Best keyboards you've used ever!

From: Tony Duell <ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
Date: Thu Aug 26 18:21:49 2004

>
> OK, this one is bound to get a few responses:
>
> List the best keyboards you have ever used. You might like the feel, number of
> function keys, layout (let's not forget Dvorak or more esoteric designs) or
> pure keyboard<->computer love (you might really get off on Vaxen).

In no real order :
Best :

Original IBM PC (the clicky, capacitive, matrix one)
Tandy M100 (Amzingly good for such a small machine)
Old HP calculators - -35, 67, etc (OK, not suitable for typing on, but
they're a lot better than any other calculator keyboard I've used)
ICL Termiprinter (The encoding scheme is ingenious, and it has a good
feel)

Worst :
Science of Cambridge MK14 (If you thought the ZX81 was bad you should try
this!)
Sinclair ZX81
Sinclair Spectrum (The one that feels like dead flesh!)
Sinclair QL (Can you tell I don't think Sinclair ever sold a useable
keyboard?)
Apple ][ (Feel is OK, but there's no up and down arrows, it can't produce
lower case, etc).
HP9831 (It's a Chicklet keyboard. A similar one was used on some HP9825s,
but my 9825 has the later, full-travel keyboard)
IBM PCjr (That IR link was ridiculous!)
Original PET

Most ingenious mechanism : HP9810 (differential transformers etched in
the PCB traces, one of which is damped when you press a key).

-tony
Received on Thu Aug 26 2004 - 18:21:49 BST