Wired compact keyboard

[Shrek]

I am wondering what the best wired compact keyboard for the PC might be, I was thinking about the Raspberry Pi version.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I am wondering what the best wired compact keyboard for the PC might be

The one that feels best at the end YOUR fingertips, not mine or anyone else's.

 

[Mihail_Lazarev]

Check Wooting 60 HE. Or Wooting 80 HE which is a bit larger, but is considered by some to be one of the best gaming keyboard available right now.

 

[Shrek]

Much appreciated, but $200 seems like a lot.

 

[Ruru]

The one that feels best at the end YOUR fingertips, not mine or anyone else's.

Exactly. A keyboard comfy for me may not be comfy for others.

 

[Shrek]

True, but I was also after longevity.

 

[Onasi]

Depends on what you mean by “compact”. What layout? Do you want low profile keys? What’s the budget you are comfortable with? Though a good keyboard can be a “buy for life” thing, so splurging might be a decent investment.
And, as noted, we can offer suggestions, but it IS a personal thing, like mice. And, unfortunately, unlike mice there is no ELOshapes to get a rough idea of the proportions.

 

[Shrek]

By compact I mean full size, but without the number pad; low profile seems good and certainly not clickity. Not after a gaming unit, that is why I included the Raspberry Pi keyboard as an example. Don't want 'ergonomical'.

Longevity is what I am after (not sure if membrane keyboards last) and was wondering about lasered key caps. The ideal keyboard can be washed in the dishwasher, but that would cut out membrane keyboards. Also, not keen on keyboards where the feet can break off.

Would like to keep the budget reasonable.

 

[Onasi]

@Shrek
Just look through Keychron offerings, the K series to be exact. That sounds exactly like what you would want.

And, uh

The ideal keyboard can be washed in the dishwasher, but that would cut out membrane keyboards.

You, uh, shouldn’t do it with mechanical boards either. Just… no. Just pull off the caps, wash em, dry em, blow out crud from the board, replace caps and done. That’s the SOP.

 

[Shrek]

I worry that pulling the caps on a scissor mechanism is asking for trouble.

Thanks for the link

Keychron | Custom Mechanical Keyboards for Mac, Windows and Phones

Keychron designs and produces custom and wireless productive computer peripherals for Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android.

www.keychron.com

they seem to have some nice, wired units and a few without the numerical keypad, at reasonable prices.

Dishwashing is an option for some keyboards
The best way to clean a keyboard is… the DISHWASHER?

 

[Onasi]

I worry that pulling the caps on a scissor mechanism is asking for trouble.

It’s not a scissor or butterfly. Those are LP mechanical switches. They are made for this, the cap is fully separate from the switch. A cap puller is even included with the board.

Dishwashing is an option for some keyboards
The best way to clean a keyboard is… the DISHWASHER?

Look at their first pinned comment - it’s a terrible idea. And Linus is not what I would call a… good source of information.

 

[Shrek]

I meant for low profile keys.

 

[Onasi]

I meant for low profile keys.

So did I? Keychron has low profile keyboards and those are mechanical LP switches which work as I described.
I guess you meant low profile non-mechanical keyboards? In this case - yeah. But I haven’t ran a non-mech for like 15 years, so I guess my mind goes there by default.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I worry that pulling the caps on a scissor mechanism is asking for trouble.

It depends on the design. Some manufacturers design their keyboards (low and standard profile) with keycaps that can be replaced by the user. This is common with programmable keyboards where you can replace the keycaps to reflect special/foreign characters, for example. Or if you want to replace some with different colored caps. Or if the letters wear off.

I guess you meant low profile non-mechanical keyboards?

I don't see why it matters if mechanical or non-mechanical (membrane). It just depends on the design. Google shows me there are keycaps for membrane keyboards - though most appear to be literal caps - and in a thin "skin" type cap you put over the existing keycaps.

I believe there just is not much of a demand for "replacement" caps for non-mechanical keyboards because those keyboards typically don't have the price tag the better mechanical keyboards have. Users just buy a new keyboard.