Keyboards . mechanical

[tangor]

My Saitek Eclipse II is on last legs. Been very good for the last 11 years but there's only so many times I can take it apart and having to learn to bang the "h" key three times to generate a letter... sigh. Everything wears out.

That said, I will be replacing soon. I miss the (have to bang the "t" as well) feel of mechanical ala IBM Selectric II/III and so asking if there are those using such and...

Which switch/spring are you happy with. This green, red, cherry blue, brown etc is new to me so some guidance is desired.

Of course I could go bang on keyboards at the computer store (and I will!) but that won't tell me real world experience on longevity. I do keyboards very seldom and always carry them from box to box when I find the right one.

This is not a brand query kind of question. Looking for realities of the different kind of mechanical switching out there for HARD USE approaching 2.5m words every quarter. Gotta have something that can take it.

I know I could just go cheap ($4 per keyboard) and all that, but a keyboard is so PERSONAL ... it is my connection to the screen.

Note, touch typist, up to 200wpm with excited with 99.2% accuracy, so responsive is required!

What switches will handle that kind of abuse?

Note: The saitek is not mechanical, has been "okay", and kept because it has other features (sound/mute/vol) which are also desired but not required. It is the words/coding which is important.

[keyplyr]

I just use $20 Logitech wireless keyboard/mouse combos and replace a couple times a year. They're plenty responsive for my needs. I bang the hell outa them, hense the replacemt frequency.

I remember we had a similar discussion a year ago.

[phranque]

i'm pretty sure the ibm/lexmark xt/3270 style keyboard was the most indestructible keyboard made.
unicomp still makes them or something like it in kentucky...

[tangor]

Thanks. That is useful info. keyply, previous conv was love of keyboards and what made 'em work in that regard. Now I actually must replace the interface between me and computing. At what I "bang out" per week will kill $20 keyboards, but I do recognize that those who don't do two and half million words four times a year might not need a better keyboard.

[tangor]

I should reveal I do more than just coding. I also have a transcription service as well. I really do have high word counts and need something that can keep up.

[keyplyr]

A bit OT, but there are several high-end voice-to-text programs out there; much better than the ones used by iPhone, MS & Android. These learn your pronunciation and phrasing. The gal down the hall uses one. She raves about it. I can ask her who makes it if you like... although I realise you still need a new keyboard.

[tangor]

I do live film/broadcast to text, but thanks. Voice recognition still fails in too many ways. That's why court reporters are still human. :)

[tangor]

Guess there's no real world webmaster experience with the different switches for mechanical keyboards. Back to bing for reports/reviews. Thanks!

[engine]

Well, I just get another KB when I need one, and I prefer wired keyboard and mouse.
I buy branded, although, in recent years, even the quality of those has gone downhill, so I can't recommend any specific brand. Either way, they are not expensive, and that is perhaps the problem.

[tangor]

Absolutely! Speed and accuracy essential. Durable is also required. I started on Crown and Underwood MANUAL 15" plateen typewriters back in 1963 and have not changed/altered attack or pressure.... some of these new keyboards just can't take it.

This need has been coming on for at least six months, I posted something back then, but every time I hit the local computer shops they are rather reluctant to open a box to let me "try before buy so bye bye and thanks for nothing".

[engine]

Yeah, most places won't let you try-before-buy on those.
Do you have a computer store that has PCs on display? If so, go and have a play with those keyboards and if you find one, there's usually a label on the underside with the details.

[tangor]

I bit the bullet and ordered from a "major site we all know" a Chinese keyboard with blue switches (50M stroke rated) for about $32. The ones that really caught my eye had macro programmable EXTRA KEYS (six for one keyboard times 2 --- five for the other times 2). Both of those were over $100 (one blue, one brown German or American 80M+ switches). Will let you know how this turns out. The rubberdome stuff has never been "quite right" for me but better than the other junk out there.

[tangor]

UPDATE: Keyboard arrived. Nice! Snappy, almost like the old Selectric. I am very pleased ... though the "lightshow" takes a bit of getting used to. Made it stop "breathing" (can turn off the backlighting, but it is kind of pretty). Rottay is the manufacturer. I paid $32.00US

Time will tell if it can take a beating and keep on ticking.

Note: it is a "clicky" keyboard. Probably too loud for cubicles, so look at other models with the silent mechanical switching if that is a consideration.

[tangor]

I'm loving the spring! Might actually get back to my previous speed! (Wasn't too shabby before, but lost some of the snap due to the mushy keyboards I've been using the last 12 years....)

[engine]

I could forego the pretty lighting.
Good to hear you have some progress, and it'll be interesting to know if stands up to the punishment.