White keyboard with basic media keys?

[Ben97]

I'd had a microsoft 600 for a good 6 years and i loved it so much that I bought another, but I sort of regretted it. So many manufacturers seem to do this. Slightly change the design or quality of the components used and ruin a good product. The new one feels like it is made from cheaper plastics, the keys you don't even touch can sometimes rattle - even when not pressing them despite being on a very solid desk. Some of the keys stick down occasionally too. Just doesn't have the same quality feel as the old one.

I ended up sticking with my old one as it still worked, but just had started to go a pit yellow and has some signs of damage appearance wise. I then found a keyboard by Fujitsu (the KB521). This felt really nice and was very quiet like the Microsoft one, but in time, the keys that were regularly used started sounding a lot more loose and began to rattle when other keys were pressed. The same as the new Microsoft 600 did. This was in only about 1 years use. There were also several keys that had started to stick when they got pushed down at some angles. The keys that I'd never used (the right number pad) all felt nice and like a different keyboard to the used keys. It didn't get my hopes up for this keybaord lasting if I bought it again. It was 3 times the price of the 600.



The reason I prefer white keyboards is because dust isn't visible on them which is certainly nice!
I'm also not a touch typist and sometimes do need to look at what i am typing. I often am in a dark room so a white keyboard is much nicer.


I've found quite a few budget brands that do white keybaords but don't have any media keys such as volume / play / pause / calculater and the like. I have found one other (not including the two I've owned) which is the Cherry Stream 3.0. However, there is one thing that sticks out on this. Why does it have such a tiny space bar. Haven't seen a keyboard that looks normal everywhere else, but has a significantly shortened space bar and enlarged keys either side of it on the bottom row. Really odd choice and enough to put me off.

There seems to be a much bigger variety when you look at wireless keyboards - even by well known brands that suits my needs, other than I don't want wireless. The keyboard that comes in the Logitech MK295 bundle looks really nice, but they don't seem to make a wired equivalent.


I've probably looked at most of the options there are, but would appropriate some suggestions if anyone knows of any.

A pretty quiet keyboard would be preferable as possible as my 600 is certainly very quiet. What I want really is just this keyboard again - but the old version as it was a lot better than what they now make.




Thanks.

 

[Ben97]

If you don't mind the semi-ergonomic design and low profile keys, grab a comfort curve 2000 on that popular second-hand marketplace for £20-30 (they use to be £13 new back in the day). Quiet, very comfortable to use, easy to type on(it's easy to get faster using one of these) and has the media keys you're after (we still have one in the front-room). I wish microsoft still produced this model, the new one is dreadful comparatively. If it weren't for the n-key rollover i need for games, i'd be shopping for one myself, i can absolutely fly along typing on them (i'm fairly fast as it is) and love the midway(semi) ergo design (works better for me than the full ergo, the 4000, been through 3 of those - drink magnets for me for some reason, other keyboards stand the test of time just fine) .

EDIT: Oops i got so caught up thinking about the other requirements i disregarded the white part... soz.. no go on that front. If i were going white i'd probably just be looking at mechnical with quiet switches.

When I was at school quite a few years back, I remember a big range of the keybaords used there and this was one of the common ones. Part of the reason I decided to buy a Microsoft keyboard at the time (the 600). Microsoft as well as many other companies such as Logitech used to make things really well and now they just feel so cheap in comparison.

I also remember a load of HP keybaords from school that felt really well built and coped with the abuse they got from all the students just fine. But all brands just don't seem make things like they used to, even from just 10 years ago.

If only there were more keyboard about like this one: http://www.wetherby.me/wiki/pub/Sandbox/RandomImages/P1140278.JPG

I didn't want to get rid of it as for some reason, it is the easiest keyboard I've used to type on. It it the Acer 6512-VA. The reason why I don't like it is because it doesn't have the extra media keys I want and it is too loud. Feels very satisfying to type on though. Also looks very yellow in patches from the sun! But you just don't get keybaords built like this any more. It nearly weighs a kilogram, and has a solid metal base. Why do things have to be made so poorly these days?


I also creates a thread in the gaming peripherals page for advice on a new wireless mouse to get as I'm so stuck on weather to get a gaming or office mouse. I'm having the same problem as I am with keaybaords. Decent brands now cutting costs resulting in a terrible product, despite their old model being very good. If you could suggest some mice for me there, I would much appreciate it too. Stuck with both mice and keyboards at the moment and wish I could go back 10 years and I probably could buy what I want!

 

[Ben97]

Another thought I've just had is that I could remap some other buttons. I've found this keybaord which I'm not sure how I missed:

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/cherry-kc-1000-grey-usb-keyboard-jk-0800gb-0-kb-040-ch.html

I never use volume as I have an integrated amplifier with a remote plugged into my PC. I only really use play/pause and calculator. I could also probably remap two of the others to skip forward and backwards which would be nice. Buying keyboards at this price used to be very reasonable, but I fear now that they will feel like they are really badly made. Wish i could check it out in a store first. A bit difficult at the moment!

