Dark Day in Computer Land

Today I spilled some tea on my beloved Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 and now it no longer works. Sigh.

This is when I realized for the first time that my absolutely awesome Dell Dimension 9200 does not include any PS/2 ports and offers only USB ports for peripherals. Of course the 4000 is the only USB keyboard I’ve ever owned so my stash of retired keyboards was of no use. It took me a while to remember that I had never even looked at the keyboard that Dell shipped and thankfully it is a USB keyboard. Of course now I’m condemned to this miserable excuse for a keyboard.

My non-geek friends must think I’m odd but I guess only a geek/programmer would understand the attachment one forms with a keyboard.  :)

© 2007 Kenny Kerr

Published Thursday, February 15, 2007 6:50 PM by KennyKerr

Comments

# re: Dark Day in Computer Land

Thursday, February 15, 2007 8:40 PM by Aaron

With time your keyboard will work again. It probably just needs to dry out.  I have spilt coffee and juice on my keyboards.  the keys stick alittle.

# re: Dark Day in Computer Land

Thursday, February 15, 2007 8:40 PM by Stuart P. Bentley

Dude, if it's this one (http://www.protectcovers.com/images2/dell/Dell_keyboard_8115.jpg), then that's an awesome keyboard, undoubtedly the most stylish one ever provided by an OEM.

Anyway, you'll probably be wanting one of those keyboards with Windows Vista features soon anyway.

# re: Dark Day in Computer Land

Thursday, February 15, 2007 8:50 PM by jon

It always amazes me that people can actually use those silly split keyboards productively :)

If you want a real keyboard, a MAN'S keyboard, you need one of these: http://www.daskeyboard.com/

# re: Dark Day in Computer Land

Thursday, February 15, 2007 9:46 PM by KennyKerr

You see what I mean: whichever way you look at it, us geeks are passionate about our keyboards.  :)

Stuart: Yes, that’s the one, although this is a slightly newer revision with silver trim and even more backlit buttons. I guess you either love it or you hate it.

I loved the classic Dell keyboards, the cream colored ones, but I can’t stand the new black keyboards they make these days – they just feel so unnatural.

# re: Dark Day in Computer Land

Thursday, February 15, 2007 10:04 PM by The Other Steve

Keytronic Classic is the bees knees.  It has an awesome key feel, is fairly compact... has USB cable.

It comes in black or beige, and the best part is it sells for around $30-35 over at buy.com.

The only thing is, the backslash is in an odd location under the return key.  If you odn't like that, the Keytronic Designer has the old style, but it's PS/2.  I asked Keytronic and they told me the E03600 series is the same as the designer layout, but has a USB cable.

I do around 90-100 wpm, and have been typing since 1984 on IBM Selectrics.  I've used the IBM Model-M keyboards, Northgate Omnikey... and these modern keytronics are about as close to perfection as you are going to find any more.

You're right, most modern keyboards suck.

# re: Dark Day in Computer Land

Thursday, February 15, 2007 10:12 PM by The Other Steve

One more thing.  The daskeyboard uses the Cherry switches rated at 50 million, according to the website, which means they are not the tactile feel keys, but rather have a linear feel.

I had bought a DecK keyboard to try that, which uses the same Cherry keys, only with a backlight, and they're quite unnatural feeling.  That is, you pretty much have to completely depress the keys until they hit bottom to insure you've connected.  A tactile keyswitch has a bit of a hump you press past, thus knowing you've registered the key.

They're not bad if you get used to it, but it's disappointing that they decided to go for the longer lasting keys rather than the ones that feel better.

Anyway, the keytronics lifetime is a better keyboard for half the price.  Just saying. :-)

Other good ones would be the Avant Prime from CVT, but it's PS/2 only.  They bought out the Northgate design, which uses an incredible ALPS keyswitch.

The IBM Model M style keyboards with the buckling spring are available at pckeyboard.com.  They bought out IBM's design.  This one is a very noisy keyboard, but good feel.  they appear to have USB models.

