Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard • Hacker News Board

Re: Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard

#21

Post by somedrag » Tue, Sep 03, 2019, 2:11 PM UTC

vladharbuz wrote: post #3

> Jokes aside, I totally understand the appeal of mechanical keyboards. I’ve used them and it is satisfying to hear that clickity-click sound and the keys do feel amazing but that just doesn’t work for me due to being on so many pair programming calls and recording video courses. I don't like it when people equate mechanical keyboards to loudness. They don't have to be loud! My keyboard has MX Clear switches which ar…

I was surprised by this point - I have the same keyboard as the author but when I'm on video calls I tend to use the keyboard on my MacBook because I've gotten numerous comments about how loud my keyboard is.

I use the MacBook built in speaker (not a detached microphone like he does in the video). My keyboard is on a wooden desk directly in front of the the laptop (with an open screen for even worse acoustics). Maybe I'd have better luck with a raised microphone like in the video in the article, but I would not say this is a particularly quiet keyboard.

Re: Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard

#22

Post by GarrisonPrime » Tue, Sep 03, 2019, 2:11 PM UTC

banachtarski wrote: post #7

This article is an affront to everything I know and have experienced about keyboards, all to post a non-disclosed affiliate link.

I have no problems with affiliate links not being disclosed. Why does it matter? If they're providing a useful link to someone, I don't care if Amazon gives them a few pennies as a reward. If their link is not useful, no one is harmed.

Re: Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard

#23

Post by egdod » Tue, Sep 03, 2019, 2:12 PM UTC

pyronite wrote: post #6

SwetDrems wrote: post #5

This is blatant advertising on the front-page of HN. How did a post about a generic keyboard rise so high in such a short period of time?

What makes you believe the author of this article, who from what I can tell is a long-term active HN user, is advertising for Amazon? Skepticism is good, but you should also be skeptical of the first conclusion it leads you to.

Using an affiliate link without mentioning it is scammy.

Re: Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard

#24

Post by neogodless » Tue, Sep 03, 2019, 2:12 PM UTC

meddlepal wrote: post #12

My favorite keyboards is the Microsoft Sculpt Comfort. I can type for hours without any wrist pain compared to all my other keyboards.

My previous favorite was the Natural 4000 Ergonomic, and now the Sculpt Ergonomic. In both cases, I have had keys wear out* and have gone through quite a few, but like them enough to put up with the trouble. Of course, I could get the 4000 for $20; I tend to have to spend closer to $60 to get the Sculpt!

* The Natural 4000 space bar was the worst offender. On my Sculpt Ergonomic, I've lost an 'L' and 'F5'.

Re: Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard

#25

Post by nickjj » Tue, Sep 03, 2019, 2:12 PM UTC

SwetDrems wrote: post #5

This is blatant advertising on the front-page of HN. How did a post about a generic keyboard rise so high in such a short period of time?

How is it advertising?

I'm the author of the post. I've used this keyboard for half a decade before I decided to write about it.

If you read a few paragraphs of the article you'll see I am using this "generic" keyboard because it's great.

Typing is also a pretty important thing for programmers and I've seen plenty of like/dislike posts about various keyboards. It very much applies to developers.

Re: Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard

#26

Post by mtmail » Tue, Sep 03, 2019, 2:13 PM UTC

banachtarski wrote: post #7

This article is an affront to everything I know and have experienced about keyboards, all to post a non-disclosed affiliate link.

The blog is very technical (Docker, Linux, VIM) https://nickjanetakis.com/blog/ As far as I see it's the first post about a product. I don't believe it was written just to push affiliate links.

Re: Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard

#27

Post by cj » Tue, Sep 03, 2019, 2:14 PM UTC

somedrag wrote: post #21

vladharbuz wrote: post #3

> Jokes aside, I totally understand the appeal of mechanical keyboards. I’ve used them and it is satisfying to hear that clickity-click sound and the keys do feel amazing but that just doesn’t work for me due to being on so many pair programming calls and recording video courses. I don't like it when people equate mechanical keyboards to loudness. They don't have to be loud! My keyboard has MX Clear switches which ar…

I was surprised by this point - I have the same keyboard as the author but when I'm on video calls I tend to use the keyboard on my MacBook because I've gotten numerous comments about how loud my keyboard is. I use the MacBook built in speaker (not a detached microphone like he does in the video). My keyboard is on a wooden desk directly in front of the the laptop (with an open screen for even worse acoustics). Maybe…

Agreed. I also have the same keyboard. And when on video calls, I regularly switch to the Macbook Pro built-in keyboard if I don't want the other person to hear me typing (it is quite loud and definitely audible over a video call).

Re: Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard

#28

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Sep 03, 2019, 2:15 PM UTC

pyronite wrote: post #6

SwetDrems wrote: post #5

This is blatant advertising on the front-page of HN. How did a post about a generic keyboard rise so high in such a short period of time?

What makes you believe the author of this article, who from what I can tell is a long-term active HN user, is advertising for Amazon? Skepticism is good, but you should also be skeptical of the first conclusion it leads you to.

[deleted]

Re: Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard

#29

Post by brianpgordon » Tue, Sep 03, 2019, 2:15 PM UTC

Maybe it's just because my keyboard is >15 times as expensive but I have an extremely hard time believing that the Amazon keyboard is in the same league. I can't help but feel like if the author unironically prefers a $15 keyboard (and believes that mechanical keyboards are all loud) then maybe he shouldn't be writing a blog post about keyboards because he doesn't really know what he's talking about.

Re: Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard

#30

Post by daguil68367 » Tue, Sep 03, 2019, 2:16 PM UTC

These are just things that most generic keyboards already have.

I see no reason why anyone should buy this keyboard over the one that probably came with their computer.

Unique features, like doubleshot keycaps, N-key rollover, layers and macros, actuation that is seperated from the bottom-out, good build quality, and more can all be found on a decent mechanical keyboard.

Also, mechanical keyboards don't have to be loud! Linear and tactile Matias switches, Cherry MX/Gateron silents, and Topre are all great keyswitches that are as quiet, if not more, than your standard rubber dome.