Channel 9 Forums - Coffeehouse - Keyboard recommendations? http://mschnlnine.vo.llnwd.net/d1/Dev/App_Themes/C9/images/feedimage.png Channel 9 Forums - Coffeehouse - Keyboard recommendations? http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums Channel 9 keeps you up to date with the latest news and behind the scenes info from Microsoft that developers love to keep up with. From LINQ to SilverLight – Watch videos and hear about all the cool technologies coming and the people behind them. http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums en Mon, 20 May 2013 13:21:07 GMT Mon, 20 May 2013 13:21:07 GMT Rev9 19 -19 -1 Coffeehouse - Keyboard recommendations? Hi all.

Currently using  Logitech Wave keyboard, but after a few years of abuse it's starting to wear out.

Wondering if anybody has any recommendations for Keyboards or Keyboard & Mouse Combos?

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/372ff72ec3d94e318b55a0e500b97f75#372ff72ec3d94e318b55a0e500b97f75 Tue, 09 Oct 2012 11:15:22 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/372ff72ec3d94e318b55a0e500b97f75#372ff72ec3d94e318b55a0e500b97f75 John 19 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/jh71283/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Keyboard recommendations? Something like this?

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/76f04c2a5cd94b859e4ea0e500e36c9c#76f04c2a5cd94b859e4ea0e500e36c9c Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:48:01 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/76f04c2a5cd94b859e4ea0e500e36c9c#76f04c2a5cd94b859e4ea0e500e36c9c Harlequin 19 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Harlequin/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Keyboard recommendations? @Harlequin: The DataHand is my favourite concept just because it's completely weird -- you 'insert' you hand and then go through the same twitches as if you are touch-typing; the device calculates which key you were going for ...

Herbie

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/fdd3242a8ba844fd90a7a0e500e6d38d#fdd3242a8ba844fd90a7a0e500e6d38d Tue, 09 Oct 2012 14:00:24 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/fdd3242a8ba844fd90a7a0e500e6d38d#fdd3242a8ba844fd90a7a0e500e6d38d Herbie Smith 19 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Dr Herbie/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Keyboard recommendations? @jh71283: I'm using the newer Microsoft Natural Ergonomic keyboard (with the split down the middle) which is a good, solid keyboard except that the letters are prone to rubbing off.  This isn't a problem if you touch-type, but I still need visual clues.

Herbie

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/dc931317dd9d462a8da7a0e500e7497b#dc931317dd9d462a8da7a0e500e7497b Tue, 09 Oct 2012 14:02:05 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/dc931317dd9d462a8da7a0e500e7497b#dc931317dd9d462a8da7a0e500e7497b Herbie Smith 19 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Dr Herbie/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Keyboard recommendations? The Wave looks to be quite specific in its ergonomics.  if you like it I would just get another one.

I quite fancy the new Cheese shaped Microsoft mouse but as I haven't tried it yet I cannot recommend. I currently use the MS Arc Mouse which I use at home and away (it is nicely portable as well as being a great design).

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/28416014cbe4472482c3a0e500eb2c81#28416014cbe4472482c3a0e500eb2c81 Tue, 09 Oct 2012 14:16:14 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/28416014cbe4472482c3a0e500eb2c81#28416014cbe4472482c3a0e500eb2c81 Ian Walker 19 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Ian2/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Keyboard recommendations? Logitech K120 is the closest thing to a replacement for the old-school straight microsoft keyboards.  The ergonomic boards are just aweful if you learned to touch-type.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/79ebded9e4b94dc19ff2a0e500f3b235#79ebded9e4b94dc19ff2a0e500f3b235 Tue, 09 Oct 2012 14:47:16 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/79ebded9e4b94dc19ff2a0e500f3b235#79ebded9e4b94dc19ff2a0e500f3b235 ScanIAm 19 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/ScanIAm/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Keyboard recommendations? My absolute favorite keyboard ever is the one I currently have - a Logitech Solar K750.
I like it because it's has laptop style keys - but are more substantial than usual laptop keys.

It is a full keyboard with number pad and all the 'home/delete/pg up down' etc keys in the right place (you'd be amazed how many of the laptop style keyboards mess around with positioning of these keys).

It's an absolute joy to type on, so much so that I bought an extra one for my office computer and even bought a mac version for my hackintosh.

