[SOLVED] Budget keyboard with QUIET keys and/or small keys? Business or gaming.

[winterwonderland]

Hello Techpowerup heroes!

im trying to find myself a new keyboard, but it doesn't seem to be that easy...

im trying to find a keyboard that fills these criteria:
+ must be rather quiet. this one is a must. so i assume no mechanic keyboard?
+ must be under or around $50
+ SHOULD have lowered/small keys
+ must have numpad
+ preferably a wired keyboard
note: im located in one of the nordic countries in europe, so finding keyboards that you got in U.S is difficult due to the nordic keys missing on them....

this it should NOT have (things i dont need):
+ 34724235682376 media buttons

whether it is a keyboard for gaming or not, it's all okay. im going to use it for business and very light gaming.

i have used the apple keyboard for my windows for several years now, so now i need a change.

i stumbled upon this video, but i couldn't find the red dragon keyboard over here...

ANY suggestions for me? i know im asking for something very difficult here, but oh well... i had to. you guys are the experts.

UPDATE: after some suggestions on various keyboards, i ultimately landed on the suggested keyboard named CHERRY STREAM 3.0 - and wow! what an a-m-a-z-i-n-g keyboard this is!! the feel is just great, the keys fit me so good, it's even more quiet than apples keyboard, they keys are as small as they should be AND it was surprisingly CHEAP compared to other keyboards! and nice bonuses (for me): it contains USEFUL shortkeys/media keys which i use frequently. the quality feels stunningly great, which again results in the keyboard being rather heavy comparing to my other "old" keyboards, not that it's such a bad thing, tbh. the only but yet so small negative thing i can point out with this is the fact that the lighting for the lock-buttons is VERY bright, so when you are watching a movie, they certainly are making its strong shine. i do believe there might be a way to fix that, though. i just havent gotten that far yet. OVERALL: this keyboard is the BEST keyboard i've had AND tried so far for my purposes! probably one of the best all-around keyboards there is under $50. totally worth the blind buy i did, and i have suggested the keyboard to my friends who are also looking for an excellent keyboard, which is what cherry stream 3.0 is! totally recommended and worth the wait!!

 

[Tekelectric]

If you can find a mechanical keyboard under $50 like these

you can get o-rings for them which make them a lot quieter.

 

[FYFI13]

Logitech K310. Stylish, fairly quiet, washable and around 30 euros.

 

[P4-630]

I have a Rapoo http://rapoo.com/product/119

Great keyboard, but it's wireless and just the media keys are only visible on touch.
They make other nice keyboards as well.

 

[winterwonderland]

Ohooo! see?! this forum is ALWAYS the answer to all my techie Q's when it comes to PC, and again you've helped me!

thanks for 2 great candidates! both keyboards are available with my language keys and they both seem to be like a great choice!

FYFI13: how is K310 compared to say the apple keyboard in terms of performance and quietness? thanks for a really good suggestion, btw!

I have a Rapoo http://rapoo.com/product/119

Great keyboard, but it's wireless and just the media keys are only visible on touch.
They make other nice keyboards as well.

View attachment 81305

Is it easy to clean Rapoo keyboards?

 

[P4-630]

Ohooo! see?! this forum is ALWAYS the answer to all my techie Q's when it comes to PC, and again you've helped me!

thanks for 2 great candidates! both keyboards are available with my language keys and they both seem to be like a great choice!

FYFI13: how is K310 compared to say the apple keyboard in terms of performance and quietness? thanks for a really good suggestion, btw!



Is it easy to clean Rapoo keyboards?

The flat keyboard I have is very easy to clean, also there is not much dust getting on and between the keys since they are flat unlike normal higher key keyboards.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Logitech illuminated kb, its almost like the rapoo mentioned but wired. I had one for 3 years before giving it to my dad who still uses it

 

[P4-630]

What also nice is about my rapoo, you don't get any finger smudge on the metal finish.

 

[trog100]

i use a cheap logitech one.. having said that when the numbers wear off as they always do i will chuck it and buy a new one.. i never expect a keyboard to last me very long..

trog

 

[winterwonderland]

Logitech illuminated kb, its almost like the rapoo mentioned but wired. I had one for 3 years before giving it to my dad who still uses it

which illuminated keyboard is it? im also trying to find a wired keyboard... is it the k800..?

p4-630: the problem for me is that i cannot find a wired rapoo... or is there no wired rapoo?

 

[FreedomEclipse]

which illuminated keyboard is it? im also trying to find a wired keyboard... is it the k800..?

p4-630: the problem for me is that i cannot find a wired rapoo... or is there no wired rapoo?

http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/product/illuminated-keyboard-k740

Keys are the older style 'laptop' keys before laptops went the way of apple and have 'chicklet' style keyboards.

Switch type is 'scissor'

 

[winterwonderland]

http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/product/illuminated-keyboard-k740

Keys are the older style 'laptop' keys before laptops went the way of apple and have 'chicklet' style keyboards.

Switch type is 'scissor'

Can you remove the wrist rest on the k740, or?

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Can you remove the wrist rest on the k740, or?

Nope but the keyboard is angled so low that it comes in handy.

 

[RejZoR]

Throw an eye on Cherry Stream keyboards. I had to replace my old Logitech UltraX and since they weren't obtainable anymore, I had to find an alternate solution.

And this one was one of rare products that ticked all my boxes...

