[SOLVED] Best full-size (100% keyboard) for work use?

[weetabixharry]

I have spent many hours this weekend trying to find a high-quality keyboard with what I thought would be fairly reasonable requirements for work use:

1. Full-size layout (100% with num pad, not 60% / TKL / compact).
2. Thick, chunky keys with a decent mechanical action (not necessarily mechanical switches, but probably).
3. Reasonably quiet key action
4. Professional appearance (no RGB, or at least photos available with RGB set to all white.)
5. UK layout. (This doesn't seem to be a problem).
6. Full-size enter/return key (apparently not guaranteed with UK layout: must be double height, but exact shape not important).

If necessary, I would be willing to pay $200 (£150 / € 170) or more, but I'm not a gamer so expect I could find something suitable for less.

Can anyone offer any recommendations? After looking at literally hundreds of keyboards that don't meet these requirements, I'm absolutely stumped.

 

[hang-the-9]

WASD keyboards have a ISO enter key https://www.wasdkeyboards.com/wasd-v3-105-key-iso-custom-mechanical-keyboard.html

Can find a bunch here https://www.keyboardco.com/ say this one https://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/uk-filco-majestouch-2-nkr-silent-soft-linear-action-keyboard.asp Silent Red is quiet but is a bit lighter to the touch than standard Red switches.

I really like the Gateron Yellow switches, they have a feel of a smooth firmer MX Red switch, with good PBT keycaps they have a very nice solid typing feel, a bit like the old school keyboards without the loudness (although they are not silent, but can be helped some to lower the sound if you do some mods like adding o rings or lubing the switches). Those are not readily available in keyboards though, you may need to find a hotswap keyboard or do (or pay someone) some soldering to put them in.

 

[weetabixharry]

@hang-the-9 Thanks, those look like some very good links to sift through, with apparently "Lots In Stock ". By contrast, Amazon UK seems to have absolutely no decent UK keyboards in stock, but plenty of other layouts (notably US, German and Nordic). Weirdly, Amazon DE seems to have some decent UK keyboards in stock, but despite Germany being just 15 miles up the road from where I live (the German part of Switzerland), postage always costs massively more than from the UK.

The only reasonable-looking keyboard I can find in Switzerland is the German-sounding (but apparently US-designed) Das Keyboard:
https://www.digitec.ch/en/s1/product/das-keyboard-4-root-uk-cable-keyboards-12859381

I see generally okay reviews for it, except the general consensus seems to be that it should cost $100, not $160.

 

[hang-the-9]

@hang-the-9 Thanks, those look like some very good links to sift through, with apparently "Lots In Stock ". By contrast, Amazon UK seems to have absolutely no decent UK keyboards in stock, but plenty of other layouts (notably US, German and Nordic). Weirdly, Amazon DE seems to have some decent UK keyboards in stock, but despite Germany being just 15 miles up the road from where I live (the German part of Switzerland), postage always costs massively more than from the UK.

The only reasonable-looking keyboard I can find in Switzerland is the German-sounding (but apparently US-designed) Das Keyboard:
https://www.digitec.ch/en/s1/product/das-keyboard-4-root-uk-cable-keyboards-12859381

I see generally okay reviews for it, except the general consensus seems to be that it should cost $100, not $160.

Das keyboards are nice, they are some of the original higher end but lesser known brands. Filco, Leopold and WASD are also in the same line of quality and design ideas. I am using a Leopold keyboard now and it's one of my favorites. You wanting ISO size Enter key does limit you some though, the majority of the keyboards have a single height Enter key. You should be able to find something from the ones I listed, but you are pretty limited due to the Enter key size you want. Remove that and you have a dozen other options or more.