tech needs to be pretty - discuss

stark · Post by **stark** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 3:03 pm 0

i have to say my wireless logitech keyboard has a llovely long travel on the keys - i prefer to hit my keyboards quite hard [bring back tha AT keyboards

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Firefox · Post by **Firefox** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 3:04 pm 0

MadHippo wrote:As far as I'm concerned, keyboard design peaked at the IBM PS/2 model 50 keyboards. Solid metal and tough plastic construction, individual microswitches for each key, removable keycaps for easy cleaning, really long, flexable cables...

They're by far and away the best keyboard in terms of feel, I just wish they were a bit smaller... Maybe if the numeric keypad could somehow be moved to the lefthand side of the keyboard (leaving the arrow and insert/delete/home/etc keys where they are) so I could get my mouse in a bit closer...

Ahchay · Post by **Ahchay** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 3:10 pm 0

Firefox wrote:
MadHippo wrote:As far as I'm concerned, keyboard design peaked at the IBM PS/2 model 50 keyboards. Solid metal and tough plastic construction, individual microswitches for each key, removable keycaps for easy cleaning, really long, flexable cables...
They're by far and away the best keyboard in terms of feel, I just wish they were a bit smaller... Maybe if the numeric keypad could somehow be moved to the lefthand side of the keyboard (leaving the arrow and insert/delete/home/etc keys where they are) so I could get my mouse in a bit closer...

See if you can find a second hand PS/2 model 30. I picked one up a couple of years back and it comes with a truncated PS/2 keyboard - missing the numpad

(And who, apart from accountants, uses the numeric keypad)

Cheers
Chris

Firefox · Post by **Firefox** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 3:40 pm 0

Ahchay wrote:See if you can find a second hand PS/2 model 30. I picked one up a couple of years back and it comes with a truncated PS/2 keyboard - missing the numpad

Are you sure you mean model 30? All the pictures of model 30 PS/2s I can find have the full-size keyboards.

Ahchay wrote: (And who, apart from accountants, uses the numeric keypad)

I do!

I use '1' - '9', NumLock, '/' and '*' keys to switch between desktops, '+' and '-' to raise/lower windows, '0' and '.' to cycle backwards/forwards through the windows on the current desktop, and the Enter key toggles windows between maximised/normal size.

Window management nirvana!

Ahchay · Post by **Ahchay** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 3:45 pm 0

Firefox wrote:
Ahchay wrote:See if you can find a second hand PS/2 model 30. I picked one up a couple of years back and it comes with a truncated PS/2 keyboard - missing the numpad
Are you sure you mean model 30? All the pictures of model 30 PS/2s I can find have the full-size keyboards.

Definately. It was an option I think - the Model 30 was targetted much more at the desktop user (being an XT(!) under the hood). I got mine from a bank clear-out. The only downside (for me) is an undersized Enter key... Make me an offer and you can have it (The keyboard, not the PS/2)

Ahchay wrote: (And who, apart from accountants, uses the numeric keypad)
I do!

There's always one

Cheers
Chris

strawdonkey · Post by **strawdonkey** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 5:12 pm 0

Ahchay wrote:For those of us who learned to type on mechanical writetypers though - the IBM keyboards (up to and including the PS/2 keyboard which I still use today) rule

Snap!

Only problem with it is that it's a bit loud, and I spend too much time on the computer so I'm RSI-me-do! ing my wrists rather quickly. I've ordered two MS natural keyboards, one for home, one for work (because Datadesk didn't get back to me, grr) but I have a feeling that this may well make a re-appearance sometime... It's just so lovely!

Clickety-click...

teamonkey · Post by **teamonkey** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 7:10 pm 0

stark wrote:i have to say my wireless logitech keyboard has a llovely long travel on the keys - i prefer to hit my keyboards quite hard [bring back tha AT keyboards ]

I also love my wireless Logitech stuff. It looks pretty, it's well built, it feels good, and it allows you to play Vice City in bed. Â£80? Best money I've ever spent.

ji · Post by ji » Thu Jun 05, 2003 8:01 am 0

Speaking of keyboards, this is an interesting one: http://www.fingerworks.com/ST_product.html

And speaking of design, I'd prefer any design that makes the computer complitely "invisible" a good design.
Think ubiquitous, the Weiser way: http://www.ubiq.com/hypertext/weiser/UbiHome.html

Come to think of it, imagine something like Unity, played on the walls, furniture, appliances, rooms in your house.
Unity around you, not you immersed into Unity. Mmm, carefull with those plushies now...

hairy_pete · Post by **hairy_pete** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 8:19 am 0

ji wrote:Speaking of keyboards, this is an interesting one: http://www.fingerworks.com/ST_product.html

I can't believe they go such a length and then STILL slant the columns of keys to the left like on a 100 year old typewriter. Fine for the right hand, sucks for the left. Me not buy this, me stay with this:

http://www.darwinkeyboards.com/smart_core.htm

(available from http://www.datadesktech.com for $20 less ... nbcl, I'm surprised they didn't talk to you

)

strawdonkey · Post by **strawdonkey** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 5:12 pm 0

hairy_pete wrote:(available from http://www.datadesktech.com for $20 less ... nbcl, I'm surprised they didn't talk to you )

Me too, to be honest. Surprised and very annoyed, I was well up for paying full whack for two of these things, I even said that as long as they'd ship I'd pay straight up, and... nothing.

At all. Not a happy badly-drawn snake thing, me. Perhaps when the order thing works again... just had two other natural keyboards ordered because I'm fed up of the wait

HIGHWAYMAN · Post by **HIGHWAYMAN** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 5:51 pm 0

the coolest looking keyboard is the crystal-clear one that comes with the new mac's,
unfortunatly it is fucking expensive and only usb.
I FUCKING HATE USB!!!

strawdonkey · Post by **strawdonkey** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 5:53 pm 0

HIGHWAYMAN wrote:I FUCKING HATE USB!!!

Really? Never would have guessed.

For techidiots like myself, it's the shit, though. Although I really should have bought a hub instead of that sodding controller card

hairy_pete · Post by **hairy_pete** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 6:57 pm 0

nitebycandlelite wrote:
hairy_pete wrote:(available from http://www.datadesktech.com for $20 less ... nbcl, I'm surprised they didn't talk to you )
Me too, to be honest. Surprised and very annoyed, I was well up for paying full whack for two of these things, I even said that as long as they'd ship I'd pay straight up, and... nothing.

At all. Not a happy badly-drawn snake thing, me. Perhaps when the order thing works again... just had two other natural keyboards ordered because I'm fed up of the wait

Their "order thing" has never ever worked. I mailed them, discussed the pros and cons of their USB and legacy models to and fro, and then ordered and got stuff no problem. They were really communicative, patient and competent. Odd that.

skab · Post by **skab** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 9:52 pm 0

HIGHWAYMAN wrote:the coolest looking keyboard is the crystal-clear one that comes with the new mac's,
unfortunatly it is fucking expensive and only usb.
I FUCKING HATE USB!!!

USB is fine. Have about 8 USB devices on my G4 Cube all the time, works perfectly. Ok, the USB audio driver seems to crap out from time to time, but overall it's great.

The new white/clear Apple Keyboard looks and feels like crap. It's so unbelievably cheap, just look at it, it looks like they forgot to put some covers between the gaps around the cursor block. Butt-ugly. The older Pro Keyboard was fine. Looking. Typing was a different thing.

Firefox · Post by **Firefox** » Fri Jun 06, 2003 1:18 am 0

Firefox wrote:I just wish they were a bit smaller... Maybe if the numeric keypad could somehow be moved to the lefthand side of the keyboard (leaving the arrow and insert/delete/home/etc keys where they are) so I could get my mouse in a bit closer...

Ooh! This might be worth a go:

Get a matching USB number pad, place it to the left of this keyboard...

I don't doubt for one minute that it won't have the lovely feel of the IBM keyboards of old, but I think I'll at least give it a try.