- comes in white or black (I've opted for black)
- very affordable
- it's Cherry, so it'll be quality stuff either way even as cheapo keyboard
- flat keys (I hate tall keys)
- large main ENTER key
- has full multimedia keys on top which was a must have for me coz they are super useful
- reasonably quiet (UltraX was a lot more clicky)

Can't really say there are any faults with it and I've had it for several months now. Btw, I have the 2.0 version, 3.0 is identical, but now has laser engraved characters which are more durable than printed on 2.0...

 

[winterwonderland]

Throw an eye on Cherry Stream keyboards. I had to replace my old Logitech UltraX and since they weren't obtainable anymore, I had to find an alternate solution.

And this one was one of rare products that ticked all my boxes...

- comes in white or black (I've opted for black)
- very affordable
- it's Cherry, so it'll be quality stuff either way even as cheapo keyboard
- flat keys (I hate tall keys)
- large main ENTER key
- has full multimedia keys on top which was a must have for me coz they are super useful
- reasonably quiet (UltraX was a lot more clicky)

Can't really say there are any faults with it and I've had it for several months now. Btw, I have the 2.0 version, 3.0 is identical, but now has laser engraved characters which are more durable than printed on 2.0...

oh wow! i think i found my next keyboard!! this looks absolutely brilliant! it's perfect price, it has some great reviews, it contains numpad + nordic keys, it's slim, it has flat keys, it's durable, large enter key, great quality, the media controllers are USEFUL to me AND it's QUIET!

thanks a lot for this suggestion! i will most certainly go for a Cherry Stream keyboard as my next keyboard! i wasn't looking for THIS good of a keyboard, but wow, this seems to be perfect for me! much appreciated!

i forgot to ask, but what are the differences between Cherry Stream and the other non-mechanical Cherry keyboards, if you know?

 

[RejZoR]

I suggest you still check it out in a retail store in person if possible, just to be sure it really fits your needs and feels. I've needed a bit of adjustment since keys have a bit more resistance than on UltraX and was causing me to skip letters in words at first, because I wasn't pressing it hard enough. But now I have adjusted to it with use and I'm typing perfectly with it.

 

[P4-630]

p4-630: the problem for me is that i cannot find a wired rapoo... or is there no wired rapoo?

They do make a wired keyboard model as well it just doesn't have the flat keys like the other keyboards they make.
http://rapoo.com/product/189

 

[winterwonderland]

I suggest you still check it out in a retail store in person if possible, just to be sure it really fits your needs and feels. I've needed a bit of adjustment since keys have a bit more resistance than on UltraX and was causing me to skip letters in words at first, because I wasn't pressing it hard enough. But now I have adjusted to it with use and I'm typing perfectly with it.

hmm, well, i dont exactly have the stores around here with keyboards and all, unfortunately. but seeing all the reviews, pictures, videos and such, makes me feel rather comfy about the buy. how did you "adjust" they keys to suit you better?

P4: ah, too bad. but now that i came across the above mentioned cherry keyboard, imma give that a go. and i also found out that the rapoos that have nordic keys on them, are like $100 or more... :/

 

[winterwonderland]

update: i have decided to go for the 3.0 and simple give it a BLIND chance! based on above-mentioned sayings + additional reviews AND videos, i am even more convinced to go for the cherry 3.0!

once i will get the keyboard, i shall leave MY review of it.

thanks once again for all the suggestions, you all!

 

[RejZoR]

Yup, let us know what you think about it. I really like it and I regularly recommend it to people who sort of look for similar characteristics as I have.

 

[winterwonderland]

yes, and i see WHY.. that looks absolutely stunning and perfect for my needs. my gf can easily hear this keyboard typing, but with the cherry, i believe she will think i've fell asleep on the chair..........

much appreciated!

ps: how did you "adjust" the keys to suit your fingers better..? you mentioned that, but im not sure how you did it.. care to explain?

 

[winterwonderland]

UPDATE: after some suggestions on various keyboards, i ultimately landed on the suggested keyboard named CHERRY STREAM 3.0 - and wow! what an a-m-a-z-i-n-g keyboard this is!! the feel is just great, the keys fit me so good, it's even more quiet than apples keyboard, they keys are as small as they should be AND it was surprisingly CHEAP compared to other keyboards! and nice bonuses (for me): it contains USEFUL shortkeys/media keys which i use frequently. the quality feels stunningly great, which again results in the keyboard being rather heavy comparing to my other "old" keyboards, not that it's such a bad thing, tbh. the only but yet so small negative thing i can point out with this is the fact that the lighting for the lock-buttons is VERY bright, so when you are watching a movie, they certainly are making its strong shine. i do believe there might be a way to fix that, though. i just havent gotten that far yet. OVERALL: this keyboard is the BEST keyboard i've had AND tried so far for my purposes! probably one of the best all-around keyboards there is under $50. totally worth the blind buy i did, and i have suggested the keyboard to my friends who are also looking for an excellent keyboard, which is what cherry stream 3.0 is! totally recommended and worth the wait!!

 

[Kursah]

Sounds like it worked out well especially for the price.

If they had that keyboard with basic back lighting for all keys I'd be sold. I am still using my ancient Logitech G15 and it's been great but its age is starting to become more than a visual thing. But having a quieter keyboard would be a huge plus for the wife and back lighting for me so I can see my keys in the dark!

 

[winterwonderland]

you are absolutely right. the ability to switch on and off the backlight easily is what this keyboard is lacking, otherwise it would've been more or less the "perfect" keyboard under $50. is there even such a keyboard by cherry, perhaps? nonetheless, i am still more than happy with this buy, without a sheer doubt!