Britt CoxonJan 4, 2023
Contemplating spending decent money on a computer keyboard. I need to know what a good keyboard is. Like, not too clacky, pleasing to type with. Maybe programmable lights. Is there a keyboard showroom? Or do I need to find my way to keyboard nerd YouTube? Are you a keyboard nerd?
Show threadDave Bulmer

@brittcoxon No, but I know a man who is.

@Xander, what's a good keyboard. Now before you get all excited, I mean for a normal person.

Jan 4, 2023 at 9:09pmWeb
Show threadXanderJan 4, 2023
@brittcoxon @DemonTomatoDave You say that like it’s a simple question… 😉
Show threadDave BulmerJan 4, 2023
@Xander @brittcoxon *dramatic sigh* never minnndddd
Show threadXanderJan 4, 2023
@brittcoxon @DemonTomatoDave It’s like any other recommendation, though. Like, “what’s a good comic?” That depends, dinnit? What do you want from it?
Show threadBritt CoxonJan 5, 2023
@Xander @DemonTomatoDave This is new territory to me, I've only used [keyboard that came with machine] or a wireless logitech from 10 years ago. Maybe you can point me in the direction of quiet typing but with a good "I definitely pushed that button" response? Maybe programmable hotkeys are a thing... but I understand that you can buy little hotkey pads and then colour coordinate them pleasingly.
Show threadBritt CoxonJan 5, 2023
@DemonTomatoDave @Xander Normal is a bit... much?
Show threadXanderJan 5, 2023
@brittcoxon @DemonTomatoDave Hahaha. I suspect he meant that relative to me. I’m a Twitch streamer and own approximately 200 keyboards.
Show threadBritt CoxonJan 5, 2023
@Xander @DemonTomatoDave 200 sounds sufficient. Yup. Expensively sufficient.
Show threadXanderJan 5, 2023
@brittcoxon @DemonTomatoDave For “not too clacky, pleasing to type with” I would suggest Topre. Layout preferences will be an important factor here though so depends if you want a UK/EU style (ISO standard) layout or a US style (ANSI); the former significantly limits options but they do exist. But if you go Topre then you only really have one option with RGB LEDs and they are basically the worst version of a Topre keyboard.
Show threadBritt CoxonJan 5, 2023
@Xander I'm so used to a UK layout I don't really want to stray from that. RGB LEDS are probably not essential, I've never had them before.
Show threadXanderJan 5, 2023
@brittcoxon So a UK layout but as quiet as possible without resorting to a £15 membrane and rubber dome board, basically? Do you use the numeric keypad on a “full size” keyboard or is that totally immaterial?
Show threadBritt CoxonJan 5, 2023
@Xander I wouldn't miss the numeric keypad.
Show threadXanderJan 5, 2023
@brittcoxon @DemonTomatoDave If you need ISO and both the RGB and relative silence is important then you’re likely going to be looking at a Cherry MX style keyboard with silenced switches but having tried a lot of them I’ve very rarely been particularly impressed. It’s a whole minefield this stuff though so figuring out what your preferences are when you don’t yet fully know what the variables are yet is a big part of it!
Show threadBritt CoxonJan 5, 2023
@Xander @DemonTomatoDave Would getting something hot swappable but reasonably cheap be a good starting point, so I can change the switches out to my preference?
Show threadXanderJan 5, 2023

@brittcoxon @DemonTomatoDave Possibly yes. There are not many but a handful of budget options that are ISO and hot-swappable for MX type switches. Notably, Keychron stuff: https://www.keychron.com/collections/custom-keyboards?pf_t_layout_standard=Standard%3AISO&pf_t_qmk_via_support=QMK%2FVIASupport%3AYes&pf_t_switch_mount=SwitchMount%3AHot-swappable

Some of those are sold in the UK by The Keyboard Company: https://www.keyboardco.com

