[SOLVED] Need a solid reliable keyboard

[DirkTheNoLongerDaring]

I'm looking for a solid, reliable keyboard that can take a few knocks. Well, more than a few knocks. For various reasons I tend to knock my keyboard onto the floor and break it.

I need a wireless keyboard (rf or bluetooth), mostly for Windows. This is for typing/programmering, NOT gaming. Also, it should be full sized with arrow keys and number pad.

I like the feel of mechanical keys, but at this point the ability to take punishment is more important than the key types.

I don't think I need an industrial keyboard that costs a thousand bucks, but I'm willing to pay more than average for something that I won't break every 3 or 4 months.

All recommendations greatly appreciated and if I left out anything important please let me know.

Thank you.

 

[lvt]

I'm programmer for 20 years now, I like keyboards from LabTech, Logitech... nothing fancy, just standard, good quality wired keyboards.

Each keyboard lasts no less than 5 years.

BTW I don't let my keyboard taking any "punishment", it's a hi-tech device, not a toy.

Yes I really mean "hi-tech".

 

[hotaru.hino]

For various reasons I tend to knock my keyboard onto the floor and break it.

Honestly I think we need to find a solution for this before we recommend a keyboard.

 

[DirkTheNoLongerDaring]

Alright folks, it's not worth going into, but it's going to keep getting knocked over.
I have a stack of busted Logitech keyboards (generally my favorite brand for such things). I'm hoping some company prides themselves on reliability and solid keys.

Thanks, but I'll keep knocking things on the floor and hoping better hardware will make up for my limitations.

 

[hang-the-9]

Alright folks, it's not worth going into, but it's going to keep getting knocked over.
I have a stack of busted Logitech keyboards (generally my favorite brand for such things). I'm hoping some company prides themselves on reliability and solid keys.

Thanks, but I'll keep knocking things on the floor and hoping better hardware will make up for my limitations.

No, it won't. Unless you get a floppy membrane keyboard that does not care if it's dropped much. No keyboard maker is going to build a drop-proof keyboard, it's just too easy to crack the connections on the PCB with the shock of hitting the floor.

For normal use, I have never had a keyboard really break on me past just wearing out the keys or I just get sick of using it, so pretty much anything is OK, if you are breaking them due to actual physical damage past what they were designed to do, not much can be done there.

Maybe some baby proof pads and just stick it around the keyboard to absorb the shock or put a rubber soft mat around the desk https://www.amazon.com/Roving-Cove-...nguage=en_US&linkCode=df0&psc=1&tag=hyprod-20
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics...ocphy=9001834&hvtargid=pla-347103719997&psc=1

I like the Keychron K4, I guess if you get it with the hotswap keys when they break you can just swap in a new one, providing the PCB is not damaged along with the key or the case does not crack. It's not totally full size but has all the keys just in a compacted shape without space between they num pad https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-k4-wireless-mechanical-keyboard-version-2

Logitech - G613 Wireless is also nice, although the Romer G keys are a bit stiff for me. But of course abuse will break that as easily as any other keyboard.

Logitech G915 Lightspeed has nice switches.

Basically if you are going to be breaking them, just buy some cheap stuff that you don't need to spend $100 on each time.

 

[DirkTheNoLongerDaring]

Thank you, this is a useful reply. Just last night I was talking with my wife about building a keyboard case, kinda like a phone case. I'll check out the the K4 and those bumpers, which look like a good starting point. The last keyboard I busted was a Logitech G305, which was pretty good until I destroyed it. (Possibly fixable, I'm going to dissect it and see what I can do.) Hmm, I wonder if there's a market for keyboard cases...

Thanks again.

 

[hang-the-9]

Thank you, this is a useful reply. Just last night I was talking with my wife about building a keyboard case, kinda like a phone case. I'll check out the the K4 and those bumpers, which look like a good starting point. The last keyboard I busted was a Logitech G305, which was pretty good until I destroyed it. (Possibly fixable, I'm going to dissect it and see what I can do.) Hmm, I wonder if there's a market for keyboard cases...

Thanks again.

As long as you don't care about having a giant size keyboard, not too hard to do a 3 d printed case or a wood case to fit a keyboard in, maybe with a door with some sliding locks on it and some rubber pads inside.

They make custom wood cases for keyboard builds, don't see why someone can't make one large enough to go around an existing keyboard https://usa.banggood.com/GH60-Solid...ofQxZOSa8xP3ITV3L9rSTYxi7Xv-ML4BoC91QQAvD_BwE

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2244812458...ulE4zkp8x_ZElpYLqzjCDIK6B5UqVoFBoCf30QAvD_BwE

 

[DirkTheNoLongerDaring]

As long as you don't care about having a giant size keyboard, not too hard to do a 3 d printed case or a wood case to fit a keyboard in, maybe with a door with some sliding locks on it and some rubber pads inside.

They make custom wood cases for keyboard builds, don't see why someone can't make one large enough to go around an existing keyboard https://usa.banggood.com/GH60-Solid...ofQxZOSa8xP3ITV3L9rSTYxi7Xv-ML4BoC91QQAvD_BwE

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2244812458...ulE4zkp8x_ZElpYLqzjCDIK6B5UqVoFBoCf30QAvD_BwE

Thank you, that's a great idea! I've ordered a new keyboard and per the earlier suggestion a set of rubber baby buggy bumpers to line it with. I will post pictures when I have it all set up. A custom case hadn't occurred to me and would be a good next step if the bumpers don't work.