Recommended keyboards??

[Howard Kaikow]

All of a sudden, I could not select things with my mouse.
No matter what I did, something else would get selected.

For example, I'd click on a desktop icon, but the icon at the bottom of that column of icons would be selected instead.

Same thing happened when I booted to another OS on my PC.

Fortunately, each time I rebooted, I got a serious Stuck Key from the BIOS.

This led me to believe that the keyboard was kaput.
So I shut down and moved over the el cheapo Logitech Deluxe 104 from my other system.

Voila, that seems to have fixed the problem!

Now I gotta run out and buy a better keyboard tomorrow.

Moral: always have a spare keyboard.

What are specific recommended keyboards?
Logitech Deluxe 104 won't do for my everyday use, but was adequate for my infrequently used Win 95 system.

[iceni60]

MS do some really good keyboards. they must be good because i've them recommended on Linux forums. i'll have a quick look for the article i'm thinking of. i've seen a keyboard i really like which is by dell and it looks exactly like the mac keyboards (it might be for macs though but i'm not sure ::) )
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/productdetails.aspx?pid=040

[iceni60]

this is the MS keyboard i was thinking of. it's in Tux magzine issue 8
http://www.tuxmagazine.com/node/1000163

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/productdetails.aspx?pid=043

[ErikAlbert]

Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/productdetails.aspx?pid=022

I work with this keyboard since 2000.09.28 and it still works fine, but the labels of my ASL-keys are fading away.
You have to get used to this keyboard, but it really puts your hands and arms in a natural position. Very comfortable.

[hollywoodpc]

It amazes me that so many people recommend the " natural " style . Keep in mind that it is a good choice IF you can type easily . It is NOT the endall keyboard ! Why ? Because , for those that cannot type well , it is very uncomfortable . Some people handle it , some do not . So , good choice if you are a good typist . Poor if you peck .;D

[Howard Kaikow]

{QUOTE-> MS do some really good keyboards. they must be good because i've them recommended on Linux forums. i'll have a quick look for the article i'm thinking of. i've seen a keyboard i really like which is by dell and it looks exactly like the mac keyboards (it might be for macs though but i'm not sure ::) )
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/productdetails.aspx?pid=040 <-QUOTE}

I'm looking for a standard keyboard, no extra hotkeys.

Interesting that I did not see any at the MSFT web site.
Guess I'll have to look at Logitech.

[Howard Kaikow]

{QUOTE-> It amazes me that so many people recommend the " natural " style . Keep in mind that it is a good choice IF you can type easily . It is NOT the endall keyboard ! Why ? Because , for those that cannot type well , it is very uncomfortable . Some people handle it , some do not . So , good choice if you are a good typist . Poor if you peck .;D <-QUOTE}

I'm a terrible typist.

[hollywoodpc]

M$ Digital Media Pro . Less than $ 25.00 at Amazon . It does have extra keys but , who says you have to use them ? ;D Nice choice for peckers . lol . You know what I mean .;D ;D ;D

[ErikAlbert]

{QUOTE-> It amazes me that so many people recommend the " natural " style . Keep in mind that it is a good choice IF you can type easily . It is NOT the endall keyboard ! Why ? Because , for those that cannot type well , it is very uncomfortable . Some people handle it , some do not . So , good choice if you are a good typist . Poor if you peck .;D <-QUOTE}
Yes, I'm a good typist. I was a telex-operator in the Belgian Army. ;D

[ErikAlbert]

A good way to learn your keyboard and typing with 10 fingers of course is this famous sentence :

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog

It contains all the letters of the alphabet.
I often type this sentence to test all letters of a font.

[iceni60]

{QUOTE-> I'm looking for a standard keyboard, no extra hotkeys.

Interesting that I did not see any at the MSFT web site.
Guess I'll have to look at Logitech. <-QUOTE}
they review the Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 3000 Laser in Tux Magazine too.

have you heard of the Dvorak layout keyboards? it was about to be a world standard just before one of the world wars broke out, that's what put an end to it in the end - the war. the most used keys are on the home row along with the vowels - 70% of the work is done with home keys - qwerty is only 33%.

it's faster to type and easier to learn. Mr Dvorak made it so with alot of words you type one letter with the left hand then the next with the right. i know minimum is easier to type with Dvorak lol

http://www.webopedia.com/FIG/DVORAK.gif

then there's the maltron keyboards too

http://www.wpc-fr.net/images/articles/un-clavier-cher-et-moche/maltron.jpg

[iceni60]

here's a good freeware program to help with typing. it's even got a tetris game with letters :D
Bruce's Unusual Typing Wizard.
http://www.tucows.com/get/374881_139214

[Howard Kaikow]

{QUOTE-> M$ Digital Media Pro . Less than $ 25.00 at Amazon . It does have extra keys but , who says you have to use them ? ;D Nice choice for peckers . lol . You know what I mean .;D ;D ;D <-QUOTE}

I just saw that at the MSFT web site.
It has both PS/2 and USB connectors.
I see no point in getting a keyboard that does not have both connectors.

[Detox]

Well I guess I always like IBM but it's not only because my sis works there... Their keyboards (have one on all 3 of my PCs) are really quite excellent and verry durable. These are just plain normal keyboards that I use... but are much quieter than the HP etcetera I have had before. Seems the regular price is around $30 which might change my view a bit but I can go with sis to the employee store and pick em up for $5 so... what a deal ;D OK I'm not too helpful except to say that they're some dang good KBs.

[Howard Kaikow]

Looking at the MSFT and Logitech web sites, it seems that I should narrow my choices to:

MSFT Digital Media Pro
Logitech Media Elite

Can be used with PS/2 and USB.

Any further opinions on those keyboards?

[TNT]

Wow... look at this nightmare.

http://www.cs.utk.edu/~shuford/terminal/maltron_kbd.gif

[hollywoodpc]

TNT .
One word : OUCH !!!!
Howard . I think you understand right ? It uses EITHER PS/2 OR USB . Up to you what to do . And I mentioned the Media Pro because , for the money , you are getting alot of keyboard . The wrist rest is plastic though . It can be removed . I now use the Media Pro and love it . I took the wrist rest off . I just use a cheap wrist rest I bought here . If you are a " pecker " ( there is that word again ) then a wrist rest is unimportant anyway . Good luck my friend .
By the way . The Media Pro is solid ! The keys have an excellent professional feel . Just the right amount of bounce to the the keys . And the lettering seems to hold up very well . You can bang these keys and it keeps on tickin . I was impressed .