I need a new keyboard!

[Nejcha]

So while working on my current project 20 hours a day 7 days a week... AFK Tavern (http://www.afktavern.com/), my bar in Everett WA. I didn't see the new 4.0.1 patch coming! And with this lava burst change I need something to help me not miss lava burts.

Now I'm a hardware boxer and I refuse to use software key broadcasting. I own a couple copies of key clone but I'd rather not take it to that level. I'm But my fingers are going to need to be faster or I'm going to need some kinda new keyboard. So help?

Any ideas?

[zenga]

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2006/10/vima.jpg

[Nejcha]

hahahahahaha

Finally I can be the Phantom of the Multiboxer!

[Hakflem]

I'd recommend a mechanical keyboard. http://www.overclock.net/computer-peripherals/491752-mechanical-keyboard-guide.html

I use the Steelseries 7G and love it so much. A less pricey version is the Steelseries 6G v2.
I will definately try out the Razer Blackwidow next. It looks promising.

[Buetzel]

@zenga
i lol'd hard - but isn't that more of an ePiano than a keyboard?

@hakflem
very interesting read. thank you.


sorry, i can't really help on the topic. i just use my microsoft x6 (because of the 6 extra keys on the left and the possibility to put the numpad on the left of the keyboard) or whatever keyboard i like at the moment. i choose them things because of design (a little) and ergonomics (mostly).
for example i like those cheap comfort curve 2000 ones from microsoft, too...

[zenga]

@zenga
i lol'd hard - but isn't that more of an ePiano than a keyboard?


rebind the keys and it has a ton of functionality, even a fancy lcd screen!

[Buetzel]

rebind the keys and it has a ton of functionality, even a fancy lcd screen!

nice idea, but i think my nitpicking missed its purpose.
btw.: wouldn't that one be really hard to mash a button with? last time i tried playing one of those i needed a lot more power for a keypress than on a keyboard...

as to my nitpicking fail (in case anyone cares):
in germany there is a distinction between epianos and keyboards. whereas the latter are smaller/cheaper versions of the former, mostly without the capability to stand by themselves. they need an extra stand for that. and have no pedals...
so.. in german it would be epiano for what you linked, keyboard -> see attachment and "tastatur" for... well... the keyboard i'm typing with right now.


hm. now you got me thinking. my dad should still have that old keyboard (the instrument, not the peripheral)... what could one do with that, when connected via a midi-port?

[coglistings]

many keyboards these days use software of some sort to run or to be managed. politely, I suggest that you reconsider your position that you have to use hardware only unless you are ready to break out the soldering iron...

[Ughmahedhurtz]

many keyboards these days use software of some sort to run or to be managed. politely, I suggest that you reconsider your position that you have to use hardware only unless you are ready to break out the soldering iron...

Do tell, why would you need a soldering iron?

[Nejcha]

many keyboards these days use software of some sort to run or to be managed. politely, I suggest that you reconsider your position that you have to use hardware only unless you are ready to break out the soldering iron...

I won't use software for key broadcasting. I use things like Input director for my mouse but I still have four mice. It's this hitting LvB before LB thing that troubles me. Now while I'm sure I could come up with a way to do it. Gods know I've used my mice with my feet before. I could some how two hand it and have individual keys for LvB I'd rather find a work around at this point, insted of spending weeks of time I don't have retraining my self. Thats what Cata leveling if for.

My hardware set up has let me do amazing things. And when I say hardware I speak of the key multichannel equipment I use. I doubt I'd be as successful in Cata as I was in BC and have been in WoTLK by changing that too much.

And I'm always willing to break out the soldering iron : ) I did had make much of what I have. But I don't have allot of spare time at the moment.

[Nejcha]

@hakflem

A mechanical solution may be what I need for Cata. I'm trying to find a quick fix for the end of wotlk so I can keep my 4 hours of week play time fun.

[Pycno]

I also recommend a quality mechanical keyboard over cheap plastic rubber dome keyboards such as logitech keyboards that have ghosting and wear out fast.

[Sajuuk]

I also recommend a quality mechanical keyboard over cheap plastic rubber dome keyboards such as logitech keyboards that have ghosting and wear out fast.

Define wear out fast.

I had a G11 that lasted over two years and logitech gave me a free upgrade to a G110 when it started acting funky.

[Pycno]

Define wear out fast.

I had a G11 that lasted over two years and logitech gave me a free upgrade to a G110 when it started acting funky.

Most rubber dome keyboards are rated for 2 million keypresses, the high quality ones are rated for up to 10 million key presses. Mechanical keyboards are rated for up to 50 million keypresses.

By fast I mean relative to quality keyboards, seems like everytime I see comment section for rubber dome keyboards people are complaining they had to buy a new one after X weeks/months.

