As for the keyboard key pressing, I could press 9 simultaneously, but they couldn't be right next to each other and on the same row. I did it another way, but couldn't get up to nine, but inadvertently wound up opening 25 mIRC windows.
FK-2001 PS/2 Windows Keyboard with Mechanical Key Switches Patented Dust Cover (File Holder), PS/2 connector. The best mechanical keyboard from the early days
This heavy-duty keyboard is a 107/8-key keyboard with genuine mechanical click tactile key switches, patented dust cover, embedded metal plate, and dual side logo pad.
The patented cover not only protects your keyboard from dust, spills, and accidental collision, but also serves as a file holder. The cover is optional and can be removed easily (US Patent No. 7/355249). The dual side logo pad facilitates logo customization. Just reverse the pad, seal your logo sticker/ label, reinsert it, and you have customized your own logo pad.
So a keyboard with Mechanical Key Switches can have as many keys pressed at once as you want and the computer won't beep? That type of keyboard sounds very nice if i can find one with the correct layout.
I myself used a PS2 keyboard untill I transformed my main rig into a multimedia-and-computing-device... so I understand your needs in keyboards...
the old IBM PS2 Keyboards had mecanical switches, I never heard it beeps. you can even change the face of the keys, as its mounted there. Those are, in my opinion, the best keyboard ever built.
http://www.bostonbestpc.com/ac32kmeckeyp.html
That keyboard is looking good to me, and its cheap too, but that keyboard at the link you posted looks even better because its got a nice standard layout and NO windows keys. it probably weights a ton too, but thats good becuase hten it won't slide across my desk so easily.
Tomorrow i'm going to go to the Boeing surplus store to look for a nice old IBM keyboard like that, i remeber last time i went there they had 100's and 100's of keyboards so i will probably find something good there.
I found a very nice old Mechicanical Key IBM keyboard at the Boeing Surplus store and its perfect, i haven't tested how many keys you can press at once though. It is only missing a key cover for the ` key so i'm just going to use the F12 one and write ` on it, i never use the F12 key so it doesn't matter. I say key cover because it isn't like a normal keyboard, it has the key that you press and then a cover that says what the key does, so i can still use the F12 key i will just write F12 on the actual key. In a few more hours once the keyboard dries totally (i just finished cleaning it and it looks new now) i will put it back together and do some real testing with it and then tell you guys how it works. When you type with that thing its loud enough that your neighbors can tell you're using the computer, and you sure as heck don't want to drop the thing unless you want a hole in your floor
I think its mechcanical, there is a spring under every singal key so that seems mechcanical to me.
The keyboard was only 1$ too, but it was the last IBM one like that they had otherwise i would bought at least 3 of them.
0
Straight_ManGeeky, in my own wayNaples, FLIcrontian
edited October 2003
The original Circuit City spillproof was a Memorex, adn I use one for testing computers. I went to the way-back route, my keyboard is an IBM PC keyboard mfr'd in 1995 by Lexmark (pre cheap printer era) and it is a PS\2 native keyboard.
Key switches, have yet to lock it typing any number of keys as it has an octeted division that is not pure quadrants of location and instead is a circuit division based on keyboard frequency for a QWERTY tuning (as a Dvorak bard this board would stink, but more modern IBM server and workstation keyboards would probably suit for both and they can be had in PS\2 AND USB subtypes).
Top end Keytronics are typically NOT USB, but I should mention one thing if you must have USB-- in BIOS turn on Legacy USB support or you will NOT have a USB keyboard working in CMOS Setup program. One reason PS\2 is commonly still used is that it is always workable, even when Windows is not running its USB drivers.
Cliff's Notes:
USB for MICE, yes, Keyboards not always (see note about BIOS and Legacy USB support).
Best names bar none:
IBM
Keytronics
Logitech (which DOES make keyboards sans extra keys also).
Next Best:
Mitsumi (Don't know if they still make keyboards though)
Memorex ("Spillproof one.")
Cheap things to avoid:
Chicony (average lifetime 3-6 months for me for the two I tried).
Any keyboard with a model number beginning in NB.
Well guys, thanks a lot for finally leading me to the perfect keyboard for me! You also found me the perfect chair without even knowing it, while i was at the boeing surplus store i found a very very nice chair, the kind with three levers and the back lowers and raises and the armrests do too. The chair was normally priced at 40$ but it was half off chairs the day i went so i only spent 20$ for chair that is in perfect condition.
The keyboard is perfect but it will take me a few more weeks to get used to the loud noise that it makes when you type, and i was also finally getting used to how softly you could press the keys on my other keyboard so i know i sometimes don't press hard enough and the keys don't get pressed when i want them to.
0
Geeky1University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
edited October 2003
Ooooooo Boeing surplus. They have a website?
(maybe I'll be able to test the following theory:
1x Jet engine + 1x 1986 Mercedes 560SEL + rope = 1 fast car)
Comments
How about this from newegg, and its $18:
<a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=FK-2001" target="_blank">Focus FK2001</a>
the old IBM PS2 Keyboards had mecanical switches, I never heard it beeps. you can even change the face of the keys, as its mounted there. Those are, in my opinion, the best keyboard ever built.
I found a site linkie about it.
You should try to get one of those. Really.
That keyboard is looking good to me, and its cheap too, but that keyboard at the link you posted looks even better because its got a nice standard layout and NO windows keys. it probably weights a ton too, but thats good becuase hten it won't slide across my desk so easily.
Tomorrow i'm going to go to the Boeing surplus store to look for a nice old IBM keyboard like that, i remeber last time i went there they had 100's and 100's of keyboards so i will probably find something good there.
I think its mechcanical, there is a spring under every singal key so that seems mechcanical to me.
The keyboard was only 1$ too, but it was the last IBM one like that they had otherwise i would bought at least 3 of them.
Key switches, have yet to lock it typing any number of keys as it has an octeted division that is not pure quadrants of location and instead is a circuit division based on keyboard frequency for a QWERTY tuning (as a Dvorak bard this board would stink, but more modern IBM server and workstation keyboards would probably suit for both and they can be had in PS\2 AND USB subtypes).
Top end Keytronics are typically NOT USB, but I should mention one thing if you must have USB-- in BIOS turn on Legacy USB support or you will NOT have a USB keyboard working in CMOS Setup program. One reason PS\2 is commonly still used is that it is always workable, even when Windows is not running its USB drivers.
Cliff's Notes:
USB for MICE, yes, Keyboards not always (see note about BIOS and Legacy USB support).
Best names bar none:
IBM
Keytronics
Logitech (which DOES make keyboards sans extra keys also).
Next Best:
Mitsumi (Don't know if they still make keyboards though)
Memorex ("Spillproof one.")
Cheap things to avoid:
Chicony (average lifetime 3-6 months for me for the two I tried).
Any keyboard with a model number beginning in NB.
John, keying like a madman tonight
The keyboard is perfect but it will take me a few more weeks to get used to the loud noise that it makes when you type, and i was also finally getting used to how softly you could press the keys on my other keyboard so i know i sometimes don't press hard enough and the keys don't get pressed when i want them to.
(maybe I'll be able to test the following theory:
1x Jet engine + 1x 1986 Mercedes 560SEL + rope = 1 fast car)
I don't see any rocket engines but they do have some really big machines on that page