Mechanical Keyboard

[Scratch It]

I've never used one. Do devs on here find that they do help, or are they just over priced gimmicks?

[doodab]

I like mine. I do type a bit faster and more accurately but mostly it's' just much nicer than using some piece of crap microsoft / logitech thing with mushy keys.

It's a Filco Majestouch BTW.

[Bacchus]

I've never used one. Do devs on here find that they do help, or are they just over priced gimmicks?

I would kill for a decent laptop with good battery life and a mechanical keyboard.

My old Toshiba Satelite is a joy to type on but overheats now and isn't reliable, also has the mayfly equivalent battery life, my subsequent Tosh and "upmarket" Sony have the silly new keyboards and apart from being crap to type with, have lost so many letters I could start a new scrabble set!

[woohoo]

I have Filco keyboard, very nice to use and just feels much better than cheap keyboards. I do have calluses on my left little finger and thumb, not sure if its the force needed to depress the key or i'm just ham fisted. But only got them since I've had this keyboard.

[Spacecadet]

I've never used one. Do devs on here find that they do help, or are they just over priced gimmicks?

Depends on what you're used to

Some people swear by them - Although it does appear to be the beard and sandal wearing branch of IT geeks who do so

Personally, after 10+ years of laptop use, I prefer laptop keyboards even the much maligned "Chiclet" style which I have now is preferable to a full size keyboard.

Only things which I hate are oversue of the FN key to use things like HOME and END which should be dedicated keys and crappy laptops with lots of flex.
I also have a bit of hatred for Lenovo laptop keyboards. Used one for 6 months and hated it more than a mechanical by the end of that time.

[Scrag Meister]

Up until the PS2 connector went on PCs I used an actual IBM mechanical keyboard, I then bought a Logitech non-mech one and used it for a few years, but didn't like it.

I am now using a Razer Black Widow mechanical keyboard, and love it. Only issue is the size and spacing of the caps lock on the left and its proximity to the A key.

[Scratch It]

The razer black widow is the ugly duckling of mech keyboards though not bothered if effective. Do you use the macro keys?

The filco has bloody good reviews on amazon... might have to see if my local pc shop stock them to test them out.

[doodab]

Up until the PS2 connector went on PCs I used an actual IBM mechanical keyboard, I then bought a Logitech non-mech one and used it for a few years, but didn't like it.

I am now using a Razer Black Widow mechanical keyboard, and love it. Only issue is the size and spacing of the caps lock on the left and its proximity to the A key.

You may want to check out the Unicomp Customizer. They bought the moulds for the model M from IBM.

Unicomp, Inc.: Unicomp Keyboards

[doodab]

The filco has bloody good reviews on amazon... might have to see if my local pc shop stock them to test them out.

I went for the one with "quiet" tactile keys instead of the clicky ones. It's still relatively noisy but I like it.

I got it from here The Keyboard Company - Purveyors of the Finest Keyboards and Mice in the UK I think they sell on Amazon as well now.

[Bacchus]

it does appear to be the beard and sandal wearing branch .

I like to think "seasoned and experienced", but guilty as charged (c: