The best computer keyboards ever made - still

[John N]

I agree that the old IBM clickie keyboards were the cat's meow. Northgate (defunct, but remade?) made a decent clickie keyboard and I picked up a couple 2nd hand and have used them for years, although typing certain key combinations fast could cause problems (such as "HDS"!).

I recently found the Ione Scorpius-M10 mechanical keyboard and while it isn't as good as the old ones, it's one of the few, and rather affordable mechanical keyboards out now at $53. It's not too shabby, and it's what I'm typing on now.

Barrys-rigs-n-reviews.com Review of the Ione Scorpius-M10

Oh, and it doesn't have blank keys. How stupid is that?!?

-john


p.s. What was even cooler was those IBM Selectric ('golf ball') electric typewriters. Talk about tactile (and audible) feedback! :-)

[KC2IXE]

The IBM type "M" keyboard is still manfactured and available. Also parts and repair services. IBM begat Lexmark, Lexmark kept the printers and sold the keyboard division to pckeyboard.com in Lexington Kentucky. Both the
"buckling Spring" and the Membrane (quiet touch) are available.
Disclaimer> No association other than satisfied customer<
I love my type "M"

Allthumbs

Yep - I was going to point folks to PCKeyboard.com - I'm typing this on a Model M - the first day at my job 10 years ago, I scrounged a model M - and recently, they were about to THROW OUT "that old keyboard" - yep - a model M - I grabbed that before it went in the can - I have about 4-5 running around - thing is - I've NEVER had to use any of the spares I have

[js]

The sound and feel of a Model M keyboard was intended to emulate the fantastic IBM Selectric typewriter keys. This tactile response can help to prevent carpal tunnel because it indicates exactly when you can stop pressing. When typing on a "mush" keyboard you'll tend to hit the keys a lot more forcefully than necessary just to make sure the keystrike registered, and that's bad for your hands.

Of course you could imagine the noise in a whole office full of such keyboards (or electric typewriters) going at once, so it's probably better suited for home use. There are tactile keyboards that make less noise but still produce a positive "snap" feel for cubicle dwellers.

Exactly! I have a friend who is a VERY fast laptop typist, and the keyboard is, as to be expected, one of those with no feel and no tactile action. And I was watching him carefully one day to figure out how he did it, and yes, precisely, he was punching down on each single key with WAY more force than was needed. It was a quick, snappy kind of tap-down for each key. And he was fast with it, no doubt. But, gosh, I'd hate to have to type that way, hour after hour. My tendons would not be pleased about that kind of typing technique.

[Lynx_Arc]

I am still using a 1991 Keytronics made in USA keyboard. With the exception of having to shim one key that wore prematurely and clean it from spilling grape soda in it it still feels the same and works good. I don't care for noisy clicking keyboards and find the action of them harder to control as I tend to type too hard or too soft at times causing some keyboards to miss or double type characters. I don't perfer sloppy feeling or overspringy keyboards.

[js]

Coming up on the three month mark now since I got my Apple Extended II Keyboard, and I just have to say that I love it even more now that I have spent more time with it. The iMate ADB to USB adaptor works pretty much perfectly, although occasionally the caps lock LED light turns on and stays on no matter what--just the LIGHT, though. The caps lock key will still work, turning on and off capitals, but even when it is off, the LED will be on. However, simply restarting the computer remedies this problem, and it's only happened to me twice in all this time so far. Very minor, but there it is.

So, anyway, great keyboard, good adaptor product. I'm very pleased. I get a lot more enjoyment out of typing now than I ever did with the stock keyboard.

[The_LED_Museum]

In my opinion, the best keyboard I've ever typed on was the one built into a Commodore 128 computer.
Everything I've typed on since has felt a bit "junky", if you know what I mean.

[knot]

lol - I hate those "mush" keyboards. I learned to type on a typewriter in high school so only the IBM feels comfortable to me.

I just bought another model M for $5.00 at a thrift store.

[greenLED]

My brother had one of those original IBM keyboards and it was *nice*!

Despite the feeling, I decided to go "ergo" a while back and will never type in a regular keyboard if I can help it. While some of the ergo keyboards I've tried don't have the same tactile feel as some of the nicer regular keyboards, they make up for it in terms of ergonomics.

