I find a lot of keyboards to be of crappy quality when it comes to prolonged usage. So I'm wondering if there's something programmer-friendly (as in LOTS of typing).
Apple keyboard (<a href="http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB110LL/A" rel="nofollow">http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB110LL/A</a>)<p>I just like the feel of it, but normal keyboards feel like chunky Commodore 64s to me now.
The Happy Hacking Pro 2 is great if you like a compact 60 key keyboard. The Escape and Control keys are positioned perfectly for Vim and Emacs, so you don't have to bother with remapping them. Works on PCs and Macs. The price is steep but worth every penny. If I ever go to Japan I'll buy half a dozen and stockpile them. This keyboard is not for everyone, so you should try it before you buy.<p><a href="http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=pfu_keyboards,hhkbpro2&pid=pdkb400b" rel="nofollow">http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=pfu_keyboards,hhk...</a> and <a href="http://www.geekstuff4u.com/happy-hacking-keyboard-pro-2.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.geekstuff4u.com/happy-hacking-keyboard-pro-2.html</a><p>I also use a Das Keyboard, a nice full-sized keyboard with a great build quality---but it is extremely noisy and I wouldn't recommend it for that reason only. There is a silent version, too. Knowing what I know now, I'd go for the quiet one. Funny thing, daskeyboard.com sells matching earplugs for this keyboard. You buy a set for yourself and for everyone who works in the same room as you.
Buckling spring.<p>I know I am not the only one here who has gotten a keyboard form Unicomp: <a href="http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/" rel="nofollow">http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/</a><p>In terms of prolonged usage: it takes some time to get used to, it really depends on what kind of feedback you want form the keys.
Further reading [comparison of different mechanisms and the tactile feedback they give]:
<a href="http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Mechanical+Switch+Keyboards+Sorted+By+Switch&s=cde12ba82bc275f8df7c1ede6930f994" rel="nofollow">http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Mechanical+Switch+Key...</a>
[more force graphs]: <a href="http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Switch+reference&s=cde12ba82bc275f8df7c1ede6930f994" rel="nofollow">http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Switch+reference&...</a>
I'd be interested in some discussion about the specific problems over long sessions with keyboards considered "crappy" -- we can't all be annoyed by exactly the same things, can we? Tactile feedback isn't everything, especially with all the goofy layouts everyone seems to be coming up with these days.<p>As a PC user and occasional twitch-gamer, I personally stick with plain 104-key USB keyboards from Dell or Microsoft (quiet you), since they're fairly cheap to replace at local thrift stores. If my keyboard happens to die by misadventure, I'd rather not drop another $60+ just so I can use my machine comfortably.<p>When it comes to notebooks, the answer for me is and has always been ThinkPad, though the MacBook Pro/PowerBook keyboards are pretty solid as well. Sadly, nobody seems to be donating any MacBooks to my cause... :{
Apple Bluetooth keyboard with those chicklet keys, the similar keys on the macbook, and a heavy,noisy,awesome unicomp buckling-spring keyboard at work to annoy everyone around me. For prolonged use I prefer the buckling-spring - although at first it may seem like you need to type "harder" - you actually don't - the tactile feedback lets you automatically fine-tune your typing to <i>just</i> the right amount of pressure.<p>Plus it's semi-waterproof (water drains right through it, as long as you don't dump enough in for it to rise above the key silos and get in the electronics) and it can take a beating like no other for those angry typing sessions.
I'm using a Das Keyboard Ultimate (<a href="http://www.daskeyboard.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.daskeyboard.com/</a>).<p>It's a nice keyboard but very, very loud. I can see myself switching to an Apple Keyboard sometime soon.
I use a ThinkPad X60 and Synergy as my "keyboard". I've had way too many keyboards over the years, but the X-series ThinkPads are the only ones that don't make my hands ache after a day (or night) of code wrangling.<p>Alas, I can't comment on which modern ThinkPads are best. I know for a fact that X40 and X60 lines are perfect. I've never used an X200 though. On the other hand, I've had a T400-something from work for a few months. That keyboard was worthless compared to my current X60.
Personally I'd recomend a Cherry G83, it's really cheap, lasts ages, and feels great.<p>Although a generic budget keyboard (about £10-£15 here in the UK) it's become really popular among PC gamers (the sort who wouldn't think twice about spending £90 on a special gaming keyboard), and personally I've used it as my primary keyboard for years, it's never let me down yet.
Logitech MX 5500 - Awesome keyboard, best keys ever, Bluetooth connection, and this is part of keyboard- mouse package. The mouse is totally awesome, def worth the money. probably one of the most expensive keyboards from Logitech, but worth the money. Awesome battery life too.
Zoom, all other multimedia keys too.
really lightweight, and very nice keys.
Happy Hacking Lite <a href="http://pfuca-store.stores.yahoo.net/haphackeylit1.html" rel="nofollow">http://pfuca-store.stores.yahoo.net/haphackeylit1.html</a><p>Good feel, small foot print, and an old style key board layout that keeps Esc within reach of the home row for Vi-ers