most of the noise comes from the switches bottoming out, so you just have to avoid pressing the keys all the way down.

 

RGB just means you get to choose the colours. You don't have to set it to Unicorn Rainbow Puke mode with flashing patterns, or anything.

I find green backlighting works best in daytime (especially dark, rainy days) and red at night.

 

1 hour ago, Ttaskmaster said:

 But most of the noise comes from the switches bottoming out, so you just have to avoid pressing the keys all the way down.

 

Yeah been reading that, I'm a bit of a key thumper as well especially when stressed or ****ed off.

3 hours ago, Aspman said:

 

Yeah been reading that, I'm a bit of a key thumper as well especially when stressed or ****ed off.

 

Same here - to the extent that my work colleagues asked the office manager to find me a quiet keyboard - they came up with a Microsoft 600 IIRC that seemed to be significantly quieter - until we moved offices and all had to go wireless...

I just got the misses a cheap wireless logitec silent touch keyboard.

It's not bad to be honest and a lot better than I expected, they keys feel ok for a straight keyboard.

 

I still like the MS natural keyboards, but they're not made any more :(

 

I do know cherry also do a silent/quiet keyboard with a nice feel and they have licenced the key technology to others.

Failing that, just get some old 80's IBM keyboards and an adapter and sod everyone else

 

Have a look at the Cherry Stream:

 

https://www.cherry.co.uk/cherry-stream-keyboard.html

Edited 25 November, 20205 yr by cheezemonkhai

4 hours ago, Aspman said:

 

Yeah been reading that, I'm a bit of a key thumper as well especially when stressed or ****ed off.

 

Me too... which is why I still use an old Logitech G19!

 

Those old 80s IBM Model M buckling spring keyboard are sought after items. But they don't half make a racket.

 

I've put my money where my mouth is and got a steel Series Aprex pro. It's one of the more expensive keybaords around but it has individually adjustable key pressures and is apparently very quiet.

It's got magnetic dampers like a TT.

 

I'd probably have taken my time a bit more but it was in a black friday sale with £40 off it. I appreciate that discount is probably more than most people spend on 3 keyboards but just as mechanics happily pay for snap-on tools, a keyboard is my tool and it'll get used all day 5 days a week..

 

 

Edited 25 November, 20205 yr by Aspman

1 hour ago, cheezemonkhai said:

I just got the misses a cheap wireless logitec silent touch keyboard.

It's not bad to be honest and a lot better than I expected, they keys feel ok for a straight keyboard.

 

I still like the MS natural keyboards, but they're not made any more :(

 

I do know cherry also do a silent/quiet keyboard with a nice feel and they have licenced the key technology to others.

Failing that, just get some old 80's IBM keyboards and an adapter and sod everyone else

 

Have a look at the Cherry Stream:

 

https://www.cherry.co.uk/cherry-stream-keyboard.html

 

I'm not a fan of wireless, I'm sure I can pick up a delay in their action or the batteries flake out just as I need them to, or ther eis a disagreement between keyboard bluetooth an some other bluetooth in the area.

 

Nope I like me cables, they work.

 

I was looking at various cherry options dn theri switches in other keyboards, I think the problem was I fell squarely between being a heavy typist (blue switch user) and wanting things a bit quieter (red/brown switches). But the brown and red can make a lot of noise if you bottom out the switches, and I'm quite a hard typist, I'm not a touch typist, I'd say I'm a 75% touch typer but apparently I 'type angry' and it reverberates through the house and that's on my current work issued 10yr old (might be older I've hung onto it) keyboard.

I hate 'new' style chiclet keyboards as well.

I'm with you on wires and won't use a wireless keyboard myself either.  She however wanted something easy to put out of the way, so has different priorities.

 

I like mechanical keys and scissor key mechanisms, but honestly will be with my natural keyboard until it dies and can't be repaired.

17 hours ago, cheezemonkhai said:

I'm with you on wires and won't use a wireless keyboard myself either.  She however wanted something easy to put out of the way, so has different priorities.

 

I like mechanical keys and scissor key mechanisms, but honestly will be with my natural keyboard until it dies and can't be repaired.

 

MS still make an ergonomic keyboard - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Microsoft-LXM-00004-Ergonomic-Keyboard-dp-B07YGNN6N1/dp/B07YGNN6N1/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

 

Or  - https://kinesis-ergo.com/shop/advantage2/

 

And I thought the steelseries was expensive

~$4/ key. Bargain  

@Aspman's old keyboard...

 

 

 

🤢 🤮 

I think it might be worse than that