[Palomine]

 <font color="yellow">Allow me to give you the chance to benefit from my mistake: DO NOT buy Kensington's "Keyboard in a Box" model #64350 (or any equivalent model, the same guts are surely used acoss some swath of their product line).

Though their customer service was kind enough to send me one of these when I discovered that a different (and pricier) Kensington unit I just bought turned out NOT to be both PC AND Mac compatible as advertised on the box... the "Keyboard in a Box" replacement started 'losing' keys almost immediately. Again, they sent another "K i a B" to replace the first one, and it's lasted about 3 or 4 months tops before it's approaching a state of unusability... the usual sluggish response/key sticking/keypresses not registering that one usually finds in keyboards that are YEARS old.

I'm loathe to repeat this process... certainly not with another "K i a B" ...I just wanted a durable basic black keyboard... one that's good for TYPING as opposed to one festooned with all sorts of function/media controls (I know... I'm a non-conformist... a keyboard's ability to take typing is my odd priority). <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I will say that I DO like and appreciate Kensington's customer service (at least they TRIED to fix the problems) but the fact remains that BOTH of the replacement models they sent died premature deaths.

Just for kicks, I MAY call them one more time to try to obtain some satisfaction... after all, I never got to use that original keyboard I paid for. If they offer another "Keyboard in a Box" I WILL decline and instead count my losses and go out and buy an Adesso keyboard (I've got one in the other room that's going on 4-5 years of hard use, with only minor to-be-expected wear-and-tear issues that haven't degraded it's ability to take typing fast and well. AAMOF, I just tried to buy another one of that exact Adesso model (not cheap either, at about $100. for what's essentially a basic (non-media/gaming) keyboard with a pointing device built-in) but was dismayed to learn that it's been discontinued and there's no comparable replacemnt model in their product line. In another example of great customer service (but this time with better products) the Adesso guy was kind enough to send me a spare hardwired cable so I have a chance to get a few more months or years out of it... it's an Adesso EKB-2150 btw... Mac layout/USB/ergo/trackpad in black and is probably the best keyboard I've had in a couple decades. I'll be mighty sad when it finally dies.

OK, Rant over.  

<i>Added later:</i> well, Kensington is sending another replacement keyboard: the only one in their current product line that features a Mac keycap layout (with the Apple aka Command aka Windows key NEXT to the space bar) ...the Slim-Type Keyboard We'll see how it goes... IME, keyboards called 'SlimType' or something similar generally denote units that contain laptop-type assemblies which (again, IMfiniteE) are even less suitable for fast/frequent typists than traditional 'full-travel' mechanisms. Anyway, we'll see how it goes... ANYthing would be better than the K i a B I'm typing with at this moment. I'll post again later to provide add'l feedback as warranted.

To sum up:

Kensington #64338 is NOT actually Mac compatible re: key layout as advertised.
Kensington #64350 IS Mac compatible but definitely not durable (there's a PC version of this model, but I don't know the part number). To be avoided in any form.


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Edit thread title because our sucky search tool is apparently baffled if there's punctuation adjacent to the search keyword.

[MasterDragonfly]

I've got a BTC keyboard that I've been largely pleased with.  It has a soft 'cool blue' backlighting (transparent keys) which turns off after a few mins of disuse.

My biggest gripe is that a few of the keys stop working now and then (backspace, semicolon/colon, Z/z) which fixes up after a vigorous shake.  I think I just need to give it a good vacuuming, although I've been tempted to unscrew the underside cover and see if there's not something else that needs cleaning out.

I like a light touch to my keyboard (*hate* the heavy touch of the M$ 'ergo' keyboards) and the BTC is perfect in this regard.  I don't need to be reminded of how the old mechanical TELEX TTY keyboards used to work (POUNDPOUNDPOUNDPOUNDPOUNDPOUNDPOUND) when I type.  

The BTC has some 13 silver buttons above the function keys, but I've never used them.  The keyboard itself has a solid 'heft' to it, and is surprisingly thin.

Assuming my quirky key problem is environmental, I'd definitely give a strong recommendation for one of these puppies.  Pretty sure I got mine at Fry's.  The price was I *think* less than $30, although it may have been more like $50.

Here's one link for it:

http://www.btc.com.tw/english/news_33.htm

and it seems Amazon sells it for $79.  So much for my forgettory.

Master "never had to read a paper tape, but figured out how to set one up" Dragonfly

[TheZookie007]

I tend to use the keyboard that comes with my machine...not as if I have much choice, since my machine is a laptop

[TheHerald]

TheZookie007, I guess you were unaware then, that for many years you could have plugged a "PS/2" keyboard into your (PC) laptop? Now I would imagine that a USB keyboard would be the first choice for a port.

Palomine, sorry to hear about your experiance with the Kensington keyboard. AFAIR, you were looking for something to provide light to your keyboard a few years ago and we discussed both illuminated keyboards and the Kensington Flylight. I always wondered how that turned out. I eventually realised that much of the illumination I experianced was actually from my monitor (not the flylight).  Recently I've seen that Kensington came out with a brighter version of the original Flylight (3 LEDs instead of one).

In any case, good luck with your next keyboard.

[TheZookie007]

Quote:
TheZookie007, I guess you were unaware then, that for many years you could have plugged a "PS/2" keyboard into your (PC) laptop? Now I would imagine that a USB keyboard would be the first choice for a port.

