I bought a low-cost Compaq desktop machine which suits my computing needs. However I am dissatisfied with the keyboard because it is "flat" (i.e. planar). I have an old keyboard which is terraced (or whatever the correct term may be). My keying error rate is noticeably lower on the terraced style keyboard.

By terraced, I mean the asdf row is raised above the zxcv row; the qwerty row is raised above the asdf row. This is similar to old-timey manual typewriters. (Remember them?)

I modified the flat keyboard to increase the "tilt" provided by its built-in feet and that doesn't solve the problem.

I can't use the old keyboard because it has an annoying (and sometimes dangerous) defect. It goes into typamatic mode at unpredictable times. That's only a nuisance when it does thissssssssssssssssss but a disaster when I hit the Delete key and the PC goes berserk deleting files.

So... my request is to have LQ members recommend commercially-available USB keyboards which have the terraced design. Thanks!

Daniel B. Martin

There should be a lot of keyboards avaible with that terracing (I dont know the correct term either ). You could just wander into a local computer shop, find one you like the feel of and buy it.

If you are a fan of the older style keyboards, get a Unicomp customizer-

http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/customizer.html

Its a newer production version of the old favourite and virtually indestructible 'IBM model M' keyboards.

I remember that some Linux users searched long and hard to find a keyboard without Windows(TM) key. These 101 key keyboards are without Windows(TM) key.

They also have a special Linux layout, but I do see the advantage, but maybe it is useful for some.

jlinkels

Edit: I wanted to declare cascades9's post as useful. Unfortunately the General forum doesn't recognize useful posts

I know what you mean about keyboards. In the days of typewriters with "steep" keyboards you never heard about strain or fatigue. A good place to look for advice would be
http://geekhack.org/index.php