Custom Keyboards

Show threadXanderJan 5, 2023
@DemonTomatoDave @brittcoxon If you want silence though you’re best getting one without switches and then buying some quiet switches to test out
Show threadBritt CoxonJan 5, 2023
@Xander @DemonTomatoDave I mean I don't want absolute silence, a little feedback is nice. My current keyboard is like clomping along on a hollow pipe in tap shoes. The laptop keyboard is nice but not quite enough travel on the button push as it's virtually flat.
Show threadXanderJan 5, 2023
@brittcoxon @DemonTomatoDave See a lot of this is going to be about clarity of concept/language because this is sort of tricky stuff to put into words with precision. When you say “feedback” do you just mean some sort of noise, or do you mean a physical sensation that specifically happens around the time the key actuates (as opposed to because it hit the bottom, which is not when they actuate)?
Show threadBritt CoxonJan 5, 2023
@Xander Yah this is the stuff I just don't know and probably won't until I try. With the UK/US layout difference I can probably just lie to the computer and say it's UK as I know the layout and maybe swap the appropriate keys if it bugs me.
Show threadXanderJan 5, 2023
@brittcoxon Ah see we’re talking at crossed purposes. I’m talking about physical key layout. Not what the keys do. One sec.
Show threadBritt CoxonJan 5, 2023
@Xander I am truly new to this. I always thought they were more or less the same.
Show threadXanderJan 5, 2023
@brittcoxon UK vs US physical layout based on the mid-80s IBM Enhanced Keyboard to show you what I mean. Either will work fine logically but you will lose one key with a US physical layout and the area around the Return/Enter key is different.
Show threadDave BulmerJan 5, 2023
@Xander @brittcoxon oh gawd I never knew about this, this explains so many fiddly little keyboard problems. Americans don't have a proper enter key?! What do they rest their little finger on when they're staring into space not typing anything??
Show threadDave BulmerJan 5, 2023
@Xander @brittcoxon a gun, no doubt *tut*
Show threadBritt CoxonJan 5, 2023
@Xander Ohh, okay so the UK one is definitely what I'm used to but the main difference is the location of the # key which I could relearn and is similar to a mac keyboard.
Show threadXanderJan 5, 2023
@brittcoxon Hang on do you use a MacBook?
Show threadBritt CoxonJan 5, 2023
@Xander I do not. My partner uses a little wireless keyboard on his mac and he can never find the # or the £ first time, it involves option keys or something.
Show threadXanderJan 5, 2023
@brittcoxon I mean for context this is what I usually use on my MacBook. (Neither UK nor US Enhanced layout, is based on an old Sun Microsystems UNIX layout.)
Show threadBritt CoxonJan 5, 2023
@Xander Oh you're one of those no label types. I think I'd be find with that until I looked down.
Show threadXanderJan 5, 2023

@brittcoxon I also built this one for an ex hahah.

Incidentally, if you would like something a little more personal to you, I could build something from custom parts…

Show threadBritt CoxonJan 5, 2023
@Xander I might consider it. I'm a very slow decision maker and currently in fact finding mode so I might not be ready for fully custom yet.
Show threadXanderJan 5, 2023
@brittcoxon I’m very much the same. If you need any more info dumps let me know, happy to oblige. I have spent more hours researching this shit than anybody probably should hahah.
Show threadBritt CoxonJan 5, 2023
@Xander meanwhile I have this only all the media keys are worn off and the W is nearly gone. It picks up every bit of dust and fingerprint you can imagine.
Show threadXanderJan 5, 2023
@brittcoxon Why anybody insists in making electronics that are meant to be constantly touched out of glossy materials that show every speck of dust, scratch, and fingertip smear is beyond me
Show threadXanderJan 5, 2023

@brittcoxon But yes, if you plug a US layout keyboard into a computer set to UK layout then pressing Shift and 3 will give you “£” even though it likely says “#” on the physical key. And you still have access to the missing key through Alt Gr. So…

US \| key types # and ~
US right Alt key plus the above key types \ and |
US 3# key types 3 and £

Show threadBritt CoxonJan 5, 2023
@Xander I don't like it, it's different.
Show threadXanderJan 5, 2023
@brittcoxon HAH
Show threadXanderJan 5, 2023
@brittcoxon Then yeah, possibly consider Keychron.
Show threadBritt CoxonJan 5, 2023
@Xander Well that sure narrows down my options, thanks for that. It removes a decent amount of those MASSIVE LED gaming keyboards too.
Show threadXanderJan 5, 2023
@DemonTomatoDave @brittcoxon If you want the quietest and imo nicest overall typing experience I still honestly think Topre beats everything else but the problem there is they stopped making them with ISO/UK layouts years ago so now they’re pretty rare to come by.
Show threadDave BulmerJan 5, 2023
@brittcoxon @Xander haha sorry. Yeah, Xander has loads of keyboards. He builds keyboards. he lives in a house made from keyboards stacked together. Every night he takes his top off and rubs keyboards on himself
Show threadXanderJan 5, 2023
@brittcoxon @DemonTomatoDave Do I? I wondered why my nips were so sore all the time.