Oh, no, quite the contrary. I was and am fully aware that I could have plugged in a PS/2 keyboard into my machine at any time. I just never wanted to, that's all

Quote:
In any case, good luck with your next keyboard.

Ditto!

[Tulip]

well I used to LOVE the `80-90s keyboards because they were making (some of them)  a very loud "click" noise when typing....(so even if you were typing garbage it felt you were doing some real and rewarding work)

It`s a pity they dont make them anymore....

[TheZookie007]

The best keyboard I ever used: the good old IBM PC AT keyboard. Made a sound like a banjo on some of the keys, but the keyboard itself was as solid as a tank. It had good tactile feedback, clearly-marked keytops, and it innovated the "function keys along the top" style. A wonderful piece of work all around.

[Palomine]

 @ The Herald: I never got a backlit keyboard... most of them have those tipsy, less durable seeming mechanisms (so as to leave room for the electroluminescent panel behind the translucent keys) which isn't to my liking. They sure are pretty to look at though. I did get a little gooseneck/USB/LED flylight thingy and promptly stopped using it only because I slide my main keyboard back into a drawer and the light always got in the way.

@ Zookie: I had a few early original IBM PC/XT/AT machines and agree with your opinion of the genuine AT keyboard. Though loud, it was great for fast typists and durable as hell. SOME SGI workstation keyboards have that similar industrial/commercial kind of aura to them... not recent ones, but older ones. I have a WHOLE BOX FULL of those in the garage, but not only are they not USB, they do of course sport the PC (not Mac) placement of the alt and 'win' keys. There's NO WAY I can retrain my left hand to use that layout comfortably... it already has over 20 years of accumulated muscle memory with the apple/win key NEXT to the space bar (where it ought to be ).

@ MD: that BTC is pretty, but I think it's (again) only available with a traditional PC layout.

The next/last (IMO) replacement Kensington is sending almost surely features a thin/light notebook-type assembly... I'll just use it til it dies and then just have to go shopping again.

I kid you not: in the space of typing this single post, I had to stop/fix at least a dozen typos caused by my failing keyboard. In a post this size, I'd normally only have a couple mistakes to fix (at most) were it not for this PITA in front of me.  

[solvegas]

Palomine, if you want an absolutely indestructible, reliable, long lasting keyboard you have to get a Smith-Corona 1961 model like I have which my grandmother used till her dying days to write letters. Yup, you have to press hard on the keys and it's a bitch to find typing ribbon for it but it's paid for. Really, you don't have to thank me.

[Shara]

Shara loves her keyboard

[newexpos]

Quote:

I like a light touch to my keyboard (*hate* the heavy touch of the M$ 'ergo' keyboards) and the BTC is perfect in this regard.  I don't need to be reminded of how the old mechanical TELEX TTY keyboards used to work (POUNDPOUNDPOUNDPOUNDPOUNDPOUNDPOUND) when I type.  

Thats interesting. i feel the exact opposite. My M$ ergo keyboard has been following me from computer to computer because i HATE using the newer keyboards. I cant type so I LIKE a heavy touch to make sure i actually hit the key when I hunt and peck

[MasterDragonfly]

Quote:

Quote:

I like a light touch to my keyboard (*hate* the heavy touch of the M$ 'ergo' keyboards) and the BTC is perfect in this regard.  I don't need to be reminded of how the old mechanical TELEX TTY keyboards used to work (POUNDPOUNDPOUNDPOUNDPOUNDPOUNDPOUND) when I type.  

Thats interesting. i feel the exact opposite. My M$ ergo keyboard has been following me from computer to computer because i HATE using the newer keyboards. I cant type so I LIKE a heavy touch to make sure i actually hit the key when I hunt and peck

A friend of mine used to work for CNCP Telecommunications in Canada many years ago.  He told me about a seasoned co-worker who was using one of the new electronic TELEX terminals, and *still* would pound the crap out of them with his two index fingers (as was his style).  His method was so intense that he left permanent fingernail dents in the keys.  

Master "wouldn't mind having an old TELEX machine, but gots no place to keep it" Dragonfly

[LurkingWolfen]

Quote:
 ... it's an Adesso EKB-2150 btw...

 Is this it?


Lurking "Googlicious" Wolfen

[Palomine]

 Hi LW... yes, that's the one. There are a few floating around on Amazon, eBay etc... at pretty close to original price (maybe even a bit higher given they're no longer in production... the guy at Adesso told me they eBayed off all of their remaining inventory of the a while ago).

It's a great keyboard: mine has literally outlived 2 Kensingtons and 2 Apple keyboards (or was it 3? I can't remember). I have only one Mac but keep 2 front-ends set up for it (pair of monitors, keyboard and mouse in two different rooms, both sets connected simultaneously).

The EKB-2150 has full-travel keys and aside from the trackpad (which I wanted for late night, bed surfing where's there's no place to roll a mouse) it's fairly no-nonsense. It's great. Adesso currently has no equivalent model in their product line (at least not for Macs).  

[Tig_Old_Bitties]

The IBM Classic Model M series is still sold online as new units, either in quiet key or bucking spring model.   PC Keyboards still sells them for about $60.

I hate to extoll The Man, but the  Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 is a decent model, although I hear their USB interfaces will not work with a PS/2 converter (so woe for those of us with KVM switches).

I too have a hard time finding a good combo of functionality, quietness and response in a keyboard.  I haven't been too fond of Logitech but I always needed an ergonomic design, and MS keyboards seemed to fit the bill.

Good luck with your search.