this post was submitted on 17 Nov 2024
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Mechanical Keyboards

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We all love mechanical keyboards, but are there any normal keyboards that hold a special place in your heart?

I for one love the keyboard on the old IBM thinkpads.

I also have a special place in my heart for the old Dell membrain keyboards that used to be in every school library in the 90's

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[–] amongstthetrees@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 day ago

I know its technically still a 'mechanical' keyboard but its not an MX style switch: IMB Model M. I still daily drive one for work even though I can't use some shortcuts (no win/super key) and I have a handful of modern mechanical keyboards at home.

If not that, then probably the one I had for work a few years back, similar era but membrane, unknown brand. It had a little bit of an old smell to it and found it in an abandoned warehouse at work. Left it for my replacement when I left that job.

[–] Zachariah@lemmy.world 19 points 4 days ago (4 children)

I really liked my Microsoft Natural Keyboard in the late ’90s.

It was so huge, I ended up learning to mouse with my left hand, so I wouldn’t have to reach so far.

[–] thejml@lemm.ee 9 points 4 days ago

My boss still uses these to this day. A while ago he found a deal and bought like 10, new in box. He has one everywhere and backups to spare.

[–] MaxHardwood@lemmy.ca 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I've been using a split keyboard ever since this exact model was brought home. I finally gave up on the Sculpt and got a Keychron in Alice layout (K15). Not the same but the closest I've found in mechanical

[–] Zachariah@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

How do you like it?

I have a Q6 that I’m very happy with except it being non-ergo.

[–] MaxHardwood@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 days ago

Absolutely love it.

I greatly miss the arc from the Scultp and I use a microfiber cloth to induce an angle between the keyboard and a bad aftermarket wrist pad.

The QMK firmware is a major bonus. I built a custom mouse jiggles into my keyboard

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 3 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Yup, best keyboard I've ever used. They made slightly different versions over the years that fit my hands as well, but none that lasted the way those do; mine is still fully functional.

[–] elbowgrease@lemm.ee 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I had one of these about 7 years ago. didn't realize their history went so far back

[–] Zachariah@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago

You can see the PS/2 connector in the pic.

[–] ipkpjersi@lemmy.ml 7 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I was also thinking old Thinkpad keyboards, and Dell membraine keyboards. Those were both widespread enough that nearly everyone back then had used them, and some of us still remember them lol

[–] Icecreamface@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 days ago (2 children)

I bet someone has taken the original thinkpad keyboards and put it in a housing to use like an external keyboard, just haven't looked into it. I have the shinobi which is a mechanical interpretation of the thinkpad keyboard. It's OK but I prefer the original.

[–] everett@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 days ago

Someone certainly has... IBM and Lenovo themselves! Both have sold external ThinkPad keyboards over the years that are (in some cases) literally laptop keyboards, with a TrackPoint, in housing.

[–] ipkpjersi@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 days ago

I hadn't heard of the shinobi, I might have to check that out! Cheers.

[–] nekusoul@lemmy.nekusoul.de 3 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Not any specific model, but I kinda like low-profile keyboards using scissor switches often found in laptops. Not as great as a mechanical, but I like how they bring over some of the aspects of clicky/tactile switches while also being low profile.

[–] EddoWagt@feddit.nl 1 points 3 days ago

I probably type fastest on a keyboard like that, but I still don't like how the actuation is all the way at the bottom. That makes it a bit annoying for gaming in my opinion, where you need to hold pressure to hold a key down

[–] Zoop@beehaw.org 1 points 3 days ago

I feel the same way! They're pretty neat.

[–] breckenedge@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Apple’s Bluetooth keyboards have been pleasant to type on, albeit a bit pricy.

[–] Pechente 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

My main gripe with them is that they do not offer to pair multiple devices and quickly switch between them. They do however feel great and I've found nothing that comes close in terms of reliability and typing experience. I settled for a Logitech keyboard for now and it's just fine but I wish there were more premium options available.

[–] Icecreamface@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

The Logitech MX Keys keyboards are the answer.

[–] Pechente 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Not really. Had one of those. Quality is meh and typing doesn’t feel nearly as good

[–] Icecreamface@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 days ago

Fair enough

[–] dave@feddit.uk 2 points 4 days ago

ZX Spectrum. That is all.

[–] the_kung_fu_emu@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago

I will always have a soft spot for the Unicomp line for carrying forward the old Model M legacy. For odd ducks in the truly commercial space, the layout of the TypeMatrix can't be beat!

[–] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 2 points 4 days ago

This thing is actually what got me into Mechanical Keyboards a a year and a half ago or so. Doesn't seem to be available anymore.

[–] MechKit@beehaw.org 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I spent way too much money building mechanical keyboards, and I could never get to like the feel. So now I am using non-technicals. Guess I am just weird.

[–] Icecreamface@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 days ago

It's almost like how I spent so many years configuring Arch and tweaking it and now I just use debian.

[–] BigPotato@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

I have a Logitech G100 combo of a mouse and keyboard. Rubber domes, came with a grub cover. It's been over a decade and it's my go-to "need to work on a computer" set.

Actually, the mouse out of that one is still in active use right now.

I'm a fan of my MX keys, though Logitech does make a mechanical version.

[–] wjrii@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

My first nearly proper computer was an Atari XE Game System. The keyboard is well known to be fairly crap, but it didn't feel that way at the time.