Keyboard Elitism

For a while, I used the Apple Bluetooth keyboard I got with my $200 iPhone rebate as my main keyboard. I like Apple's new chiclet keyboards; they're a big improvement over previous Apple keyboard styles and I think they're pretty decent as far as scissor-style keyboards go. Then, this summer, in an effort to reduce my chance of developing an RSI (an effort that seems to be failing, but that's another story), I switched to a Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 (or whatever the model is). As far as ergonomics go, it was great, but as a keyboard, it was pretty mediocre. The spacebar sucked, and the keys overall were difficult to press.

So, a couple weeks ago, with some extra disposable income in hand, I picked up a Filco Majestouch mechanical keyswitch keyboard from EliteKeyboards.com, and it arrived today. With what limited time I've spent with it so far, I can safely say that I'll never go back to a membrane-style keyboard again. Here's hoping my future employers are willing to buy me a $150 keyboard. Plus, I mean, it has a red ESC key. How can you not buy one?

This keyboard goes beyond simply being a pleasure to type on; it's incredibly solid and well-built. According to FedEx, it weighs about 4 pounds, which is pretty damn hefty for a keyboard. It also has an incredibly minimalist bezel, unlike the ugly inch of black space around the screen on the iPad, etc. I'll probably weigh in again in a week or two (I think I need a wrist rest in order to be fully comfortable with it), but for now, I'm a convert. I'm officially a keyboard snob, albeit a relatively inexperienced one (see the guys over at GeekHack.org for the definition of “keyboard elitists”).

Posted 11:58 PM