What's the best keyboard for both gaming and typing?

[Nightwatch]

Hey Guys,
I've said it several times before that I needed a keyboard, but each time, while dealing with this and that, I neglected to buy myself a new keyboard. This Sony one has some time ago passed its estimated life time. So, I am open to advices, because I don't want to buy something which later I would regret.

I want a keyboard whose keys are not so near to each other, so that while pressing one key I wouldn't hit the one next to it. I'd like that the keys have some sort of tactile feedback (if it's the right description) as opposed to soft and mushy keys which do not make you feel that you've hit the key.
So, in general, for both gaming and a lot of writing purposes, which is most advisable all-around keyboard? Any ideas, recommendations are really appreciated.

[Grump642]

Wow, keyboards are such a personal choice. I love my little Hiper, but the keys might be too close for you.

[Nightwatch]

Yeah, I know Hipers, Grump642, great keyboards; but as you rightly put, I'd prefer a bit larger keyboard.

I'm thinking about Logitech illuminated, I think audioave10 had bought one before. Are there any good or bad points about it from any users?

[MeanderingBeing]

I had a friend who had this keyboard that had springloaded keys... the keys were no farther apart than your standard cheapo keyboards... I am trying to find it on newegg right now so you could check it out, but I am not having much luck... but anyways, is this kind of thing what you're looking for?

EDIT: A note on these super resistant spring-loaded keyboards... I had one for a short while... short simply because I get a bit... enthusiastic with my gaming when I am listening to the right music... music like Pantera, Shadows Fall, Lamb of God... For normal use these keyboards are excellent, but if you are a bit over-enthused by your keystrokes, you'll have keys shooting into the air and hitting you in the chin in no time... which normally leads to a keyboard flying through the air at a wall (by its own spring-loaded power, I swear!) and breaking...

Then again, most stalkers on this forum do not seem to have that much unvented aggression to relieve... (I was a hockey player, alright!? Stop making fun of me!)

Anyways, cheers and I hope my info helped Nightwatch!

[Balious]

I have an old keyboard from Dell. Does the job fine for typing stuff like stories or even this and even playing games. For me it does anyway. A little dusty though.

My mouse however I do want replacing. Its little bug mainly on games has caused me numerous problems. After my brother did something to the settings which I watched him do. It has never been the same. I have tried changing it back and everything. I can notice it more in first person games like STALKER. Basically it just decides to go into a random direction. Such as I am about to kill someone and the next second im spinning around looking in the air shooting random bullets. By the time I get my view back onto the enemy he is already safe and I am pretty much could be near death.

Not a big problem but still annoying

[Nightwatch]

LOL
It must be more than "a little" annoying.

[Nightwatch]

Hey Guys, have seen these "state of the art" keyboards?

Das Keyboard III
http://www.getdigital.de/products/Das_Keyboard_III

STEEL-SERIES
http://www.steelseries.com/news/communi ... eelkeys_6g

and This One?
Optimus Maximus keyboard
http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus/
and it's video review:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1497499/b ... _keyboard/
.
.

[audioave10]

Those first 2 keyboards you listed are probably the best. The Optimus
is a little too much (at $1800 for sure). For a smaller price I find Logitech to be the best. I have a cheap Logitech which is quite nice.
The other is the "Illuminated" you refered to. Its more like a laptop
style and well lit so I can see it in the near-dark. I don't type all that much, so these are fine for me. You will almost have to get your fingers on one to know for sure.

[Nightwatch]

Yeah, I think I'll go with the Logitech Illuminated , though still slightly considering the Microsoft Sidewinder X6 Keyboard.

