[ale] Lighted keyboards

[Jim Kinney]

For me, the keyboard clicking is really quiet compared to the muttering and yelling of the user. :-)

On June 15, 2020 2:09:43 PM EDT, Alex Carver via Ale <ale at ale.org> wrote:
>On 2020-06-14 14:05, Steve Litt via Ale wrote:
>> On Sat, 13 Jun 2020 17:04:58 -0700
>> Alex Carver via Ale <ale at ale.org> wrote:
>> 
>>> Thanks, I'm trying to go towards not clacky.  The CEO of the
>household
>>> complains bitterly about the current clacky keyboard. :)
>>  
>> I was going to mention that. Last century, and the first four or five
>> years of this century, I used genuine IBM clickety clack keyboards,
>> which at the time could be bought used for five bucks at computer
>shows
>> and garage sales. The "falling through the ice" feel was definitely
>> reassuring: You *knew* you'd hit the key --- you couldn't miss.
>> 
>> But back in those days I often typed 2000 words per day, and at the
>end
>> of the day my wrists really felt it. Each night I'd slather Ben Gay
>on
>> my wrists, and each morning I'd dread pushing those hugely resisitive
>> keys.
>> 
>> Then I switched to a certain model of, as I remember, Dell, which had
>> tactile feedback and some auditory feedback, but didn't require the
>> insane force required by the IBM clickety-clacks.
>> 
>> Now I use some ordinary Logitech keyboard with a fairly light touch
>and
>> a little tactile feedback, and a lot of auditory feedback. I seldom
>> type 2000 words per day anymore, so this keyboard is just fine.
>> 
>> When I used the IBM clickety-clacks, I thought they were the best.
>When
>> I used the softer but feedbacked Dells, I thought those were the
>best.
>> My Logitech isn't half bad. But looking back over 35 years of hard
>work
>> using my own computer, I think the winner was the keyboard on my
>Kaypro
>> 2X.
>> 
>> The Kaypro 2X computer had an incredibly light touch all the way to
>the
>> bottom, where the key stopped dead in its tracks. If you felt that
>hard
>> landing, you knew you'd registered the letter. And when you hit
>bottom,
>> you heard it. 2000 words per day is 10,000 keystrokes per day, and
>> having the Kaypro very light touch (until the bottom) was definitely
>> wrist-friendly. I'd say it was the best I ever had.
>> 
>> If you ever see a 1981-1986 Kaypro computer, check out its keyboard.
>> You'll see what I mean.
>> 
>> Like so many other superior things, the Kaypro keyboard philosophy
>went
>> out of style. I haven't seen anything like it in 30 years. A few of
>> today's membrane switches are very light, but they're mushy at the
>> bottom, telling you nothing. 
>> 
>> With optical-sensing keys now a thing, it would be easy to build the
>> perfect Kaypro imitation. A light touch spring, engineering to
>minimize
>> friction, a solid metal downward stop, and two optical holes a
>fraction
>> of a millimeter above hard bottom. Key-down vs Key-up is easily
>> discerned by which hole fires first.
>> 
>> Bottom line is this: Those using keyboards for Facebook or to fill in
>> web forms can make due with any piece of junk keyboard. Those who
>type
>> a moderate amount will love maximum hit/maximum clack. But for those
>> typing enough that wrist pain becomes a problem will gravitate to
>> lighter touch, but still sure-fire keyboards. I sure wish somebody
>> would make a Kaypro keyboard workalike/feelalike.
>
>
>
>I'm currently using an old PS/2 Dell keyboard which is quiet-ish and
>tactile but still clicky.  I type a lot nearly every day at around 200
>wpm so things get loud.  At work, I've got a slightly softer Dell
>keyboard (somewhat newer USB with media controls) and most people don't
>notice me typing.  I also had to use one of the standard Dell KB212
>keyboards that come standard with some workstations.  These are fully
>quiet keys and it was actually very comfortable to use.
>
>Work just sent me a new Dell laptop that had soft scissor keys similar
>to the KB212 (but backlit).  While I'm working from home I grabbed an
>old Microsoft Media Keyboard 3000 that was in the closet to use so I
>could put the laptop elsewhere plugged into the bigger monitors. 
>That's
>also got quiet scissor keys that are comfortable as well even with the
>keyboard in a non-optimal location.
>
>So I really don't mind going from clicky to silent keys.
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