Keyboard for PC- any recommendations from typists out there

ballyblack

A friend of mine who types a lot in Microsoft Word and Google Drive needs a decent responsive keyboard.

Needs basics like showing 'Caps' is on/off

Will not be used for gaming

Any recommendations wireless/wired??

Pc is on Windows 10

jshm2

Cherry Stream 3 and Microsoft sculpt comfort keyboard.

You're basically looking at mechanical keyboards that are adjustable.

Owain_Moneysaver

Depends what he/she is used to.

Experienced keyboard wizards would sell their first-born for an IBM Model M or Das Keyboard, but they don't appeal to people who grew up with laptops.

Nilrem

Also keyboards are extremely personal choices for a lot of people who type a lot.

I've known people who hate clicky (mechanical) keyboards because they've learned on the cheaper membrane types, whilst as you say some experienced people will give up their first born before they give up an IBM model M, especially if they learned on real typewriters or computers in the days before membrane keyboards were acceptable in a business environment.

I know people who love the feel of a Logitech over an MS of the same shape, and people that prefer a specific shape of certain keys (some manufacturers vary the shape of some keys a little, or a wave/ergonomic over a "flat" (a friend is currently trying to get used to an Ergonomic one, which he says he loves and hates, it's forcing him to touch type properly for the first time in years).

Even things like where the indicators for the caps/num loc are on the keyboard can be something that is important to some (if you habitually check in one place on the keyboard having them in another is annoying).

Personally I wish I'd bought more of the Model M's when one of the computer fair dealers had them for £3 each going back 20 years, as it is I gave mine away thinking it would be easy/cheap to replace the next time I went to the fair. It turned out the dealer had one batch from a company that swapped to Dell machines, and they sold hundreds of them between the two fairs.

My suggestion for anyone looking for a keyboard is that they try and find the one they're looking at to give it a test in person, I've ended up giving away a few keyboards in the past because I bought them blind and didn't like them.

Final thought, wireless keyboards rarely have indicators on them for capslock etc, as the power used by the indicator is a large continuous draw, which will lower the battery life.

paddyrg

Frankly I'm happier with the £7 Curry's keyboard I bought than the three previous ones, it's so, so personal.

onomatopoeia99

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

Experienced keyboard wizards would sell their first-born for an IBM Model M or Das Keyboard, but they don't appeal to people who grew up with laptops.

I don't have a first born, and not because I sold them for my Model M :rotfl: . It only cost £3 from a second hand computer shop! Bought a few more from another shop for £2 as well (the keys on a couple of them are a bit rubbish, it has to be said, nowhere near as good as earlier ones), but that was 15 years ago. I should have bought more while those shops were still about, though the longevity of the keyboards is such that I may die before the five I own all fail - none have yet and most are over 25 years old.

ThemeOne

Nilrem wrote: »

My suggestion for anyone looking for a keyboard is that they try and find the one they're looking at to give it a test in person, I've ended up giving away a few keyboards in the past because I bought them blind and didn't like them.

Trying them out seems easier said than done though. In recent years I've only seen keyboards sold packed up in their boxes in shops.

I've never really found a keyboard I'm 100% happy with, and am reluctant to buy the expensive ones in case I don't like them.

rhysadams

My favourite keyboard at the moment is the Apple Butterfly keyboard, takes a week or so to get used to it, but when you have you'll love it!

bengalknights

I would always recommend mechanical keyboards however thats mainly due to my preference of always having to use certain buttons more frequently so like the comfort of the sound

stator

Sculp keyboard is very good but you have to use it all the time. Going between a split keyboard and a straight one can be tricky

Owain_Moneysaver

Nilrem wrote: »

Personally I wish I'd bought more of the Model M's when one of the computer fair dealers had them for £3 each going back 20 years,

They've probably appreciated in value more than IBM shares. :eek: