I don't understand what the obsession is with the old IBM Model M type keyboards. I am able to type faster and more accurately on my Apple flat aluminum keyboard that I have ever been able to type on a Model M. On top of that, switching to a flatter keyboard that sits closer to the desk has actually caused any and all pain I used to get while typing to go away.<p>The other thing is I'd miss the extra function keys I get on my full size Apple keyboard. Specifically F13-F19, which I have bound to a whole bunch of different things that help me throughout my day.
I got a das keyboard at home and at work. Its awesome, and I'd recommend a mechanical to anyone who works on a keyboard for a living. I would never buy anything like this from Atwood, though. His 'expertise' in software, personal attacks on other developers and tedious self-promotion don't really convince me that he's got the know-how to get into hardware production, but rather that he's found a way to make money off his sycophantic fan-base of mediocre programmers who take his word as gospel.<p>(remember Arringtons tablet, anyone?)
I really can't think of anything good to say about this keyboard. I've used keyboards like this, and I've damaged my body with them. You know what matters a lot more than a backlight? Ergonomic design. Get a Kinesis Advantage instead.
I don't want to take anything away from Jeff, good for him for realizing his dream. But claiming that this is the best keyboard for programmers is an overstatement if I ever heard one.<p>Yes, it's mechanical, yes it has backlit keys and you can do some customizations. But where is everything else? Why are the keys still in the zig-zag formation? Why is the enter key so small? Why is the enter key on the right, where I have to use my pinky to hit it? Ever heard about ergonomics? Can I get one with DVORAK layout printed on? And so on and so forth.<p>If you want to create the best keyboard for programmers then create one that won't kill our wrists and hands.
Edit: Turns out they have a variant without the numpad, should have bothered looking for one! So, actually an interesting device. <a href="http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/code-87-key-mechanical-keyboard.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/code-87-key-mechanica...</a><p>I'd be interested in this if it didn't have a numpad, or maybe a detachable numpad.<p>I guess everyone has their individual RSI issues, but after experimenting with various devices, I noticed that mine were caused _exclusively_ by that silly old numpad thing I never use anyway. It forced me to place either the keyboard too far to the left or the mouse too far to the right, causing strain in either my left or right hand over time.<p>I really don't see what use a programmer (or any touch typist) might have for the numpad. I really don't see why they put one on this keyboard.
Other than for very specific ergonomic uses, I honestly don't understand the appeal of a heavy mechanical keyboard; the old IBM buckling-spring Model M keyboard doesn't appeal to me at all. Personally, I do all my work on a ThinkPad keyboard, and I actually have a USB ThinkPad keyboard/mouse for use with non-laptop systems or docking stations. I like the short throw of the keys, I like keys close together (as long as my fingers have room to type, which they do on anything >11" or so), and I like having a mouse on home row.
This is a very overpriced mechanical keyboard. The backlighting is silly and useless. Check out <a href="http://elitekeyboards.com/" rel="nofollow">http://elitekeyboards.com/</a> instead. The Leopold keyboards are very fairly priced. The Rosewill mechanical keyboards from NewEgg are pretty alright, too. Filcos are on the higher end of the price spectrum but are a better value than the "CODE".
I really don't see anything special about this keyboard. It's backlit and mechanical. Seems like it's been done a hundred times already.
This looks like any typical mechanical keyboard, like a DasKeyboard. I don't see what sets it apart?<p>I have 4 Microsoft Ergo 7000s in case they ever stop making them.
People might be interested in the Combimouse which is in development. It's a keyboard in two parts, where the right part doubles as a mouse.<p><a href="http://www.combimouse.com/index.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.combimouse.com/index.htm</a><p>Current Indigogo campaign: <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/combimouse-combination-keyboard-and-mouse--43" rel="nofollow">http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/combimouse-combination-key...</a><p>(Disclaimer: I'm not involved with this project aside from contributing to a previous campaign.)
I had RSI. Got over it, but still found mechanical keyboards uncomfortable.<p>For some reason, I find the MacBook air 13 inch keyboard to be the most comfortable I've ever used.<p>I don't know why. Part of it may be the low height from the ground, and part is the great trackpad. (I tried the magic mouse and hurt my arm)<p>I expect other people have different opinions of the air's keyboard. The point is that I don't think there is any one keyboard that works best for everyone.
WASD Keyboards (well, Weyman) has given me some of the best customer support over the past few years. They even recently fixed my busted Caps Lock key (my own fault) outside of warranty for just $10. I broke my space bar in-warranty, and it was fixed for free. I wanted some custom settings/layouts the keyboard designer couldn't handle, and they obliged. My WASD has lasted for several years now (including a few minor repairs) and I've had nothing but good experiences with them. I've been waiting for their v2 keyboards (they've been "coming soon" for months) and I'm excited to see they finally launched!
