Looking To Make List Of Keyboard Manufacturers

[The Egg]

I've completely lost touch with the keyboard market, and was hoping you guys could help me assemble a list of widely available manufacturers with mechanical key offerings. I'm mainly looking for ergonomic stuff, but don't want to limit it to just that (since most mfgs have several models). So far we have:

Akko
Asus
Aula
Cherry
Corsair
Das Keyboard
Ducky
Epomaker
GravaStar
HyperX
Kenesis
Keychron
Logitech
Meletrix
Mode
Nuphy
Perixx
Razer
Redragon
RK - Royal Kludge
Steelseries
Turtle Beach
Varmilo
Womier
Yunzii


What other names should I be looking at?

 

[esserpain]

• Nuphy
• Epomaker
• Womier
• Redragon
• ASUS ROG
• YUNZII
• AULA
• HyperX
• RK ROYAL KLUDGE
• GravaStar

This is a great idea, BTW.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Ummm, did you try Google?

Corsair
Turtle Beach
Akko
Das Keyboard
Ducky
Reddragon

There are many more.

I'm mainly looking for ergonomic stuff, but don't want to limit it to just that

Ergonomics should be your top priority. I am not talking about how a product is being "marketed". Marketing "hype" typically is just that, "hype". I am talking about how the keyboard actually "feels" at the end of YOUR fingertips.

Any one can comment on the build quality. But what feels great at the end of my fingertips may feel awkward or even painful at the end of yours. RSI is very real and common among those who spend a lot of time typing. I promise you, you don't want RSI.

To illustrate, while not mechanical, I REALLY like the Microsoft Comfort 5050 keyboard. Why? Notice how the rows are curved. This allows me to approach the keyboard without digging my elbows into my ribs AND (this is key), I can keep my wrists straight in respect to my arms. I don't have to bend my wrists outward, which is an unnatural, and uncomfortable position - at least for me.

 

[francisw19]

Ducky, Meletrix, Mode, and Varmilo are a few more that come to mind

 

[The Egg]

Thanks, I'll add those to the list

 

[BoggledBeagle]

Manufacturers or rebadgers?

I am afraid that your long list is actually just two or three chinese manufacturers.

 

[The Egg]

I'd prefer to avoid rebadgers if possible, but if they're the most widely available...

 

[Bill_Bright]

I am afraid that your long list is actually just two or three chinese manufacturers.

While this may certainly be true, that does not in any way mean there are only 2 or 3 different keyboards in the list, with the only difference being name tags and colors.

A single manufacturer may make many different models, including proprietary, as in exclusive designed by a major brand that simply outsources manufacturing to a Chinese company.

I'd prefer to avoid rebadgers if possible,

I'd venture to say most of the brands mentioned outsource production. But again, that does not mean their keyboards are identical.

 

[The Egg]

I get that, I'm moreso referring to when Amazon has 47 different Chinese clone companies selling what is clearly the same product

 

[Noci]

Sharkoon
Roccat
Microsoft
Hewlett Packard
Dell
Lenovo
Trust
MSI
Gigabyte
Asrock

just to name a few that are not in your list yet. I suspect the list ends up to be longer than you tought

 

[Bill_Bright]

I get that, I'm moreso referring to when Amazon has 47 different Chinese clone companies selling what is clearly the same product

For sure - that is something to look out for. But it should be noted many Chinese made products are top quality by legitimate makers. And they produce quality designed products with quality components and have implemented decent quality-control steps in the production process. In fact, this happens all the time.

The problem is when 44 of those 47 different companies are making cheap knock-offs and selling what "appears" to be the same product as the other 3. But under case and keycaps is nothing but pure junk.

Caveat emptor. If you can't be sure of the brand, at least go with a reputable retailer.

 

[_roman_]

[ 5.922673] input: COOLER MASTER CK351 Gaming Optical Switch Keyboard

exchangeable switches with IPxx rating. I do not know which types of switches they used. I bought one with red and another with brown switches.

Very decent build quality and without software of course for all the RGB stuff.

 

[Macro Device]

Unicomp with their Model M and other remastered classics count, too?

 

[Bill_Bright]

If you mean the "New Model M" then why not? As long as it is still available on the retail market, it seems to me it should qualify for the list.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Wooting
Akkogear
Moutain
Adesso
Keychron
Quick Logic
Alienware
Lofree
FiiO
NZXT
Aqirys
Darkflash
G.Skill
Montech
Drop
Glorious
XPG
Gamidas
Sharkoon
Mad Catz
Thermaltake
Fourze
Nordic Gaming
Svive

Not that most of them are manufacturers as pointed out...

The list is pretty much endless these days.

Sharkoon
Roccat
Microsoft
Hewlett Packard
Dell
Lenovo
Trust
MSI
Gigabyte
Asrock

just to name a few that are not in your list yet. I suspect the list ends up to be longer than you tought

Roccat was taken over and killed by Turtle Beach, just FYI.

 

[AsRock]

Wooting
Akkogear
Moutain
Adesso
Keychron
Quick Logic
Alienware
Lofree
FiiO
NZXT
Aqirys
Darkflash
G.Skill
Montech
Drop
Glorious
XPG
Gamidas
Sharkoon
Mad Catz
Thermaltake
Fourze
Nordic Gaming
Svive

Not that most of them are manufacturers as pointed out...

