Keyboard Megathread

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Serious Hardware/Software Crap > Keyboard Megathread

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

Yeah we've been talking about the Corsairs for a while mainly because they're the first mechanicals with modern keyboard features like media keys, 20KRO and macros.
Looking forward to trying one.

# ¿ Dec 3, 2011 08:32

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ¿ May 17, 2024 12:03

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

If all else fails you can desolder it and steal the caps lock switch to put in its place. I had to do this on my old Dell AT102W.

# ¿ Dec 12, 2011 02:56

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

There are actually keyboards with a more proper Mac-layout (split + key to fit in = on numpad, no context menu key) if you need it but that's a minor concern.

# ¿ Dec 19, 2011 04:45

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

The UniComp Mac version has a split + and Fn instead of Context.
I think the Razer Mac Editions are the same but it's hard to find pics of the whole thing of the Mac version. And also being Razer it's hard to recommend something that won't last long.
Finally, you can use an iMate ADB-USB converter with an Apple Extended Keyboard.

Edit: I would be in for any grassroots project to get a proper Mac keyboard layout, as long as it had dedicated media keys.
This might be why there's not one yet - too many differing opinions.

# ¿ Dec 19, 2011 11:36

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

Depends if by business setting you mean an office full of passive-aggressive middle agers who can't handle the glorious sound of thundering mechanical keys.

The old Dell OEM keyboard is a rather decent rubber dome that has media keys and a whole bunch of "multimedia" buttons to open programs with.

If you can go for a mechanical then I'd look into one of those. Unfortunately it's doubtful you'll get many extra buttons since most "enthusiasts" seem to demand impractically minimalist layouts but you can look into "gamer" products. Won't be $75 though.

~Coxy fucked around with this message at 01:39 on Dec 21, 2011

# ¿ Dec 21, 2011 01:37

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

No idea on parts although it's certainly possible that they might exist.
What I did was desolder the Caps key and replace the broken switch (Space in my case) with it.

# ¿ Dec 26, 2011 01:15

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

They're rubber domes, but like the old Apple Pro Keyboard they use some kind of firmer rubber that probably costs 10 cents more per sheet but makes it oh-so-much-better to type on rather that the cheapy Logitech/Lenovo/Microsoft equivalent.

I still use the Dell with the volume jog-dial and media keys until I can try out a Corsair.

~Coxy fucked around with this message at 07:42 on Dec 29, 2011

# ¿ Dec 29, 2011 07:40

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

glompix posted:

Or &&, ||, *, fart(), @sqlVar, #comments, <html>, {json}, etc. Also hope you never write ^regex$.

Time for me to repeat my request for someone to make a keyboard with about 4 extra horizontal keys on the main QWERTY section. No more left-shift pinky stress!

# ¿ Jan 10, 2012 04:42

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

pienipple posted:

I would like a keyboard where the number row is just the symbols, I automatically use the num pad for any numbers anyway.

That's a great idea. I still want the extra dedicated keys for common things like < > ? " but maybe that could reduce the horizontal requirements a little.

MK II:

Dropped two key widths, added ( ) to the new heightened numpad, new tab key provides more reason for the lonely right-shift key, and have a few more spare keys on the main matrix.

~Coxy fucked around with this message at 03:10 on Jan 11, 2012

# ¿ Jan 11, 2012 03:07

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

unpronounceable posted:

Maybe it's because I'm not a programmer, and as such, don't use punctuation keys that much, but I'd absolutely loathe that layout. I wouldn't be able to stand having the enter key so far away from the actual letters. It's bad enough when my pinky has to stretch over the apostrophe and back slash on keyboards with the stupid vertical enter key, but that has so much more distance to cover. I get that it's just an idea, but that's my $2/100.

Oh, I cheerfully admit the layout would be horrible for non-programmers.

zachol posted:

I use the backspace way too often for that to be practical. Maybe if you kept the location of backspace and enter, and add some keys left of `/tab/caps/shift and right of backspace/\/enter/lshift? I could imagine a motion of rotating my hand out a little to reach past those keys pretty quickly.

Not too sure about that, I think you'd get used to it pretty quick.

jwoven posted:

Why not add it to a seperate row above the number keys instead of stretching the keyboard out? Also, get rid of Caps, it's the most useless key the most useful space.

The extra horizontal columns in the layout is necessary to get keys like <>?:" off the shift matrix. If anyone was building a programmer's keyboard for reals then I'd want to go the whole hog!

Simply another row is a good simple addition that's more realistic I admit.

It should have {} above -+ though! (){} are probably 80% of shift characters or something like that.

I agree Caps is useless but anyone who wants to be rid of it would rebind it anyway. However, the keyboard should be as close to standard as possible out of the box.

# ¿ Jan 11, 2012 05:59

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

HalloKitty posted:

Well, if you go by Colemak, Backspace is supposed to be where Caps is.
But yeah, this is much better - adding another row, I mean. Adding a lot of columns makes the keyboard far too stretched out, reaching enter, using right shift.. they'd be chores.

How often do you ever use right-shift? I can't think of a key combo that I'd use it for!

I'm not a touch-typist though. (which is probably why (I think) I'd fare better on wider keyboard.)

# ¿ Jan 11, 2012 10:13

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

Just wanted to point out that the Blackwidow doesn't have real media keys anyway.

# ¿ Jan 16, 2012 05:53

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

What's the deal with the Option key label on the Insert key?

Tell you what though, I didn't know WASD can print proper Mac glyphs onto the meta keys. I'll have to get some when I get a K90.

# ¿ Jan 17, 2012 09:08

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

Dogen posted:

Also, if you hit insert+home+w it turns caps lock on.

Which, why you would be doing that I don't know, but... it probably shouldn't do that. Haven't had any stuck keys on my K60 yet, though.

You know, the Caps Lock key on my Dell gets stuck once in a while which is very weird because I don't have a key for it so have to fish around for a pencil to press the membrane.

I wonder if it's the same type of ghosting issue.

edit: just had a play on the keyboard designer.

The fonts are only missing the Shift, Help, Forward and Backward Delete glyphs. Return is slightly off but close enough.

~Coxy fucked around with this message at 05:03 on Jan 18, 2012

# ¿ Jan 18, 2012 04:22

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

Arcsech posted:

By the way, anyone know if WASDKeybord keycap sets will fit on a BW? It uses the same kind of switches but I don't know if the keycaps are the same physical dimensions.

I'd love to know the same thing for a WASD custom keycap on a Corsair keyboard, if anyone happens to have that pair. Mainly the Control/Win/Alt I'd like to customise.

# ¿ Jan 27, 2012 08:04

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

That keyboard looks awesome apart from the tall Enter. I notice it even has a split + key on the numpad which I've never seen on a PC keyboard before. I always miss that coming from a Mac background.

# ¿ Feb 4, 2012 09:20

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

I have heard that some PS2->USB adaptors are worse than others.

My Dell AT102W was definitely 2KRO though. I remember ED+space being a particularly bad combo.

# ¿ Feb 18, 2012 06:05

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

I just got my K90 and am trying it out at work for the day before taking it home. It's pretty schmick!

Been getting a couple of double-strikes though and also a stuck spacebar once. Are these just to be expected until I get better used to it?

# ¿ Mar 27, 2012 04:20

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

How is the glow through the WASD keys? I'm tempted to get some for my K90.

# ¿ Apr 2, 2012 04:18

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

unpronounceable posted:

The only thing I miss about my old keyboard were the media/volume keys. Does anyone know of a dedicated media control something-or-other? Something like a separate number pad, but for media/macros would work. I could make global shortcuts, and use those, or AutoHotKey, but I'm having trouble remembering all of my keyboard hotkeys for the different utility programs I use already.

I don't get how this is not a thing, especially since nobody loving makes a mechanical with media controls except for Corsair and that only recently.

# ¿ Apr 6, 2012 04:33

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

The spanish upside-down ! and ? are also a weird choice for a supposedly programmer layout.

I still maintain a real programmers keyboard needs more keys not less! (see a few pages back)

# ¿ Apr 30, 2012 06:26

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

USB spec is "physically incapable" of NKRO. It does 4KRO by default, but some keyboard by MS and Corsair have 20KRO with some kind of voodoo.

