What type of keyboard do you use?

Matthew DeCarlo

Posts: 5,271   +104
Staff

There have been several noteworthy keyboard launches in recent weeks, including the Logitech G510 and Razer BlackWidow. We're working on a review of the former and that should be out next week, but in the meantime we thought it would be an excellent opportunity to see what TechSpot members are typing on and why.

For a bunch of hardware buffs, the TechSpot staff uses some pretty lame keyboards. I've had a standard wireless multimedia keyboard by Logitech for many years, but it's nearing the end of its life and I'm giving serious thought to taking the BlackWidow for a spin when it ships next month. I've always wanted a mechanical keyboard.


Julio, Jose and Erik favor the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000, while Shawn spices things up with the Logitech G15. Prefer the tactile response of mechanical switches? The curves of an ergonomic design? The aesthetics of slim, minimalist engineering? It's amazing how many variations of the same device are available. Discuss.

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I use a Saitek Cyborg :/
I hate it, the keys have to be pressed really hard to trigger the input and the overall feel is plastic and cheap. On top of this the software it comes with also sucks and has a very limited use
 
I have used a "Deck" red lit keyboard in PS2 format for 4 years and love it for feel and dark room gaming or surfing
 
I use the Logitech MX-5500 keyboard and mouse combo MATT

I like it, its wireless, the keyboard is nice to type with and I can own bronze league StarCraft II players with it.
 
As Matt mentioned, I use the MS Natural keyboard though I wish they sold it standalone in wireless version. I think I'm on my third Natural 4000 now, both because I like it and because it tends to lose its solid feel over time. I'd go for a keyboard with mechanical switches if I didn't favor the ergonomics of the Natural over anything else.

As for laptop keyboards, I'm a big fan of ThinkPads but thankfully numerous other laptops carry good quality keyboards these days.
 
Right now I am using an OCZ Alchemy Elixir that I got for a dollar after MIR. I like the texture of the rubberized keys, and the multimedia and application shortcut keys. It also has 10 programmable keys, which I have not yet used.

For several years before this one, though, I used a Saitek Gamer's keyboard. It was one of their first backlit keyboards, and may have had the best key feel of any keyboard I have ever used. It was quiet, too. It included a separate programmable keypad that I rarely used. It looked awesome, but since on these original models the backlight shined around the keys rather than thru them, they were not readable in the dark. I still have it as a backup, and use it at my repair bench when working on other computers.
 
Using my good ol' Logitech G15 V2. Got it on sale for $50 CAD($48 USD) And it's one of the best PC investments I've ever made.
 
Logitech G15 ( version 1 and 2) primarily + a couple of older PS/2 OEM kb's for entering the BIOS of the occasional motherboard that doesn't have USB enabled by default.
 
dividebyzero said:
Logitech G15 ( version 1 and 2) primarily + a couple of older PS/2 OEM kb's for entering the BIOS of the occasional motherboard that doesn't have USB enabled by default.

Would you say you prefer the V1 or V2 of the G15? I've tried both and although most people say they prefer the V1 I find it too bulky and the V2 to be sleeker and more modern looking.
 
I use an A4Tech X7 G600 keyboard on my computer cause pressing the keys feels good, I like it's rugged look and it's a gaming keyboard that i use for gaming sometimes. It even has settings that can be changed with the press of a button (normal-accelerate-speedy-turbo). No drivers or software needed ;-)
 
I also use the MS Natural Ergonomic and have since the first year they came out. Great keyboard...
 
Razer Lycosa (The old one without the fuzzy cable)

I'll be upgrading to the Razer Blackwidow Ultimate to get the USB 2.0 passthru

Lycosa only has 1.1 :(
 
Logitech Illuminated

Probably the only keyboard I will ever use until Logitech stops making them.
 
I use a good old A4T classic KB, however, I did tried X7 G800 which is still lying around gathering up dust somewhere.
 
My laptop's standard Microsoft eHome. It works well enough, though like the rest of my case, it's a fingerprint magnet, and thus my sole motivation for not attracting federal attention. There's no software for wiping infinite fingerprints off of a comp chassis.
 
Would you say you prefer the V1 or V2 of the G15? I've tried both and although most people say they prefer the V1 I find it too bulky and the V2 to be sleeker and more modern looking.

I actually prefer the V1 in stock form. The V2 is probably a little more refined. but I find that I miss having the extra programmable keys (game and benchmarking applets as well as some online auctioneering macros). The stock orange backlighting isn't to my taste either- nor many other people judging by the number of blue LED mod conversions I've done.
 
MS Sidewinder X4. Was cheapest illuminated keyboard by far, and it's kinda grown on me. Very handy multimedia keys, dedicated calc button, and anti-ghostign capabilities that beat the G19 even. And pretty nice feel too. :)
 
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