Ask HN: What's your favorite software-free keyboard and mouse?

Post by tveyben » Sat, Sep 10, 2022, 11:37 AM UTC

For Windows & Linux I have currently settled for a "Logitech G413 gaming" keyboard and am very happy with that choice!

I would like to be able to use the old "Apple Extended Keyboard" [1], but on Windows that have not yet been feasible, despite the excellent help from Capsicain [2] So for now I only use that on my non-labtop Apple computers…

My requirement for a Keyboard are here:

F-keys

    Seperated in groups of four (F1-F4, F5-F8 & F9-F12)
    F# clearly identfied on key (keyboards with Fn function typically favor the non-F-function)

Arrow keys

    Inverted T

Sections seperated with space

    Space between alpha / arrow+page up|down / numeric sections
    Microsoft Surface fails here

Alpha section

    Return key 90 degree angle shaped "danish" (NOT the US horisontal) aka "big enter"
    ÆØÅ keys labelled NOT combined with the other nordic letters - only the danish letter (can be improved by painting over the other nordic letters)

Numeric section (aka 'extended keyboard')

    Must be present

Arrow section

    Delete key same size as normal keys (NOT double height as some Logitech keyboards)

Connection technology

    USB (must support KVM without delay)

Fn key

    NOT present at all
    If present, then
    - NOT positioned on the left side of SPACE (will be hit in stead of CTRL, not good)

Key travel As the 'old' A1243 Apple extended keyboard [1] or Microsoft Surface (with ca. 2,2 mm key travel) As Logitech G413 (larger key travel, 'tactile' switches) NOT as HP KU-0316 (default with their newer PC's) Preferably 'scissor' type (not 'membrane' type)

USB hub built-in

    Nice, not mandatory

RIGHT CLICK KEY (aka MENU)

    Nice, not mandatory (remember to use SHIFT-F10)

[1] https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Apple_Extended_Keyboard_A1243

[2] https://github.com/cajhin/capsicain

Post by karmakaze » Sun, Sep 11, 2022, 9:26 PM UTC

tveyben wrote: post #20

karmakaze wrote: post #10

Currently I use relatively cheap mechanical keyboards--whatever was on sale or liked the look of. I improve my typing comfort with a custom layout. For a mouse I use a TUF Gaming M3[0]. TUF is a lower gaming brand of ASUS. It has configuration software that I set up on my Surface Go tablet. The mouse itself holds config in firmware and can use with any computer without software. The selling point for me is that I can…

I was looking for a cheap good mouse, so this was good to read (I have just ordered a handfull of 'your' TUF mice, so they better be good ;-) I hope the scroll wheel fells like my Razer DeathAdder Elite, which have 24 "rough" steps per 360 degrees, other mice (like my Logitech M318e) have what feels like an 'infinite' number of fine steps (maybe there are 100 - it's difficult to count!) It just feels so much better -…

There's about 20-ish clearly noticeable detents on the scrollwheel per revolution--I counted 7 clicks moving along the exposed perimeter of the wheel. The only thing that I see could be better is if the cord was braided and detachable, but I'm not serious a gamer or anything.

Re: Ask HN: What's your favorite software-free keyboard and mouse?

Re: Ask HN: What's your favorite software-free keyboard and mouse?