# re: Dark Day in Computer Land

Thursday, February 15, 2007 10:12 PM by Ari Glaizel

I personally hate split keyboards Kenny. I have no idea how twisting your hands 80 degrees is 'natural'. So as far as I'm concerned, suck it up princess and use a real keyboard. :)

Keytronic keyboards are great, Logitech as well makes good keyboards as long as you avoid the silly media keyboards. I actually don't like any keyboards from Microsoft, surprisingly enough.

# re: Dark Day in Computer Land

Thursday, February 15, 2007 11:15 PM by jon

Not sure what you mean by "linear feel" Steve but the daskeyboard keys are great. They have a well-defined (and loud!) click that you can definitely feel approaching - and once it's clicked you know the keypress has been detected.

It's so hard to find a decent keyboard these days - especially since 90% of them have that STUPID f-lock system. WTF Microsoft/Logitech feel it is necessary to redefine a standard that has been working well for 40 years is anyone's guess, but if you have to add an f-lock key for dog's sake PLEASE let it remember its state between reboots.

# re: Dark Day in Computer Land

Thursday, February 15, 2007 11:34 PM by KennyKerr

jon: I’m with you man – I can’t stand that stupid f-lock system. That’s about the only thing I don’t like about the Microsoft 4000 keyboard.

Ari: what you failed to mention is that you’re a sucker for Microsoft mice.  :)

# re: Dark Day in Computer Land

Friday, February 16, 2007 5:11 AM by Paul M. Watson

Oh those Microsoft keyboards are nice, especially the split ergonomic natural jobs. I miss mine a bit but when I started working here the pain of switching between it and other computers became too much.

So now it is the keyboard on a Mac Book Pro which has turned out better than expected.

# re: Dark Day in Computer Land

Monday, February 19, 2007 10:21 AM by Ty

Running your keyboard through the top rack of the dishwasher face down does wonders for them.  It's amazing how dirty they can get in just a little time.

Cheers.

# re: Dark Day in Computer Land

Friday, February 23, 2007 12:43 AM by Ashley Visagie

Kenny,

If you had a name for your keyboard then I would really be concerned.  My cheerfully obsolete computer is (informally) known as "Big Bertha" to me - and no, the keyboard does not have a name!

Ah, I'm such a geek ;-)

Ashley

# re: Dark Day in Computer Land

Monday, February 26, 2007 1:50 PM by Bjorn

Personally, I'm a huge fan of the Logitech G15. It's not a split or clicky keyboard, but daaaaaaamn is it nice to work on. And it's got an integrated LCD so I can move most of my monitoring craplets onto a single display.

# re: Dark Day in Computer Land

Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:35 PM by Brian Scott

Kenny,

I've spilled sweet tea in my keybord in the past. You can soak it in some warm soapy water in the sink and then rinse it and let it dry completely before pluggin it back in. It should work fine after that.

# re: Dark Day in Computer Land

Monday, March 12, 2007 7:37 PM by Steve Silverwood (kb6ojs@arrl.net)

I must be a geek, then, because I fully understand your attachment to a keyboard.  For the longest time, I used the Microsoft Office Keyboard, until I got so used to it that whenever I went to another system I kept screwing up on the insert/home/etc. combination of keys.  the MS Office keyboard uses a two-by-three arrangement, whereas the "standard" keyboard layout is three-by-two.  <sigh>  Since that keyboard is out of production, and since the driver for it can't even be downloaded from the Microsoft web site any more (they have newer drivers, but none that support this particular keyboard's features -- and the old driver doesn't work well with some of my other programs), I've had to retire the two that I have and am plugging along with a Dell multimedia keyboard.  If and when I get to a point where my own keyboard is the only one I ever have to use, I might consider switching again to something a little less standard, but until then I think I need to stay with the old "miserable excuse for a keyboard."

I'm not too thrilled with the so-called "ergonomic" keyboards that are out there on the market, but my wife is, so I guess that's two of us that commiserate with you.

Until it broke, my favorite all-time keyboard was an old IBM 101-key keyboard with a built-in "eraser" mouse.  It was the old-style "Selectric" keyboard that made a horrible clackety-racket when typing at high speed, but I learned to type in the 5th grade on Olivetti manual and IBM Selectric typewriters, so it was very comfortable.

As the "All In The Family" theme goes... "Those were the days...!"

//Steve//