Looking for a new keyboard...

[Cam42]

The keyboard I'm currently using, well, sucks.
The keys are dying, and the feet are busted off.
I'm looking for something for around $20, so nothing expensive, preferably not laptop keys, and needs shortcuts for music at least. (next, back, play/pause and volume) Ideas?

[fela]

For UK:
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech
http://www.microdirect.co.uk
http://www.ebuyer.com
http://www.amazon.co.uk

For USA:
http://www.newegg.com
http://www.amazon.com

Cheers :)

[hoppipolla]

There are probably tons of great choices, it depends what you want out of it really :)

My favourite are those awesome light-up gamers' keyboards! They are expensive but if I had the money I would buy one! ^_^

[fela]

There are probably tons of great choices, it depends what you want out of it really :)

My favourite are those awesome light-up gamers' keyboards! They are expensive but if I had the money I would buy one! ^_^

There's one for 30 quid on novatech. A light up gaming keyboard. Actually it might be on ebuyer, I forget. Have a look anyway.

[Baneblade]

I realise you said under $20.. but trust me on this one, save up for a bit and buy yourself a good sturdy keyboard. Not only will it last much longer, but they are far nicer to type on and will improve your speed and accuracy.

Im a hardcore gamer so im running the Steelseries Merc Stealth (http://www.steelseries.com/int/products/keyboards/merc_stealth/information), and find im much faster and accurate when typing up my essays for University too when im using it.

Admittedly that is a little overboard, but i needed the backlight feature, and already owned the original Mercboard, so i knew i liked it.
If it were me, id go out to somewhere like Frys and just try out all the boards i can. After all its really a personal preference thing at the end of the day.

[fela]

I don't understand the need for these backlights. I don't ever glance at the keyboard when typing.

[hoppipolla]

There's one for 30 quid on novatech. A light up gaming keyboard. Actually it might be on ebuyer, I forget. Have a look anyway.

Good man, I may have to buy one sometime!

and yeah the backlights are not wholly useful (they're mostly for gaming in the dark I think) but I do think they look quite cool!

[fela]

Good man, I may have to buy one sometime!

and yeah the backlights are not wholly useful (they're mostly for gaming in the dark I think) but I do think they look quite cool!

You're not telling me you didn't know about novatech and ebuyer. God how I couldn't have lived without them for my christmas 2008 computer build.

So keyboard backlights are a bit like compiz, except you pay for them. Not such a good idea in my eyes (no pun inded :P).

[hoppipolla]

You're not telling me you didn't know about novatech and ebuyer. God how I couldn't have lived without them for my christmas 2008 computer build.

So keyboard backlights are a bit like compiz, except you pay for them. Not such a good idea in my eyes (no pun inded :P).

lol fair do's, I guess I'm just quite a visual person, I like aesthetics and I like the fun of messing around with new cool stuff and showing it to friends :)

And yeah I know about those sites, I just rarely have the money to buy stuff from them at the moment lol

[fela]

And yeah I know about those sites, I just rarely have the money to buy stuff from them at the moment lol

Same here! I am 13 and seriously skint. Waiting for £140 so I can get a quad core Phenom II...I'll have it by christmas and no mistake :P

[geoken]

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/productdetails.aspx?pid=040
I use this keyboard. In the past couple of years I've bought about 5 of them (the oldest one being about 3 yrs and still running perfectly).

The keys are slightly soft touch and low profile and the media functions work in Linux (I think even the calculator button above the numpad correctly launched the calculator). I buy them for about ~$20 at my local computer shop (OEM Packaged) and they include a mouse (which I usually give away).

[hoppipolla]

Same here! I am 13 and seriously skint. Waiting for £140 so I can get a quad core Phenom II...I'll have it by christmas and no mistake :P

That's actually seriously impressive if you are this into Linux and stuff and you are only 13! I only tried my first Linux-based OS when I was 18... lol

[fela]

That's actually seriously impressive if you are this into Linux and stuff and you are only 13! I only tried my first Linux-based OS when I was 18... lol

Well, I'm a bit of a geek TBH.

[hoppipolla]

Well, I'm a bit of a geek TBH.

Yeah but it takes BRAINS man, I mean like it at least takes a fair bit of computing knowledge!

When did you first try it? Tbh I can't believe I've been using it (on and off) for about 6 years now! Mad.. heh

(and sorry to tempt this thread off-topic, we can tie keyboards back into it ^_^ )

[Whiffle]

Because someone has to mention it in EVERY keyboard thread...

...and as long as you don't mind noisy keys ...

IBM Model M :)

http://www.clickeykeyboards.com/


My keyboard was made in 1987, and it is undoubtedly the nicest typing keyboard I've ever used.

