Personal computing discussed
Moderators: renee, mac_h8r1, Nemesis
just brew it! wrote:Well, my RK-9000 arrived just a few minutes ago. I figure it is fitting that the first thing I do with it is post to this thread.
First impressions:
It looks and feels like a quality keyboard (it had better, for $100). Not quite as far into the "blunt instrument" category as a Model M, but still solid.
I thought I would need to restart my desktop since I'm switching from a PS/2 keyboard to USB, but the OS (Ubuntu Linux) recognized the new keyboard immediately when I hot-plugged it.
The blue LEDs (Num/Caps/Scroll Lock) are a little on the bright side, but are positioned and angled such that they don't shine directly at your face unless you lean pretty far over the num pad, so I don't consider it to be a problem. I think I still would've preferred some other color of LEDs (e.g amber) though.
It is definitely quite clicky, but IMO slightly quieter than the Unicomp. The pitch of the clicks is higher though -- more of a loud "tick" than the metallic "clack" of the Unicomp -- so I suppose some people might actually find it equally (or more) objectionable. My officemate already commented on it -- he initially thought it was louder than the Unicomp, but upon further reflection (after I pressed a few keys on the old keyboard for comparison) he concluded that it isn't louder, just "different". He didn't think it would bother him, but he was OK with me using the Unicomp so obviously he's not very sensitive to keyboard noise.
The tactile feel is very good; however, it has a noticeably lighter touch that the Unicomp, which will take a little getting used to. I think once I've acclimated to it for a day or two (so that I stop bottoming out the keys so hard) I will likely prefer the lighter touch.
I also tested the key rollover. Every combination of up to 6 simultaneous keys I tried registered perfectly; the 7th press did not (as expected with a USB keyboard). I have not yet tested it with a PS/2 adapter to see if the n-key rollover works as advertised, but I have no reason to doubt it since 6-key rollover appears to work perfectly.
So far, it gets a thumbs up.
flip-mode wrote:If you don't turn this into a TR blog post with pictures and such, I'm going to toss beer in your eye
flip-mode wrote:Here's something for under $60, apparently Cherry blue key switches http://www.amazon.com/Black-Mechanical- ... B000ZD1L14
just brew it! wrote:Well, my RK-9000 arrived just a few minutes ago. I figure it is fitting that the first thing I do with it is post to this thread.
First impressions:
It looks and feels like a quality keyboard (it had better, for $100). Not quite as far into the "blunt instrument" category as a Model M, but still solid.
I thought I would need to restart my desktop since I'm switching from a PS/2 keyboard to USB, but the OS (Ubuntu Linux) recognized the new keyboard immediately when I hot-plugged it.
The blue LEDs (Num/Caps/Scroll Lock) are a little on the bright side, but are positioned and angled such that they don't shine directly at your face unless you lean pretty far over the num pad, so I don't consider it to be a problem. I think I still would've preferred some other color of LEDs (e.g amber) though.
It is definitely quite clicky, but IMO slightly quieter than the Unicomp. The pitch of the clicks is higher though -- more of a loud "tick" than the metallic "clack" of the Unicomp -- so I suppose some people might actually find it equally (or more) objectionable. My officemate already commented on it -- he initially thought it was louder than the Unicomp, but upon further reflection (after I pressed a few keys on the old keyboard for comparison) he concluded that it isn't louder, just "different". He didn't think it would bother him, but he was OK with me using the Unicomp so obviously he's not very sensitive to keyboard noise.
The tactile feel is very good; however, it has a noticeably lighter touch that the Unicomp, which will take a little getting used to. I think once I've acclimated to it for a day or two (so that I stop bottoming out the keys so hard) I will likely prefer the lighter touch.
I also tested the key rollover. Every combination of up to 6 simultaneous keys I tried registered perfectly; the 7th press did not (as expected with a USB keyboard). I have not yet tested it with a PS/2 adapter to see if the n-key rollover works as advertised, but I have no reason to doubt it since 6-key rollover appears to work perfectly.
