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I am incredibly fussy about the computer keyboard that I use:

- The keys have to be "full travel" and have separation in 3D. (No low-profile Microsoft and other brand "Ergo" keyboards for me.)
- It has to be durable (it can't wear out in important ways.)

I originally purchased a Keytronic keyboard ("Lifetime" product line, "Designer P2", black for the PC I built a few years ago:



It has the attributes I described above with one important difference. The key faces are just printed on. As you may be able to make out from the photo, the paint has worn off of the most used keys.

Although it was not a show stopper, I want to mention that the Keytronic's keys do not click. I think the technology is some kind of membrane push switch. The feel of the keys bottoming out is nice. One quibble is that occasionally a couple of keys get stuck "down" from misalignment and mutual rubbing.

The Keytronic was about $35. I *think* Keytronic would replace the keyboard if it is defective, and their Lifetime line is marketed as its name implies - a "forever" solution - but I really wanted a keyboard that could stand up.

So it's not durable for my purposes. In low room light only the most-unused keys are readable. I can generally type (hunt and peck) by touch and memory but often I search for a "home" key. I want to be able to read the keys in all light levels.

We have Micro Center here and a couple of weeks ago I bought, and then returned, a gamer style keyboard with a very nice key layout. All the key legends illuminate (backlit.) The problem was that you have to be looking straight down at the keys to read them. I returned it - it was just annoying to use. (That one was $130 with tax, too much to keep something I don't really like that much.)

I finally zeroed in on two viable choices:

- The "Das Keyboard" with "Cherry" brand "Blue" keys, which click. (Cherry blue and Cherry brown seem to be the marks for nicer gamer and office keyboards.) This would be about $100-$120.

- Unicomp, described next.

For several years I have debated the following keyboard, which I finally wound up buying. It is made by an independent, US based vendor named Unicomp. Unicomp is based in Lexington, KY and acquired the IBM patents and manufacturing technology for the "clicky" keyboard that IBM manufactured in Lexington for a few decades.

Unicomp is a small vendor and is a bit difficult to get specific information from. Nobody seems to staff their phones, and they were unresponsive to support emails. Finally I used the web site's live chat feature and "summoned" a support person the other day to answer a few questions.

I wanted to know what ink or marking technology was used to imprint the key tops. The guy replied that their keys are baked with the imprinting. He said that the only way to wear the legends off is to sand the keys down. That satisfied me.

So I ordered the "Buckling spring 101 key classic", with a black case and black printed on white keys.



The deliberate intent is that it is supposed to look (form factor wise) exactly like the keyboards sold with the original IBM-PCs. And, of course, it feels like them, too.

I got a PS2 type interface. USB is available for all of their stuff. I preferred PS2 because most motherboards are more responsive to PS2 during BIOS boot than USB, and sometimes I go in and tinker with settings (with USB keyboards it can be difficult to wake the BIOS to the setup mode. ) If I ever need straight USB, there are cheap adapters available.

I suspect that this is one of my smartest investments ever in a home office. With ground shipping it was about $90. I got it in two days (I am only 100 mi. from Lexington.)

TRexx, resident mensch in all that is IBM, do you have one? I would think you at least gave this model a long, hard look.

It seems to be great.

Maybe I'm just felling overly cynical today but the first thing that popped into my head when I read this posting was that the only reason Unicomp would still be making the keyboards is to satisfy government contracts. It's a pain updating those requirement documents.

I'm typing this on a Northgate OmniKey 101.  I think I bought it in 1993.   After agonizing over the cost, which was well in excess of $100 (about $200 in today's dollars), I decided that it would improve my user experience, and it has, and does, 19 years later.

I'm a touch-typist so I need a real office keyboard (not one made for home users or kids or techies who can't touch type).

I use old IBM PS/2 keyboards. I have several I've maintained, they've lasted for over 20 years.

I agree with what you say about USB vs round connector keyboards... if you do testing you really need the better responsiveness of the old round connector, USB's don't pick up early enough in the boot sequence.

A really good source of old keyboards is the town electronics dump. You'll see many people throw out perfectly good keyboards, just because you always get a new one bundled when you buy a new PC. Lots of ones they toss out are better than today's new keyboards.

Thanks for the good info in your post.

Re: Keyboard preferences - old style vs new...

I "get" that you like the old-style keyboards with a solid feel.  As someone with small hands, I actually do better on the newer keyboards doing touch typing.  I get less carpal tunnel with the lower profile keys.  So is it a "guy thing"  - this preference for large, solid keyboards?

Back in my Music Ed. days, I had trouble with some of the piano requirements - same problem.  I also do better with the smaller, student size guitars and violins.

Good thread.  I'm learning a lot I didn't know about keyboards.

Regards,
-DG

I bought an Unicomp (USB) and really like it. Unfortunately when I plug it into my KVM switch it  isn't recognized. 

I replaced my KVM and the new one handles the Unicomp keyboard nicely.  I thought that might be the culprit. I have never been happy with the KVM but when I bought it there were very few 4 port KVMs with USB support.

The old KVM (Raritan Switchman) occasionally goes brain dead or repeats the last key pressed -- rather dangerous if that key was Delete.  The only way to revive it is to unplug it's power cord and disconnect it from all the PCs. As long as it has a connection to a live PC is still draws power from the USB port.  I really wish manufacturers would include a power switch in their products.  I'm tired of crawling around under my desk to unplug some piece of gear.

New KVM (TrendNet TK-407K) seems to work OK. and it's small enough to fit on my desk.

I am a touch typist. My high school was a college prep school (private) and we had a full semester of typing. I type like a fiend without looking at the keyboard because in order to pass the class I had to learn to do it. It stuck with me through college and than later when I was programming. People are fascinated about how fast I type without looking at the keyboard.

I hate those shallow flat button keyboards. I like the full travel and traditional IBM keyboards. I have a Lenovo USB keyboard that behaves like an old PS2 keyboard but has the Window keys.

Only thing that is a problem - because I am on a ton of conference calls I have to be careful with my typing because people can hear me typing and it drives them crazy. They commonly joke that its ilconsiglliere typing because I type really fast.

Apple and Lenovo laptop keyboards are not so bad but I would rather be on a full size keyboard.