I'm currently using a Microsoft Ergonomic 4000 and like it a lot. The keys don't feel as nice as the original Microsoft Natural ergo I had, but the 4000 is much comfortable to type on. Part of it is due to the cushioned palm/wrist pads, and part of it is the inverted angle of the keyboard (achieved with a removable plastic base).

[LukeA]

I like half-throw keyboards, so If I stop using a laptop, I'll have to find a half throw keyboard or cut the keyboard out of an old Powerbook.

[bfg9000]

IBM M15 is clicky and ergonomic. You could even fold it in half and use it vertically.

Or if you'd prefer to learn how to type all over again, there's always the keyboard Jodie Foster used in Contact. I'd trade my nice Kinesis programmable keyboard or Logitech DiNovo (that one has short-throw keys and a bluetooth mouse) for either.

[knot]

Or if you'd prefer to learn how to type all over again, there's always the keyboard Jodie Foster used in Contact. I'd trade my nice Kinesis programmable keyboard or Logitech DiNovo (that one has short-throw keys and a bluetooth mouse) for either.

I'll trade my keyboard for Jodie foster.

[bfg9000]

I'll trade my keyboard for Jodie foster.

Your name's not Hinckley, is it?

[js]

IBM M15 is clicky and ergonomic. You could even fold it in half and use it vertically.

Or if you'd prefer to learn how to type all over again, there's always the keyboard Jodie Foster used in Contact. I'd trade my nice Kinesis programmable keyboard or Logitech DiNovo (that one has short-throw keys and a bluetooth mouse) for either.

Damn! Those are some INTENSE keyboards there btg9000! Pretty hard core, requiring no small investment of time to adjust and adapt to using them. Very interesting! Thanks for the links.

[bfg9000]

I think the most far-out keyboard they ever tested was the OrbiTouch, with its two B-cup... domes. As weird as the DataHand is, at least it has a separate key for each letter. The OrbiTouch may be just the right keyboard for that special Hell reserved for the engineers who designed the iDrive or terrible flashlight UIs.

[LuxLuthor]

LOL! I have a dozen of those old IBM M PS2 keyboards in the basement....all still work like new.

I like my Kinesis ergo keyboard with programmable keys and extra footswitch. Actually designed for the shape of your fingers, and put the most used keys with strongest digits....or you can change them to whatever you want.

[Size15's]

I've pretty heavy fingered when it comes to typing but I find that I can type faster and more accurately if I use more force. I do tend to kill keyboards every year or so and people notice the difference when they use mine. I've never used special or specific keyboard though. I find it hard to type on anything but a full-sized standard layout keyboard because I need the space and don't tend to look at the keyboard at all whilst I'm typing so all the keys need to be where I'm used to them being!
Al

[LuxLuthor]

LOL, someone asked me about buying one of those IBM M's....so I went down and looked at them all. It really is amazing when I think how much use they got....every one of them shows no color fading, all the keys work as good now as they did. All of them have the M series year of 1984, and printed number with years in 1988-89. That really is an amazing accomplishment....but IBM always thought all the money was in the hardware, not the software, so they built Tank Keyboards....LMAO....then along came Gates.

[UncleFester]

And I thought I was just weird. I just LOVE the tactile feedback of my 1984 Model M. People scoff at my ancient "cast iron" keyboard. As JS pointed out, it makes it much eaiser to type than most keyboards. When I get on a roll and don't have to correct any errors, it makes me sound like I actually can type.

[GregY]

This may come across as sacrilege here, but I *hate* the old IBM clicky keyboards. Way back in the day I had access to RS6K workstations with really load clicky keyboards, and just looking at those things made my wrists hurt.

No, they may not have been the strongest or most durable, but the keyboards with the best feel EVER were DEC workstation and terminal keyboards from the early 90's. In fact I still have a pair of VT420's that I haven't used in 6 years just because I can't bear to part with the keyboards.

As a side note, DEC also made the finest mice that have ever existed.

[Fizz753]

I also agree, the clickys are nice. I
Also like the Gateway AnyKey (didn't have clickies though)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gateway_AnyKey

It was especially useful in HL2/GMod where I was pwning people, using its angled-arrow keys (like _\| |/_ ) which were interspersed with the normal cursor keys to easily angle away from fire. The normal cursor keys were arranged in a + pattern rather than the inverted "T". There was a center key that functioned as the spacebar.

