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Good, cheap keyboards?
Mugenmidget
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
My friend had a cheapo keyboard that he was quite fond of, but has since managed to destroy it with his eating + computer habits.
Now I never got a chance to see this keyboard he speaks of, and he threw it away too fast to get a model number or anything important. I'll just tell you the things he liked about it so hopefully you can help pick out a nice, cheap, and functional keyboard for him.
By the way he's in the UK so any information pertaining specifically to that area would help, but of course it's not mandatory:
-It was not a USB keyboard, he seems to be particular on wanting it to be PS/2 without an adapter. Is there a good reason for that?
-That had small, "soft" multimedia keys at the top for play, next, and previous. Pretty common on keyboards, really.
-The keys were particularly "snappy" in his opinion, less cushion and more crisp to the touch, made touch typing a lot easier for him.
Anything that adheres to those guidelines or at least is relatively close should be a fine suggestion. Of course Mama Penny Arcade knows best, so if you wanna disregard the guidelines completely and offer some great deals on awesome keyboards then you're more than welcome to.
Now I never got a chance to see this keyboard he speaks of, and he threw it away too fast to get a model number or anything important. I'll just tell you the things he liked about it so hopefully you can help pick out a nice, cheap, and functional keyboard for him.
By the way he's in the UK so any information pertaining specifically to that area would help, but of course it's not mandatory:
-It was not a USB keyboard, he seems to be particular on wanting it to be PS/2 without an adapter. Is there a good reason for that?
-That had small, "soft" multimedia keys at the top for play, next, and previous. Pretty common on keyboards, really.
-The keys were particularly "snappy" in his opinion, less cushion and more crisp to the touch, made touch typing a lot easier for him.
Anything that adheres to those guidelines or at least is relatively close should be a fine suggestion. Of course Mama Penny Arcade knows best, so if you wanna disregard the guidelines completely and offer some great deals on awesome keyboards then you're more than welcome to.
Mugenmidget on
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CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
Not sure if you can find keyboards for that cheap, I'm just throwing it out there.
I'll pass that information along to him. I don't think he's in the market for a new PC or even close to that point, but that's still a good thing to know.
I've only ever brought the cheapest one as a quick solution but it lasted and the keys had a nice click to them. Can't offer an opinion on any others though.
This is inaccurate.
USB keyboards are capable of handling 4+ keypresses at a time, which a PS/2 keyboard typically cannot. Wanna do a neat trick? Make your computer beep by simultaneoulsy pressing down on the W, E, S, and D keys on a PS/2 keyboard. Some will do this with just S, D, and C.
So, if you're playing an FPS and you need to crouch (C), back up (S), and move right (D), forget about it. You'll be immobilized while beeps ring through your headset.
So I game with USB keyboards, but I keep an old PS/2 one around in case I have to deal with a pre-2005 motherboard.
If you're worried about losing USB ports, you can always get a keyboard that has a USB hub on it (Microsoft Natural Pro, Logitech G15 or G11, some Dells).
No, but seriously cheap keyboards are kind of weak. I used to use them all the time and I have since switched to the Logitech G15 keyboard and I've never been happier typing.
But I think you could get any ps/2 keyboard on the cheap now because of how old the tech is.
You speak, of course, of the infamous IBM Model M. Well-nigh indestructible, can be used as a bludgeon in case of emergency. No windows key. In short, arguably the best PS/2 keyboard ever made.
Know what's even better than the IBM Model M?
The Das Keyboard MkII.
This has been heralded as the world's best keyboard. It is designed for the true professionals of the digital world. Each key on the Das Keyboard uses Mechanical Gold Plated-Key switches, for the longest lasting life ever. While most keyboards on the market will last you 10 million keystrokes, the nearly immortal Das Keyboard can handle 50 million full pressure keystrokes. And each key is very responsive to your touch. Press lightly and the keys sink gradually. Pound hard, and the keys slam down all the way. This kind of precision just isn't possible with the other keyboards on the market today.
Das Keyboard, one hell of a board.
(Microsoft Internet Keyboard Pro)
This guy was my old warhorse during my Counterstrike/Diablo II years. Not only was it extra comfortable to type on (not clickity clack but still has some amount of crispness), but it features both a USB and PS2 plug split from a single wire.
It was also one of the first keyboards that had a built in 2 port USB hub (when connected to the USB port, of course) and it has all the media keys that you would want, including a calculator key, which I wish were on more keyboards these days. Even after messy food spills and lots of drops, I'm still using this on my secondary PC.
For some reason it's still selling for over $45, but someone on eBay is selling it as a buy it now for under $10 at the moment (with international shipping).