Quiet Keyboards

DollyTheSheep

I am looking for a quiet wired keyboard, under £25 if possible. So think Logitech, Microsoft and alike.

Can anyone recommend a wired keyboard that they would class as quiet or silent? Or perhaps a replacement keyboard that you thought was a lot quiter than your old one.

John_Gray

It depends what you regard as quiet!
I prefer either Dell or Microsoft USB wired UK keyboards (~£14-£16 from Amazon) to any other, but my prejudice is because these are the ones I have always used.

RumRat

I've tried a couple that were branded 'Quiet' but, my wife thinks otherwise. It depends a lot on how heavy handed you are, sometimes the key press is quiet, but the thump of the fingers can be heard.
Try this one.....Probably as quiet as you are going to get for your budget...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-Wireless-Keyboard-Windows-Android/dp/B00XJ3LVPI/ref=asc_df_B00XJ3LVPI/?!!!!!googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310813616603&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4059131201888206196&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006656&hvtargid=pla-379026255253&psc=1&th=1&psc=1http://

Carrot007

DollyTheSheep wrote: »

I am looking for a quiet keyboard, under £25 if possible.

Can anyone recommend a keyboard that they would class as quiet or silent?

All of them. Microswitched one's cost more unless you want one of those abominations without a number pad!


If normal keyboards are too noisy for you then go for one of those horrible laptop type keys one. Less movement = less noise.


I just go from microswitched to normal on a night!

techquest

Wired or wireless and then we have to define quiet. Quiet keyboards don't come cheap so what do you want one for typing or gaming? The info below gives you an idea of the different types.

Membrane/Dome – This type is the basic key switch mechanism you’ll find on most keyboards, generally fine for typing and office settings. Nonetheless, it’s not the best choice when you’re going for quieter and higher-quality keys, because it is of cheap quality. It can wobble and stick, and can make squeaks and other noises.

Scissor Key – This type gives the membrane switch an upgraded scissor-like mechanism that improves the feel and makes a shorter distance for the key to be pressed. It tends to be responsive and quiet.

Mechanical –This type is the preferred choice of gamers, as well as many programmers and typists, due to its superior responsiveness and feel and the best choice for a quiet keyboard.

DollyTheSheep

Wired if the preferred option. ideally just looking for those people who have bought sub £25 keyboards and thought "thats a lot quieter than my old one" - not expecting much for £25 but I am sure there is a budget quiet keyboard out there somewhere...

As for the definition of quiet. I was in the bathroom next to our Office and my wife was typing on our keyboard and I thought, bloomin eck thats loud (her typing on the keyboard, not anything else ;-)

For example, my Logitech K120 is still quite a loud keyboard.

A.Penny.Saved

You are unlikely to find a mechanical keyswitch keyboard for under £25, even the cheaper brands made from keyswitches other than Cherry MX are around the £50 mark. Real key switches are considerably better than crap membrane keyboards where even the best do not come close.

Mechanical keyswitches also come in many different types with varying degrees of feedback, activation force and some provide a click ie noise. The Cherry MX Blue keyswitches are very noisy but the Cherry MX Brown have no click but provide an activation which can be felt. Browns are liked for typing when the noise of Blues are not wanted. I prefer Cherry MX White keyswitches which have a very soft click and a positive feedback feel. The problem is that I cannot find a keyboard that is available that uses them. I know the keyswitches from a keyswitch tester that I purchased - Akwox key tester.

Membrane keyboards, especially microsoft ones, are absolutely terrible IMO. I purchased a black usb microsoft 600 keyboard and I could not use it because it was terrible with low profile keys and no feedback. I used an old Microsoft Internet Keyboard Pro membrane keyboard for a very long time until it had an "accident", which was excellent and better than any other membrane keyboard that I have ever tried.

You could get a PS/2 keyboard if you can find something that you like and then use a PS/2 to USB converter so that you can use it on your PC. Most recent PC's do not have any PS/2 ports for mice or keyboards and require USB devices. This is what I am doing ATM for an old Logitech keyboard to replace the dreadful M$ 600.

Also watch out for the layout! UK or US layouts are available. You probably want the UK layout.

Other things to consider, wired or wireless. I would not waste my time with wireless but they might come in useful for some low use usage. Wire length, will it reach the port? Some cables are shorter than others, some 2m, 1.8m and some shorter 1.5/1.6m. Keyboard colour? Black is now, fortunately, going out of fashion and white/silver is back in but still more difficult to find. I find black keys difficult to see clearly in low light.

A.Penny.Saved

The M$ 600 is a lot less than £25, around £12 on Amazon and if you read the reviews it sounds decent but in reality it was the worst keyboard that I have ever used. Therefore do not trust reviews on Amazon because it is all subjective. The review was no where near to what I thought about it when I got it.

Under £25 means membrane or possibly might include the membrane hybrids which I have not used so cannot comment on.

If it has to be quiet then it will probably be spongy. Maybe mounting the keyboard on something to absorb the sound which might be amplified by the desk. Cherry MX keyswitches can use rubber rings which affect the feedback and noise. The keyboard tester that I purchased had some rubber rings which could be put over the key mounting post.

DollyTheSheep

Yes, I was just looking at the Microsoft 600 Keyboard on Youtube. I though it looked quite promising.

£16 on Amazon https://amzn.to/2NZinDH but cheaper at a few other outlets.

Here is the sound when typing https://youtu.be/nxPBNNCcAK8?t=39 - sounds good to me. Might go for this and will report back with the results.

Kernel_Sanders

A.Penny.Saved wrote: »

I used an old Microsoft Internet Keyboard Pro membrane keyboard for a very long time until it had an "accident", which was excellent and better than any other membrane keyboard that I have ever tried.

I think you're the one who had the accident, so was it tea, coffee or perhaps something a little stronger?

A.Penny.Saved

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

I think you're the one who had the accident, so was it tea, coffee or perhaps something a little stronger?

Severe hypoglycaemia. No alcohol because I do not drink.

OP: If noise is the only thing you are concerned about then that keyboard should suit you well. I would never recommend it. It is little better than the original ZX Spectrum rubber keyboard which was also quiet and had little feedback.