Affordable, Compact Keyboards? 56
green pizza asks: "I'm in charge of building a lab of internet kiosk-style PCs for my local library. We have already settled on locally built Mini-PCs and will be netbooting the machines into a simplified Linux environment based heavily on JWZ's experiences in this area. We're cramped for space and luckily have been donated plenty of 15" LCDs. The only remaining issue has been keyboards. A supply of generic $5 keyboards would almost work, but we're already short on table space. I would really like to use low profile keyboards, as we have no need for a numeric keypad, F-keys, or media/shortcut keys. The Happy Hacking Keyboard series is almost perfect, but its build quality is overkill and the price is way beyond the $25 or so we'd like to spend. Anyone know of a bargain Google/Froogle is overlooking?"
SIIG low-profile keyboards (Score:4, Informative)
Kris
Re:SIIG low-profile keyboards (Score:2)
Kris
They exist (Score:5, Informative)
Apple Pro (Score:1)
Re:Apple Pro (Score:2)
My next keyboard is probably going to be a tactile pro [matias.ca] or a Unicomp Type M [pckeyboard.com], but that really doesn't answer your question.
Re:Apple Pro (Score:2)
Oh, and these keyswitches last 20+ years.
Kensington slim type keyboard (Score:1)
Notebook Keyboards !=duarble (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Notebook Keyboards !=duarble (Score:1)
Re:Notebook Keyboards !=duarble (Score:2)
Re:Notebook Keyboards !=duarble (Score:1)
Re:Notebook Keyboards !=duarble (Score:2)
P.S. Shouldn't your sig, in the Great Gentoo tradition, include:
Re:Notebook Keyboards !=duarble (Score:1)
A possibility you might not think of (Score:3, Informative)
Re:A possibility you might not think of (Score:2)
From a newegg search... (Score:2, Informative)
eBay (Score:2)
You may want to rethink this. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:You may want to rethink this. (Score:2)
Re:You may want to rethink this. (Score:2)
Re:You may want to rethink this. (Score:3, Informative)
Is smaller really what you want? (Score:2, Insightful)
You're starting out with a space crunch that makes you ask the question, Yes, but the space added by full size keyboards (unless they're really huge ones!
Re:Is smaller really what you want? (Score:1)
The kiosks are set up with a three-button trackball as a pointing device.
IBM Model M's (Score:1)
It is that simple.
Re:IBM Model M's (Score:2)
Re:IBM Model M's (Score:1)
The Model M is the perfect keyboard for all typing and self defense purposes.
To speak ill of the Model M isn't allowed.
Re:IBM Model M's (Score:2)
I have a Model M on my desk, with the PS/2 cable (w00t!). You better believe that I worship the M.
The only problems with the SpaceSaver are that it is smaller, and therefore lighter, and that to make it smaller, IBM took off the numpad. The size and weight aren't always bad things, though - it means that it whips through the air easier, so you could throw it further than a Model M. As for no numpad, ther
Don't get something that looks cool (Score:2, Insightful)
Old people (30yrs) == fat fingers. (Score:2, Funny)
We did it for a conference series for medical workers, and there was much complaining... I got chewed out for this! The mini-keyboards have too little throw, reduced sized keys and don't last. Go full sized. After the age of 35-40, vision decays. Waists expand. Asses sag. Fingers stop flying with kung-fu accuracy. The brain becomes full and no longer presents a blank sheet of paper with each new concept. Soon, Decay sets in.
You stop going out, and go to the
Is $15 to high? (Score:3, Informative)
Above should read----- Is $12.50 to high? (Score:1)
why no caps lock? (Score:1)
Re:why no caps lock? (Score:2)
That's not an end-luser keyboard.
Re:why no caps lock? (Score:2)
Not reading the article is one thing, but this is new: Apparently you didn't read the page to which you linked! Do I sense a new slashdot cliché?
Referring back to the very page you linked, I quote: "** Caps Lock and Windows keys available by using mode setting [yahoo.com]"
Get the frog (Score:1)
Lite On Laptop-style Keyboard (Score:3, Informative)
This thing is so tiny and thin that cute girls were actually looking at me when I whipped it out of my bag.
The keyboard is pretty good and what I'd expect from a 12" Dell laptop (it's actually substantially better than the keyboard on my Dell Inspiron 2100, a 12" laptop). That said, the keys are small and the backspace key is tiny (read: sucks), but the keyboard still might suit your needs.
Re:Lite On Laptop-style Keyboard (Score:2)
<Mode=Yakko> G'nite everybody! </mode>
Re:Lite On Laptop-style Keyboard (Score:1)
Re:Lite On Laptop-style Keyboard (Score:1)
But were they pointing and laughing too?
Add more table space? (Score:4, Insightful)
BTC Mini Keyboard (Score:4, Informative)
http://www.btc.com.tw/english/2-7-06keyboard.htm#
http://www.btc.com.tw/english/2-7-07keyboard.htm#
I got one of these (the 9118) bundled with my Gigabyte TA-1 [giga-byte.com] and it suits it perfectly, fitting nicely with the form-factor of the machine. I think all these models are very similar, with perhaps the 5100c suiting you best; they've got a reasonable action for the price and are available in both USB (with an upstream port built-in -- handy if you wish to allow pendrive access) and straight PS/2.
If you're buying a few of them you might want to fire an e-mail to BTC's US distributor [btc.com.tw] (or ring them) and see what they can do for you -- many resellers put a high markup on these purely 'cause they're small (~USD30), but with a bit of hunting you can probably get them for closer to USD5.don't cheap out on the keyboard (Score:3, Informative)
Disclaimer, I in no way work for Unicomp or PCKeyboards.com
If they're that cramped, will anybody use them? (Score:2)
If these kiosks are THAT cramped for space, I can't imagine them being very pleasant to use, even with a few inches of space freed up by your compact keyboards. Most people aren't going to want to rub shoulders and elbows with total strangers in order to do a little web surfing.
(Perhaps I'm missing
Re:If they're that cramped, will anybody use them? (Score:2)
Exactly. Mod the Parent up.
If space is such a big issue, they need more desks, not smaller keyboards.
But comfortability isn't the ONLY reason. I can only speak for myself here, but the only time I go to the library is when I'm doing some kind of research. I don't go there to surf the web. I, as well as MOST Americans at this point, can do that at home. And research requires that I have desk space to write and set books on.
-Grym
Heavy use != compact keyboards (Score:1)
Needless to say the Logitech is a piece of thin plastic and can't take much abuse.
If you have a public environment, space shouldn't be as big as issue as longevity of components. And as a plus, you won't have people taking a five-finger discount on your keyboards because the model M's look like junk.
Re:Heavy use != compact keyboards (Score:2)
directron (Score:2)
You'll be hard pressed to find low profile keyboards that will last any amount of time for too cheap. IMO if it has to stand up to the publics abuse - you're gunna have to shell out the minimum for quality.
You may also want to look into whether there are oth
Crystal Visions (Score:1)
This is the one... (Score:2)
ebay (Score:1)