The best keyboard debate...

[talksr]

Apologies for the boring subject!

 

I was wondering what keyboard you would consider the best? For years, my go to keyboard and mouse combination has been the HP 672647-003 black keyboard with a matching black 672552-001 mouse.

I have them both at home and work and think the buttons are all in just the right places and the keyboard is nice and sturdy.

 

 

We have had a few Lenovos in at work with the Lenovo Preferred Pro II USB Keyboard 4X30M86917. They seem quite ergonomically designed and with good buttons and of all of our systems at work, I quite like typing on these boards. Sadly, the new HP, DELL and some Lenovo keyboards that come shipped with systems are so cheap and thin, I can't bare to use them.

 

What are your opinions? Are mechanical keyboards any good? I have never moved away from my trusy HP combination ans it just works well and I can type so much quicker on them, but eventually, I am not going to be able to get these anymore so I would be intersted to know what you all rate as the best.

[Aprice]

The same HP combo used to be my preferred until I bought a Logitech MX Master 3 and then followed that up with the MX Keys. I'm tempted by the new MX Mechanical but can't really justify spending any more after the first lot.

[talksr]

The same HP combo used to be my preferred until I bought a Logitech MX Master 3 and then followed that up with the MX Keys. I'm tempted by the new MX Mechanical but can't really justify spending any more after the first lot.

 

I am glad I am not the only one who took a liking to the HP ones! There was a model before with a silver bit going across the top. It was equally as nice but has the old PS2 connector and using converters was a bind so switched to the one I have now.

 

Thanks for the Logitech suggestions, they look quite nice.

[MrEprise]

There was a model before with a silver bit going across the top. It was equally as nice but has the old PS2 connector and using converters was a bind so switched to the one I have now.

 

That'll be the KB-0316. I still have a repaired one that I use with a secondary computer at home. I like the old Microsoft Wired Keyboard 600 ones as they're nice to type on and are reliable but I hear that the newer ones are very hit and miss which is a bit of a shame.

[Guest Guest]

Logitech MX Master 3 and Logitech craft keyboard.

 

Both are nice-to-haves in the office and at home

[Roberto]

Logitech MX Master 3 and Logitech craft keyboard.

 

Both are nice-to-haves in the office and at home

 

I have the MX Master 2 mouse and it's great. I'd absolutely replace it with the Master 3 if I had to, but hopefully my '2' has a good few years life left in its legs before it needs replacing at all.

I've partnered it with the Logitech G613 keyboard which I like for its' good quality switch feel. As I both touch-type and tend to hammer at the keys I like a traditional mechanical switched keyboard for the responsiveness of the keyboard and the G613 is a very solid bit of kit overall.

 

Weirdly, I also have a Logitech M350 pebble mouse and the small K380 keyboard as my semi-portable "work around the house" kit - I have the receiver for these plugged into the back of my work dock and (oddly, given what I've just been saying about the G613 and how different the K380 is to that) I can type quite well on the K380 too.

 

In my 'go bag' for work I also have a Microsoft bluetooth mobile mouse 3600 tucked away too, so if I end up having to work really remotely in a place where we don't have an established office I can still use a mouse at least - and provided you are comfortable with the small form factor I think this is a surprisingly good, comfortable mouse too.

 

As for 'best' as per the original post - it's all very much horses for courses. The Craft keyboard is a thing of beauty but I don't think it would work for me.

I think the G613+MX Master 2 combo is the best for me when it comes to working at a fixed desk, but that's my personal WFH setup and would be expensive to have in an office (let alone a school).

Edited August 1, 2022 by Roberto

[SHimmer45]

Filco a recent convert

for years spent using whatever tat a spent around the office

[Guest Guest]

Logitech MX Master 3 and Logitech craft keyboard.

 

Both are nice-to-haves in the office and at home

 

I’m regards to leaving it in the office, our office is always locked at all times to prevent anyone unauthorised entering without our permission so it should be safe from people stealing our equipment.