While I can understand the appeal of mechanical keyboards (at least appeal for you but hatred from your coworkers), I really don't understand why any programmer today is still using a non-ergonomic keyboard. These straight keyboards will kill your wrists, forehands and tendons eventually.<p>If you intend to be typing on a keyboard for more than the next five years and you're still using a straight keyboard, do yourself a favor and buy a split keyboard today.<p>Pains from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome will most likely follow you for the rest of your life, just not worth it.
I wonder what was the real price of making this keyboard, probably not more than $10. I mean China.<p>This is getting ridiculous. It's not because there is now HN, reddit and everything that can feed a hipster that you should fall into this trap and buy a €149.99 a keyboard.
Can anyone who has used the Cherry MX clears comment on them as compared to blues or browns? I've found that I dislike blues, and loathe reds. Browns are hands down my favorite, and the key switch I use both at home and at the office.<p>I do understand being frustrated in the search for a high quality mechanical <i>backlit</i> keyboard, as there are shockingly few contenders out there. I'm currently using a Max nighthawk (green backlit with brown key switches), and enjoying it. However, the Ducky Shine II was very close to the top of my list.
Mechanical keyboards are awesome and after a year+ typing on them I can't stand typing on regular rubber domes. My favorite switch is the MX Brown, as the Blues got annoying to me. My current keyboard, which I think is a better coder's board, is the tex beetle ( <a href="http://i.imgur.com/ivEH2Av.png" rel="nofollow">http://i.imgur.com/ivEH2Av.png</a> ). If you want to go down the mechanical keyboard rabbit hole I recommend checking out <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalkeyboards" rel="nofollow">http://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalkeyboards</a>
"I'm just happy to live in a world where the first truly great mechanical keyboard finally exists now." That's subjective. To me this keyboard is average and over priced. I personally hate that keyboard layout, so for me, this isn't the first truly great keyboard.
Why are we continuing to use staggered layouts on keyboards? It is clearly inefficient, and not difficult to switch to a matrix (ie. grid based) layout, since all of the keys are close to where they were before.<p>Second question - in this day and age of easy connectors, why are numpads attached to the side of keyboards? What do left handed people do? Or people who don't use the numpad? Why not have the numpad detachable? Same goes for the arrow keys.
I'm still waiting to buy a mechanical keyboard with a TrackPoint. Until then, the ThinkPad external USB keyboard [1] is perfect. Its big delete key is great, too.<p>[1] <a href="http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/itemdetails/55Y9003/460/60AC6A0372B14F5BA7B12F1FF88E33C7" rel="nofollow">http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/itemdetails/55Y9003/460/60AC6A0...</a>
What about the Happy Hacking keyboard?
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Hacking_Keyboard" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Hacking_Keyboard</a>
This keyboard looks awesome. Another mechanical keyboard that is very interesting is this new split-design one: <a href="http://ergodox.org" rel="nofollow">http://ergodox.org</a>
I don't understand the fascination with clear/grey switches - blue/green's really aren't that loud compared to buckling spring's and you get the full double-dip feedback. If you're in a super-quiet office then I agree, it makes a difference - but why would you have an open office that didn't have a good deal of collaboration/talking/acceptance of noise?<p>The disable switches on the back of the keyboard are a very nice touch but beyond that, there is a lot from the ad that's standard fare for higher end keyboards these days. That price really needs to go down by 20-30$ for it to stay competitive beyond the initial rush of Atwood fans.
No offence to the maker, but this seems like a huge gimmick. There's nothing that separates this mechanical keyboard from others in the same price range, and there certainly isn't anything about it that makes it more developer-friendly than other boards. They've just slapped the letters CODE on the back and called it a keyboard for devs...
Anyone have any thoughts on the difference between this 87 key keyboard and the leopold tenkeyless? I've been using an ancient wired 87 key apple keyboard that I love but I'm intrigued.<p><a href="http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,tenkeyless" rel="nofollow">http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,tenkeyles...</a>
Here's an idea for a new keyboard. Just a board with studs like in Lego, and a bag of individual keys (switches), that you could arrange on the board in any way you would wish.<p>So you could build, in a way, any physical layout you would want. You could go fancy and use colored switches. And so on.. endless possibilities.
I have two questions:<p>1. I want to engrave international symbols by myself. Will they have a backlight like original symbols?<p>2. Many people around the web are very pleased with their Cherry MX based keyboards. This is understandable when they are switching from cheap keyboards with same keystroke length. But what about people that have switched from laptop or Apple keyboards with shorter keystrokes? I found for myself that twice shorter keystroke is also twice comfortable (much less movements for fingers). Does it make a sense to try again a keyboard with long keystrokes, but with good mechanics like the CODE? Has anybody tried to use CherryMX keyboard after using laptop or any other keyboard with short keystrokes? Could you share your experience?
Mandatory reading when it comes to keyboarding: <a href="http://oreilly.com/news/zenclavier_1299.html" rel="nofollow">http://oreilly.com/news/zenclavier_1299.html</a><p>So far, I've used many keyboards. Nothing comes close to the IBM Model M, or their modern incarnations. Here in India, you get a TVS Gold keyboard which is the basically IBM Model M of India. The difference between that and my office HP standard keyboard is so enormous, I can nearly write a short book detailing it.<p>Firstly the build, Model M's ones are built like a tank. They will last decades. Secondly the spring feedback and clicky auditory feed back you get. Thirdly, and the most important feature of the keyboard is the impedance match when your fingers hit the keyboard and the resistance/friction those keys offer. The Model M some does this so well, you will almost feel you are becoming one with the keyboard, combined with this the clicky auditory feed back and the rugged build is what makes the IBM Model M the king of all keyboards.<p>Now every time I use the Model M at home and then come and use the keyboards at office, I see two straight issues. One I see is either the keyboard is offering too much friction/resistance which in case my fingers hit the keys faster but the keys don't mechanically respond as faster, or in cases of keyboard like the Apple's flat aluminum keyboard the resistance is too less and fingers tend to slower compared to the keys. And yes the feed back thing isn't in any way remotely comparable to the Model M.<p>Lastly you can argue that, this should even matter to you as a coder. As good coding is above typing skills. Though I agree with you, I would suggest you read the article I posed at the top of this comment.<p>Beyond all, once you've some really awesome. Even the very normal all begins to feel like bad.<p>Long story, short- a good geek/nerd keyboard needs to:<p><pre><code> 1. Provide auditory feed back while typing.
2. The impedance match between the key response and
your finger's hit force need to match perfectly.
3. Keyboard must be rugged.
4. Important code related keys should be big.</code></pre>
Not sure if it's the font or actual size of the letters, the labeling on the keys looks really, really small.<p>Apple/Lenovo have perfected keyboards in their laptops. It's been years since I've wanted an aftermarket one.
The perfect keyboard for me is the Logitech Wireless Solar K750, but it has 2 big flaws:<p>a) It discharges in around 3 days of heavy coding, and requires real sunlight, I had to leave the keyboard at the garden when the battery exhausted, and there are no alternate ways to charge it (the least I expected was a detachable USB cord).<p>b) Hardcoded limit of 40 pairings and no indication of that limit unless it won't pair anymore, I used to have two "Unifying receivers", one at home, one at the office, so I exhausted that limit relatively fast... It was frustrating and disappointing when I reached that limit...
I've been testing out various keyboards, also the mechanical ones. The one that I have liked most is the Apple wired keyboard (with numpad). Since I'm using this with windows I remapped a few keys[1] to make it for more suitable for my habits.<p>The keyboard has low profile and the feeling on the keys is "very precise". Also it is quite affordable.<p>[1] <a href="http://juhap.iki.fi/webdev/keymapper-mappings-for-using-apple-keyboard-with-windows/" rel="nofollow">http://juhap.iki.fi/webdev/keymapper-mappings-for-using-appl...</a>
I love my MS Natural Ergo 4000 keyboard. Straight keyboards feel cramped and awkward. Every now and again I take it outside and blast it with the air compressor to clean it out, and it has lasted so long the type has worn off the middle row.<p>The nubs of the J and F keys had also worn down that much that I ended up getting an old soldering iron and scarring those two keys again.<p>I suspect ergo keyboards are not as advantageous if you are a hunt and peck rather than a touch typist (most useful thing I ever learned in school.)<p>I like the dip switch options on Jeff's keyboard.
I've got to be honest, this thing is making me want to upgrade my CMStorm Quickfire. It really is the little details that I can appreciate, like backlighting, dip switches, the different layout for the function keys and the possible weaponization via steel backplate. I somehow feel better knowing I can defend myself with my keyboard. :D<p>I see the code keyboard as filling a void in the mechanical keyboard market between filco/wasd/cmstorm and happy hacker in terms of configurability and simplicity.
I've been using a UNICOMP UB4044A (<a href="http://pckeyboard.com/page/UKBD/UB4044A" rel="nofollow">http://pckeyboard.com/page/UKBD/UB4044A</a>) since mid 2007 and it. is. fantastic. I love the tactile feedback from the keys. My co-workers even find the noise from the buckling springs comforting when I'm typing fast and furious knowing that work is getting done. I highly recommend it at $80.
