Quiet Typists Keyboard

Craig321

Craig321

Craig321

Soldato
Joined
2 May 2004
Posts
19,953
Hi,

My Mum does a lot of transcription work and is after a decent, quiet keyboard (must be quiet).

Doesn't necessarily have to be mechnical, but she does have a DasKeyboard at the moment which is mechanical, so ideally the new one would also be.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.
 
Topre really isn't THAT quiet based on YouTube videos. Quieter than many others for sure, but definitely audible. They are great keyboards by most accounts, but 'quiet' really isn't a word I'd use to describe ANY mechanical keyboard. Even the so-called 'silent' Cherry MX switches are anything but! It really depends on your definition of quiet though. Some of the Microsoft keyboards are quiet (and more deserving of that word to describe them), I can attest to that personally... the Designer Bluetooth Desktop and Wireless 900... nice keyboards those. But they aren't mechanical.
 
The quietest I've experienced are keyboards that feature scissor switches used on laptops, but these aren't typist switches.
 
SuperG said:
The quietest I've experienced are keyboards that feature scissor switches used on laptops, but these aren't typist switches.
Click to expand...

My favourite keyboard for coding is the Logitech Illuminated Keyboard, which is scissor switch. Mine is 5 years old, and still going strong even after years of occasional rage typing. Very quiet too.

If mechs aren't doing it, the Logitech Slim line maybe worth a look. Or Apple keyboards, which are easier to field test. They are basically similar to premium laptop keyboards.

The LIK is no good for gaming (key ghosting), but that's beside the point.

You can also try to quiet a mech down with some o-rings. Worth a shot, it's cheap.
 
Hmm, it's for my Mum, who would never get along with anything but a 'normal' keyboard (having come from typewriters). She has had the DasKeyboard with brown (I think) switches which she likes and has outlasted any other keyboard she's had previously, but it's too loud.

Unfortunately the o-ring thing doesn't work with that keyboard, they didn't quite fit right. I had some spares from when I put a full set on mine & it didn't work out too well.

The quieter mechanical keyboards sound a lot better, but as mentioned above, still not quiet.

Hmmm :/
 
Cherry has a nice quiet scissor switch keyboard model G230. I used it for nearly a year before I switched to Kailh Blues which is super loud and clicky but I love it.
 
Hmm, it's a shame, because she finds the DasKeyboard layout/spacing etc. perfect and they're not exactly cheap to just go out and try their supposed 'quiet' one :(
 
Don't think you can quiet down mech keyboards that much tbh. Black / red cherry aren't that quiet either, and probably worse for a typist.

For really quiet keyboards, you have to go membrane / scissor. Typists may or may not like them. The quietest I've ever used was a sort of 'rubber' keyboard (like the old home computers, like Spectrum, Amstrad, Thomson). Horrible typing experience though :)
 
Legend said:
Topre really isn't THAT quiet based on YouTube videos. Quieter than many others for sure, but definitely audible. They are great keyboards by most accounts, but 'quiet' really isn't a word I'd use to describe ANY mechanical keyboard. Even the so-called 'silent' Cherry MX switches are anything but! It really depends on your definition of quiet though. Some of the Microsoft keyboards are quiet (and more deserving of that word to describe them), I can attest to that personally... the Designer Bluetooth Desktop and Wireless 900... nice keyboards those. But they aren't mechanical.
Click to expand...

No such thing as silent anyway unless you touch type. He did ask for quiet but with linear switches it may not appeal to typists who "may" like a tactile feeling. I found the topres have more of a warmth sound to them compared to Cherry Red/Black.

If the keyboard is just for typing then I personally would avoid a TKL but it's all personal preference.
 
She does touch type, but unfortunately it's touch typing taught on a typewriter, so not your modern pure wrist action type stuff, but a more 'hammering' style!

The big issue with the DasKeyboard is such a loud clack when it bottoms out, along with the typical mechanical keyboard click.

With that in mind, I guess she just needs some sort of damping on the keys and a mechanical switch which doesn't have a particularly loud click.

It's a shame they're all relatively expensive as it's possible a plain old mechanical keyboard + the o-rings that OcUK sell would work.

The other option is to fine some o-rings that are going to work with her Das Keyboard. Are there any out there that are thinner? When I tried my spares on there, it really wasn't great and didn't feel like you were really pressing the key properly!
 
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Craig321 said:
She does touch type, but unfortunately it's touch typing taught on a typewriter, so not your modern pure wrist action type stuff, but a more 'hammering' style!

The big issue with the DasKeyboard is such a loud clack when it bottoms out, along with the typical mechanical keyboard click.

With that in mind, I guess she just needs some sort of damping on the keys and a mechanical switch which doesn't have a particularly loud click.

It's a shame they're all relatively expensive as it's possible a plain old mechanical keyboard + the o-rings that OcUK sell would work.
Click to expand...

Don't forget that o-rings will reduce travel distance. She may or may not like that. I've tried it and absolutely hate the feeling of it bottoming out so quickly just after actuating. Otherwise Red/Black MX (no click, just clack) with o-rings might be the best solution for her.
 
SuperG said:
Don't forget that o-rings will reduce travel distance. She may or may not like that. I've tried it and absolutely hate the feeling of it bottoming out so quickly just after actuating. Otherwise Red/Black MX (no click, just clack) with o-rings might be the best solution for her.
Click to expand...

Yep, we did try some of my o-rings on there on a few of the keys, but as you say, it then wasn't nice to type on.

Hmmm, think I may try her with reds then (I have reds and o-rings and it isn't nearly as bad as hers).

Are there any decent ones for around £50? I'm sure there were a range for around that price, but can't remember the name?
 
People will probably hate me for saying it but personally for coding I love the standard Apple keyboard... I've got the standard wired version and it works fine with Windows. If you want something with low noise its spot on, something with chiclet keys basically (like those on a laptop) its low profile/low travel on the keys.

If you hate Apple it doesn't really matter, the keyboard is really high quality aluminium build, for me its fantastic to touch type on and its only about £40 in store. If you don't believe me just go and try the wired keyboard out in an Apple store, its going to come down to her preference anyway so ordering online is probably a bad idea.
 
Craig321 said:
Yep, we did try some of my o-rings on there on a few of the keys, but as you say, it then wasn't nice to type on.

Hmmm, think I may try her with reds then (I have reds and o-rings and it isn't nearly as bad as hers).

Are there any decent ones for around £50? I'm sure there were a range for around that price, but can't remember the name?
Click to expand...

The Cherry G80-3850 can be found for about £60. For £50 or less you'll be looking at keyboards with the "inferior" Kaihl switches. I don't mind these at all but I think the majority opinion is that it cannot compare to the original Cherry MX switches.
 
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