 

[Ben97]

There's always PC remotes (like a TV remote but for your PC/and x-y-z other uses) if you want something specifically for managing media playback at the press of a button, else a gaming keyboard with macro keys would allow remapping (but they'll probably be outside your other requirements). I'm not sure remapping is necessarily supported on keyboard function keys generally speaking, so you might want to look into whether that's possible on anything you consider before actually making the purchase.

I use Linux (Ubuntu) and the keyboard shortcuts program allows for all sorts of things to be added. If you create a custom one, you can chose any button to do a function of something else, so I should be fine with this.

I have this version of the Cherry keyboard, they make a wired version exactly the same and they are very nice to type on. The wireless version comes with a mouse though

I had looked before at the wired version of this. But it looks to have very shallow keys (not sure what you call them). Like a laptop has for example. I would find that hard to get used to. It also has the arrow keys further left than usual that are slightly under the shift key. Also has a 2 wide layout for the buttons above them rather than 3 wide. Looks like the keyboard is a bit smaller than the standard size or something. Like t31os says, it is hard to please everyone!

 

[Ben97]

They are called low profile key keyboards, because the keys are lower and they dont have to be pressed down so far.... And I will never have a non low profile keyboard again as the low profile keyboard actually speeds up my typing, just because the keys dont need to be pressed very far down.

Come to think of it, my microsoft 600 has keys that are rather shallow. They don't move down much at all and are quiet. Certainly compared to my old acer keyboard that I linked in one of my posts. I possibly could get used to this sort of keyboard quicker than I think.

 

[Ben97]

A while back, I did think that an illuminated black keyboard may be an option. However, there are several disadvantages to them for what I would want anyway. Black keyboards still are a dust magnet compared to white ones. And any budget Illuminated keyboards have very limited brightness levels. I would want it to be incredibly discrete so it can be used in the dark without appearing bright at all. I like white keyboards because they are easy to see with the light from my monitor and nothing else at all in fact. I always prefer Glossy monitors too and one consequence of them is reflections, which is one of the main concerns I would have if the lights are bright, but this keyboard by Cherry looks interesting:

https://www.cherry.co.uk/cherry-mx-board-1-backlight.html

From research I've done, I have found a red version of the mechanical switch available with this keyboard, which people do say is very quiet. They claim it to be silent but then all manufacturers and many people themselves misuse the word silent. It doesn't mean very quiet, it means no audible noise whatsoever! What I don't know is if red mechanical switches will likely be as quiet as a membrane keyboard that is known to be a quiet one (such as the microsoft 600).

I also like that this one apparently allows you to dim the brightness in 1% steps which does suggest it will go very dim like I would want.

The only thing that puts me off the Cherry KC 1000 is that it is extremely cheap. That used to never concern me but cheap hardware nowadays seem to often have poor quality control so it would well be the case that it will instantly or very soon have or get stuck / sticky keys like two of my recent purchases of keyboards have.

The MX Board 1 is around 7 times the price, but reading about the properties of mechanical keys makes me think these issues I've experienced shouldn't occur with them or at least be an incredibly easy fix. And by the weight difference (twice as much!) sort of suggests a vast improvement of the build materials used. One concern I have with the MX Board 1 is just that LEDs is another component to go wrong in it. I somehow feel one or two of them would go defective before the keyboard based on illuminated keyboards people I know have had or read about online.

It has a decent warranty on it though. The main thing I think I want to know is if it will likely be any noisier / quieter than they keyboards I'm used to.

 

[Ben97]

There's some videos around youtube that demonstrate the sound of key types if you want to get a better idea of the differences and noise levels.

You should also be aware it's bad for your eyesight to be sitting in the dark with a bright screen, it's ideal to have some low level ambient light (dimmed light/lamp) or use night mode filters on the screen if you must, to look after your eyes.

I am fully aware of this and it is only occasionally when I game during dark scenes that I have all lights off. In that instance, my screen won't be bright anyway. Otherwise I always have an LED strip behind it turned on, but pretty dim. This is enough to comfortably see a white non illuminated keyboard, but tricky to see a black one. I appreciate the advantages of glossy monitors enough that i accept the consequences, and that does mean that I have to have the room very dim indeed to avoid distracting reflections.

Another thing to mention is that I do actually also use my monitor as a TV, and when watching it late in the evening, I lower the RGB levels right down so it actually goes significantly dimmer than minimum brightness suggests.

One reason why I like the idea of this illuminated keyboard having so many brightness levels as I would only want it to be dim. Cheaper illuminated keyboard often have excessively bright LEDs in them.

