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Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard

nickjanetakis.com

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Re: Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard

#191

Post by justwalt »

cr0sh wrote: post #166
rhinoceraptor wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You wouldn't drive a Ferrari every day because they're not comfortable or practical, and because they have short service intervals and very expensive consumable parts. And a high performance car is almost necessarily not a reliable car since it's operating near the limit, especially once it has tens of thousands of miles on it. OTOH a mechanical keyboard is much more comfortable than rubber domes for many people. And…

I have a Model M with the flow-thru option; keyboard is probably 30 years old or so. My mobo still has a PS/2 port, but I bought an adapter for USB when that time comes. Other than needing a really deep cleaning (something I really need to do) - it works flawlessly. And it doesn't have any of the "Windows Key" junk that happened in the 90s to distract from my *nix aesthetic. Only downside is that it is beige, while t…

There was a Linus tech tips video a while back about a new run of copycat Model M keyboards using some combination old tooling and new techniques (I don’t remember the specifics at the moment). Are you familiar with those boards at all?

Re: Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard

#192

Post by magashna »

CoolGuySteve wrote: post #69

The responses from the keyboard enthusiasts here are a real life example of this phenomenon: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZK8Z8hulFg The guy just likes this cheap keyboard. I use those aluminum Mac keyboards for most of the same reasons: I like (somewhat) low key travel, they’re cheap and easy to find, and last reasonably well. Edit: Actually it looks like the $50 keyboard I’m talking about got replaced by the “Mag…

It's more that he's so wowed by extremely common features that it comes across as shilling, which it is due to using his referral link. This is an advertisement disguised as an article.

Re: Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard

#193

Post by loup-vaillant »

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…

Many mechanical keyboard users bottom out. That is noisy.

It also hurts their fingers. My brother loved his mechanical keyboard (Cherry MX blue). Very loud (he bottomed out), very satisfying, but he had to quit because his fingers hurt.

Re: Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard

#194

Post by drivers99 »

cr0sh wrote: post #169
paxys wrote: post #138

I urge everyone to get an ergonomic keyboard. Your hands will thank you as you get older.

How much older is older? I'm 46 years old, been programming a computer since I was 10 (TRS-80 Color Computer 2 - with the "melted" keyboard - not exactly ergo), and I currently use a classic Model M (not a Unicomp - a real one made by Lexmark, that inexplicably has the flow-thru option on it for some reason - bit of a unicorn from what I gather). I've used keyboards in my career of all types, including ones on a VT-1…

What is flow-thru option? Google just brings me back to this thread. Wikipedia mentions "drainage holes to deter damage from spilled drinks" in the options. Is that what you're talking about?

Re: Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard

#196

Post by rhinoceraptor »

justwalt wrote: post #191
cr0sh wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a Model M with the flow-thru option; keyboard is probably 30 years old or so. My mobo still has a PS/2 port, but I bought an adapter for USB when that time comes. Other than needing a really deep cleaning (something I really need to do) - it works flawlessly. And it doesn't have any of the "Windows Key" junk that happened in the 90s to distract from my *nix aesthetic. Only downside is that it is beige, while t…

There was a Linus tech tips video a while back about a new run of copycat Model M keyboards using some combination old tooling and new techniques (I don’t remember the specifics at the moment). Are you familiar with those boards at all?

The company is Unicomp for those wondering.

Re: Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard

#197

Post by kazinator »

leshow wrote: post #182
kazinator wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Speaking of engineers and jobs, it's part of an engineer's job description to make compromises on cost. I've never seen a mechanical keyboard that wasn't loud; let alone silent. (The thread topic is noise, not comfort or usability.) That doesn't mean they don't exist. Maybe if I rubbed shoulders more with the high society, I might get access to some invitation-only showroom for exotic keyboards where $14K will get yo…

You can buy silent switches, they cost about the same as non-silent ones. There's really nothing that special about them.

I want to walk into a store, try some keyboards, and walk out with a silent one.

Re: Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard

#198

Post by kazinator »

neurotrace wrote: post #180
kazinator wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Speaking of engineers and jobs, it's part of an engineer's job description to make compromises on cost. I've never seen a mechanical keyboard that wasn't loud; let alone silent. (The thread topic is noise, not comfort or usability.) That doesn't mean they don't exist. Maybe if I rubbed shoulders more with the high society, I might get access to some invitation-only showroom for exotic keyboards where $14K will get yo…

Look in to Cherry MX Silent Red switches. I got a custom board made with those switches for ~$300. You can find cheaper ones but this is a specialty one. The keys are quieter than my mouse buttons and are comfortable to type on.

"I got a custom board made ..."

That's a complete non-starter. I'm not making a custom board for anything not related to guitar. :)

The general market of computer keyboard users is not going to build their own hardware for hundreds of dollars in parts if they just want a silent keyboard; that's practically the same as admitting these things are not available.

Re: Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard

#199

Post by mirekrusin »

whitehouse3 wrote: post #155
castlecrasher2 wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't mean to intrude or otherwise question you but have you looked into weightlifting as a solution? I used to get RSI pretty bad, and had back problems until about four years ago when I did heavy (two-hours a day, six days a week) weightlifting for a few months. Haven't had it since.

Thank you for mentioning this. That's a great data point and I will look into this further.

Bikram yoga (likely any yoga also) helps as well quite quickly.

Re: Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard

#200

Post by postalrat »

cr0sh wrote: post #169
paxys wrote: post #138

I urge everyone to get an ergonomic keyboard. Your hands will thank you as you get older.

How much older is older? I'm 46 years old, been programming a computer since I was 10 (TRS-80 Color Computer 2 - with the "melted" keyboard - not exactly ergo), and I currently use a classic Model M (not a Unicomp - a real one made by Lexmark, that inexplicably has the flow-thru option on it for some reason - bit of a unicorn from what I gather). I've used keyboards in my career of all types, including ones on a VT-1…

Not everyone gets it. I haven't. But I guess you never know and might be best to try avoiding it.
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