I blame Kernighan, Ritchie and Anders, in that order.
That fragment sucks; it’s inconsistent. It should either read, I blame Kernighan, Ritchie and Hejlsberg or I blame Brian, Dennis and Anders.
Aside from that, and if we ignore the opinions, a surprisingly bullshit-free post for a change.
Note that the Das Keyboard does not use buckling spring keys, but Cherry MX contacts. Therefore it’s nothing else than an expensive re-branded version of the Cherry G80-3000 (the clicky variant, G80-3000LSCEU-0). Also, Cherry keyboards have the labels not printed on the keys, but engraved with laser – so those keys won’t get blank.
However, beware of the non-clicky versions of the G80 (or, even worse, the G81- and G83-Series of Cherry keyboards). They’re missing the precise input feedback.
I am a cherry g80-3000 fan as well. Das Keyboard is just clever marketing, with a g80-3000. And Henning is right, only the clicky ones are really really good.
I love my model M but at my job I can hear the guy a few cubes over breathing because it is so quite. To get my click needs fulfilled I use an old Windows utility called KeyTick to simulate different sounds through headphones when keys are pressed.
It [keytick] used to be a PC Magazine or Windows Mag utility that they now only offer for paid download but it was once part of their utility CD so you can find it all over the place for free download (google KeyTick.zip).
The utility rocks; really helps me since I mostly touch type and usually type one application while looking at another monitor or piece of paper (HTML Geek); another plus is that if you cannot use a good click keyboard at home because it bothers others; you can always put a pair of headphones on and fire up keytick to get all your clickity goodness.
I tried Microsoft Natural Keyboard 4000, but did not like it… some keys fail to work or hard to press ( particularly N key and ~), the space bar basically required a hard slam down to work.
why do so many keyboards use a different mechanism for the space bar? I’ve found many keyboards I liked but the space bar was tacky, sounded different, action was different.
+1 for the MS 4000! I’ve never been a keyboard aficionado, but I will have to say that after I bought the 4000 a year or so ago, I haven’t looked back. I love the leather(ish) wrist pads and the way the keyboard angles down away from you (instead of towards you) with the included attachment. I was skeptical at first, but after giving it a shot I realized how much more comfortable this typing position was.
Also, I just noticed that newegg has a MS keyboard/mouse bundle called the FA6-00010 that supposedly includes the 4000 for less $$ than the retail 4000 by itself. Customer comments have confirmed that the included keyboard is indeed the 4000. If anyone is in the market for the MS 4000, check this link:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823109161
Amen, brother! Most ‘weird places’ I see it are below-Enter, but it’s still oh-so-wrong. I have to peer carefully at anyone’s keyboard I find myself using, because it seems like mainstream machines are ALL built that way these days. (not saying they really are, but it certainly feels like it)
Realforce is the most addictive for me due to its special mechanism.
I had to put both my original Model M and it’s modern cousin, the Unicomp Customizer 104, into storage recently. Not because I don’t love them anymore, but because I can no longer find wrist-rests that aren’t goo-filled.
So I went with a Lenovo Enhanced Performance USB keyboard that comes with a built-in rubberized palm rest. It was the only one I could find that had the correct layout keyspacing that also came with a wrist-rest.
I tried a couple of the Microsoft Logitech keyboards at the local big-box store, but they all either had a cheap feel to them, or had something wrong with their layout.
Since the subject of the MS Ergo 4000 has come up again, I thought I’d mention that I recently posted a technique for key remapping on the really old original discussion about that keyboard. Specifically, I forced the Application Key to act like a Right-WinKey, since they left off the latter, and I don’t need the former.
That thread is here:
http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000400.html
My post is labeled Mike-o-Matic on February 18, 2009 07:50 PM, or just look toward the bottom.
If this is a crosspost (I wasn’t sure if it technically was), then I offer my apologies!
Regards,
Mike
I used to love my Microsoft natural keyboards (I’ve had three different incarnations). I now have the wired Apple keyboard and that has defeated the Compaq-softkey and MS keyboards as my favorite. Not only is it a pleasure to type on, but the keycaps are removable, making my Dvorak switch process that much easier: http://faithfulgeek.tumblr.com/post/51230401/dvorak-conversion-process-complete.
I do still have the IBM M-model super-spring edition sitting around somewhere. I’m tempted to pull it out and try it now, but I don’t think I have a machine with PS/2 to plug it into!
Thou shalt not reorder the Fxn keys either.
three groups of four == established
four groups of three == change for no good reason
I cannot put into words the depth of my loathing for the Microsoft Natural 4000. I bought it because I need an ergo and it was the only wireles one in the Best Buy at the time, but it has been nothing but suffering for me, from the gumdrop-sticky resistance of the keys that makes my hands ache after a single paragraph to the wobbly spacebar that won’t register anything but a slam dead center and forces me to backspace and insert the space after the fact one time in five.
I need an ergo keybaord, but I need one that doesn’t cause me transpose letters and develop RSI! Is there one like this with way less stickiness?
Another vote for the BTC 6100:
http://www.btc.com.tw/english/2-7-25keyboard.htm
Now if only someone would make an ergo / split board with scissor keys.
Inside the World’s Greatest Keyboard
From the satisfying click of its keys to its no-nonsense layout and solid steel underpinnings, IBM’s 24-year-old Model M is the standard by which all other keyboards must be judged.
http://www.pcworld.com/printable/article/id,147939/printable.html
I don’t recall ever using that home key cluster, and if I was even better in Emacs than I am, I’d never use the arrow keys either.
Just curious - what do you (or does anyone) depend on the home key cluster for?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126012
There you go. Under $10. Normal layout. Only fancy keys are separate specific mapped keys like Calculator and Volume, which are out of your way if you don’t need or use them. No special drivers needed. Feels just fine for coding and gaming.
Pictures: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.aspx?Image=23-126-012-02.jpg%2c23-126-012-03.jpg
Keytronic E03600U… Damn good keyboard, only about $30. For being a membrane switch it works surprisingly well, better than anything from Microsoft, Logitech, etc.
Over the years I have had the IBM Model M, and the Northgate Omnikey Ultra. Both are good in different ways. The IBM prevents n-key rollover by forcing your hands into correct position. The Omnikey though has a light touch and allows for tremendous speed.
I’d prefer an Omnikey, but the Keytronic is a good substitute and is inexpensive.
Microsoft lost me when I bought their office keyboard years ago. It was the first one that remapped the function keys and it was bloody annoying. That they haven’t learned from this is failure is sad.