 

[Ben97]

After reading up on a lot of information about mechanical keyboards and about the different switches, as I wanted one that was very quiet, I went for the silent red with the MX Board 1.0. I knew before buying it that it wouldn't be silent. It does feel very nice to type on, however, the metal plate in it resonates as if it has no dampening whatsoever. With every key press, you can hear this ring for around half a second after you press it and despite having other ambient noise around me, this is still very obvious. I just can't consider it even being a quiet keyboard if this is the case. I've looked up and read about this issue with mechanical keyboards (which i couldn't find about this model) that this is a result of the metal plate resting on the plastic housing which can amplify the ringing. There are modifications, and knowing myself how aluminium and other metals ring, I don't see how it can have been hard for cherry to put something inside to absorb this. It is a poor design for what is supposed to be extremely quiet with these silent red switches.

Sot sure how many mechanical keyboards are like this, but if it is a common problem, it puts me off them entirely, especially considering the price. This is likely to be related to my very sensitive hearing, but when the LEDs are below the maximum setting, a continuous and very high pitched squeak comes from inside the keyboard. I know that transformers can make noise, but this should be avoidable, especially on such a premium keyboard.

I think it is back to budget non mechanical keyboards for me and I will have to just lower my expectations, but then there is likely less to go wrong. The addition of an aluminium plate and LEDs literally has caused problems in my case.

 

[Ben97]

I think the Cherry KC 1000 in white will be my best option. It has 4 short cut which I will be able reconfigure. Seeing one user review of it does say they it feels like an upgrade from the microsoft 600 but I obviously can't put all my trust in one review. But it isn't much and I was initially very surprised by how good the original microsoft 600 was, which was incredibly cheap. And the KC 1000 is under £10 in most places.

I've managed to return my mx board 1.0 to the retailer I bought it from, so hopefully will be able to get a refund.

 

[Ben97]

Well, I know I will be one of the most sensitive users out there, but just after having the KC 1000 for a few days, the keys that got used more (W A S and D for the bit of gaming I do) became far louder than the rest. Spread out over a week, the rest of the keys are also now very clattery too with the exception of the number pad that i never use. Cherry's claim of "whisper keystroke keys" is a bit pathetic if they only last the first few days. Having looked up key words on amazon reviews, including some foreign ones, it turns out others have noticed this too. It is a budget keyboard, but I've had 2 microsoft 600s and the keys on them don't change sound over time. The reason why I was put off going for the 600 again was because the latest one I bought had several rather stiff, sticky keys and a squeaky spacebar. But I honestly now think this will just be a quality control thing. I think the design of that keyboard is a lot better and I may finally be lucky next time!

 

[Ben97]

That's a shame... At least at the lower end you're not throwing too much money away. I'd be inclined to relay your frustrations to Cherry and see what they come back with.

I actually did a video review at one online retailer retailer.

It probably isn't enough to return it as every button still does fully function fine and none feel sticky. It just is very loud now. Worse then when I did this video. As I also explain, the space bar had a really loud clatter until I did a modification. All these simple things could be sorted out if there was better quality control. But things are just not made in the same way they used to be and I feel they never will.

 

[Ben97]

I'd actually risked ordering another 600 in white and explaining my problems regarding ever keyboard of the same model feeling different, so I mentioned that if it didn't feel close enough to the original or had any sticky / squeaky keys, I would want an option to return it.

As soon as I briefly had the Cherry MX board 1, i remembered another reason why i hate black keyboards. You see every spec of dust within minutes. Being used to a white one for so many years, it is hard to turn around. But it may be my only option if my next step is not successful.

 

[Ben97]

Hope it works out for you, if you're shopping around secondhand for the 600, it might be worth asking the seller(s) to check the revision on the underside, who knows maybe you'll find an old revision on the cheap.

It is their older model that seems to be one that just feels that bit more ridged and had less rattly keys. The thing that makes the older version more obvious is the warning label on the cable insisting you must read the underneath that takes a good few minutes to that basically implies the keyboard is going to cause you serious harm you if you don't use it in the right posture! Maybe the risk of injury is worth it as the old one was better and the new one lacks this warning label.

But that may have just been a duff one that I last got regarding the sticky keys with the newer model. Consistency is a hard thing to come by now. I even saw a video of a razer mouse user say that he'd got sent a replacement due to a fault in 6 months and the new one had a rattle and different feeling clicks. And his friends both had one too that he felt, and all 4 felt different despite being roughly in the same batch.

If a brand like Razer doesn't have good quality control on their peripherals, I'm not sure what brands will. logitech IMO are pretty shoddy these days having had 3 M705s all feel different and go wrong in not that much time. Even when I upgraded to a significantly better webcam (the C930E), while the camera is better, the microphone is so bad that I bought a stand alone one. So frustrating that manufacturers cut costs even on areas they advertise as being good such as the "2 omni-directional mics". Compared to my Pro 9000 from so many years ago, the audio is not comparable.

It is a bad time to do it, but 2nd hand things may be the better choice for me if they are in good condition as I'm convinced almost everything like this was built better around 10+ years ago.