Keyboard advice

Robyn Hood · n00b Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 41 Location: Nottingham

I'm looking for some advice on the best keyboard to get.

This is a bit trivial but I really object to buying a keyboard with those MS windows keys on it. In the shops however, it seems almost impossible to find one that doesn't and when I do find an exception they are almost always apple mac keyboards, and I don't really want their symbols on either.

What does interest me is having a Unix keyboard, with keys labeled "Meta" instead of "Alt", etc. but there are none on the shelves and it's difficult to find information about them on the web.

I've seen layouts of Sun's keyboards and I think they're a bit ugly.
I've seen pictures (not high resolution) of HP's A4030### keyboards and they look good, seeming to have enough special keys including the cursor keys and the numeric keypad. The write up claimed they had special windows keys. Although I doubt that it means MS windows keys it still puts me on guard. Anyone have a HP Unix keyboard and know what they look like close up?

Anyone know of any other Unix keyboards with a similar key range as the 105 key keyboards but without MS windows keys?

Do we know which unix keyboards are known to work with linux?

Do we know which one's are also functional with windows? (I dual boot for the sake of gaming.)

What I really want may not be possible but I'd appreciate any advice on finding a good keyboard that suits me.

Gherald2 · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 5:42 pm Post subject:

I consider the window keys useful in e.g. Icewm. You will be very hard pressed to find a keyboard w/o them, though I happen to know of one.. It's a pretty messed up layout; I only bought one for my makeshift server rack (cuz they're tiny).

Check out newegg's selection, they have a pretty good catalog... you might be able to find a more regular one w/o winkeys if it's really such a big deal for you...

As far as the best keyboard goes, I wholeheartedly recommend the Logitech Elite. I own two, all my (geek) friends own one, I've bundled about 5 of them with machines I build for media-minded folks... GREAT keyboard. Neweggg lists them at $29 + $6 shipping but you can probably find one at your local Wal-Mart for $28.xx
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Robyn Hood · n00b Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 41 Location: Nottingham

I do actually use an old keyboard without the MS windows keys.

I agree that the extra keys are useful, but I really wanted to avoid buying one with any reference to MS windows. I may have to go that way anyway but first I'll see if anyone has some more insight into a unix keyboard.

Thanks for the advice.