Hi all-<p>I am currently in the market for a new keyboard. I do a fair amount of hacking and am looking for suggestions for comfortable, reasonably priced options.<p>So, what say you?
I am in love with my Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000. Of course, if you don't like split keyboards, it is probably not for you. The two things like like about it most are the soft faux-leather palm wrest (very comfy), and the negative slope shim that it comes with. The shim makes the keyboard incline away from you slightly, which I find provides a more comfortable wrist angle.<p>There is, for me, one downside. I hate the F-Lock key with a passion. It turns the F keys into stupid M$ buttons when it is toggled on. For me, as a Linux developer, this means that my hotkeys start doing crazy stuff whenever I bump the F-Lock key. I really should get around to popping it off the keyboard.<p>Other than that, it is a good solid keyboard. I work on this thing for around 10-14 hours a day, and it has been pretty easy on my wrists.
My Kinesis Advantage meets at least one of your criteria. ;)<p><a href="http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/advantage.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/advantage.htm</a><p>And given that I spend so much of my life in front of a keyboard, I'd argue that the Kinesis <i>is</i> reasonably priced, for me. But your mileage may vary.
Sorry, this isn't very helpful, but I thought I'd take this opportunity to show the world this keyboard:<p><a href="http://www.walyou.com/img/datahand-keyboard.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://www.walyou.com/img/datahand-keyboard.jpg</a><p>Actually, I did have a coworker who used this. He typed absurdly fast with it. However, whenever someone else wanted to use his computer, he went on a search for a regular keyboard.
IBM Model M. Noisy as hell, built like a tank, best tactile feedback around (due to the buckling spring technology). Currently made and sold by Unicomp (<a href="http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net" rel="nofollow">http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net</a>).
I've really come to like Apple's default keyboard; the keys are extremely flat, spaced apart, and almost silent. Although, the function keys are half-sized for no good reason.
The kensington slim type is the best kb I ever had out of my 18 yrs or so of computer usage. It's tactical feel best even the Lenovo laptop keypad. It is one of few kbs that has 4.5 stars rating from 100+ users on amazon. It's also one of few kbs that is not a mile wide. I just wish they just drop the numpad all together, or at least make a version that did.<p>My only quest in finding a better kb is to find a relatively good kb that doesn't have the numpad (I dislike extra travel space to the mouse).<p>I don't think there are any good kb for < $60 that drops the numpad. I had some el cheapos from Fry's that didn't have the numpad, but they aren't as good and the key placements are not the normal settings. The apple kb is no where near as good as the slim type for me, and it doesn't have delete key and it's well over $60. The only ones I know are ones like logitech makes that comes with kb and numpad separated, but they are close to or over $100.
I use a couple of small form-factor IBM keyboards I bought on sale for about $10 each a few years ago...looks like the Rapid Access III is the current model that looks pretty much the same, and they sell for ~$50. IBM historically makes really solid keyboards with a nice feel. The small form-factor brings Esc and Del/Home/PgUp/PgDn closer to the home row, without losing the number pad.<p>They're about five years old now, and probably due for replacement (they still work fine, but five years worth of heavy use tends to make keyboards kinda gross and key labels fade and such). I looked at the new Apple keyboards when I was at the Apple store with a friend, and for the first time in my life felt a pretty strong desire for an Apple product. They <i>look</i> amazing. I'm not sure I'll actually like it better than the IBM for long term use, though. But I suspect that'll be my next keyboard, at least to give it a try.
The microsoft internet keyboard has all the trappings of the perfect keyboard. (except it is not USB.) The arrow keys are in the preferred upside down tee, it has a huge delete button, the home and end keys are in the correct logical left to right order, the page up and page down are in the correct up and down configuration. Split keys are there for ergonomics and it is fairly cheap.<p><a href="http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&safe=off&q=microsoft+natural+multimedia+keyboard&cid=16650197810230819705&sa=title#p" rel="nofollow">http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&safe=off...</a><p>I don't know about those sellers but that is the keyboard that I love.
I've been really happy with my Das Keyboard Professional. I've been using it as my main keyboard since it was first released about 15 months ago.<p><a href="http://www.daskeyboard.com/daskeyboard_original_professional.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.daskeyboard.com/daskeyboard_original_professional...</a><p>The only downside is the $129 USD price. You'll have to decide if it's "reasonably priced". I got nice discount on a pre-order, but at this point I would gladly pay more. This thing doesn't show any signs of ever dying on me though.<p>Update: I just checked and it's actually on sale right now for $109 USD.
"I know why you're here, d4ft. I know what you've been doing … why you hardly sleep, why you live alone, and why night after night, you sit by your computer. You're looking for it. I know because I was once looking for the same thing. And when it found me, I realized I wasn't really looking for it. I was looking for an answer. It's the question that drives us, d4ft. It's the question that brought you here. You know the question, just as I did."<p>"What is the ultimate keyboard?"<p>"The answer is out there, d4ft, and it's looking for you, and it will find you if you want it to"
Kinesis Freestyle. I bought mine for $90 from an online retailer, and I turned around and bought the VIP kit for another $40.<p>In retrospect, I wish that I would've spent the extra bucks on the longer cable connecting the two pieces together. There're nuts on the underside of the thing that look like they'll accept screws for mounting it to half-assed hardware for attaching it to, e.g., a chair.
I really like IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad keyboards, mainly for the trackpoint ("pencil eraser" mouse device), which requires less hand movement than a typical trackpad, mouse, or trackball.<p>They have an external USB version for desktop use:
<a href="http://lenovoblogs.com/designmatters/?p=2364" rel="nofollow">http://lenovoblogs.com/designmatters/?p=2364</a>
I have an old SGI keyboard that I'm totally partial to. The previous one died about a year ago and I searched high and low for another, finally buying a complete indy just for the keyboard.<p>It's heavy, sturdy and doesn't move around on the desk when I type.<p>You'll have to pry it from my cold dead hands if you want it though :)
I recommend the happy hacking keyboard professional 2.
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Hacking_Keyboard" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Hacking_Keyboard</a>
for anyone interested in getting the best keyboard possible, check http//:geekhack.org. Nowhere on the net will you find more keyboard knowledge.<p>I have + ~5 keyboards. Using a kinesis contour now.