Discussion Forums > Technology
Needing a keyboard
xShadow:
(click to show/hide) (click to show/hide)Recently, I got this keyboard I am using at the moment at a thrift store. So far, it's been working decently, but there are a few things that bother me quite a bit about it... namely that it can't have more than about 2-3 keys held down at one time without ignoring anything you press afterward. I must also note that this thing says it's designed for Windows 98 and NT, so it's very difficult to find working drivers so I can actually use its media keys. Naturally, this gets in my way quite a bit when playing Wolfenstein (among other things). I can't even strafe right sometimes. >_>
Nifty design, though.
http://www.recycledgoods.com/products/HP-5184-4708-USB-Keyboard-SK-2506U.html
This is kind of what it looks like, in case anyone is interested.
So, what I'm looking for:
1. At least like 6 or so keys held down at once without stopping up. This is some kind of ninja setting, because it's never in the specs...
2. A few media hotkeys (mainly, I want to be able to skip tracks during gameplay, so a SKIP button is ABSOLUTELY necessary).
3. Cheap (~25 and under). I'm not willing to shell out anywhere close to 50 dollars for a keyboard when I don't need EVERYTHING it has to offer. There are plenty of cheap media keyboards out there, I just need advice on them.
4. Responds correctly to very fast typing. Sometimes, this keyboard screws up my spaces, which tells me that there are multiple things lagging behind here.
5. Wired. Wireless mice have a purpose because sometimes the cord gets in the way. Keyboards don't need to be so mobile... Plus I have bad luck with them eventually wearing out.
6. Fully featured (as in, I want the number pad).
tl;dr: I don't care if the keys are illuminated. I never look while typing anyway, nor do I need to know where my WASD with special colors. Nothing fancy. Just a no-frills keyboard that I can game with, and change tracks while gaming. These specs are nothing special.
I'm pretty thrifty, so even buying a cheap keyboard has me deliberating and gathering advice; I am willing to be flexible with the price a little, but that only lasts till ~35 dollars. After that, it's a no go.
What kind of stuff I have in mind right now:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/758719-REG/Logitech_920_002719_K200_Wired_Keyboard.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/560059-REG/Microsoft_J93_00001_Digital_Media_USB_Keyboard.html <- Leaning towards this (FREE SHIPPING =O).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823334002
Anyone had any experiences with the above, or anything similar?
As usual, thanks.
http://forums.bakabt.me/index.php?topic=30366.msg4708721#msg4708721
kureshii:
If you want n-key rollover you’ll have to look for a PS/2 keyboard (note that PS/2 does not guarantee NKRO!); you simply cannot get NKRO over USB. There’re some exceptions, but nothing in your price range AFAIK.
xShadow:
Interesting read. What that basically tells me is that I'm going to have to take chances, unless I can find out particular specs of a keyboard.
However, that being said, I think I was just unlucky. This keyboard in particular, after using some of that testing software, it appears that what happens is that SHIFT+W blocks D, and SHIFT+D blocks W. In other words, my particular keyboard happened to have the shit set up JUST so that WASD has problems.
So, I guess it would now be more accurate to say I don't want the keys commonly used for gaming to experience this problem. How's that?
(click to show/hide)They're being rather cheap by not using diodes, though. Diodes are pretty damn cheap. Specifically, the N4148 diodes that I've had to use for a certain lab class are pretty cheap to buy in bulk. Corporations can also probably pull some strings to get them. As long as you're not using a zener (why?), I doubt you'll have much of a problem with reverse current, regardless of the diode. Of course, I don't know what the voltage and current conditions inside of the keyboard are like, though I doubt it would be enough to break even an N4148. But then again, placing diodes would probably require design changes and whatnot to incorporate them too.
I'm a bit sketch on how they use the diodes, though. I know they only permit current in one direction, but using that specific grid they gave as an example (Microsoft article), how would they determine which ones went in which direction...? Would you just make a divide in between every 4 key square arrangements? But that would lead to more conflicts. I suppose one other design issue is that you need to set up a potential difference at every key to at least trigger the diode's forward current setup?
But all of that is treading off topic. That, and I still have too many nightmares about PN, PNPs, and MOS and MOSFETs from a class I just got done with.
kureshii, what would you suggest, then?
kureshii:
I don't know. I've never expected very much out of keyboards below $25, so whenever I do shop for something in that range, my expectation list goes something like 1) Works decently, 2) Has a sane key layout. Typically I just ignore the budget and go for a mechanical keyboard, hehe.
For slightly more featured budget keyboards, I'd just go with a standard Logitech or Microsoft keyboard. Those should come with at least 3-year warranty, IIRC.
xShadow:
Sounds fair. I'm willing to bump up the budget a bit, like I said, but the problem is that there's really no telling whether I need to. A much cheaper one would work if they just wired it to not get in the way of gaming. =\
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/560059-REG/Microsoft_J93_00001_Digital_Media_USB_Keyboard.html
^ I'm still quite interested in this one. If anyone has it and can tell me how the WASD performance is, I would be very interested.
On the other hand, I found this little sucker after a bit of digging in Newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823107010
It's on the PS/2 setup. Of course like you said that doesn't mean a terribly large amount, but it's an interesting choice.
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