Bonus is that you don't need batteries for it!

Logitech solar keyboard

They're pretty spendy $65 or so), but they go on sale quite a lot - Best Buy had them for $39 last week for example.

The only thing that could improve it in my mind was if it came with 10 or so programmable keys so I could program macro shortcuts for Visual Studio and Photoshop etc. Until that day, I use one of these instead and that works out really well.

G13

You'd be amazed how much more productive you can be assigning a single key to outlining - collapse and outlining - expand for Visual Studio as an example. Sounds silly, but is true.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/92c16c37c4164b049487a0e50105176a#92c16c37c4164b049487a0e50105176a Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:50:36 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/92c16c37c4164b049487a0e50105176a#92c16c37c4164b049487a0e50105176a EndlessBricks 19 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/OrigamiCar/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Keyboard recommendations? @OrigamiCar: What's the produce name of that device? Looks interesting.

Herbie

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/65a53566dbc149b6b290a0e50116fdb9#65a53566dbc149b6b290a0e50116fdb9 Tue, 09 Oct 2012 16:55:46 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/65a53566dbc149b6b290a0e50116fdb9#65a53566dbc149b6b290a0e50116fdb9 Herbie Smith 19 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Dr Herbie/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Keyboard recommendations? Herbie,

It's a Logitech G13 - http://www.logitech.com/en-us/keyboards/keyboards/g13-advanced-gameboard

They're targeted at gamers, but they're fantastic even if you don't game. The device let's you assign keypresses, multi keypresses, macros, mouse actions - pretty much anything you want - to each of the keys. Best thing is you can set up profiles targeting different .exe programs and the device automatically switches based on which program is active. So my Visual Studio 2012 has a different profile to my Photoshop profile for example.

Here's my current Visual Studio 2012 profile (still only partially set up):
G13


Couldn't live without mine anymore - on mine I have 'copy, paste & cut' mapped and find these especially useful because I am left handed and pressing CTRL + C/CTRL + V  either means I have to let go of my mouse with my left hand, or instead use my right hand to press them which gives me wrist/finger strain. So, the G13 placed on the right side of my keyboard is a life saver.

 

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/65f96a0d2a1640b7871fa0e5011d2744#65f96a0d2a1640b7871fa0e5011d2744 Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:18:12 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/65f96a0d2a1640b7871fa0e5011d2744#65f96a0d2a1640b7871fa0e5011d2744 EndlessBricks 19 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/OrigamiCar/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Keyboard recommendations? @OrigamiCar: You know, that's a really great idea. I can already imagine hotkeys for Format Document, often-used snippets (a shortcut to a shortcut, amazing), that sort of thing. Or hooking it up to git commands. Commit all, push to origin.. I really like it. Next time I have cash to burn I'm looking into one of these.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/9cbafaebfb2a4c4099a4a0e5012655aa#9cbafaebfb2a4c4099a4a0e5012655aa Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:51:38 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/9cbafaebfb2a4c4099a4a0e5012655aa#9cbafaebfb2a4c4099a4a0e5012655aa Bas 19 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Bas/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Keyboard recommendations? @Bas: Not forgetting "Open Channel 9 Coffeehouse" ...

Herbie

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/1b1582c933b84ed48d16a0e50128610c#1b1582c933b84ed48d16a0e50128610c Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:59:04 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/1b1582c933b84ed48d16a0e50128610c#1b1582c933b84ed48d16a0e50128610c Herbie Smith 19 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Dr Herbie/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Keyboard recommendations? @Bas:Yup - it comes in VERY useful. I used to have only one, which was at my office, but I missed the features so much when I was working from home that I purchased a second one. Smiley Sometimes the Logitech software crashes, but not too often and it's easy to restart it.

They're fairly expensive - around $70, but keep an eye on techbargains.com or digitaldeals.net as they go on sale sometimes.

The Logitech outlet store usually has factory refurbished ones for around 50% off, but they're currently out of stock. http://www.logitech.com/en-us/special-offers/closeout/7555 

(hope it's okay to post links to sites selling stuff?)

@Herbie: You could easily do that yes. It even comes with a set of mini 'apps' which can be set to run on the LCD screen, including an RSS reader, so you could have it check channel9 for you and display the latest posts on the LCD!


 

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/61efb57cdc7b49c6a9eaa0e5012f9233#61efb57cdc7b49c6a9eaa0e5012f9233 Tue, 09 Oct 2012 18:25:16 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/61efb57cdc7b49c6a9eaa0e5012f9233#61efb57cdc7b49c6a9eaa0e5012f9233 EndlessBricks 19 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/OrigamiCar/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Keyboard recommendations? I use this Logitech Illuminated one at work and home. Nice keyboard...http://www.logitech.com/en-ca/keyboards/keyboards/4740

And just a wired mouse. Trying to stay away from wireless...tired of batteries, putting mouse on charger, Bluetooth drivers die, etc.

 

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/1a4fc9028d754bac9385a0e501429de3#1a4fc9028d754bac9385a0e501429de3 Tue, 09 Oct 2012 19:34:36 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/1a4fc9028d754bac9385a0e501429de3#1a4fc9028d754bac9385a0e501429de3 Harlequin 19 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Harlequin/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Keyboard recommendations? @Dr Herbie: The G13 is £77 on eBuyer.

Looks like I might just get a new wave, cos I have now gotten used to the layout, another KB might just frustrate me.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/3c160b9b0b144455ac97a0e6007e5827#3c160b9b0b144455ac97a0e6007e5827 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 07:40:00 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/3c160b9b0b144455ac97a0e6007e5827#3c160b9b0b144455ac97a0e6007e5827 John 19 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/jh71283/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Keyboard recommendations? I still swear by the Natural Ergonomic 4000, by the way. I find it weird that no other keyboards adopted that angled-backwards design, it feels incredibly comfortable.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/c185b0a8a7fa4a3c8d65a0e6008340ba#c185b0a8a7fa4a3c8d65a0e6008340ba Wed, 10 Oct 2012 07:57:52 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/c185b0a8a7fa4a3c8d65a0e6008340ba#c185b0a8a7fa4a3c8d65a0e6008340ba Bas 19 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Bas/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Keyboard recommendations? I am using the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000, It works great and has a row of programmable keys at the top and some extra keys above the keypad.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/98559271d7fb46febe9fa0e600843692#98559271d7fb46febe9fa0e600843692 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 08:01:22 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/98559271d7fb46febe9fa0e600843692#98559271d7fb46febe9fa0e600843692 Mateo1222 19 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Mateo1222/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Keyboard recommendations? How easy do you guys find it to get used to the gap in the middle of the board?

 

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/fb53e3ff2ea740b395c7a0e6009734a7#fb53e3ff2ea740b395c7a0e6009734a7 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 09:10:31 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/fb53e3ff2ea740b395c7a0e6009734a7#fb53e3ff2ea740b395c7a0e6009734a7 John 19 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/jh71283/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Keyboard recommendations? @jh71283: It took me a couple of months but the reduction in wrist/hand discomfort was well worth it.  I'm actually surprised that there would be anyone using a straight keyboard (not that there is anything wrong with that).

The biggest thing with the keyboard is to make sure the key groups (notably, Insert/Home/PageUp/Delete/End/PageDown) aren't some odd layout.  At some point in the past my work requisitioned me a new ergo keyboard and it had that section as 2 wide by 3 high.  Totally messed up copy/paste in my brain.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/1167c1ae4f9b4b50a569a0e600ccd7e7#1167c1ae4f9b4b50a569a0e600ccd7e7 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 12:25:48 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/1167c1ae4f9b4b50a569a0e600ccd7e7#1167c1ae4f9b4b50a569a0e600ccd7e7 Dave Williamson 19 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/davewill/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Keyboard recommendations? I have one of those natural keyboards, and the gap in the middle didn't screw me up for more than a few minutes when I first got it. That was a surprise -- I expected it to be more of a problem. They are nice to type on -- as long as you are typing with both hands. If you are working on something that requires mouse use, and are therefore entering keystrokes with only one hand, that is a big pain in the butt with the split keyboard. For that reason, I have been moving back to straight keyboards again.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/0aea6cad9bb74435911ba0e6011bcc0e#0aea6cad9bb74435911ba0e6011bcc0e Wed, 10 Oct 2012 17:13:16 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/Keyboard-recommendations/0aea6cad9bb74435911ba0e6011bcc0e#0aea6cad9bb74435911ba0e6011bcc0e ryanb 19 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/ryanb/Discussions/RSS