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Hexus, I'm after a new keyboard, my current one has sticky keys because, I err... spilt a drink over it. Anyway, my trusty MS Comfort Curve 2000 needs replacing, criteria for a new KB;
- Budget of £30
- 'Normal sized' – prefer a keyboard without any or too many hot keys.
- 'Standard layout' – horizontal 3x2 layout of ins, home, pg up keys etc and a number pad are musts
- Wired!
Recommendations? Thanks :)
The basic Logitech delux 250 although this has now gone EOL so it's harder to find
cost should be under £10
But the simplest thing would be to clean your current keyboard out ;)
remove screws from the underside and it should come apart, rinse the rubber membrane and acetate layers with water, a stiff brush and warm soapy water will get the top half&keys clean
Long story this, I managed to clean the keyboard a while ago having spilt a drink on a previous occasion, although during the clean I broke something and now half of the keyboard randomly stops working, I can temporarily fix it by giving it a good thump.
I don't want to clean it again only for it to be half dead again :(
You can get a Microsoft Sidewinder x4 for £24.99 at the moment. The keyboard is perhaps a little smaller than average (keys seem a little close together), but it is backlit and has anti-ghosting (if that sort of thing matters for you). Good for gaming.
However, it does have some macro keys on the left and media short-cuts above the F keys, so might not be what you're looking for.
Yes the microsoft sidewinder x4 keyboard (that still confuses me as the microsoft sidewinder used to be joysticks) is decent for £25, I've got a logitech g11 atm, the only functions I really use is the back light keys and volume control not many games need programmable keys now.
The one thing I don't like about it is the US style keys, the long thin enter key rather than the inverted L shaped enter key of UK/EU keyboards
One other warning the new LOGITECH K120 & K200 which replaced the logitech deluxe 250 & 350, while it's more compact and slimmer it's not as good quality wise.
Others I'd look at are Cherry and Saitek
Cherry's are really solid and robust (they mainly make industrial stuff) http://www.scan.co.uk/products/cherr...sb-11-20-black
Saitek do some nice solid basic stuff like the K80 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Saitek-Compa...7994928&sr=8-1 and the high end stuff under the brand name "cyborg" the Cyborg V.1 keyboard looks ok, a basic keyboard, with anti-ghosting (is anti-ghosting any more than marketing?) a window's-key lock and the function key can be programmed.
I'm leaning towards the MS Sidewinder X4, it has a few more hot keys than I like but it's not that much bigger than the keyboard I have now, plus it will match my Sidewinder mouse :D
Thanks for the suggestions, I'll think about it over the weekend.
I would just like to second the MS Sidewinder X4. The keys are very nice and the backlight is great.
The only negative for me is the wrist rest is a little short for my style of gaming. Just look at some reviews to see if it suits you. I bought it for a friend so couldnt comment on long term use, but the build quality is excellent.
i got a 5 quid ms one from ebay, brand new nice build but the keys feel more blocky than my 5 quid ebuyer value wireless one that is holding together with bluetack and tape
Iv just been into, sorry for saying it, PC World.
Amazingly they had a very good gaming mouse and keyboard range. They had the MS X4 there if you wanted to go and try one.
I've also got a Sidewinder X4 and it's been pretty perfect for me. It is a little bigger than I'd like it to be but I quite like the keys and I've never had any problems with it. I feel the macro keys are a bit of a gimmick/waste of space though but that's probably because I'm not a gamer.
The wrist rest is probably not really needed but it does help a bit I guess but as gwyn said, if it was longer it'd also be nice, right now my wrist just tends to be on the table rather than on the wrist rest and I think my hands are about small to average size.
Thanks for the suggestions, I bought the X4 for £25.
I haven't used the hot keys or played any games with the new keyboard yet but from the typing I've done I think it was a good buy. Although as mentioned, it would be nice to have a larger palm rest, still a nice keyboard though.