My current keyboard does not have ink print, the letters are carved into the plastic so they cant wear out. It also has 105 leds just for the heck of it, one at every button. And I can push down all 105 keys at the same time if I want to and the computer will register all, great for playing those old 8 player games on one keyboard :p


I bought a Razer Lycosa together with my new computer and its by far the worst keyboard I have ever used. Even 5$ keyboards was better.
The keyboard would randomly stop working, either totally or just some buttons and the usb-cord had to be replugged for it to work again. Tried everything with the driver installed, uninstalled and so forth and after some digging I found this was a very common problem with the Lycosa.
It supposedly has anti-ghosting capabilities but Ive never seen a keyboard with worse problems with ghosting. I could not push W+Tab+V meaning I had to stop running forward to broadcast V to cast Arcane Explosion. Lets not even talk about the keybinds also involving Shift or strafing (W+A/D).
I gave the keyboard away and bought a new one (The Deck Legend), its almost perfect as its just missing some keys (I should have scandinavian layout instead of US-layout).

I would look into Xarmor U9BL for gaming if you dont mind the Cherry MX Blue switches (tactile feel and audio) :)

[MiRai]

I can push down all 105 keys at the same time if I want to and the computer will register all
This is true for any PS/2 keyboard, USB keyboards, as far as I know, have a limit of 6 keys that can be sent at the same time [or something along those lines].


I bought a Razer Lycosa together with my new computer and its by far the worst keyboard I have ever used. Even 5$ keyboards was better.
The keyboard would randomly stop working, either totally or just some buttons and the usb-cord had to be replugged for it to work againI own a Lycosa and while it is not the sexiest keyboard in terms of comfort, I would say that it is better than a $5 keyboard. If I don't load the Razer driver the thing works fine. But if I load the Razer driver and its systray program then I would occasionally get those same problems where certain keys would get stuck or stop working and could only be remedied by unplugging and replugging in the USB cable.

[Pycno]

Fenril, USB standard supports up to 6 keys + modifiers and has 2ms latency due to being based on polls while PS/2 support all keys at the same time and is interrupt based (no polling) - I still think the keyboard needs to support N-keys rollover as I dont think all ps/2 keyboards has that feature. But I could be wrong about that.

The one I gave the Lycosa to had it working just fine, but he is using Windows XP (I use Windows 7), so it seems very random if it works or not.
Aside from the serious ghosting issue and needing replugs randomly I loved it, as for the 5$ keyboard being better thats what I had to use until I got my current keyboard - I cant use a keyboard that dont work properly on my computer :) Its prolly a nice keyboard if you dont mind the ghosting and it works on your pc.

[Nejcha]

So any ideas on one that'll let me get press 2 before 1 every time I press a button or am I going to have to jurrierig a system up for my self?

[Ughmahedhurtz]

That's funny. I've never heard of anyone I know having to replace the cheap rubber-dome keyboards unless they spilled coke in 'em. Besides, if you hypothetically had to replace a $5 keyboard once every 6 months, how long would it take you to make up the same amount of money you'd need to buy one of those mechanical keyboards? The cheapest Cherry keyboard I see listed is $70. That's 7 years worth of cheap rubber-dome keyboards. /shrug

[edit] Also, after 12 years in the PC OEM industry (which is like 98.5% cheap rubber-dome keyboards) I've yet to hear anyone complain about ghosting or any of those other failures you mention. All the failures I've ever seen on production keyboards have been due to breakage (coke, rage, rain, etc.) or bad solder/compression joints on the PCB where the matrix connects.

[Pycno]

The issue with rubber dome keyboards is the rubber pads suffer from wear and tear so they require more or less force to press making the buttons uneven.
Most users of mechanical keyboard buy them because of the feel of the buttons and not because of the durability. There are different types of switches (keys), linear or tactile with or without audible feedback. Mechanical buttons can be less stressful to write on, the difference may not be large but if you write on a keyboard for enough hours a day it will make a difference.
Cherry MX Red switches are linear and supposedly ideal for gaming as they require very little force, some users say they cant even rest their fingers on the keys without pressing them. This doesnt make them optimal for typing as you will misclick much more often.

If you think about it, the monitor is the thing you watch almost 100% of the time and the mice/keyboard the only thing you actually touch. And the whole time you are using the pc you are also usually sitting or lying in a chair or couch of some sort. These components/things is worth putting a few extra bucks into IMO if it makes the user experience more comfortable. Personal preference matters alot so different people may like different things. A friend of mine only uses slim keyboards as they have a shorth travel length and scissor-switches as is used in laptops, but I dont like them as much as he does.

The issues I mentioned are spesific to the Razer Lycosa and ghosting is only an issue for gamers or extremely fast touch typists. I think most of the OEM market are casual gamers or just people browsing the internet and checking mail, none are very likely to care about or even notice ghosting problems.

[burningforce]

well here is an article I found about keyboards, it as a lot of info and then some :P

http://www.overclock.net/computer-peripherals/491752-mechanical-keyboard-guide.html

very interesting stuff and good reference when buying a keyboard

[Nejcha]

I actually ended up using my normal keyboard. I just use a set of sounds and four lava burst keys now. After about 2 hours of retraining my button fingers while watchin tv i missed the past week on my only night off I managed to get it down.