# ¿ Apr 30, 2012 11:18

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

Allstone posted:

I speculate that it does it by appearing to the computer as 5 separate, smaller keyboards or somesuch.

The ones that do don't work in OS X, so the Corsair and Microsoft keyboards aren't doing that particular trick.

# ¿ May 1, 2012 04:54

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

Haeleus posted:

Can anyone put in a word about the Corsair Vengeance k90? I'm looking for a gaming keyboard, preferably one that's of decent quality and somewhat resistant to liquids, and this model looks appealing. I currently have a Sidewinder x6 but I spilled just a little tea on it and unfortunately some of the keys have shorted.

EDIT: Also, how are mechanical keyboards for general typing; can you get used to them after a while?

I like mine well enough. I primarily got it because of the macro and media keys, although I have to say that neither of them are great. Certainly good enough though.

# ¿ May 10, 2012 04:15

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

If you export your G-Key macro config to XML you can hand-edit it to make the G1-G12 keys into F13-F24. That makes it easier to user at least 12 of the keys.

# ¿ May 18, 2012 14:41

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

Aws posted:

That's what I've done sometimes. Thanks for mentioning it though, it definitely works. It's just not ideal because there can be conflicts, so I have to set it up for each game.

That is an awesome idea. Unfortunately the Logitech software crashes when I do that. I guess because it doesn't have support for F13-F24 keys. Seriously great thinking, though. I'm an idiot and it only took me two minutes to figure out what you meant. The only variables I could gently caress with were the "hidden" to true, but that doesn't change the crashing.

I wish someone would just release a driver for keyboards to have more buttons.