So far, it gets a thumbs up.
no51 wrote:Yay! Another convert! Too bad you couldn't get it at $75 like I did
Sunburn74 wrote:Can't someone just write a program that makes your speakers make a clicky sound everytime you press a button on your keyboard and save you guys all this crazy money?
Sunburn74 wrote:Can't someone just write a program that makes your speakers make a clicky sound everytime you press a button on your keyboard and save you guys all this crazy money?
Airmantharp wrote:Which leads me to my next question. Due to the excessive benevolence my aunt has shown me, I would like to find a good 'clicky' mechanical keyboard for her. No extra features necessary, would like to minimize cost within reason. Any suggestions?
Airmantharp wrote:Is the one I linked to above good enough:Which leads me to my next question. Due to the excessive benevolence my aunt has shown me, I would like to find a good 'clicky' mechanical keyboard for her. No extra features necessary, would like to minimize cost within reason. Any suggestions?
flip-mode wrote:Here's something for under $60, apparently Cherry blue key switches http://www.amazon.com/Black-Mechanical- ... B000ZD1L14
flip-mode wrote:Airmantharp wrote:Is the one I linked to above good enough:Which leads me to my next question. Due to the excessive benevolence my aunt has shown me, I would like to find a good 'clicky' mechanical keyboard for her. No extra features necessary, would like to minimize cost within reason. Any suggestions?flip-mode wrote:Here's something for under $60, apparently Cherry blue key switches http://www.amazon.com/Black-Mechanical- ... B000ZD1L14
Airmantharp wrote:THAT is awesome, thank you Flip. I tried looking for the Unicomp keyboards, but came up with console emulators and other oddities!
just brew it! wrote:Airmantharp wrote:THAT is awesome, thank you Flip. I tried looking for the Unicomp keyboards, but came up with console emulators and other oddities!
In case you are still interested in looking at the Unicomps: http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/keyboards.html
Airmantharp wrote:Thanks JBI. I did find that site, but I didn't find anything that looked like a normal black keyboard- am I missing something?
drsauced wrote:Of course, who really needs more than one Model M?
Captain Ned wrote:drsauced wrote:Of course, who really needs more than one Model M?
Those of us who plan for the long future.
morphine wrote:In a mêlée situation, the Model M might in fact be better than a gun. And it can likely be used as a bullet shield.
Flying Fox wrote:The brand may turn some off, but they use Cherry MX Blue switches: Rosewill RK-9000.
Ragnar Dan wrote:Flying Fox wrote:The brand may turn some off, but they use Cherry MX Blue switches: Rosewill RK-9000.
Now they've deactivated the listing (in time for the 15% keyboard discount).
If they were cheaper, and white instead of black so I can see it by the monitor's light when it's otherwise dark on those few occasions it's necessary, I'd probably have bought one or something similar by now. As it is, I buy ~5 very cheap keyboards at a time and they generally work good enough.
DancinJack wrote:Ragnar Dan wrote:Flying Fox wrote:The brand may turn some off, but they use Cherry MX Blue switches: Rosewill RK-9000.
Now they've deactivated the listing (in time for the 15% keyboard discount).
If they were cheaper, and white instead of black so I can see it by the monitor's light when it's otherwise dark on those few occasions it's necessary, I'd probably have bought one or something similar by now. As it is, I buy ~5 very cheap keyboards at a time and they generally work good enough.
Ugh. I really hope it comes back in stock. I had decided on this particular one.
I've seen some threads here and there about the Filco replacements and honestly , they're just ugly. 10-key-less as far as I can tell as well.
Ragnar Dan wrote:This Cherry brand I found on Froogle was cheap enough ($9.99 per, but shipping is also that much, so I bought 3 of 'em) that I thought I'd give it a shot, just to test it.