[fela]

Yeah but it takes BRAINS man, I mean like it at least takes a fair bit of computing knowledge!

When did you first try it? I can't believe I've been using it (on and off) for about 6 years now! Mad.. heh

(and sorry to tempt this thread off-topic, we can tie keyboards back into it ^_^ )

Learned to touch type when I was 8-9 (there's your keyboard for you :P), started using Linux when I was 11. Back then I was a supertux addict! And yeah, I'd never even used windows then, it didn't even enter my brain. It wasn't hard learning how to use Linux. I mean, the main reason people find it hard is because what they're used to is the point,click,point,click of windows. It's true for everything really, when people are stuck in a certain way of doing things it's hard to learn a different way. Like if you've been brought up cycling on the road you're not scared to do it years later (I had the privilege of that, I now cycle about everywhere).

[geoken]

My keyboard was made in 1987, and it is undoubtedly the nicest typing keyboard I've ever used.

Model M - nicest keyboard you've ever used, worst keyboard you haven't used.

An old joke referencing how annoying the keyboard is to bystanders.

[fela]

Model M - nicest keyboard you've ever used, worst keyboard you haven't used.

An old joke referencing how annoying the keyboard is to bystanders.

Man how I hate loud keyboards! I use a laptop-style keyboard, I like it.

[Whiffle]

Model M - nicest keyboard you've ever used, worst keyboard you haven't used.

An old joke referencing how annoying the keyboard is to bystanders.

hahaha. Its true :) Actually I don't know anybody who minds my keyboard, so...yeah. Actually I think there is a newer version around based on the same basic design that is quite a bit quieter, although I don't remember the name off the top of my head.

[hoppipolla]

Learned to touch type when I was 8-9 (there's your keyboard for you :P), started using Linux when I was 11. Back then I was a supertux addict! And yeah, I'd never even used windows then, it didn't even enter my brain. It wasn't hard learning how to use Linux. I mean, the main reason people find it hard is because what they're used to is the point,click,point,click of windows. It's true for everything really, when people are stuck in a certain way of doing things it's hard to learn a different way. Like if you've been brought up cycling on the road you're not scared to do it years later (I had the privilege of that, I now cycle about everywhere).

Heh, I'm really impressed though, well done man :)

You also speak/type far more maturely than I would expect from someone your age... by my age you will be outsmarting me so much it won't even be funny... lol

[Cam42]

I'm fourteen, been using Linux for a year. haha.

Model M for the win.

[Cam42]

Another thing, Who here uses/has used a DVORAK keyboard? Few questions for those who have


How much do they cost?
How hard is it to move from QWERTY?
Would one still be able to type on both styles of keyboard?

[Dr Small]

Another thing, Who here uses/has used a DVORAK keyboard? Few questions for those who have


How much do they cost?
How hard is it to move from QWERTY?
Would one still be able to type on both styles of keyboard?

I have just a classical keyboard, and just relabled the keys for Dvorak. Check out the Great Dvorak Migration thread for more information on Dvorak ;)
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=408055

To answer a couple of your questions, you don't have to buy a dvorak keyboard to use the dvorak layout. Ubuntu/Linux and most OSes come with Dvorak as an alternate layout. It's not really that difficult to move, I think. It only took me about a month to get back to regular typing speed, and now it's even easier. Yes, you can still type on both layouts. It's just a user preference that you can switch around :)

Dr Small

[fela]

Heh, I'm really impressed though, well done man :)

You also speak/type far more maturely than I would expect from someone your age... by my age you will be outsmarting me so much it won't even be funny... lol

Lol. I'm not a stereotype :P

[fballem]

Not sure whether you're into gaming. If you're not, then I have been using the Logitech EX110 wireless keyboard and mouse combination. I have these on three computers in the house (1 ubuntu, 2 Windows), and they work well.

Just one note - have a small stash of AA batteries (mouse) and AAA batteries (keyboard) available, since the batteries last quite some time, but tend to die suddenly. You do get a warning in Windows, but not in ubuntu.

They're not expensive - around CAD 40.00, and are directly supported in both Ubuntu and Windows. In ubuntu, the special function keys, like media, home, and calculator keys are supported once you select the keyboard in the keyboard preferences (screenshot attached).

Hope this helps,

[SolarOnline]

If anyone wins the lottery, or just has way to much cash they can feel free to get me one of these keyboards!

http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/input/9836/

$1599.99 is a bit much i think! :confused:

[fela]

If anyone wins the lottery, or just has way to much cash they can feel free to get me one of these keyboards!

http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/input/9836/

$1599.99 is a bit much i think! :confused:

Don't. Just don't. :)