code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<profiles xmlns="http://www.logitech.com/Cassandra/2010.7/Profile">
  <profile guid="{483A004C-F857-48C9-8FF9-6FC3948C8983}" lock="0" name="Fkeys">
    <description>F13-F24</description>
    <target path=""/>
    <signature key="" value="" executable="" name=""/>
    <macros>
      <macro guid="{9E7D7F1E-E0A4-4705-B819-97B0006EB762}" hidden="false" name="F13">
        <keystroke xmlns="http://www.logitech.com/Cassandra/2010.1/Macros/Keystroke">
          <key value="F13"/>
        </keystroke>
      </macro>
      <macro guid="{690B578D-DC09-4359-ADF0-11DDCCB30A03}" hidden="false" name="F14">
        <keystroke xmlns="http://www.logitech.com/Cassandra/2010.1/Macros/Keystroke">
          <key value="F14"/>
        </keystroke>
      </macro>
      <macro guid="{8BEB1352-41BB-417F-A79B-7ABFE18D6B17}" hidden="false" name="F15">
        <keystroke xmlns="http://www.logitech.com/Cassandra/2010.1/Macros/Keystroke">
          <key value="F15"/>
        </keystroke>
      </macro>
      <macro guid="{8FB13C7C-CA4E-498C-8A48-C36BCCE150C3}" hidden="false" name="F16">
        <keystroke xmlns="http://www.logitech.com/Cassandra/2010.1/Macros/Keystroke">
          <key value="F16"/>
        </keystroke>
      </macro>
      <macro guid="{4B2E2407-510E-4C92-9E33-50AD92E0898F}" hidden="false" name="F17">
        <keystroke xmlns="http://www.logitech.com/Cassandra/2010.1/Macros/Keystroke">
          <key value="F17"/>
        </keystroke>
      </macro>
      <macro guid="{637F0EB9-1D1B-4CBF-BE77-9DF1BF68370F}" hidden="false" name="F18">
        <keystroke xmlns="http://www.logitech.com/Cassandra/2010.1/Macros/Keystroke">
          <key value="F18"/>
        </keystroke>
      </macro>
      <macro guid="{3DDDF23D-4E56-4CD5-898C-E7BD60E614E3}" hidden="false" name="F19">
        <keystroke xmlns="http://www.logitech.com/Cassandra/2010.1/Macros/Keystroke">
          <key value="F19"/>
        </keystroke>
      </macro>
      <macro guid="{06564D08-37E5-4C36-B2B8-A9B1531AD579}" hidden="false" name="F20">
        <keystroke xmlns="http://www.logitech.com/Cassandra/2010.1/Macros/Keystroke">
          <key value="F20"/>
        </keystroke>
      </macro>
      <macro guid="{6FAECA14-6ACF-4B66-9DE0-49F6785F1408}" hidden="false" name="F21">
        <keystroke xmlns="http://www.logitech.com/Cassandra/2010.1/Macros/Keystroke">
          <key value="F21"/>
        </keystroke>
      </macro>
      <macro guid="{07B9939D-C1A4-44F6-80E8-030AB0259EA0}" hidden="false" name="F22">
        <keystroke xmlns="http://www.logitech.com/Cassandra/2010.1/Macros/Keystroke">
          <key value="F22"/>
        </keystroke>
      </macro>
      <macro guid="{278A69FC-6478-4032-8901-78A705AD1374}" hidden="false" name="F23">
        <keystroke xmlns="http://www.logitech.com/Cassandra/2010.1/Macros/Keystroke">
          <key value="F23"/>
        </keystroke>
      </macro>
      <macro guid="{92E1F77F-A295-4EA7-858E-7D01FF17E99F}" hidden="false" name="F24">
        <keystroke xmlns="http://www.logitech.com/Cassandra/2010.1/Macros/Keystroke">
          <key value="F24"/>
        </keystroke>
      </macro>
    </macros>
    <assignments devicecategory="Logitech.Gaming.Keyboard">
      <assignment original="false" backup="false" contextid="G1" shiftstate="1" macroguid="{9E7D7F1E-E0A4-4705-B819-97B0006EB762}"/>
      <assignment original="false" backup="false" contextid="G7" shiftstate="1" macroguid="{690B578D-DC09-4359-ADF0-11DDCCB30A03}"/>
      <assignment original="false" backup="false" contextid="G2" shiftstate="1" macroguid="{8BEB1352-41BB-417F-A79B-7ABFE18D6B17}"/>
      <assignment original="false" backup="false" contextid="G8" shiftstate="1" macroguid="{8FB13C7C-CA4E-498C-8A48-C36BCCE150C3}"/>
      <assignment original="false" backup="false" contextid="G3" shiftstate="1" macroguid="{4B2E2407-510E-4C92-9E33-50AD92E0898F}"/>
      <assignment original="false" backup="false" contextid="G9" shiftstate="1" macroguid="{637F0EB9-1D1B-4CBF-BE77-9DF1BF68370F}"/>
      <assignment original="false" backup="false" contextid="G4" shiftstate="1" macroguid="{3DDDF23D-4E56-4CD5-898C-E7BD60E614E3}"/>
      <assignment original="false" backup="false" contextid="G10" shiftstate="1" macroguid="{06564D08-37E5-4C36-B2B8-A9B1531AD579}"/>
      <assignment original="false" backup="false" contextid="G5" shiftstate="1" macroguid="{6FAECA14-6ACF-4B66-9DE0-49F6785F1408}"/>
      <assignment original="false" backup="false" contextid="G11" shiftstate="1" macroguid="{07B9939D-C1A4-44F6-80E8-030AB0259EA0}"/>
      <assignment original="false" backup="false" contextid="G6" shiftstate="1" macroguid="{278A69FC-6478-4032-8901-78A705AD1374}"/>
      <assignment original="false" backup="false" contextid="G12" shiftstate="1" macroguid="{92E1F77F-A295-4EA7-858E-7D01FF17E99F}"/>
    </assignments>
    <backlight devicemodel="Logitech.Gaming.Keyboard.G19">
      <mode shiftstate="1" color="#ffffff"/>
      <mode shiftstate="2" color="#6eff5a"/>
      <mode shiftstate="3" color="#ff1500"/>
    </backlight>
    <script>function OnEvent(event, arg)
    OutputLogMessage("event = %s, arg = %s\n", event, arg)
end</script>
  </profile>
</profiles>

I'm sorry

I misread your post and thought you had a Corsair keyboard. Sorry for wasting your time with that.

# ¿ May 19, 2012 08:41

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

I know this doesn't really answer the question but for a mechanical with media keys you really only have the Corsair K60/K90.

