My colleagues have purchased keyboards that are split, or short, or different colours, or contains flashing strobe lights — but I just one that is comfortable, helps me be accurate and preferably wired.
I can't figure out what is good keyboard, I can realise adding multicolour leds doesn't help but for the rest I'm not sure.
Budget <$1000 (I'm not looking for a $1000 keyboard just this is the max it's worth to me in productivity, if a $10 keyboard is good I'm happy with that)
These are quite common so Officeworks, JB, Good Guys, Harvey Norman, etc will have them on display. There's deals on them here regularly so prices could vary quite a bit depending on whether or not you want to wait.
Is this it?
Yes, that's the one!
One that writes letters and numbers on your screen?
Check drop.com if you want a mechanical KB.
Which one?
Just take a look around the site. It's going to be a personal preference thing.
You will need to join - it's free.
If you want a reference code, just use the randomiser.
Mod: referral solicitation is not allowed in comment
This is entirely subjective to individuals and there's no one model that suits everyone.
I personally prefer the feel and use of the Corsair K series.
If your budget really is up to $1,000 you can get some super premium keyboards, for example: https://kbdfans.com/collections/fully-assembled-keyboard?sor… (prices in USD)
It sounds like some of your colleagues might be pretty far into the mech keyboard hole, I would ask them if you can try some of theirs. You can find a lot of useful info at https://keyboard.university/
You should decide what size board you want, and want switch style you want.
Switches come in linear, tactile and clicky. These are sometimes referred to on mainstream boards as red, brown, and blue respectively, but those colours really only apply to the three most common switches from the two biggest brands, Cherry and Gateron. There are many hundreds of other switches available that don't adhere to this red/brown/blue naming convention.
To choose a size you should think about which keys you actually use and which you can do without, such as the numpad, F-row, navigation cluster, or arrow keys.
TLDR: buy a Keychron K6. This is my go-to recommendation for a first mech board. Not too pricey, bluetooth connectivity, and available in a hotswap version so you can try different switches down the line if you want.
I think that depends on what you want to get from a keyboard.
First of all, are you interested in something that's "ergonomic"? i.e. the layout of the keyboard is slightly different to accomodate for the ergonomics basically. I am not one of the people who are particularly into ergonomic keyboards, but I've seen something like ErgoDox for example. I think depending on how you are with normal layout, comfort might change.
Slight sidenote, you can always get a wrist rest which helps a lot, especially if you have a keyboard that's fairly tall.
Secondly, what kind of keyboard are you interested in? Mechanical keyboards can be good, and I won't go into details because people have already mentioned few things. That said mechanical keyboards are not be all end all I've heard. Topre and NIZ keyboards, I've heard good things about. Whether they fall under the category of "mechanical keyboard" is debatable, but a lot of people seems to enjoy them a lot. Also MX Keys I've heard good things about as well.
Thirdly, fast typing might be just based on how comfortable you are with the keyboard? That said, there are different layouts that are supposedly better since the keyboard layout we are using is from the olden days. i.e. Ortholinear etc
I personally think you could go onto places like Mechanical Keyboard Australia (AUMK) on facebook or go onto some of the discord chats (I dunno why but keyboard people seems to be all in for the discord). Those places will have more people who are into keyboards.
I've purchased a few mechanical keyboards over the years, Logitech (with MX Cherry keys), cheap ass MSY one, Kogan and the Ducky One 2 Phantom Mechanical Keyboard Cherry Silent Black.
For work the Ducky One 2 Phantom Mechanical Keyboard Cherry Silent Black is fantastic. Not too loud, the keystroke feels positive and the whole thing feels well built. Highly recommended.
that's an incredibly big budget for a keyboard…
if you are talking about just pure ergonomics for work/productivity then I'd go with the split keyboards like a Microsoft Ergonomic, Microsoft Sculpt or Logitech Ergo K860.
for more normal keyboards, there are a few options mechanical options:
Havit HV-KB395L - low profile keys, fairly light and easy to type on, a bit loud because its a Kailh Blue switch (sounds like old type writers), got RGB lights, fairly cheap ($70~). Also comes in Tenkeyless (no numpad)
Topre Realforce APC - high quality Japanese keyboards, expensive ($350+), great work keyboards (commonly used in banks), they use capacitive key switches (mechanical with a damper) which are fairly quiet and also nice to type on. I've been using a Topre Type Heaven for 8 years now.
then you have your standard keyboards like Corsair (K70 is very popular), Logitech, Razer, Ducky, Steelseries, Leopold and CoolerMaster. Most of the build quality is about the same so you just pick the type of switch you want; usually Cherry MX Blue, Brown, Red, Black (listen to videos to see what they sound like). I've been gaming on a Steelseries 6gv2 Cherry Black for 10 years now.
I've looked at a lot so far, what's the deal with dropping the numpad? Am I that old?
a lot of gamers play with low sensitivity mouse so they have to move a lot. sometimes they knock into the right side of the keyboard so they removed the numpads (tenkeyless) or they remove up to the enter button (60%/compact keyboards).
Having a numpad (and arrow keys) meant your right hand will have to reach farther to the right to hold the mouse. This is an unergonomic body position.
Professional spreadsheet warriors elect to hold their mice in the left hand so they can simultaneously use the numpad and the mouse without the right hand constantly switching.
FPS gamers usually control the games with a mouse with the right hand and the WASD block with the left hand. Numpad and arrow keys just get in the way.
I use the aluminium wired Mac keyboard on my PC and I think it's probably the best keyboard ever made, even though Apple have made it for many years now. Their new keyboard is probably fine too. The command key just works as the Windows key, so it's pretty seamless.
I wish the AT101W was made without that terrible fire retardant that turns yellow.
Are you going for an Alps board? Matias use clones of Alps SKBM White and Alps SKBM Black switches if you are interested in those.
What's a Good Keyboard?
Get one with flashing strobe lights
Logitech g613. It's wireless but the batteries supposedly last up to 18 months before you need to replace them (AA or AAA, I forgot) and judging by my 6 month straight usage of them for upwards of 10 hours a day and still having 3/4 battery life left, the claim is true.
preferably wired
There is no reason to buy a G613 if you don't want a wireless keyboard.
It doesn't have the normal issues that wireless keyboards tend to have, like constantly having to recharge it. It comes with a little USB receiver so you can use it on computers without Bluetooth, but it also has Bluetooth so you could use that too.
Preferably =/= only
Yeah but if OP doesn't want a wireless keyboard then why should they pay more for something they don't want?
@Void: He just asked for keyboard recommendations, I supplied one. No one is saying anyone should do anything.
I think you'll find that different people will have different preferences and you're best bet is to go and try them yourself.
Personally, I use the Logitech MX Keys (approx $200) paired with the MX Master 3 mouse ($149) for work daily and love it.