The list is pretty much endless these days.


Roccat was taken over and killed by Turtle Beach, just FYI.

Dam you beat me to it, was going say woot no wooting ^^.

 

[pattesatan]

All keyboards are irellevant after Logitech G510

 

[TheLostSwede]

Dam you beat me to it, was going say woot no wooting ^^.

Sorry... Met up with Calder a few times in Taipei over the years, he's alright.

 

[beardedragon]

Magegee MK-Star75 is my preference from Amazon

 

[neatfeatguy]

Microsoft does sell keyboards, but it's under the Incase name brand these days. I think MS moved their peripherals over to Incase within the last year or two. Not sure if you want to include Incase on your list.

Ergonomics should be your top priority. I am not talking about how a product is being "marketed". Marketing "hype" typically is just that, "hype". I am talking about how the keyboard actually "feels" at the end of YOUR fingertips.

Any one can comment on the build quality. But what feels great at the end of my fingertips may feel awkward or even painful at the end of yours. RSI is very real and common among those who spend a lot of time typing. I promise you, you don't want RSI.

To illustrate, while not mechanical, I REALLY like the Microsoft Comfort 5050 keyboard. Why? Notice how the rows are curved. This allows me to approach the keyboard without digging my elbows into my ribs AND (this is key), I can keep my wrists straight in respect to my arms. I don't have to bend my wrists outward, which is an unnatural, and uncomfortable position - at least for me.

As for MS keyboards, there is nothing that beats their old Natural Elite model (came in black and white colors). I still have two at home, one I use and one for backup (had three, but one got ruined during the move, cleaning solution got spilled on it and completely destroyed the membrane under the keys). I've had these keyboards for years and the keys all look great (maybe a couple keys with minimal wear), you can still read all the letters on each key. I really wish they never discontinued this keyboard.

The Microsoft Natural 4000 keyboard is just trash - do not get it (probably discontinued anyway).

Then you have the Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard that came out about 4 years ago. I currently use this model at work. While I like how it feels I'd say that after about 6 months of daily use the letters started to wear off and after a couple of years of use more than two dozen keys are completely worn off. The only upside to this is without the keys being labeled no one else knows how to touch type so they can't use my keyboard. Keep them off my computer when I'm not around. When I purchased this keyboard it was priced about $40. When I find it now it has "Incase" name on the upper right instead of "Microsoft" and the keyboard itself retails for $80. $80 4 years ago you could have purchased the keyboard/mouse combo, now you only get the keyboard for that much..... I wouldn't say the keyboard is worth $80, most I would spend on it is $50.

I never tried their 5050 keyboard, but I was looking for something closer to the Natural Elite model they used to make so I didn't bother with the 5050.

I have to use ergonomic keyboards otherwise having to pull in my arms and elbows and turn my wrists out to type on a straight keyboard starts to hurt my shoulders, elbows and wrists.

 

[Noci]

I find it at least suspicious that nobody mentioned Apple (Macintosh) yet, or is that the brand "He Who Must Not Be Named" .

 

[TheLostSwede]

I find it at least suspicious that nobody mentioned Apple (Macintosh) yet, or is that the brand "He Who Must Not Be Named" .


View attachment 409769

Re-read the OP's post? A requirement was mechanical switches, Apple doesn't do that afaik.

 

[R-T-B]

There was WASD keyboards, who made the excellent WASD Code and some other variants, but they went out of business recently IIRC. RIP.

 

[Noci]

Re-read the OP's post? A requirement was mechanical switches, Apple doesn't do that afaik.

Okay, my bad. Blinded by the light, uhhh the title of this thread .

I stand corrected, but fear there are more victims of confusion here when reading throug the posts .

 

[Bill_Bright]

Microsoft does sell keyboards, but it's under the Incase name brand these days. I think MS moved their peripherals over to Incase within the last year or two. Not sure if you want to include Incase on your list.

Kinda, sorta, but not really. MS got out of the HID (human interface business) a couple years ago and no longer sells mice or keyboards. But you are correct that Incase took over production and now Incase sells Incase Designed By Microsoft products. Microsoft never actually made their own mice or keyboards and I don't know who their OEM supplier was. Maybe it was Incase. IDK. But they (MS branded mice and keyboards) used to be very high quality products.

I don't know if Incase is keeping up that tradition. I sure hope so.

I actually bought a couple MS Comfort 5050 Keyboard and Mouse sets when I heard MS was going to stop selling them to store on my shelf for future builds. Note I very much like the mouse too because, while right-handed, I use my mouse with my left hand and its ambidextrous/universal design feels great in either hand. Plus the blue laser seems to track perfectly, without a mouse pad , on my keyboard tray. What more could I want? But do note, I am NOT a gamer.

Unfortunately (for me) Incase is not making the Comfort 5050 Keyboard and Mouse set (or its 5000 non-encrypted version) I like so much. And I am not aware of any Microsoft or Incase keyboards that are "mechanical".

But to that, while most quality mechanical keyboards do have a nice "feel" and reassuring "click", not sure I would dismiss other types of keyboards. That 5050 I like so much also has a very nice, solid "feel" and reassuring "click" too - as, no doubt, many other keyboards do. I just have never seen the curved "ergonomic" rows in any other keyboard .

Now if IBM got back into the mechanical keyboard business, I would be in 7th heaven.