Keyboard preference is something that takes a while to build and a while to undo, if you use just one. I have a few Matias tactile kb's (deep key travel) and a couple Mac aluminum wired kb's (laptop like key travel), use both simultaneously<p>(I also switch between piano, woodwinds, guitar/fretless bass and sometimes cello, which is <i>Hors catégorie</i> as far as the complexity of the left hand action compared to the other three
Uh... I see no value in this. Why not talk about a keyboard with language specific placement of letters? Who cares about a super basic and generic keyboard?
Using a Unicomp Customizer 104 at home, and one with the trackpoint at work. Love them both, though don't use the trackpoint much... I have a TSR for Win+[]\ (volume down/up/mute respectively and that is all I really need.<p>Though they're really noisy (buckling spring), so the cherry clear switches on the CODE Keyboard do appeal to me. I'd like to see an option for mac key layout though.
It should go without saying that keyboards are highly personal, especially for developers. Having said that, this keyboard looks pretty terrible to me - nothing novel and all the things I dislike in standard keyboards. Really, a keypad?<p>Look into a $100 10 keyless cherry switch keyboard for a big improvement (filcos are particulary good). Or my favorite layout, the happy hacker keyboard pro.
Order website is confusing:<p>"Availability: In stock" at the top of the page, and then below in the product description says "We are now SOLD OUT".<p>So which is it?<p>Also surprised that the key caps are ABS plastic instead of PBT at this price point or at least there's no option for that.<p>Nevermind though; I'm going to wait for a few reviews of this to be posted. (Someone please post a review if you get one!)
Does it solve the key rollover problem?<p><a href="http://superuser.com/questions/73685/keyboard-doesnt-let-me-press-certain-keys-at-the-same-time" rel="nofollow">http://superuser.com/questions/73685/keyboard-doesnt-let-me-...</a><p>I've always wanted a keyboard that let me press as many keys as I want to at the same time.
I bought a Filco Majestouch and couldn't use it a work as it totally hurted my wrists. I really had to adapt to not hit the keys too hard. Also the cherry mx blue caused difficulties for navigating inside code because the course of the key is longer and I often hit the keys repetedly when browsing code.
Looks a lot to me like a rebranded Ducky Shine (<a href="http://www.tankguys.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/imgp3156.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://www.tankguys.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/...</a>).
I'd think about this, but it isn't convertible to a UK layout. It's not just a question of keycaps - we have another key to the right of the apostrophe (~ and #) narrowing the return key, and the return key takes up the space of the \ and | key, with that moving to the left of z.
If you make one with two extra keys under the space bar, for use as thumb-activated modifiers, and Cherry blue switches as an option, I will buy one. For now, it's not really bringing anything new to the table, except for those Cherry clears, but I don't care for them.
I got really excited at first reading this, someone agreeing with me that keyboards nowadays were not evolving.<p>And yes good mechanical keyboards matter, but that's not what we should improve them on.<p>A good keyboard should have : usb 3.0 ports, mic/headphones entries, wheel to control the sound etc...
This is neat, but personally I don't find keyboards that exciting. Nor do I anticipate ever owning a desktop machine again. Maybe if this sort of thing could be done on a laptop, I'd be pumped.<p>My fave keyboard is still the IBM 101 clickity from my PS/2 days in school.
I don't know if it's cognitive bias or what; but I've been using my iMac for about 5 months now, and the small keyboard that comes with it is fantastic. My wrists don't hurt, and the keys are crisp and clear to touch type on.<p>$150 for a keyboard is really steep.
Honestly, if I were going to try to solve one problem with keyboards it would be to make cleaning them easier. This seems like a good keyboard and I may consider picking one up if both of my Das Keyboards fail me, but I'm not rushing to get one.
What I would like is the possibility to buy/order a low-cost, non-mechanical, customized keyboard. Mass-manufactured keyboards cost less than 10€, could a custom printing job for the keys add that much?
I'm a current Filco owner and previous Model M user. This looks like exactly what I would have produced if I could make my own keyboard. Ordered an 87-key, looking forward to trying it out.
Looks nice but I love my Cherry G80's (and they are less than half the price) too much to upgrade just yet (though the silent keys might be kind in a crowded environment).
The nicest looking of the many mostly identical mechanical keyboards out there.<p>Should've gone with double-shot injection molding for durability; I wonder what it would have cost.
I am typing on a Kinesis Freestyle set <i>vertical</i> with its Ascent and it Kicks Ass(TM). You can't beat the ergonomics of a vertical keyboard.
Interesting stuff ... sadly with shipping and VAT + customs it will come close to 270 USD in Europe. But probably I will purchase one.<p>It is very close to the perfect keyboard for me - just add blank keys and replace the clear with green (I love the chaingun sounds early in the morning.