Logitech Illuminated
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-920-00 ... roduct_top


Microsoft Sidewinder X6 Keyboard
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Microsoft-AGB-0 ... roduct_top


Das Keyboard, as it seems, probably is the most High-Quality Built one, but it's quite pricey (even though not as much as Optimus Maximus keyboard) and it makes far too much noise, more like those old IBM ones. I like the noise, it sounds like as though a verification for the the quality of the keys and the keyboard itself, still it's a bit too noisy for me as I write on keyboards quite long times. Accumulation of noise over time, I guess, would be unbearable after some time.

video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJitURx3 ... re=related


Logitech diNovo looks stunningly beautiful, but, hey, I'd prefer a beautiful woman, not that my keyboard tries to compete with real beauties, lol. It's far too expensive, as it seems, in comparison to what it actually offers, other than looks:

video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-uwMCMs ... re=related

[audioave10]

Remember, the Logitech is a laptop style and slightly different than my other one. Its great quality but if I was going to type all day, I don't think I'd prefer it.
Since you type alot (compared to me), you should try it first. You can see one at Best Buy...but you're in Britain so I don't know where you could see it. But, I'm
sure you know what you want in a keyboard. For a slow typer like me, it would'nt be the easiest to use. I only play GTA 4 on it...LOL.
Good Luck...Nightwatch.

[Nightwatch]

Well, OK, I've ordered the Logiteck illuminated Keyboard. Let's see... In a few days, I hope I will be able to comment on it.

[Balious]

Changed my mouse to stop that useless bug thing it does. Now the brand new one (or so I say as it hasnt been used but looks like it was stored for ages) is like an inaccurate AK47. Trying to move it into the right place to click something (post reply for example) and it be hard to stop right onto it even though I stop moving.

I conquer this somehow

[Nightwatch]

I'm using a Logitech MX400 laser mouse, now it must be quite cheap to get as there're a couple of newer versions on the market. I'm very happy with this one and will use it as long as it mechanically continues to function. In every few months they all release "supposedly much better and developed devices" in order to keep their "profitability" flowing, but in real terms they do not matter noticeably, maybe on the lab desk, that's all. You can get one like I use very cheaply now, I'd expect.

[Grump642]

Have you tried the mouse options in the Control Panel? Or installing control software from from the manufacturer? Sounds like lag.

[Nightwatch]

I thought I should make an update on the Logitech Illuminated Keyboard that I bought as I've been using it for the last one and a half months and this is more than enough time to have an idea on a keyboard.
The first thing I can say that I'm very pleased with and and I see now all the five-star ratings on Amazon sites are fully justified. It's unbelievably thin. As thin as a pencil, yet keys do manage to travel long, giving a nice "key is pressed" feeling which you may miss while typing on laptops; also keys have a very comfortable tactile, just on the moderate side while not being too harsh and noisy or to the contrary mushy. It's quite an interesting question how they've managed to achieve all this on a keyboard so thin.

Though it's very thin, it doesn't look (or feels) like flimsy. This keyboard surprisingly heavy and it doesn't just budge on the table at all, well, unless you deliberately push it of course.

Illumination is brilliant, not like those many "gaming keyboards" which leak lights from all over the keys while the lettering on the keys themselves receive the least amount of light; but this one manages light up the letters on the keyboard! Strange , not many examples are seen around.

Also, as a last note on this, it's absolutely stunning as a keyboard, though I would not think even a second before throwing it out of the window if someone like Katherine Zeta-Jones were to say "me or the keyboard!" Sorry, Logitech Illimunated Keyboard, I may like you, but not that much, lol.

[rockingmtranch]

I've been using the G11 for a year. Love it

[3040Krag]

Heh, using an ancient Compaq RT101 keyboard here. No "Windows" key or anything resembling "productivity enhancers" yet I'll give it up only when I die. Great tactile feedback for a touch-typist and it keeps on keeping on through the most demanding gaming. Coffee, soda and food proof proven by my own accidental "tests," the key legends are also seemingly indestructable after over 15 years of use.

I originally grabbed it from my junk pile when a logitech KB died on me, but it is simply the best keyboard I could hope for.

(Edit)I do suppose when motherboards no longer support PS2 I'll have to look for a replacement. Which doesn't appear to be all that far off!

[audioave10]

Nightwatch...I was hoping you would like that keyboard. I've had mine for 5 months...still like new. Keyboards can be personal.

[Nightwatch]

Yeah I like the damn keyboard. And it's true that they all are very personal to the using/writing style of the owner.
There is also another one Das Keyboard that I had bee considering, but it lost the competition against the Logitech illuminated, due to the incredible clicks noise it makes,(there are videos on Utube on the loud noise of this one) , even if one closes the eye to its way too expensive price for a keyboard. I don't like too much clicks noise, it gives headache during long usage.