# ¿ May 22, 2012 04:27

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

Wireless USB? I don't think anything like that exists as a single device.
Even searching for wireless USB is hard due to the plethora of results for USB Wifi adaptors.

# ¿ Aug 15, 2012 05:30

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

invid posted:

Does anybody knows if the Rosewill or Filco is compatible with Mac OS? I need the media keys and especially volume control to be functioning.

You can use USB Overdrive to get basically any kind of special keys to do what you want.

Worked on my Dell Multimedia, and again on my Corsair K90.

# ¿ Oct 2, 2012 04:22

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

Hypnolobster posted:

I actually really like the look of that Logitech..

Mostly I really like anything with good integrated wrist rests and decent media keys/scroller.

Yeah, I'm glad we finally have some mechanicals with real media keys now. Maybe they'll make a Mac version.

# ¿ Oct 10, 2012 04:19

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

chippy posted:

To what? Why is this?

It's considered leet to do something that crusty greybeards were doing before you were born.

I'll fully admit capslock is a useless key though. Personally I rip mine off.

# ¿ Nov 7, 2012 04:30

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

Sunshine89 posted:

I'm thinking of going mechanical, mainly for typing rather than gaming. I've noticed that most mechanical keyboards are pretty spartan and I've grown to like having volume keys on the keyboard. Backlighting is another feature I want.

This Razer Black Widow has five additional function/macro keys on it. Is it possible to program the for volume up/down, mute and to open the mixer menu?

I agree with you that most mechs are way too underfeatured. Check out the Corsair K60/K90.
The only downside is that they only come in Red.

# ¿ Nov 7, 2012 06:58

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

I find mine useless most of the time but sometimes it's nice to have if you're in the dark or dim light for whatever reason.

# ¿ Nov 22, 2012 09:35

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

Internet Friend posted:

According to Deskthority,
Reds are a linear switch that takes 45 cN.
Browns are a tactile bump switch that takes 45 cN.
Blues are a clicky switch that takes 50 cN.
Blacks are a linear switch that takes 60 cN.
Greens are a clicky switch that takes 80 cN.

This should probably go into the OP! Good stuff.
I really want to try out blue vs. green now. Getting pretty sick of reds.

# ¿ Nov 26, 2012 04:33

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

KaneTW posted:

I'm pretty sure someone posted in this thread that the build quality was shoddy.

E: Ok, nevermind. Must've been some other manufacturer.

Probably Razer.
(which is sad because they're one of the only manufacturers making Mac boards.)

# ¿ Nov 30, 2012 06:39

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

The old Dell OEM keyboard is practically a poster child for the cheap as chips but still decent rubber dome keyboard.

# ¿ Dec 17, 2012 04:19

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

haywire posted:

I'm looking for a value-for-money keyboard that has these things:

* Traditional button layout: So proper F1..12 keys in the right place, and none of that sleep/power bullshit, or moving around of Insert/Home/PageUp etc.
* Numpad
* Minimal but present media keys - Play/Pause being the main one.
* UK Layout
* Super keys
* Wired

You probably want the premium version of the Dell keyboard.
ie. the UK layout version of this:

# ¿ Dec 24, 2012 02:58

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

Philthy posted:

What best resembles the old Apple Extended keyboards in both sound and feel? Anything? The Model M is a lot louder, and is bit more key travel.

Matias makes a Mac-like keyboard that uses the same ALPS switches.
That said, it resembles the old Apple Pro Keyboard rather than the Extended.

You can always use an iMate USB - ADB adaptor and a nice retr0brite Extended!

# ¿ Dec 26, 2012 08:52

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

Goo posted:

If you're at all interested in the K90, Corsair just announced their new, fully-mechanical K95 today. It addresses the biggest customer complaint about the K90 (which is not fully mechanical) and adds per-key backlighting adjustment. It also costs more.

Per-key backlighting is nice, but what I would really like to have is more separation between the sections. Also a choice of switches. :negative:

# ¿ Jan 9, 2013 04:18

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ¿ May 17, 2024 12:03

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

Compressed air if you have one.

# ¿ Feb 3, 2013 05:14

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Serious Hardware/Software Crap > Keyboard Megathread

«‹›4 »