 

It is a good combo the Logitech MX Master 3 and Logitech Craft though.

 

Like the use of the Dial where you can pause/play anything your playing and turn down the music.

 

A lot of money though!

 

Sorry just quoted my own reply!

 

Meant to quote someone else’s reply

[TechMonkey]

Was always happy with Logitech MK270 combo. Then tried the MX Master and have stuck with it. Got an MX keys, would have loved the one with a dial but couldn't really justify it. The only niggle with the MX Keys is the multi-region keys sometimes catch me out.

[dhicks]

I have never moved away from my trusy HP combination ans it just works well and I can type so much quicker on them, but eventually, I am not going to be able to get these anymore

 

I have an original IBM Model M - not sure of the actual construction date, but probably early ninties. Currently up to £250 each on eBay, but still used daily with no obvious failings so far, so I'm probably getting my money's worth. I also have an original model Microsoft Intellimouse which is still working just fine, again used daily.

[Rob_D]

I daily drive either the Corsair K75 or the Logitech MX (which are both lovely, but I find extended typing sessions on linear mechanical keys quit hard going). But some years ago I picked up a i-rocks D10 on the advice of a friend (apparently he got it for the keycaps), and that thing is a dream to type on.

[Norphy]

I like ergonomic keyboards, personally, and I've recently bought a new Microsoft one because it was on sale during Prime Day. I used to have the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 and I thought it was brilliant. The thing wore out, however, so a couple of years down the line I've just got the catchily named LXM-00004. I did look at similar options from Logitech and in the MS Surface line but they were far too expensive and use laptop style chiclet keys. The offbrand ones from Amazon didn't look brilliant either so I avoided those.

 

It's... OK. I don't think it's as good as the old one. They've made some weird changes to the layout that I don't like and it doesn't feel anywhere near as robust as the old one. However, for a membrane keyboard it feels pretty good, certainly better than the ones you get with computers and it still has the nice soft feel wrist rest built into it.

 

I've also got a Logitech MX Master that I got in the Black Friday sale a few years back. It's a good mouse but battery life is awful. It's pretty much permanently plugged in these days.

[paulkerton]

I have a Brydge C-Type for ChromeOS. Love it.

[flyinghaggis]

I bought an Logitech MX keys the other week and I'm impressed with it so far. The typing experience is good but what really sold it to me was the feature set as it lets you connect multiple devices over USB/Bluetooth. This means I can switch between my Desktop/Laptop and iPad as required which I find pretty handy. You can often grab them on sale for £70-80 which I feel is reasonable and worth the extra outlay over some of the more generic keyboards.

[Omega_NL]

I have an original IBM Model M - not sure of the actual construction date, but probably early ninties. Currently up to £250 each on eBay, but still used daily with no obvious failings so far, so I'm probably getting my money's worth. I also have an original model Microsoft Intellimouse which is still working just fine, again used daily.

 

I though all IBM Model Ms had the manufacture date printed on the bottom of them?

[dhicks]

I though all IBM Model Ms had the manufacture date printed on the bottom of them?

 

Ah - {rummage, rummage, rummage} - 8th of May 1992!

[Omega_NL]

Ah - {rummage, rummage, rummage} - 8th of May 1992!

Nice! I assume early nineties was the buckling spring switch as opposed to the later rubber dome ones?

[dhicks]

I assume early nineties was the buckling spring switch as opposed to the later rubber dome ones?

 

I assume so, too - they have a clunky, clicky sort of sound to them, when you press a key you know you've pressed a key, and so does everyone else nearby. I should point out that I have a newer, quieter Dell (RT7D50) keyboard in my shared workspace office to avoid annoying other people - it's still a full-sized keyboard, and the keys still have a good amount of travel to them, but unlike the Model M it's not quite solid enough to be used as a doorstop.

[Jaan]

https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/NEW_M