This is the general layout.

I still have it, but I committed a cardinal sin; had a liquid near it..

Hey it seems like I have seen that keyboard somewhere before... Ohh ya I am using it to type this post. Rescued it from work one night when I worked as a Custodian for a local business. They were throwing it away so I took it home. Only needed a good cleaning. The business is a wholesale plant nursery, the office the keyboard was in was on the nursery grounds. It was dirty to say the least.

[Daniel_sk]

This keyboard was specially designed for Windows :

[Fallingwater]

I'd kill for one of these.
I love split keyboards, they are much easier on the hands than ordinary square, and even ergonomic "bent" ones.
I also love buckling spring boards.
Put both things together and that'd be my dream typing keyboard (I'd still use a rubber-pad one for gaming).

[Martin]

Abt three years ago I was looking for a standard US keyboard with no stupid Windows keys. This was hard to find, US keyboards are no longer common and the old 101 key ones are double rare.
I went looking at online auctions and eventually won a lot of 20, new and still in original packing, real cheap but for personal pickup at a Stuttgart warehouse. I drove there and got them.
The brand is TRI COM and on the bottom it says "Ireland". Soon I found they are not bad at all, probably the best keyboards I ever had. My wife likes them, too. They don't click but keying on them is very good, both the feel and error rate. Today I'm still on the first one of this lot.
Now as I read this thread, I realize they look like the IBM model M. So this thread is a real eye opener to me !

[greenLED]

I replaced my original MS Natural Elite with a MS Natural 4000. I don't care for the extra bells and whistles on the 4000 model, but it's more comfortable than my previous ergo keyboard.

One reason I replaced it is because my new lappy doesn't have legacy ports for older keyboards or mice, and the PS/2 to USB adapter costs as much as what I paid for my new keyboard. How are you guys dealing with the needed adaptors on those older keyboards?

[ckthorp]

One reason I replaced it is because my new lappy doesn't have legacy ports for older keyboards or mice, and the PS/2 to USB adapter costs as much as what I paid for my new keyboard. How are you guys dealing with the needed adaptors on those older keyboards?

I just bite the bullet and buy the adapter. You can get them for about $11 shipped. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812101117 What's the fuss? A good typing feel is easily worth 10x that to me.

[ckthorp]

The brand is TRI COM and on the bottom it says "Ireland". Soon I found they are not bad at all, probably the best keyboards I ever had. My wife likes them, too. They don't click but keying on them is very good, both the feel and error rate. Today I'm still on the first one of this lot.
Now as I read this thread, I realize they look like the IBM model M. So this thread is a real eye opener to me !

They did sell an identical soft-touch model. (That Unicomp still sells)

[greenLED]

I just bite the bullet and buy the adapter. You can get them for about $11 shipped. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812101117 What's the fuss? A good typing feel is easily worth 10x that to me.

I didn't check newegg, and that's where I usually buy my computer stuff. I forget where I checked, but it was cheaper for me to buy a NIB Natural 4000 off eFlay than getting the adapter.

The fuss? RSI, and an ergo keyboard is just one way of reducing stress on my wrists. I'm willing to type on a keyboard without that perfect touch if that means I don't get "needles" or numbness on my fingertips after a day at work (if not less).

If they could combine the perfect touch with an ergo design, I'd be triply happy.

What's up with all the extra buttons on keyboards these days? Do people really need 20 extra buttons to activate their web browser, calculator, e-mail app, access their whatever...?

[bfg9000]

Most of the old IBM keyboards violate the 100mA (max) PS/2 specification so not every USB adapter will work. This one will work for sure.

Strange because IBM wrote the original PS/2 specs. Anything should work with a Microsoft keyboard though.

[AndyTiedye]

I recall one version of IBM keyboard that seemed to have super-strong springs so you had to press really hard to get the key to go down, then
it would let go all at once and let your finger crash into the stop.
I hated those keyboards. I liked the old DEC keyboards best.

Don't drop one of those old IBM keyboards either. I saw someone drop one onto the lab floor and it was keys and springs — all of them — flying all over the lab.

[ckthorp]

Strange because IBM wrote the original PS/2 specs.

If I had to guess, I'd say it was probably because those old IBM clunkers were built around an old XT/AT design.