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Any recommendations for a high-quality compact (no number pad) keyboard, preferably $50 or less?

Criteria:

  • $50 or less
  • Preferably with laptop-style keys (scissor switches instead of rubber membranes ala cheap desktop keyboards)
  • Quiet (I'm a Model-M kind of guy, but this isn't a good environment for a noisy keyboard)
  • Don't care too much about media keys, USB ports, etc

I like the Apple Wireless Keyboard, and have heard the Happy Hacking keyboards recommended by others, but they're both a bit outside our budget.

There have been several questions about keyboards (check the "peripherals" tag) but none about compact keyboards as far as I can tell. Nobody demands more from their keyboards than programmers, so while it's a somewhat subjective question, I figured this is the best place to ask.

Vadim Kotov
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John Rose
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  • May I ask why the need for compact keyboard for a programming organization? – Uri Jan 05 '09 at 22:18
  • I'm curious about that as well. A compact keyboard is the opposite of what I would want, personally. – William Brendel Jan 05 '09 at 22:19
  • Nice question. I've never used the numberkeypad in 10++ years. I've run into users repeatedly who ask the same thing. It clutters up the desktop bigtime. The extra keys just get in the way for high-volume touch typists. – dkretz Jan 05 '09 at 22:22
  • @Uri: Lack of cursor keys and a number pad significantly reduces the distance between they keys and the mouse (for right handed users). – Greg Hewgill Jan 05 '09 at 22:27
  • That makes sense, Greg. I tend not to use the mouse much (if at all) while programming, so I just never noticed it. I didn't realize it was a common issue among programmers. – William Brendel Jan 05 '09 at 22:35
  • Moving my hand those 30 degrees from the key to the nouse is probably the most exercise that I get in a day... Also, I like curved keyboards (MS Ergo 4000) and none of them come without this stuff, AFAIK. But I understand the issue. – Uri Jan 05 '09 at 23:57
  • Uri: Eschewing the numberpad is not entirely uncommon among programmers. This isn't an organization-wide thing, though. – John Rose Jan 22 '09 at 18:43
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    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is not about a programming problem / software tool. – unor Feb 17 '15 at 22:18

5 Answers5

3

This appears to be close enough to what you are looking for:

BTC 6100C Silver & Black 86 Normal Keys 9 Function Keys USB Ultra Slim Multimedia Keyboard

  • It costs $20
  • It has laptop-style keys with scissor switches
  • It has media keys, which doesn't sound like a negative for you
  • It has five eggs on NewEgg, with 32 user reviews
  • Not sure if it's quiet since I don't own one (reviews didn't seem to mention it either)

Keyboard http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/9f6982eb63.jpg

William Brendel
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  • That looks good. Out of stock at Newegg, but hopefully I can find it elsewhere. – John Rose Jan 22 '09 at 18:43
  • Agreed, this does look good, but I can't seem to find it for sale anywhere. Does anybody know where to purchase this keyboard? – Joe Lencioni Jun 13 '11 at 14:05
  • I just received a response from the company that made this keyboard, and they said they stopped making it 2 years ago. Bummer. It looks great. – Joe Lencioni Jun 14 '11 at 13:17
  • I searched for it on Amazon (Dec 2014) and found this. It comes close to the BTC 6100c: [Genius LuxeMate i200](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003YGVDDU/) I'm thinking of buying and testing it out. – dgo.a Dec 02 '14 at 17:07
  • Nevermind. It is not as good as the BTC keyboards: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1D2MV9XDVUBX7/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B003YGVDDU#wasThisHelpful – dgo.a Dec 02 '14 at 17:15
1

TypeMatrix (Does not meet your price-requirement, but for posterity's sake)

TypeMatrix keyboard from above

  • Compact
  • Ergonomic
  • Available in Qwerty, Dvorak and blank (also with a variety of rubber covers)
  • Laptop-style keys
Jonta
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0

Keyboard layout, scissor switches, and good reviews by people who have used Apple keyboards, but want Windows/Linux keyboard layout: GMYLE (TM) Super Slim USB 2.0 Mini Keyboard

GMYLE Super Keyboard

dgo.a
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0

What about those roll-up keyboards? They're definitely rubber membranes, but they're also extremely quiet and extremely portable. I'd be surprised if you can find a keyboard that fits ALL of the criteria you specified, but the roll-up keyboard at least hits all but one of them.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/input/5a7f/?cpg=ab

EdgarVerona
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0

I bought the logitech newtouch keyboard which has a smaller footprint than a regular keyboard and it's great. Nice and quiet, no "multimedia keys" and has a nice feel. It's also great as a programming keyboard because the function keys aren't hijacked by those ridiculous "shortcuts" that are so common on other keyboards. You hit F5 and you get a build in visual studio. I bought it after buying the ultra flat which had a good feel to it, but the key layout was just awful.

lomaxx
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  • Oh, those look nice! I wish Logitech sold them here in the US. – John Rose Jan 06 '09 at 17:02
  • the newtouch is called the classic in the US... here's a link http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboards/&cl=us,en&page=1&filter=0&sort=4 – lomaxx Jan 08 '09 at 03:11