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Keyboard

Keyboard

Last Updated: October 10, 2007


Personal Choice

There are dozens of keyboards to choose from.  What works well for me may not work for you.  Pay close attention to the keys located above the arrow keys.  I'm a fan of the old school 3 keys wide by 2 keys tall over the newer layout of two keys wide by 3 keys tall.  The keyboards shown below are a combination of popularity, good ratings, and most current products.  Microsoft and Logitech produce the largest number of keyboards and that's why you'll see many of their products below.  I did not include media center / home theater PC (HTPC) keyboards.


Ergonomic Keyboards

The $50 Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 splits the keyboard and adds a removable front tilt plate (not shown) to make the palm rest the highest part of the keyboard.  It also adds a zoom control, resizes the delete key to the old way (I'm glad), and is a stylish black.  I've used this at home since May 2006 and love it.  I only wish it was wireless.  Buy it online.
Read reviews from owners on NewEgg (over 240 reviews, 4/5 stars).
   
The $65 Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop Pro offers a wireless keyboard and wireless mouse for a moderate price.  I've used this at work for years and like not having wires run across the desk.  The keyboard and mouse can quickly move out of the way when I need more desk space.  I have never gotten comfortable with the new positions of the Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down keys that Excel uses so much.  Buy it online.
Read reviews from owners on NewEgg (over 40 reviews, 4/5 stars).
   
The $81 Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave offers a different ergonomic shape by keeping the keyboard fairly straight, but raising the middle keys higher than the side keys.  The price is good and the mouse works well for left or right handed people.  Buy it online.
Read a review from XYZ Computing (Aug 2007), ExtremeTech (July 2007), Trusted Reviews (July 2007), Gizmodo (July 2007).
   
The $123 Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000 is the 2.4GHz wireless version of the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 above and the Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 6000.  Buy it online.
Read a review from TechGage (Aug 2007), ExtremeTech (July 2007), PC Magazine (July 2007).
   
The $159 Kinesis Maxim Adjustable Ergonomic Keyboard offers customized positioning unlike any other keyboard.  PC Magazine thought this was the most comfortable keyboard since you can tilt and swivel each side to fit you best.  While it's relatively expensive, avoiding carpal tunnel syndrome is worth it.  Buy it online.
Read a review from PC Magazine (Feb 2004).

Straight Keyboards

The $13 Lite-On SK-1788/BS is a quality keyboard that sells for a low price.  It helps make $400 computers a reality.  Buy it online.
Read reviews from owners on NewEgg (over 240 reviews, 5/5 stars).
   
The $20 Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000 is a little more comfortable to type on than a straight keyboard and includes multimedia keys.  Its thin profile keys are similar to a laptop computer.  Buy it online.
Read reviews from owners on NewEgg (over 160 reviews, 5/5 stars), PC Magazine (Apr 2006).
   
The $28 Logitech Access Keyboard 600 appears to replace the Media Elite above since the designs are similar.  Buy it online.
Read reviews from owners on NewEgg (4 reviews, 5/5 stars).
   
The $31 Logitech Media Elite is good, average priced keyboard with a dozen multimedia keys to control music and movies.  It has been discontinued as of June 2007.  Buy it online.
Read reviews from owners on NewEgg (over 140 reviews, 5/5 stars).
   

The $67 Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 6000 is a nice keyboard and mouse combination.  The keyboard is thin (flat), so many people aren't used to how it feels.  I like how the home, end, page up, page down, insert and delete keys are arranged in the old, familiar layout.  I'm not sure how I feel about the Escape keep no longer being in the upper left corner because of the left side keys.  Buy it online.
Read reviews from owners on NewEgg (over 25 reviews, 3/5 stars), TechGage (Mar 2006).
   

The $70 Logitech Cordless Desktop MX3200 Laser is a nice keyboard and mouse combination.  The function keys are actually small buttons rather than keys and I've never been crazy about this particular layout of the delete, home, end, page up, and page down keys.  Buy it online.
Read reviews from owners on NewEgg (over 80 reviews, 4/5 stars).
   
The $100 Chester Creek Vision Board II is for the nearly blind.  Buy it online at the company website.
Read a review by AARP.
   

The $123 Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000 looks neat, but isn't very practical.  The keypad, home and end keys are missing.  The keypad is nice for Quicken and the home and end keys are used quite a bit in email, Word and Excel.  ExtremeTech didn't like the mouse.  Buy it online.
Read a review from Gizmodo (Jan 2007), ExtremeTech (Mar 2007).
   

The $160 Logitech diNovo Edge is thin (flat), wireless, and includes a touchpad to replace the mouse.  The biggest complaints are that it shows finger prints and makes noise while recharging the batteries.  I'd suggest waiting for version two.  Buy it online.
Read reviews from owners on NewEgg (over 60 reviews, 4/5 stars).

Gaming Keyboards

The $43 Saitek Eclipse Backlit Keyboard has either blue or red LED backlights to see the keys in a dark room.  The keyboard is thin (flat), isn't cluttered with extra multimedia keys, and is comfortable to type on.  Buy it online.
Read reviews from owners on NewEgg (over 900 reviews, 5/5 stars), PC Apex (July 2007).
   
The $100 Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard (new version, same name, different left keys) includes extra programmable keys on the left side and the keys are backlight.  Buy it online.
Read a review from ExtremeTech (Sep 2007).
   
The $70 Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard (old version, same name) includes extra programmable keys on the left side and the keys are backlight.  Buy it online.
Read reviews from owners on NewEgg (over 750 reviews, 5/5 stars).

Gaming Keypads

The $35 Belkin Nostromo SpeedPad N52 is considered to be the best.  The keys are programmable, the wrist rest is adjustable, and there aren't too many buttons.  Buy it online.
Read reviews from ExtremeTech (Oct 2006).
   
The Belkin Nostromo SpeedPad N52te is a backlit version of the above.  Buy it soon.
Read reviews from Gizmodo (Oct 2006).
   
The $35 Flexiglow Cyber Snipa Game Pad V2 is designed for First Person Shooter (FPS) games and won an award from ExtremeTech.  Buy it online.
Read reviews from ExtremeTech (May 2007).
   
The $36 Wolf King Warrior is a popular gamepad and caters to those who need extra buttons or a different layout than the Nostromo Speedpad N52 above.  Buy it online.
Read reviews from owners on NewEgg (over 60 reviews if you include all of the colors, 4/5 stars), ExtremeTech (Feb 2006).